I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 31 Complaint

Little Sister Zheng Shan seemed to realize she had said something wrong. She covered her little mouth and looked at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa glanced at the Seventh Young Master, who was wearing a curious expression, and then lowered his head with a smile, gently patting Little Sister’s small head.

Little Sister understood, and she lifted her face to begin complaining.

"Wang Gui's family is the worst! In the whole estate, he's the one who likes to bully people the most!"

"How did he bully you? Tell me, and I'll make things right for you."

The Seventh Young Master put down his bowl and smiled at Zheng Shan, who had a face full of 'I want to get justice.'

"He took my pigweed leaves! I spent two hours picking them, and he took all of them!"

"Pigweed leaves?" The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Fa.

"..." The Seventh Young Master stared at the white rice in his bowl, looking at it as if he had nothing to say for a moment.

"He took them and didn't eat them, just threw them on the ground and stomped on them!"

Little Sister was originally just trying to complain, but when she talked about this, she couldn't help getting angry. Tears welled up in her big eyes.

From her expression, it was clear that the pigweed leaves being taken by Wang Gui didn't bother her as much as the fact that they had been stomped on. That seemed to upset her even more.

"Really?"

The smile on the Seventh Young Master's face slowly faded.

"There's more! He also tore up the new cloth that was given to Brother, and the beautiful new clothes that Mother made for me—just as I went out, Wang Gui and his men ripped them!"

Zheng Fa looked at Little Sister's old clothes and his expression grew darker.

When he was at home, although Wang Gui wasn't friendly to the Zheng family, he only isolated Zheng Fa and Little Sister.

Now that he was staying at the Zhao family residence, Wang Gui probably felt resentment for losing his position as the study attendant and acted out more recklessly.

"Is there anything else?" Before the Seventh Young Master could ask, Zheng Fa spoke first.

"Yes, he also talked badly about the Seventh Young Master and Brother!" Zheng Shan pouted and said, "He said the Seventh Young Master has a strange and difficult personality, just born into a good family. He said Brother would definitely be beaten to death by the Seventh Young Master!"

Zheng Fa looked at the increasingly unpleasant expression on the Seventh Young Master's face and glanced at Little Sister, who seemed both indignant and angry.

This little one has learned how to sow discord!

What was more important was that even Zheng Fa could tell that a child of Little Sister's age wouldn't be able to come up with such words unless Wang Gui had truly said them.

In this world, compliments are often insincere, but insults are full of honesty.

The Seventh Young Master knew exactly what kind of person he was, and deep down, he might even agree with Wang Gui's words.

Wasn't that even more infuriating?

At the door, Wang Gui was holding a basin of freshly cooked chicken, staring blankly at Zheng Shan. His face was as pale as the chicken legs inside the basin.

Behind Wang Gui, Steward Wang immediately pulled him to the ground, not daring to say a word of pleading.

...

The Seventh Young Master looked at the father and son kneeling on the ground, pursing his lips.

He lowered his head, forced a smile, and said to Zheng Shan, "Wang Gui is so bad, how would you like me to punish him?"

Zheng Shan's eyes brightened, and she asked, "Do I get to decide?"

"Yes, you do!"

"I..." Little Sister bit her finger and thought for a long time, "I can't think of anything!"

"Shall I give you an idea?"

"Yes! Brother said you’re the smartest, Seventh Young Master!"

Zheng Fa: ... I never said that!

The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Fa in surprise, his expression becoming sunnier.

After all, children never lie, right?

"Last time my mother gave him a beating, but it seems he didn't learn anything," the Seventh Young Master glanced at Wang Gui, who was still trembling on the ground. "How about we beat him again?"

"Yes, yes!" Zheng Shan clapped her hands, but she seemed a little dissatisfied. "But after the last time he was beaten, he became even worse."

"Don't worry, this time we’ll beat him to death."

When he said this, the Seventh Young Master's expression didn't change at all.

Wang Gui could no longer hold himself up and collapsed to the ground. His face was filled with despair, but his mouth still unconsciously repeated, "Young Master, spare me."

"To death?" Little Sister Zheng Shan was also shocked. "Like my father?"

Her entire concept of death came from her late father. Thinking of this, she showed a hint of distress, cautiously tugging at the Seventh Young Master's sleeve and said, "Please don't kill him."

"Oh?" The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Shan, who was pleading for Wang Gui, and smiled faintly. "Didn't you hate him the most?"

"I do hate him, but... I can forgive him!" Zheng Shan patted her small chest, showing that she was very magnanimous. Then her voice softened. "Father died. Mother said I was too young back then, and I don't even remember him."

The Seventh Young Master patted her small head, silent for a long time, then nodded. "Since you've forgiven him, I'll spare his life."

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Tears were still hanging on Wang Gui's face, and it was unclear whether they were tears of joy. Behind him, Steward Wang had an expression of relief, as if he'd just survived a catastrophe.

"Thank her," the Seventh Young Master pointed to Zheng Shan.

Wang Gui and his son bowed their heads to Zheng Shan repeatedly.

Little Sister Zheng Shan seemed a bit scared, and she hid behind Zheng Fa.

The Seventh Young Master suddenly spoke to Steward Wang. "You're Wang Gui's father. If your son is unruly, it's your fault. Since you can't manage him, you should step down from your position as steward."

Steward Wang shuddered but didn't dare say a word.

"Get lost."

Wang Gui, with a face full of relief, followed Steward Wang out, but didn't notice the slightly desperate look on Steward Wang’s face.

Zheng Fa could guess what Steward Wang was worried about. He had spent five years building this large family business, and his methods were probably far from clean. Losing his position as steward might lead to a backlash.

As for Wang Gui... Having experienced similar rises and falls, Zheng Fa could only wish him the best in handling the coming blow.

He glanced at the Seventh Young Master and felt that this young master likely understood his own reasoning. This might be even more despairing for Steward Wang than killing Wang Gui.

Perhaps it was intentional.

After dinner, the Seventh Young Master and Gao Yuan still had to stay at Steward Wang's house, as there was no place for them at the Zheng family estate.

Zheng Fa saw them off, and when they reached the street corner, the Seventh Young Master suddenly spoke.

"Zheng Fa, I envy you."

"Hmm?"@@novelbin@@

"I'm a young master, and you're a farmer, but I really envy you." The Seventh Young Master looked up at the night sky. "Your mother cares about you. When you return home in glory, she'll first care about whether you're doing well, whether you're complete. Your little sister, at such a young age, knows how to speak well of you in front of me."

Zheng Fa nodded, unable to see the expression on the Seventh Young Master’s face.

"This is something I can never have," the Seventh Young Master waved his hand. "Today, I did all of this for them. Go back."

Zheng Fa watched them walk away, then turned and walked toward the light shining from his mother’s room.

When he reached the door, he heard Zheng Mother scolding Little Sister Zheng Shan.

"Why aren't you listening again?"

"Mother, where am I not listening?" Zheng Shan's tone was a bit aggrieved.

"Didn't I tell you not to let your brother go and complain?"

"I didn't make Brother say anything! I said it myself!"

"If you offend the young master, won't it cause trouble for your brother?" Zheng Mother still seemed to think her daughter was too bold.

"I'm only six! Would the young master bother with me?"

Zheng Fa pushed open the door, picked up Little Sister, who was looking at him defiantly, and laughed. "Mother, don't scold Little Sister. The Seventh Young Master even praised her."

"That's right!" Little Sister raised her head proudly, as if she were proud of how well she had performed.