Chapter 33: You Are Still Young

On the way to the Zhao family compound, little sister Zheng Shan's cheerful chattering floated through the air.

The Seventh Young Master still sat on Gao Yuan's cart, but Zheng Fa accompanied his mother and sister on the ox cart that had always taken him to the Zhao residence.

He held little sister Zheng Shan, while Zheng Mother sat at the back, watching over their few belongings.

This was Zheng Shan's first long journey; even the monotonous rice fields around her seemed fascinating, and she kept asking:

"Brother, is the city really that lively?"

"I heard Wang Gui bragging that everything under the sun is for sale there—can you take me to wander around?"

"What's our new home like? Can I have my own bed?"

Her questions seemed endless, and Zheng Fa answered half-heartedly.

Though his mother also smiled, Zheng Fa saw faint traces of worry in her expression.

"Mother?" he asked with concern.

"Going to the city… I'm a little nervous," Zheng Mother said shyly.

The ox driver quickly comforted her: "Madam, your son has made something of himself—you should be looking forward to comfort, not worrying!"

Zheng Mother replied: "I know, I know."

She looked at Zheng Fa with a touch of pride, yet still sighed: "My son is so respectable now—I'm afraid I'll just be a burden to you."

Zheng Shan gazed at her mother, puzzled, and Zheng Fa opened his mouth to reassure her.

Zheng Mother stopped him: "I've hardly ever left the village—I have no experience. I've heard that in the city, even a bowl of tea or a grain of rice costs money…"

The driver, hearing this, nodded solemnly: "Isn't that the truth? The city's wonderful, but you can't live without money!"

"Mother, don't worry about money. The city is peaceful—once we're inside, I plan to enroll little sister in school."

"Peaceful? That's good." Hearing the word "peaceful," Zheng Mother's anxiety lessened considerably.

Zheng Fa knew her best—he understood how deeply her husband's death had shaken her. No matter how bad the city was, its walls could keep out demonic beasts—that alone was enough to convince her.

"But this school… isn't it too wasteful? She's just a girl," his mother questioned.

"Zheng Shan is clever—wasting her talent would be a shame. Besides, didn't I just say not to worry about money?" For education, Zheng Fa, who had lived in the modern world, was far more determined than Zheng Mother.

Seeing her son's firm expression, Zheng Mother nodded.

Unconsciously, Zheng Fa had become the pillar of this family.

Zheng Mother squeezed Zheng Shan's small hand and turned to look back at the luggage.

The largest item was a loom Zheng Mother had taken apart.

"Once we reach the city, I'll go to the tailor shops and ask if there's any small work I can do," she said firmly.

"I don't even need my own bed…" Zheng Shan understood—her mother wanted to save money for her tuition. Her little face twisted in distress: "In the city, I won't be able to gather pigweed leaves anymore!"

The driver laughed loudly: "Madam, with your spirit and your daughter's filial devotion, your days will only get better!"

Zheng Mother thanked him with a smile, a flicker of hope shining in her eyes.

…

But once they entered the city, Zheng Mother's worries deepened.

The more prosperous the city became, the more anxious she looked.

When she saw the prices of rice and flour in the grain shops, she grew visibly restless.

Zheng Fa knew she was terrified by the cost of living.

The ox cart passed familiar streets and arrived at the back gate of the Zhao residence.

Compared to Huang Yu's first visit, Zheng Mother and Zheng Shan were even more overwhelmed—even the usually mischievous Zheng Shan gripped Zheng Fa's arm tightly, looking frightened.

Gao Yuan was waiting at the back gate. Seeing the ox cart, he said directly: "The Young Master said you don't need to get down—just drive right in."

Zheng Fa felt a warmth in his chest; normally, an ox cart wasn't allowed inside the Zhao residence.

The Seventh Young Master had clearly anticipated this.

The ox driver's gaze toward Zheng Fa now held even more reverence.

The lodging Lady had assigned Zheng Fa was in a remote corner of the Zhao estate, far from its core.

But… it was a standalone courtyard with a single entrance!

At the sight of the courtyard walls, Zheng Shan's mouth dropped open in disbelief: "This courtyard… is ours?"

Zheng Fa nodded.

Zheng Shan leaned forward eagerly, as if she might leap out of his arms.

As the ox cart neared the gate, a plump figure stood there, flanked by several large baskets, with a few male servants beside them carrying the loads.

"You're here?"

The man greeted Zheng Fa and the others warmly.

Zheng Fa stared at the unfamiliar man, when Gao Yuan spoke up, slightly embarrassed: "Zheng Fa, this is my father."

Zheng Fa immediately jumped down and bowed: "Greetings, Master Gao!"

Zheng Mother and Zheng Shan also stepped down, their eyes questioning Zheng Fa. He whispered to her: "Gao Yuan's father—the steward of the second branch."

Zheng Mother's expression turned startled.

In her understanding, a steward was a person of great importance—compared to a steward, the village's Wang Guanshi meant nothing.

Zheng Mother bowed to pay respects, but Master Gao stepped forward first with a bow: "You must be Madame Zheng—pleased to meet you!"

Zheng Mother froze.

Earlier, the ox driver had called her "Madam," and she had felt awkward.

Now even this steward used the same title—she didn't know how to respond.

Seeing her speechless, Master Gao smiled warmly: "My son has been helped by your son. Hearing of your family's move, I came uninvited—with a few humble gifts."

He gestured to the several large chests behind him.

Zheng Fa spoke: "Uncle Gao is too polite; this gift does not seem light at all."

"It looks like a lot, but they are all worthless trinkets!" Steward Gao said with a simple smile: "I just thought that since you just moved in, you wouldn't have time to make furniture, nor buy rice, flour, and oil, so I prepared some for you."

Zheng Fa looked at the carved four-poster bed behind him that looked very valuable and fell into deep thought.

Seeing Zheng Fa say nothing, Steward Gao's face showed a hint of unease.

"Uncle has a kind heart!" Finally, Zheng Fa's single sentence made a smile appear on his face.

"Nephew is too polite!"

"In the future, I will urge Brother Gao more often." Zheng Fa suddenly said sincerely.

Gao Yuan, standing nearby: "Huh?"

The formality on Steward Gao's face diminished greatly, revealing sincere surprise: "Good! Urge him to death for me..."

Nearby, Zheng Mother heard the old cart driver mutter: "This good life has come so easily."

She turned back to look at her cherished loom; it was so large, appearing somewhat superfluous.

The Zhao family entered the courtyard to settle in.

Gao Yuan followed Steward Gao walking towards a distance; a gloomy expression was on Gao Yuan's face.

"What's wrong? Do you think I, your father, am eagerly currying favor with them?"

Steward Gao saw his son's expression and knew what he was thinking.

"Father, Zheng Fa and I are friends..."

"Don't you know how you kept your position as a page boy? Exchanging this small gift for a page boy's position, look at how many people in the entire manor would be willing?"

"Father?"

"Remember, the more you want a friendship to last, the less you should take others' kindness for granted."

Gao Yuan understood and nodded, convinced from the heart.

"Besides, for whom am I doing this? This Zheng Fa looks like he will at least be the Seventh Young Master's confidant in the future; being generous now will bring benefits to you later."

"I understand, Father!"

Gao Yuan felt both guilty and moved; wasn't his father giving gifts to Zheng Fa for his own good?

How could he say he was currying favor?

"Actually, we don't even have to wait for the future..." A trace of cunning appeared on Steward Gao's face: "I heard that Zheng Fa might have the possibility of entering the Immortal Sect. A few days ago, the Seventh Young Master argued with Lady over him, and in the end, Lady even rewarded him with a courtyard!"

"Father, what you mean is..."

"What I mean is, even without the Seventh Young Master's future promotion, Lady already has high hopes for Zheng Fa!" Speaking to this point, Steward Gao patted Gao Yuan's shoulder: "You are still young and cannot grasp it."

"Huh?"

"Let Father hug this thigh first."