Chapter 13

Grandpa's Here

It's been over a month since Ingfa became Manfah. She's lived as Manfah for so long that she's forgotten the storyline of the novel in this world because lately, Manfah has been fully immersed in learning to be a gardener, losing track of the days.

Today, Manfah slept in because she's been working hard for over a month. She wanted to enjoy a proper lie-in for once. She had already packed all the vegetables and fruits into baskets, preparing a total of five hundred baskets.

Uncle Pai would come to pick them up in the afternoon, so in the morning, Uncle Pai had time to spend with his children and wife.

Word had it that Uncle Pai's two sons were upset with him because he was so busy with work that he had no time for them.

Hearing Uncle Pai lament about his sons' disappointment, Manfah thought she deserved a day to sleep in.

Grandpa Puang had prepared food for Manfah and then hurried off to the shop, taking two hundred packs of sun-dried pork with him.

He said he'd be back around noon.

Now that Uncle Din and Uncle Phai Khiao were working smoothly, there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

Knock, knock.

"....." Manfah turned over to her left.

Knock, knock.

"....." Manfah turned over to her right.

Knock, knock.

"....."

Who could it be? She hadn't planned to meet anyone today.

When she looked at the clock, it was only nine in the morning. This wasn't a real sleep-in!

Knock, knock.

"Okay, okay, just a moment," she called out, but her brain was still half asleep.

Manfah got up to open the door, still in her loose green pajamas, her eyes heavy with sleep.

Opening her eyes was a real struggle.

As she opened the door, the first thing Manfah saw, due to her short stature, was a pair of expensive black pants.

She looked down further and noticed leather shoes that seemed to cost as much as the pants.

Turning to the side, she spotted an old cane.

Then Manfah slowly lifted her gaze.

She saw a man wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a closed collar, which appeared to be genuine silk.

Hmm... I don't know anyone who dresses this fancy∼

When she finally raised her head all the way, Manfah realized he was an old man with white hair, wearing a hat, sporting a mustache, with sharp features and fair, slightly yellowish skin.

But he looked stern. See, his face was so serious. Manfah looked at the old man with eyes still not fully awake.

The old man standing at the door looked down at Manfah, scrutinizing her.

"Are you Manfah?"

"Who are you?"

Manfah asked with a yawn, still feeling sleepy from staying up late reading a novel last night.

"..…"

"…."

The two of them stared at each other for a moment. Manfah began to drift into deep sleep, swaying slightly.

The old man watched the young girl who seemed on the verge of falling asleep while standing. He looked slightly taken aback but managed to maintain his composure. He realized that if things continued like this, the girl in front of him might actually fall asleep standing up.

"I am Phraya Decha Damrongsak Phakdi, your grandfather."

Manfah was still not fully awake, "When did I get a grandfather?"

She blurted out what she was thinking without realizing it.

The old man's face stiffened upon hearing this.

"Are you Manfah?" The old man asked in a stern voice.

"Yes," Manfah replied.

"Then I am your grandfather."

Confused, Manfah looked at the old man again, then walked into the house and shut the door.

Bang!!!

Manfah slammed the door in Phraya Decha Damrongsak's face. His attendant was shocked; no one had ever been so rude to his master before.

"Master, should I knock on the door and call for the young miss?"

"No need!"

Phraya Decha Damrongsak frowned, clearly displeased with his granddaughter's behavior.

Such rudeness.

Soon, the door opened again, and Manfah came out, now fully alert.

In her previous life, she had no relatives, but in this world, she had a relative, Phraya Decha Damrongsak.

"Uh... you're my grandfather, right? I'm sorry. I was still sleepy earlier, so I washed my face to freshen up. But why have you come to see me, Grandpa?"

“I’ve come to take you to the Capital of Siam.”

“I’m not going.”

“…”

“…”

A silent battle of wills ensued as they locked eyes once more. Of course, Manfah wasn’t backing down from this old man’s glare.

Just because he looked and sounded scary—did he really think Manfah’d be afraid?!

“You must go. You are my granddaughter.”

“Well… yes, but I’m still not going.”

I’m just not going!

Phraya Decha Damrongsak tapped his cane on the ground in frustration.

“Why are you so stubborn? Just like your mother.”

“Well, I am her daughter, so I should be like her, right? I can’t exactly be like the neighbor.”

Phraya pointed at her. “You always have a comeback.”

His attendant, worried that his master’s blood pressure might skyrocket, quickly tried to calm him down.

“Please, Master, calm down. The young miss is still very young.”

Manfah chuckled inwardly. Oh, take a deep breath, Grandpa. You might faint, and my house is far from the hospital, you know. My house is at the very end of the village.

The attendant turned to speak with Manfah instead of his master. “Miss, my name is Somyot.”

“Hello, Uncle Somyot,” Manfah greeted Uncle Somyot with a respectful wai, which Somyot returned the girl’s gesture.

“The master learned that Mr. Pipop and Mrs. Jitlada have passed away, so he hurried here to take you to live at the main house, Miss.”

“Well… it’s been over a month now. I’m managing just fine.”

“How can you live alone, Miss?” Somyot was puzzled.

“I’ve been living here for over a month now, and I’m doing just fine.”

Manfah pointed to herself. “I’m perfectly fine, see how chubby my cheeks are?”

“You’re still pretending,” Phraya’s stern voice cut in, seeing Manfah’s explanation as defiance.

“Miss Manfah, please come with me and the master. If you’re upset that Master is only come to get you now…”

Manfah waved her hand dismissively. “I’m not upset. It’s just that I’m not going back. I have my garden here, and I have a lot of work to do.”

“If you stay at the main house, you won’t have to work. You’ll only need to study. You’ll be much happier there, and it’s better for your future.”

“If it was so happy, my mother wouldn’t have moved here.”

“Hmph!” Her grandfather’s voice interrupted again.

Manfah rolled her eyes. “Would you like a lozenge? You sound like you have a sore throat.”

“Unruly!”

There it is!

“I live in the countryside, Grandpa.”

Phraya Decha Damrongsak trembled with anger.

His blood pressure must be rising often, she could tell. Hmph!

“If you won’t go, then I’ll stay here.”

Somyot looked at his master in disbelief. “M…Master, you’ll stay here?”

“If she doesn’t want to go, then I’ll stay here.”

He wouldn’t let his granddaughter live alone in such a remote village.

Manfah was shocked. Seriously? How was she going to conjure up fruit to fill the baskets now?

"It's tough here, not as comfortable as your house, Grandpa."

"I'll stay. Go prepare a room for me."

Manfah slapped her forehead. Why wouldn't her grandpa just go home? And now he wanted to stay here too.

The two adults observed the young girl's demeanor throughout. Somyot thought Manfah was a charming, lively, and brave girl; he couldn't help but be fond of her. Meanwhile, Manfah's grandfather remained stern and serious as ever.

There was no sign of him changing his mind. If you didn't look closely, you wouldn't notice that Phraya Decha Damrongsak's gaze had softened slightly. In truth, he felt relieved that his granddaughter wasn't holding any grudges against him.

Manfah gestured invitingly. "Please wait in the living room. I'll go prepare the room."

She couldn't even sleep in until noon. This wasn't the real deal of sleeping in late!

Damn it!