FEIFEI DECEIVED

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

WARNING :

People think of Feifei as a woman. They will refer to Feifei as a "she" or "her".

Feifei who was the culprit of Yuan's strangeness was currently munching the meat bun while heating the chicken stew.

Bad, cousin! He has been waiting for him but it seems like he won't be going home tonight! So much for his surprise.

humpf.

Maybe he is all busy wrapping up his work, ready for his endorsement to him?

Feifei smiled at the thought. His eldest cousin is still the most considerate amongst his cousins.

Removing the firewood below the stove, Feifei took the heated stew and had his first lonesome dinner.

Shaking his head, he began to plan for tomorrow.

He has to go to the mine first thing in the morning and look for Uncle Wen Qi. Look for Cousin Shen too.

After dinner, he washed the dirty bowls and spoon he used, took the oil lamp, locked the kitchens then went out for a walk in the backyard.

He ate too much tonight!

Looking up at the sky, he thought of Yuan. He thought of the light kiss earlier.

That peck feels nice.

What would a real kiss taste like? Would it be as dark as what he makes him feel?

He can't control the smile splitting his face until he giggled. Yes. He is happy.

He really like him.

Very much so.

After a last look at the direction of Yuan's house, he walked back to the main room.

He needs to rest early tonight and recharge.

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When Feifei opened his eyes, he was suddenly jolted awake.

Looking around the room, he calmed down when he remembered he was not at Taji Village anymore.

He put his hand on his chest as his heart was still beating fast. For a moment there, he thought he was abducted and brought to some unfamiliar place.

Releasing a deep breath, he stood up and opened the window. It was still dark outside but there is already a hint of light breaking out.

He decided to take a bath. Today's going to be a long day. He is sure to meet challenges at the mine. He is too young and inexperienced after all.

Who's fault is it if he has an uncle who is the Head Chief of the mine's operations?

He smiled.

He lit the oil lamp, opened the closet and chose a plain white upper bodice and plain deep green, flowy, ankle length skirt. Then he took the back basket full of his essentials.

Going out of the room, he took the cloth towel he hanged to dry at the platform railings, then he went down.

Entering the kitchens, he lit the stove and prepared to boil water. While waiting, he did some stretching and twist as taught by his master. This stretching and twist can make his waist even more slim and delicate.

His master really treated him as a woman. But he loves it. He likes looking beautiful. He likes being fragrant and he likes being fit.

When he thinks the water is about to boil, he just took it, transferred it directly to the waiting pail and boiled another pot.

Then he washed his hair, face and body with soap. After the quick bath, he applied cream to his entire body, another set of oil for his hair, especially rubbing it on his scalp and tips, then another set of cream exclusively made for his neck and face. His favorite!

These products are not greasy when applied to his skin. Just enough to give moisture. His soap makes his skin dry. So he has to use cream to compensate for the dryness.

And this face cream is specially fragrant! He can't live without this scent.

Then he stood still for a while, thinking.

Actually this scent reminds him now of Yuan. When he smelled it just now, he thought of heartbeat, kisses and bedcovers.

Feifei turned red!

Licking his lips, he thought of Yuan's soft breath and wet tongue.

Yuan is really a hooligan!

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Feifei hired an ox cart to bring him to the mines. How did Shen go to the mines?

"Is the mine far from the village?" Feifei asked the driver. "Are there any other people from the village that works in the mines?" He noticed they met no other workers walking. No other wagons or carts.

Just him, the driver and the ox.

How unusual.

"From our village to the mine, it's a two hour walk. With this bullock, it would take an hour or so." The driver looked back at him and smiled gently like a grandfather looking at his grandchild. "You and your cousin are the only workers in the mine."

Feifei smiled back pleasantly.

But inwardly, he cried. One hour!

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Every agonizing slow step the oxen took, his carefully cultivated energy would leak bit by bit.

Arriving finally at the mine, Feifei felt like he already worked for ten hours!

He feels tired already when he just arrived!

Stretching his numb limbs, he began to think wildly again.

Grandfather driver said, only him and Shen worked in the mines. Doesn't the mine give work priorities to these residents here?

It's really unusual.

The mine is enclosed with a high cemented wall. You cannot see what's going on inside but you can already hear people busy working.

Arriving at the gate, a guard carrying a gun came to stop him. The gun was carried like a baby, across his forearm and elbow.

The guard looked at him from head to feet then back up again. Paying particular attention to his face.

"Good morning. My name is Chu Feifei. I am Xi Shen's cousin and neice of Head Chief Wen Qi." Feifei immediately began to show off one of the weapons in his arsenal.

His important uncle.

As expected, the guard panicked and showed a flattering expression.

Feifei raised his chin a little bit and straighten his shoulders a little bit more.

Your Majesty, Queen Feifei is here. Feifei laughed silently to himself.

"Please.. Ms Chu, wait a bit." The guard knock on the gate heavily. Then a slit was opened from the gate where only the eyes can be seen.

Then the gate for a single entrance was opened. "Who is she?" The gate keeper asked.

"This is Ms Chu, neice of Head Chief Wen Qi, cousin of Xi Shen."

The gatekeeper looked at Feifei the same way the first guard did. Then stopped at her face.

"What a beautiful girl. Why would you want to work in this place?" The gatekeeper blurted.

Feifei just smiled.

"Hey! Bring her to Head Chief Wen Qi immediately. I will guard your post for you." The first guard offered.

"But you have to hurry or I will be gutted!"

The gatekeeper laughed."Okay. This way please."

The gatekeeper motioned to a path towards a wide two storey building.

When they arrived at the front door, Feifei saw another guard. But this one just happen to pass by.

Like patrolling?

The gatekeeper knocked on the door then looked at Feifei. "I will leave you here now. When someone opens, just say your Uncle's name. Anyway, you were long time expected. I cannot leave my post long." Then the gatekeeper ran away.

"Thank you!" Feifei called out to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper just waved a hand but did not turn around.

After a moment, the door opened and a woman in her twenties came out. She was wearing a brown, full body, tunic dress. "Yes?" The woman frowned, impatient.

"My name is Chu Feifei. I'm Xi Shen's cousin. Neice of Head Chief Wen Qi." Feifei introduced again.

The woman's mouth formed an "o" but opened the door wide for her to enter.

"Yuyu..! I will be back later!" Feifei jumped when the woman turned her back then shouted. He instinctively looked at the woman with surprise on his face.

The woman laughed heedlessly. "My name is Heng Yan, assistant of Head Chief Wen Qi."

Feifei smiled politely. "Hello, Sister Heng Yan."

Heng Yan walked through an aisle, by passed alot of doors, took the flight of stairs, went right, then stopped at the furthest door.

"This is it." Then she knocked once and opened the door.

Sitting behind the desk is a middle aged man with a big belly. The man stood up and has a kind smile on his face. Moving around the table, the man came closer to Feifei and smiled even bigger.

"You are quite a beauty!" The man laughed heartily. "I am your Uncle Qi. Sit down." He motioned to the chair in front of the desk.

"Then I will leave you guys here. Head, just give me a shout if you need anything." Heng Yan said while winking at Feifei then closed the door.

Feifei sat and waited for Uncle Qi to start.

"I will send you to Shen's workplace later but first, we need to settle down some issues." Uncle Qi walked over to where there was a cup and a thermos. "Water?"

"Yes, Uncle. Please."

Uncle Qi gave him a cup then walked around the table to where he sat previously.

"There are things that Shen did not disclose to you." Uncle Qi clasped his hands together on top of the table and looked at her straight in the eyes.

"This is not a gold mine as what others think it is. This is a salt mine. The only salt mine here in Baojin City. Or even the whole Kingdom."