I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 30: Pick Up

When Wang Gui shouted "Young Master," the people on the estate also understood that a big figure from the manor had arrived.  

Almost all of the estate’s tenants gathered around the carriage, looking at the Seventh Young Master with a mixture of awe and a hint of flattery.  

Steward Wang was the most prominent. He kneeled in front of the crowd, prostrating himself on the ground with perfect form. This was a posture he had specifically trained for. His reputation for loyalty among some of the influential figures in the Zhao family had been built up through such small details.  

Half a day passed without hearing the Seventh Young Master speak.  

Steward Wang cautiously lifted his head and saw that the Seventh Young Master wasn’t looking at him at all. Instead, he was staring at the carriage’s door.  

Zheng Fa was just emerging from the carriage, jumping down to the ground—right in front of Steward Wang.  

Both of them exchanged a bewildered glance.  

Perhaps due to his overly respectful posture, Zheng Fa unconsciously made a gesture to help him rise.  

Steward Wang first stood up reflexively, then his face stiffened slightly, turning a deep shade of red. His gaze moved slowly from Zheng Fa to the Seventh Young Master, who, as if seeing nothing, was smiling brightly.  

Wang Gui, watching from the side, was filled with confusion:  

Did my father kneel before Zheng Fa?  

Wait, why is Zheng Fa standing so well, and even jumping around?  

How can the Seventh Young Master be standing with Zheng Fa, talking and laughing so intimately?  

He couldn’t help but feel a surge of jealousy—when he was a study attendant, the Seventh Young Master never even gave him a smile.  

"Young Master, what brings you to the estate?"  

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Wang Gui finally asked.  

"Oh, I'm here to pick someone up."  

Wang Gui's heart swelled with joy—sure enough, the Seventh Young Master hadn’t forgotten Yan Yu Tower, no, he hadn’t forgotten his unwavering loyalty!  

Although it appeared that Zheng Fa must have used some underhanded means to win the Seventh Young Master’s favor, his arrival confirmed that the Young Master still cared about him!  

Wang Gui was full of confidence in his talent for being a sycophant: One day, I, Wang Gui, will become the Seventh Young Master's top dog!  

"Pick someone up?" When Steward Wang heard these words, he glanced at his son. After all, the Seventh Young Master only knew one person on this estate, right?  

"Zheng Fa, where's your mother and sister? Have they arrived?" The Seventh Young Master turned and asked Zheng Fa.  

"Brother!"  

Seeing Zheng Fa’s gaze turn toward her, Zheng Shan, who had been holding back her words, finally couldn’t help herself. She hopped up and called out from beside Zheng’s mother.  

The Seventh Young Master walked over to Zheng Fa and stopped in front of Zheng’s mother.  

Zheng’s mother studied Zheng Fa’s face carefully, noticing that he not only showed no signs of suffering, but had even gained weight. A smile slowly spread across her face.  

"Mother, the Madam’s grace asked me to bring you and Sister to live in the city."  

Zheng’s mother, who had been about to speak, froze, not knowing what to say.  

Wang Gui, on the other hand, felt like he had been struck by lightning. He could hardly believe his ears.  

Not here to pick me up?  

Picking up Zheng Fa's family?  

The tenants around the estate reacted even more strongly and quickly.  

"To the city? The whole family? The Zheng family is going to prosper! The ancestral grave must be smoking with luck!"  

"What nonsense, it’s clear that Zheng Fa has some standing in the manor, you see, even the Seventh Young Master has come back with him."  

"I said Zheng Fa was special from the start!"  

"That’s bullshit. You used to say Zheng Fa was mute and useless!"  

Amid the envious and regretful murmurs of the surrounding people, Zheng’s mother seemed to finally come to her senses. But after looking at Zheng Fa, then at the Seventh Young Master, she opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words.  

It was Zheng Fa who gently held her hand and said, "Mother, we haven’t eaten yet, and we’re starving. Could you make something for us?"  

"No food?" Hearing her son was hungry, Zheng’s mother immediately forgot everything else. She turned and started walking toward the house. "I’ll make something for you right away!"  

But after taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped, turned, and looked at the Seventh Young Master standing beside Zheng Fa. She whispered to him, "Seventh Young Master hasn’t eaten yet?"  

"Yes."  

"This… there’s no meat at home, just some coarse grain that the estate people eat. A noble person like you probably won’t find it to your liking…"  

Just then, the Seventh Young Master furrowed his brow as if to say something, but Steward Wang interjected.  

"Young Master, my family has some simple fare. It may not compare to what you get in the manor, but it’s more dignified than the Zheng family’s."  

Zheng Fa felt his mother’s hand tightening around his arm and turned to see the faintly disappointed expression on her face.  

He knew his mother overthought everything. Right now, she probably felt that the Zheng family's conditions, as well as her own reaction, had embarrassed Zheng Fa.  

After Steward Wang spoke, the Seventh Young Master fell into a brief moment of contemplation.  

He looked at Zheng Fa, then at Steward Wang.  

Steward Wang smiled respectfully, his enthusiasm not lost.  

"Do you have wine at home?"  

"Yes!"  

"Meat?"  

"Yes!"  

"Grain?"  

"Yes!"  

"Then your family’s doing well."  

"It’s all thanks to the manor’s grace…"  

The estate people around them looked at Steward Wang with a hint of envy. To be honest, they had to admit that Steward Wang’s family was the most respectable on the estate.  

If the Seventh Young Master went to his house, they would probably be as nervous as Zheng’s mother.  

"Well then, it’s simple!" The Seventh Young Master clapped his hands. "The Young Master will eat at Zheng’s house. Since your family has everything, just send some of it to Zheng’s house!"  

"Huh?" Even though Steward Wang prided himself on being unaffected by flattery or rebuke, his smile froze at this. He turned to look at his son, Wang Gui.  

For the first time, Wang Gui saw not disdain but deep apology on his father’s face. In that moment, he understood the expression:  

What kind of life did you have when you were a study attendant?  

Zheng Fa and Gao Yuan exchanged a glance, realizing that this person was truly…  

A well-established sycophant!  

…  

"Young Master, this…"  

"What? Is your family’s food not allowed for me to eat?" The Seventh Young Master’s face darkened in an instant.  

"Of course you can, Young Master! Wang Gui, take the wine, the salted meat, everything to Zheng’s house!" Steward Wang suppressed his anger, slapping his son, who was still standing there stunned.  

"Father! You’re sending all the meat? Our family will only have a few chickens left!" Wang Gui’s heart wasn’t willing. His family was richer than Zheng Fa’s, but this kind of waste was too much.  

"Do you still have chickens?" The Seventh Young Master continued, sounding very interested.  

"Then kill one!" Steward Wang kicked Wang Gui, urging him to hurry and move, fearing his son would say anything more and they’d end up giving away their house too.  

…  

"The table’s a bit small. Young Master, please bear with it."  

Even with the generous support of Steward Wang’s family, dining at the Zheng family’s house was an experience the Seventh Young Master had never had before.  

There were only three stools, with the Seventh Young Master, Zheng Fa, and Gao Yuan sitting on them.  

Zheng’s mother and Zheng Shan had no place to sit.  

Zheng’s mother was at ease in the kitchen. She wouldn’t dare sit with the Seventh Young Master.  

Zheng Shan didn’t care about the seating. She leaned against Zheng Fa, standing on tiptoe, staring at the small table piled high with several big dishes.  

"Wow, the Wang family eats so well!"  

She shoved her fingers into her mouth, her little hands smeared with saliva, saying with envy.  

Zheng Fa wiped her hands with a handkerchief but knew in his heart—Steward Wang probably didn’t eat like this every day.  

Serving the Seventh Young Master every day? That kind of luck would have made Steward Wang hang himself at the Zhao manor gate…  

The Seventh Young Master frowned and asked, "Is there a conflict between your family and the Wang family?"  

If he hadn’t sensed this, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to provoke the Wang family.  

Before Zheng Fa could answer, Zheng Shan had already frowned and started complaining, "It’s his family that’s been bullying ours!"  

"Oh?" The Seventh Young Master seemed genuinely interested.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!