Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Neither Lu Maomao nor Yu Xiaoyu played hopscotch correctly, just bouncing haphazardly between the squares. Cui Xi had to exert great effort to suppress her urge to teach her son-in-law, Lu, and Young Master Xiaoyu how to properly play hopscotch.

She sighed. She had been a child once too, but now that she was grown, she couldn't stand seeing children make a mess of everything and couldn't help wanting to correct them.

Cui Xi couldn't help but reflect. It was probably because in the past, Young Master Xiaoyu had been in a daze, needing her and Nanny Shisong to guide, assist, and arrange everything for him. Back then, Young Master Xiaoyu was quiet and didn't fuss, saving her and Nanny Shisong a lot of effort. She was just stuck in her old habits and hadn't changed yet, but she really shouldn't continue like this.

Nanny Shisong, unlike Cui Xi, wasn't constantly monitoring Lu Maomao and Yu Xiaoyu's movements. When Son-in-law Lu was around, they were mostly kept from managing Young Master Xiaoyu's affairs, and Son-in-law Lu certainly wouldn't let Young Master Xiaoyu come to any harm. Nanny Shisong, feeling at ease, chose a shady spot to sit down and fan herself, only occasionally glancing over at Lu Maomao and the others.

"Your feet don't hurt anymore?" Yu Changan strolled over leisurely. Seeing *Mao'er*, who had just been complaining to him, now hopping around the squares, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in question.

If he hadn't mentioned it, Lu Maomao would have felt fine. But once brought up, the feeling of exhaustion and weakness surged up from the soles of his feet. However, to avoid losing face in front of Yu Xiaoyu, Lu Maomao talked tough, "I still have the energy to accompany Xiaoyu."

"Yu Sui said you chased all those children away. Honestly, how petty can you be?" Yu Sui was Yu Changan's page boy, usually handling Yu Changan's private affairs.

Lu Maomao had made quite a commotion when shooing the children away. Yu Sui happened to witness it. These children had been carefully selected by him, so when he went to report matters to Yu Changan, he mentioned it. Upon hearing this, Yu Changan couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.

To be jealous even of children, with such a temperament, what great things could he ever achieve in the future?

In short, evaluating Lu Maomao from all aspects, Yu Changan believed his future was bleak. Sometimes, he even wished he could drag Lu Maomao before Taoist Master Huaizhen and make him take back his previous words. He could understand the saying 'Heaven favors the simple-minded,' but 'Heaven favors the fool' left him utterly perplexed.

"It's getting dark, time to go home for dinner. I was worried they wouldn't have food to eat if they went back too late." Lu Maomao's eyes darted around, his voice lacking conviction.

Yu Changan looked up at the sky. There was still at least three more hours before sunset.

Seeing his elder brother-in-law look at the sky, Lu Maomao added another explanation, "Farming families are reluctant to use lamps. They need to finish eating and tidying up all the chores before dark, while there's still light."

Whatever Lu Maomao said, the matter was clearly that he was jealous of Xiaoyu playing with others and, driven by selfishness, had chased them away. Fifth Young Master Yu had no intention of arguing with him about it.

"Xiaoyu doesn't have to cling to you every single moment now." In other words, Lu Maomao was no longer irreplaceable. "You just happen to have time to learn skills now, without constantly worrying about Xiaoyu." Meaning he should stop using Xiaoyu as an excuse and get to work.

"Can't I learn with Xiaoyu by my side?" Lu Maomao asked Yu Changan hopefully.

Xiaoyu could be apart from him now, but he realized he couldn't be apart from Xiaoyu.

He had only been away for one morning and half an afternoon today, and Xiaoyu was almost snatched away by those children. If he weren't by Xiaoyu's side every day in the future, Xiaoyu would quickly become distant from him.

Lu Maomao couldn't accept even the slightest possibility that Yu Xiaoyu might become distant from him.

His brother-in-law's intention to make things difficult for him was already set in stone. He could only try his best to keep Xiaoyu close.

If others could bring their parents and younger sisters to school, he could bring his husband to work.

"What are you thinking? Do you want Xiaoyu to follow you and get baked in the sun, or follow you until his feet get calloused?"

"I didn't mean it that way." Lu Maomao said sheepishly. He had been so anxious he lost his head, proposing such an unreliable suggestion. However, he looked at Yu Changan resentfully, "Brother-in-law, so you *do* know the tasks you're giving me are hard."

"Endure the hardest of hardships to become a man above men. What's a young man afraid of suffering? Suffer more now, do more work, and you won't suffer great losses in the future."

Yu Changan had mastered the methods of offering grand promises and motivational speeches without being taught—essentially, encouraging Lu Maomao to strive.

"I've already suffered a lot." Lu Maomao said dejectedly. After gaining sentience, to avoid danger, he had nearly died several times. Later, he actually did die, came back to life in another world, and still had to suffer. In short, it was an endless cycle of struggle and hardship. Just thinking about it made *Mao'er* feel like his non-existent phantom whiskers wanted to twitch. Life back in his pet owner's home had been too good.

"Who told you you haven't made something of yourself yet."

Yu Changan thought Lu Maomao was referring to his background and over ten years as a hunter. He had indeed suffered, but he hadn't achieved anything, nor had he cultivated the right temperament. He just had to suffer a bit more.

"Brother-in-law, have *you* suffered?"

Yu Changan glanced sideways at Lu Maomao. This *Mao'er* wanted to compare with him? "Of course. Studying by lamplight at midnight, rising at dawn, practicing calligraphy with a stone hanging from my wrist, reading a text a hundred times. Your fifth brother studied extremely diligently, which is how I achieved this humble, unworthy status of a provincial graduate."

Pah, I hate you show-offs.

'Humble provincial graduate'—a provincial graduate is way more impressive than those modern masters of Chinese studies.

"Brother-in-law, you're quite impressive." With such a grueling study regimen, it was remarkable his brother-in-law was still so healthy. His constitution was truly good.

"Indeed, no suffering is ever in vain. Only the incompetent learn nothing from their trials."

This seemed to be a pointed remark aimed at him. *Mao'er* pretended not to understand. Seeing that Xiaoyu was looking at the squares on the ground instead of Yu Changan, Yu Changan couldn't be bothered with this big lazy cat anymore and changed the subject, "Tomorrow when those children come again, you are not allowed to chase them away."

He and Old Master Yu still wanted Xiaoyu to interact with more people. Today, with Lu Maomao gone to the fields, he had Yu Sui find some children with decent character to come over, also to test if Xiaoyu could be apart from Lu Maomao.

It seemed Xiaoyu's situation was quite good now.

Although he still relied heavily on Lu Maomao, it was no longer a case of not being able to wait a single moment to see him. This way, in the future when Lu Maomao starts studying, they wouldn't be unable to settle Xiaoyu and delay Lu Maomao's education.

Of course, it would be even better if Xiaoyu could sit still and attend school with Lu Maomao, or if Lu Maomao could learn first and then teach him.

Not only was Lu Maomao illiterate, Xiaoyu was illiterate too.

An illiterate live-in son-in-law was one thing, but if the family's young master was also illiterate, that was another story. Xiaoyu would surely recover one day and would have to attend some necessary occasions. If he lost face outside, how sad would he be?

Yu Changan felt that as an elder brother, he was truly worrying himself sick over his younger brother, even planning for his affairs years in advance. If Lu Maomao didn't strive to improve, he really wasn't sure if he might do something like annul the marriage.

Ha—Choo—

Lu Maomao sneezed loudly without warning. Yu Changan swiftly dodged to the side.

Lu Maomao rubbed his nose, "Someone must be cursing me."

"Maybe Clerk Huang is thinking of you." Yu Changan said deliberately.

Lu Maomao glared at Yu Changan and ignored him, pulling Xiaoyu to continue hopping around the squares. Hopping around squares was better; hopping around squares had no worries. It would be even better if Xiaoyu only hopped with him and didn't play with those children.

In the evening, they dined together with Old Master Yu in the main courtyard.

Before the meal, Old Master Yu asked Lu Maomao, "Feifan, what have you learned from going to the fields these past two days?"

"Reporting to the old master, Steward Yu taught me how to identify upper, middle, and lower-grade fields, the approximate yield per mu for these three types of fields, and how to estimate yield per mu. I've never farmed before, so my estimates aren't accurate yet." Lu Maomao had genuinely learned things today, which was why he could answer Old Master Yu's question with substance.

"That's alright, you can learn slowly."

"You must be exhausted today. After eating, rest well. There's still much work waiting for you tomorrow."

Old Master Yu kindly told Lu Maomao to recuperate his energy for tomorrow's continued labor.

"Old Master, just walking around the fields and paths with Steward Yu these past two days has made me feel tired. Those farmers must be even more hardworking, going bare-chested into the fields in summer."

So, could he not be sent to the fields and just study directly?

Lu Maomao didn't have the nerve to say it outright, but Old Master Yu said, "Feifan, since you wish to cultivate the Dao, you should know that all living beings suffer. Some toil with their minds, others with their strength. Those who toil with their minds govern others; those who toil with their strength are governed by others."

"The old master speaks wisely. Everyone has their own hardships."

But *Mao'er* actually didn't have to suffer. "Old Master, you are so learned. May I study under you?"

"Oh? Does Young Master Feifan look down on me and want the old master to personally instruct you?" Yu Changan asked Lu Maomao discontentedly. Still trying to find a workaround, looking for an opening through the old master? Just see if the old master gives you the chance.

Old Master Yu wasn't particularly fazed by Lu Maomao's behavior and calmly asked him, "What's made you want to study *again*?"

"Before, when I couldn't get enough to eat, I thought just filling my belly would be enough. But after coming to the Yu family, where I don't have to worry about food or clothes, I've become lost about life instead." Lu Maomao put on a look of honest sincerity, spouting high-minded platitudes, "People say books can help one understand principles. I thought if I studied, perhaps I could figure a lot of things out."

"Feifan, it's good that you have such thoughts, but there's no rush. Go out and experience more of life. Some things can't be learned just from books. Reality can teach us even more."

Old Master Yu gently refused Lu Maomao, the dim candlelight giving his face a deep, wise cast.

Although Lu Maomao was no longer young, since they intended to teach him to read and groom him properly as the live-in son-in-law, they needed to correct his habits of cutting corners, trickery, and laziness. Otherwise, he might not achieve much in his studies. And if he didn't use his learning for good, it would be even more concerning. Moreover, Old Master Yu's thoughts weren't limited to making Lu Maomao study; having a skill to protect Xiaoyu would be enough.

"Part of Xiaoyu's future dowry will include some farmland. Get to know more about it now, so you can help Xiaoyu manage it later."

Old Master Yu said this originally to reassure Lu Maomao, but instead, Lu Maomao was startled and stood up, "Ah, I have to manage Xiaoyu's dowry?"

"You expect Xiaoyu to handle it himself?" Yu Changan said, exasperated.

The Little Fairy Boy was detached from worldly affairs and worse at arithmetic than even Maomao, so he certainly couldn't manage it. "Aren't there still you, Old Master, and Brother-in-law?"

Had they forgotten? He was the one marrying into Xiaoyu's family, not Xiaoyu marrying him. How could the live-in son-in-law manage the dowry? Even if this live-in son-in-law was him, Lu Maomao, it still wouldn't do!

"Can we manage things for you your whole lives?"

"Why not?"

He was definitely going to be with Xiaoyu for a lifetime, and Xiaoyu would definitely be with his family. If the Yu family members incidentally helped manage Xiaoyu's dowry for them, it didn't seem like a big deal, right?

Hmm, maybe it wasn't foolproof either.

But why did Old Master think he was more trustworthy than the Yu family members?

Author's Note:

----------------------

"Those who work with their minds govern others; those who work with their strength are governed by others." — From *Mencius*.