Tang Xian regretted a little after finishing his sentence. He was worried that Fu Jiujiu would cry, but looking at the little dumpling, her eyes were bright and full of defiance. The slight frown on his brow smoothed out again.

"Hmph, just eat it. It was made by Nanny Cui for me, not you."

"That's also me..." Tang Xian was so flustered that he almost blurted out the truth.

Fu Jiujiu smiled, it turned out to be the little boy's heart.

The little dumpling smiled and then left. Tang Xian didn't understand what she meant. How could she be crying so loudly only to laugh instead?

Tang Xian stood there, with a serious expression.

"Master, Jiujiu has already left. Let's go back," said Cui Mama as she stepped forward.

"She...she, what does that mean? Why isn't she crying?"

Tang Xian remembered those girls in the capital city. They would cry over nothing, and they wouldn't even be able to handle a fight with each other, let alone a small mantis that could frighten them out of their wits.

This Fujuj is quite an oddball, he’s been seen several times squatting down looking at those disgusting bugs, as if talking to them.

"Jiu Jiu girl knows that you're good to her, of course she wouldn't cry." Cui Mama said softly.

Tang Xian's expression was a little stiff, "Where did I ever do her any good?"

Cui Mama smiled but said nothing. This little girl is really a clever one. Those young ladies from noble families in the capital would have been crying before the little mistress long ago, but she can stay here for so long.

"Aunt Cui, why are you laughing?" Tang Xian asked in a deep voice.

"I find Jiaojiao to be adorable, truly likeable."

……

Today is the day Fu Baiman takes Fu Jiujiu to the county town. On one hand, he brings some things from home to Fu Wujin. On the other hand, the real purpose is to pay a visit to County Magistrate Zou Guangquan.

It's different having a carriage at home. It can carry a lot of things, and it makes many things much more convenient.

Outside, Fu Da Jin was working on his motorcycle. Zhou Shi pouted, wanting to go too, but after the long journey, Tian Gui Hua wouldn't allow it.

She didn't dare to defy her mother-in-law directly, so she complained to Fu Dagjin. Fu Dagjin was also helpless. For Zhou's safety, of course, he couldn't let her go.

"My dear wife, are you well at home? I've bought some things for you."

"What good stuff?" Zhou's face was calm, but her heart was filled with joy.

"When I get there, I'll see what looks good and buy it for you."

Zhou's flat mouth finally broke into a smile.

In the house, Tian Guihua was dressing up her little girl. "Should I put on this silver ear pendant? It makes you look very elegant."

Fu Jiujiu shook her head, "Mama, again."

A young girl with delicate skin, could not withstand the weight of the heavy earrings pulling down. She worried that her earlobes would be torn.

“Well then… why don’t you put on this hairpin as well?” Tian Guihua was also a person who cared about face and didn't want to be looked down upon, so she put all the decent jewelry from home onto the little girl.

Fu Jiujiu felt it wasn't necessary. Even if she had a head full of gold and silver jewelry, people would still look down on her.

"Qiuqiu doesn't like it, does he?" Tian Guihua was embarrassed. "What can we do about it? It's all my fault. If it weren't for that incident last time, I would have bought it for you."

"What's up?" Fu Baiwan asked casually.

Then Guihua suddenly reacted, “It’s nothing! It’s just that I saw someone who looked like our Qiujin.”

Fu Baiwan didn't think much of it, and was thus fooled.

<>>

Fu Jiujiu saw her take out the jade pendant Tang Xian had given her last time from the bottom of the cabinet.

This thing, one piece is worth ten pieces of gold jewelry. I have to say, old lady finally made a wise decision this time.

This is from Tang Xian. I heard that all the boys and girls in town are wearing this, so our little Jijiu should wear it too.

This time, Fu Jiu Jiu didn't refuse because if she refused again, she would feel guilty.

"Do you like it?"

Fu Jiujiu lowered her head to glance at the skirt she was wearing today. It actually went quite well with the jade pendant Tang Xian had given her, "Like it."

Tian Guihua finally breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't easy to please her little daughter. "Your brother Tang Qi really knows how to give gifts. He has seen the world, so maybe tomorrow he can help you choose some jewelry.

A little boy picks out jewelry for her?

“Forget it, Fu Jiu Jiu pouted, “Mama, Jiu Jiu wants to choose by herself.”

Tien Guihua smiled, her little daughter had always been a determined one since she was young, “Okay, you choose.”

Fu Dagjin drove the carriage, Fu Jiujou in a red outfit, her hair also combed more delicately than usual. From afar, she looked like a bright flower bud, about to bloom.

Grandmother Cui just happened to open the door to get some water, and a carriage happened to pass by. Fu Jiujiu lifted the curtain and said, "Grandmother, good."

Grandma Cui was dazed for a moment, "Oh, it's Jiujiu. You look so pretty today, are you going out?"

Fujujiao grinned, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth, "Grandma, am I not pretty?"

"Every day is beautiful."

"Grandma, goodbye." Fu Jiujiu called sweetly.

"Goodbye, JiJi, have fun!"

Elder Cui caught a glimpse of the jade pendant at Fu Jiujiu's waist. It was something the young master had never taken off since childhood. She hadn't seen it on her last visit to the palace and thought it might have been lost during an accident. Turns out, she had given it away.

I have to say, this little girl after tidying up is even more beautiful. Her appearance and temperament are simply stunning, even the noble ladies in the capital would probably be envious.

Although the little girl is very well-behaved, Fu Baimian still repeatedly warned, "Daughter, if your godfather and godmother give you anything, don't take it, okay? It would make people think that our family is only after things."

When Fu Jiujiao found out, the previous one was done in front of the villagers. He had to accept it, after all, the county magistrate didn't want to take the people's things for nothing, as this would damage his reputation.

"Okay, Daddy. Jiji doesn't want anything, Jiji has everything."

Fu Baiman held his little daughter, truly rare and wonderful. "Jiu Jiu is so well-behaved, if you want anything, just tell Daddy, Daddy will buy it for you."

His daughter, he dotes on her.

The Zouchu Mansion.

After returning home, Zou Guangquan told his wife Jiang Shuangyue about adopting Fu Jiujiu as his goddaughter. He also praised Fu Jiujiu highly.

“Is a country girl really that good? You even want to take her as your goddaughter. How ridiculous!”

Zou Guangquan shook his head, "You don't understand, we can't just let this girl go."

"What? You still expect her to bring you any benefits? Eating other people's strawberries for free? Won't that be embarrassing if someone finds out?" Jiang Shuangyue shook her head.

"Just admit it, but don't be someone who doesn't know how to read the room. If you have the audacity to stay here despite this, don't blame me for not giving you face."

"No, that little girl is very well-behaved."

Very well-behaved?

How well-behaved are you?

Ginger Shuangyue thought about all the trivial cases he'd been saying all day. Those country folks were really a pain in the neck.

However, since the man had already made his decision, her refusal was useless now. But thinking about having an impoverished relative in the future, she still felt a pang of displeasure deep down.

First published on the Traditional Chinese Novels Network