Xu Mao cast a sidelong glance at Bai Jing, looking her up and down.
Her flesh looked as lush as freshly peeled lychee, her waist swaying like drooping willow branches brushed by the wind. A wicked fire instantly stirred in his lower belly, and the sort of lewd remarks heard in the streets were already rolling on his tongue.
But the middle-aged steward had a keen eye and saw through his intentions at once. He cupped his hands and said, "Please forgive us, Madam Xu. Our young master speaks his mind too readily. He was merely curious about that white cat."
Xu Mao glanced at his steward and caught his meaningful looks. Only then did he curl his lip and let the matter drop.
"And you came from a greater clan? You can't even recognize what's in front of you." A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Xu Mingxian's mouth.
"What did you say, brat?!"
Seeing even a little child dare to mock him, Xu Mao roared in anger and sprang to his feet.
"You're a grown man. Are you really going to pick a fight with a mischievous six-year-old?"
By the time Xu Mingxian and Xu Mingshu were born, the Xu Household was no longer as poor as it had been in the beginning.
Xu Chuan, his wife, and the older brothers all doted on them. That had made them rather mischievous, and they had always spoken their minds.
The middle-aged steward asked with a smile, "Young master, you said we couldn't recognize what was in front of us. Why is that?"
"What my sister's holding is a tiger cub. You called it a white cat. Aren't those eyes of yours blind?"
The middle-aged steward froze.
Xu Mao burst out laughing. "A tiger cub? Do you think I've never seen a tiger? Since when do they have white fur?"
"Mistaking a white cat for a tiger—just what I'd expect of a child raised by Xu Chuan."
Xu Mingshu grew angry too. She pointed at Xu Mao. "Little White, bite him."
Little White seemed to understand Xu Mingshu's words. Those crimson-gold eyes flashed with ferocity as they turned toward Xu Mao.
The cub opened its mouth as well, baring tiger fangs that had yet to grow in fully.
"Xueji, who are you trying to bite?"
"I told you not to let Little White bite people whenever you please!"
An easygoing voice came from outside the gate.
Then Xu Chuan, Xu Mingwei, Sun Fugui, and Qian Youcai walked into the courtyard.
Outside the gate, seven or eight sturdy men in plain clothes stood before several handcarts.
The carts were loaded with baskets of Jade Pears.
"Father, you're back!"
Xu Mingxian and Xu Mingshu called out and ran toward Xu Chuan.
Bai Jing breathed a sigh of relief inwardly and smiled as well. "You're back, husband. Young Master Xu and his party have been waiting for a while."
Xu Chuan nodded, then looked at Xu Mao and said with a smile, "Brother Xu, it's been a long time."
"Father, this man insulted you just now."
Baring her little canine teeth, Xu Mingshu tattled to Xu Chuan.
"You little girl!" Xu Mao glared furiously at Xu Mingshu, his brows bristling and his face filled with anger.
"Xu Family Head, our young master was only joking. Please don't take offense."
The middle-aged steward offered an apologetic smile and tried to smooth things over.
"For the Third Master's sake, I naturally won't take offense. But the Xu Household has much to attend to today, so we won't be entertaining guests."
The middle-aged steward's brows drew together slightly.
As if he hadn't understood, Xu Mao continued to bluster with a sneer. "You wouldn't dare, anyway!"
"Those outside are this year's Jade Pears, aren't they? Hand them over, and I'll overlook your daughter's offense. The Xu Lineage isn't stingy, either. We won't shortchange your household."
"Surely you're talking nonsense, Brother Xu." Xu Chuan chuckled, stroking Xu Mingshu's head. "Why should I give you my pears?"
"Our household is opening a fruit shop in the County Seat. All these Jade Pears are going there for tomorrow's opening."
The middle-aged steward understood.
He knew they could only return empty-handed today.
The Xu Household had handed its Jade Pears over to the Xu Lineage every year only because the latter was powerful. They had been enduring it in silence, lying low.
"Xu Chuan, you dare refuse to hand them over? Do you want to offend the Xu Lineage?!"
"Listen to yourself. If I don't sell you what belongs to me, that's an offense? Then would your lineage be willing to sell me the medicinal herbs you grow on twenty mu of land for thirty percent below market price?"
"If so, this deal isn't out of the question."
"Ridiculous!" Xu Mao laughed in fury.
Not wanting relations between the two families to grow even more strained, the middle-aged steward hurriedly cupped his hands toward Xu Chuan. "Since you already have plans for those Jade Pears, Xu Family Head, we won't trouble you any further."
With that, he forcibly dragged Xu Mao away.
Xu Mao still looked thoroughly unwilling to leave.
"Steward Wang, why are you dragging me away? That Xu Chuan doesn't know what's good for him. I was just about to teach him a lesson."
"With the men we brought?" the middle-aged steward countered. "Even if we could teach him a lesson, if he refuses to sell, can we simply rob him? Aren't you afraid he'll submit a written complaint to the County Yamen, accusing us of forcibly stealing his Jade Pears?"
"When that happens, not only will our lineage suffer a great loss, but we'll also lose our good name throughout all the neighboring villages."
"We should go back and tell the Third Master about this. Let him, the Second Master, and the family head decide."
"Hmph!"
After the middle-aged steward's words, Xu Mao could only return home reluctantly.
The Xu Lineage's compound.
"Did Xu Chuan really say that?"
Third Master Xu sat at the head of the hall. After hearing the middle-aged steward's account, he stroked his beard and said, "Forget it. Things have come to this. There's no point holding out hope anymore."
"I truly underestimated Xu Chuan. I thought he was nothing more than an honest, dutiful, timid farmer."
"But as long as our lineage manages its other businesses well, we can still flourish with each passing day."
After a pause, he added, "By the way, Steward Wang, you said the Xu Household's fruit shop in the County Seat opens tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Go find out about it. Take a congratulatory gift over for the opening tomorrow."
"We all live in Dongxi Village. We still need to keep up appearances."
"Yes, Third Master," the middle-aged steward replied before withdrawing.
"As for you, stay home for a while and don't go out stirring up trouble. Ah, our branch still has to pin its hopes on Gan'er."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Mao was still seething inside.
In the past, Xu Chuan had bowed his head before him like flattened grass, bending at the waist like ruined cotton batting. Only a few years had passed, and now he dared treat him like this?!
That foul breath of anger lodged in his throat burned worse than a swallowed ember!
Hmph. I can't deal with you, but I fathered a fine son.
Gan'er is learning martial arts from his second uncle at the Black Wind Martial Hall. He's the next member of our lineage with the best chance of becoming a First-Class Martial Artist.
Xu Chuan, isn't your fruit shop opening tomorrow? Let's see how you keep it open if something goes wrong.
Xu Mao paid no heed to his father's words. He turned around and rode to Qingjiang County Seat.
When the middle-aged steward learned that Xu Mao had left the Xu Residence, he immediately reported it to Third Master Xu.
Third Master Xu waved a hand. "Let him go to the County Seat and clear his head. So long as he doesn't provoke the Xu Household."
"All I ask is that our well water stays clear of their river water."
The Xu Household.
"Shitou, take the Jade Pears to A Yuan with Sun Fugui and Qian Youcai. Go now."
"All right, Father." Xu Mingwei nodded.
Xu Mingxian looked at Xu Chuan and asked curiously, "Father, why didn't you teach that man surnamed Xu a lesson?"
"That's right. Xueji hates him too, and so does Little White."
"Awoo~" With a pat on the head, the little white tiger joined in as well.
"A man like him is a woodworm in the Xu Lineage. Isn't he more useful left alive to hollow them out and gnaw them to ruin for us?"
A knowing smile touched Xu Chuan's lips. "Besides, I have my own use for him. I'll take you to the County Seat tomorrow to watch a good show. If possible, we can vent this anger while we're at it."
Xu Chuan stroked both their heads, then added, "It's not noon yet. Go practice your fists a little longer."
"Father, didn't we practice this morning?" Xu Mingshu pouted unhappily.
Xu Chuan kept a stern face and said nothing.
Seeing that, the two could only obediently begin practicing their punches in the courtyard.
The little white tiger escaped Xu Mingshu's clutches.
The cub lay down on the veranda, yawned, and leisurely basked in the sun.
Over the past half month, the cub had grown used to this life and had also become very obedient to Xu Mingshu.