Before Feng Shi could speak, Meng Wenxiu looked over with a stern expression, "Qing Yun, he's your cousin—can you just stand by and watch him be ruined? Where's your sense of familial affection? Besides, it was Ping Geer who beat him up. If something really happens, won't your third uncle and aunt resent us for life?"
Meng Qingyun pouted and fell silent.
Meng Shuping was utterly speechless, "Oh, so it's my fault now? Spouting all that righteous talk, as if others don't see through your selfish motives. What a hypocrite!"
Meng Qingyun was amused by this and cheered up again, but Meng Wenxiu was furious. Not wanting to stay and be angered further, he flung his sleeve and strode out.
Watching his retreating figure, Meng Shuping thought he had figured out the truth, "Look, as soon as Third Aunt left, he left too. He must have stayed earlier just for her, right?"
Meng Wenxiu stumbled over the threshold unnoticed, quickly caught himself on the doorframe before stepping out. Just before leaving the room, he could still hear Meng Shuping's annoying voice, "Sigh, Third Aunt is so fierce and stingy. I wonder what our good-for-nothing father sees in her. Does he just have a taste for that? Tch tch tch, what a weird taste."
Hearing this, Meng Wenxiu quickened his pace, unable to bear staying there a moment longer.
After Meng Wenxiu left, the others also bid farewell to Feng Shi one by one. Soon, only Feng Shi and the siblings remained in the room. Just as Meng Shuping was wondering where he should go, Feng Shi said, "Chun Geer, take Ping Geer to Liuming Yard later. He'll be staying there from now on."
Meng Shuchun readily agreed, "Don't worry, Mother. I'll make sure to take the fifth young master to the yard properly."
Feng Shi nodded and casually called out a maid, "Miao Bi, from now on, you'll be promoted to second-tier and assigned to serve Ping Geer. If he's short of anything, just come to me."
Recognizing Feng Shi's regard for Meng Shuping, Miao Bi was delighted and promptly replied, "Yes."
She thought it through clearly: being sent from Second Madam to serve the fifth young master might seem like a demotion, but her monthly wages would genuinely increase.
Moreover, Second Madam had many maids; competing for a second-tier position meant contending with several third-tier maids, and even after promotion, there were still first-tier maids above. Getting ahead would be extremely difficult and could take years.
But serving the fifth young master was different. He had just returned and had few maids around him, let alone trusted ones. As someone sent by Second Madam, as long as she worked diligently, she was sure to become his right-hand woman.
Meng Shuping once again felt that Second Madam was quite considerate, "Second Madam is so thoughtful. Unlike our good-for-nothing father, who flaunts his authority as an elder when it's unnecessary but disappears when he's actually needed. He's really good at slacking off."
"Sigh, how did such a good person end up married to a good-for-nothing? Does he deserve her? No, he doesn't."
Feng Shi smiled, "Alright, you two can go back now. Ping Geer, I'll have your page boys come see you tomorrow."
Meng Shuping obediently replied, "Yes."
After leaving the Second Branch's courtyard, Meng Shuchun said cheerfully, "Fifth Brother, I live in Chuhui Yard. Our yards aren't far apart—I'll point it out to you later. Feel free to come find me to hang out anytime."
Meng Shuping quickly nodded, "Okay."
Meng Shuchun added, "By the way, if you need anything in the future, you can also ask Second Brother. Don't hesitate with me!"
Meng Shuping nodded again, "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm."
Meng Shuchun felt that this newly returned brother was both polite and likeable, making their interaction quite comfortable. Enthusiastically, he said, "Since you've just returned, Fifth Brother, you probably don't know the other siblings in the manor yet. How about this—when I have time, I'll set up a get-together and invite everyone so you can all get to know each other."
The thought of making small talk and engaging in awkward conversations with a group of strangers made Meng Shuping deeply uncomfortable. He hurriedly declined, "No, no, that's too much trouble for you, Second Brother."
Meng Shuchun, however, thought Meng Shuping was just being polite and didn't want to inconvenience anyone. He said straightforwardly, "It's no big deal! Let's settle on it. I'll send someone to find you once I've set a time!"
Meng Shuping seemed ready to cry, "No, please spare me! I don't want to attend a gathering!"
If it were just an ordinary meal, he could try to keep a low profile and avoid attention. But this gathering was specifically to introduce him—there was no doubt he'd be the center of attention. The thought made him feel utterly miserable.
He was having such a rough time!
Hearing Meng Shuping's private thoughts, Meng Shuchun realized he might have unintentionally caused trouble. It seemed his brother genuinely didn't want to go.
But since Meng Shuping hadn't grown up in the manor, if he didn't socialize with the others, it would be even harder for him to fit into the household.
Awkwardly, he said, "If you really don't want to go…"
Meng Shuping immediately replied, "No, no, I want to go!"
"Sigh, he's being so kind. If I reject him again, it would really hurt his feelings."
Meng Shuchun asked tentatively, "Are you sure you want to go?"
Meng Shuping said with determination, "Of course!"
Meng Shuchun sized up Meng Shuping for a moment, making him squirm uncomfortably, before finally asking, "So it's settled?"
Meng Shuping replied miserably, "Mm-hmm."
The two continued their one-sided conversation all the way, leaving Meng Shuping more exhausted than if he'd been in a fight.
As they passed a courtyard surrounded by mulberry trees, Meng Shuchun pointed and said, "Fifth Brother, look—you can see my yard from here. It's easy to find, right?"
Meng Shuping appeared calm on the surface but was inwardly cringing at his poor social skills. He managed a stiff smile and said, "Mm-hmm, yes."
He wanted to part ways with Meng Shuchun then, but seeing his enthusiastic face, the words got stuck in his throat every time he tried to say them.
When they finally reached Liuming Yard, Meng Shuping breathed a sigh of relief. He had made it—any longer and he felt he would've died on the spot.
Meng Shuchun was a bit regretful as he saw Meng Shuping to the door. It was rare to find a brother he felt so close to, and he hadn't expected the walk to end so quickly.
But since Fifth Brother had just returned, he was probably tired, and there were surely many things to unpack in his room. It was best not to disturb him now.
After seeing Meng Shuchun off, Meng Shuping felt like he had finally come back to life.
He stepped into Liuming Yard with light footsteps, surveying the place where he would live from now on. The main building had three rooms facing north, with side rooms on both sides and connecting corridors on the left and right. Though smaller than the other courtyards he had seen, the scenery was even better.
Most importantly, the yard was remote and secluded—clearly, the chances of running into people were low. For someone with social anxiety like him, it was incredibly welcoming.
Meng Shuping grew more and more pleased as he looked around. He quickened his pace toward the main room when a young maid, about ten years old, suddenly emerged from the side. Seeing Meng Shuping and the two others, she froze for a moment before hurriedly bowing to Meng Shuping, "Greetings, Young Master. Greetings, Sisters."
Before Meng Shuping could speak, Jinzhan scolded angrily, "You little brat, what are you doing rushing around like that? In a hurry to be reborn? What if you bump into the masters—could you take responsibility?"
"Where is everyone else? Have they all gone to die? Do I need to carry you out on a palanquin?"
"Whoa!"
Meng Shuping took a frightened step back. "Why is her temper so explosive too? Does she also have anger issues?"
Jinzhan stiffened, her face darkening. She never expected that just as she was about to put someone in their place, Meng Shuping would undermine her.
Hearing the noise, the others rushed out of the room. Seeing Meng Shuping and his companions standing there, they guessed this was likely the newly returned fifth young master. They quickly approached Meng Shuping and bowed to him, "Greetings, fifth young master."
Being stared at by so many people at once, Meng Shuping nearly stammered from nervousness. He hurriedly said, "You may rise."
Already displeased that Madam Fu had assigned her here, and feeling that Meng Shuping had just humiliated her, Jinzhan couldn't help taking her anger out on others, "None of you have boiled water, none of you have swept the yard—I can't even see a single person! Lazing around like this—what do you think this is? A place for young ladies? Is this how you usually work? Where's the discipline?"
Meng Shuping found her shrill voice extremely grating. "Her voice is so piercing. They didn't do anything to her—why is she venting at them?"
Repeatedly disrupted by Meng Shuping, Jinzhan was furious. She glared at him but noticed he hadn't spoken. Startled, she wondered what had just happened.
Noticing Jinzhan looking at him, Meng Shuping put on a calm front and said, "Enough, enough. It's not that big a deal. A few words are enough."
"Look, your face is all twisted up, is it really worth getting this angry?"
Hearing this, Jinzhan grew even angrier. It was then that she realized the voice seemed to have come from deep within Meng Shuping. Her expression shifted in shock, and she glanced at the others, only to find that they showed no reaction.
Could it be that only she could hear this voice? she thought to herself.
Suppressing her shock and suspicion, she spoke with a tone that seemed respectful but was actually disdainful, "Fifth young master, you've just returned from outside, so you probably don't know how things are done in a wealthy household. Let me tell you, you can't be soft on shiftless, slippery servants like these. Who knows, they might take advantage of your kindness and disrespect you. Ah, it's a good thing the old lady had the foresight to send me here to help you manage this courtyard. If I hadn't come, who knows how lazy they would have become."
Meng Shuping looked at her in surprise, "Well, well, who'd have thought this girl's actually diligent? In that case, let her be in charge of sweeping the courtyard from now on. It just so happens I don't want to see her hovering around me all the time."
So he immediately said, "Oh, then you can take care of things here."
Without another word, he turned and walked into the house. Seeing this, Miao Bi quickly followed him.
Jinzhan was dumbfounded. She had intended to get a handle on the fifth young master, but she never expected such a reaction. If things were to proceed as the fifth young master suggested, what future would she even have?