Meng Wenxiu, the Second Master, concluded his duties early today.
News had recently arrived about his illegitimate son, missing for over a decade. He had dispatched Steward Chen to retrieve the boy, who was expected to arrive today.
Indeed, no sooner had he changed than a servant announced Meng Shuping's arrival at the second gate, being led to their courtyard by Old Lady Qian.
Meng Wenxiu immediately summoned his other children, including Meng Shuchun and Meng Shuqi. They all gathered in the main hall to await him.
However, after a long wait, there was still no sign of the boy. Meng Qingyun grew impatient. "It's been so long, why isn't he here yet?"
She had always disliked the family's other two illegitimate siblings, and now another was joining them. Being made to wait this long, even before meeting him, already bred a sense of displeasure towards Meng Shuping.
Beside her, Meng Huiyun gently offered, "Second Sister, don't be impatient. Perhaps it's the Fifth Young Master's first visit to the Earl's estate since growing up, and he's taking his time admiring the new surroundings."
Meng Qingyun rolled her eyes, ignoring her. This illegitimate sister, like her mother, appeared gentle and frail but was adept at setting traps and causing trouble. Only their father fell for their act.
Meng Wenxiu frowned. If Meng Shuping was truly behaving this way, he must be utterly unsophisticated. What was so captivating about mere buildings? Besides, he would be living in the Earl's estate from now on; there would be ample time to admire the scenery. To delay so long, knowing they were all waiting to meet him, showed a complete lack of judgment.
This thought further fueled Meng Wenxiu's displeasure. Just as he was about to send someone to hasten them, Old Lady Qian rushed in. "Master! Mistress!"
Everyone perked up, looking behind Old Lady Qian. To their surprise, she had returned alone.
Feng Shi, the Second Mistress, was puzzled. "Why are you alone? Where is the Fifth Young Master?"
At the Mistress's question, Old Lady Qian immediately adopted a worried expression. "Reporting to the Mistress, this old servant was bringing the Fifth Young Master here. But as it's his first time, he found everything new and unfamiliar. He said he wanted to stroll around the estate and has already gone to the back garden. This old servant tried to persuade him, but it was no use. I had no choice but to return and report."
Hearing this, Meng Wenxiu's anger flared. He slammed the table. "Outrageous!"
Having grown up in the countryside, the boy clearly lacked all sense of etiquette. Instead of paying respects to his elders first, he went off to wander in the garden!
He immediately ordered Old Lady Qian, "Go, take a few sturdy maidservants with you and bring him here. If he refuses, drag him here."
Old Lady Qian promptly replied, "Yes!"
…
From the moment Old Lady Qian suddenly vanished, Meng Shuping was certain she had done it on purpose.
But why? He had just returned to the estate today and was meeting her for the first time. Even if she was scheming against him, there had to be a reason, right? Could it simply be because he seemed easy to bully?
Unable to fathom it, Meng Shuping gave up. The immediate priority was to leave this place and find someone to ask for directions.
However, the thought of asking a stranger for help and potentially enduring their scrutinizing gaze made his scalp prickle. He silently gathered his courage and retraced his steps.
But the garden paths had many forks, and before long, Meng Shuping forgot the way he had come. Just as he was hesitating over which path to take, a deliberately drawn-out voice sounded from behind him. "Stop."
Meng Shuping froze instantly, instinctively wanting to hide. But considering he needed to ask for directions, he forced himself to stay calm. Steeling himself, he turned to see two teenagers with haughty expressions swaggering arrogantly toward him.
Meng Shuping immediately forgot his nervousness. [Hahaha, this is hilarious! How can someone actually walk like a crab?]
Hearing the voice directed at him, Meng Shuyang's eyebrows shot up, and he shouted sharply, "Who's there? Get out here now!"
Meng Shuping surreptitiously glanced around. [Is there someone else nearby? I didn't see anyone.]
Hearing the voice again, Meng Shuyang immediately focused his attention on Meng Shuping.
The person in front of him kept his head slightly lowered, avoiding eye contact. Even when their eyes met, he quickly looked away. His clothes were shabby, and his shoes were covered in dust, making him look like a poor relative seeking charity.
Meng Shuyang thought he must be hallucinating. Could someone like this really be the owner of that voice? Besides, he hadn't seen the boy's lips move.
But even if it wasn't him, it didn't matter. He had already decided to teach this poor relative a lesson today. Too bad for him, he had run into the wrong person.
So Meng Shuyang nodded to Meng Shuxin behind him. Taking the hint, Meng Shuxin quickly circled around to block Meng Shuping from behind. The two of them now had Meng Shuping trapped from both sides.
Meng Shuping: [Whoa!]
Sure that Meng Shuping had no escape, Meng Shuyang slowly sauntered up to him. He squinted, looking Meng Shuping up and down, then said with a smirk, "Hey, kid, call me 'Father,' and I'll let you pass."
Meng Shuping widened his eyes. "Call you what?"
Meng Shuyang lifted his chin. "Didn't you hear me? Call me Father!"
Meng Shuping's eyes darted around. "Huh? Call what?"
Meng Shuyang thought this poor relative was incredibly slow. He raised his voice. "Call me Father! Father! Got it?"
Meng Shuping said softly, "Yes?"
[Good son!]
Meng Shuyang instantly realized he had been tricked. Enraged, he raised his arm and swung at Meng Shuping's face. "You impudent fool!"
To his surprise, he missed completely. Not only did he fail to hit Meng Shuping, but he also stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.
Meng Shuping almost died laughing. [Hahaha, you missed! Slipped, didn't you? Is he stupid? Did he really think I'd just stand there and let him hit me?]
Meng Shuyang was now certain that the voice belonged to this poor relative from who-knows-where. Although he didn't understand why he could hear the boy's thoughts, hearing him mock him so freely made his face turn red with anger. Furiously, he shouted at Meng Shuxin, "What are you standing around for? Attack him!"
Meng Shuping was not one to take a beating lying down. Seeing the two of them preparing to gang up on him, he struck first, raising his fists and charging. The three of them immediately became tangled in a fight.
Meanwhile, Old Lady Qian and the others searched along the path but found no sign of Meng Shuping. Just as they were at a loss, they heard some commotion coming from the northwest.
Old Lady Qian and the others hurried toward the noise. But when they arrived, they were horrified to see Meng Shuping and the two young masters from the third branch of the family exchanging blows, fiercely grappling.
The maidservants immediately exclaimed in dismay, "Oh dear, young masters, please stop fighting!"
"Fifth Young Master, the Second Master is waiting to see you!"
"Sixth Young Master, Seventh Young Master, please rest! Be careful not to hurt your hands!"
One of the maidservants, afraid the situation would escalate, quickly ran back to report. This was serious—the Fifth Young Master had just returned and was already clashing with the two young masters from the third branch.
The remaining maidservants pulled and tugged, trying to separate the three. It took them a long time to finally break them apart.
Meng Wenxiu had thought Meng Shuping would arrive soon this time, but before long, a maidservant rushed back in a panic. "Second Master, it's terrible! The Fifth Young Master is fighting with the Sixth Young Master and the Seventh Young Master!"
"What?" Meng Wenxiu sprang to his feet, his eyes blazing with anger. "Where is he? Take me there!"
That wretched boy, having grown up wild in the countryside, had no sense of rules or respect. He was utterly audacious and didn't behave like a young master of the estate at all!
Everyone else in the room was shocked to hear that Meng Shuping had already gotten into a fight with Meng Shuyang and Meng Shuxin from the third branch. Their expressions varied, but as Meng Wenxiu stormed out, fuming with anger, they all followed, eager to witness the drama.
By the time Meng Wenxiu and the others arrived, Meng Shuping and Meng Shuyang had already taken up positions on opposite sides. Meng Shuyang's face was still flushed with anger, and he was shouting threats and curses. Two maidservants, afraid the fight would resume, were pulling him back with all their strength.
Meanwhile, Meng Shuping shrank behind two other maids, staring timidly and helplessly at the flowers and trees nearby.
[Come on, hit me if you dare! Haha, all bark and no bite—what's the use of shouting? Can't even land a punch, nah nah nah!]
Meng Shuyang had started to calm down a bit, but Meng Shuping's taunting made him jump up furiously again. "You little beast! Come over here if you dare—see if I don't beat you to death!"
Meng Shuping was extremely curious. [He's been shouting for so long—how is his voice not hoarse yet? What a golden throat!]
Meng Shuyang's nose nearly twisted in anger. He kicked one of the maids hard and snarled, "You wretched servants! Let go of me right now!"
Meng Shuping felt sorry for the maid. [What did she do wrong? She's just here to break up the fight!]
Meng Wenxiu rushed over in a rage and immediately spotted the only unfamiliar face in the crowd. Without a doubt, this was his "good son."
Seeing Meng Shuping cowering behind the maids, his face bruised, exactly as timid and unsophisticated as he had imagined, Meng Wenxiu could no longer contain his anger. He scoffed, "You beast! Get over here now!"
If Meng Shuping hadn't been sure of the newcomer's identity earlier, he was now almost certain—this was probably his so-called father.
But Meng Wenxiu's words stunned him. [Huh? Beast? If I'm a beast, then what is he? An old beast? Is he out of his mind, insulting himself?]
Old Lady Qian wanted to laugh but didn't dare, her face turning bright red from holding it in.
The sudden voice startled Meng Wenxiu. Judging by the content, it seemed to be coming from his long-lost son.
But he had been staring at Meng Shuping the whole time and hadn't seen him speak. What was going on?
Seeing Meng Wenxiu arrive, Meng Shuyang immediately puffed out his chest with pride. "Second Uncle, order someone to dislocate his arms! This guy has no manners—he was running wild in the garden, and when I questioned him, he started hitting me!"
He had originally wanted to say that Meng Shuping had cursed at Meng Wenxiu in his mind, but he had already noticed that no one else could hear the voice. So he changed his story.
Meng Shuping found it hilarious. [Wow, calling for your dad just because you can't win? I'm so scared!]
For some reason, Meng Shuyang found the tone strange—it didn't sound scared at all. But he didn't dwell on it. Holding his head high, he thought, "Hmph, so you're scared now, huh?
He'd make this brat kneel and beg for mercy! And even if he did beg, he wouldn't let him off easily—he'd definitely break one of his legs!