Mu Clan’s Steward
Nobody knew where Mu Zhexing was the next day.
Mu Tianhe’s wardrobe consisted of extravagant clothing, so he had to loan a set from Uncle Bo. Otherwise, he’d appear more as the master of Mu Clan than a steward. Unsurprisingly, Mu Tianhe didn’t feel himself in a steward’s clothing.
“Dad, are you sure you want to do this?” Mu Rongxuan questioned, feeling bad for having to rely on his old father to work for their livelihood.
Mu Clan wanted work. Alas, nobody but Mr. Yan was willing to provide them with employment because of Sikong Gaoming’s threats.
“How about we have a word with Mr. Yan so that I can work in your place,” Mu Mingda proposed, also against making Mu Tianhe their breadwinner.
Mu Tianhe cracked a consoled smile. “Mr. Yan seeks a Body Severing Realm steward; he wouldn’t be interested in your Primordial Infant Realm cultivation. If I can be a ruler, I can be a steward.”
“Master, how about I accompany you? I know everything about the estate, so I can give you a hand,” requested Uncle Bo.
“Uncle Bo, if you come with me, what sort of impression would I be giving? What sort of steward has a steward working for him? Don’t fret. Stay here. If he is willing to give me the job, I shall ask for a loan to purchase a small property for us.”
Mu Hao squeezed Mu Tianhe’s hand. “I will grow strong so that nobody can pick on us in the future, Grandpa. You will not have to bow your head again when I am strong.”
Mu Tianhe patted Mu Hao’s head with a smile. “Mingda, Jitong, you two must protect everyone here in my absence, got it?”
“We will not let you down,” responded the siblings, heaving hopeless breaths.
Mu Tianhe easily brushed off the criticism and remarks made of him on his way to Mu Clan’s estate, demonstrating he had genuinely let go of his pride. At the estate with “Mu Clan Estate” on the red plaque, the entrance was dusty. As much as it was vexing to think he’d have to sweep the floors if his request for employment was approved, he swallowed his pride and fixed his clothing prior to knocking.
“Mr. Yan, Mu Tianhe seeks an audience.”
The red doors opened on their own. It was so quiet that one could hear the leaves falling on the ground. Mu Tianhe made his way to the main hall and bowed. “Greetings, Mr. Yan.”
“How can I help you, Patriarch Mu?” Mu Yu inquired, still hiding his appearance.
“After contemplating your advice, this one has come to the conclusion that you are correct. May he ask if the steward job is still available?”
“You are all right with working for me as my steward?” Mu Yu asked the corner of his lips subtly tugged up, relishing in leading his grandpa on for a while as revenge.
“You speak in jest, Mr. Yan. This one is no longer the patriarch of Mu Clan. If you can accept me, this one would like to accept your proposal and work as your steward.”
“Mm…” Putting on airs of a sage, Mu Yu queried, “Are you sure about that? I will not give preferential treatment to any steward regardless of social status. What is your ideal salary?”
Having never thought about it, Mu Tianhe dryly chuckled.
“Surely I can’t be paid less than Uncle Bo given my cultivation,” thought Mu Tianhe. “Mr. Yan, may I boldly ask for ten thousand spirit stones?”
“For one day?”
“No, no, no, per month. Ten thousand per month.”
“That borders on being cutthroat. I’ll pay you ten thousand per day. If you have nothing else to consult me on, sign these two contracts.”
“Eh?!”
“What, too little? Twenty thousand per day, then.”
“No, no.”
If stereotypical, villainous young masters are thrifty spenders, young masters would’ve been called Mu Yus.
“Still not enough? Thirty thousand per day, then.”
“No, no, no, ten thousand per day is enough.” Mu Tianhe was happy as long as he could earn enough to pay off his debts.”
“Easy. Sign the contract, and your employment will be official,” Mu Yu pointed to the contract on the table and stated.
Mu Yu’s handwriting stuck out to Mu Tianhe for the former’s handwriting resembled the latter’s. Seeing his grandpa scrutinise every line in detail, Mu Yu said of amusement, “It’s just an invoice, a procedural necessity. Do you need to examine every character? It’s not restricting.”
“Right away.” Mu Tianhe dripped two droplets of blood into the contract and passed one copy back to Mu Yu with both hands. “Th-th-this old one is at your service, Master.”
Mu Tianhe struggled to kneel down as he wrestled with the notion in his mind. Mu Yu wasn’t going to make his grandpa kneel to him, though, so he stopped his grandpa from kneeling, saying, “Skip the formalities. Just call me Mr. Yan.”
“Understood.”
Firstly, Mu Tianhe knew Mu Yu wasn’t to be trifled with based off the latter’s qi. Secondly, he was grateful and happy he didn’t have to kneel, thereby shielding his pride.
“… Mr. Yan… this old one has a request…”
“Let’s hear it.”
“This old one wishes to ask for an advance payment in order to find shelter for the family.”
“Advance payment…”
“This old one would be grateful from the bottom of his heart if you could help.”
“You can save yourself the trouble; tell your family to move back in here. There’s plenty of space here, so why not? Due to business, I have to travel and might not be back for a while. Take care of the property in my absence. I hope nothing happens during my absence,” replied Mu Yu, tossing the black jade he received from Huai Beiya to Mu Tianhe. He added, “Use the spirit stones in there to buy some new furniture, and get rid of this old stuff. You should know how to allocate the furniture since you’re the estate’s former owner. Also, pay off your debts with these spirit stones so that I don’t have one of your creditors vandalising my place. You do as you see fit with what’s left over.”
Upon peering into the black piece of jade, Mu Tianhe asked, “Five million? Is this not too much?”
Mu Yu was nowhere to be seen by the time Mu Tianhe raised his head.
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