Employment Benefits?

Zheng Fa watched Steward Wang leave, his back slightly stiff, his gaze calm.

Behind him, Mother Zheng spoke with some concern. "He came intending to ease the relationship between our two families. We'll still have to see each other around. Was it really good to refuse him like that?"

Zheng Fa knew that his mother had a gentle nature and disliked stirring up trouble.

But Zheng Shan, his younger sister, was clear about favors and grudges. "A few stinking silver coins—who wants them? Wang Gui's whole family is no good!"

She clearly still remembered how Wang Gui had blocked them at the village entrance before.

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

"Steward Wang probably doesn't mean well. I've only just been chosen by Madam to become Seventh Young Master's pageboy, yet I'm already openly taking someone else's silver. What would that look like?"

This was completely different from the things Huang Yu's family had sent.

Huang Yu's father had sent plain writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and several bolts of coarse cloth. They were not worth much, but they were useful.

But Steward Wang... a whole bundle of silver was simply too conspicuous.

It was more likely meant to build him up only to knock him down.

In the end, one side was sincerely trying to befriend them, while the other harbored malicious intentions.

Mother Zheng froze, seeming to understand a little. There was also an inexplicable comfort in the way she looked at Zheng Fa. "You really have become sensible."

Zheng Fa smiled and nodded, without the slightest modesty. "Don't worry, Mother. I'll earn you far more than this little bit of silver in the future!"

He knew that his mother had likely always been trembling with fear. The more confident he was, the more peace of mind she would have.

In truth, he had also deliberately meant to frighten Mother Zheng a little—he was not sure whether Steward Wang truly intended to build him up only to destroy him, but he knew there was no need to take such a risk over this silver.

His younger sister nodded along at the side. "Mother, I'll earn you silver too in the future! We don't want the Wang family's silver!"

Her little face was full of determination.

Mother Zheng shot her a glance. "If you can just stop being so greedy for food, I'll be thanking Heaven and Earth!"

Zheng Fa picked up his younger sister, bounced her in his arms, and laughed. "You have gotten heavier! You seem a little taller too."

Then he thought of something else. "Mother, make me two sets of clothes from the cloth the Huang Family sent. Use the rest to make some for yourself and Little Shan."

Mother Zheng was unwilling. "They gave that to you. Besides, when you go to Zhao Manor, you need a few more outfits at least. You need to keep up appearances."

"I'm only a pageboy, not some Big Shot. What appearances do I need to keep?" Zheng Fa pinched the little tuft of hair atop his younger sister's head. "Besides, none of us have had new clothes in years."

"New clothes!"

In Zheng Fa's arms, upon hearing those three words, his younger sister raised both hands and cheered.

She was overjoyed.

"Then I'll make two for you, and the rest will go to your younger sister. Mother doesn't need any." Mother Zheng thought for a moment, then spoke firmly.

After staying home for one night, Zheng Fa put on the new clothes his mother had made overnight and bid farewell to the village once more.

This time, Mother Zheng's eyes were a little red.

According to the Zhao Family's rules, Zheng Fa had to study and train in martial arts with Seventh Young Master, and could only return once every six days.

If Zheng Fa remained a pageboy, then for at least the next several years, he would spend most of his time at Zhao Manor.

Zheng Shan had been especially happy these past few days. There had been good food at home, and her mother had made her new clothes.

Wang Gui did not dare bully her anymore either.

But now, clutching Zheng Fa's knee, she burst into loud sobs:

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

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

"I don't want Brother to go to the Zhao Family!"

The one who had come to pick up Zheng Fa was still that Old Man driving the ox cart. With a pipe between his teeth, he watched the scene and said awkwardly, "Xiao Zheng, we need to set off. We can't keep the noble person waiting."

Zheng Fa picked up Zheng Shan and placed her in their mother's arms, then nodded at Mother Zheng, whose eyes were red but who said nothing.

His younger sister's cries grew louder. Zheng Fa endured it and did not look back.

The Old Man lightly flicked his long whip against the ox's rump and seemed to speak to Zheng Fa. "Is this Xiao Zheng's first time leaving home?"

"Mm." Zheng Fa did not particularly feel like talking.

"When I was young, the first time I went out driving a cart, my mother looked at me just like that..." The Old Man took a puff from his pipe. "But young people always want to go out, want to accomplish something big. Still, if you can turn back and look, you should look a few more times."

Zheng Fa turned back and looked towards the two figures still gazing into the distance after the ox cart.

The Old Man's rambling still sounded in his ears. "This old man, now if I want to turn back and look at my mother once, I can't see her anymore."

Zheng Fa opened the large bundle on his back. There was another smaller bundle inside. "Last time, you said you liked my mother's cooking. My mother made some more."

The Old Man stared blankly, then turned to look at Zheng Fa.

"You really believed that I liked your mother's cooking?"

"My mother believed it."

"You didn't tell her?"

"Making these gives her a little peace of mind."

The Old Man was silent for a while. Then he picked up a flatbread from the bundle, took a bite, and said, "You're better than I was when I was young."

When the cart arrived at Zhao Manor, they still entered through the back gate.

But this time, Gao Yuan was waiting for him.

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

Zheng Fa wore coarse cloth and carried the large blue-cloth bundle Mother Zheng had prepared.

They looked at each other, and Gao Yuan was instead a little embarrassed.

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

The moment he saw Zheng Fa, Gao Yuan hurriedly spoke. The two headed toward Seventh Young Master's residence.

Zhao Manor was enormous.

Seventh Young Master's residence was deep within it as well.

By the time Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan arrived, Zheng Fa's back was already soaked with sweat.

Seventh Young Master's little courtyard—no, it should have been called a large compound.

It was a typical three-section courtyard. Looking beyond it toward the rear, it even seemed to come with its own garden.

It could be called a courtyard within a courtyard.

This showed just how high Seventh Young Master's status was in Zhao Manor, and how favored he was.

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

"Do Not Envy Immortals"

Zheng Fa secretly thought that in a world ruled by Immortal Sects, such words truly could not be called anything but arrogant.

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

The door opened a crack, and a maidservant poked her head out. The moment she saw the two, she understood. "The new pageboys? Come in. Young Master is waiting for you."

Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan entered the courtyard and immediately noticed one particularly obvious feature:

There were no men.

The ones leading the way, sweeping and cleaning, and going back and forth as servants were all young maidservants.

Zheng Fa was fine, but Gao Yuan could only keep his eyes fixed straight ahead all the way, visibly nervous.

The place where Seventh Young Master would see them was the Study Room in the outer courtyard. The maidservant led them to the door of the Study Room.

Someone sat in a chair, engrossed in reading an Ancient Texts held in his hand.

Sunlight shone through the Glazed Window onto his white robe, faintly reflecting silver light and making his delicate, fair features appear even more refined.

Even if Seventh Young Master's reputation did not seem particularly good, Zheng Fa still had to admit that this fellow certainly looked the part.

As though he had heard the Footsteps of the three people, Seventh Young Master raised his brows and Looked Towards Zheng Fa and the others.

The moment he saw them, he Laughed, rose, and strode toward them. In an enthusiastic tone, he said, "You two are my new pageboys? Gao Yuan?"

He pointed at Gao Yuan, then looked at Zheng Fa. "Zheng Fa, right?"

He had actually remembered both their names already.

"I've been waiting for you two!" Seventh Young Master seemed extremely happy. He tossed aside the book in his hand, came over to greet them, and even warmly took Gao Yuan's book case for him.

Gao Yuan's excited face turned a little red.

"You two put your things down first. I'll make the decision—we'll go to Misty Rain Tower and order a feast to welcome you!"

Even Zheng Fa was a little dumbfounded.

This Seventh Young Master was being a little too enthusiastic.

On the other hand, what sort of place was Misty Rain Tower? It was the most famous den of Fireworks in Jingzhou City.

The employment benefits for a pageboy were actually this considerate... or was it simply corrupting public morals?

When he looked at Gao Yuan beside him again, Gao Yuan's face suddenly turned pale as he said, "Seventh Young Master, wasn't your last pageboy the one who persuaded you to go to Misty Rain Tower? Didn't Madam beat him and send him back?"

Seventh Young Master froze, tossed the book case in his hand to the ground, and clapped his hands.

"You certainly have well-informed news." The smile on his face slowly vanished. "Then tell me, would you two rather roll out of here yourselves, or be beaten and driven out like that last fool?"

The book case hit the ground with a clatter and cracked.

Just like the expression on Gao Yuan's face.