HUS Chapter 79: Above and Below the Table
HUS Chapter 79: Above and Below the Table
January 9
"Yunyi pays respects to Young Master."
Though somewhat surprised, Zhang Yunyi quickly stepped forward and bowed to Yu Rui.
At the same time, his mind raced frantically. Why has Second Branch's eldest young master suddenly come to my Feng'an Estate?
That day, Second Master Yu hastily returned the properties to the Clan Head without giving us even a word of explanation.
Now, belatedly, his eldest son has suddenly arrived. Could it be...
Zhang Yunyi's thoughts raced as Yu Rui had already leaped down from his horse and stepped forward with a smile to help him up.
"Estate Head Zhang, please rise quickly. There's no need for such formality."
Zhang Yunyi rose accordingly and asked respectfully, "Why has Young Master come here? This merchant caravan..."
Yu Rui smiled. "Oh, it's not really a merchant caravan. I went to Liangzhou to handle some matters and purchased some things along the way. I was originally planning to return to Dailai City this way. The journey was rather tedious, so I thought I'd rest my feet at Feng'an Estate."
Zhang Yunyi sneered inwardly. I'm afraid the drunkard's heart isn't in the cup but entirely for that suddenly famous Yang Can!
Yu Rui looked Zhang Yunyi up and down a few times and smiled. "I heard that several stewards in your esteemed estate weren't very capable, implicating you. However, my uncle only demoted you from estate head to deputy estate head, which suggests he wants you to atone for your crimes through meritorious service. Perhaps before long, you'll be able to become the master of Feng'an again."
Zhang Yunyi's smile didn't reach his eyes as he tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Then I'll take that as a good omen from Young Master. Is Young Master heading to Feng'an Fortress now?"
Yu Rui smiled. "Yes. This Steward Yang of ours has successively improved the plow and waterwheel, becoming famous throughout the land. Truly a rare talent! Since this young master is passing through, of course I must meet him."
Hearing this, Zhang Yunyi's gaze darkened even more.
...
Yang Can brought Third Master Bao, Tufa Sunxie, and Bali Mo back to the fortress and immediately had someone notify Qingmei to make arrangements.
In Feng'an Fortress, the guest quarters Yang Can had originally occupied had the best conditions but had now been burned to white ground. However, there were several other guest quarter areas in the fortress that could accommodate even more guests.
Qingmei was organizing the Dragon Boat Festival banquet and had no time to handle everything personally, so she entrusted it to her young master.
"Sister Jingyao, I'll trouble you with arranging the guest quarters."
"A small matter. Don't worry."
Dugu Jingyao readily agreed.
She wore a lacquered gauze crown so others wouldn't see her short hair.
Upon seeing Dugu Jingyao, even the well-traveled Third Master Bao couldn't help but hold his breath.
The air of an orchid in an empty valley emanating from this woman was as holy and flawless as a transcendent immortal.
A mere maid in Yang Can's household possessed such an ethereal, fairy-like temperament?
Third Master Bao couldn't help but feel his appetite stirred. That holy, flawless, lofty air made one want to pull her down into the mortal world of desires!
However, the flames of desire that ignited in his eyes quickly dimmed.
Master Bao no longer had the capital to pull anyone down into the mortal world.
Too unrestrained in his youth, now no matter what methods he used, none worked.
No matter what method he employed, it remained as soft as the "hairy caterpillar" on a jujube tree leaf.
Women. He hated women!
As for Tufa Sunxie and Bali Mo, they were only slightly surprised by Dugu Jingyao's elegance before letting it go.
Both of them currently had minds full of troubles. Where was the leisure to appreciate women?
Arranging guests also had many particular customs and etiquette. One misstep would be discourteous.
So since Qingmei couldn't leave, she only dared entrust this to Dugu Jingyao, whom she greatly trusted.
After Dugu Jingyao arranged the three guests and their attendants properly, she was about to return to make incense.
Her lotus steps had taken dozens of rises and falls when she saw two maidservants ahead leading two more guests over.
Dugu Jingyao looked carefully and was immediately secretly shocked.
With a flash, she hid behind a cluster of flowering shrubs.
Zhang Yunyi accompanied the Dailai City heir Yu Rui, walking slowly.
Yu Rui smiled as he instructed the maidservants, "No need to seek others. This estate originally belonged to Estate Head Zhang. Having Estate Head Zhang make the arrangements is sufficient."
Dugu Jingyao hid behind the flower cluster, watching the two walk past in shock.
"It really is him. Yu Ziming? Why has he come to Feng'an Estate? This is bad. He knows me! If he sees me... My gluttony has harmed me! Maybe... I should talk to Yang Can about hiding in the nunnery after all."
Dugu Jingyao's heart pounded like a little deer, sweat seeping from her tender palms like apricot flesh.
...
Today was another day for our Head Chef Zhu to shine.
Steam billowed in the kitchen as Head Chef Zhu's copper ladle struck the iron wok in a resounding rhythm.
The guests the estate master was entertaining today all had considerable status.
Third Master Yu Xiaobao, Lord Sunxie of the Tufa tribe, Young Master Yu Rui of Dailai City, Chieftain Bali Mo of the Bali tribe.
Zhang Yunyi, the former local emperor of Feng'an Estate, could only occupy the lowest seat in such company.
The ingredients for the dishes were all excellent.
To prepare for the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, Rena, who was in charge of purchasing, had bought back large quantities of exquisite ingredients.
Zhu Weipeng was already a "clever cook," and now with "good rice," this table of dishes was naturally impeccable.
Unfortunately, though the wine and food were excellent, the minds of everyone at the table were elsewhere.
As host, Yang Can's laughter enlivened the entire gathering.
He frequently raised his cup, toasting Third Master Bao, toasting Young Master Yu, toasting the two Xianbei chieftains, toasting Deputy Estate Head Zhang Yunyi...
He covered every base, missing no one.
And each time he toasted, it was precisely when Third Master Bao was subtly trying to use conversation to extract information from him.
The precision was like Suo Zhanzhi playing "Three Variations on Plum Blossoms," not missing a single note.
If this were Yang Can playing, bah!
Even dogs wouldn't listen.
Third Master Bao seemed completely oblivious to Yang Can's deliberate evasion, still smiling and occasionally making indirect inquiries.
Ask enough, and you'll eventually slip up.
Tonight Tufa Sunxie displayed great deportment.
At the table facing Bali Mo, he showed none of that previous sword-drawn tension but whenever his gaze fell on Bali Mo, it would quietly flash with an obscure cold light.
That manner was exactly like a crocodile lurking in the water.
Bali Mo, on the other hand, acted completely out of character, as if his manic temper had been cured without medicine.
He sat there calmly, taking small sips of wine in a manner completely inconsistent with grassland men's habits.
As if it weren't wine but a cup of fragrant tea.
He knew his unwarranted disaster was far from resolved. One careless move could bring catastrophe upon him.
Yu Rui sat composedly, rarely initiating toasts even to his Third Uncle but no matter who toasted him, he would hold his cup with both hands, his deportment impeccable.
His sole objective for this visit was Yang Can.
He had even made a special trip to Liangzhou first to buy some Western Region goods, then used passing through as a pretext to enter Feng'an Fortress.
Could this completely dispel his uncle's wariness?
Of course not, but at least it provided an impeccable reason.
Otherwise, if he came secretly or approached Yang Can without reason, it would put Yang Can in a difficult position.
He wanted to win over Yang Can, and he was doing so because Yang Can's usefulness was growing. Of course he couldn't let Yang Can fall into difficulty.
Therefore, before this table of guests each harboring their own schemes, he could only treat Yang Can the same as everyone else—neither close nor distant.
Of the six men, Zhang Yunyi was the most composed.
It seems this shipment is extraordinary. Even the chieftains of the Tufa and Bali tribes have come.
Good. This is truly excellent!
The more important this shipment, the less Mountain Lord would let this matter rest.
He only needed to patiently wait for "Mountain Lord" to contact him, then skillfully direct suspicion toward Yang Can.
After that, he wouldn't need to do anything and could simply reap the benefits.
Thinking this, Estate Head Zhang smiled even more cheerfully.
He always stood at the most appropriate moments to fill everyone's cups to the brim.
Southerners favored light rice wine, northerners preferred more potent mare's milk wine.
The mellow mare's milk wine flowed into their stomachs, fermenting their different schemes.
Amid the clinking cups and toasts, each of them wanted to be the spider sitting securely in command, yet they all pretended to be moths that had stumbled in by accident.
...
"That wine drinking was really fucking exhausting."
As soon as he returned to his bedroom, Yang Can threw himself onto the couch.
His loosened collar exposed the sweat stains at his collarbone.
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, those hypocritical smiling faces still dancing before his eyes.
Just six people, and if they formed groups, they could make at least eighteen.
Every single one, not a single economical lamp among them.
Yang Can was sighing when his nose suddenly caught a faint fragrance.
Opening his eyes, what met his gaze was a patch of snow-white spring scenery.
Rena'baier approached carrying sobering tea, her gauze shirt and skirt barely containing her bursting fullness.
After that embarrassing hezi-snapping incident last time, these clothes now made her appear even more heart-stopping.
She was only eighteen or nineteen, wasn't she? How had she developed so well?
Yang Can suddenly didn't feel tired anymore. He felt he could still struggle on.
"Help me up..."
Yang Can instructed. Rena obediently stepped forward to help him up.
Closer now, Yang Can's Adam's apple rolled. Just as he was about to speak, a warm porcelain cup was already pressed to his lips.
Yang Can had no choice but to drink the tea from Rena's soft hands.
At his nose was a fragrance that didn't belong to tea leaves. Before his eyes was a smooth, soft, fragrant color.
The tea fragrance and maiden fragrance intertwined, more intoxicating than aged fine wine.
Yang Can gulped down the tea like a cow chewing peonies. Just as he was about to say something more, Rena's skirt hem had already traced a graceful arc as she turned gracefully to set the tea on the table.
"Master, this servant has something to say to Master."
Rena took advantage to stand by the table, a full eight paces away from Yang Can.
"What is it?"
"Starting tomorrow, could Master please arrange for two other maidservants to attend to you?"
With a "click," Master Yang's expression darkened.
"Why?"
"Because this servant is busy."
The Persian cat raised her hand to smooth the hair at her temples, just like a cat elegantly licking its paw.
"This servant is pondering what business we can do with the resources and connections Feng'an Estate possesses, what scale we can initially achieve, where we can sell to. Aiya, a thousand threads and ten thousand lines, all must be considered in advance. To succeed in one stroke, this isn't something one can do on a whim, Master."
"You have a point!"
Hearing about money, Yang Can's amorous thoughts instantly evaporated.
The light in his eyes immediately turned the color of copper coins.
If he didn't find ways to generate income, his money wouldn't last until the autumn harvest.
What beautiful painted skin? Before this humble one's money pouch, none of that is worth mentioning.
Estate Head Yang immediately straightened his attitude. What most bewitches the human heart in this world is ultimately still that yellow and white metal.
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