Chapter 11 - 11 11 Lunch Box

Words : 1709 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Lunch Box Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Lunch Box After Housekeeper Wu left, the atmosphere among Zheng Fa and the other two became rather strange. Gao Yuan turned his face away from Zheng Fa, his right hand tightly clutching the corner of his clothes, looking very nervous. Although Zheng Fa’s expression was somewhat calm, he couldn’t help feeling a bit apprehensive at this moment. On the contrary, Han Cheng, who had been the most dejected just now, seemed to have already given up, his gaze wandering between Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan with a kind of schadenfreude. No one spoke. Silence was the hardest to endure, and Zheng Fa didn’t know how long it had been when Housekeeper Wu hurried back. Zheng Fa saw Gao Yuan’s Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, clearly swallowing nervously. “I have already reported to the lady,” Housekeeper Wu spoke as soon as he arrived. “The lady has decided on the candidate for the Seventh Young Master’s Attendant Student:” He glanced at the three men, pausing slightly before continuing: “Gao Yuan.” Gao Yuan couldn’t help but sway slightly. “...And Zheng Fa.” “Two?” Xu Zheng asked, somewhat surprised. “Two.” Housekeeper Wu affirmed. Actually, he was also puzzled; originally, the lady just wanted to find another Attendant Student for the Seventh Young Master, and she might have already favored Gao Yuan. But when he reported the matter of Zheng Fa’s exceptional qualifications to the lady, she unexpectedly changed her original plan. He still remembered the voice that faintly came from behind the curtain as he was leaving: “Interesting!” Zheng Fa couldn’t help but glance at Han Cheng’s expression. Indeed, it was hard to describe. Out of the three, two were selected. Wouldn’t whoever was left out feel awkward? Zheng Fa could imagine how explosive Han Cheng’s emotions must be. “Both of you go home to pack your things today, and come to the mansion tomorrow.” After speaking, he signaled for Zheng Fa and the others to leave. As they left, Han Cheng walked away swiftly, evidently feeling somewhat dissatisfied. Meanwhile, Gao Yuan deliberately walked beside Zheng Fa, leading Zheng Fa to suspect that he wanted to talk. Sure enough, as Han Cheng’s figure receded into the distance, far enough that he likely couldn’t hear their conversation, Gao Yuan at Zheng Fa’s side spoke: “Mr. Zheng, in the future, we must work together with one heart.” The tone of this remark was rather meaningful. Zheng Fa turned to look at Gao Yuan, only to see sincerity on his face, no longer the caution and defensiveness from earlier. This change in attitude was a bit too quick. Even the position of Attendant Student for the Seventh Young Master was particularly unusual in the Zhao Mansion. But now that Gao Yuan had also become an Attendant Student, why the initial arrogance and subsequent humility? “Mr. Zheng probably doesn’t know, but we are not the Seventh Young Master’s first Attendant Students.” “I know. The only child of Manager Wang from our farm had previously been the Seventh Young Master’s Attendant Student. He was sent back after being beaten.” “No, not just him.” Zheng Fa watched as Gao Yuan’s right hand stretched out five straight fingers. “Five people, since the Seventh Young Master started his studies, there have already been five Attendant Students. All were dismissed by the lady, and those with bad luck, like that farm manager’s son you mentioned, even got beaten.” Zheng Fa involuntarily smirked. He now somewhat understood why Gao Yuan had become eager to form an alliance with him. In front of the difficult Seventh Young Master, their status had shifted from competitors to comrades-in-arms. As for the intrigues among colleagues. They hadn’t even settled in yet, what’s there to fight over. Thinking this, Zheng Fa couldn’t help but ask a question that had been on his mind: “Mr. Gao, I heard them say, do you hold a title?” “By sheer luck, I passed the examination for a ‘Scholar’ three years ago.” “Attainment of official rank, isn’t that a way to become a government official?” When Zheng Fa recalled his history lessons, he found it hard to understand why Gao Yuan would appear here: “Why compete for a mere Attendant Student position?” “Become an official?” Gao Yuan looked as if he did not understand Zheng Fa’s question: “Who said anything about becoming an official? Child students must pass the Scholar exam, Scholars must take the higher examinations, hmm, indeed after passing the higher examinations, one could be assigned a clerical position, but that is not being an official.” “Clerical position?” “Mr. Zheng, do you truly not know that, from top to bottom in our imperial court, whether it be the County Lord or the Prefecture Lord, only disciples of the Immortal Sect can serve in those roles? They simply disdain handling trivial matters and need us scholars versed in Confucian and legal principles to take on clerical roles, to be ordered around by them.” “As for that insignificant Attendant Student position you mentioned, the Zhao Family has a profound relationship with the Immortal Sect, not to mention, the Seventh Young Master’s older sister happens to be a disciple of the Immortal Sect. I, a mere child student, how dare I disdain the Attendant Student position?” Watching Gao Yuan’s departing figure, Zheng Fa’s thoughts lingered on the words he had just heard. Having passed the higher examinations, one is merely a clerical worker? It is only because those high and mighty disciples of the Immortal Sect loathe mundane affairs that they grant these people a smidgen of power. Only now did he truly understand the difference between the Xuanwei Realm and the ancient times depicted in historical texts. In the history books, the power structure of those ancient dynasties resembled a great pyramid: imperial power, ministers, and subjects, with power transmitted from top to bottom. However, in the Xuanwei Realm, everything revolves around the Immortal Sect, like a set of circles. The Immortal Sect is the largest circle, with its disciples commanding all power at the local level as sealed lords, accountable to no higher lord but the Immortal Sect itself. They form their families which become smaller circles, which in turn give rise to even smaller circles comprised of clerks and family servants. It seems more akin to the concept of feudal lords found in those Western books. Therefore, for child students like Gao Yuan, serving as a servant for a powerful family like the Zhao Family is already a very good option. At this moment, he fully appreciated the value of his Attendant Student position. However, his understanding of this world was still shallow, and he was unsure whether his summary was correct, but one thing he could affirm was that in the Xuanwei Realm, the Immortal Sect is supreme, leaving no room for the existence of imperial power. He exited through the back door he had come from and saw the old coachman who had brought him was still waiting there. But Huang Yu was nowhere to be seen. “Young master has arrived?” Upon seeing Zheng Fa’s figure, the old coachman quickly got down from the cart, pulled out a low stool from behind, extended his hand, wanting to help Zheng Fa onto the cart. Seeing this, Zheng Fa understood that the man must have heard about his new status as the Seventh Young Master’s Attendant Student. The Zhao Family has been established for a thousand years; when it comes to their servants, the relationships are intricate and complicated. Sometimes the servants, like this old coachman, are better informed than the masters themselves. He hastily waved his hand and jumped onto the ox cart, supporting himself. The ox cart was different now. When Zheng Fa had arrived earlier, what covered the cart was a plain wooden board with a few leaves of vegetables on it. Now, a thick black carpet was laid on the board. Looking at the old coachman, he was giving him a respectful smile. “Young master, shall we depart?” After patiently waiting for him to be seated, the old coachman spoke in a tone of inquiry. “Old man, please call me as you did before,” Zheng Fa could not help but interrupt: “Just call me Zheng, let’s go.” The return trip in the ox cart was quick. Amidst the sound of the wind, Zheng Fa suddenly heard the old coachman addressing him: “Maste... Zheng, this food box by your hand, was bought for old man me at Juxing Building in the city, Zheng, you take it home.” Zheng Fa had already noticed the food box; it was made of black lacquered wood, sealed tight, and looked somewhat valuable. “Old man, I cannot accept an unearned reward...” “What reward! Today, didn’t old man me also receive some smoked meat and pastries from your mother? Don’t laugh at me, Zheng, but your mother’s cooking skills are truly excellent, even better than those chefs from Juxing Building! Accepting this small treat in return, I am still the one gaining an advantage!” Zheng Fa could swear that on their trip to the place, the old coachman didn’t seem that fond of his family’s smoked meat. “That’s just something made at home.” “Zheng, don’t be hesitant, coming to Jingzhou City, you should bring something back for your younger sister, right?” Remembering Zheng Shan’s reluctant farewell when he left, Zheng Fa said no more. As evening approached and smoke started to rise from the stoves in the small houses by the roadside, Zheng Fa finally arrived back at the farm. Before he could get down from the cart, he heard, beneath the big elm tree at the front of the village, the voice of his younger sister Zheng Shan: “I’m waiting for my brother to return! Then we’ll see if you dare to bully me!” Zheng Fa’s heart tightened, not because his little sister Zheng Shan was a crybaby at home. But outside, she was not one to cry. Yet now, there was a sobbing tone in her voice.

Chapter 11 - 11 11 Lunch Box

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