Chapter 145: Drawing Stipends

Inside and outside the gates of the Qingyu Furong Garden, it was as if they were two different worlds. Inside, it was desolate and cold, the ground covered in withered branches and fallen leaves with no one to sweep them; outside, it was bustling and lively, with people coming and going and lanterns hung everywhere.

For a moment, it felt like a lifetime ago.

Liu Xiaolou walked along the path toward the main warehouse. The Su clan members, estate stewards, and maids he encountered were all beaming with joy, busy and bustling, though he had no idea what they were so busy with.

Upon reaching the main warehouse, he saw more than a dozen stewards and accountants moving boxes tied with red silk flowers and carrying loads of boxes covered in red silk in and out. Some were loudly calling out the items inside the boxes and crates, while others were writing furiously, recording everything in the ledgers without pause.

"The Jia clan of Dongheng Town: ten jin of gold, three thousand taels of silver, thirty spirit stones, twelve eastern pearls, one six-foot-tall coral sculpture..."

"The Qian family of Fuzhou: one hundred bolts of Shu brocade, ten loads of lake silk, ten shi of spirit rice from Lotus Flower Mountain, ten shi of spirit rice from Eyang Mountain, twenty spirit stones..."

"Lotus Flower Village of Wutong Mountain: one pair of triangular sheep, six Black Mountain spirit pigs, two small garden cows, twenty spirit stones..."

"The Xiong family of Huagou: eight jin of Golden Mountain honey, ten jars of Bamboo Leaf Green spirit wine..."

The person in charge of the main warehouse was the uncle of Su Zhi and Su Xun. Being of the older generation and ranked third, his cultivation talent was insufficient, stopping at the Early Foundation Establishment stage. Unable to establish his own branch, he was given this most important yet most tedious task.

Come to think of it, the several experts and powerful figures of the Su family's older generation all had cultivation bases far superior to his, yet they had fallen one by one for various reasons—some suffered qi deviation while secluding to break through, some were trapped while exploring the void, and others died from incurable wounds after combat. Ironically, he, with his mediocre cultivation, had lived the longest. Now at the ripe old age of one hundred and fifty, he was still full of energy; it was said he had already gone through three rounds of concubines.

At this moment, he was stroking his beard, supervising the servants as they organized and stacked the goods in the warehouse.

Liu Xiaolou approached him and addressed him as "Third Uncle-Grandfather."

This Third Uncle-Grandfather of the Su family glanced at Liu Xiaolou, sizing him up for a moment, as if he had suddenly remembered something. Stroking his white beard, he said in realization, "Xiaolou... it's been a long time. When did you return?"

Liu Xiaolou smiled and said, "I've been staying in the garden the whole time; I haven't been out."

Third Uncle-Grandfather asked, "Ha, everyone thought you had gone out traveling... what brings you to visit me today?"

Liu Xiaolou cupped his hands and said, "I am ashamed to say, but I've truly run out of supplies where I am. I must ask Third Uncle-Grandfather to grant me my monthly stipend."

Third Uncle-Grandfather was clearly in a good mood today. He waved over an accountant, had him check the amount of Liu Xiaolou's monthly stipend, and Liu Xiaolou received seven spirit stones and seventy taels of silver on the spot.

Having successfully received his stipend, Liu Xiaolou was in high spirits. He leaned in toward Third Uncle-Grandfather again and asked what all this was for.

Third Uncle-Grandfather laughed and replied, "The third son of the Second Branch is getting married to the young daughter of Guan Xingzhou from the Zhemei Sect. The grand ceremony is today. Isn't this all the congratulatory gifts sent by various families that we're busy counting?"

"Getting married, huh..." Liu Xiaolou felt a bit melancholy. He had gone through all that trouble to rescue Tan Ba, only to indirectly facilitate the good fortune of that fellow, Su San.

It was just that what Tan Ba wanted was to marry, to be a live-in son-in-law, and to change his background, not specifically the daughter of the Guan family. There was no good way to handle that, so he could only watch helplessly as that wretch Su San achieved his wish.

Arriving outside Gualu Hall, he took a look from afar; it was even livelier here. After all, it was the marriage of a legitimate son of the Su family's Second Branch, different from the hastily held ceremony for Su Wuniang's live-in husband last year. This was a proper dual cultivation ceremony. Not only had all the prominent figures of the Su lineage arrived, but many from the Cai, Mao, and Wang lineages had also come to observe. There were at least two or three hundred people gathered inside and outside Gualu Hall.

Liu Xiaolou watched from a distance for a moment before leaving Gualu Hall. As he passed the main kitchen, the servants were already carrying food baskets in a steady stream toward that side.

He spotted the steward, Kitchen Maid Wang, at a glance, standing with her hands on her hips, shouting and directing the servants to work.

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Kitchen Maid Wang also caught sight of Liu Xiaolou, but she didn't dare look for long. She turned to the side, subconsciously wanting to avoid him, but her path was blocked by busy servants. She felt anxious and angry but didn't dare speak loudly, feeling quite flustered for a moment.

The more she wanted to avoid something, the more it came to her. In the blink of an eye, Liu Xiaolou was standing in front of her, staring straight at her.

"Kitchen Maid Wang, it's been half a year. In the Qingyu Furong Garden, not a single person has sent me any food. Do you know how I've spent these past six months?"

Kitchen Maid Wang didn't dare answer. The fat on her face twitched a few times; she didn't want to yield, yet she was subconsciously afraid, feeling very uncomfortable.

Liu Xiaolou added, "Do you really think there's no one in my Qingyu Furong Garden?"

Kitchen Maid Wang didn't dare meet his eyes and shifted her gaze to the side.

Liu Xiaolou said, "I'm hungry, you know what to do! Also, don't think about spitting in the food or putting filth in it. Your husband here cultivates his nose; as long as I discover you daring to pull any of these crooked tricks, we'll settle it with a duel!" He flicked his sleeves and left.

After he left, Kitchen Maid Wang spat fiercely, "Hope you starve to death! Fighting with me?"

After venting for a while, she finally called over a servant and told him to carry a food basket: "Send this to the Qingyu Furong Garden."

The servant asked, "Should I send all the main dishes?"

Kitchen Maid Wang glared at him. She wanted to say no, but finally hummed, "Give it to him, just consider it feeding a dog." Yet she was truly unwilling: "Come back!" She opened the food basket, wanting to spit a mouthful of thick phlegm into it, but remembered Liu Xiaolou's threat and ultimately didn't dare, swallowing the phlegm back down.

She waved her hand: "Go!"

The servant had only taken two steps when the food basket was suddenly taken by a young man in white who appeared out of nowhere.

Kitchen Maid Wang recognized this person and quickly said with a fawning smile, "Young Master Yun, this is..."

The person who had come was the White Cloud Swordsman Brother Yun Ao. The Yun family was not a vassal of the Su family but a family friend. Brother Yun Ao had often visited the Shenwu Mountain Villa when he was young, so Kitchen Maid Wang recognized him.

Brother Yun Ao said, "I heard from afar just now that this is food being sent to your young master's garden? Why isn't he attending Su San's wedding ceremony?"

Kitchen Maid Wang said, "Wuniang hasn't returned, and he's just a live-in husband..."

Before she could finish, Brother Yun Ao interrupted, "I happen to have something to discuss with him, so I'll just bring the food over for you. What about wine? Is there no wine?"

Kitchen Maid Wang quickly ordered a pot of Osmanthus-scented spirit wine to be stuffed into the food basket: "How can I let you do this?"

Brother Yun Ao carried the food basket away. Arriving at the entrance of the Qingyu Furong Garden, he hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and knocking on the door.

A gust of wind rose, and the gate creaked open. Brother Yun Ao stepped inside and looked around, only to see the garden was cold and desolate, with only a large white goose.

This large white goose had a pile of withered branches and fallen leaves at its feet, and it was turning its head to look at him, its beak still holding a few leaves.

"Even the poultry being raised has nothing to eat and can only forage in the withered branches and leaves? How harsh the Su family is to this son-in-law... Sigh..."

Thinking this in his heart, he remained calm on the surface and shouted, "Su Liu Shi, I've come to see you!"

Please visit the latest address. ===== CHAPTER 146 =====