Chapter 10 Supreme Top

After Madame revealed his own little schemes, Housekeeper Wu felt quite anxious inside.

And consequently, he couldn't help but feel somewhat resentful towards Zheng Fa.

More importantly: he understood that by asking Zheng Fa and the other two to meet Xu Zheng, Madame had essentially ruled Zheng Fa out as a candidate for the Seventh Young Master's Attendant Student.

Compared to studying, martial arts demand more resources, hence the saying "the poor excel in literature, the rich excel in martial arts."

Among Zheng Fa, Han Cheng, and Gao Yuan, Zheng Fa came from the poorest family background.

As Mr. Xu had previously stated, not to mention whether Zheng Fa had any talent, even if he did, with his daily struggle for food, his innate talent would be wasted.

After understanding Madame's intentions, his attitude towards Zheng Fa naturally became much colder.

"Alright, Mr. Xu, since it's Madame's command, please take a good look at these few people, so I can report back to Madame."

Hearing Madame's name, even the rough Mr. Xu couldn't help but show a respectful expression. He stretched out his hand and pinched the skull of Han Cheng standing in front of him.

"Bone age, seventeen years and two months.",

Zheng Fa remembered an issue upon hearing this: having traveled back and forth between two worlds for over five years, wouldn't his bone age be abnormal?

Although each time in the other world, time in this world seemed to pause,

His body had grown swiftly over these five years—could it be for this reason?

His family background at Zhao Mansion is clear—if they discover he is not seventeen but over twenty, how would they perceive him?

Zheng Fa unconsciously started feeling tense.

Mr. Xu's hands moved across Han Cheng's back.

"Innate Bone Appearance... below average." Then with a slight curl of his lips, showing a bit of disdain, he said, "But now, it's even lower than that!"

Zheng Fa vaguely understood, Mr. Xu's so-called talent probably referred to the combination of innate Bone Appearance and subsequent nurturing.

He let go and told Han Cheng, who still looked somewhat unwilling, "If you don't start eating properly, let alone practicing martial arts, even your lifespan could be affected."

Hearing this, Han Cheng's face showed a mix of fear and gratitude, "Thank you, sir, for the advice."

Mr. Xu waved his hand indifferently and beckoned to Gao Yuan standing next. "Come here."

Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan had been standing shoulder to shoulder awaiting their turn; at this moment, everyone could see a thin layer of sweat glistening on Gao Yuan's forehead.

"Bone age, sixteen years and six months."

"Innate Bone Appearance," Mr. Xu suddenly showed a smile, "is actually above average? Not bad!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yuan's previously tense expression instantly turned to surprise, while Han Cheng bit his lower lip.

Housekeeper Wu also nodded in apparent satisfaction.

"Subsequent... have you practiced martial arts?"

Zheng Fa saw Mr. Xu's brow slightly furrow, showing displeasure.

Scared by his expression, Gao Yuan answered somewhat fearfully, "My father also practiced martial arts, and he passed down a couple of farming techniques to me..."

"Ridiculous! You should know, the more you practice martial arts, the higher the dietary requirements, and if your family can't afford it, it will ruin this innate talent!"

For Mr. Xu, eating is more important than training.

If the innate talent isn't good, there's nothing to discuss.

If you have good innate talent, you must eat more than others to maintain it.

And if you practice martial arts, you would need to eat even more.

Gao Yuan has a good innate talent and already requires more nutrition; if he also practiced martial arts, it would be easy to become malnourished...

"Your father also practiced martial arts, how do you not know such precautions?" Mr. Xu said with a stern face, his hand on Gao Yuan's back.

"Hey? Apparently, it's well nurtured? The Bone Appearance isn't damaged."

Gao Yuan bowed slightly, a bit ashamed, "My father is quite valued by the Second Master, and we often receive many rewards."

Understood.

His family has a mine.

It's not just Zheng Fa, even Mr. Xu showed a look of realization, "Your surname is Gao? Housekeeper Gao's son?"

Gao Yuan nodded.

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

Letting go of Gao Yuan, Mr. Xu gestured for Zheng Fa to come forward.

Zheng Fa was extremely nervous inside.

What concerned him the most was whether Mr. Xu would find any problem with his bone age.

Mr. Xu had a somewhat careless expression on his face. Considering that Gao Yuan's talent was quite rare just now, he didn't pay much attention to Zheng Fa.

It seemed that he sensed Zheng Fa's nervousness, so he patted Zheng Fa's shoulder: "Don't be afraid, fear won't make an extra bone grow out of you."

You really know how to comfort someone—I'm just afraid that I've grown too fast, too much...

"Bone age, seventeen years and six months!"

Hearing this, Zheng Fa felt a big stone in his heart slowly fall to the ground, but another doubt also emerged: What exactly is this transmigration of mine?

It even makes the body ignore the passage of time.

"Innate Bone Appearance... top-notch!"

Mr. Xu's eyes flashed with surprise, and he couldn't help but click his tongue: "What day is today? We got one above average, and now a top-notch one."

Gao Yuan, who had just shown a happy expression, now looked at Zheng Fa with a bit of apprehension.

"But this…" Mr. Xu took a closer look at Zheng Fa's clothes and attire and started shaking his head: "Who knows what blessings or curses may come."

Without further words from him, everyone including Zheng Fa understood what he meant.

Zheng Fa did not appear to come from a wealthy family.

The better the bone reading, the less fortunate it might actually be.

Gao Yuan's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.

Even Housekeeper Wu, who had a slight dislike for Zheng Fa, looked at him with a bit of pity.

This child, not only is he smart, but he also has great martial arts talent.

If under a different family, he possibly would have had a bright future.

Now, all that can be said is 'what a pity'.

Zheng Fa felt Mr. Xu's huge hand, like a fan, patting his back, groping each of his shoulder blades and vertebrae.

It felt somewhat strange inside.

He turned around and saw the man frowning, seemingly puzzled.

After a long while, Mr. Xu, stroking the beard on his chin with his right hand, scrutinizingly asked Zheng Fa: "Do you... also have a good father?"

"My father was extremely virtuous, but he has been deceased for five years."

"Dead?" Mr. Xu looked even more confused: "Indeed, it seems there isn't a well-known Zheng family around Zhao Mansion."

The three people beside him also sensed something amiss, and Housekeeper Wu asked: "Is his talent very good?"

"Talent? Innate Bone Appearance top-notch, which is excellent. It's just that this kid... eats better than that boy surnamed Gao."

Mr. Xu had a strange expression.

Housekeeper Gao of the second residence is well-favored among the servants at Zhao Mansion.

This Zheng Fa, it's obvious at a glance that he doesn't come from prestigious origins.

How could he be raised better than Gao Yuan?

But Zheng Fa thought of a reason—if during his transmigration time did not pass, but the food was completely absorbed by him,

then these five years amounted to him eating fourteen days' worth of meals within seven days.

Although he ate not much in this world for those seven days, accumulated, he ate much more than others.

Besides, back in the modern world, he always ate more than his classmates in the cafeteria, and even occasionally had extra meals like several roasted chickens.

Looking deeply at Zheng Fa, Housekeeper Wu finally asked: "Among both Gao Yuan and Zheng Fa, who holds the better edge?"

Mr. Xu looked at him as if looking at a fool: "Among above average and top-notch, which is better?"

Housekeeper Wu then understood.

His expression also became a bit conflicted: he originally thought that Zheng Fa would be the worst one in this bone age determination.

The lady of the house probably thought so too.

But with him turning out to be the best one, how should he report this to the lady?

It kind of felt like slapping the lady's face.

He hesitated for a long while before turning to the others: "You all wait here, I will go and consult with the lady."