Chapter 36 - 036: Can’t the Shi Family afford to hire servants?

Words : 1388 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 36 - 036: Can't the Shi Family afford to hire servants? The Shi Family's old residence was located in the most bustling area of the Imperial City. After winding through three or five narrow alleys, one would come upon that solitary, serene, and tranquil courtyard. Shi Wei stood at the gate of the mansion, staring at the dark red door. His eyes, deep as ink, held no trace of light. "Boss, you should go inside now." Chen Cai lowered his head slightly, his demeanor uncharacteristically serious. It was unclear how much time had passed before he heard a faint response from the other party. Shi Wei took a step forward, pausing briefly at the threshold. His entire being exuded an intense, oppressive heaviness. Yet, the moment he crossed over the threshold, the low pressure abruptly dissipated into thin air, as though it had all been a mere illusion conjured in Chen Cai's mind. The old residence was sizeable. From the mansion gate, one would pass by a screen wall and then a hanging flower gate before arriving at the courtyard. The courtyard housed a scattering of pomegranate and crabapple trees—symbols of sibling harmony and fertility, respectively. These trees, blooming in spring and bearing fruit in autumn, carried auspicious meanings and offered pleasant aesthetics. In addition to this, the left side of the courtyard featured a stepped miniature rockery and a small pond, while the right side was adorned with an elegantly shaped rock. The setup, with its classical ink-painting-like depiction of mountains and waters, appeared especially ironic in Shi Wei's eyes. He sneered to himself, suppressing the dark emotions on his face, before striding quickly toward the main hall. "Little Wei, come and sit down quickly." Upon seeing him enter, Mr. Shi immediately rose to his feet, his smile exceedingly warm, even revealing the fine lines at the corners of his eyes. Shi Beiming had already passed his sixties yet wore a black jacket, his hairstyle meticulously groomed, giving off an air of focused vitality that belied his age. "Hm." Shi Wei nodded slightly, his gaze brushing fleetingly over those gathered around the dining table. His features, delicate yet faintly aloof, left no clues to his inner thoughts. "Big Brother, has the company been very busy lately? You're nearly half an hour late." Shi Yaoyu leaned her cheek against her hand, the corners of her lips curling into a smile that failed to reach her eyes. Shi Beiming had two sons and one daughter, though they were not born of the same mother. He regularly summoned them to gather at home to fortify the bond among his children. Yet nearly every time, Shi Wei either didn't show up or arrived last, much to Shi Yaoyu's disdain. Just seeing him made her want to pick a fight. Before Shi Wei could answer, Shi Beiming shot her a glare: "Do you think everyone, like you, has nothing better to do all day than act foolishly?" "Dad, that's quite the comment." Shi Yaoyu's expression froze momentarily. She had nearly forgotten—the Shi Family's most favored child was none other than her dear elder brother. No matter what he did, Shi Beiming saw him through the rosiest of lenses, believing him to be flawless in every way. Shi Beiming snorted coldly, ignoring her as he resumed attentively checking on Shi Wei's well-being. Their father-and-son act of mutual affection deeply pricked Shi Yaoyu's heart. Her gaze fell, her lashes lowering to obscure the light in her eyes, leaving them shrouded in shadow. "Shi Yin, fetch the wine the vineyard sent over the other day from upstairs." Shi Beiming commanded without lifting his head, his eyes fixated on the lavish meal spread across the table. "Alright." Shi Yin quickly got up, moving to retrieve the wine briskly. When he returned with the red wine and had barely warmed his seat, Shi Beiming once again ordered him to pour wine for everyone. While the others enjoyed themselves cheerfully, Shi Yin was the only one running back and forth tirelessly. Yet, no matter how much he toiled, he remained steadfast and uncomplaining in his manner. Shi Wei glanced at him, and by coincidence, Shi Yin returned the gaze. After a moment of hesitation, Shi Yin offered him a friendly smile. Shi Wei raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with derision: "Can't the Shi Family afford servants?" The dining room fell silent immediately upon hearing this remark. Shi Yaoyu paused mid-motion with her chopsticks, her baffled gaze flitting back and forth between the two men. Not only her, but even Shi Beiming hadn't expected Shi Wei to speak up on Shi Yin's behalf. Suppressing the doubt in his heart, Shi Beiming quickly waved Shi Yin down: "Stop running around and take a seat to eat." Shi Yin nodded quietly, placed the wine bottle aside, and seated himself, silently eating the meal on his plate. His gaze remained fixed downward, and unless spoken to, he uttered not a word. When nightfall arrived, Shi Wei exchanged a few customary pleasantries with Shi Beiming before departing first. He had just stepped out of the hanging flower gate when a voice stopped him in his tracks. "Why?" Shi Yin stood before him, blocking his way. His black suit melded seamlessly with the night, obscuring any expression on his face. Shi Wei eyed him briefly, lighting a cigarette between his fingers: "What? Want to thank me?" The fire flickered as he exhaled a curl of smoke, his posture utterly relaxed. Shi Yin frowned slightly, regarding him with an inscrutable expression, saying nothing. If it had been anyone else who made such a statement at the dinner table, Shi Yin might have speculated on their intent. But with Shi Wei, he was entirely baffled. "No thanks necessary." Shi Wei resumed walking, pausing momentarily as they were about to brush past each other. He turned his head and spoke in a voice audible only to the two of them: "I just don't want to see my opponent act like a dog." Those arrogant, contemptuous words cut into Shi Yin's heart like a blade. They magnified the resentment buried within him a hundredfold in an instant. The sound of retreating footsteps grew distant. Shi Yin, still standing in place, found his body trembling uncontrollably. ** Through the rearview mirror, Chen Cai repeatedly glanced at Shi Wei, his lips quivering and brows furrowed. Bound by the Shi Family's house rule that forbade outsiders from entering the old residence, even though he had contemplated accompanying Shi Wei countless times, he had always been held back by that inviolable edict. "Boss, should we head straight back?" The world offered no true empathy; in the end, Chen Cai kept to himself the words of comfort he wanted to say. A faint sigh came from the back seat. Shi Wei leaned against the seat with his eyes closed, one hand braced on the window sill as he tiredly rubbed his temples: "No, they're still waiting." "Understood." Chen Cai refrained from speaking further, his expression serious as he focused on driving. The Meiyue Pavilion was brimming with liveliness. As the door swung open, three figures were gathered around a long table playing a game of poker. "Brother Wei!" Jin Yunzhi sprang to his feet the moment he spotted him, enthusiastically waving him over: "Hurry up and help me get revenge. They're bullying me because I don't know how to play!" Jin Yunzhi's face was plastered with so many paper strips it was nearly impossible to discern his features. While speaking, he puffed up his cheeks indignantly, the picture of frustration. "Jin Yunzhi, you're absolutely hopeless!" The short-haired girl seated across from him cast him a sharp glare. Her features were striking, reminiscent of Dian Mountain Camellia blooming wildly in the wilderness—captivating at first glance. Her pure eyes paired with the faintly enchanting shape of her gaze melded into an unusual allure. Yet— Her punk-style outfit paired with purple-blue hair seemed glaringly incongruous with her appearance, significantly diminishing its charm. "How am I hopeless?" Jin Yunzhi pouted, shoving a hand of cards into Shi Wei's palm in aggrieved annoyance: "If you've got guts, try not to cheat!"

Chapter 36 - 036: Can’t the Shi Family afford to hire servants?

Comments (0)