HUS Chapter 66: Qingmei's Little Sweetness
HUS Chapter 66: Qingmei's Little Sweetness
January 4
"It's Wan'er. So late, what do you need?"
As soon as Zhang Yunyi saw it was her, his expression turned cold.
The fact that Young Master Zhang had wanted to burn him, his own father, alive had inflicted tremendous psychological damage on him.
Young Master Zhang had been stoned to pulp by the villagers under his personal supervision.
From then on, he also developed feelings of disgust toward this daughter-in-law.
Chen Wan walked in gracefully with a cold pretty face.
"Leave the door open." Estate Head Zhang habitually instructed.
Given their special relationship, they had to pay extra attention to proprieties, otherwise they'd invite gossip.
Chen Wan'er stopped the door that was closing and then walked before him.
Chen Wan'er hesitated slightly, then mustered her courage to say to Zhang Yunyi, "Grandfather, this daughter-in-law wants to return to her natal family tomorrow."
"Why is this?" Zhang Yunyi frowned.
In this current era, ritual propriety constraints were relatively loose.
Even in the Southern Dynasty of the Central Plains where aristocratic forces were strong and greatly advocated ritual propriety, widow remarriage was common.
As for the northern and western regions, they were even more lenient. However, returning to one's natal family and remarrying had different natures.
Usually only daughters-in-law whose lives in their husband's family were unsustainable would make such a choice out of necessity.
Of course, once returning to her natal family, if she had sons, they had to be left with the husband's family.
As for the dowry she originally brought, that could be entirely at her personal disposal.
Chen Wan said coldly, "This daughter-in-law's husband is already dead. If this daughter-in-law now wants to return to her natal family, informing Grandfather is sufficient. Does there need to be any other reason?"
These words made the fury in Zhang Yunyi's heart flare up instantly.
Actually, he knew why Chen Wan wanted to return to her natal family.
Chen Wan and Zhang Xinran's relationship had been quite good.
Her husband was stoned alive to pulp by people sent by her father-in-law. She couldn't accept it.
Moreover, because of this matter, not only did her parents-in-law grow cold toward her, but all the Zhang family felt it was her husband who caused everyone's downfall.
She had suffered countless cold looks in the Zhang family for this.
These days were truly oppressive. Of course she wanted to leave.
From Zhang Yunyi's perspective, even though he appeared indifferent to everything, he was actually much more sensitive than before.
Chen Wan's defiance touched his most sensitive pain point after losing his authority.
Especially since Chen Wan was a daughter of the Chen family of Pingliang Commandery. If she left, she would take away a large dowry.
This was also something the current Zhang Yunyi couldn't tolerate.
Looking at that beautiful woman in the lamplight, whose face was full of unspeakable disgust and coldness toward him.
Zhang Yunyi's face became ferocious, his eyes glowing like ghostly flames.
"Your husband died, so you want to leave? Are you that unable to live without a man? Fine, then this old man will return a man to you!"
Zhang Yunyi, carrying a chest full of rage, lunged at her.
This Chen Wan was extremely beautiful.
In the past, Zhang Yunyi wouldn't dare have private contact with her. Even on major holidays when the whole family gathered, he wouldn't give her an extra glance but now, he had no more scruples.
The mournful cries for help in the study were soon replaced by suppressed whimpering sounds because the residence was now small with many people, the study area wasn't deserted either.
Especially since the door wasn't even closed.
Slaves and servants outside must have heard something, but no one dared say a word.
The current Zhang Yunyi had truly achieved "great enlightenment."
His "great enlightenment" meant completely abandoning all responsibility, obligation, and sense of honor.
Completely devolving into a wild beast, a beast living wantonly for desire.
...
Yang Can returned to his quarters.
Pushing open the door, he didn't see that Persian cat.
Shouldn't she be respectfully waiting here now, loosening his robes for him, then handing him a cup of hot tea at just the right temperature?
Really not making things easy!
He had long seen that girl was proud and untamed but since I paid money to buy you, you should still do what you're supposed to do, right?
I'm not forcing you to sleep with me. How does making the bed and folding bedding wrong you?
Tomorrow I'll have Xiao Qingmei discipline her.
Yang Can felt that having the little spitfire discipline this Persian cat should be able to control her.
Turning past the screen, he saw lamplight coming from the bedroom.
Could she be waiting in the bedroom?
Was that Persian cat this sensible?
Yang Can hadn't thought about forcing her, but if this Persian cat took the initiative to offer herself, he wouldn't refuse either.
Such a perceptive and tactful woman, tomorrow the little spitfire wouldn't need to discipline her, right?
Yang Can thought as he walked into the bedroom. He saw a young woman crouching by the bed, adjusting hot water in a wooden basin.
She had her back to Yang Can, her pomegranate skirt gathered at her knees to avoid getting it wet on the floor.
In this position, her bottom presented plump and round like an archery target. However, although its shape was like a peach, this peach still showed some immaturity, not quite fully ripe.
"Qingmei?"
Yang Can was greatly surprised. He had thought it was that Medusa, never expecting it would be Xiao Qingmei.
They were close, but Qingmei had never prepared foot-washing water for him before.
Hearing his voice, Qingmei stood up and gave Yang Can a sweet smile.
"The foot-washing water is just ready. Come soak your feet."
Yang Can glanced around the room and didn't see Rena'baier.
Yang Can understood. Xiao Qingmei had sent her away.
Qingmei clearly felt a sense of crisis, which was why she humbled herself and even did the work of preparing foot-washing water.
Yang Can understood Qingmei's thoughts and couldn't help but smile inwardly. However, he didn't say anything to spoil the mood.
If he really made Xiao Qingmei angry with embarrassment, how could he enjoy such considerate service?
Yang Can nodded and calmly walked over, sitting down by the bed.
Composed as if he were long accustomed to her service.
Qingmei also behaved naturally. As soon as Yang Can sat, she docilely crouched down to remove his cloth socks.
She had originally served Suo Zanzhi this way. Now she was just serving a different person. What was there to be uncomfortable about?
Of course, if not for the persistent rosy blush on her cheeks, this reasoning would be more convincing.
"This young lady can bend and stretch. Today I'll give you a little sweetness so you won't give me trouble. One day, this young lady will ride on your head and lord it over you."
Qingmei set herself a flag like her young mistress, and her heart felt much calmer.
Yang Can looked at Xiao Qingmei with lowered brows and eyes washing his feet, and suddenly felt that things weren't bad as they were now.
Crisis and risk certainly coexisted, but wasn't the current life worlds apart from before?
If there's danger, sweep it away!
...
In the morning, Yang Can woke leisurely. Xiao Qingmei wasn't beside him.
The sweetness that little girl gave was personally washing his feet for him then she took the foot-washing water and left, left...
Yang Can waited quite a while and, confirming she wouldn't return, fell asleep disappointed.
Early in the morning, Xiao Qingmei appeared again with Medusa.
Yang Can didn't know what Xiao Qingmei had said to Medusa, but this Persian cat seemed less resistant to Yang Can than before.
She learned from Qingmei's example and began serving Yang Can with face-washing, teeth-brushing, changing clothes, and dressing.
It seemed she had accepted her fate.
Yang Can looked at this alluring Persian cat, feeling quite helpless.
A bowl of "golden broth and jade delicacies" right at his lips but unable to eat it. Was there any master in the world as frustrated as him?
He glanced at Xiao Qingmei. Xiao Qingmei seemed to know she was in the wrong and wouldn't make eye contact with him.
Forget it. The meat was already in his pot. Wouldn't rushing burn his mouth?
Yang Can consoled himself this way.
...
After Yang Can finished dressing, he walked out of the bedroom and strolled toward the central courtyard.
Like a lion king making his morning rounds of his territory.
Before dawn, before the master rose, rough maids and servants had already begun working.
Servants responsible for the gatehouse and courtyards opened the side and corner doors and swept the inner and outer passages.
Kitchen helpers and fire-tending old women started the stove fires and set well water to boil.
Kitchen maids and assistants prepared breakfast ingredients, washing rice, cleaning vegetables, kneading dough...
When Yang Can got up, the personal maids came on duty.
Xiao Qingmei and the Persian cat completed the tasks of attending to his washing and dressing.
When Yang Can walked out of the bedroom, servants responsible for the hall were wiping furniture and arranging flower vases.
The fragrance of dishes nearing completion already wafted from the kitchen.
Qingmei began inspecting various places, coordinating the work of maids and old women.
The gatehouse began receiving fresh vegetables and meat delivered from the estate.
The groom fed the horses and inspected the vehicles once, ready for the master to travel at any time.
Everything was silent, like a precise machine operating soundlessly.
Of course, because everyone had just arrived and wasn't familiar with the environment here and some servants originally weren't service people. They still needed to be taught.
The loudest noise in the morning came from the central courtyard, where Leopard Head was leading the guards in morning training.
This scene gave Yang Can a sense of déjà vu. However, these guards were all disciples Leopard Head had selected for him.
By employing them, Yang Can also bound himself to their families.
This helped him take root at Feng'an Estate.
Most Longshang people knew some martial arts, and these guards' martial skills were especially excellent.
Now under the strict teacher Leopard Head's guidance, they practiced very diligently.
Old Xin was chopping firewood in the woodshed.
One of his legs was lame. When he walked, his shoulders rose and fell unevenly.
This indeed was unsightly. Last night when arranging servants, Leopard Head had noticed but this old Xin was given as a bonus by Shopkeeper Qian to Estate Head Yang. He couldn't be returned.
Leopard Head could only send him to the woodshed.
With less walking around, he wouldn't limp and embarrass the master.
The woodshed's courtyard gate was open, and split firewood scattered all over the ground.
The ax wasn't sharp, but this old Xin's qilin-like arms were truly powerful and strong.
Watching the guards and martial masters leaping and bounding on the training ground, old Xin gently shook his head, his expression somewhat disdainful.
This was just his momentary change in expression, but Yang Can, who was slowly strolling to the edge of the training ground, happened to see it.
Yang Can's heart stirred slightly.
This woodcutter seemed to have a story too.
Yang Can silently noted him but didn't immediately call him over for questioning.
These people still had no sense of belonging to Yang Manor. He couldn't rush things.
...
Some things Yang Can wasn't rushing, but some of "Mountain Lord's" matters were now very urgent.
This batch of "mountain goods," he was selling very hastily, because the Yu family was transferring trade routes to the Suo family.
The Yu family was good at farming. The Suo family was good at commerce.
Second Master Suo was now rolling up his sleeves and showing his full capabilities.
For small merchants and peddlers, the Suo family's series of actions naturally wouldn't affect them much but for large-scale commercial firms, the impact was enormous.
This mysterious "Mountain Lord" naturally didn't only do "mountain goods" business.
His legitimate business was already being squeezed. Once the Suo family became established and monopolized Tianshui trade routes, his "mountain goods business" would probably also find it hard to escape their notice.
Therefore, he had to rush several more batches of goods before the Suo family completed their arrangements.
Especially this batch of goods he had been hoarding and refusing to trade.
That was also why this "mountain goods transaction" seemed especially hasty.
So hasty that he didn't have time for more thorough arrangements and didn't even dare send many personnel because now the Suo family had taken over trade routes. If he mobilized hundreds of guards at will, what mountain goods would he be running?
He couldn't hide from their eyes and ears at all.
At this moment, his convoy was less than two hundred li from Feng'an Estate.
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