Chapter 71: The Young Master Grows Up (Part 7)

Chapter 71: The Young Master Grows Up (Part 7)

The next day, Xu Zeping had just gotten out of bed and hadn't even washed up yet when Jixiang rushed into his room, breathless: "Young Master Zeping, one of your classmates is waiting outside the gate."

Clearly, he had run too quickly and was still catching his breath.

A classmate?

Which one? Waiting for him?

"Then why haven't you invited him in?"

"That little boy wouldn't come in no matter how much I called. He said he just wanted to drop something off and leave." Jixiang finally managed to steady his breathing and continued, "When I got closer, I saw a bucket full of freshwater snails, each about the size of a thumb, very fresh. He tried to hand them over and leave, but how could I accept that?"

Freshwater snails?

At the mention of this, Xu Zeping immediately thought of someone. He hurriedly spat out the water from his mouth; it could only be that silly fellow.

He hastily wiped his hands and ran outside.

Seeing Young Master Zeping act like this, Jixiang didn't dare to lag behind and quickly followed.

Cheng Ge Er happened to be coming out of his room and witnessed the scene, tilting his head in confusion: What's going on this early in the morning?

Xu Zeping ran to the front gate, bent over to catch his breath, and finally managed to steady himself before stepping over the threshold. Sure enough, he saw a familiar figure squatting beside the stone lions, guarding a book box and a bucket, with a pale face, indicating he had been waiting for quite some time.

For a moment, Xu Zeping felt an overwhelming sense of warmth, "Gao Yan, you idiot!"

Hearing Xu Zeping's voice, Gao Yan looked surprised. Turning around, he saw Xu Zeping with red eyes and became flustered, "Zeping... we country folk don't have much to offer."

Xu Zeping used to feel the same way as Gao Yan, feeling inferior due to poverty... if someone showed him a bit of kindness, he would try to repay it tenfold.

He grabbed Gao Yan's hand, "Come inside and have breakfast first."

But Gao Yan quickly pulled away, picked up his book box, and ran off.

From a distance, they could hear his shy voice, "Zeping, I've already eaten. I'll wait for you at the school."

Jixiang asked, somewhat stunned, "Young Master Zeping, should I go after him?"

Xu Zeping rolled his eyes, "With your reaction speed, by the time you get back, he'll be long gone."

Clearly, Jixiang missed the point and said innocently, "Young Master Zeping, you rolled your eyes."

Growing up under Xu Zeli's strict upbringing, Xu Zeping was always well-mannered, almost too polite for a child. Seeing such an uncharacteristic behavior from him, Jixiang was clearly surprised.

Xu Zeping gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Do you believe I can kick you too?"

Jixiang scratched his head, "Believe, believe, believe."

Xu Zeping squatted down and looked at the freshwater snails in the bucket, each about the size of a fist. His heart was filled with mixed emotions, seeing the mud still clinging to the shells, indicating they were collected that morning.

Looking at the brightening sky, Xu Zeping couldn't imagine how early Gao Yan must have woken up and how long it took him to carry the bucket all the way here.

He sighed silently and stood up, "Don't tell my brother."

Jixiang understood what Young Master Zeping meant and obediently agreed, carrying the bucket and following him into the Xu residence.

Xu Linshi watched as Zeping and Jixiang entered, one after the other, and curiously asked, "What were you two running around for so early in the morning?"

Clearly, having a small courtyard made it hard to do anything without being noticed.

Xu Zeping rubbed his nose, "A classmate dropped off some freshwater snails."

Xu Linshi wiped her hands on her apron, slightly anxious, "You silly child, why didn't you invite him in for breakfast when he brought you something?"

"Ama, he dropped them off and ran away."

"Oh, they're so big! He must have put a lot of effort into it!" Xu Linshi bent down to look at the snails in Jixiang's bucket and said, "Your classmate has a good heart. What does he need? Later, ask your father to prepare something for us to return the favor, so we don't lose face."

Xu Zeping didn't refuse. Thinking of Gao Yan's worn-out brush, he said, "Ama, ask Father to prepare a few new brushes for me."

Worried that his father might choose something too expensive, he added, "Just a few ordinary sheep hair brushes will do."

Xu Linshi, who understood the basics of stationery due to having two sons studying, hesitated, "Will such cheap ones be presentable?"

"If they're too expensive, he won't use them."

Xu Linshi pondered Zeping's words and understood. It wasn't that he wouldn't use them, but rather that he wouldn't dare accept them. She changed the subject, "Alright, wash up and eat breakfast."

Xu Zeping sat next to Cheng Ge Er and, looking around, noticed his brother was absent, hesitating, "Ama, where's Axiang?"

"Your brother caught a chill yesterday and has a fever again. He didn't get up this morning," Xu Linshi said, her eyes filled with concern. "Remember to ask your teacher to excuse him today. Tell him nicely that once your brother recovers, he will apologize."

"Ama, I understand."

After breakfast, Xu Zeping set off for school.

Xu Linshi gathered all the servants currently working in the Xu residence and placed Cheng Ge Er by her side, warning, "Cheng Ge Er is our old lady's distant nephew. Yesterday, Master and the others confirmed his identity. From now on, anyone caught gossiping will not be tolerated by our family."

The Xu residence had only a few servants: the sisters Cuiguo and Cui Zhu, Jixiang who ran errands for Xu Songshan, Dahu who was Xu Zeli's page, and two maids who cleaned the courtyard. Today, two more maids, Dongmei and Xiacao, were bought for Xu Zebo and his brother.

Dongmei and Xiacao were being trained by Madam Jiang at Xu Tangshi's request, ensuring they adhered to proper etiquette before serving Xu Zebo and his brother.

With more servants, expenses naturally increased.

Over the past two days, Xu Linshi had been thinking about starting a profitable business. The benefits from the tea house, which had profited from Uncle's promotion, had faded, and the current income was modest, around seven or eight taels per month.

The monthly net income provided by Xu Songshan barely covered the household expenses, leaving no surplus.

If that's the case, Xu Linshi roughly calculated the accounts and figured that if they want to save some money in a year, they can only rely on the annual grain rations.

Going on like this, when the eldest and the youngest need to get married, and the second daughter needs her dowry, it won't be possible...

The master has already established Cheng Ge Er's identity and authority. If the servants still don't show proper respect, they will truly face being sold off.

"Yes! From now on, we will serve the young master as if he were Young Master Ping."

Jixiang is good at pleasing others, and with his lead, the other servants also chimed in agreement.