Bian Wenxuan was flustered in his heart. His instincts told him to turn around and run, but then he thought that he had come here to pick up Mr. Xu Mo. If he left, wouldn't Mr. Xu be at the mercy of villains?
Thinking of Master Xu's delicate skin and tender flesh, gentle and refined demeanor, if he fell into the hands of bad people, he would surely be tortured and battered beyond recognition.
Although Bian Wenxuan was afraid, he bravely stayed put and said, "I'm the county magistrate, how dare some petty thieves go against me. I'll chop their heads off if they harm me."
Beside him, Wang Xi stared with eyes wide open, shocked when did the master become so brave and steadfast.
But glancing at Bian Wenxuan's legs shaking like sieves with the corner of his eyes, Wang Xi smiled awkwardly again.
Before long, the ground shook as the city gates of Xieyang County roared open.
Judging by the sound, there were quite a lot of people.
Bian Wenxuan's legs shook faster and faster, his pupils dilated as he stared at the billowing dust rolling in from afar, finally stopping at the city gates.
Everyone covered their noses and mouths. As the dust settled, they saw an elegant and luxurious carriage, and a heroic-looking young man on horseback.
Putting aside the entourage of carriages and donkeys behind for now, Bian Wenxuan immediately recognized the horse rider as Fang Heng, and was instantly relieved.
His pupils shrank back, and he could eat two large bowls of rice with his no longer shaking legs.
Laughing, he turned around and slapped the clerk who had given false military information, "Where did you get the fifty men and the murderous aura?"
The clerk lowered his head in grievance, "It sounded like it."
Bian Wenxuan ignored him and greeted Fang Heng with a smile, "Brother Heng, why are you alone? Where is Master Xu?"
Before his voice fell, the curtains of the luxurious carriage lifted, and Master Xu Mo, dressed in blue robes and exuding refinement, gracefully stepped down.
"It's been a long time, sir," Xu Mo greeted politely.
Bian Wenxuan nodded with a smile, "Indeed it's been a long time. The entire county has missed you dearly these past four months without you, Master Xu."
Not a shred remained of his previous ferocious aura.
Behind him, Wang Xi nearly twisted his lips all the way to Fengjing.
The group exchanged pleasantries and entered the city.
Xu Mo wanted to check on his residence, but Bian Wenxuan insisted on taking him to the county government, citing affairs of people's livelihood as justification. Master Xu could only go along helplessly.
Matters of the residence were left to his younger siblings.
Inside the carriage.
Wang Fufeng frowned at Bian Wenxuan, then turned and asked Jiang Sheng, "Is this gentleman very familiar with you?"
Jiang Sheng blinked, hesitating whether to speak.
Wang Fufeng took out a small piece of gold from his sleeve.
Little Jiang Sheng's eyes lit up. She almost immediately explained, "He's Brother San's aunt's man sent to protect Brother San, and also the one who hired Big Brother to be the tutor."
Having said that, she fiddled with the gold nugget, secretly wondering if it was real.
Wang Fufeng lowered his head in thought, seemingly trying to recall which aunt was related to the Bian family.
After thinking it over, his eyes focused.
Not long after, the carriage stopped in front of a small courtyard.
Because no one had lived there for a long time, the lock on the door was rusty, and there were withered branches and ruins everywhere. Part of the roof on the east side had also collapsed.
Wang Fufeng frowned, "You live in a place like this?"
Jiang Sheng nodded, puzzled. Although the yard was covered in dust, it would still be a nice residence once cleaned up, definitely better than the broken temple.
At least with Sister Zhang cooking, Aunt Cui Er weeding, Brother Zhang fixing furniture, Brother Zheng and Brother Wen sweeping the floor, and Brother Chang scrubbing the water tank, even with the eight servants, no one acted like an entitled master. They worked with their own hands and ate their fill.
Wang Fufeng looked sadly, seemingly beginning to understand the reason for the Wang family's lack of humanity.
After much hesitation, he finally rolled up his sleeves, determined to help.
His personal servant was scared out of his wits and hurriedly tried to stop him, "Young master, you are so esteemed, how can you do such menial tasks yourself?"
On the roof, Fang Heng paused in his repairs.
Washing the tank, Chang Yan almost fell into the big tub in a moment of distraction.
Wang Fufeng smiled, "Uncle Wang, you also know Brother Heng. Wasn't he no less esteemed than me before?"
Young Master Fang, from the prominent Fang family in Fengjing, was an existence that even the Wangs tried to curry favor with.
If Fang Heng could patch roofs, why couldn't he, Wang Fufeng?
"But Young Master..." Uncle Wang stammered, "You and Young Master Fang are different."
Fang Heng was orphaned and hunted by his clan. Wang Fufeng had money, power and servants. They were indeed not the same.
But the more different they were, the more they should be the same.
If Fang Heng could do it, so could Wang Fufeng.
He gently brushed away the old servant's obstruction, and earnestly swept the yard, disposed of trash, and wiped down the tables and chairs.
Dust clung to his wide sleeves, twigs tore his smooth hemline, and even his fair hands were marked with red scratches.
Jiang Sheng sidled up to Wen Zhiyun and whispered, "I'm afraid Brother Fufeng's frail body would faint from exhaustion."
If he really fainted, would she have to return the gold he gave her earlier?
"Don't worry," Wen Zhiyun gave his sister a calming pill, "His weak constitution is due to innate deficiencies and excessive pampering."
People were different from jade carvings.
The innate material of a carving determined its brittleness.
But people could be tempered. Innate traits determined the starting point, acquired traits decided the end point.
If Wang Fufeng had exercised and strengthened his body from birth, although not to Fang Heng's level of splitting two burly men with a stick, he would definitely not be so frail.
So occasional labor could only benefit him, not harm him.
Jiang Sheng suddenly understood. Looking back at her own rather slender fourth brother, she grinned, "Fourth brother, you could use some exercise too. When second brother buys the land, you go plant green beans!"
Wen Zhiyun, "..."
That night when Xu Mo returned, Auntie Zhang cooked a potful of braised chicken chunks and green beans. They ate a lively dinner together.
Then little Jiang Sheng started worrying.
With so many people this time, the four rooms in the small yard were far from enough. Who should squeeze with whom?
Would the young master of the Wang family tolerate sharing a bed with others?
But before she could ask, a Wang servant walked in and presented the deed.
It turned out that in just half an afternoon, Wang Fufeng had bought a house in Xieyang County, not too far from the small yard. It was fully furnished with clothing, food, lodging and transportation.
Wang Fufeng slowly stood up, dabbing his mouth corner with a clean kerchief. He bowed to everyone, "Many thanks for your hospitality. I shall take my leave and rest now."
He departed gracefully, frail in body yet elegant in demeanor.
Behind him, Jiang Sheng gaped. She looked back at Fang Heng, then at Wang Fufeng. Finally she voiced her shock, "So this is how rich young masters are?"
Buying a hundred-tael house at will.
No comparing prices or nitpicking details, just taking the best and most suitable.
Not daring to act so frivolously without tens of thousands of taels in pocket.
Zheng Ruqian sighed, thinking Jiang Sheng was envious of others' wealth again.
Unexpectedly the little girl's eyes turned red as she asked, "How did Brother San endure it, going hungry and wandering everywhere, if he used to be like this?"
