The Very Best

The Very Best

Ever since the Madam had seen through his little scheme, Steward Wu had been filled with unease.

He could not help taking some of it out on Zheng Fa as well.

More importantly, he understood that by summoning Zheng Fa and the other two to see Xu Zheng, the Madam had effectively eliminated Zheng Fa from consideration as the Seventh Young Master's study companion.

Compared to studying, martial arts demanded far greater resources. As the saying went, the poor pursued letters, while the rich practiced martial arts.

Of Zheng Fa, Han Cheng, and Gao Yuan, Zheng Fa had the poorest family circumstances.

As Instructor Xu had said before, never mind whether Zheng Fa had talent—even if he truly did, if he could not eat his fill every day, his natural physique would still go to waste.

Having understood the Madam's intentions, Steward Wu naturally became much colder toward Zheng Fa.

"All right, Instructor Xu. Since it is the Madam's command, examine these boys properly so I can report back to her."

At the mention of the Madam, the rough and boorish Instructor Xu could not help showing a respectful expression. He extended his large hand and felt Han Cheng's skull.

"Bone age: seventeen years and two months."

Hearing that, Zheng Fa suddenly recalled a problem: he had traveled back and forth between two worlds and lived five extra years. Would his bone age be abnormal?

Although whenever he was in the other world, time in this world seemed to stand still.

Still, his body had grown remarkably fast over those five years. Could that be why?

Everyone in the Zhao Residence knew his background perfectly well. If they found that he was not seventeen but already in his twenties, what would they think?

Zheng Fa grew tense without realizing it.

Instructor Xu's hand traveled over Han Cheng's back.

"Precelestial bone structure... below average." Then he curled his lip and said with some disdain, "But now, it is only low-low aptitude!"

Zheng Fa vaguely understood. The aptitude Instructor Xu spoke of was probably a combination of one's inborn bone structure and Postcelestial nourishment.

Instructor Xu released him and said to the still-unwilling Han Cheng, "If you do not start eating properly, forget martial arts—even your lifespan will be affected."

Han Cheng's face showed both fear and gratitude. "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Instructor Xu waved dismissively and beckoned to Gao Yuan nearby. "You, come here."

Zheng Fa had been standing shoulder to shoulder with Gao Yuan, waiting off to the side. At this moment, he could see a faint sheen of sweat glinting on Gao Yuan's forehead.

"Bone age: sixteen years and six months."

"Precelestial bone structure..." Instructor Xu suddenly broke into a smile. "Middle-high bone structure? Not bad!"

At those words, the tension on Gao Yuan's face abruptly turned to delight, while Han Cheng beside him bit his lower lip.

Steward Wu also nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"Postcelestial... Have you practiced martial arts?"

Zheng Fa saw Instructor Xu's brow crease slightly, as though displeased.

Seeing his expression, Gao Yuan answered somewhat nervously, "My father once practiced martial arts as well. He taught me a few farmhand techniques..."

"Nonsense! You must understand: the more you practice martial arts, the greater your dietary needs become. If your family cannot bear the burden, it will instead ruin this natural physique!"

In Instructor Xu's eyes, when it came to martial arts, eating mattered more than training.

Poor natural physique was not even worth discussing.

If your inborn physique was good, you had to eat more than others to sustain it.

And if you practiced martial arts, you had to eat even more.

Gao Yuan's innate aptitude was quite good, so his dietary requirements were already high. If he had practiced martial arts too, malnutrition would come easily...

"Your father practiced martial arts too—how could he not know even this taboo?" Instructor Xu said darkly, placing his hand on Gao Yuan's back.

"Eh? You have actually been nourished quite well? Your bone structure has not been damaged."

Gao Yuan cupped his hands, looking a little embarrassed. "My father is highly valued by the Second Master and receives many rewards in daily life."

Understood.

His family had gold mines.

Not just Zheng Fa—even Instructor Xu wore a look of realization. "Your surname is Gao? Steward Gao's son?"

Gao Yuan nodded.

Instructor Xu shrugged and commented, "You have a good father."

After releasing Gao Yuan, Instructor Xu gestured for Zheng Fa to step forward.

Zheng Fa was extremely nervous.

What worried him most was that Instructor Xu would detect something wrong with his bone age.

Instructor Xu looked rather careless. Gao Yuan's aptitude had already been relatively rare, so he paid even less attention to Zheng Fa.

Perhaps sensing Zheng Fa's nervousness, he patted Zheng Fa's shoulder. "Do not be afraid. Being afraid will not make half a bone grow out of you."

You really know how to comfort someone. I'm afraid I grew too fast and too much...

"Bone age: seventeen years and six months!"

Hearing this, the great stone in Zheng Fa's heart slowly settled. Yet another doubt inevitably surfaced: what exactly was this transmigration of his?

It could actually make his body ignore the passage of time.

"Precelestial bone structure... top-top!"

A flicker of surprise crossed Instructor Xu's eyes, and he clicked his tongue. "What day is this? First a middle-high one, then a top-top one."

Gao Yuan, who had just looked delighted, now gazed at Zheng Fa with several more degrees of wariness.

"But you..." Instructor Xu carefully looked Zheng Fa up and down, taking in his clothing and appearance, then began shaking his head instead. "Who knows whether fortune or misfortune awaits?"

He did not need to say more. Everyone, Zheng Fa included, understood what he meant.

Zheng Fa did not look like he came from a particularly well-off family.

The better one's bone structure, the less it might be a good thing.

Gao Yuan's shoulders relaxed slightly.

Even Steward Wu, who had previously held some dislike for Zheng Fa, could not help looking at him with a trace of regret.

Not only was this child quick-witted, his aptitude for martial arts was good as well.

Had he been born into another family, he might have had a great future.

Now, all one could do was sigh and call it a pity.

Zheng Fa felt Instructor Xu's fan-sized hand patting his back. His shoulder blades and every segment of his spine were thoroughly felt over.

He could not help feeling somewhat strange.

When he turned his head, he saw the man's brows tightly furrowed, as though baffled.

After a long while, Instructor Xu stroked the beard on his chin with his right hand and scrutinized Zheng Fa. "You... have a good father too?"

"My father was an exceptionally kind man, but he passed away five years ago."

"He died?" Instructor Xu looked even more puzzled. "That makes sense. No one in the Zhao Residence seems to have heard of any prominent Zheng family either."

The other three also saw that something was amiss. Steward Wu asked, "His aptitude is very good?"

"As for aptitude, his Precelestial bone structure is top-top—extremely good. But this boy... eats even better than that boy surnamed Gao."

Instructor Xu's expression was strange.

Steward Gao of the Second Branch was famously favored among the servants of the Zhao Residence.

This Zheng Fa clearly did not come from any good background.

Yet he had somehow been nourished even better than Gao Yuan?

But Zheng Fa thought of an explanation—if time did not pass while he traveled between worlds, yet the food he ate was completely absorbed.

Then over those five years, he had effectively eaten fourteen days' worth of meals within seven days.

Although he had not eaten much during those seven days in this world, taken together, he had still eaten far more than ordinary people.

What was more, in the modern world, he ate far more in the cafeteria than his classmates did, and occasionally added several roast chickens to his meals.

Steward Wu gave Zheng Fa two long, searching looks before asking, "Then between Gao Yuan and Zheng Fa, who is superior?"

Instructor Xu looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Between middle-high and top-top, which is better?"

Now Steward Wu understood.

His expression became somewhat conflicted. He had thought Zheng Fa would probably be the worst of them in this bone examination.

That was likely the Madam's original intention as well.

But Zheng Fa had turned out to be the best one. How was he supposed to report this to the Madam?

It would always feel a little like slapping the Madam in the face.

He hesitated in place for quite some time before turning to the group and saying, "Wait here for now. I will go ask the Madam."