After giving Jinzhan her midday meal, Meng Shuping took some money and had a quick bite at a small food stall not far from the back door.
Fortunately, the food there was both delicious and affordable, so he filled his stomach without spending much.
After lunch, Meng Shuping returned to his room for a short rest. Just as he was feeling bored, he heard a maid outside say, "Fifth Young Master, the Old Madam has sent someone over."
At this moment, Jinzhan was doing needlework. Hearing this, she brightened up, "Please invite them in quickly!"
Meng Shuping glanced at her, [It's not like they're here for her, why is she so excited?]
Jinzhan quickly composed her joyful expression, but her brisk steps to greet the visitor still betrayed her good mood.
A moment later, a nanny in her fifties or sixties entered. She gave a perfunctory bow and said, "Fifth Young Master, the Old Madam asks you to come over!"
Meng Shuping was very puzzled, "Why does she want me to go?"
Nanny Huang, appearing respectful but actually impatient, replied, "The Old Madam naturally wants to see you, what else could it be?"
Seeing Nanny Huang's attitude, Meng Shuping couldn't help but feel confused, [Why can't she even give a reason? Is it because she's too old and her mind isn't sharp, and she forgot on the way here?]
Nanny Huang was instantly furious, ready to erupt. Who said her mind wasn't sharp?
But a moment later, she was startled again. Did the Fifth Young Master just speak? She looked around and noticed that everyone else's expressions remained unchanged, with no sign of anything unusual.
Before she could react, she heard the voice continue, [But why did the Old Madam send someone like this? Is it because she's senile and can't do anything else, so she can only send her here to deliver a message?]
[But she can't even do the job of delivering a message properly. Look, she can't even explain why the Old Madam wants to see me. In my opinion, it's better to send her home early. Having her here is just a waste of time.]
Nanny Huang, who had been somewhat frightened at first, was now boiling with anger. Who was senile? This penniless brat, does he even know how to speak properly?
But since Meng Shuping hadn't said those words directly, and he was the master, she could only suppress her anger.
Meng Shuping had no idea that Nanny Huang was fuming on his account. At the moment, he was thinking of an excuse to avoid going to the Old Madam's place, as he really didn't want to engage in such pointless social calls.
He thought for a moment, then put on a pained expression, "I... I fell while walking today, and now my whole body hurts. I really can't move."
Watching Meng Shuping's utterly unconvincing performance, Nanny Huang: "..."
Even if he wanted to pull one over on her, he could at least put on a more believable act, right?
She scoffed, "It's just a fall, how serious could it be? Can't even go see the Old Madam?"
[Easy for her to say, why doesn't she try falling herself?]
Despite his complaining inwardly, Meng Shuping maintained a sincere expression on his face, "Hmm."
Nanny Huang: "..."
She had already seen through Meng Shuping's excuse to avoid going and said, "Why can't you go? Not to boast, but if the Old Madam wanted to see me, even if I broke my leg, I would crawl there if I had to."
Meng Shuping looked amazed, "Oh."
[Wow, she's so amazing! But I don't believe it. Why not put that to the test?]
Nanny Huang was confused. Test what? Then she heard the voice continue, [But...]
[Breaking her leg with a chair—isn't that too cruel?]
Nanny Huang looked panicked. Would the Fifth Young Master really break her leg? It was hard to say? After all, he came from outside, and she heard that some people raised in the countryside were vicious and capable of anything.
Thinking of this, Nanny Huang's expression turned panicked. Although she was from the Old Madam's household, if the Fifth Young Master insisted on hitting her regardless of the consequences, would the Old Madam actually kill him for it?
She would just have to endure a beating for nothing.
After amusing himself enough, Meng Shuping returned to normal, [Ha ha, just thinking out loud. How could I really be that cruel?]
Nanny Huang was scared into a cold sweat by his sudden shift. She pulled herself together and said sternly, "Fifth Young Master, this is the Old Madam summoning you. If you don't go, that would be unfilial."
Meng Shuping raised an eyebrow, [Oh, so now she's using filial piety to pressure me?]
Nanny Huang looked arrogant. So what? She refused to believe that, after saying this, the Fifth Young Master still wouldn't budge. In the past, whenever the Old Madam summoned someone, which junior in the household would dare delay?
Only this wild child who just returned, ignorant of manners, crude and unruly, unaware of the consequences.
Seeing Nanny Huang's very confident expression, Meng Shuping found it utterly unbelievable, [Does she really think that just by saying this, I'll rush over nervously and fearfully? Seriously? She's decades old, and still so naive?]
[Does she get to decide what's unfilial? I say she's an insolent servant, only knows how to throw her weight around.]
He said coolly, "Oh."
Jinzhan, standing to the side, wanted to laugh but couldn't, her face turning red from holding it in. Only now did she realize how satisfying it was when Meng Shuping wasn't targeting her but directing his barbs at someone else.
When she was in the Old Madam's courtyard, this Nanny Huang had often given her a hard time. She never expected Nanny Huang to have a day like this.
Nanny Huang, however, was so angry her face turned pale. When she came, she thought summoning Meng Shuping to the Old Madam's place would be an easy task. Who would have thought that this Meng Shuping, who seemed honest, would turn out to be so unreasonable?
But she couldn't ignore the Old Madam's orders. Otherwise, wouldn't it seem like she was incompetent, unable to handle such a small matter?
She suppressed her temper and put on a pitiful expression, "Oh, Fifth Young Master, please don't make things difficult for this old servant. If the Old Madam finds out that I couldn't even bring you over, she will surely punish me."
Meng Shuping couldn't stand to see, [Ugh, it's painful to watch. Please, she's a woman her age, not a young, pretty girl. Can she please not act like this? Otherwise, I'll have nightmares tonight!]
He quickly averted his eyes, looking disgusted, "Oh, I'm not going."
Nanny Huang felt both humiliated and furious, trembling with anger. She could no longer stay there. She waved her arm and said, "Since the Fifth Young Master refuses to go no matter what, this old servant has no choice but to report this to the Old Madam!"
With that, she turned and left.
Watching Nanny Huang's retreating figure, Meng Shuping was very puzzled, [Why are they all so hot-headed? So ready to show their displeasure. Do I look like I have a good temper?]
Jinzhan kept her eyes down, thinking to herself—whether his temper was good or not, she didn't know, but his ability to provoke people was certainly strong.
After leaving Meng Shuping's place, Nanny Huang returned to Madam Fu's courtyard in a rage and gave an exaggerated account of Meng Shuping's misdeeds.
Madam Fu was clearly annoyed. After a long while, she gritted her teeth and said, "Go, bring him here on a sedan chair!"
Nanny Huang was stunned, "Madam, are we really going to carry him?"
Madam Fu said angrily, "Carry him."
Nanny Huang's face turned very ugly. She had already talked tough in front of Meng Shuping earlier. Now, if she went back to carry him, where would her dignity be?
But since the Old Madam had given the order, no matter how difficult it was, she had to go. So, she had no choice but to call a few other nannies and went with the sedan.
Seeing Nanny Huang return again, Meng Shuping was very surprised, [Hmph!]
[Why did they even bring a sedan chair?]
[Something's fishy, really fishy. Why is that Old Madam so insistent on having me over? It's obvious she doesn't actually like me, right?]
[Forget it, no use thinking about it. It's definitely not going to be anything good anyway—I'm not going.]
Nanny Huang said smugly, "Fifth Young Master, didn't you claim you were injured from a fall? See how much the Old Madam cares about you—she even had us bring a palanquin specially. Surely you have no excuse not to go now?"
But before she could revel in her triumph for long, Meng Shuping muttered softly, "I do have one."
"What?" Nanny Huang was stunned, unable to believe her ears. "What now?"
She stared at Meng Shuping with clear displeasure, waiting to see what ridiculous excuse he could possibly come up with.
Under her intense glare, Meng Shuping felt as if needles were pricking his back. He instinctively took two steps back, his voice strained, "...I'm afraid of heights."
At this point, Nanny Huang was convinced Meng Shuping was just toying with her. She decided to drop all pretense and waved her hand dismissively. "Someone, get Fifth Young Master into the palanquin!"
Immediately, several matrons rushed toward Meng Shuping.
Meng Shuping looked horrified. [Aah! Don't come any closer!]
Seeing this, Miao Bi shouted sharply, "Stop! What do you think you're doing? Have you no respect for rules? Aren't you afraid the Earl will punish you?"
Hearing this, the matrons hesitated and stopped in their tracks. Meng Shuping breathed a slight sigh of relief and couldn't help but praise Miao Bi, [You see, when it really matters, it's Miao Bi who comes through—way more competent than that useless girl.]
Jinzhan looked displeased. If he wanted to praise Miao Bi, fine, but why drag her into it? Still, after a moment's thought, she quickly stepped in front of Meng Shuping. No matter what, she had to at least put on an act of protecting him.
Nanny Huang snorted. "I only follow the Old Madam's orders. Besides, the Earl is busy all day—how would he have time to bother with petty stuff like this?"
Meng Shuping couldn't help retorting, [How could he not? Just yesterday, when that scumbag dad yelled at me, Grandfather specifically called him over and chewed him out!]
As Nanny Huang gave the order, the matrons moved to grab Meng Shuping again. But just as they were about to act, Nanny Huang suddenly called out, "Wait!"
She hadn't thought the Earl would involve himself in such a matter, but since the earlier remark came from Meng Shuping's thoughts, it probably wasn't false. Nanny Huang hesitated—if this incident reached the Earl's ears, then even the Old Madam would likely blame her.
So she put on a different attitude. "Fifth Young Master, just tell us—what will it take for you to go?"
Seeing the determination in Nanny Huang and her group, Meng Shuping realized he couldn't avoid this trip. After a few seconds of hesitation, he reluctantly said with great difficulty, "I... I want a palanquin with a canopy."
Nanny Huang took a deep breath. "Alright."
So many demands! she thought.
Though she thought this, Nanny Huang quickly had someone bring over a soft palanquin with a canopy. If they didn't hurry, what if Meng Shuping changed his mind?