Chapter 133 Arrest him
"Maomao?"
Being told to your face that you're not friends, even if the person is just a three-year-old girl who isn't even as tall as an adult, is still quite embarrassing.
Zhao Qi'an stood there, looking somewhat embarrassed.
The eldest aunt glanced at her nephew somewhat helplessly and explained on his behalf, "Mao Mao, were you frightened? Don't misunderstand, Qi An likes you very much."
Zhao Qi'an quickly came to his senses and echoed, "Yes...yes, I especially like you."
Mao Mao remained hidden behind her brother, shaking her head and refusing to come out or even look at Zhao Qi'an.
I wish I could get as far away from him as possible.
It's as if if you look at him too much, you'll be forced to become his friend.
The little girl's preferences are very clear. She gets close to whoever she likes and doesn't like whoever she doesn't like... There are almost no people that Mao Mao doesn't like.
Even when encountering a kidnapper, she would run away with him; this is the first time I've seen Mao Mao so obviously reject someone.
Lou Fengju soothingly stroked his little sister's fluffy head, his probing gaze falling on Zhao Qi'an with sharp eyes.
Zhao Qi'an broke out in a cold sweat: "Young Marshal..."
"People from the Zhao family?"
"Yes, yes..." Zhao Qi'an said timidly, "Young Marshal, I came to wish my aunt a Happy New Year. I'm going back now."
Lou Fengju gave an ambiguous reply, his attitude unclear.
Zhao Qi'an's palms were pressed against the seams of his trousers, and he felt the gaze of the man scraping him inch by inch like a cold blade. His palms were involuntarily clenched and sweaty.
But along with it came a gradual rise of hope.
Although it was different from what he had expected, wasn't this a good opportunity for him to show off in front of the young marshal Lou?
Thinking of this, Zhao Qi'an calmed down, revealed a gentle smile, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I came to pay my respects for the New Year, and talked to my aunt about work. We talked for a while, which took up some time."
"Just a New Year's greeting?"
“I have always been well taken care of by my aunt, and my family has benefited a lot from the Lou family. If I have the opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the Marshal and the Young Marshal…”
Before he could finish his rambling, Lou Fengju looked directly at the First Concubine: "What did he say to you?"
The first wife looked embarrassed. It was fine to say those things in private, but it was a little awkward to say them in public.
But the first wife was always docile and honest, and when asked, she told the truth: "Qi'an's work is not going well, and he wants me to help him."
"help?"
Zhao Qi'an quickly replied, "I also work in the Military and Political Affairs Department now. I often hear about the Young Marshal's reputation. The peace and stability of Haicheng is largely due to the Young Marshal's contributions. I admire him greatly and would like to do my part as a vanguard for the Young Marshal."
Lou Fengju scoffed, not taking it to heart at all: "I don't keep useless people around me."
The word "useless person" immediately made Zhao Qi'an's fair face turn bright red.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word of explanation.
The first wife stepped in to smooth things over: "Young Master, Qi'an has excellent grades in school and is now working diligently."
Lou Fengju didn't care at all and said directly, "The military recruits new people every year. He can't be selected based on his own abilities, so he has to come and pull strings. What can he do? He'll only be a hindrance."
The first wife opened her mouth, but didn't know where to find a way to make amends for her nephew.
After all, Zhao Qi'an's job was something she found through connections.
It wasn't based on his actual skills.
Zhao Qi'an, standing next to him, felt utterly ashamed and couldn't lift his head.
He said in a flustered manner, "Young Marshal, I... as long as you are willing to give me a chance, I will prove myself and make you look at me with new eyes."
Lou Fengju did not respond.
His gaze fell thoughtfully on Zhao Qi'an, his hand stroking his little sister's head intermittently.
He wouldn't pay any attention to this person if he encountered him normally.
An insignificant person who is opportunistic and sycophantic would not utter a single unnecessary word unless he had an unusually serious attitude.
But Mao Mao never dislikes someone for no reason. Why is she acting so strangely all of a sudden? Is there something wrong with this person?
Having had too many past experiences, Lou Fengju found it hard not to overthink things.
The second wife's nephew had no connection to their family; even though they both worked in the military and political department, they rarely saw each other. Was there a bomb in his New Year's gift? Or was he poisoned in the New Year's goods?
Lou Fengju considered countless guesses, but couldn't come up with a conclusion.
You can't just ask Mao Mao directly.
Because even Mao Mao herself couldn't explain her premonitions, but they were always very accurate.
"Big Brother? Mao Mao?"
Lou Hongjian walked over from the direction of the kitchen, carrying a plate of freshly baked jujube cakes in his hand and with a piece in his mouth. He mumbled, "What are you all doing standing here?"
Mao Mao turned around and obediently called out to him, "Brother."
“I’ll take some of these freshly baked snacks to Asui.”
Lou Hongjian, holding a plate in both hands, looked past the two people and saw the first concubine and Zhao Qi'an standing not far away.
He paused for a moment, then said, "This is..."
The first concubine quickly introduced, "Third Young Master, this is my nephew from my maternal family."
"Oh, oh," Lou Hongjian mumbled, "Hello, hello..."
Lou Fengju said succinctly: "Ah Hong, Mao Mao doesn't like this person."
Lou Hongjian was taken aback.
The date cake he was holding in his mouth almost fell to the ground.
Others may not have had such a profound experience as him, but he remembers it clearly.
When Mao Mao first met the swindler surnamed Feng, she also said she didn't like him.
So much time has passed that even his family might have almost forgotten about the imposter 'Young Master Feng,' but the usually successful Third Young Master Lou almost suffered a major setback because of him, a memory that remains vivid.
Mao Mao doesn't like it?
Lou Hongjian's gaze towards the person opposite him suddenly became wary.
Is he another scammer?
"Is this really your nephew? Or is it someone else impersonating him?" Lou Hongjian asked his first wife. "Are you sure it's him?"
The first concubine was speechless, then chuckled and said, "Third Young Master, do you think I wouldn't recognize my own nephew?"
"That's hard to say."
Lou Hongjian swallowed the jujube cake in his mouth and said, "I've heard this kind of news before. Relatives you haven't seen for many years come to claim kinship, but they are actually imposters."
Zhao Qi'an said angrily, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Third Young Master. My aunt watched me grow up since I was a child. Except for the years I studied abroad, we met every year. She would never mistake me for someone else!"
"Huh? That's strange." Lou Hongjian asked in surprise, "Then why doesn't Mao Mao like you?"
Zhao Qi'an: "..."
Zhao Qi'an also wanted to ask.
Everything was fine until the young marshal and the third young master suddenly changed their attitudes because that girl didn't like him.
She was indifferent at first, but now she's directly calling him a liar?!
This development was so bizarre, not only completely different from what he had imagined, but also left him at a loss for how to cope.
But facing the suspicious gazes of the two brothers opposite him, Zhao Qi'an knew that he would not be able to leave a good impression on the young marshal today.
He gritted his teeth: "It's getting late, Young Marshal, Third Young Master, I'll take my leave now."
The first concubine said, "Qi'an, I'll see you off."
Zhao Qi'an followed her out, and as he passed the little girl, he gave her a resentful look.
If he had known, he shouldn't have greeted the child; otherwise, he wouldn't have left such a bad impression on the young marshal. His plans had been needlessly hindered.
Startled by his glare, Mao Mao quickly shrank behind her brother and clung tightly to his clothes.
"etc."
Lou Fengju suddenly called out to him. He turned to look at him, his long eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he looked deep in thought: "You said you work in the Military and Political Affairs Department?"
Zhao Qi'an quickly stopped in his tracks: "Yes, young marshal."
Who is your boss?
Zhao Qi'an said a name.
Lou Hongjian looked over curiously: "Brother, what's wrong with this person?"
Zhao Qi'an's palms were sweating: "Young Marshal, is there a problem?"
Lou Fengju pondered: "You just said you came back from studying abroad?"
"Yes, young marshal."
Lou Hongjian looked around and said, "Brother, what's wrong with studying abroad? I studied abroad too."
"Nothing much."
Lou Fengju shielded his sister behind him, gave the adjutant at the door a look, and said succinctly: "Arrest him."
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