Chapter Nine: The Shadow of the Xiao Clan is Everywhere

“Young Master Zhao, please don’t mind, have a seat.”

With things having come to this point, what else could the Xiaos say? Grandmother Xiao smiled as she invited, “Chunning, quickly fetch some bowls and chopsticks.”

“Yes, Grandmother.”

The younger female family members—Spring Swallow, Spring Sister, and the elder sister-in-law—had already left the table and gone to the next room to avoid the scene. Zhao Minghua sat down quite unceremoniously.

Chunning went to get two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks, grumbling inwardly: This young master really lacks tact. Didn’t he see the family barely had enough to eat? Yet he still came to freeload. He’s like scraping grease off a chicken’s leg bone. That’s what Luo Xiaogang taught him—definitely not a compliment.

However, his upbringing forbade him from showing a sour face, so he smiled and placed the utensils in front of him and Qingsheng.

“What is this pancake made of? It smells so good.”

Taking a bite, Zhao Minghua ate with great satisfaction.

Qingsheng… Young Master, are you aware of what you’re saying?

Usually, you’re so picky, yet this pancake is clearly made from wild vegetables, and you say it smells delicious?

Moreover, he actually ate it.

Well, then… forget it, I’ll eat along with my master.

In the end, the master and servant each ate two pancakes and drank a bowl of thin porridge. After burping with full bellies, they took their leave, contented.

“Mother, the young master from the Zhao family is truly exceptional.”

Madam Xu was somewhat worried. Was it good or bad for Chun Nuan to have such a connection?

“He is a bit unconventional,” Grandmother Xiao remarked, seeing this type for the first time. “But he is a man of genuine temperament.”

“Yes, Grandmother, Aunt, Young Master Zhao is indeed a man of true character,” Chun Nuan understood Aunt’s intent. “Young Master Zhao is far better than those who know petty etiquette but lack great righteousness, who cling to trivial rules but have no noble virtues.”

Just like the head of the Xiao clan—full of talk about benevolence and morality, but in truth rife with thieves and harlots, sores on their heads and pus-filled feet, rotten to the core!

Chun Nuan didn’t say this outright.

Because whenever the Xiao clan was mentioned, Grandmother would choke and her chest would ache.

“That’s true,” Aunt said. “But Nuan Nuan, you’re still a young lady; it’s not appropriate for you to be so exposed. If not, let Aunt handle the negotiations with Baicao Hall.”

“Thank you, Aunt, for your consideration. Chun Nuan is only in charge of preparing the medicinal herbs. In the future, when it involves business dealings, Chunning will take the lead.”

“Chunning?”

Everyone looked toward the eleven-year-old Chunning.

“Grandmother, Aunt, Mother, Auntie, Chunning is grown now and will definitely do well.”

Chunning puffed out his chest, accepting the task assigned by his elder sister.

“That’s good.”

Grandmother Xiao’s heart ached deeply. This grandson had already passed the county-level scholar exam at such a young age.

The patriarch once said, perhaps Chunning could become the top scorer and restore the Xiao family’s reputation. It was a cruel twist of fate that the most studious one fell into a family barred from the imperial exams for three generations.

Unable to pursue the path of scholarship and responsible for supporting the entire household, the Xiao family truly needed someone to engage in commerce.

And that person could only be Chunning, who was nearly twelve.

The Xiao family members discussed how to sustain their livelihood, while Chun Nuan focused on securing the contract to prepare herbs for Baicao Hall, hoping to earn some handicraft fees through her labor.

Meanwhile, at the Zhao residence, Qingsheng followed the third young master as he rushed straight to the kitchen, unclear about his intent.

“Master, are you hungry? I’ll have Mother prepare some food for you.”

When had he ever rushed to the kitchen to lift lids?

No, the young master had already eaten pancakes and porridge at the Xiao home. Was he hungry again?

“Qingsheng, call your mother here.”

“Yes.”

Qingsheng hurriedly summoned his own mother.

“Aunt Niu, I remember you used to fry crispy pork?”

“Third young master, do you want some crispy pork? This old servant will go buy pork belly right away.”

Aunt Niu was the cook in the small kitchen, always obliging to the third young master’s requests.

“No, no, I just want to ask what ingredients are needed to fry crispy pork.”

Aunt Niu looked from her youngest son Qingsheng to the third young master, puzzled by the question.

“Mother, the young master is asking you. Just tell him the truth.”

“You need vegetable oil, and a bit of lard is even better, salt, Sichuan pepper, bean powder, old ginger, eggs… most importantly, good-quality pork belly.”

Aunt Niu spoke while thinking. She doubted he would be able to make the dish after hearing this secret recipe. At least, he wouldn’t compete with her for the task.

Why would a young man ask about such things?

“Vegetable oil, lard, salt, Sichuan pepper…”

Without hesitation, the third young master rummaged through everything Aunt Niu mentioned, placing each item into a large basket, ready to leave.

“Third young master, what are you doing?”

“Aunt Niu, I have a use for these. You go buy more yourself.”

“Third young master, Qingsheng…”

Unable to hear, as long as they ran fast, no matter how much Aunt Niu called, they couldn’t be heard.

The two young men dashed out quickly, carrying the large basket.

Aunt Niu was dumbfounded. Many of these items had just been purchased and would last at least a month. How was she to account for the loss?

“Master, where are you taking these?”

“You fool, didn’t you think that after eating at noon, they wouldn’t replace it? We’re not related; we can’t just eat and drink for free,” Zhao Minghua said. “Go, find the butcher and buy a good piece of pork belly.”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

Qingsheng… If I had known you were so righteous, I would’ve invited you to eat at my home!

Xiao Chun Nuan was also stunned by the items the two from the Zhao family brought.

“Young Master Zhao, what’s the meaning of this?”

“I ate your pancakes at noon and found them quite delicious. But I can’t just eat for free, so I brought you these as compensation. If there’s anything good in the future, I hope to come by and share it. Please don’t mind.”

“Young Master Zhao, no need. Please take these ingredients back.”

Xiao Chun Nuan blushed. This wasn’t compensation; it was a disguised form of help.

There is a saying: no gratitude, no reward. Having eaten from someone’s hand makes one obliged; she didn’t want to owe too many favors.

“Miss Xiao, my appetite isn’t large. I only come to eat occasionally, not every day. Don’t be afraid,” Zhao Minghua said. “I’ve left these here. You take care of them. I have matters to attend to. I’ll be going now.”

He glanced at Qingsheng, who immediately understood and quickly withdrew.

Xiao Chun Nuan wanted to call out but was too late.

“Sister,” Chunning looked at the two baskets and then at her flushed face, “Young Master Zhao…”

Could he have other intentions?

“Sister, should we keep these things?”

“Yes, let’s accept them.”

Xiao Chun Nuan sighed inwardly. This man acted somewhat rashly, but he meant well. He was truly helping the Xiao family.

“Sister, Luo Xiaogang said that Baicao Hall’s Zhao family is betrothed to the Xiao clan’s granddaughter, Xiao Chunlan.”

Startled… Chun Nuan’s hand touching the bamboo basket immediately pulled back as if burned.

Xiao Chun Nuan felt she was almost seeing a glimmer of hope, but the dark veil of the Xiao clan fell again. No matter where, the shadow of the Xiao family lingered.

“Sister…” Chunning hesitated again.

“Sister taught you: say whatever’s on your mind directly, don’t be shy.”

What on earth was this kid trying to say?