Chapter 14: Onboarding Benefits?

Zheng Fa watched Manager Wang leave, his slightly stiff back receding, with a calm gaze.

Behind him, Mrs. Zheng spoke with a hint of worry, "His visit was to ease the relationship between our two families since we see each other so often. Isn't it bad to refuse like this?"

Zheng Fa knew his mother had a gentle nature and did not want to provoke trouble.

Zheng Shan, his younger sister, was clear-cut about love and hate, "Who cares about their stinking silver? The entire Wang Gui family are no good people!"

Clearly, she still remembered the incident when Wang Gui blocked their way at the village entrance.

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

"Manager Wang probably doesn't have good intentions. I've just been chosen by the lady to become the Seventh Young Master's Attendant Student. It would be improper to brazenly accept another person's silver, wouldn't it?"

This was totally different from the gifts sent by Huang Yu's family.

Huang Yu's father sent simple writing materials and some coarse fabric. It wasn't valuable, but it was useful.

But Manager Wang... a bundle of silver was too conspicuous.

It probably had more of shades of setting a trap with flattery.

After all, one had good intentions while the other had malicious ones.

Mrs. Zheng was taken aback and then seemed to understand, looking at Zheng Fa with a suddenly proud look, "You've really become sensible."

Zheng Fa smiled and nodded confidently, "Mother, don't worry. I will earn you more silver in the future!"

He knew that the more confident he appeared, the more at ease his mother would feel, who might always be fearfully cautious.

In fact, he did have the intention to scare Mrs. Zheng a bit - he wasn't certain whether Manager Wang was really trying to set him up or not, but he knew he didn't need to take such a risk for that silver.

Zheng Shan, still by their side, nodded vigorously in agreement, "Mother, I will also be able to earn silver for you in the future. We don't need Wang's silver!"

Determination covered her little face.

Mrs. Zheng gave her a look, "You better not be greedy. I would thank heavens just for that!"

Zheng Fa picked up his little sister and bounced her playfully, laughing, "She's getting a bit heavy! And seems taller, too."

Then he recalled something, "Those fabrics sent by the Huang Family, Mother, make me two sets of clothes with them, and use the rest for yours and little sister's."

Mrs. Zheng was reluctant, "They were given to you, after all. And going to the Zhao Mansion, you should have more clothes to present yourself well."

"But being an Attendant Student isn't a big deal, and neither is this talk about dignity," Zheng Fa tweaked her younger sister's hair bun, "Besides, it's been years since our family had new clothes."

"New clothes!"

Zheng Shan in Zheng Fa's arms, hearing the words 'new clothes', began to cheer with both hands raised.

Overjoyed.

"Then I'll make two for you, the rest for your sister. Mother won't need any," Mrs. Zheng decided firmly after some thought.

...

After spending a night at home, Zheng Fa, dressed in the new clothes his mother hastily made for him, once again said goodbye to the family's small farm.

This time, Mrs. Zheng's eyes were reddened.

According to the Zhao Family's rules, Zheng Fa had to accompany the Seventh Young Master in reading and martial arts practice, and could only return home once every six days.

If Zheng Fa remained in the position of an Attendant Student, he would mostly spend his time at the Zhao Mansion for the next few years.

Zheng Shan had been exceptionally happy these past few days, with tasty food at home and new clothes made by her mother.

Wang Gui no longer dared to bully her.

But now she was hugging Zheng Fa's knees, crying loudly:

"I don't want the meat from the city anymore!"

"I don't want new clothes!"

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

The person picking up Zheng Fa was the same old man driving the ox cart, who, with a pipe in his mouth, found it difficult to watch this scene, "Zheng, it's time for us to leave. We can't keep the important people waiting."

Zheng Fa picked up Zheng Shan, placed her in their mother's arms, and nodded towards Mrs. Zheng, who was red-eyed and silent.

Zheng Shan's crying grew louder, but Zheng Fa resisted the urge to look back.

The old cart driver flicked his whip gently on the ox's hindquarters, and it seemed he was talking to Zheng Fa, "Is this the first time little Zheng leaves home?"

"Uh-huh." Zheng Fa wasn't particularly eager to talk.

"When I first left home to drive carts as a young man, my mother looked at me the same way..." the old man took a puff from his pipe, "But young people, you know, they want to leave and accomplish something grand. But if you can look back, you should look back more often."

Zheng Fa looked back, glancing at the two figures who were still watching the ox cart from afar.

He could still hear the old cart driver's prattle, "Old man that I am, now I'd like to look back at my mother and can't even see her anymore."

Zheng Fa opened the large bundle on his back and took out a smaller one, "You mentioned last time you liked my mother's handiwork—she made some more."

The old man stared blankly for a moment, then turned back to look at Zheng Fa.

"You really believe I like your mother's craftsmanship?"

"I believe my mother does."

"You won't tell her?"

"Getting her to do these things brings her some peace of mind."

The old man was stunned for a moment, then picked up a flatbread from a bundled sack and took a bite: "You are stronger than I was at your age."

...

The carriage arrived at the Zhao Mansion, still entering through the back door.

This time, however, it was Gao Yuan waiting for him.

Gao Yuan was dressed in a scholar's garb, carrying an exquisite bamboo bookcase on his back.

Zheng Fa, in coarse clothing, shouldered the blue cloth bundle prepared by Mrs. Zheng.

They exchanged glances, and it was Gao Yuan who seemed a bit embarrassed.

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

As soon as he saw him, Gao Yuan hurriedly said, and they both walked towards the residence of the Seventh Young Master.

The Zhao Mansion was very large.

The quarters of the Seventh Young Master were also deep within the estate.

By the time Zheng Fa and the other arrived, sweat had already soaked through their backs.

The courtyard of the Seventh Young Master, no, it should be called a grand courtyard.

It was a typical courtyard with three sections, and looking towards the back, it appeared to have its own garden.

Truly, a courtyard within a courtyard.

This demonstrated the Seventh Young Master's status and the degree of favor he enjoyed at the Zhao Mansion.

On the right side of the main gate of the courtyard, there hung a brown wooden plaque with three characters:

"Envying Not the Immortals"

Zheng Fa thought to himself, in this world ruled by the Immortal Sect, such an attitude was indeed arrogantly audacious.

The courtyard door was slightly ajar, and Gao Yuan stepped forward to gently knock.

The door opened a crack, and a maidservant poked her head out, understanding immediately upon seeing the two: "New Attendant Students? Come in, the Young Master is waiting for you."

Zheng Fa and his companion stepped into the courtyard and immediately noticed a very obvious characteristic:

There were no men.

The one leading the way, the sweepers, the servants bustling back and forth—all were young maidservants.

Zheng Fa was fine, but Gao Yuan had to keep his gaze fixed forward all the way, rather tense.

The Seventh Young Master wanted to see them in the bookroom of the outer courtyard, and the maidservant led them to the entrance of the bookroom.

A person sat on a chair, engrossed in reading an ancient tome.

Sunlight shone through the glazed windows onto his white robe, reflecting a faint silvery sheen, making his facial features even more refined and fair.

Even if the reputation of the Seventh Young Master was not that great, Zheng Fa couldn't help but marvel inwardly, this fellow really had an impressive presence.

Seemingly hearing the footsteps of the three, the Seventh Young Master glanced up at Zheng Fa and his company.

Upon seeing them, he broke into a smile, stood up, and strode towards the three, warmly saying: "You two are my new Attendant Students? Gao Yuan?"

He pointed at Gao Yuan, then turned to Zheng Fa: "Zheng Fa? Right?"

He had already remembered both of their names.

"I've been looking forward to your arrival!" The Seventh Young Master appeared extremely delighted, tossing aside the book in his hand and came forward to greet them, even congenially taking the bookcase from Gao Yuan.

Gao Yuan's face flushed with excitement.

"Put your things down for now. I'll treat you two to a table at Yanyu Building, to welcome and cleanse away the journey's dust!"

Even Zheng Fa was a bit stunned.

This Seventh Young Master was a tad too enthusiastic.

On the other hand, what kind of place was Yanyu Building—within Jingzhou State City, it was the most famous place of pleasure.

Could it be that the welfare benefits of becoming an Attendant Student were so indulgent... Perhaps promoting degeneracy?

Looking at Gao Yuan beside him, his face suddenly turned pale as he said: "Seventh Young Master, your previous Attendant Student seemed to have been the one who lured you to Yanyu Building and ended up being beaten and sent back by the lady of the house, right?"

The Seventh Young Master paused, then flung the bookcase he was holding to the ground, slapping his hands clean.

"You are well-informed indeed." His jovial expression slowly faded: "So you tell me, is it better for you two to leave on your own, or, like the last fool, be beaten and thrown out?"

The bookcase hit the ground with a clang and cracked.

Much like the expression on Gao Yuan's face.