HUS Chapter 38: Let's Go Together
HUS Chapter 38: Let's Go Together
Dec 16, 2025
"Ahem, you are..."
The person standing in the hall heard Yang Can's voice and suddenly turned around.
Yang Can's guilty conscience was immediately swept away.
Damn, it's Cheng Dakuan! What pose are you striking there!
Yang Can walked into the hall irritably, "Dakuan, you've recovered?"
Leopard Head thumped his chest with his fist, "About seventy to eighty percent recovered."
Yang Can looked him up and down, "Why are you dressed like this now? You look like some wandering ruffian."
Leopard Head's expression darkened, "There's no place for Dakuan in the guard squad anymore. That Liu Yu..."
Leopard Head gritted his teeth, then looked at Yang Can gratefully, "Fortunately, Cheng isn't so blind. From now on, I, Leopard Head, will follow Master Yang. Before the saddle and behind the horse."
Yang Can waved his hand, "Dakuan, I've never regarded you as an ordinary guard. You just had a temporary streak of bad luck, that's all. Actually, it's nothing. Just temporary setbacks. With your abilities, one day you'll surely make a comeback."
Cheng Dakuan felt warmth in his heart. Since being punished, he had truly experienced what's called the coldness and warmth of human relationships.
Especially during his illness when near death, some who had flattered him turned and kicked him when he was down.
Some who had called him brother now avoided him like the plague.
Some who had received his guidance and kindness and still felt affection for him dared not visit for fear of offending Liu Yu.
All of this had tempered Leopard Head's state of mind. Compared to before, his temper and nature had greatly changed.
Leopard Head said emotionally, "Master Yang, through this misfortune, Cheng has learned who the true gentlemen are."
"You praise me too highly. Your illness isn't fully recovered yet. What brings you here? If it's to thank me, there's no need to be so hasty..."
Leopard Head said, "Cheng heard that Master Yang will soon descend the mountain to inspect various estates?"
"That's right."
Leopard Head straightened his chest, "Master Yang, take me with you. Though Cheng has little talent, these martial arts skills are still passable. I'm willing to follow by Master Yang's side as a guard."
Yang Can actually hadn't thought of having Leopard Head accompany him down the mountain because at that time, Leopard Head's body hadn't fully recovered, and who knew how much longer he'd need to recuperate.
Hearing Leopard Head's words now, his eyes brightened.
Suddenly, Yang Can remembered something and couldn't help asking, "By the way, you're originally from Feng'an Estate?"
Leopard Head said, "Yes. My wife still lives at the estate. My family farms six mu of land, and my wife also does needlework."
If a household had no male laborers and only depended on the woman, they could farm at most three mu of land.
Because although farmwomen also had to work in the fields like men, and could do almost everything men could do, there was one core heavy labor that most women couldn't do, and that was plowing.
Unless your family raised an ox.
Leopard Head was one of the few self-cultivating farmers at Feng'an Estate.
Because Leopard Head worked at the manor, the family had some spare money, so they kept a plow ox.
Therefore, although the Cheng family lacked strong laborers, they could still farm six mu.
After hearing this, Yang Can pondered for a moment, then said happily, "Good. I'll take you down the mountain. If all goes well, this will also be a merit for you."
Leopard Head cheerfully agreed. Yang Can continued, "However, you can't openly go down the mountain with me."
Leopard Head was stunned. Yang Can said, "Since you're from Feng'an Estate, then do this..."
Yang Can moved closer and whispered to him. Leopard Head listened, nodding repeatedly.
...
For this inspection tour, Yang Can also needed to bring some people.
First, he had to bring an accountant.
Yang Can decided to bring Li Damu, who had been too busy until now to help him organize accounts.
Additionally, he needed to bring some guards.
Although Qingmei was coming along, and Suo Zhanzhi could use this as an excuse to send some highly skilled Suo family guards, on the surface, Yang Can and Qingmei were incompatible like fire and water.
Therefore, he still had to bring some Yu family guards.
Now that Li Youcai had descended the mountain, Yang Can could decide these matters himself without consulting anyone.
As Yang Can prepared to descend the mountain, Leopard Head also quietly disappeared.
Before Cheng Dakuan disappeared, his wife had already taken the children down the mountain first.
Because the Cheng family still had elders needing care, once Leopard Head's body recovered, his wife had to hurry back.
The first person to come inquire about Cheng Dakuan's disappearance was surprisingly Liu Yu, who couldn't wait for Leopard Head to fall.
"The Clan Head doesn't particularly favor Leopard Head, so I sent him to Jieyeshan. Does Commander Liu have business?"
"Ah, no, no. Raising poultry is good. Raising poultry can also cultivate character, hahaha. Ahem, then Steward Yang, you're busy. Liu takes his leave."
Seeing Yang Can seemed somewhat dismissive of him, Liu Yu tactfully stopped talking.
As soon as he turned around, he sneered and curled his lip.
Because I treated Leopard Head too harshly, that's why Yang Can is so disdainful of me, right?
Heh, so what if you think highly of me?
Can you make me successful?
Can you give me wealth and prospects?
Bah! You're nothing!
...
After dinner, Yang Can strolled over to Li Damu's residence.
Those guards, he could directly requisition from Liu Yu but the accountant belonged to management. He still needed to give advance notice.
At least he should let people prepare and handle some transitional affairs.
Qiaoshe, carrying a stack of ledgers that almost blocked her view, walked into Li Damu's room.
"Master Li, the young mistress requests the accounting office to verify these ledgers and compile a general account."
As Qiaoshe spoke, she lifted her sleeve to wipe sweat from her forehead.
Several strands of black hair stuck to her damp forehead. Her face had turned red as an apple from exhaustion.
After being punished by Suo Zhanzhi with mouth-slapping, she had been demoted to a messenger maid.
Qiaoshe had previously only waited on Suo Zhanzhi. Now she was the inner residence's messenger maid.
Wealthy households particularly emphasized the distinction between inner and outer areas.
When outer estate people had business with the inner residence, or the inner residence had business with the outer estate, if they didn't need to go in person, they needed such an errand-running messenger role.
So messenger maids were also called errand-running maids, shortened to "the messenger."
Among inner residence servants, messenger maids had the lowest status.
For Suo Zhanzhi, this was her counterattack against the wife planting eyes and ears.
Only being demoted all at once to the most humble messenger maid of the inner residence made Qiaoshe rather miserable.
She was now just an odd-job person whom anyone could order around, not limited to just delivering messages.
"Oh, Miss Qiaoshe has come!"
Seeing Miss Qiaoshe, Li Damu's eyes immediately brightened.
This little girl was quite pretty. She was originally sent by the wife to be the son's personal maid, so of course she was pretty!
In Li Damu's thinking, Qiaoshe had probably already warmed the young master's bed.
He didn't know that ever since Yu Chengye was hit by the poisoned arrow, his body had been completely ruined.
Yu Chengye also only thought this was the consequence of the poisoned arrow.
He didn't know it was because Yang Can's medicinal herbs for treating cattle and horses weren't the right treatment.
Although Yang Can's random attempts had saved his life, his body was also ruined. However, no man would ever speak of such matters to anyone.
Even to his own parents, he wouldn't mention it, so even the Clan Head and his wife didn't know.
Li Damu had drunk a few cups tonight and was already slightly tipsy.
Looking at Qiaoshe's fair, clean little face, a few strands of black hair scattered at her neck, sticking to her slightly sweaty neck, making her skin look milk-white.
Moreover, Qiaoshe's figure was petite. In Li Damu's view, this was the most suitable type for bed play. His appetite stirred.
As for Qiaoshe possibly having warmed Young Master Yu's bed, he didn't mind.
It wasn't like he was marrying her as a wife. What did it matter to be a "fellow traveler" with the young master?
"What kind of ledgers are these?" Master Li said, walking over with a smile.
"My, 'General Silver Income and Expenditure Register,' 'Monthly Salary Distribution Register,' 'Gift Exchange Register,' 'Inner Courtyard Kitchen Daily Use Records,' 'Inner Courtyard Expenditure Private Records'..."
As Li Damu looked, he turned over thoughts. The young mistress checking these accounts meant she was going to purge the old inner residence people, right?
Li Damu naturally didn't want to do such thankless work that would offend people.
Mm, tomorrow he'd divide these ledgers among several other accountants. If there were problems, everyone would shoulder them together.
"Good, good, good. We in accounting will definitely verify them clearly as soon as possible."
As Master Li spoke, he put down the ledgers and walked smiling to Qiaoshe's side.
At such close distance, for ordinary men and women in this era, it was already somewhat improper.
Qiaoshe sensed something wrong and quickly moved aside inconspicuously.
Master Li smiled slightly and asked, "Miss Qiaoshe, you were originally someone by the young mistress's side, quite respectable. How did you become a messenger maid?"
Qiaoshe's heart sank miserably. She said sorrowfully, "This small servant is young and ignorant, couldn't speak properly, and offended the young mistress. I'm really foolish, truly..."
At this point, she was already too choked up to continue. Tears instantly filled her eyes.
After being demoted to messenger maid by Suo Zhanzhi using this as a pretext, she had hoped the wife would rescue her from this sea of suffering but when the message was sent up, the wife's side showed no indication at all.
Compared to a daughter-in-law who was already pregnant with the young master's child, she, a maid, was obviously worthless.
She had been completely abandoned.
"Hehe, Qiaoshe, you shouldn't be too sad."
Li Damu quickly pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and extended it toward Miss Qiaoshe. The little girl had tears brimming in her eyes, she looked so pitiful!
If you're going to cry, it should be from me, Li, bullying you, now that would be satisfying. What's the point of crying like this?
Li Damu smiled until the wrinkles on his face bloomed like a chrysanthemum.
"Li has some status in the eldest branch, more or less. If Li is willing to risk this old face and plead on your behalf before the young mistress, hehe.. It's just that Li has no relationship with you. I'd need some justification to speak for you."
As Li Damu spoke, he moved closer to Qiaoshe.
For convenience in working, Qiaoshe wore an apron.
The apron was tied tightly, creating a very attractive line where her slender waist met her perky hips.
Li Damu wasn't just an accountant, he also enjoyed painting and was very sensitive to lines.
That perverted hand quietly slid toward that rounded curve...
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