Joy of Life - V1C14
Chapter 14
Housekeeper Zhou
Morning came. Fan Xian awoke and rubbed the dust from his eyes. He rose from his bed and slipped under the servant girl’s blanket. Sniffing her bodily aroma under the covers, he was satisfied.
His favorite servant girl, SiSi, combed her hair when she noticed he was awake. Smiling, she walked to the edge of the bed and pulled the covers off the boy, who had wrapped himself up like a cocoon. She stopped combing, gathered her hair, and prepared hot water for a bath.
Fan Xian climbed off the bed and sat on the cotton pillow he had given SiSi. He lifted his pants, peered in, and recited the words from a drinking game he used to play in his previous life, making rock-paper-scissors gestures. “Who’s horny? I’m horny! Who’s horny? You’re horny!”
He raised his eyebrows and lifted his pants again, looking down. “I’m horny,” he said, dejected to himself. “You still don’t know how to use it yet.”
He’d spent many years in this world and had gotten used to being waited on hand and foot. As a healthy teenager, he was no longer shy about touching the young maids and obtaining satisfaction. But he was not ready for intercourse yet. He kept postponing it.
He yawned and waited for the servant girl to come back. After waiting for what felt like ages, he fell asleep and was woken up by a hot towel on his face dropped by a servant.
The distant sound of angry shouting echoed from the courtyard. Fan Xian dressed himself and, driven by curiosity, stepped out the door. He quickly came upon a rather unpleasant scene.
In the garden, Housekeeper Zhou sharply reprimanded the servant girl SiSi. He appeared upset because she hurried to prepare the hot water and hadn’t combed her hair or dressed properly. The other servant girls gathered around them, visibly frightened.
Housekeeper Zhou came from the capital a year ago. Fan Xian knew that the Count’s concubine had sent him to spy on the household, but he had seemed like an earnest enough man throughout that one year, and Fan Xian had never caught Zhou doing anything suspicious as he watched him in secret, so he let him do as he pleased.
But Fan Xian was very upset by the servant girls' scolding. He was a protective person. Narrowing his eyes, he stepped in, but Zhou was not in a mood to be messed with for whatever reason. SiSi was to be punished.
Fan Xian knitted his brow and looked up at the housekeeper with his adorable face. “She is my personal maidservant,” he said, smiling, “and I’ll deal with her myself.”
The words spoken were ordinary, but the servant girls understood their true meaning, which filled them with fear. They were unsure how much longer the potential conflict between the two branches of Count Sinan’s estate—one in the capital and the other in Danzhou—could be avoided.
Today, Housekeeper Zhou was unusually arrogant. He forced a fake smile and said, “Young Master, regarding the matters in the house, the Old Mistress has said that I am still in charge.”
He intentionally elongated the title “Young Master,” making his disrespect obvious.
Smiling, Fan Xian noticed the housekeeper’s eyes showed a hint of contempt. Although he never felt ashamed of being an illegitimate child, being looked down upon and treated like a bastard still made him uncomfortable.
Seeing the situation worsen, a quick-thinking girl slipped away to find the Old Mistress while the other maidservants watched nervously. Although the two houses were only superficially connected, everyone understood that Young Master Fan Xian’s background was anything but glorious. Additionally, all the supplies for living in Danzhou were brought from the capital and managed by the second wife.
Because of his close relationship with the second wife, the housekeeper felt justified in showing such disrespect to the young master. In everyone’s view, the rightful heir to the grand Sinan property was the young master in the capital, not the twelve-year-old standing here, smiling kindly.
Although the servants loved and respected Fan Xian, they dared not offend the second wife during such a crucial moment. They stepped aside, forming a silent barrier between themselves and Fan Xian. Only his personal maidservant held his hand tightly. Fan Xian understood very well what the servants were thinking. Anyone seeking a better life faced challenges and could not afford to feel sadness or disappointment. They tilted their heads, watching curiously at the unhappy Housekeeper Zhou, wondering what had triggered his rare outburst.
Housekeeper Zhou was the second in Count Sinan’s household hierarchy and managed the household affairs in Jingdu. After making a few mistakes in the capital, he was sent far away to the remote Danzhou. However, he did not believe he had left behind the opulence of the capital, nor did he mourn it.
Count Sinan’s first wife had passed away many years ago, and his second wife had given birth to a son seven years earlier. With her family’s reputation, the second wife aimed to secure her position, which coincided with Housekeeper Zhou’s arrival in Danzhou. It was clear his intentions were not upright.
To fulfill his duties, he managed the Count’s villa meticulously. He was exceptionally respectful to the Old Mistress and kind to the servants, rarely interfering in their private affairs. However, every time he saw that little mongrel—the one whose existence had led to his disguised exile—he could not help but reveal his true feelings.
No one knew why, but he instilled fear in the housekeeper despite being only in his early teens. No matter where he went, that boy’s faintly smiling face and perceptive eyes seemed to be watching. As neat and beautiful as his face was, anyone would feel disturbed if it followed them around constantly from the moment they woke up.
When Housekeeper Zhou kindly greeted the servants, little Fan Xian's pretty face could be seen among the flowers, staring blankly at the housekeeper. When Housekeeper Zhou frowned over the statements of account, little Fan Xian propped his face on the windowsill of the accountant's chamber, looking at the housekeeper with an innocent expression. While making his report to the Old Mistress with the utmost respect, Housekeeper Zhou would find little Fan Xian resting his face next to her, staring at him with infinite curiosity.
After a year of this, Housekeeper Zhou was nearly driven mad. He could always see that innocent, stunning face; it resembled a ghost drifting in white mist. Such a beautiful face could only belong to a ghost staring at him so intensely.
As his mind neared a breakdown, he started to feel paranoid. Could that boy possibly know he was sent there to deal with him? Housekeeper Zhou then thought. This little mongrel is too young; how could he understand the risks of the adult world? But... why is he always staring at me? Why? Like now. If I were him, I’d feel humiliated; how can he still smile like that?
Housekeeper Zhou smiled coldly, thinking, This situation will be over soon; I don’t need to get upset over this brat.
Fan Xian didn’t realize how taxing his unruly observation was on Housekeeper Zhou's mind. Even if he had known, he wouldn’t have felt sorry about it. He was curious about what methods this aunt in the capital would use to handle him.
However, after witnessing Housekeeper Zhou scolding his personal maidservant, Fan Xian's expression grew grim. Hearing how the housekeeper pronounced "Young Master" caused Fan Xian's smile to fade.
“I heard Young Master chased a maidservant out of the house a few years ago; such unruly behavior certainly won't do,” Housekeeper Zhou remarked disdainfully, ignoring the youth's worsening expression. “You are still young; it would be best to stop worrying about household matters.”
Fan Xian laughed, “Are you warning me to stay in my place?”
Housekeeper Zhou claimed he wouldn’t dare to do such a thing, yet his tone was arrogant. “Who would dream of it? It’s just that before coming here, the second wife ordered me to look after you since you are still of tender age.”
“So then, are you not afraid of me using my authority as your master to slap that big mouth of yours?” Fan Xian asked, curious.
Housekeeper Zhou chuckled, stroking his sparsely grown beard on his chin. “Young Master, although you lost your mother as an infant and lacked discipline growing up, everyone knows you were still raised as a learned scholar. You wouldn’t treat your servants so harshly.”
The housekeeper looked at the beautiful youth before him and silently laughed at his naivety. “A mere child thinks he can use his authority to threaten me.”
“Oh.” Fan Xian suddenly turned and left.
The maidservants, while secretly hoping for justice for the young master, breathed a sigh of relief since no conflicts had arisen. SiSi held Fan Xian's hand, her eyes welling with tears. She felt sorry for him but was afraid he would become upset. She finally found comfort after glancing at Fan Xian and noticing a sense of calm in his eyes.
Taking SiSi's hand, Fan Xian led her inside and placed two stools by the door. He made SiSi sit on one of them before heading into the garden with the other stool.
The maidservants had not yet dispersed; Housekeeper Zhou was still enjoying his earlier display of bravery.
Fan Xian placed the stool right in front of Housekeeper Zhou. Those nearby exchanged puzzled looks, and Housekeeper Zhou began questioning what was happening. But before he could say anything, little Fan Xian had already climbed onto the stool.
At just twelve years old, Fan Xian wasn’t very tall. Standing on the stool, he was finally the same height as Housekeeper Zhou.
The onlookers were bewildered, uncertain of what Fan Xian planned to do. He exhaled twice into his right palm and held it high.
“What are you doing?” Housekeeper Zhou's words came out with a splash, caught off guard by the suddenness of the scene.
Fan Xian brutally swung his little hand forward!
With a loud and crisp “smack,” Housekeeper Zhou tumbled to the ground. A red handprint appeared on his face, and there was some blood on the corner of his mouth. He was stunned by the hit. There was no way he would have expected such strength to come from a child, let alone that this child dared to hit him in the first place!
Fan Xian hopped down from the stool, flexed his wrist, and took a handkerchief from a nearby maidservant. He wiped his hand as he looked at the housekeeper, who was groaning while holding his face, and said in a light voice, “Even a learned scholar would resort to violence when disrespected. Even though I don’t abuse my servants, I am more than happy to show you the style of a son from a wealthy family.”
Housekeeper Zhou lay on the ground miserably, the mark on his face as red as a peach blossom. He spat out a few broken teeth and felt half-dizzy from shock. He cast a weak, fear-filled, horror-stricken look towards Fan Xian.
“I seriously don’t understand what you thought,” Fan Xian said quietly. “Did you really believe I wouldn’t hit you? You seem to have forgotten your place. Perhaps a more refined master wouldn’t do anything to his servants, but that is not me. Don’t tell me you’re going to hit back. So, that’s that. All you can do is deal with it and endure, cry about it to the Old Mistress, or return to the capital. But from now on, don’t go into the back garden. I dislike seeing you.”
After saying this, he brushed off his pants and turned to SiSi, who was sitting dumbfounded on the stool. He quietly told her that he wanted to go out and then left the Count’s villa.
Behind him, fears visibly appeared on the faces of the servants. None of them would have expected that this sweet, gentle boy had such a violent side. The stark contrast between the two sides shook everyone to their core, making it even more frightening.
Fan Xian enjoyed a degree of freedom that many illegitimate children could only dream of. His situation was unique—his mother was not recognized by the Hall of Elders of the esteemed Fan clan. As a result, he was never formally acknowledged and was therefore exempt from the prestigious title of "young master." Instead, he was often referred to disparagingly as a 'bastard' or, in more genteel company, as an 'illegitimate' child.
In the rigid hierarchy of this new world, where tradition dictated that each family could have only one 'young master,' Fan Xian's status was further complicated when his father took a concubine who had borne a son seven years earlier. That boy was rightfully elevated to the role of the official "young master" and designated as the heir to the Fan clan's considerable legacy.
Despite his circumstances, Fan Xian remained indifferent. He valued his independence and held on to the principles he had learned from his previous life, which emphasized personal freedom and viewed children born out of wedlock as nothing to be ashamed of. However, after spending twelve years in this new world, he understood the complexities of social hierarchies and the importance of respecting established norms, even if he chose to navigate them on his own terms.
He benefited from the modern education he received in his past life, enriched by his grandmother's tolerance and love, as well as the knowledge he gained in this new life. This unique upbringing allowed him to develop the attitude, charisma, and mindset of a "young master." Those who knew him accepted this without hesitation, especially since the real young master lived far away in the capital. As a result, every servant referred to him as "young master" with the respect and fear associated with the position.
At this moment, the Old Mistress had arrived in the back garden. She looked at the groaning housekeeper on the ground and thought of that child; she couldn’t help but show a hint of meaningful happiness.
Chasing the head servant out of the house last year and slapping Housekeeper Zhou silly today, the twelve-year-old Fan Xian finally established his authority in the Count’s villa.
