Chapter 137 (1/2)
Chapter 137
Chapter 137 - To Convince
“Mother! You really have the feudal way of thinking, such an old fogie!” Yu Xiaocao stuck out her tongue at her mother .
Madam Liu continued to glare at her, “Then you shouldn’t eat the breakfast that this old fogie made, just go and stay hungry!”
“Mother, I was wrong! Mother is the kindest, most beautiful, and most open-minded mother in the world…” Yu Xiaocao mournfully cried as she circled around Madam Liu as if she was a lively little rabbit . On the side, Yu Hai watched her antics with amus.e.m.e.nt .
Zhou Zixu gazed at the whole scene with a bit of envy . If he had also been born in such a loving household, even if the family was more impoverished, he would still be incredibly happy . . .
“Is Xiaocao home?” The sound of a slightly raspy, youthful voice came from over the walls . Immediately, a tall figure that was dressed in a set of simple black clothing appeared at the gate opening .
Yu Hai saw the fellow first and greeted him happily, “Oh it’s Xiaohan ah! Quickly come in! Cao’er, stop teasing your mother and come over . Xiaohan is looking for you!”
“Brother Han? Do you need to go to the prefectural city to deliver the wild geese? I’ll go to the back courtyard and grab them for you . ” There was still some time before the deadline for the prefectural magistrate’s request for his son . Both of the wild geese were living at Xiaocao’s home, and she fed them small fish, shrimp, and mystic-stone water every day . Now, they were even plumper than they were when they were first caught . In addition, their feathers were sleek and glowing with health, so they seemed much more lively and energetic .
Zhao Han greeted Yu Hai and his wife and then smiled at Xiaocao, “Don’t rush about right now . Tomorrow we’ll start preparing for our trip to the prefectural city . My family isn’t good at raising animals, so let’s not mess around with those two wild geese . It’s better for them to spend an extra day at your place!”
Yu Hai watched as his daughter chatted with Zhao Han and quietly spoke to Madam Liu, “Xiaohan, that child, has always treated people courteously . It’s obvious that Sister-in-law Zhao knows how to raise children . Muyun, do you think that Xiaohan treats our youngest daughter a little differently . . . our family and Older Brother Zhao’s family, perhaps we could strengthen our ties with a marriage…”
“Don’t speculate idly! Cao’er is still young and who knows what the future will be like? It’s fine that you can talk about this in front of me, but you absolutely cannot let anyone else hear you talk . It’ll ruin our daughter’s reputation!”
Madam Liu also liked Zhao Han . However, per her intuition, she had a feeling that the Zhao Family wasn’t from a humble background, especially the madam of the family . Her every movement indirectly revealed that she had a n.o.ble background, so it was obvious to Madam Liu that things were not simple . If her hunch was correct, then the Zhao Family had an extraordinary background and were not one that their Yu Family could marry into .
Zhou Zixu, who had just walked out of the room, managed to overhear Yu Hai’s words, and he felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart . The look in his eyes as he inspected Zhao Han turned a bit resentful . ‘He’s only from a hunter’s family . No matter how much education or manners he has, he’s still a crude person . How could he possibly be a good match for his younger sister Xiaocao?’
The still immature youth interpreted the discomfort in his heart as a desire to protect his younger sister . In Zhou Zixu’s eyes, his younger sister Xiaocao was even more precious than those so-called young ladies from the wealthy families in town!
Zhao Han saw Zhou Zixu out of the corner of his eye, and he wasn’t quite sure what to think of this young master from the Zhou Family . Why did he stay over as a guest at the Yu Family’s? However, he restrained the questions within his heart . Instead, he nodded and smiled politely at Third Young Master Zhou . Unexpectedly, he received a look full of dislike from the other youth . Zhao Han felt even more perplexed inside, ‘When did I ever offend Third Young Master Zhou? Ah, the thoughts of a young master from a rich family are hard to understand!’
Zhao Han offered the little roe deer that was in his arms and sighed, “Didn’t I say that my family is not suited to raise animals? Tiny was only at my family’s place for a little bit and has become so listless . We made sure to offer it the best fodder available, but it doesn’t seem to want to eat any! Just look, it’s gotten so skinny that you can see its rib bones . ”
“Tiny? Did Tiny get sick?” Little s.h.i.+tou came out from the back courtyard and felt his heart ache at the sight of the listless little roe deer .
When it saw its playmate, Tiny seemed to become more energetic and used its head to rub Little s.h.i.+tou’s arm . A pair of large and limpid eyes looked piteously at Yu Xiaocao as if it was trying to say, “I won’t eat the green vegetables anymore, please let me come back…”
Yes, that’s right! This little roe deer couldn’t restrain itself from eating the alluring green vegetables that had been watered with mystic-stone water . When the family wasn’t careful, it ate a whole patch of green vegetables and had been banished away by Yu Xiaocao to Zhao Han’s family . Because Xiaocao had solemnly entrusted to task to him, Zhao Han did his best to take good care of the little roe deer and even bought some of the highest quality feed for it .
However, the little roe deer thinned down with each pa.s.sing day . If another seven to eight days pa.s.sed, then it would no longer be able to walk without stumbling . If it still didn’t go back home, then he was afraid that the next time Yu Xiaocao saw the deer she would only see a tiny little corpse…
After she saw the little animal’s current state, Yu Xiaocao felt her heart soften as she rubbed the little creature’s head . She quietly said, “Are you going to eat the vegetables in the future then? Make sure to remember, you absolutely cannot touch anything that is growing in the fields . You got that?”
The little roe deer acted as though it could understand everything she was saying and cheerfully nodded its head . It quickly became much more energetic . Yu Xiaocao laughed and scolded, “You crafty little thing! You know how to injure yourself to gain people’s sympathy eh! You’ve truly become more sentient . ”
When Zhou Zixu saw Xiaocao smile brightly with her dimples showing when she talked to Zhao Han, the uncomfortable feeling in his heart increased . He scampered over and interjected, “This little roe deer looks pretty clever!”
Hearing the little roe deer getting complimented made Little s.h.i.+tou feel like he was getting complimented instead . He lifted his chest proudly and said, “Tiny is very well-behaved and never p.o.o.ps around . It can even understand what we say!”
Zhou Zixu continued to praise the little roe deer . As the other people were talking, Yu Xiaocao washed a few vegetables and took off a few leaves before sprinkling some mystic-stone water on top . The little roe deer stared at the leaves unwaveringly and had a completely gluttonous look on its face .