Chapter 19: Stirring the Pot

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Chen Ma’s eyes widened in terror, as if she were staring at a monster, fixated on Nan Yuanman. Meng Qinian chuckled dryly, clicking his tongue with concern as he looked at Nan Yuanman. “It seems the Jiang family doesn’t value you much. Why don’t you come to my place instead?”

“No,” Nan Yuanman twisted her small frame, asking him to set her down. She smoothed her slightly wrinkled clothes. “This is my mother’s home. She’s one of the owners here. There’s no reason for me to leave just because of a servant.”

Besides, she still had a mission to accomplish.

With a carefree little stride, Nan Yuanman headed toward the main hall. After taking just a few steps, she turned back, pulled two talismans from her handbag, and handed them to him. “Two safety talismans. Two thousand each, cash only.”

“Keep them close; they’ll save your life.”

Meng Qinian carefully took the talismans. “Alright, I’ll bring you the money tomorrow.”

Nan Yuanman nodded. “Mm-hmm. We’ll meet again soon. Bye.”

Meng Qinian smiled helplessly. “Bye.”

After watching her figure disappear, he gave a cold glance at the immobilized Chen Ma before turning and leaving.

When Nan Yuanman stepped into the villa, she faintly sensed a subtle, ominous energy drifting from the east.

Her brow arched slightly as she examined the Feng Shui layout of the Jiang villa.

Visually, the terrain was flat, with a gentle rise from front to back, the villa facing south, and the layout quite favorable.

However, a small fountain had been built near the main house at the front, disrupting the natural slope. The water didn’t flow toward the residential area but toward the entrance.

If the water streamed toward the residence, it symbolized wealth flowing in; but facing outward, it meant money flowing away.

Moreover…

Nan Yuanman tilted her head, noticing a recessed area on the front wall housing green plants—a foolish hole drilled into the main house.

The wind entering this concave spot created a backlash of negative energy, causing the residents to suffer from nervous exhaustion and emotional instability.

No wonder everyone in the Jiang family seemed so aggressive.

Such a perfectly good Feng Shui arrangement was ruined this way.

A trace of regret crossed Nan Yuanman’s youthful face, but it was none of her concern—she wouldn’t be staying long.

Humming a discordant children’s tune, she skipped lightly into the main hall.

As Nan Yuanman appeared in the villa’s hall, Li the Butler, anxiously on the phone with the police about the search progress, was startled by her sharp ringtone. He hurried over and scooped her up. “Oh! My little miss! Where have you been? You made me so worried!”

Nan Yuanman glanced at Li’s face and obediently admitted her fault. “Sorry, Grandpa Li, for worrying you.”

She pouted, her eyes suddenly reddening. “I didn’t want to run off, but a lady told me I bullied Jiang Xinxin and that I’d be sent to an orphanage. I don’t want to be taken away—I was scared, so…”

“Sorry…”

The pretty, adorable little girl looked so pitiful and wronged that Li’s heart immediately softened; he couldn’t bring himself to scold her.

Her words weighed heavily on him. He gently asked, “Little miss, do you remember who said that?”

Nan Yuanman’s eyes were red as she wrinkled her little brow, trying to recall. “I think it was the one who just opened the door…”

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Li the Butler instantly connected the dots, his dissatisfaction with Chen Ma growing, though he said nothing more. He cradled Nan Yuanman and showed her the room prepared for her. “We’ll tell the young master and madam everything truthfully when they return from the hospital.”

“You must be tired today, little miss. Let me take you to your room to wash up, eat something, and get a good rest.”

After applying her eye drops, Nan Yuanman nodded obediently and let Li carry her to the room prepared for her.

Her room was on the left side of the second floor, facing south with excellent lighting. The walls were painted pink; the bed was round, styled like a seashell princess bed. Soft carpets covered the floor, and various plush toys were scattered about, creating a magical and beautiful atmosphere.

No matter how mature Nan Yuanman acted, she was still only five years old.

Seeing such a lovely room, she hesitated to move further.

Li the Butler noticed the joy on her face and kindly asked, “Little miss, do you like this room?”

Nan Yuanman nodded shyly. “I like it very much. Thank you.”

Relieved, Li gently set her down, then called the housemaid to prepare water and clothes for her bath.

He went to the kitchen to prepare food and called back the servants who had been searching outside upon notifying the police that the girl had been found.

While Li was busy, Nan Yuanman pulled several jade stones from her small cloth bag and arranged a spiritual energy gathering formation inside the room.

Feeling the room gradually fill with abundant spiritual energy, she finally settled in contentedly for a bath.

—

Meanwhile,

Li had just finished a call with the police when Jiang Lixuan’s phone rang. “Well? Have you found her?”

“Yes,” Li replied.

Jiang Lixuan felt an immense relief but hesitated before asking, “How is she? Has she… cried?”

“No, little miss is in good condition.” Li paused, then lowered his voice to relay what Nan Yuanman had just said.

Jiang Lixuan’s face darkened instantly, anger etched deeply across his features. “Did she really say that to Yuanman?”

“Miss Yuanman is only five. A child that young wouldn’t lie.” Li spoke candidly. “Young master, I know you all care for Miss Xinxin, and I care for her too.”

“But it is cruel for Miss Yuanman, coming for the first time, to hear such words.”

“Besides, children shouldn’t suffer for their parents’ faults. Even if you dislike Miss Bai Wenyin, it’s wrong to take it out on a child, isn’t it?”

This was the first time Li had spoken so boldly, but Jiang Lixuan and the others’ behavior today had been truly underhanded.

Jiang Lixuan’s complexion flickered from pale to flushed. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I understand.”

“Dismiss Chen Ma. Our Jiang family doesn’t need servants who bully those beneath them.”

“Yes, sir.”

He hesitated a moment longer. “Please take care of her tonight.”

“Yes, young master.”

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After hanging up, Jiang Lixuan sat on a hospital bench, staring at the group fussing over Jiang Xinxin in the ward. His mind involuntarily drifted to lonely Nan Yuanman at home.

A trace of confusion crossed his face.

Had he really made a mistake?

—

Thanks to Li the Butler’s attentive care and the spiritual energy formation blocking the negative aura from the house, Nan Yuanman slept soundly through the night.

She woke the next morning before the rest of the Jiang family had returned.

Li informed her that he had dismissed Chen Ma.

Apparently, Chen Ma had been acting strangely, standing listlessly at the door all night. She caught a cold and fevered early this morning, making it easier for Li to send her away decisively.

Nan Yuanman was very satisfied with this.

After freshening up, she went downstairs for breakfast.

Li worried she might feel lonely without seeing the others, so while handing her a steamed bun, he spoke gently, “Little miss, the master and the eldest young master didn’t purposely delay returning. They are abroad handling company affairs and won’t be back for a few days.”

“The third young master is a celebrity, currently filming on set. He won’t return for another half month, but he knows you’ve arrived and will bring you a gift.”

“The fourth young master is a scientist, busy with research these days. He’ll be back in a couple of days to see you.”

Nan Yuanman munched on her bun seriously, murmuring a vague “Mm-hmm,” showing no interest at all.

Li sighed quietly as he watched her.

Once she finished eating, Li took out a watch he had prepared last night and handed it to her. “This is a children’s watch developed by the Jiang family. It has all the functions of a smartphone. The young master prepared it for you last night.”

Nan Yuanman, unfamiliar with such high technology, seriously learned how to use it from Li.

He registered a WeChat account for her, linked a bank card, and taught her how to use the payment function on the watch.

After five minutes, she had mastered it.

Li let her play with the apps on the watch while he continued with his chores.

Nan Yuanman played for a long time before reluctantly stopping. Just then, a few somewhat hurried footsteps approached, accompanied by greetings between Zheng Feiyu and Li.

She looked up to see Li entering with Zheng Feiyu and two middle-aged men.

Before Li could speak, Zheng Feiyu excitedly rushed toward her. “Yuanman! I got the stuff from the Liu family!”

Jiang Danqiu and Zheng Zhenhao were momentarily stunned upon seeing Nan Yuanman.

Jiang Danqiu asked doubtfully, “Feiyu, is this the… little master you mentioned?”

Though Zheng Feiyu had warned them she was very young, they hadn’t expected Nan Yuanman to be this young.

Did she really look five years old?