Chapter 44
“Dear nephew, please don’t misunderstand. You’re so focused on your studies and martial arts that you might not realize how many eyes are on you here at the Zhao residence,” the steward Gao hurriedly explained.
Zheng Fa wasn’t surprised. He had no deep roots in the Zhao family, but he had made a name for himself, big or small, and that naturally drew attention.
What really piqued Zheng Fa’s interest was the matter of the tailor shop that Gao mentioned. He glanced at his mother, and sure enough, her expression was hesitant.
Zheng Mu had always wanted to find some work to earn money. She looked at Zheng Fa, who gave a slight nod.
“If we can find a shop, then I’ll trouble you, Steward Gao.”
Gao was overjoyed. “Perfect! My brother-in-law has a shop under his name. Madam can go over in a couple of days.”
With that, he pulled out a piece of paper and placed it on the table.
“Wait a minute…” Zheng Fa furrowed his brow. “What does it mean for my mother to go over?”
“To take over the shop!”
Zheng Mu quickly interjected, “I just want to find a shop to take on some work.”
“Madam, this shop isn’t worth much. Come on… we’re all friends here. It’s my shop, but it’s under my brother-in-law’s name,” Gao admitted candidly.
“If you have someone you trust, the shop can be transferred to them. If not, if you trust me, I’ll keep it under my brother-in-law’s name, and I’ll have someone deliver the monthly earnings to you.”
This was indeed the norm at the Zhao residence.
Although signing a contract meant one couldn’t have personal property, for someone in Gao’s position, such arrangements were all too common.
Madam must have known this as well.
Otherwise, why would so many people flock to a mere servant position held by the Seventh Young Master?
Zheng Fa was certain that as long as he remained at the Zhao residence, Gao would ensure the money was delivered.
Suddenly, Gao Yuan spoke up, “Zheng Fa, just accept it. My father has more than one shop.”
Zheng Fa: … Are you really throwing your father under the bus like this?
As expected, Gao’s face darkened, and he shot a glare at his foolish son before turning to Zheng Fa with a wry smile. “Dear nephew… I know my family is taking advantage of you, but I feel like whatever I offer is too little. If you refuse even this shop, I won’t be able to sleep at night…”
Zheng Fa looked at Gao, whose expression seemed to say he wouldn’t leave without an answer, then glanced at Gao Yuan and nodded.
After the two left, Zheng Mu stared blankly at Zheng Fa. “So, we just got ourselves a shop?”
…
Once outside Zheng Fa’s home, Steward Gao let out a long sigh of relief.
Gao Yuan, puzzled, asked, “Dad, is that enough?”
“Enough? The Seventh Young Master said Zheng Fa has powerful connections behind him. Do you think one shop is enough? We’re just making a statement here,” Gao shot him a glare. “From now on, remember, if Zheng Fa tells you to go east, you don’t go west!”
“We’re servants of the Zhao family, so we listen to Zheng Fa?”
“... As long as it’s not about betraying the Zhao family, you listen to Zheng Fa!”
“What if there’s a conflict between the Seventh Young Master and Zheng Fa?”
“I think the Seventh Young Master is wary of Zheng Fa’s connections. I’d say Zheng Fa’s got a stronger backing than the Seventh Young Master,” Gao gritted his teeth. “Stand with Zheng Fa!”
“Dad, doesn’t this count as betraying our master?” Gao Yuan looked conflicted.
“Don’t say ‘we.’ I’m the steward of the second branch. What does the eldest young master have to do with me?” Gao said firmly.
“But I’m the young master’s servant…”
“Exactly. If you betray him, that’s on you, not me.”
…
“Wait, wait, wait…”
In the study, the Seventh Young Master wailed, “I just blinked, and how did it come to this?”
He looked at Zheng Fa, who was scribbling notes in front of him, confusion clear in his eyes.
“... It’s obvious!” Zheng Fa replied, equally perplexed.
“Obvious? How can I not see it?” the Seventh Young Master protested. “This secret technique is too difficult!”
Gao Yuan, standing nearby, wore a pained expression.
Neither of them was picking it up well.
The Seventh Young Master was practically useless except for some knowledge of talismans; he couldn’t grasp anything no matter how hard he tried.
Gao Yuan was doing a bit better. He had learned some accounting from the steward, so he could understand a little, but it was still a painful process.
Neither of them had the sharp mind Zheng Fa needed.
The teaching process even made him want to apologize to the old man Bai—turns out, teaching a fool could be that torturous.
In fact, due to his caution, Zheng Fa had already trimmed down the content of this “Middle School Mathematics Volume One,” focusing more on applications rather than the fundamental theories.
But for the two who had never received modern education, it was still a bit hard to grasp.
“Zheng Fa, do you have a simpler manual?” the Seventh Young Master seemed to feel he couldn’t learn it and pleaded with Zheng Fa.
“Well, I do have one.” Zheng Fa pulled out a book titled “Elementary Mathematics.”
“I knew it! You were hiding a trick up your sleeve!” The Seventh Young Master eagerly took it.
“I’m not hiding it; this is for my sister to learn.”
The Seventh Young Master froze, asking, “How many sisters do you have?”
“Just one. You’ve met her; she’s six years old.”
The Seventh Young Master and Gao Yuan exchanged glances, both reflecting a similar look of confusion: since when did any family’s secret techniques require such shamelessness to practice?
…
The next day, the Seventh Young Master seemed to have skipped class and didn’t show up at all.
The long-absent Steward Wu stood in the study, seemingly waiting for the two.
When he saw them enter, his gaze fell on Zheng Fa.
“Zheng Fa, the Madam requests to see you.”
“Requests?” Gao Yuan was a bit puzzled by the word.
Zheng Fa, however, seemed to have been waiting for this moment. He nodded at Steward Wu and calmly said, “Please lead the way, Steward Wu.”
This “Middle School Mathematics” was meant for the Seventh Young Master, but it was also intended for the Madam.
Since mastering the “Ling He Body,” Zheng Fa had been repeatedly asking himself the same question:
As a woman who controlled a thousand-year-old family and as a mother, how would she react to the sudden appearance of a servant with a mysterious background, one she couldn’t control, beside her son?
What would she do?
And every answer he came up with seemed less than optimistic.
**Chapter 51: Discussion**
Zheng Fa followed Steward Wu to the Madam’s secluded little building.
In the past, this two-story building often echoed with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, drawing passersby to stop and listen. But today, the building was quiet, as if it were deliberately waiting for him.
Drawing from his experiences and the tales he had heard since entering the residence, Zheng Fa pieced together an image of the Madam in his mind.
She rarely left the little building, even disliking being disturbed by the servants with trivial matters. Yet, over the past twenty years, she had held the Zhao residence firmly in her grasp, to the point where those within the estate knew only the Madam, not the Zhao patriarch.
She had raised a naive and sharp-tongued son, one who clearly wasn’t cut out to be the head of the family. But aside from the complex branches of the Zhao family’s thousand-year legacy, even the illegitimate sons raised in the front courtyard by the Zhao patriarch wouldn’t dare claim the future headship over the Seventh Young Master.
If Zheng Fa had to describe his impression of the Madam in one sentence, it would be: a skilled warrior who leaves no trace of her victories.
“The Madam hasn’t been in a good mood lately,” Steward Wu said quietly ahead of him.
Zheng Fa looked up at Wu’s back.
Wu seemed to be talking to himself, “But these past couple of days, her mood seems to have improved a bit.”
Zheng Fa gratefully replied, “Thank you for the reminder, Steward Wu.”
A woman filled with a desire for control over power and a protective instinct for her son suddenly found a figure like Zheng Fa—one she couldn’t control and who posed a potential threat—by her son’s side. How could her mood be good?
In Zheng Fa’s mind, the Madam’s reaction to his mastering the “Ling He Body” could only fall into a few categories:
She might see it as a threat and want to eliminate him—but then she would have to face the possible retaliation from the powerful figures behind him.
She might fear those powerful figures and choose to ignore him—this would be the most intolerable situation for someone like her.
Given Zheng Fa’s current understanding, he believed the Madam’s most likely course of action would be to pretend not to see him.
But gradually isolate her son from Zheng Fa, secretly observing him.
She would stop providing Zheng Fa with any resources and remain vigilant about his every move.
Until one day, when Zheng Fa revealed that there was no powerful figure behind him, and then she could treat him as she pleased.
If he didn’t present the “Middle School Mathematics,” Zheng Fa believed he would enjoy a period of stability, even a brief moment of glory within the Zhao residence, before ultimately facing ruin.
“The Madam doesn’t like men and speaks to us through a curtain. She doesn’t even want to talk to us much,” Steward Wu turned his head at this moment, earnestly advising Zheng Fa, “Make sure not to let your eyes wander, or you’ll anger the Madam.”
Zheng Fa nodded in response as he followed Steward Wu up the stairs.
The second floor was still heavily draped, revealing only vague silhouettes within.
A maid stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor. Upon seeing them, she spoke, “The Madam requests Zheng Fa.”
“What about me?” Steward Wu stared blankly as he watched Zheng Fa lift the curtain and walk inside, unable to help but ask.
“You?” The maid glanced at him. “Is Steward Wu feeling a bit too free?”
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