Chapter 010: The Young Lady of the Xiao Family Has Just Come of Age

Xia Xun paused to look and saw a man in a blue robe walking briskly towards him. This man was in his forties, of medium build, with clear and distinct features. His hair, tucked under a square cap, and the three wisps of beard beneath his chin were neatly arranged. He wore a light purple cross-collared long robe, which was also freshly washed and impeccably pressed. His sleeves were rolled up, and the pristine white lining was spotless, exuding an air of sharpness and astuteness.

Ah! Speaking of the old Wang family, the father-in-law of the old Wang family, Mr. Gou, bought two young girls a few days ago. One is ten years old and cost four guan in cash, while the other is seventeen, a rather handsome older sister who is also skilled in needlework, costing eighteen guan. Guess what? Just a couple of days later, that older sister secretly ran away with the gold hairpins and silver ornaments from Mrs. Gou's room. The Gou family went to find the broker to settle the score, but it turned out that the broker didn't know the girl's background at all; he was simply a fraud.

Uncle Xiao, I have returned

Oh! Little Di responded with a sound, turned to leave, but suddenly glanced at Xia Xun again. This time, it was as if she had suddenly discovered something. She exclaimed in surprise, tilting her head and looking at Xia Xun like a little bird observing someone, her face gradually revealing a hesitant expression. Xia Xun pretended to be calm and smiled, saying: "What are you looking at? Has this young master become more handsome?" As he spoke, he pinched his own chin, deliberately striking a pose.

Xiao Guan's face flushed with anger, and he scolded, "You impudent girl, truly lacking in manners. The young master has returned, yet you do not know to come forward and pay your respects. Look at how spoiled you are. Quickly attend to the young master and assist him with his bath and changing of clothes."

Xia Xun is in a great predicament; it turns out that the lion's roar of the Xiao family is hereditary

The number of servants in the Yang residence is not considerable, especially when compared to other noble families of similar status, as commoners are not permitted to keep slaves. Therefore, the previous servants of the Yang family were hired under the pretext of being helpers or wet nurses, which limited the number of personnel that could be employed. It was only after Yang Xu passed the examination and obtained his degree last year that the Yang family began to legitimately hire servants. However, Yang Xu often spends time away from home and does not pay much attention to domestic affairs. The steward, Xiao, who oversees the household, is an extremely frugal person. In his view, hiring a large number of servants for show incurs significant expenses, which is why the number of servants in the residence remains limited.

Xia Xun was finally able to take a serious look at Xiao Di's appearance. She was a young girl in her prime, wearing a white silk jacket with a front opening, paired with a red skirt. Around her waist was a small lake-green sash, giving her a neat and carefree look, which was quite charming. Her delicate and lovely youthful face featured arched eyebrows and a small mouth, capable of expressing both joy and displeasure. Her large eyes, strikingly black and white, were lively and spirited, carrying a hint of playful mischief.

Xiao Guan was beaming with joy and was about to bow in greeting when he suddenly paused slightly. Xia Xun felt a tightness in his heart, yet his face remained calm. He looked at himself from top to bottom and smiled, saying: "What? Is there something wrong?"

The news of Tingxiang's accidental drowning in the Gushui River has already been reported back to the residence. Steward Xiao, knowing that his young master is a sentimental person, couldn't help but recall his own sorrows upon hearing this, and he regretted his words. He hurriedly said: "Once a person dies, they cannot be brought back to life. Young master, please do not be too sorrowful. It has only been a few days since you left, and you have already tanned and appear thinner. Young master, do not blame me, old Xiao, for speaking out of turn. Wealth, after all, is merely an external possession; it can never be fully earned."

Xia Xun recognized his identity with just one glance; he was Xiao Jingtang, the steward of the Yang family. Xia Xun had seen this person's portrait countless times.

The door suddenly opened, startling the little girl in the room. She was surprised, holding a peach, her mouth stuffed with fruit flesh, making her round little face look even chubbier. The three of them stared at each other in wide-eyed astonishment. The little girl, with her pair of mischievous big eyes, first glanced at Xia Xun, then at Manager Xiao, and then turned her head in surprise, resembling a little squirrel holding a pine cone.

Oh, she ... ...

Before Lao Xiao finished speaking, Xiao Di's penetrating voice came from the courtyard: "Where is everyone? Hurry and prepare hot water, the young master is going to take a bath!"

To speak of being plump, she has a slightly fleshy appearance; however, a young girl's body is like a freshly sprouted willow branch. As she grows older, her figure will develop, and the baby fat will naturally disappear, making dieting unnecessary. Yet, she is so concerned about it, indicating that the young girl has already begun to care about her appearance and figure. Indeed, in this day and age, girls at the age of fourteen or fifteen are expected to marry, which reflects a certain precocity.

A slightly tense and stern reminder from Zhang Shisan came from behind. Xia Xun employed self-hypnosis, continuously giving himself psychological suggestions in his mind. Just as his breathing began to stabilize, he heard a cheerful voice exclaim, "Has the young master returned?"

Xiao Guan Shi spoke with deep emotion, unable to hold back the tears as he wiped his eyes with his sleeves. Xia Xun quickly comforted him, saying: "Look, look, I was supposed to talk about my own sorrow, yet it has made Uncle Xiao sad and brought him to tears. Alright, alright, let’s not discuss this anymore; we won’t mention it at all."

Not allowing him to continue his scrutiny, the young girl affectionately linked her arm with his and cheerfully said, "Young Master, why have you only just returned? You said you would only stay at the other estate for two days, yet you ended up at the Stone Shed Stockade. You have been gone for so many days. Young Master, let me tell you, on the third day after you left, our little flower gave birth! Our little flower had five offspring, one more than the little black one from Old Wang's house on the east side of the street. Would you like to go and take a look?"

I ... ...

The carriage arrived at the door, and Xia Xun's heart began to race uncontrollably. ... Victory or defeat, it all hinges on this moment. From today onward, I shall become the master of this gateway; if I fail ...

Xia Xun's heart was pounding as he forced himself to remain calm while entering his own residence. Zhang Shisan had previously shown him the layout of the buildings in the estate, but those were merely flat lines on paper. Now, in such a vivid and concrete environment, a sense of unfamiliarity arose within him. Fortunately, with Zhang Shisan accompanying him, Xia Xun, this impostor, was not left to wander blindly and recklessly through the Yang residence.

Yang Wenxuan's residence is located in the eastern city of Qingzhou. The house is quite large, yet it cannot be considered particularly magnificent. This is because the Yang family has not been affluent for long; although they have now risen to be among the top ten wealthy families in Qingzhou, their foundation is still not comparable to those families that have been established for several generations. Furthermore, during the mourning period, it is inappropriate to undertake major construction, and now that the mourning period has just ended a year ago, there has not yet been time for renovations or expansions

Xiao Guan Shi shook his head and chuckled: "The young master has become much tanner in just a few days since he left. When Old Xiao first saw the young master, he actually felt a bit unfamiliar. It is truly absurd, absurd, haha..."

The doorman of the Yang residence saw the young master's carriage and had already opened the main gate, joyfully welcoming him. Four bodyguards and the coachman entered through the side door, while Xia Xun, accompanied by Zhang Shisan, walked through the main entrance. As soon as they entered, two young attendants in blue caps happened to pass by. Upon seeing the young master return, they quickly stopped to pay their respects, after which someone hurried inside to report the news

The little girl leaped up, lifting her red skirt like a joyful little swallow, flying to Xia Xun's side. She gracefully crouched down and sweetly called out: "Little Di has met the young master!"

Xia Xun smiled and said, "Uncle Xiao has always been in charge of our family's business, so what is there for me to worry about? We can discuss these matters tomorrow, it is not too late." Then she turned to Zhang Shisan and said, "Come to the study after dinner, there are some things I need you to take care of."

Of course, this is merely the surface reason. Although Yang Wenxuan's business has grown significantly over the past two years, it is unlikely that he could amass wealth at such a rapid pace. To become one of the top ten wealthy individuals in Qingzhou in just two years, many of the properties under his name actually belong to the Qi Wangfu. Nevertheless, the grandeur of the Yang residence is still much more spectacular than that of many affluent families. The entrance features a red lacquered door with copper rings, stone steps, a hitching post on the left, a lantern pole on the right, dark tiles and white walls, tall walls and deep courtyards, flying eaves and winged corners, all exuding opulence. Despite this, the Yang residence's splendor surpasses that of many wealthy families.

Stay calm, remember, you are Yang Wenxuan! You are Yang Wenxuan!

The young girl forcefully swallowed the pulp in her mouth, unceremoniously puncturing his lie: "Father, who is not thinking about food? I am so hungry that I could swallow a whole cow, but I am on a diet to slim my waist, so even if I want to eat, I dare not..."

The pavilions and towers of the Yang residence stand tall and majestic, surrounded by lush trees and verdant rocks, creating a truly beautiful scene. However, at this moment, Xia Xun has no mind to appreciate it. After passing through the front courtyard and the middle courtyard, he turns into the back courtyard, winding through the curved corridor, and sees a corner of a red building peeking out among the sparse flowers and trees, its flying eaves partially concealed. Xia Xun knows that this is his residence.

Young Master, look, in just two or three years, you have amassed such a considerable fortune, enough to comfort the spirit of the late Master. It is time for you to consider matters of lifelong importance. As the saying goes, there are three forms of unfilial behavior, and having no descendants is the greatest. You should return home in glory and marry a Young Mistress. Our family has too few descendants; with more children and grandchildren, our lineage will flourish. One day, Old Xiao will have a proper explanation when he meets the Master.

Xiao Di looked left and right, her brows slightly furrowed. Suddenly, she leaned in close, like a little dog, and began to sniff at him. Manager Xiao's face turned dark with anger as he shouted, "You unruly little girl! Hurry up and attend to the young master for his bath and changing of clothes—clothes—clothes—"

Xia Xun smiled at him gently and swiftly unfolded the bamboo skeleton paper fan from hetushu.com

Xiao Guan Shi casually pushed open a door, and upon peering inside, he was suddenly struck speechless, as if his jaw had dropped. There, in front of him, was a square table piled high with a large fruit platter. A young girl with her hair styled in a bun was sitting behind the table, holding a large juicy peach in both hands, her cheeks glistening with juice. Scattered across the table were several peach pits, pear cores, and apricot stones that had not been thoroughly eaten.

Xiao Guan Shi stiffened slightly and weakly said to Xia Xun: "I... Old Xiao will go prepare dinner for the young master." After saying this, he ran away in embarrassment.

He pushed open a door, which must lead to his daughter's residence, but inside it was empty and devoid of any presence. Steward Xiao couldn't help but mutter, "Where has that reckless girl run off to this time?"

"Young Master, I take my leave," Zhang Shisan replied, quickly exchanging a glance with him before swiftly retreating.

When Steward Xiao saw Xia Xun, he indeed felt as if he were facing a stranger. In fact, he did not notice any flaws; it was entirely a subtle feeling. However, Xia Xun's attire, appearance, demeanor, expression, and even tone were exactly the same as Yang Xu's. Even the slightest differences were hard to detect under the influence of first impressions. Moreover, standing beside him was the young master's close attendant, Zhang Shisan. No matter how rich Steward Xiao's imagination was, he could not conceive that the young master had gone out for a while and returned with someone else. Therefore, that feeling of surprise only flashed in his mind before being cast aside.

Zhang Shisan's already taut face relaxed, yet Xia Xun sighed sadly and said in a muted voice: "Only through experiencing life and death can one truly understand the impermanence of life. Tingxiang was a woman I cherished deeply, but she fell into the water due to an accident... Her death has left me in gloom for many days, and even now, I find it hard to let go when I think of it."

As he searched for his daughter, he said: "Every time the young master leaves, the one who misses him the most is my little Di. This girl has always liked to cling to the young master since she was little. When the young master is away for half a month, little Di loses her appetite and can't think of anything else; she becomes so thin..."

Xiao Guan was accompanying Xia Xun towards the Red Chamber, calling out loudly as they walked: "Xiao Di, Xiao Di, hurry and attend to the young master for his bath and changing of clothes"

Xiao Guan's voice was indeed quite loud, echoing in the room and startling Xia Xun, who was evidently frightened by her father's "lion's roar." At his shout, she immediately covered her head and fled. Xiao Guan, feeling somewhat embarrassed, said to Xia Xun: "Young Master, this child, Xiao Di... actually, she was just so overjoyed to see you return that she lost her composure... In fact, she usually pays great attention to her appearance as a young lady. Those who have seen her all praise her for being very ladylike, smiling without showing her teeth, walking without swaying her skirt, behaving with poise, and speaking softly... Actually, she was just so overjoyed to see you return that she lost her composure... In fact, she usually pays great attention to her appearance as a young lady. Those who have seen her all praise her for being very ladylike, smiling without showing her teeth, walking without swaying her skirt, behaving with poise, and speaking softly..."

Xiao, the steward, smiled and said: "It is indeed all old Xiao's fault. The young master has just returned, weary from the journey, and I have been rambling on. Come, please allow the young master to take a bath first, change into some fresh clothes, and rest for a while. After dinner, old Xiao will inform the kitchen to prepare a more sumptuous evening meal, and then I will discuss the recent situation of the family business and shops with the young master."

Stay calm, I must stay calm. This is the first hurdle, and it is also the most difficult one. No matter what, I must get through it! Once I pass this stage, even if someone harbors doubts about me in the future, they will not dare to make hasty conclusions.

In his childhood, Yang Xu left Jiangnan with his father. At that time, his mother had already passed away. Since Yang's father had no official title and already had children, he did not meet the conditions for taking a concubine according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and he was unwilling to remarry. Therefore, in Qingzhou, Yang Xu had no relatives other than his father. During his childhood, his father was often away on business and had no time to care for him. Yang Xu was raised by Steward Xiao, which made him very close to him, always referring to him as Uncle Xiao and treating him with great respect.

I told my father that in the future, we should have people to command, and we cannot be as careless as Mr. Gou. Look at Sister Cuiyun, Aunt Liu, and Brother Daniu; they are all locals, and it is reassuring to use people we know well. We must never hire outsiders with unclear backgrounds. A few days ago, Brother Daniu got into a fight with Er Lengzi, apparently because they both liked Sister Cuiyun. What were they fighting for? Sister Cuiyun doesn't like either of them, and in the end, they suffered the consequences and were punished by my father.

Xia Xun was amused by her adorable appearance and let out a soft laugh. Manager Xiao immediately concealed his awkward expression and spoke in a deep, resonant male voice reminiscent of a documentary narrator: "Young Master, look, this girl, having lost her appetite, is so hungry that she is hiding here to eat fruit."

Xiao, the steward, said with a mix of laughter and tears: "Alright, alright, you talk too much. The young master has just returned and still has to endure your incessant chatter. Quickly attend to the young master’s bath."