Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World-Chapter 74 - The Butler
Chapter 74: Chapter 74 The Butler
Chapter 74 -74 The Butler
“Why is that?
Wasn’t it enough to be rated as upper-grade to enter the Immortal Sect before?”
Even though he had always been somewhat fearful of Master Zhang, the Seventh Young Master couldn’t help but complain.
Zheng Fa understood his anxiety well, looking at it from the Seventh Young Master’s perspective:
You’re a poor-performing student, and to prepare for an important exam, you’ve been working hard, studying tirelessly, aiming just to score a meager sixty points to pass.
Then, the invigilator walks into the room and announces that the rules have changed – the test no longer cares about your score, but your rank, and anyone not in the top ten…
fails.
Anyone would be blown away by that.
Zhang sighed and said, “This time, because the families participating in the Immortal Item meeting fear future uncertainties, they’ve all pushed their best prospects in, leading to not only a higher number of participants but also the highest quality.
If we still went by grading alone, I’m afraid a lot of people would enter the Immortal Sect this time.”
“Isn’t it good to have more people?”
The Seventh Young Master asked blankly.
“For you, of course, it’s good, but for those disciples who have already entered the Immortal Sect…” Zhang looked meaningfully at Zheng Fa: “You are going there to compete for resources.”
“Even though the participants of the Immortal Item meeting are backed by Golden Core or Nascent Soul experts, the lower-ranked disciples of the Hundred Immortals Alliance are in turmoil, leading to the new rule restricting the number of places.”
“So how many spots are there?”
“Each sect varies, but for the talismanic Dao, our Jiushan Sect will be stricter, whereas the Qingmu Sect…
they specialize in alchemy, so the requirements for talismanic Dao are not so high.” Zhang looked at the Seventh Young Master as if to comfort him.
The Seventh Young Master sighed in relief; he was holding an Immortal Item order from the Qingmu Sect.
Zheng Fa understood what Zhang meant.
The Jiushan Sect is ranked first in the Hundred Immortals Alliance for talismanic magic, and those studying talismanic Dao naturally want to join Jiushan, so the entrance requirements are high.
Qingmu Sect is less competitive in talismanic magic, so the Seventh Young Master has a great hope.
…
On his way back to his new yard, Zheng Fa encountered two familiar faces he hadn’t seen in a long time—Huang Yu and his somewhat portly father, Steward Huang.
Behind them was a cart piled high with food, bedding, and miscellaneous items.
The assortment made it look as though they were moving.
“Huang?” Zheng Fa looked at them in surprise; seeing both of them here was clearly a sign they were waiting for him.
“Master Zheng!”
Huang Yu bowed his hands, speaking somewhat awkwardly.
Beside him, Steward Huang also smiled and bowed, his face wearing a smile that was more fawning than his usual enthusiasm.
“What is all this about?”
He looked at them, then at the cart behind them.
Huang Yu’s face turned red, seemingly embarrassed to speak.
Steward Huang patted his son’s head and said, “My son here, he wants to come and work for you!”
“Eh?” Zheng Fa didn’t expect this development: “Work for me?”
“Yes, my son heard that you’ve got the Immortal Item order and have found your own place to stay, and he’s been thinking about coming to work as your housekeeper!” Steward Huang said cheerfully.
Zheng Fa looked at their expressions and noticed that Huang Yu’s face didn’t look very bright, and he had his suspicions—it was probably Steward Huang’s idea.
“Uncle…”
“No way!” Steward Huang quickly waved his hand: “I don’t dare to be called ‘uncle’ by the master.”
Seeing his anxious manner, Zheng Fa had to forego the formal address: “If Huang truly wishes to come work for me, I welcome him, it’s just…”
Steward Huang seemed to have inquired thoroughly.
The Zheng Family indeed needed a male housekeeper.
Especially if Zheng Fa were to leave Jingzhou, even with the Zhao Family’s support, he really wouldn’t be at ease leaving his mother and sister alone.
If Huang Yu is willing to work for Zheng Fa’s family, it could be said that some of Zheng Fa’s worries are solved.
“He is willing!
Speak for yourself, do you want to work for the Zheng Family?” Steward Huang suddenly slapped the back of his son’s head, and only then did Huang Yu murmur reluctantly: “I do!”
Seeing his reluctance, yet without much coercion on his face, Zheng Fa nodded and reminded him, “We are but a humble family, and cannot afford to pay a high monthly wage.”
“It doesn’t matter if you pay me or not!” Steward Huang said cheerfully, “Everything he needs, food and essentials, I’ve loaded on the cart!
It’s enough for him to live for a year!”
Zheng Fa felt a touch of awe as he looked at the high stack of goods on the cart behind them—the lofty sentiment of bringing one’s own provisions for work.
It would’ve moved even the most unscrupulous of capitalists in modern times.
Speaking of which, Steward Huang also mentioned to Zheng Fa, “I won’t hide it from you, my lord; this boy is too wild to stay in the countryside, and I fear he lacks the cunning to work at the Zhao Mansion—I know you are a good person and familiar with him, which is why I had the cheek to come and ask for a way out for him.”
“My son, well, he’s not clever with his words nor is he quick-witted, but he has one virtue—honesty.
I dare to be truthful with you, my lord, if you need a sophisticated major steward, he’s not the right person.
But if you need someone to guard the gateway and protect your wife and young miss, he would fight to his death.”
Zheng Fa couldn’t help but nod.
Steward Huang really knew the score; the person he needed indeed didn’t have to manage the Zheng Family affairs too well, just needed to be reliable.
“And Huang’s servitude contract?”
“Is it not said that you, my lord, wield great influence!” Steward Huang said with a chuckle: “I asked someone to enquire with the lady, and as soon as she heard it was to serve you as a steward, she didn’t hesitate to give us the deed.”
“Good, a monthly wage cannot be omitted…
How about one Silver per month, would that be acceptable?”
“That’s too kind of you, my lord!”
One Silver a month was far too meager for the likes of Housekeeper Wu and Housekeeper Gao of the Zhao Mansion, almost an insult.
But for the inexperienced Huang Yu, it was a bit high—in fact, Zheng Fa offered this sum to earn his loyalty.
If really no money were given, he might not resent it for a short while, but wouldn’t anyone feel aggrieved over time?
As Zheng Fa would be away from home, he was actually willing to spend some money for peace of mind.
The new courtyard of the Zheng Family was a two-entry compound, with Mrs.
Zheng and the younger sister residing in the back courtyard.
Huang Yu and his father moved their belongings to the front courtyard, where Huang Yu would also live, near the gatehouse—essentially as a gatekeeper.
After arranging everything, Huang Yu escorted his father out of the city.
Steward Huang looked at his son’s not-so-bright expression and said indifferently, “What, do you feel demeaned by this steward position?”
“No, it’s just awkward…
last time we met, we were calling each other brothers.”
“Are you daft?
Didn’t you see Zheng Fa is about to ascend to the Immortal Sect?
When you rise along with him, you could even outshine Housekeeper Wu of the Zhao Family.
Isn’t that worth more than the empty name of a friend?”
“…But I used to get along with Zheng Fa too, didn’t I?”
“Do you know what you need to do first if you want to rise to the heavens with him?”
“Ah?”
“First, you’ve got to be part of the chickens and dogs!” Steward Huang, disappointed in his son, smacked him on the head: “If you hadn’t known Zheng Fa first, would you have this steward position?”
Realizing something was off, Huang Yu looked up at his father.
“If I had known him early, I would have taken up the position myself!”
Huang Yu remained silent, only to hear his father continue: “Zheng Fa isn’t difficult to serve, and his prospects are vast.
Even if you can’t become extremely wealthy, you will have stability…
I have no means to help but did my best to find you this promising path, so do well.”
“Yes.”
…
“Brother, you’re going to become an Immortal, and now our family has its own steward!” The younger sister Zheng Shan said excitedly.
It was Zheng Fa who kept a calm demeanor: “All these things are fleeting.”
The courtyard, Zhang, Huang Yu, and even the kindness of the lady—it’s all borrowed.
Should he fail to ascend the Immortal Sect, all these might drift away from him.
“Mother said the same thing…” the younger sister suddenly spoke.
“Hm?”
“Mother said that although life is good now, she fears that you might be working too hard.” Zheng Shan said with furrowed brows: “Brother, are you tired?”
She clutched Zheng Fa’s index finger with both hands, lifting her head to look at him: “If you’re tired, don’t become an Immortal.
Pig grass leaves are quite tasty too!”
As she said this, there was a determined and heroic expression on the younger sister’s face.
