Chapter 65

Chapter 65

The gloves were brand new, but if Xie Yulin said they were rough, then they were rough.

The servant immediately took away the prepared gloves. "My apologies, Young Master. I will go change them right away."

Xie Yulin’s expression was coldly indifferent as he leaned back in his armchair, his sharp eyes devoid of any warmth. His gaze fell on nothing in particular, lost in thought.

The servant returned quickly with new gloves, bowing as he presented the tray. "Young Master, these are the newly made gloves."

Xie Yulin moved slightly, picking up the gloves and putting them on.

The familiar sensation enveloped his fingers and palms—a touch that usually felt comfortable but now only felt agitating and stifling.

"Young Master, the shadow guard from Registrar Shen's side is here to see you."

A servant from outside came in to announce the visitor, intimidated by the oppressive atmosphere in the room and not daring to say another word.

Soon, the shadow guard entered, holding a large food box.

"This subordinate greets the Master." The shadow guard bowed respectfully before presenting the food box. "Registrar Shen entrusted this subordinate to deliver this food to the Master."

Xie Yulin’s gaze fell on the simple bamboo-woven food box, somewhat puzzled by Shen Yuan’s intentions.

Since he hadn't intended to invite him to the banquet, why go through this charade?

What kind of person did Shen Yuan take him for? A beggar who could be placated with some food?

Such an undisciplined child was truly infuriating.

At that moment, the shadow guard relayed the message Shen Yuan had asked him to deliver. "Registrar Shen said he is very sorry he could not personally deliver the food today due to hosting a banquet at home."

"He also mentioned that the bowls and utensils containing the food have all been rinsed with hot water. The vegetables and meat were all personally washed and prepared by him. Before cooking, he also ensured his own cleanliness. If Young Master does not mind, you could taste it. He wishes to share his joy and auspiciousness with you."

"Registrar Shen also said that his home banquet would be crowded and chaotic, fearing Young Master might not be able to adapt, so he could only resort to this alternative. He sincerely hopes Young Master will not take offense."

After the shadow guard finished speaking, the room fell into complete silence.

The two servants waiting at the side glanced at each other. The one on the left subtly shook his hand, indicating that Young Master Xie would not eat it.

The one on the right gave a slight nod, meaning Young Master Xie would eat it.

Their opinions differed, as usual, so each raised a finger, betting ten taels of silver.

After a long silence, Xie Yulin suddenly let out a soft laugh.

So, he wasn't invited because Shen Yuan was afraid he would feel uncomfortable?

Realizing that Shen Yuan had kept him completely in mind, even fully considering his preferences for quiet and cleanliness, gave Xie Yulin an inexplicably unique feeling.

His heart felt deeply soothed. The earlier restlessness and gloom dissipated entirely, leaving only an impulse to see Shen Yuan.

That fleeting emotion was quickly suppressed by Xie Yulin. He said to the servant, "Accept the food box. We'll have this for the morning meal."

The winning servant smiled silently at the loser, then stepped forward to take the food box from the shadow guard and arranged the dishes on the table.

The food box had six layers; it was quite large, and the dishes were plentiful.

While arranging them, the servant noticed they were all dishes he had rarely seen before.

Once everything was set, the servant went to invite Xie Yulin. The shadow guard did not take his leave, waiting to introduce the dishes.

"Starting from the left: the first is honey-glazed spare ribs, the second is salt-and-pepper shrimp, the third is spiced braised pork belly, the fourth is mushroom stewed chicken, the fifth is roasted sliced duck, and the sixth is osmanthus honey chilled drink."

Xie Yulin listened to the unfamiliar dish names, following the shadow guard's voice as he looked at each one. They were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

Usually, his morning meals were light and bland. Today was the first exception.

Following his dining habits, Xie Yulin took one bite of each dish in order.

The honey-glazed spare ribs were sweet and fragrant, the meat tender and falling off the bone, suggesting a long braising time.

The shells of the salt-and-pepper shrimp had been treated, the black veins on their backs meticulously removed. Xie Yulin only needed to hold the remaining shell at the tail and bite into the meat.

The fresh, firm, reddish shrimp meat was coated with an unfamiliar seasoning—savory and fragrant with a hint of spiciness. It was entirely palatable and even enticing enough to want more.

The pork belly had a perfect balance of lean and fatty meat, with excellent selection—one layer lean, one layer fat. The lean parts were tender and not dry, the fatty parts rich but not greasy, with a beautiful, glistening color.

Again, there was the aroma of unfamiliar seasonings. Upon careful tasting, a faint hint of medicinal herbs could be detected. It was unclear how it was done, but the medicinal flavor was not prominent; instead, it complemented and enhanced the meat's fragrance and savory taste.

The mushroom stewed chicken was extremely fresh, the chicken skin glistening with golden oil, stimulating the appetite.

The roasted duck had been sliced into neat pieces, arranged orderly without a single bone in sight. The duck meat was firm and fragrant, paired with the crisply roasted, glossy skin. The heat control was precise, offering a dual-layered texture with an endless aftertaste.

Finally, the osmanthus honey chilled drink had a slight rice wine flavor. It tasted sweet and sour, leaning more toward sweetness, with a distinct osmanthus fragrance.

Five dishes and a bowl of chilled drink—each one required immense care and effort to prepare, time-consuming and labor-intensive.

After finishing one round of tasting, Xie Yulin seemed to feel Shen Yuan's sincerity even more thoroughly.

"When did he get up?"

Upon hearing this, the shadow guard immediately replied, "He rose after sleeping only one hour. The night before, he was also preparing related matters before going to bed."

Xie Yulin gave a soft "hmm" and began eating a second round.

Shen Yuan had prepared many types of dishes, all meat-based, so the portions were not overly large.

Xie Yulin went through four rounds in order, clearing everything on the plates.

The two servants at the side were stunned.

They had never seen Xie Yulin eat so much before. Not even during his midday meal, let alone his light morning and evening meals, had he ever eaten like this.

After finishing, Xie Yulin also knew that his greed today had led him to eat too much, leaving his stomach quite uncomfortable.

He had no choice but to go to the garden for sword practice, continuing for a full hour and a half before stopping.

At this time, the Shen family in Dashu Village was also preparing to start their banquet.

What Shen Anniang made was similar to what Shen Yuan had prepared for Xie Yulin. However, the shrimp only had the black veins on their backs removed, the roasted duck was not sliced, and the honey-glazed spare ribs and osmanthus honey chilled drink were much less sweet.

Although Shen Yuan hadn't invited many people, having everyone come was still quite a sight.

The Shen residence was spacious, with six tables set up in the courtyard—more than enough seating.

Auntie Ping and Village Head Liu's families arrived early, helping Shen Anniang and Shen Yuan with the cooking and preparations.

Next was Ji Pingan, who brought along his dad’s prized good liquor. The old man had chased after him for two miles, his heart aching something fierce.

He hollered from behind the horse that the wine wasn't available on the market, calling Ji Pingan an unfilial son and telling him to come back and swap it for a different jar.

The unfilial son Ji Pingan paid no heed—it was precisely because it wasn't available on the market that it was worthy of gracing Shen Yuan's dinner table.

Guo Mingchen, Xu Kangfu, and Xu Dagui's family showed up together. As soon as they arrived, they all rolled up their sleeves and got to work—some lifted tables, others wiped stools—nobody stood around idle.

Right as the meal was about to begin, Song Zijuan arrived, covered in even more mosquito bites than last time, carrying the game he’d hunted in the mountains.

Getting down the mountain was no easy feat for him; the mountain path had really done a number on him.

Seeing Song Zijuan, Shen Yuan called to him to sit down, then went to the kitchen and soon fetched a small basin of mugwort water. "I prepared this for you. Go ahead and wash up."

Song Zijuan looked down at the steaming mugwort water and froze for a second. "You still remember?"

"It wasn't that long ago; how could I forget?" Shen Yuan found it amusing and urged him to hurry up and wash. "Get cleaned up so we can dig in. Aren't you hungry after trekking all the way down from the mountain?"

Song Zijuan plunged his hands into the mugwort water. The itchiness subsided, and the warm flow of the water seemed to warm his heart. He raised his eyebrows, full of spirit, and said, "I'm starving. I'm gonna have to eat a bunch later."

Shen Yuan noted what Song Zijuan said and immediately swapped his bowl out for a larger clay one for the white rice.

Grain was precious, but white rice was a luxury.

Common folks never had the chance to eat such rice; having old millet to eat was already pretty good, and more often than not, they ate bran and dark flour.

Folks like Village Head Liu, who lived in the village year-round, had rarely seen white rice.

They mostly grew wheat, not rice. It was said that only the prefectures in the south, bordering Westmoon Country, grew rice.

Over in Westmoon Country, they mostly grew rice and sold it to the surrounding countries.

White rice cost a fortune. Village Head Liu stared intently at the rice and pinched himself hard.

He’d never even dreamed of eating white rice.

Not just him, but Auntie Ping, Xu Dagui's family, and the others felt the same.

Guo Mingchen and Xu Kangfu had eaten it a few times at the Xie residence. Even in a large family like the Xies, they only cooked it for the household staff during festivals.

White rice was soft, fluffy, and sweet; no one disliked it.

And when paired with the dishes on the table, both the rice and the food were taken to the next level, becoming even more delicious.

Ji Pingan had figured today would be another booze fest. He was prepared to have a happy drink as well, but instead, everyone buried their heads in their rice bowls.

Usually, when he attended banquets, not many people actually ate much.

Saying it was a banquet for eating was really just an excuse to discuss matters and network; eating was the least important aspect.

Today's banquet, however, was purely about eating.

For once, Song Zijuan and the other two were on the same page as Ji Pingan, and they were even less used to it than he was.

Especially Song Zijuan.

Shen Yuan used clean chopsticks to pick up a piece of roasted duck for Song Zijuan. "Why aren't you eating? Nothing you like? Try this; I think it's pretty good, not too fatty."

Song Zijuan looked at the duck meat on his plate, feeling looked after. He couldn't help but smile and quickly moved his chopsticks.

It was delicious.

Very delicious.

"This is the best roasted duck I've ever had," Song Zijuan said with a wry chuckle. "I don't know what I'll do if I crave it later."

Shen Yuan replied directly, "That's no trouble. If you want to eat it, just tell me. What I make isn't as good as my aunt's, but the flavor is still decent. I'll cook it for you."

Song Zijuan tilted his head and smiled. "Really?"

"Really, really. Now hurry up and eat."

Everyone sat separately, with people who knew each other sitting together, so there was no restraint or awkwardness.

At this meal, everyone had a great time.

After eating, Auntie Ping and the others continued to help clean up, while Shen Yuan saw Guo Mingchen and Xu Kangfu off at the village entrance.

When he found out Ji Pingan wasn't leaving for the night, Song Zijuan also said he wouldn't leave.

He really didn't want to go into the mountains and feed the mosquitoes; snatching a night of leisure was just fine by him.

Ji Pingan couldn't be bothered with Song Zijuan and turned away to feed the horses.

Having nothing better to do, Song Zijuan simply squatted on the ground, watching ants hauling stuff in the cracks of the bluestone slabs.

In the kitchen, Shen Dong and Shen Xi were both helping Shen Anniang with the work, while Shen Nan was minding Little Beibei. Shen Xi couldn't sit still; after nearly breaking a bowl, he was pushed out of the kitchen door by an annoyed Shen Dong and told to go entertain himself.

Suddenly, a little kid squatted down beside him. Song Zijuan shifted his gaze from the ants to look at Shen Xi.

He’d come late, and since Shen Xi and his brothers sat at another table with Shen Anniang, he didn't recognize any of Shen Yuan's brothers.

One big and one small squatted in the courtyard, staring at each other.

"You're my brother's good friend, right?" Shen Xi looked up with a smile, his eyes crinkling into crescents, as cute as could be. "I'm my brother's favorite little brother, the third one, Shen Xi. You can call me Xixi, just like my brother does."

Song Zijuan raised an eyebrow and put on a kindly, friendly smile, speaking gently, "Yes, I am your brother's good friend. But I heard your family has many brothers. How does Xixi know he's his brother's favorite?"

The smile on Shen Xi's little face fell away more than halfway, but he held his ground, shooting back quickly, "All of my brother's good friends know."

Song Zijuan found Shen Xi's reaction amusing and narrowed his eyes with a teasing grin. "But he said his favorite isn't you."

At this, Shen Xi couldn't hold on any longer. His lips quivered, and he burst into tears.

Song Zijuan had seen it coming and let out a hearty laugh beside him.

Not far away, Ji Pingan grabbed a handful of mud from the ground and threw it at Song Zijuan, hitting him squarely. "I mean, are you nuts? Why do you have to make the kid cry?"

"I was bored anyway. Watching ants move isn't as fun as making a kid cry," Song Zijuan said, completely unfazed. He brushed the mud off his back, getting his hands all muddy, which he hated.

Song Zijuan said to the still-crying Shen Xi, "Kid, take me to wash my hands and change clothes. I'll give you something nice for your trouble."

Shen Xi's crying wasn't too loud or too soft; those busy in the kitchen couldn't hear it.

Hearing Song Zijuan's words, his sobs quieted down a bit, but they didn't stop completely.

Song Zijuan had "traveled far and wide" since childhood and had seen all sorts of people. Shen Xi's fake crying was a cheap trick to him.

With his clean hand, Song Zijun took off the jade pendant from his waist. "Here, you can have this to play with. If you keep crying, you won't get anything."

Shen Xi's eyelashes were damp as he squinted at the jade pendant, looking somewhat unimpressed. "I don't want that."

Song Zijun scoffed, defending the honor of his jade pendant. "This is high-quality white jade, clear and flawless. It was carved by a famous master from Youyang, something ordinary people never get to see, let alone have carved into an ornament. You're too young to know what's valuable, so I'll forgive you this time. Just take it and stop crying."

Shen Xi pouted, his eyes darting around before landing on Song Zijun's wrist. "I like this. Give me this, and I won't cry."

Song Zijun was slightly taken aback. He rolled up his sleeve, fully revealing the carved wooden bracelet that was half-hidden.

"You want this?"

Shen Xi nodded firmly.

Song Zijun refused. "No way. You can have the jade pendant."

Shen Xi wouldn't agree either.

He might be young, but he wasn't stupid.

The jade pendant looked expensive, but the cord and tassel were brand new. If it could be given away so easily, it probably wasn't something he valued.

The wooden bracelet might not look worth much, and the carved patterns were a bit messy, but it was polished from wear. That surely meant it was a cherished and treasured item.

After being told his big brother didn't favor him most—a heart-wrenching thing to say—he wasn't about to be fobbed off with some trinket!

He was a child not to be trifled with!

"Are you really not giving it to me?" Shen Xi asked pitifully.

Song Zijun nodded firmly.

Then, he heard Shen Xi mutter softly, "Alright then."

Soon after, Song Zijun watched as Shen Xi dashed off, only to see him run to the doorway just as Shen Yuan returned. The child let out a howl.

The cry was so loud that even the people busy in the kitchen were drawn by the sound, all peeking out.

When Shen Anniang and the other adults saw Shen Xi crying, they rushed out, surrounding him and asking what had happened.

Shen Yuan, his heart aching, bent down to pick up the child. He gently and carefully wiped Shen Xi's tears with his own sleeve, asking softly, "Why is Xixi crying? Did someone bully you? Or did something happen?"

Shen Xi cried as if his heart was breaking, sobbing intermittently. His little nose and face were flushed red, his long eyelashes dotted with teardrops, and his big eyes brimming with tears.

His chubby little hand, which had grown plump from good care, trembled as he pointed at Song Zijun, whimpering and sniffling as he tattled, "Brother, he said Xixi isn't the brother you love the most. Brother, do you hate Xixi? Brother, I'm so sad, I'm so sad I could die, wuwuwuwu..."

Shen Yuan had always been careful and protective of his younger brothers, making sure to express his care and affection for them.

From the children's initial disbelief and reluctance to express themselves, to eventually opening up and trusting in his care, Shen Yuan had poured all his heart into it.

He hadn't seen Xixi cry so heartbreakingly in a long time. The sensitive, love-starved look on his face made Shen Yuan's heart ache terribly.

Shen Yuan frowned and looked at Song Zijun. "How could you say such a thing to my brother?"

Song Zijun was dumbfounded. He stood up to defend himself. "No, your brother is faking it. He's not really sad; he's tricking you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xi immediately wrapped his arms around Shen Yuan's neck, saying nothing and just crying.

The adults nearby also looked disapprovingly at Song Zijun. How could he say such a thing to Shen Xi! Look at how he made the child cry so heartbreakingly!

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, holding Shen Xi as he walked toward Song Zijun. He said with utmost seriousness, "Even if my brother is faking it, even if he's using me, he really shed tears."

Song Zijun sighed helplessly. "You believe him just because he cried? Don't you know you're being tricked?"

"I believe him."

Shen Yuan didn't hesitate for a moment. "If my brother says he's sad, I'll believe him unconditionally. Brother Zijun, I care deeply about my brothers. If you consider me a friend, please don't hurt my brothers like this in the future. They've had a hard life before, and I just want them to live without tears of sadness from now on."

He only wanted Dongdong and the others to be happy and safe, to never go hungry or cold again, and to never cry again.

Song Zijun thought he would be furious—angry that Shen Yuan didn't distinguish right from wrong, angry that Shen Yuan didn't believe him.

But after hearing Shen Yuan's words, he realized he wasn't angry at all. Instead, he felt envy and jealousy.

He envied Shen Xi and was jealous of Shen Xi.

What a lucky little fox, to have a brother like Shen Yuan who loves and protects him unconditionally.

Shen Xi clung to Shen Yuan's neck, nuzzling him affectionately. He loved his eldest brother so, so much.

He loved his eldest brother the most in the world.

"This time, it was my fault. It won't happen again," Song Zijun promised Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan's expression remained serious. "Let there be no next time."

As Shen Yuan carried him into the house, Shen Xi secretly made a face at Song Zijun.

Song Zijun was so angry he cursed the little brat in his heart.

Ji Pingan, covered in bits of fodder and carrying a faint smell of horse manure, approached Song Zijun. "Tsk tsk tsk, the famous, unparalleled Advisor Song actually got outsmarted by a seven-year-old child."

"I think, from now on, Advisor Song should stop scheming against others. You're only fit to watch ants move house."

Ji Pingan was thoroughly enjoying his sarcastic remarks. Song Zijun said helplessly, "You're so petty. It was just that one time I tricked you, and you didn't even suffer any losses. Do you have to hold onto it until now?"

Ji Pingan replied nonchalantly, "I remember my own father and mother. Why shouldn't I remember you?"

Song Zijun rolled his eyes. "You're so narrow-minded. Only A-Yuan can put up with you."

"As long as Xiao Yuan can put up with me, that's enough. At least I won't make Xiao Yuan unhappy or bully his brothers. Unlike a certain advisor, who made someone's brother cry on his first visit."

Song Zijun couldn't be bothered to argue with him. He lifted his head and hurried into the house to continue apologizing to Shen Yuan.

When it was time to sleep at night, everyone had washed up. Ji Pingan followed Shen Yuan to his room.

Upon entering, he found Song Zijun already lying comfortably in bed.

Ji Pingan rushed to the bedside, grabbing Song Zijun and pulling him up. "Wasn't a room prepared for you? What are you doing lying here?"

Song Zijun clung to the wooden bed frame. "I'm afraid of the dark. I don't dare sleep alone."

Ji Pingan wasn't buying his nonsense. "You're twenty years old. You need to learn to sleep alone. Now get going!"

"You're twenty-two. You go."

"I already agreed with Xiao Yuan. Why should I go?"

"If you don't go, I won't go either!"

Outside, Shen Xi, who was being led by Shen Dong to his room to sleep, paused at the commotion and piped up with pinpoint accuracy, "Second Brother, why do I feel like they're even clingier to Big Brother than we are? But aren't they already big kids? I didn't even fuss about sleeping with Big Brother today."

Shen Dong’s face, still childish, wore its usual calm look. "You didn't fuss because you know you can't win."

Shen Xi, having been exposed, pouted unhappily. "Second Brother, you never say anything nice."

"Big Brother says honest advice is hard to swallow."

Shen Xi was left speechless. Though he considered himself eloquent, when it came to bickering, he had never once bested his less-talkative second brother.

The two children went off to sleep, and the tug-of-war over Shen Yuan in the room also died down.

In the end, they compromised—all three piled into one bed.

Shen Yuan slept in the middle, separating the two.

Otherwise, he was afraid they might start fighting in their sleep even if they started the night peacefully.

Fortunately, the night was quiet, the bed was large enough, and they slept relatively soundly.

Early the next morning, Shen Anniang got up to freshen up and prepare breakfast.

Shen Yuan also woke up early, and Ji Pingan got up at the same time.

Song Zijun, having slept soundly for once without mosquito disturbances, was in a deep sleep.

By the time he got up, the only one in the Shen household who was also just rising was Shen Xi, the family's late sleeper.

The two seemed to be on the same schedule—yesterday they were crouching side by side, and today they were washing up together.

After rinsing his mouth, Song Zijun watched as Shen Xi's big eyes darted around, wondering how many schemes and mischievous ideas were swirling in that little head.

He suddenly asked, "Do you want to pick up some skills from me?"

*With that kind of effort,* Shen Xi thought, *I’d be better off learning from Shen Liushu how to throw a punch.*

Song Zijun let out an "oh," then immediately turned to Shen Yuan to tattle, "A-Yuan, your brother said something mean about me."

Shen Xi panicked, making a grab for Song Zijun's mouth but failing. In the end, he couldn't resist giving Song Zijun's thigh a light punch. "Big Brother, I didn't! He's just being mean, making stuff up to get me in trouble!"

Shen Yuan leaned out to mediate. "Zijun, my brother doesn't insult people. Don't tease him so much—he's just a kid and gets embarrassed easily. Breakfast is ready, come eat."

Song Zijun got a real look at just how far Shen Yuan's indulgence, trust, and bias went for someone he cared about.

He was certain that even if Shen Xi really insulted him right in front of Shen Yuan, Shen Yuan would claim he didn't hear it clearly.

Song Zijun said, a little enviously, "A-Yuan, no offense, but if you spoil a child like this, he'll turn out rotten."

Shen Yuan bent down to pat the head of Shen Xi, who had run over, and replied with an unconcerned smile, "It's fine. Even if he's spoiled, he'll be my problem."

Hearing this, Song Zijun joked, "Maybe I should just call you 'Big Brother A-Yuan' from now on. Being your brother seems much more comfortable."

Shen Yuan actually pondered it—in his previous life, he was indeed older than Song Zijun. He nodded, completely unbothered by the idea. "Sure, call me 'brother.' Let's hear it."

He teased, "Make it sweet, just like our Xixi."

Shen Xi, hugging Shen Yuan's waist, turned his head and grinned at Song Zijun. "Yeah, it has to be as sweet as me! Let me demonstrate—you have to call him like this: 'Brother~'"

A child's voice is naturally soft and cute, and Shen Xi deliberately pitched his tone higher, making it both coquettish and sweet.

The thought alone was too much for Song Zijun. His handsome face flushed as he said to Shen Xi, "Little fox Shen, please shut up. I really can't handle you two."

Shen Xi scratched his head in confusion. Was "little fox" referring to him?

Shen Yuan chuckled and said to Song Zijun, "I boiled some mugwort water for you. Come in and put some on your mosquito bites."

Song Zijun stared at Shen Yuan for a moment, then his lips curled up. "Alright! Coming right away!"

After breakfast, Shen Yuan and Ji Pingan headed to the yamen, while Song Zijun prepared to return to the mountain.

Before leaving, Song Zijun took off the wooden bracelet on his wrist and gave it to Shen Xi.

"Even though you think I have no skills, I'm kind-hearted and will still give you what you want. You have good taste—you picked the best thing. Keep it."

Shen Xi took the wooden bracelet and grinned. "Even though you framed me, I'm even more kind-hearted and will let you have your wish for a smart and obedient disciple. You have good taste—you picked the best disciple. What skills can I learn from you?"

Song Zijun was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

He turned to look at Shen Yuan and sighed, "A-Yuan, this brother of yours truly has real skill."

Shen Yuan was utterly confused. What was going on? What had he missed?

Weren't they like needle against awl, neither yielding to the other? How had they become master and disciple over a single meal?