Taogu was there too, standing behind a girl of about fourteen or fifteen.
Xing Mei had round cheeks and a plump figure, clearly a proper young lady from a well-to-do family.
“Miss, it’s her…”
“She just tried to hit the young master.” Taogu pointed at Su Manman, looking utterly pleased with herself.
Su Manman wanted to roll her eyes. She’d heard of kids losing fights and tattling to adults.
But seeing servants losing a fight and tattling to their master? That was a first.
Sigh…
Recalling what Tang Song had said, Su Manman knew she couldn’t afford to offend this little lady.
She glanced at the endless mountains around them—
she certainly didn’t want to wander through them with the three little ones.
Zhuo Lina looked at Su Manman’s patchwork clothes, frowning.
She suspected these people might be beggars.
The escort agents had been hired to protect her and her brother.
How could these shabby folks be allowed near them?
Just as she was about to lash out, a bright, exaggerated voice rang out.
“Oh my, what a dazzling sight!”
Su Manman theatrically stepped in front of Zhuo Lina.
Her face was thin, but her eyes shone brightly, and her large white teeth flashed as she smiled.
“Turns out, the young lady is too stunningly beautiful.”
“I’ve only heard in plays that when a true beauty appears, she dazzles the crowd, making everyone fall head over heels.”
“Today, I finally understand it.”
“Miss, you are truly beautiful.”
Zhuo Lina, who had been about to explode, flushed instantly.
And though Su Manman looked ordinary, the moment she spoke, she drew all attention.
Zhuo Lina couldn’t even describe the feeling—
If she had been on Blue Star, she’d know:
Someone like Su Manman was called a high-energy “yang” baby.
Not needing striking looks, just standing there would make them the center of attention.
In other words, a strong presence.
Nearby, Da Bao, quick-witted, immediately chimed in.
“Big sister, you’re beautiful.”
Xiao Bao mimicked his brother: “Big sister, beautiful.”
Even though the two little ones were poorly dressed and thin,
their sparkling eyes made them irresistibly cute.
Su Manman pressed on.
“Miss, you look kind and good-hearted. You surely will forgive my little mistake.”
“I was anxious just now—the young master is dashing and clearly well-educated.”
“But this elder sister insisted he come snatch things from us.”
She looked at Taogu with scorn.
“And what was being snatched? Inferior steamed buns.”
“I feel it doesn’t fit the young master’s refined image.”
“Just daring to refuse, who knew it would upset this elder sister?”
“Miss, if I was wrong, I apologize. From now on, if you let the young master snatch buns, I won’t stop him.”
She even pulled out a bun from her bag and handed it over.
“If the young master wants it, I have another here.”
Zhuo Lina looked at the hard bun and immediately darkened.
The eldest son of the prestigious Zhuo family, snatching buns from beggar kids?
If word got out, what would happen to the family’s reputation?
Fuming, she turned and slapped Taogu across the face.
“You insolent servant! How dare you even try to manipulate me!”
Taogu had expected her master to avenge her,
but instead, she herself got slapped—
all because of her own stupidity.
Zhuo Lina, though protective of her family, was still a teenage girl obsessed with face and status.
In front of so many escorts and servants,
she could not admit that her brother had tried to snatch buns.
Su Manman had already built her “ladder”:
It was Taogu who incited the young master; naturally, Zhuo Lina had to back down.
“Miss, please forgive me, and give me another chance.”
Zhuo Lina snorted:
“With you around, Dongyang would be spoiled by you.
Once we reach Qingzhou, you won’t need to stay by his side. Go back to the estate.”
Taogu felt like the sky had fallen. She was the young master’s nanny.
Once the young master grew up and the Zhuo family entrusted him to her,
winning his favor could make her practically a semi-master herself.
Going back to the estate meant all that would be gone.
She didn’t dare offend Su Manman now and hurriedly begged for mercy.
“Miss, please spare me… give me one more chance.”
Zhuo Lina ignored her plea, waved her hand, and two people dragged Taogu away.
Watching Taogu being dragged off, Su Manman thought, well deserved.
Who told you, a mere servant, to act so high and mighty?
She turned to see Zhuo Lina staring at her.
Su Manman grinned widely, unashamed.
“Miss, you are clearly a proper young lady, just and fair. I admire you.”
Zhuo Lina sneered.
“You sure have a sharp tongue.”
Su Manman covered her mouth, pretending to be bashful.
“Overpraised, overpraised… just ordinary, really.”
Seeing her shamelessness, Zhuo Lina’s expression darkened, ready to retaliate.
But Su Manman smoothly changed the tone.
“Everything I said was sincere.
Miss, you’re not only beautiful, but broad-minded and fair.
My admiration for you flows endlessly like the great river…”
A torrent of flattery so fierce that Zhuo Lina, who had been about to drive them away, couldn’t speak.
Finally, she snorted, turned, and walked off.
“Miss, please go safely… Miss, you truly are a great person…”
Only once Zhuo Lina boarded her carriage did Su Manman stop speaking.
She turned to find Tang Song looking at her with an indescribable expression.
“Tang escort, we can stay then, right?”
Tang Song: “Madam Gu, you are truly flexible and adaptable.”
Heh. She’d love to stretch further, but did she have the luxury?
…
After the little episode, the caravan continued.
Su Manman and the three little ones remained in the last carriage.
After a morning of sightseeing, the kids grew tired.
Su Xiaoman carefully took an old, nearly falling-apart book from the bundle.
Su Manman glanced—it was half a Three Character Classic.
They say half of the Analects can govern a country.
Who knew what half a Three Character Classic could do?
The original father had been a scholar, and the family once had many books.
But when he fell ill and passed away, the family had to sell the books to cover expenses.
Only this half-volume survived because it was incomplete.
Su Xiaoman treasured the book, often taking it out just to admire it.
Having lost his father at age four, he couldn’t read a word.
The original mother had not taught the children either—
feeding the kids was already exhausting enough.
Now seeing Su Xiaoman take it out, Su Manman figured, why not teach them a few words?
“Big sister, you can read?” Su Xiaoman asked, eyes wide with surprise.