Chapter 15: Employment Benefits?

Zheng Fa watched Wang Guanshi's slightly stiff back as he left, his gaze calm.

Behind him, Zheng Mother spoke with a worried tone: "He came to ease the relationship between our two families; we see each other often. Is it wrong to refuse him so bluntly?"

Zheng Fa knew his mother's gentle nature and her reluctance to stir up trouble.

Meanwhile, his younger sister Zheng Shan, who held clear distinctions between gratitude and resentment, said: "A few stinking silver coins! Who wants them? The Wang Gui family are no good people!"

She clearly still remembered the incident when Wang Gui blocked them at the village entrance.

Zheng Fa patted his younger sister's head and explained to his mother:

"Wang Guanshi probably has no good intentions. I was just chosen by the Lady to become the Seventh Young Master's page boy, and he boldly offers me someone else's silver—what would that look like?"

This was completely different from the items sent by Huang Yu's family.

Huang Yu's father sent simple writing brushes, ink, paper, and a few bolts of coarse cloth; they were not valuable, but useful.

But Wang Guanshi... a bundle of silver, truly too conspicuous.

It seemed more likely to be a case of praising someone to death.

In the end, one acted with a sincere desire to befriend, while the other harbored sinister motives.

Zheng Mother was stunned for a moment, then somewhat understood; her look at Zheng Fa was strangely gratified: "You really have become sensible."

Zheng Fa nodded with a smile, without false modesty: "Mother, rest assured. I will earn even more silver for you in the future!"

He knew that if his mother remained constantly anxious, the more confident he appeared, the more at ease she would feel.

Actually, he also intended to slightly frighten Zheng Mother—he was not certain whether Wang Guanshi truly meant to praise him to death, but he knew he had no need to take such risks over these silver coins.

His younger sister nodded along beside him: "Mother, I can earn silver for you too in the future! We won't take silver from the Wangs!"

Her small face was full of determination.

Zheng Mother rolled her eyes at her: "If you just stop being so greedy for food, I'll thank heaven and earth!"

Zheng Fa lifted his younger sister, bounced her gently, and laughed: "You've gotten heavier! And you seem a bit taller too."

Then he remembered something else: "As for the cloth the Huang family sent, Mother, please make two outfits for me; use the rest to make clothes for you and my sister."

Zheng Mother objected: "These were given to you by others, and since you are going to the Zhao Manor, you should have several outfits to maintain propriety."

"But being a page boy is hardly a position for a great figure; what propriety is there to speak of?" Zheng Fa pinched the small hair bun on his sister's head. "Besides, our family hasn't had new clothes in several years."

"New clothes!"

His younger sister, held in Zheng Fa's arms, heard the words "new clothes," raised both hands, and cheered.

She was overjoyed.

"Then I'll make two for you, and the rest will be for your sister; I won't take any," Zheng Mother said firmly after thinking for a moment.

After staying at home for three days, Zheng Fa, now wearing his newly made clothes, bid farewell to his mother once again.

This time, Zheng Mother's eyes were slightly red.

According to the Zhao family's rules, Zheng Fa would study and practice martial arts with the Seventh Young Master, returning home only once every six days.

If Zheng Fa remained in the position of page boy, then for at least several years in the future, he would spend most of his time at the Zhao Manor.

Zheng Shan had been especially happy these past few days; there was good food at home, and their mother had made her new clothes too.

Wang Gui would no longer dare to bully her.

But at this moment, she clutched Zheng Fa's knees and burst into loud tears:

"I don't want to eat the meat from the city anymore!"

"I don't want to wear new clothes anymore!"

"I don't want my brother to go to the Zhao family!"

The old man driving the ox cart who came to fetch Zheng Fa was the same one as before; he held a pipe in his mouth, watched the scene, and said with some difficulty: "Little Zheng, we must set off; we cannot keep the noble ones waiting."

Zheng Fa lifted Zheng Shan, placed her in their mother's arms, and nodded to Zheng Mother, whose eyes were red and who said nothing.

His sister's crying grew louder, but Zheng Fa endured it and did not turn back.

The old driver lightly flicked the ox's hindquarters with his long whip and spoke as if addressing Zheng Fa: "Is this your first time leaving home, Little Zheng?"

"Mm." Zheng Fa did not particularly want to speak.

"When I was young, the first time I went out to drive a cart, my mother looked at me just like this..." The old man took a puff of his pipe. "But young people want to go out and do great things; however, if you can turn back and look, you should look more often."

Zheng Fa turned back, looking at the two figures still gazing at the ox cart from afar.

The old driver's rambling still reached his ears: "This old man, now, if I wanted to turn back and look at my mother even once, I couldn't see her anymore."

Zheng Fa opened the large bundle on his back; inside was a smaller bundle: "Last time you said you liked my mother's cooking, so she made some more."

The old man was stunned and turned to look at Zheng Fa.

"Do you really believe I like your mother's cooking?"

"My mother believes it."

"You won't tell her?"

"Letting her do this makes her feel more at ease."

The old man paused for a moment, took a flatbread from inside the bundle, and took a bite: "You are stronger than I was at your age."

The cart arrived at the Zhao Manor, entering through the back gate as before.

But this time, Gao Yuan was waiting for him.

Gao Yuan wore a scholar's robe and carried an exquisite bamboo bookcase on his back.

Zheng Fa wore coarse cloth and carried the large blue bundle prepared by his mother on his back.

They exchanged a glance, and Gao Yuan was the one who felt somewhat embarrassed.

"Hurry, the Seventh Young Master is waiting for us."

Upon seeing him, Gao Yuan hurriedly spoke, and the two walked toward the Seventh Young Master's residence.

The Zhao Manor was vast.

The place where the Seventh Young Master lived was also very deep.

By the time Zheng Fa and the other arrived, his back was already soaked with sweat.

The Seventh Young Master's small courtyard—no, it should be called a large courtyard.

This was a typical three-entry courtyard; looking toward the back of the yard, it seemed to have its own garden.

It could truly be called a courtyard within a courtyard.

This clearly showed the Seventh Young Master's status and the degree of favor he enjoyed in the Zhao Manor.

To the right of the courtyard's main gate hung a brown wooden plaque with three characters:

"Not Envying Immortals"

Zheng Fa thought to himself that in a world where immortal sects held power, such a tone was hard to say was not arrogant.

The courtyard gate was slightly closed; Gao Yuan stepped forward and knocked lightly.

The door opened a crack, and a maid poked her head out. Seeing the two, she understood immediately: "New book attendants? Come in, the Young Master is waiting for you."

Zheng Fa and the other walked into the courtyard and immediately noticed a very obvious feature:

There were no men.

Those guiding the way, sweeping, and the servants coming and going were all young maids.

Zheng Fa was fine, but Gao Yuan could only keep his eyes straight ahead the whole way, quite nervous.

The place where the Seventh Young Master wanted to see them was the study in the outer courtyard; the maid led them to the study door.

A person sat in a chair, holding an ancient book and reading it with deep absorption.

Sunlight shone through the glazed windows onto his white long robe, faintly reflecting silver, making his features appear even more exquisite and fair.

Even though the Seventh Young Master's reputation seemed not very good, Zheng Fa still had to sigh, admitting this fellow's appearance was truly excellent.

As if hearing the footsteps of the three, the Seventh Young Master raised his brows and looked at Zheng Fa and the others.

Upon seeing them, he smiled, rose, and strode toward the three, speaking in an enthusiastic tone: "You two are my new book attendants? Gao Yuan?"

He pointed at Gao Yuan, then looked at Zheng Fa: "Zheng Fa? Right?"

He had actually remembered their names.

"I've been waiting for you to arrive!" The Seventh Young Master seemed extremely happy; he tossed the book in his hand, walked over to welcome the two, and even kindly took the book box for Gao Yuan.

Gao Yuan's face flushed with excitement.

"You two put your things down first. I'll make the decision: go to Yan Yu Lou and order a table to treat you two to a welcome feast!"

Even Zheng Fa was a bit stunned.

This Seventh Young Master was a bit too enthusiastic.

On the other hand, what kind of place was Yan Yu Lou? In Jingzhou City, it was the most famous place of pleasure.

The onboarding benefits for a book attendant were actually so worldly... was this corrupting public morals?

Looking at Gao Yuan beside him, his face suddenly turned pale as he said: "Seventh Young Master, your previous book attendant, wasn't it him who seduced you to go to Yan Yu Lou, got beaten by the Lady, and sent back?"

The Seventh Young Master froze, threw the book box in his hand onto the ground, and clapped his hands.

"Your news is quite timely." The smile on his face slowly vanished: "Then tell me, do you two want to roll away on your own, or like the previous fool, get beaten and driven away?"

The book box clattered on the ground and cracked.

Just like the expression on Gao Yuan's face.