Flower Wine Monk's Inheritance: Part Six

Although Fang Yuan had no reason to go looking for trouble and would've loved to keep a low profile, trouble came looking for him the next day in the form of his younger brother.

"Brother!" Fang Zheng exclaimed, spotting Fang Yuan nonchalantly eating lunch in the inn the next day. "I saw Shen Cui run out of your room in tears last night. What did you do to her?"

Fang Yuan did not respond and continued eating, like Fang Zheng was far below his notice. 

Fang Zheng was frustrated, but continued. "You even left the house without explaining anything last night! Aunt and Uncle are worried about you! And here you are, eating lunch whithout a care for what they think!"

Fang Yuan kept chewing, still taking no notice of Fang Zheng whatsoever.

Fang Zheng was flustered now. Up till this moment, he had been living in his brother's shadow, but now, the roles were reversed- he was the main character, and his brother the NPC!

At least, that was how it felt. While walking along the road, people no longer referred to him as 'Fang Yuan's little brother.' He was Fang Zheng! 

And yet, despite escaping into what seemed like the light, he was still standing here, stupefied, under his elder brother's shadow.

"Just because you turned out to be a B-grade talent instead of A-grade like me," Fang Zheng said, continuing, "doesn't mean you take your frustration out on Shen Cui. What did she ever do to you? Our talents are a result of fate, not because of-"

SLAP!

Fang Zheng did not get a single word in further as Fang Yuan got up and smacked him across the face.

Fang Zheng was stunned. He had been beaten by Aunt and Uncle many times before, even by the other children, but never by his elder brother. "Brother, you've never put a hand upon me and yet now-"

SLAP!

Fang Yuan struck him again. "Worthless idiot! Just a few days in the limelight and you've already forgotten who stood with you when you were at your lowest? When our parents passed away, who did his best to wipe away your tears? When you wanted new robes at New Year's, who gave you his set? When the bullies used to beat you, who took revenge for you? Whenever you wanted an extra serving of porridge, who was the one who gave up his own portion for your happiness? If I were to recount the other things, we'd be here until next week, but forget about all that. What I mean to say is that you would dare take the side of a lowly servant over that of your own brother, the only one who supported you back when you were considered worthless? Did I ever lord the fact that I was a so-called 'genius' over you? And yet when the shoe is on the other foot, I see that you could not be any faster to use my shoulder blades as a scabbard!"

Fang Zheng opened his mouth to respond, but could not. After all, whatever Fang Yuan had said was true. 

"On top of that, you've not only betrayed me, but betrayed our parent's legacy as well!" Fang Yuan said, not relenting in his attack upon Fang Zheng whatsoever. "You changed sides and allowed Aunt and Uncle to adopt you- forgetting their years of abuse after some honeyed words? You know why Shen Cui is after you, no? Simply because of your talent, and yet you've deluded yourself into thinking that she gives so much as a damn about you!" 

"Brother, how could you say that about our parents. I... I've always wanted a family and-"

"And yet you've turned against and abandoned me, the only real family you had left?!" Fang Yuan barked, not letting up for even a moment. He then sneered. "Let's not beat around the bush here, there's only one reason that you're here isn't it, to see if something happened between Shen Cui and I? Don't worry, she's still a virgin, tell you what- you can have her if you give me the six primeval stones that Aunt and Uncle gave you."

"Wha-I-" Fang Zheng began to say, but he could not make any kind of retort. After all, what Fang Yuan had just said was true. 

"Let's not pretend that you have any semblance of self-respect left," Fang Yuan said coldly. "I'm willing to make a transaction, aren't I? Do you agree or not?"

"I uh- alright," Fang Zheng said, fumbling with his pockets as he took out five and a half stones. "I uh, used half of one up to refine my gu worm. This is all I have."

Fang Yuan glanced at the stones, realizing that Fang Zheng was telling the truth. If it were someone else, he might've suspected that they were hiding something, but at this point the only thing that Fang Zheng was thinking with was his cock, so this really was probably all that he had.

"Alright then, go!" Fang Yuan said after swiping the stones in a swift motion. "From now on, forget the fact that we were ever family!"

Fang Zheng left, cheeks burning, though he was feeling quite happy indeed, not only at the fact that Shen Cui was still untouched, but that she was now his.

This only lasted until he got home though and told Aunt and Uncle what happened.

"What!?" Uncle exclaimed. "He did that to you?"

"Why- what's wrong?"

"Fang Zheng, don't you know, Shen Cui was not his personal servant- she was assigned by us. He had no right to 'trade' her to you, if you wanted her, you should've just asked!"

Fang Zheng realized that Fang Yuan had just finessed him and felt extremely dumb about it.

"Ah, whatever, relax," Uncle said, sighing. "It can't be helped- here's another six stones to help with your refinement. As for Shen Cui, she's yours now. Make sure that you work hard."

"I-uh, yes! I will make you both proud, Mother, Father," Fang Zheng said as he ran to his room. 

Both of them had dark expressions on their faces.

"Fang Yuan is too crafty," Uncle said. "He saw right through our scheme... tch!"

"What do we do now?"

"What can we do, woman? Give it time, we need to think of something," Uncle said, frowning. It was not easy to restrict Fang Yuan if he gave it his all to get the inheritance. 

After all, both of them still thought of Fang Yuan as a B-grade talent.