Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Yu Xiaoyu had napped too much in the afternoon, so he was wide awake late into the night. He didn't go to bed until midnight. By the time he woke up the next day, Yu Changan had already sent Lu Maomao out.

After breakfast, Yu Xiaoyu, as usual, went to find Lu Maomao to play. "Mao'er?"

"Son-in-law Lu has gone out. Young Master Changan sent him with the steward to learn how to assess the rent. He'll be back in the afternoon to play with you." Regardless of how much Yu Xiaoyu could understand, Old Master Yu and Yu Changan both required Cui Xi and Nanny Shisong not to brush him off when speaking to him. "Young Master Changan had some children from tenant farmers' families brought over to play games with you."

As Cui Xi spoke, she straightened Yu Xiaoyu's clothes. Once she was done getting him ready, she and Nanny Shisong took him to a large open area in the front courtyard, which was set aside for Yu Xiaoyu to play in. Two or three children were waiting for him there.

At first, Yu Xiaoyu was very disappointed not to see Lu Maomao and even threw a tantrum about wanting to go find Mao'er. But soon, his attention was captured by the children's games, and he stood still, watching.

Seeing this, Cui Xi and Nanny Shisong both breathed a partial sigh of relief.

As for Lu Maomao, at the crack of dawn, when the sky was just turning pink, Yu Changan had someone wake him up. He was told to go with Steward Yu to finish inspecting the remaining fields.

"But it doesn't need to be this early, does it?" Lu Maomao said, rubbing the sleep from the corners of his eyes and yawning. All that walking yesterday had worn him out; his legs still ached.

"Do you think everyone is as idle as you? The steward has other things to do. Once the rent is figured out, he'll be busy with other matters."

"Then the steward could go by himself. Why do I have to go? I don't understand any of it," Lu Maomao grumbled.

"If you don't understand, then learn!" Yu Changan rapped Lu Maomao on the head.

"I don't need to collect rent. What's the point of learning this?"

"You still haven't figured out what you want to do in the future. As your fifth brother, I'm doing you a favor by letting you experience various trades first, so you can choose what you like to learn. How about that? I'm being pretty good to you, aren't I?"

Lu Maomao was so shocked his round eyes went wide. "Brother-in-law, what are you saying? Try out *every* kind of trade?"

"Yes, exactly as you're thinking."

Between studying and manual labor, Lu Maomao knew which was easier. He finally steeled himself and said to Yu Changan with a determined expression, "I've already decided what I want to do in the future. I want to study, take the imperial examinations, and become a high-ranking official."

"What about cultivating the Dao?"

"I can't leave Xiaoyu. My worldly ties are unresolved; I can't cultivate the Dao." Lu Maomao's earnest explanation sounded very much like an excuse.

Yu Changan didn't believe him. He flicked open his fan and gently fanned himself, looking every bit the refined gentleman. "Wanting to study and become a high official? Too late! Don't think you can avoid work. Even if we let you study, we won't let you shirk your duties."

It was obvious Lu Maomao had suggested studying just to dodge work. The cunning little cat knew the family wanted him to better himself and deliberately used studying as a bargaining chip to avoid going to the fields. How could Yu Changan let him have his way? Even if Lu Maomao genuinely wanted to study now, Yu Changan wouldn't allow it. He was certain that if he relented now, Lu Maomao would find ways to slack off. With that attitude toward learning, what could he possibly achieve?

This temperament still needed tempering.

"Remember to bring water and food. If you can't make it back by noon, eat out there," Yu Changan kindly reminded him.

"Will it take that long? What if Xiaoyu looks for me?"

"If Xiaoyu looks for you, I'll send someone to call you back," Yu Changan said impatiently.

The Old Master and the Fifth Young Master wanted to train Son-in-law Lu. Steward Yu, dragged along for the ride, had to take Lu Maomao to the Yu family's fields at the crack of dawn to estimate this year's harvest.

He also had to explain to Lu Maomao the yields per *mu* for different types of fields, the farming tools used, planting methods, and the sowing and harvesting times for the main crops, among other things. Lu Maomao listened, feeling dizzy and disoriented, hoping Xiaoyu would quickly ask for him and have his brother-in-law send someone to call him back.

By noon, Steward Yu suggested they eat their food under a large tree. Still, no one came to fetch him.

"That wretched brother-in-law! He must be stopping Xiaoyu, not letting him look for me," Lu Maomao cursed Yu Changan silently in his heart. He also felt somewhat suspicious. "Steward, we're over ten *li* from the residence now, aren't we? We've looked at more than five hundred *mu* of land, right?"

"That's correct, Son-in-law Lu. Besides the five hundred *mu* around the residence, our family also has three hundred *mu* of land here in Chenjiagou. Since it's not far from the residence, we didn't build houses here."

That awful brother-in-law, playing tricks on him again!

Lu Maomao took a fierce bite of his steamed bun and gulped down several mouthfuls of water before calming down.

He had thought he could go home after accompanying Steward Yu to inspect the five hundred *mu*. Who knew the Yu family had so much land? After finishing five hundred *mu*, there were still three hundred more.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Lu Maomao asked the steward angrily.

Steward Yu remained calm. "Son-in-law Lu, this was arranged by the Fifth Young Master." He had assumed the Fifth Young Master had already mentioned it.

He knew it was his brother-in-law's doing again, and probably Old Master Yu's too. That routine of one playing the villain and the other the good guy was something Mao'er understood all too well.

"So, after these three hundred *mu*, there won't be any more, right?" Even if there were, he couldn't walk anymore. Then Lu Maomao suddenly thought: Steward Yu, a steward out on business, didn't even have a carriage to ride in?

"Not for today." As for the carriage... "The residence's carriages haven't been maintained for over two years. Young Master Changan had them sent to the craftsmen for upkeep."

Lu Maomao stared wide-eyed at Steward Yu, his expression clearly saying, "Do you think I believe that?"

Steward Yu didn't care whether Lu Maomao believed him or not. He hadn't complained about being inconvenienced by Son-in-law Lu; Son-in-law Lu's feelings were not his concern. "Tomorrow's arrangements will depend on Young Master Changan's plans."

Can't I arrange things for myself? Lu Maomao thought indignantly. These people who love to arrange things for Mao'er are just so mean.

"Son-in-law Lu could have an open and honest talk with the Fifth Young Master about your thoughts. He would understand," Steward Yu advised.

"Brother-in-law doesn't trust me."

Today, when he said he wanted to study, Brother-in-law brushed it off and even doubted his sincerity. Well, he wasn't sincere; he just wanted to avoid work.

"Then Son-in-law Lu could try doing something to make Young Master Changan believe you," the steward said. Words are never as convincing as actions.

But Mao'er really couldn't think of any way to fool that shrewd brother-in-law. Lu Maomao said dejectedly, "Brother-in-law is too hard to please. We'll talk about it later."

"Does the Old Master not have land in Yujia Village?" They had walked so far, passing several villages, but none seemed to be called Yujia Village.

"Yujia Village is east of the residence. We came west," the steward explained seriously. "Most of the land in Yujia Village is registered under our family. The Old Master takes care of the clan members, charging only twenty percent rent and even donating that twenty percent to the clan to fund the children's early schooling. These matters are handled by the clan head and the elders; we don't need to intervene."

Alright then, no chance to scout out the clan head's house today.

Yes, Lu Maomao still hadn't given up on revenge in his heart. Even though Brother-in-law said such behavior was unbecoming, the animalistic instincts intertwined with his human nature wouldn't let him act as if nothing had happened.

If Lu Maomao were still a cat, his emotions might not be this strong. Perhaps after being human for a long time, he might become more broad-minded. But for now, he couldn't control these thoughts very well.

"Are three hundred *mu* a lot?" Yu Changan retorted.

"Yes, a lot! My feet are about to get blisters," Lu Maomao said, feeling very wronged. On the way back, he could barely walk.

"Then have someone prepare hot water for you to soak your feet tonight."

Yu Changan said it so lightly that it made Lu Maomao even angrier. However, he hadn't lost his head completely. "What about my Xiaoyu? Didn't Xiaoyu look for me today?"

"Speak properly. How is he *your* Xiaoyu?"

"He is mine."

"I found Xiaoyu some playmates. They played shuttlecock kicking, jump rope, and hopscotch for him to watch."

"And then Xiaoyu just abandoned me like that?"

Lu Maomao was incredulous.

Lu Maomao's world was falling apart.

He'd thought Xiaoyu couldn't live without him, but after his brother-in-law, Young Master Chang'an, found a few playmates, Xiaoyu was already distracted.

Lu Maomao hurried over to where Xiaoyu was playing, and when he saw Xiaoyu holding hands with several children, jumping up and down happily, his heart nearly broke. He was no longer Xiaoyu's one and only.

Lu Maomao stepped forward, and Yu Xiaoyu spotted him, his eyes lighting up, "Maomao!"

"Xiaoyu, I'm back."

Yu Xiaoyu let go of the hands of the two boys he was with and went to grab Lu Maomao's arm, pulling him to join them in their jumping. Seeing that he was still the most important person to Xiaoyu, Lu Maomao's mood instantly brightened.

So he began shooing the other children away, "Alright, alright, it's getting dark. Time to go home."

The children made dismissive *tsk* sounds.

The eldest girl among them stepped forward and said, "Young Master Chang'an asked us to play with Young Master Xiaoyu and promised each of us a piece of pastry."

"I'll take you to get them."

So, Lu Maomao held Yu Xiaoyu's hand and led a group of seven or eight children toward the kitchen. The kitchen helper had already handed out mung bean cakes earlier in the morning, but seeing the young master bringing so many people, he wasn't flustered and gave each child another piece.

The children happily headed home with their pastries.

Yu Xiaoyu wolfed his down and said to Lu Maomao, "More." He made a gesture of holding something in his hands, his fingers still smeared with pastry crumbs, looking absolutely adorable. Lu Maomao almost excitedly pulled out the macarons he had grown yesterday. It was a super prize, something that might not appear even after dozens of attempts at planting. Unfortunately, he couldn't give them to Xiaoyu right now.

After eating three pastries in the kitchen, Lu Maomao and Yu Xiaoyu finally left and returned to the play area. The hopscotch grid was still drawn on the ground, and Yu Xiaoyu pulled Lu Maomao forward to jump.

Author's note:

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