Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 53 Yan Qi, the Butler i (2/2)

“Yes, he came specifically to see you; he’s been waiting for a good while now. Quickly go wash and change your clothes before coming over!”

Wu Mama nodded in confirmation.

It seemed that Wang Furen had instructed her to specifically guard the entrance to tend to the guests’ horses, while also waiting for Qin Niu’s return.

“Alright!”

Qin Niu didn’t know why Steward Yan Qi suddenly wanted to see him.

For such a summons from a personage of high stature, he currently had no power to refuse.

Of course, he could refuse, but the consequences would surely be grim.

Anyone with a normal intelligence would certainly wash up, change into clean clothes, and hurry over.

Ordinary villagers could not necessarily meet Steward Yan even if they wished to.

He had thought someone had come to propose marriage to Wang Wanyan, but it turned out to be a servant from the Yan Family who had come.

Steward Yan Qi was bought by the Yan Family as a young child and then trained and raised bit by bit.

Nobody knew his original surname; servants generally took on a servile surname.

He was considered a standout and a success story among servants, earning the admiration and trust of Yan Ruohai through hard work, and eventually not only became the steward of the Yan Family but was also granted the Yan surname.

This signified that his status in the Yan Family was equivalent to that of tangential blood relations.

The Yan Family had many stewards, and the most formidable was the chief steward, who was the leader of all stewards.

Qin Niu, being just an ordinary farmer, was already greatly honored to meet one of the Yan Family’s stewards; to be sought personally by the Yan Family’s chief steward? That was indeed wishful thinking.

Without strength and status, one simply was not qualified to meet a person of the chief steward’s ranking in the Yan Family.

He went home, took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and arrived at Wang Furen’s residence.

The opulently decorated main hall contained an exquisitely carved set of rosewood furniture, including a desk, four tall tea tables, four folding chairs, four armchairs, screens, and other items.

Two pots of quiet orchids were grown against the wall of the hall.

From one of them sprouted a light green flower bud, with its faint fragrance drifting gently to the nose.

Mounted on the wall were framed paintings, primarily of flowers and birds.

In the center hung a ‘Hall of Illumination* picture flanked by two long, paired couplets.

The picture of the ‘Hall of Illumination* was not of immortals nor did it depict auspicious symbols for longevity such as gourds or the rising sun. Instead, it depicted an ox pulling a plow.

The top scroll: Heaven rewards the diligent, with this body emulating the hardworking ox.

The bottom scroll: If one fears hardship, in this life how can they leap through the dragon gate?

Quite interesting, isn’t it just about Wang Furen himself?

From humble beginnings, with hard work in commerce, he finally amassed a great fortune, leading a life of affluence many people dream of.

In the main hall’s seat of honor sat Wang Furen and a young man who appeared to be only in his thirties.

A length of beard grew beneath his chin, lending him an air of refinement and gravity.

He was clothed in a blue garment with an insignia the size of a teacup embroidered in black with the character for Yan.

Although the young man’s countenance couldn’t be considered handsome, his eyes were bright and clear, his features well-proportioned, exuding an optimistic and forward-looking air of integrity. A hint of shrewdness lurked in his gaze.

No wonder he could distinguish himself from the multitude of Yan servants at such a young age and achieve such a distinguished status.

With such a temperament, he could never be a mediocre person.

Heaven rewards the diligent; those who strive will naturally not fall too low in life.

If they also possess some wisdom and learning, then they’re even more extraordinary, standing out easily among others.

In conversation with Wang Furen, the young man’s presence seemed to subtly outclass Wang Furen himself. Keep in mind, Wang Furen is over fifty, and this man is only thirty!

Lacking twenty years of life experiences yet managing to surpass Wang Furen in bearing, it’s due to his diligent learning and continual self-improvement.

“Ah Niu, why did you come back so late? This is Steward Yan Qi from the Yan residence, in charge of farming and tea cultivation matters. He came right after noon, specifically to find you and has been waiting for more than an hour.”

Although Wang Furen usually did not pay much attention to Qin Niu, he did look out for him in certain matters to some extent.

“Hurry and apologize to Steward Yan Qi! You just stand there, slack-jawed; no wonder the villagers all call you a fool!”

This was Wang Furen’s way of excusing Qin Niu..