Chapter 75: Steward

“Why not? Didn’t it used to be enough to get a top-grade rating to enter the Immortal Sect?”

Even though he had always been somewhat afraid of True Person Zhang, the Seventh Young Master couldn’t help complaining.

Zheng Fa understood his anxiety; from the Seventh Young Master’s perspective:

You’re a poor student, struggling through a major exam, hanging your hair from the beam and pricking your thigh with a needle, drowning in books, studying relentlessly—just to scrape by with a passing score of sixty.

Then the proctor walks in and announces a change in the rules: the exam no longer scores papers, but ranks candidates by position—only the top ten pass; everyone else fails…

Anyone would explode.

Zhang Shijie also shook her head: “This time, every family participating in the Immortal Grade Assembly fears further changes, so they’ve shoved all their best talents in. The number of participants isn’t just larger—it’s the highest quality ever. If we still judged by grade alone, too many would enter the Immortal Sect.”

“Isn’t that better?”

The Seventh Young Master asked blankly.

"For you, of course it is. For those of us already inside the Immortal Sect..." Zhang Shijie looked at Zheng Fa with deep meaning: "You're here to snatch up the spoils."

“Even though every participant in the Immortal Grade Assembly has a Jin Dan or Nascent Soul True Person behind them, the grassroots disciples of the Hundred Immortal Alliance have risen in outrage—hence the quota restrictions.”

“How many slots are there?”

“Each sect varies, but for talisman arts, our Jiushan Sect will be strict, while Qingmu Sect… they’re known for pill refining, not talisman arts, so their requirements are lower.” Zhang Shijie said to the Seventh Young Master, as if trying to comfort him.

The Seventh Young Master let out a quiet sigh—he held the Immortal Grade Token for Qingmu Sect.

Zheng Fa understood Zhang Shijie’s meaning.

Jiushan Sect’s talisman arts are number one among the Hundred Immortal Alliance, and those who study talismans naturally want to join Jiushan, so their admission standards are high.

Qingmu Sect’s talisman arts are weak, competition is low—so the Seventh Young Master’s chances are actually high.

…

On the way back to their new courtyard, Zheng Fa encountered two long-absent acquaintances—Huang Yu and his father, the slightly chubby Huang Guanxi.

Behind them was a cart piled high with food, bedding, and miscellaneous items.

The whole setup looked like they were moving in.

“Huang Brother?” Zheng Fa stared at them in surprise—they were clearly waiting for him.

“Zheng… Young Master!”

Huang Yu bowed, speaking awkwardly.

Huang Guanxi also bowed with a smile, his expression warmer than usual, tinged with excessive flattery.

“What’s this…?”

He looked at them, then at the cart behind them.

Huang Yu’s face flushed red, as if too embarrassed to speak.

Huang Guanxi slapped his son’s head and said: “My son wants to serve you!”

“Huh?” Zheng Fa hadn’t expected this: “Serve me?”

“Yes! My son heard you got the Immortal Grade Token and moved out on your own, so he’s been determined to become your steward!”

Huang Guanxi chuckled.

Zheng Fa studied their expressions and realized Huang Yu’s face wasn’t bright—he understood: this was almost certainly Huang Guanxi’s idea.

“Uncle…”

“Don’t you dare!” Huang Guanxi quickly waved his hands: “I can’t accept such a title from a Young Master.”

Seeing his fearful demeanor, Zheng Fa dropped the honorific: “If Huang Brother truly wishes to join me, I welcome him—but…”

Huang Guanxi must have done his homework.

Zheng Family did need a male steward.

Especially if Zheng Fa left Jingzhou—even with Zhao Family’s protection—he couldn’t feel at ease leaving his mother and sister alone.

If Huang Yu agreed to work for Zheng Fa, it would ease some of his hidden worries.

“He wants to! Say it yourself—do you want to work for the Zheng family?” Huang Guanxi smacked his son’s head hard, and Huang Yu finally muttered: “I do.”

Zheng Fa noticed his expression was uneasy, but not forced, and added: “We’re a small household—we can’t afford a high monthly salary.”

“We don’t even need pay!” Huang Guanxi grinned: “This cart? I packed everything he’ll eat and use for a whole year!”

Zheng Fa stared at the towering pile behind them, stunned—showing up to work with your own rations? What noble character.

In the modern world, it could move even the blackest capitalists to tears.

Huang Guanxi added: “I won’t hide anything from you, Young Master—this boy’s wild, can’t stay still on the estate, and working at Zhao Fu, I feared he’d lack the wit. I know you’re kind and know him well, so I’ve come begging for a chance.”

“My son’s slow-witted and clumsy, but he’s honest. I won’t lie to you: if you need a slick, polished head steward, he can’t do it. But if you need someone to guard the gate, protect Lady Zheng and Miss Zheng—he’ll fight to the death.”

Zheng Fa nodded. Huang Guanxi was a true master—Zheng Fa didn’t need someone to run the household brilliantly; loyalty mattered most.

“Then Huang Brother’s servitude contract…”

“No wonder you have such influence!” Huang Guanxi grinned: “I asked Lady Zheng’s opinion—when she heard it was for you, she handed over the contract without a word.”

“Fine, we must pay something—how about one tael of silver per month?”

“You’re too generous, Young Master!”

One tael per month was far too little for Zhao Fu’s Wu Guanxi or Gao Guanxi—it would be an insult.

But for Huang Yu, with no experience, it was slightly high—Zheng Fa offered it to buy his loyalty; if he paid nothing, Huang Yu might not resent it at first, but over time, resentment would grow.

Far from home, Zheng Fa preferred to spend a little to feel secure.

Zheng Family’s new courtyard was a two-court compound; Zheng Mu and the younger sister lived in the back court.

Huang Yu and his father moved the belongings into the front court; Huang Yu would live beside the front gate, essentially as a gatekeeper.

After everything was placed, Huang Yu saw his father off outside the city.

Seeing his son’s gloomy expression, Huang Guanxi spoke calmly: “What, do you feel demeaned being a steward?”

“No… it just feels awkward… last time we met, we were brothers.”

“Are you stupid? Don’t you see Zheng Fa is about to enter the Immortal Sect? Soon you’ll ride on his coattails—maybe even outshine Zhao Fu’s Wu Guanxi. Isn’t that worth more than a friend’s empty title?”

“…But I wasn’t exactly bad friends with Zheng Fa before?”

“Do you know what you must do first to ride on someone’s coattails?”

“Huh?”

“You must become the dog first!” Huang Guanxi smacked his son’s head in frustration: “If you hadn’t known Zheng Fa first, would this steward position even be yours?”

Huang Yu looked up, sensing something off.

“If I’d known him first, I’d have taken the job myself!”

Huang Yu fell silent as his father continued: “Zheng Fa isn’t hard to serve, and his future is bright—even if he never becomes rich or powerful, you’ll still have stability. I’m useless; I scoured everywhere just to find you this path. Do well.”

“Yes.”

…

“Brother, you’re going to become an immortal—we have our own steward now!” Zheng Shan said excitedly.

But Zheng Fa’s expression remained calm: “These things are all illusions.”

This courtyard, Zhang Shijie, Huang Yu—even Lady Zheng’s kindness—were all loans.

If he failed to enter the Immortal Sect at the Immortal Grade Assembly, all of it would vanish.

“Mother said the same thing…” the younger sister suddenly added.

“Hm?”

“She says this life is good, but she’s afraid you’re too tired.” Zheng Shan frowned: “Brother, are you tired? If you are, don’t become an immortal—pigweed leaves are pretty tasty too!”

As she spoke, her face wore an expression of heroic sacrifice.

As she said this, her face wore an expression of heroic sacrifice.