The corners of Xu Mao's eyes slanted upward as he looked Bai Jing up and down.
Seeing her skin plump and lustrous like freshly peeled lychee flesh, her waist swaying gracefully like willows bending in the wind, he immediately felt evil fire stirring in his lower abdomen. Those crude and frivolous market phrases were already rolling on the tip of his tongue.
But the middle-aged steward had a sharp eye and saw through his calculations at a glance. He immediately cupped his fists and said, "I ask Madam Xu's forgiveness. My young master speaks directly and quickly. He was just curious about seeing that white cat."
Xu Mao glanced at his family's steward. Seeing his eye signals and gestures, he could only purse his lips and give up.
"From a great family but doesn't have any discernment," Xu Mingxian said, revealing a mocking expression at the corner of his mouth.
"What did you say, you little brat!"
Seeing that even a small child dared to mock him, Xu Mao immediately roared angrily and stood up suddenly.
"You're an adult wanting to argue with me, a six-year-old child?"
After Xu Mingxian and Xu Mingshu were born, the Xu family's circumstances were already far from the poverty of the beginning.
The middle-aged steward asked with a smile, "Young master just said we lack discernment. What do you mean by this?"
"What my sister is holding is a tiger cub. You said it's a white cat, aren't you blind?"
The middle-aged steward was stunned.
Xu Mao burst into loud laughter, "A tiger cub? Do you think I've never seen a tiger? Where are there any with white fur?"
"Taking a white cat for a tiger, truly worthy of being a child taught by Xu Chuan."
Xu Mingshu was also angry. She pointed her hand at Xu Mao, "Little White, bite him."
Little White seemed to understand Xu Mingshu's words. The crimson-gold eyes looking at Xu Mao flashed with fierce light and it opened its mouth, revealing fangs that hadn't fully grown in yet.
"Xueji, who are you trying to bite!"
"I already told you not to let Little White bite people randomly!"
An easygoing voice came from outside the door.
Then Xu Chuan, Xu Mingwei, Sun Fugui, and Qian Youcai were seen walking into the courtyard.
Outside the door, seven or eight strong men in simple clothing stood in front of several flat carts.
On the carts were baskets of green jade pears.
"Father, you're back."
Xu Mingxian and Xu Mingshu called out and ran toward Xu Chuan.
Bai Jing breathed a sigh of relief in her heart and revealed a smile, "Husband, you're back. Young Master Xu and the others have been waiting for quite a while."
Xu Chuan nodded and looked toward Xu Mao, saying with a smile, "Brother Xu, it's been a long time."
"Father, this person just insulted you."
Xu Mingshu showed her little tiger teeth and reported to Xu Chuan.
"You little girl," Xu Mao glared at Xu Mingshu with angry eyebrows and a face full of rage.
"Master Xu, my young master was just making a joke earlier. Please don't take it to heart."
The middle-aged steward smiled apologetically and tried to smooth things over.
"For Third Master's sake, I naturally won't hold it against him. However, my Xu family has many things to attend to today, so we won't be hosting guests."
The middle-aged steward's brow furrowed slightly.
Xu Mao acted as if he didn't understand and still spoke arrogantly with a cold laugh, "You wouldn't dare anyway!"
"Those outside are this year's green jade pears, right? Hand the pears over to us, and I won't hold your daughter's offense against me. My Xu family isn't petty either. We won't shortchange your Xu family on the silver."
"Brother Xu, aren't you speaking nonsense?" Xu Chuan chuckled, stroking Xu Mingshu's head with his hand, "My family's pears, why should I give them to you?"
"My Xu family is opening a fruit shop in the county town. All these green jade pears need to be sent there for use at tomorrow's opening."
The middle-aged steward understood in his heart.
He knew that today they would have to return empty-handed.
Their Xu family had delivered green jade pears to the Xu family every year before, but it was only because they saw the Xu family as powerful and were enduring patiently while lying low.
"Xu Chuan, you dare not hand them over to me? Don't tell me you want to offend my Xu family?!"
"That's quite a statement. If I don't sell my family's things to you, that's an offense. Then would your Xu family be willing to sell me the twenty mu of medicinal herbs you cultivate at thirty percent below market price?"
"If so, it's not impossible to do this business."
"Ridiculous!" Xu Mao laughed in extreme anger.
The middle-aged steward didn't want the relationship between the two families to become more and more strained. He quickly cupped his hands toward Xu Chuan and said, "Since Master Xu already has plans for those green jade pears, we won't disturb you any further."
Saying this, he forcibly pulled Xu Mao away.
Xu Mao still looked unwilling and reluctant.
"Steward Wang, why are you pulling me away? This Xu Chuan doesn't know what's good for him. I was just about to teach him a lesson."
"Just with the people we brought?" the middle-aged steward asked in return, "Even if we could teach him a lesson, if he doesn't sell, can we forcibly rob him? Aren't you afraid he'll file a complaint at the county government, saying we forcibly snatched his green jade pears?"
"When that time comes, not only will our Xu family suffer a great loss, but we'll also lose our good reputation for miles around."
"This matter should be reported to Third Master when we return, and let Third Master, Second Master, and the family head decide."
"Hmph!"
After being spoken to like this by the middle-aged steward, Xu Mao could only reluctantly return home.
…
At the Xu family's large courtyard.
"That Xu Chuan really said that?"
Third Master Xu sat at the head of the hall. After hearing the middle-aged steward's words, he stroked his beard and said, "Forget it. Things have come to this, there's no need to hope anymore."
"I really underestimated that Xu Chuan. I originally thought he was just an honest, dutiful, and timid farmer."
"However, as long as my Xu family manages its other businesses well, we can still flourish."
After a pause, he continued, "By the way, Steward Wang, you said the Xu family's fruit shop in the county town opens tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Go inquire about it. Tomorrow at the opening, go over and present a congratulatory gift."
"We're in the same Dongxi Village. Surface appearances must still be maintained."
"Yes, Third Master," the middle-aged steward responded and then withdrew.
"As for you, stay at home properly during this period. Don't go out causing trouble for me. Alas, our branch still has to rely on Qian'er."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Mao was still extremely angry in his heart.
Previously, Xu Chuan bowed his head before him like bent grass, bent his waist like tattered cotton. After just a few years, he dared to treat him like this?!
This stale breath stuck in his throat, burning more painfully than swallowing hot coals!
"Hmph, I can't deal with you, but I gave birth to a good son."
"Qian'er is studying martial arts with his second uncle at the Black Tiger Martial Hall. He's the next person in my Xu family most likely to become a first-rate martial artist."
"Xu Chuan, isn't your family's fruit shop opening tomorrow? I'd like to see how you can continue operating if something goes wrong."
Xu Mao didn't listen to his father's words at all. He turned and rode his horse to Qingjiang County town.
When the middle-aged steward learned that Xu Mao had left the Xu residence, he immediately reported it to Third Master Xu.
Third Master Xu waved his hand and said, "Let him go to the county town to clear his head. As long as he doesn't provoke the Xu family."
"I only hope the two families can mind their own business."
…
At the Xu family home.
"Shitou, you and Sun Fugui and Qian Youcai take the green jade pears to Ahyuan. Go now."
"Alright, Father," Xu Mingwei nodded.
Xu Mingxian looked at Xu Chuan and asked curiously, "Father, why didn't you teach that person surnamed Xu a lesson just now?"
"That's right, Xueji also dislikes him, and so does Little White."
"Ao wu~" The little white tiger was patted on the head and also joined in agreement.
"That kind of person is a worm in the Xu family. Leaving him there to hollow out the Xu family for us, to bring down the Xu family, wouldn't that serve a greater purpose?"
The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth carried a confident smile, "Besides, Father has his own use for keeping him. Tomorrow I'll take you to the county town to watch a good show. If possible, we might even vent this anger along the way."
Xu Chuan rubbed both their heads and continued, "It's not noon yet. Go practice your boxing for a while longer."
"Father, didn't we practice this morning?" Xu Mingshu pouted unhappily.
Xu Chuan put on a stern face and remained silent.
When the two saw this, they could only obediently start practicing boxing in the courtyard.
The little white tiger escaped from Xu Mingshu's clutches.
It lay on the corridor, yawned, and leisurely basked in the sun.
In half a month's time, it had already become accustomed to its current life and listened very well to Xu Mingshu's words.