The next morning, just as dawn began to break, Long Li was already preparing to set out with his rented cart. Long Xuan hurried forward, a respectful smile on his face, cupping his hands slightly in greeting.
"Master Long, I am your distant relative, Long Xuan. My hometown has been struck by disaster, and I have nowhere else to go. I heard that you make a living here, so I've come to seek your help. I only ask for a single meal each day. Whatever work you need done, I will do it."
Long Li froze for a moment, studying him intently from head to toe. Suspicion flickered in his eyes—he clearly did not remember having such a distant relative. He remained silent for a long while, then finally spoke, his voice hoarse and unadorned.
"A relative? I… I don't remember. But if you have nowhere else to go, you may stay for now. There's plenty of odd work around the cart depot—you can help maintain the carts, patch tires. I'll give you a meal a day, but no wages. Are you willing?"
Long Xuan's eyes lit up. "Yes! Absolutely! Thank you, Master Long! I can endure any hardship. I'll work diligently, and I promise not to trouble you!"
A surge of joy swelled in his chest. At last, he could remain near Long Li under a legitimate pretext, observing him, helping him, and better positioning himself to accomplish his mission.
Thus, under the guise of a distant relative, Long Xuan stayed by Long Li's side. Each day before dawn, he rose to organize the carts—scrubbing the worn wooden wheels until they shone, patching tires, tightening ropes, and attending to every detail with meticulous care.
Long Li, honest and simple by nature, grew steadily more trusting of him, impressed by his diligence and thoughtfulness. Sometimes, after a long day hauling carts, he would even share a portion of his modest saved grain with Long Xuan.
Meanwhile, Long Xuan kept a careful eye on the girls who passed by. Every figure in the depot's vicinity, every passerby in the streets and alleys, he observed. Any hint of potential he seized, never letting an opportunity slip. He understood Long Li's circumstances: average looks, meager means, and a life full of hardship. The girl had to be fair-looking, virtuous, and capable of enduring toil—only such a match would satisfy the genetic-improvement mission and provide Long Li with someone who could support him through his struggles.
A street ran past the depot, lined with numerous vendors, including several young women. Every spare moment, Long Xuan wandered along, studying each girl's appearance and demeanor.
One day, his gaze fell upon a young girl of delicate beauty. She wore simple, clean garments of coarse fabric, her hair neatly arranged, her features soft and refined. She sat at a modest roadside stall, selling handmade sewing items. Everything was neatly arranged: needles, threads, fabrics, and simple embroidered pieces, all reasonably priced.
She greeted each passerby with a warm, patient smile, never showing irritation, even when someone merely asked the price without buying anything.
Long Xuan approached quietly, pretending to purchase supplies, gradually drawing her out in conversation. Through careful questioning, he learned her name was Lin, eighteen years old. Her family was poor, her parents weak and unable to work, leaving her to support them through her stall. Lin was gentle, kind-hearted, skilled with needle and thread from years of learning from her mother, and tireless in her labor. Each day she rose before dawn to craft her goods, selling until evening, all to secure a meal and provide for her family.
Long Xuan's heart leapt. Lin was exactly the girl he had been seeking—refined, virtuous, diligent. If he could bring her together with Long Li, it would not only secure a suitable partner for Long Li but also fulfill the genetic-improvement mission.
He began to plot ways to create an opportunity for them to meet, nudging Long Li to express himself.
That evening, Long Li returned from carting, exhausted, collapsing beside his vehicle and gasping for breath. Long Xuan brought him a bowl of coarse tea, offering it with a smile.
"Master Long, you've worked hard today. Have some tea and rest for a moment. I saw a young girl selling sewing items in the street—delicate, gentle, poor, but diligent. I think… she would be perfect for you."
Long Li froze, lifting his head in surprise. He waved his hand nervously, speaking hesitantly.
"No… someone like me… how could I deserve her? I'm ugly, poor, exhausted from carting all day. I can barely feed myself… how could I trouble her?"
"Master Long, don't be so self-deprecating!" Long Xuan urged. "You're diligent and kind-hearted. If you take the initiative and treat her well, she will see your worth. Her family is poor too; she knows hardship. She won't despise you. I've already checked—she'll be at her stall tomorrow. Go, buy some supplies, talk to her, show your feelings. You might be surprised."
After repeated encouragement, Long Li hesitated, cheeks tinged with red. "I… I'll try… but I'm clumsy with words. I don't know what to say."
Long Xuan smiled. "Don't worry. Just speak casually, ask about her life, let her see your heart. I'll guide you."
The next morning, Long Xuan reminded Long Li to wear a relatively clean short jacket and accompanied him to Lin's stall. Standing there, Long Li's face turned bright red, like a ripe apple, hands clutching his clothing nervously. He could barely meet Lin's gaze.
Lin noticed him and smiled gently. "Brother, what would you like to buy? I have needles, threads, fabrics, and embroidered pieces, all reasonably priced."
Long Li's voice was hoarse. "I… I'll buy a needle." He handed over a few coins, took the needle, and turned to leave.
Long Xuan signaled urgently. "Master Long, talk to her more!"
Long Li froze, then stammered, face redder than before. "G-Girl… you… you're really beautiful." And with that, he fled, leaving without asking her name.
Lin watched him retreat, a soft smile on her lips, showing no hint of disdain.
Long Xuan stepped forward, cupping his hands politely. "Miss, forgive him. My relative is honest but clumsy with words. He admires you but cannot express it."
Lin smiled. "It's alright. I can tell he is sincere."
Hope surged in Long Xuan's chest. Day after day, he took Long Li to Lin's stall, urging him to speak, yet Long Li remained timid, words choking in his throat. At most, he bought a small item, then hurried away, unable to confess.
Then, unexpectedly, disaster struck. One day, returning to the street, Long Xuan found Lin's stall gone. In its place stood a candied hawthorn vendor. Upon inquiry, he learned that Lin had been married off by her family to a small trader—her parents' poverty had forced her into the arrangement.
Long Xuan felt a deep pang of disappointment—the perfect opportunity had been lost.
Long Li, however, simply lowered his head, sighed quietly, and returned to carting. "Forget it… a person like me doesn't deserve good fortune… doesn't deserve such a girl," he muttered, his voice heavy with self-doubt, as if he had long since grown accustomed to missed chances.
Watching Long Li's retreating back, Long Xuan's heart raced with urgency. His mission had met its first setback, and he did not know if next time he would be able to find a girl suitable to help Long Li change his destiny.