Chapter 302 The Little Clay Figurine

Chapter 302: The Little Clay Figurine

No one knew which blabbermouth had leaked the news, but the rumor that "the General's Wife brought the Little Young Master up north" spread like wildfire, instantly sweeping through the entire military camp.

This news spread faster than any military report of an enemy attack, causing a huge stir in the monotonous and tedious life of border defense!

The originally orderly camp was now buzzing with excitement.

Soldiers and officers who were off duty, and even a few clerks with idle positions, all began to find excuses to wander near the camp gate.

They were peeking, their eyes flickering with barely contained curiosity and excitement.

"Did you hear? The Lady's here! She's got the Little Young Master with her!"

"No way!!!? Where? Where?!"

"Word from the front is they're almost at the gate!"

"Quick, grab a spot to see what the Lady looks like!"

The crowd near the gate swelled, almost like a human wall.

They didn't dare get too close, scared of getting frozen by the General's icy stare, but they couldn't bear to leave.

So they all ducked behind stuff—behind supply carts, by the fence, and beside the wooden gate, everywhere you looked.

Even Old Zhang, the fat cook who usually just minded his own business stirring the wok and was called "unmovable,"

came huffing and puffing, spatula in hand, shoved his way in and stood on tiptoe to get a look.

………

Cheng Ge eyed the grim camp gate, then scanned the soldiers with halberds on the distant watchtowers.

He'd just looked away when he heard the steady tramp of footsteps from the side.

A ten-man patrol marched along the fence, their black armor glinting coldly in the sunset.

The Squad Leader at the front spotted Cui Ji and immediately raised a hand to halt the team. All ten saluted in unison, fists clasped: "General!"

Cui Ji gave a slight nod, his eyes sweeping over the disciplined ranks.

Cheng Ge watched the departing patrol, startled by the sudden show of discipline, blinked fast, then turned to look at Cui Ji.

*That's so badass! If only I could...* His mind instantly pictured himself in armor, leading a thousand troops.

Cheng Ge's eyes went wide, and the little guy in his head was stomping his feet with excitement. *Man, that'd be so freaking cool!*

Once that thought popped up, he couldn't shake it.

He thought back on his rocky career—every job he'd had was a big deal, but none lasted before he got fired.

Now he was jobless again, and worse, he wasn't alone anymore—he had a kid to support.

For the sake of a bright future for him and his kid, Cheng Ge decided to swallow his pride and go for it.

He quietly dropped back half a step and reached out to tug Cui Ji's sleeve.

Cui Ji paused mid-step and turned to look at him. Through the gauze of the Veiled Hat, he couldn't make out Cheng Ge's face.

Cheng Ge leaned in a little, lowering his voice, sounding hesitant and flattering.

"Uh... Cui Ji, this time... can you hook me up with a job in your camp?"

He paused, trying to sound super sincere, "No other reason, I just want to be your loyal servant!"

Cui Ji: "..."

He stopped dead, his eyes under the hat fixed on Cheng Ge. He stayed quiet, not answering right away.

Cheng Ge couldn't read his face through the thin gauze, and his heart started racing.

*Does he think I'm useless? Or that I'm up to something?*

His eyes darted around, then he looked at Cui Ji again, and a lightbulb went off.

He remembered his parents saying you should bring a gift when asking for a favor—showing up empty-handed is rude.

He quickly dug around in his wide sleeve, fumbled for a bit, and finally pulled out a little thing.

It was a painted clay figurine, round head, round body.

But on its body, it had a crookedly painted suit of armor and held a thin, toy spear.

Its face had simple lines showing a forced serious look.

It was totally a chibi version of Cui Ji—kinda ugly but cute.

"Here!" Cheng Ge held the little clay figurine out to Cui Ji, sounding like he was offering a treasure.

"I made it for you at a stall in Shiyu Town! Look, doesn't it look like you? It's a little decoration for you!"

The figurine was crudely made, with tacky colors, but it caught a bit of Cui Ji's usual coldness.

But that coldness on a round body made it look extra funny and cute.

Cui Ji's eyes landed on the little figurine tilting its head and trying to look stern, and his gaze flickered almost imperceptibly.

He slowly reached out, his big, bony fingers carefully taking the small thing that was so unlike him, and studied it in his palm.

The rough clay still held the warmth from Cheng Ge's sleeve. The round little figure in an oversized helmet, trying so hard to look stern, actually made the corner of Cui Ji's tight mouth loosen a bit.

Just then, the patrol that had passed by earlier, having done a short loop, walked past them again.

The Squad Leader raised his hand once more, and the ten men again saluted in unison, voices loud: "General!"

Cui Ji's expression remained unchanged, nodding slightly at them again, but his gaze never left the ugly-cute little clay figurine in his palm.

When the footsteps of the patrol faded away, Cui Ji covered his mouth and coughed lightly twice.

His low voice gave away no emotion as he asked, "Did you... make this yourself?"

Cheng Ge nodded quickly, his tone tinged with a little pride, "Yeah, I learned from the stall owner for half a day and spent a long time shaping it myself!"

Cui Ji's fingertips unconsciously stroked the round helmet of the clay figurine, feeling the uneven traces of handiwork.

The corners of his mouth suddenly tightened slightly, and he casually asked another question.

His gaze, however, settled heavily on Cheng Ge's face, which was obscured by the Veiled Hat: "So... you only made this one?"

Cheng Ge's heart lurched. He instinctively looked up at Cui Ji, then quickly lowered his head to steal a glance at the little clay figurine in his hand.

His paw unconsciously squeezed the other clay figurines hidden away in his wide sleeve.

There was not only one in his own likeness, but also a little female warrior he had shaped for Sister Lvrou, and even a crouching one he had made for Dahuang...

But a strong intuition told him that he absolutely could not tell the truth at this moment, or his job would be on the line...

Cheng Ge raised a hand to rub his nose and turned his head away with an awkward little twist.

He slipped out from under Cui Ji's gaze, which seemed capable of piercing straight through the veil, without missing a beat, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of guilt.

"Uh... um... yeah," he paused, trying hard to make his tone sound more certain, "I only made one, and I made it just for you..."