Chapter 11: Top-Tier

After the Lady pointed out his hidden thoughts, Butler Wu felt deeply uneasy.

Consequently, he looked at Zheng Fa with a hint of misplaced anger.

More importantly, he understood that by summoning Zheng Fa and the other two to see Xu Zheng, the Lady had effectively excluded Zheng Fa from the list of candidates for Seventh Young Master's personal attendant.

Compared to studying, martial arts demand far more resources; the saying "the poor study, the rich practice martial arts" holds true.

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

As Xu Jiaotou had said earlier, setting aside whether Zheng Fa has talent, even if he truly does, his physique would be wasted if he remains hungry every day.

Having understood the Lady's meaning, his attitude toward Zheng Fa naturally grew much colder.

"Very well, Xu Jiaotou, since the Lady has ordered it, you must examine these few carefully so I can report back to her."

Upon hearing the Lady's name, the previously rough Xu Jiaotou could not help but show a look of respect; he extended his large hand and pinched Han Cheng's skull.

"Bone age: seventeen years and two months."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa suddenly remembered a question: having traveled between two worlds for over five years, would his bone age be abnormal?

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

Yet his body had grown extremely fast over these five years; could this be the reason?

His background in the Zhao Manor is perfectly clear; if they discover he is not seventeen but over twenty, what will they think?

Zheng Fa involuntarily grew nervous.

Xu Jiaotou's hand moved along Han Cheng's spine.

"Innate bone structure... below average." Then he pouted, saying with a hint of disdain: "But now, your aptitude is merely the lowest!"

Zheng Fa vaguely understood that what Xu Jiaotou meant by aptitude was likely the combination of innate bone structure and postnatal cultivation.

He released his hand and said to Han Cheng, who still looked unwilling: "If you do not eat properly, forget about practicing martial arts; even your lifespan will be affected."

Hearing this, Han Cheng's face showed a mix of fear and gratitude: "Thank you, my lord, for the reminder."

Xu Jiaotou waved his hand dismissively and beckoned to Gao Yuan standing nearby: "You, come here."

Zheng Fa had been standing shoulder to shoulder with Gao Yuan waiting nearby; now he could see a faint layer of sweat glistening on the man's forehead.

"Bone age: sixteen years and six months."

"Innate bone structure," Xu Jiaotou suddenly smiled: "It is actually above average? Excellent!"

Hearing this, the tension in Gao Yuan's expression suddenly turned to delight, while Han Cheng beside him bit his lower lip.

Butler Wu also nodded, appearing satisfied.

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

Zheng Fa saw Xu Jiaotou's eyebrows furrow slightly, as if displeased.

Seeing his expression, Gao Yuan answered fearfully: "My father also practiced martial arts and taught me two farming techniques..."

"Nonsense! You must know that the more one practices martial arts, the higher the demand for food; if the family cannot afford it, it will ruin this physique!"

In Xu Jiaotou's view, eating is more important than training when it comes to martial arts.

If the innate physique is poor, there is no point in discussion.

If the innate physique is good, you must eat more than others to sustain it.

If you practice martial arts, you must eat even more.

Gao Yuan's innate aptitude is good, meaning he already requires high-quality food; if he has also practiced martial arts, malnutrition is very likely...

"Your father also practiced martial arts, yet he knows nothing of these taboos?" Xu Jiaotou said with a dark face, placing his hand on Gao Yuan's spine.

"Eh? Actually well-nourished? The bone structure is undamaged."

Gao Yuan clasped his hands and said somewhat embarrassedly: "My father is highly regarded by Second Master and receives many rewards daily."

Understood.

The family has a mine.

Not just Zheng Fa, but even Xu Jiaotou's face showed a look of realization: "You are surnamed Gao? The Butler Gao's son?"

Gao Yuan nodded.

Xu Jiaotou shrugged and commented: "You have a good father."

Releasing Gao Yuan, Xu Jiaotou signaled for Zheng Fa to step forward.

Zheng Fa felt extremely nervous in his heart.

What worried him most was that Xu Jiaotou would discover the problem with his bone age.

Xu Jiaotou wore an air of casual indifference; since Gao Yuan's aptitude was already quite rare, he cared less about Zheng Fa.

Seeming to sense Zheng Fa's nervousness, he patted Zheng Fa's shoulder: "Don't be afraid; being afraid won't make a single extra bone grow."

You really know how to comfort people; I'm just afraid I've grown too fast and too much...

"Bone age: seventeen years and six months!"

Hearing this, the heavy stone in Zheng Fa's heart slowly settled, yet another doubt arose: what exactly is this transmigration?

It even allows the body to ignore the passage of time.

"Innate bone structure... top-tier!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Jiaotou's eyes; he could not help but exclaim: "What day is this? First one with above-average aptitude, now one with top-tier!"

Gao Yuan, who had just shown joy, now looked at Zheng Fa with a hint of wariness.

"But your..." Xu Jiaotou carefully examined Zheng Fa's clothing and appearance from head to toe, then began to shake his head: "Who knows if this is a blessing or a curse."

Without him needing to say more, everyone present, including Zheng Fa, understood his meaning.

Zheng Fa's appearance suggests his family is not well-off.

The better the bone structure, the more it might be a bad thing.

Gao Yuan's shoulders relaxed slightly.

Even Butler Wu, who had previously felt a bit of displeasure toward Zheng Fa in his heart, now looked at Zheng Fa with a hint of regret.

This child, not only is his mind agile, but his martial arts aptitude is also not bad.

If he were in another family, he might have a great future.

Now, one can only sigh and say what a pity.

Zheng Fa felt Xu Jiaotou's palm, like a large fan, patting on his back; he felt every vertebra of his shoulder blades and spine being touched by him.

He couldn't help but feel a bit strange in his heart.

Turning his head, he saw this person's brows tightly furrowed, as if confused.

After a long while, Xu Jiaotou, his right hand stroking the beard on his chin, looked at Zheng Fa with a scrutinizing gaze and asked: "You... also have a good father?"

"My father was extremely kind, but he passed away five years ago."

"Dead?" Xu Jiaotou's face became even more puzzled: "True, it seems no one in the Zhao household has heard of any famous family surnamed Zheng."

The three people nearby also saw something was wrong; Butler Wu spoke up and asked: "Is his aptitude very good?"

"As for aptitude, his innate bone structure is top-tier, considered extremely good. It's just that this boy... eats even better than that boy surnamed Gao."

Xu Jiaotou's expression was strange.

Butler Gao of the Second Branch was also famous among the servants of the Zhao household for being particularly favored.

This Zheng Fa, at a glance, was clearly not of good background.

How could he be raised to be even better than Gao Yuan?

Zheng Fa, however, thought of a reason—perhaps when he transmigrated, time had not passed, but the food he ate was completely absorbed by him.

Then his five years were equivalent to eating fourteen days' worth of meals within seven days.

Although he didn't eat much in this world during those seven days, in total, he had eaten far more than others.

Moreover, in the modern era, he ate much more than his classmates in the cafeteria, and occasionally had extra meals of several roasted chickens.

Butler Wu, standing nearby, looked deeply at Zheng Fa twice, then asked: "Then between Gao Yuan and Zheng Fa, who is superior?"

Xu Jiaotou looked at him as if he were an idiot: "Between 'Middle-Top' and 'Top-Top', which is better?"

Butler Wu understood then.

His expression was also somewhat conflicted: he had originally thought that in this bone-touching assessment, Zheng Fa was probably the worst one.

The Lady's original intention should have been the same.

But now he has become the best one; how should he report this to the Lady?

It felt somewhat like slapping the Lady's face.

He stood there chewing for a long while, then turned his head and said to the several people: "You all wait here; I will go ask the Lady."