Chapter 34: Awakening of Insects
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Suo Chanzhi pondered briefly before saying slowly, “I did not bring only Nanny Tu with me. But of all the people I brought, Nanny Tu is the only one sent to me by the main branch.”
The implication was clear: the other older women had come from her own branch and could be trusted.
Given nine months, she was entirely capable of taking control of the inner household. There would be no problem.
As she spoke, Suo Chanzhi stroked her lower abdomen, a trace of maternal tenderness rippling across her features.
The sex of the child had yet to be determined, so during the next nine months, she could make use of the unborn heir to command the household.
Yang Can nodded. He believed Suo Chanzhi had the ability.
Household intrigue was the trial women raised in secluded inner chambers were born to face.
Born amid silk and splendor, they waged war in silence, maneuvering within a few feet of space and weaving a web of survival from softness and resilience.
It was a talent engraved in their very blood.
The two of them continued discussing in detail the matters they might face in the future, as well as the positions they ought to maintain publicly before one another.
At last, Yang Can said, “That should cover everything. In short, we’ll adapt as circumstances demand. Perhaps this child will prove ambitious enough to come into the world with all the right equipment. If so, we can simply lie back and enjoy an easy victory.”
“All right, I understand. You should leave now.”
Suo Chanzhi did not truly want to send him away. In fact, she even wanted Yang Can to embrace her tenderly.
Well... if he still preferred to seize her by the ankle and toss her霸气fully onto the bed, she would not object either...
But reason told her that, at least until she had completely taken control of the inner household, she and Yang Can should have as little private contact as possible.
Suo Chanzhi rose to her feet. “It will be disastrous if anyone discovers you here. Hurry and go.”
She was tall and graceful, with exquisite proportions, while her face was breathtakingly lovely.
There was a saying that beauty could satisfy one’s appetite. The sight of the face before Yang Can would have stirred the appetite even of someone suffering from anorexia.
Yang Can lowered his eyes. He was looking at more than a face capable of overthrowing kingdoms; he was also gazing upon two snowy peaks that rose proudly toward the clouds.
A sudden restlessness stirred within him. Suo Chanzhi immediately noticed the change and retreated a step in alarm.
She had only just awakened to her identity as a mother, yet the instinct to protect her child had already taken shape.
“Do not get any ideas. You cannot do that now.”
Yang Can suddenly laughed for no apparent reason, because he had heard her say, “You cannot do that now.”
“My lord, my lord, my lord, you cannot do that.
My lord, my lord, my lord, where are you?
My lord, my lord, my lord, I miss you!”
That was all there was to it.
...
The news that the young mistress of the main branch of the Yu family was pregnant was quietly spread in a suitably discreet manner.
The Yu family did not hold a grand celebration, because according to ritual propriety, the joy of a new birth did not outweigh the sorrow of a funeral.
Still, the eldest son of the main branch now had an heir, and that was an event of extraordinary importance. It had to be publicized.
On the third day after news of Suo Chanzhi’s pregnancy had spread, Yang Can went to see Li Youcai.
Spring sunlight slanted through the carved lattice windows, casting dappled shadows across the bluestone floor.
Yang Can was dressed in a long indigo robe. Beneath the bright spring light, he appeared even more handsome, like a figure carved from jade.
When Little Madam Wan saw him, her appetite stirred uncontrollably. This troublesome young man suited her tastes far too well.
At the thought that Li Youcai would soon be leaving the estate to inspect the salt ponds of Lingzhou and the ironworks at Blackwater, Little Madam Wan’s eyes shimmered with longing. Beneath her skirts, her full thighs unconsciously pressed together.
“What? You mean... all those account books have been sorted out? The accountant, Li, helped you?”
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Li Youcai frowned. What was wrong with that Li fellow? Had he not instructed him already? How had he...
Yang Can smiled faintly and shook his head. “To be honest, elder brother, Accountant Li has been too busy to spare the time. I sorted out the accounts myself.”
Li Youcai immediately relaxed.
Those accounts were a complete mess. Even an old accountant would have needed more than a month to straighten them out. How many days had Yang Can spent on them?
Li Youcai laughed helplessly. “Volcano, I know you are eager to make an impression now that you have taken office, but do not rush things.”
He took a sip of tea and continued leisurely, “When a new official takes office, he should remain still if he has no certainty. But once he acts, he must be sure of success. Have you truly sorted out your accounts?”
Yang Can smiled faintly and drew a ledger from his sleeve.
His original tables could not be allowed into anyone else’s hands, so once he had finished organizing everything, he had prepared a proper ledger as well.
“Please take a look, elder brother. These are the problems I found while sorting everything out.”
Li Youcai accepted the ledger and leafed through it carefully. The farther he read, the more astonished he became.
He had served as an administrator for many years and was naturally familiar with account books.
He could tell that Yang Can had genuinely organized the accounts—and had truly uncovered the problems within them.
After hesitating, Li Youcai asked, “Volcano, how do you intend to deal with this?”
The farms and pastures returned by Yu Huanhu had been placed under Yang Can’s supervision.
If Yang Can offended anyone because of them, then it would be Yang Can doing the offending. Li Youcai was not particularly concerned about that.
What he feared was that Yang Can might stir up trouble and leave him to clean up the aftermath.
Now that the young mistress had been confirmed pregnant, the main branch had at least nine months of stability ahead of it.
Li Youcai intended to use that time to secure his own foundations: the salt ponds and the ironworks.
That way, whether the main branch managed to establish itself firmly after nine months or was torn apart, he would already be prepared to seize even greater advantages.
As for his good brother Yang Can, whom he had pushed into the pit long ago...
Yang Can had always been the sort of man others used to fill pits and shoulder blame. When the time came, a shovelful of earth would be enough to bury him.
Yet now that the young mistress was pregnant, Li Youcai discovered that this deputy administrator seemed intent on struggling for survival.
Yang Can said, “Now that the accounts are in order, I think I should visit the farms and pastures and inspect their actual condition.”
Li Youcai’s heart sank. The thing he had feared most had finally arrived.
Could you not simply wait here to be buried? Why struggle at all?
His gaze sharpened. “Volcano, you intend to inspect the farms and pastures?”
Hearing this, Little Madam Wan also cast a resentful look at Yang Can.
That old fellow was about to leave the estate. She had thought it would be the perfect opportunity. Why did Yang Can have to leave as well?
Yang Can nodded. “Yes. I plan to inspect the three estates closest to Phoenix Mountain Estate first—Fengan Estate, Qingyuan Hamlet, and Lupoling.”
Li Youcai pondered for a moment before saying, “You are in charge of those farms, so inspecting them is only proper. However, although their overseers are all old retainers of the second branch, spring plowing is now at a critical stage. In my humble opinion, so long as they understand the rules and are willing to obey, stability should be our priority. We must not resort to drastic measures.”
Yang Can smiled. “Elder brother is right. That is exactly what I intend to do. Those who need to be disciplined should be disciplined, but I have no intention of imposing sweeping reforms. At the end of the day, we are here to ease the clan lord’s burdens, not create more trouble for him. What the clan lord needs is what we, his retainers, ought to consider.”
Little Madam Wan curled one corner of her mouth. She was already displeased that Yang Can was leaving the estate, so she spoke with deliberate ambiguity.
“Uncle, is that really true? Only someone considerate can go farther and last longer. I am merely afraid that some people can speak eloquently about principles, yet when it comes to action, they cannot even see the person right in front of them.”
Yang Can cast a glance at Pan Xiaowan.
That day, Pan Xiaowan wore her hair in a fallen-horse coiffure, a golden hairpin swaying gently whenever she laughed.
Her beautiful eyes turned toward him with a mixture of reproach and coy annoyance. Their languid allure seemed almost capable of winding itself around his soul.
Holding his teacup, Li Youcai smiled and nodded, clearly agreeing with his wife.
“Heh. My dear, Volcano is a clever man. He knows what he ought to do.”
After offering Yang Can a casual compliment, Li Youcai continued, “Volcano, if you intend to establish your authority, you must also know how to bestow favor. Reward those who are obedient, and give a proper warning to those who refuse to comply. Balancing severity with kindness—that is the art of managing people.”
“Your advice is worth its weight in gold, elder brother. I will remember it.”
Li Youcai nodded. “I am planning to make a trip to Lingzhou and Blackwater. Let us stagger the timing of our departures. Otherwise, it may appear as though we arranged it together, and the young mistress might take an unfavorable view of it.”
“Elder brother’s caution is sound. We will do exactly that.” Yang Can smiled brightly.
After all, Li Youcai had accepted the lavish gifts from Master Zhang of Fengan Estate. Once he accepted a gift, he was generally willing to do the giver a favor.
He was not sure whether Yang Can truly understood what he meant.
Because that dazzling smile on Yang Can’s face was simply too unsettling.
It was far too radiant.
And his eyes were far too clear.
He looked exactly like the donkey in the stable.
Suddenly, inspiration struck Li Youcai. At last, he thought of a more direct way to warn Yang Can.
Turning to Pan Xiaowan, he said, “My dear, didn’t Zhang Yunyi of Fengan Estate give me a jug of nourishing medicinal wine when he paid his respects a few days ago? Take half of it and give it to Volcano later.”
Pan Xiaowan’s sidelong glance swept across Li Youcai’s face. With a contemptuous snort, she said, “Husband, you really never change that habit of giving away things you treasure. Uncle looks so young and vigorous. That medicinal wine was Master Zhang’s gift to you. Do you really want to share it with someone else?”
Li Youcai looked slightly embarrassed. “Cough. What are you saying? Who is someone else? Volcano is my dearest friend, my sworn brother. Besides, Volcano may be young, but does that mean your husband is already useless? Find that jug and send the whole thing to Volcano!”
After speaking, Li Youcai turned back to Yang Can and said with a broad smile, “Volcano, I am not saying that you are lacking in vigor. It is only that...”
He chuckled twice and gave Yang Can a knowing wink. “Master Zhang is an exceptionally generous and hospitable man. When you go there, you must take good care of yourself.”
Pan Xiaowan let out a cold snort, braced herself against the table, and rose to her feet before swaying gracefully toward the bedchamber.
She seemed somewhat annoyed by her husband’s generosity.
Yet the way her full hips swayed showed only seduction, not anger.
Li Youcai said with some embarrassment, “Your sister-in-law has been spoiled by me. She is much younger than I am, after all, and does not always understand proper conduct. Younger brother, please do not take offense.”
Yang Can withdrew his gaze from those abundant curves.
Tsk. They were like fully ripened pods, as though the slightest touch would make them burst with a sharp snap. The sight was truly captivating.
He gave Chief Administrator Li a faint smile. “Elder brother, rest assured. Master Zhang strikes me as a man who understands the ways of the world. The ‘favor’ in balancing kindness with severity should be used on him.”
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