Soon, just as the servant had said, they returned to the Zhou residence before nightfall.
Upon returning, the original owner's father, Zhou Dafu, looked at Ali with great surprise, "You're back so early today?"
Ahri said softly, "I came back early today since nothing came of it."
Zhou Dafu then summoned the butler, coughed lightly, and said, "I won't be going there tonight. Please have someone make a bowl of noodles for Miss."
Zhou Dafu thought his daughter was going to send that man away again and wouldn't return until the middle of the night.
So he ate early and planned to go outside to listen to some music.
Ah Li said, "Father, I'll go back to my room and wash up first."
Chow Tai Fook waved his hand, as if he didn't really like Ah Li.
However, as soon as Ah Li left, Zhou Dafu frowned and called in the servant who had gone to fetch Ah Li that day.
"Did Miss say anything today? Did she suffer any grievances at the academy?"
Zhou Dafu asked the servant in front of him.
The servant shook his head and said, "Miss was very quiet the whole way and didn't mention anything about what happened at the academy."
Zhou Dafu muttered to himself, "Could it be that the man finally scolded her and made her realize her mistake?"
Zhou Dafu became increasingly uneasy. His beloved daughter, whom he had pampered since childhood, had actually fallen for a man and was chasing after him every day, showing no restraint whatsoever that a woman should have.
He donated money and goods to the academy every year, and the teachers of the academy would accept his donations every year.
All of this was so that his beloved daughter could be happy at the academy.
As a result, when her sweet daughter came home today, she didn't ask him where he was going or make a fuss. She just said she wanted to eat her favorite braised pork.
"My dear daughter! Your life is so bitter!" Zhou Dafu felt more and more saddened as he thought about it, and he started to sob.
The servants standing around were used to it; every time their young lady returned, Zhou Dafu would cry because she had fallen for another man.
After Ah Li finished washing up and changing her clothes, she came over again and saw Chow Tai Fook crying and hiccuping.
Zhou Dafu was surprised that Ali had finished so quickly. He hurriedly wiped away the tears in his eyes, turned his head away in a nonchalant manner, and said, "You're done washing so quickly today?"
Ah Li thought about how spoiled and willful the original owner of this body was. She snorted, then sat down next to Zhou Dafu, took his arm, and said, "Daddy, don't you love me anymore? Why don't you have someone prepare a bowl of noodles for me today? What about my favorite braised pork?"
Zhou Dafu snorted and said, "Braised pork? You haven't forgotten that you shouldn't eat anything greasy right after you get back."
Ah Li shook Chow Tai Fook's sleeve unhappily, "But I just want to eat it."
Zhou Dafu said coldly, "I won't give you any today. We'll talk about it in a couple of days."
"Alright then." Ah Li let go of Zhou Dafu's hand, somewhat displeased.
When Ah Li sat down at the table, an old woman brought over a bowl of steaming noodles with a few pieces of braised pork on top.
Ah Li saw through it but didn't say anything. She picked up her chopsticks and looked at Chow Tai Fook with great delight.
Zhou Dafu was about to observe Ah Li's expression when he saw Ah Li suddenly looking over, so he stood up and said, "I'll go out first."
Ah Li said, "Thank you, Father."
This person was actually very kind to the original owner of the body, and quite adorable; he was a lovely old man.
Therefore, we must not let him be harmed by others.
After Ah Li finishes eating, he will go to find Chow Tai Fook.
At this moment, Zhou Dafu was lying on a rocking chair in the courtyard, with a pot of tea brewing beside him.
His eyes were closed, he was humming a little tune, and his left hand was tapping rhythmically.
Ah Li pulled up a stool and sat down next to Chow Tai Fook.
Zhou Dafu sensed someone was there. He opened his eyes and saw it was Ah Li, so he closed his eyes again and said, "Finished eating?"
Ali nodded, then grabbed Zhou Dafu's hand and said, "Father, if I want to get married, will you agree?"
Zhou Dafu's lips twitched slightly, and without even opening his eyes, he slowly said, "Get married? Unless your father dies, you can only stay at home. In a couple of days, your father will arrange for you to throw an embroidered ball to choose a husband."
"good."
Ah Li leaned gently against Zhou Dafu's hand and whispered, "Then I'll find a husband and stay by Father's side forever."
Zhou Dafu opened his eyes. He looked at Ali, who was lying beside him, and felt like crying again. He asked, "Did that man make you angry?"
Zhou Dafu had also accompanied the original owner to escort that man back home. The man's family was neither poor nor extremely wealthy.
However, Chow Tai Fook simply didn't think so, because no one was good enough for his beloved daughter.
Ah Li shook her head and said, "No, Father, I don't like that man anymore."
"So you've fallen for someone else?" Zhou Dafu thought of the phrase "falling in love with someone else."
Otherwise, why would you suddenly stop liking anything that was perfectly fine?
Ahri moved her head and said, "No, it's just that the people in the academy only know classical Chinese all day long, and it's not fun at all."
Zhou Dafu thought about it and realized it was true. The teachers at Wanqing Academy were always pedantic and pretentious, which made him uncomfortable to look at.
"So you're really willing to throw the embroidered ball to choose a husband?" Zhou Dafu asked cautiously.
Originally, he had already started testing several people during this period, preparing to recruit one of them.
Now, hearing Ahri say that she doesn't like that man, he thought, "Forget it, let my sweet girl stay with me for another two years."
There's no rush to find a husband.
But then he thought about it again. His sweet daughter said she didn't like it this time. But when she returned to the academy the next time, she found that distance makes the heart grow fonder, and she fell in love with her again.
If she insists on marrying him no matter what, can he stop her from doing so?
Ah Li nodded and said, "Father, I'm willing."
Zhou Dafu raised his hand and patted Ali's head, saying, "Throwing the embroidered ball is no child's play. Whoever catches it will be your husband. Have you thought it through?"
Ah Li nodded. "I've thought it through. Father, you can make the decision."
Ah Li also believed that Chow Tai Fook would arrange everything properly and wouldn't let those idlers or beggars sneak in.
Sure enough, on the day of the tossing of the embroidered ball...
As soon as it was light, Chow Tai Fook began clearing the premises.
Idlers, people from all walks of life, and even beggars were all kept outside.
When the Zhou family throws out an embroidered ball to choose a husband, the man they want must be of good character, healthy, and physically fit.
Because Chow Tai Fook regularly distributes porridge and does good deeds, he is a well-known philanthropist in the area.
Therefore, many people are willing to give him face.
Soon, a group of people gathered below Chow Tai Fook's restaurant, ready to throw the embroidered ball.
Ahri slowly walked out, holding an embroidered ball in her hands.
Zhou Dafu followed behind Ali and said, "There are a few people inside who are favored by Father, but whether they can get the job depends on fate."
Ah Li nodded, picked up the embroidered ball, looked it over, and then tossed it away.
At that moment, Zhou Dafu had someone light an incense stick and loudly proclaimed, "If this incense stick burns out and no one has received it, then this matter is off!"
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