Chapter 12 — Champion Flower Queen

27 Sometimes Liu Tiep also came to visit and asked me to help him train the fighting cocks. Not just him. The playboys in the capital who both like cockfighting and have money have all come to see me. Those fighting cocks only need to be looked at once. If I say I can win, I will definitely win. If I say I will lose, I will definitely lose. The guys were happy. The fighting cocks were also happy. In the cage, they silently communicate with each other.
“This person is right.”
“This match we lose, the next match we win.”
"So master won't think I'm useless and will risk his life to train me every day."
“Listening to this person is definitely not wrong.”
“We lost one game, won one game, won another game and then lost another game.”
“Lose three times, win twice.”
“Master will not vent his anger on us every day.”
“We don't have to fight to the death.”
My old hen Queen Hoa is sometimes borrowed for cockfighting. As long as it participates, no matter how powerful the opponent is, it will lose. Everyone asks me:
“Lin Tu, this is clearly just an ordinary old hen.”
“In the end, how did you train him so that he could fight all over the capital without any opponents?”
I seem profound.
“A weak soldier is only one weak person.”
“If the general is strong, the whole team is strong.”
“Is it possible that it's because a master like me is too powerful to set an example for the Queen of Flowers?”
Everyone immediately became silent. How can I tell them that Queen Hoa's fighting ability is actually just average? But it knows how to attack the psychology. Unable to defeat the opponent, it will use words to pressure them.
“Let's negotiate a bit.”
“If you lose to me, next round I guarantee to help you win three matches in a row.”
“If you dare to defeat me, my master will chop you into pieces of meat and eat you.”
Knowing the thoughts of the fighting cocks, isn't it simple to win? Young men who like cockfighting both like to borrow Queen Hoa and like to bet with me. Because any chicken we bet on will most likely win. To the point where the cockfighting arena just sees me placing a bet and immediately stays up all night to fix the compensation rate. After that, every time they held a match, they proactively gave me a generous gift. The condition is that we cannot bet. 28 Because I live alone in my own house and often go to cockfights with my old grandfather, everyone says that I have left the scriptures and rebelled against the religion, showing up every day without any unity. My great-grandmother and mother not only once asked me to move back to the Lam family, but also wanted to find a husband's house for me. But all were stopped by the playboy old patriarch. He even moved into my new house, calling every day:
“Good daughter.”
“My precious daughter.”
I told him to go east, he absolutely did not dare to go west. After moving into the new house, everything gradually stabilized. I applied to the government, asking to independently establish a household. The father who spent his whole life enjoying himself was not in vain after we invested in him all this time. He ignored everyone's opinions, and under pressure from the entire family, used his position as an elder to sign the application to become a maid for me. My parents and brothers are all still alive, and I have established my own household. The Imperial Palace's medallions are stacked more than one meter high. They said I was unfilial, unfaithful, and against morality. I flipped through two volumes. Every word is righteous. Every sentence is like acting on behalf of heaven. Writing is more neat than the prescriptions we prescribe for horses. Faced with those harp instruments, I only say one sentence:
“I know how to raise horses, treat horses and look at horses.”
“God gave me this skill so that I can contribute to the saints and the court.”
"If I get married and have children, won't it benefit a certain man and betray the favor of heaven for me?"

“If I were a man, I would be called a talented young man.”
"Why does just changing a body become such a big deal?"
"You people read the books of Sages for many years, but in the end you only know how to keep the old rules, not knowing how to change them."
"It's a bit harsh to say, but it's just narrow-minded, excluding others."
What surprised me was that the person who stood up to help me was a group of playboys. On weekdays, we dragged them to the horse farm to work. From not being able to distinguish even dry grass, to now knowing how to ride a horse, know how to brush hair, and can even show off to others:
“The horse I raise is like this and like that.”
They learned a lot of bravery from me, and of course they remember that kindness. Most of their parents were officials in the court. Any royal master who doesn't have a good eye, those young men will go into battle one after another, focusing on staring at that person's weaknesses and biting them. Every time the bite is very precise. In less than half a month, the number of harp performances gradually decreased. There are also people who claim to not care about my reputation and send matchmakers to seek marriage. I answered very unequivocally:
“Thank you for your good intentions.”
“But I was addicted to being an official.”
"I really can't stand the fact that after getting married, I have to wash my hands and cook soup for a man."
“Even if he has mountains of gold and silver, it is not as reassuring as the silver I earn myself.”
The failed matchmaker returns. Later, mother found time to come to my hospital. She asked:
“Are you really planning on not getting married for the rest of your life?”
"When I get older, there will be no one around me who knows hot or cold..."
At that time, I was squatting and brushing the black horse's hair, not raising my head.
“I talk to horses every day.”
“Horses do not criticize people who smell like stables.”
"When you're so busy that you forget to eat, the horse doesn't blame you for being cold to him."
"They can help you advance your career and make you rich, helping you see the wider world outside."
“Men cannot do those things.”
The black horse let out a cooperative snort. The wet nose rubbed against my palm, muttering:
“Carrots…”
“Add one more tuber…”
I broke off a piece and stuffed it into its mouth.
“Viewer.”
“It understands people's hearts better than anyone.”
Mother was silent for a moment then said:
“But a woman who gets married and has children is her ultimate refuge.”
I stopped the brush and looked up at her.
“Mother, did father treat you well?”
“Are living people happy?”
She opened her mouth and then fell silent. After a while, she said again:
“But what happens when I get older?”
"With no relatives around, being alone, isn't it too dreary?"
I smiled.
“I have power, money, a house, and people to serve me.”
“I've been happy most of my life.”
“Just a few days before death, what's the point of being a bit lonely?”
"If not wanting to be lonely for those few days means having to exchange it for a lifetime of unhappiness, this trade is truly unprofitable."
Mother did not say any more. 29 A few days later, Liu Tiep came to find me. Now he seems to have changed into another person. Thanks to solving Tien Trinh's matter, his family found him a position. Unexpectedly, he worked well. He brought a five or six year old boy into our hospital. I stood for a long time before I could squeeze out a sentence:
“Lin Tu, I've been thinking about it for a few days.”
“She is not suitable to marry someone else.”
“It's not that she doesn't deserve them.”
“It's that they don't deserve her.”
I raised my eyebrows. He pointed at himself, then pointed at the baby.
"How about we both worship brother and sister."
"In the future, if your biological nephew or niece is willing to take care of you, then that's fine."
“If they refuse, my children will absolutely not abandon you.”
Having said this, there is indeed some sincerity. The Queen of Flowers that he had just borrowed was still extremely majestic. It flapped its wings and jumped onto the stone table, turned towards me and shouted loudly.

“This man is able to get a decent job thanks to you, and is willing to control his temper.”
“His whole family thanks you.”
"Compared to the group of people from your mother's family who only know how to suck your blood, he is much more sincere."
After listening, I curled my lips. I raised my hand to pat Hoa Queen's head, then raised my head to look at Liu Tiep.
"Okay."
"If you end up worshiping, you'll end up worshiping."
Luu Tiep was stunned for a moment, then grinned. He picked up the baby.
“Quickly call auntie!”
The child called out in an immature voice:
“Auntie.”
I squatted down, took out a piece of jade pendant and gave it to him. Xuan Hanh came out of the room carrying tea. Looking at the scene before her, she whispered softly:
“Miss, you can truly make friends with anyone…”
I stood up and looked at the sky outside the hospital wall. The afternoon sun is slowly setting. The sunset dyed half the sky red. A few sparrows glided across the porch, chirping to greet me. Queen Hoa sat on the stone table, head held high, extremely aura. When I first chose her, she was just an old hen. Whenever someone came near her chicks, she immediately fluffed her feathers. Now it eats well, lives well, and is full of honor. No longer having to work hard for the children, walking is also full of spirit and leisurely posture. Totally worthy of being the queen of chickens. Animals can also change like that. Let alone human? If heaven has given me courage, how can I disappoint that talent? Complete.