Chapter Eighteen: The Face Problem

  Zhou Guanjia said with a somewhat arrogant tone today, "Young... Master, the old lady said I'm still in charge of things around the house."

  The term "young master" was deliberately lengthened by Zhou Guan Jia, and the disrespectful meaning inside was fully revealed.

  Fan Xian smiled as he looked at the hint of disdain in his opponent's eyes. Although he had never felt sorry for himself because of his illegitimate status, it was rare to encounter such a look that seemed to despise bastards, and he couldn't help but feel slightly displeased.

  Seeing things were not going well, a clever maid slipped away to find the old lady. The other maids and servants watched the scene with bated breath. Although it was ostensibly between two households, everyone knew that Fan Xian's identity was not very glorious, and the furnishings in the Danzhou Port villa were all taken from the capital, courtesy of the second madam.

  It's precisely because of this that the second madam's trusted butler, Zhou, dares to be so disrespectful to this young master. After all, in everyone's mind, the one who will inherit the Southern Bo family's estate in the future can only be that little young master in Kyoto, not this twelve-year-old boy with a lovely smile in front of him.

  Although the people below had always respected and loved Fan Xian, at this moment when they were taking sides, no one dared to risk offending the second lady by standing on Fan Xian's side.

  Only Tie Xin tightly held Fan Xian's hand. Fan Xian was very clear about the considerations of these underlings, who wanted to live a better life but found it difficult, so he didn't feel sad or heartbroken. He just tilted his head and curiously looked at Zhou Guan, who had an unpleasant expression, wondering why he finally couldn't bear it anymore.

  Zhou Guan Jia is the second steward of Kyoto's Sainan Earl Mansion. Due to some minor mistakes in Kyoto, he was expelled to the distant and remote Danzhou Port. However, Zhou Guan Jia did not feel that his life had strayed far from the prosperity of Kyoto, nor did he feel sad about it.

  The first wife of the Earl of Sannan had been dead for many years, and the second wife gave birth to a son seven years ago. With the support of her powerful family background, she was about to take over as the rightful wife. At this critical moment, Zhou, the trusted steward of the second wife, arrived in Danzhou, naturally with no good intentions.

  In order to complete the task, he carefully managed the Earl's estate, showing special respect for the old lady, and being kind to the servants. He rarely interfered with others' duties, but every time he saw that despicable person who had indirectly exiled him, he couldn't help but reveal his true thoughts.

  But he didn't know why, he was a little afraid of that boy who was only in his early teens.

  No matter where he went, he seemed to see the boy's faintly smiling face and those clear and transparent eyes everywhere. The face was clean and beautiful, but if you found this face accompanying you from the moment you woke up, it felt very strange.

  When Steward Zhou was smiling and greeting the servants, Little Fan Xian's beautiful face was hidden among the flowers, staring at him foolishly; when Steward Zhou was frowning and carefully checking the accounts, Little Fan Xian's clean face was propped up on the windowsill of the account room, innocently staring at him; when Steward Zhou was respectfully reporting to Old Madam, Little Fan Xian's lovely face was lightly leaning against Old Madam's side, filled with countless curiosity as he stared at him.

  Months passed like this, and Zhou Guanjia felt he was going crazy. Whether his eyes were open or closed, he could see that clean, lovely, harmless little face, as if it were a ghostly face floating in the misty fog. If it weren't for the fact that ghosts couldn't be so beautiful, how else could it stare at him with such focus?

  He was almost unable to bear the mental pressure, and even began to suspect that the little boy knew he was there to deal with him. But Zhou Guan immediately thought that this little scoundrel was so young, how could he know the sinister things in the adult world? However... why did he always look at me? Why? Just like now, his words should have made this little rascal feel humiliated, but why could he still smile?

  Zhou Guanjia sneered inwardly, thinking that the matter in Danzhou would soon be over, and he didn't need to tolerate this little scoundrel's temper anymore.

  ……

  ……

  Fan Xian did not know that his unbridled observation of the housekeeper would bring so much mental pressure to the other party. Even if he knew, he wouldn't have more apologies. He was just curious about what kind of means Kyoto's aunt would use to deal with him.

  But seeing Zhou Guan's family use their own Da Yuerong to humiliate him, Fan Xian's mood had already started to darken. Upon hearing the ambiguous term "Young Master", the smile on his face began to slowly fade away.

  "I heard that the young master drove out a big servant girl from the mansion some years ago, it was too reckless." Steward Zhou seemed to have not seen the youth's face turn bad and continued speaking with a hint of disdain on his face, "In the future, these matters within the mansion, the young master is still young, so he should worry less."

  Fan Xian smiled: "Are you warning me to behave?"

  "Who dares? It's just that before I came, the second madam instructed me to take good care of the young master since he is still young."

  "Are you not afraid that I'll have Young Master Fan slap you in the face?" Fan Xian asked curiously.

  Zhou Guanjia burst out laughing, stroking his chin with a not-too-thick beard, and said: "Although the young master... has been motherless since childhood, with few people to discipline him, everyone knows that, but after all, he has also been well-read in poetry and books since childhood, how can he be so harsh on his subordinates?"

  He looked at the handsome young man in his early teens in front of him, secretly amused in his heart. Such a little kid actually wanted to put on airs in front of him.

  "Oh." At this point, Fan Xian seemed to have only just remembered his identity as a private son, came back to himself, and turned to leave.

  The maids, although secretly resentful on behalf of the young master, seeing no conflict arise, also felt a sense of relief for Fan Xian. SiSi grasped Fan Xian's hand, her eyes welling up with tears, thinking that the young master was truly pitiful, yet fearing he would get angry, she stole a glance at him and saw that his eyes were full of calmness, only then did she put her mind at ease.

  Fan Xian took SiSi's hand and entered the house, moving two stools to the door, letting SiSi sit on one stool, and carrying another stool into the garden.

  The servants and maids had not yet dispersed, and Steward Zhou was still savoring the martial prowess he had just displayed.

  Fan Xian placed the stool in front of Zhou Guan's family, and the people around him felt strange. Zhou Guan's family was also puzzled, just about to ask questions when Little Fan Xian had already stepped onto the stool.

  At this time, Fan Xian was only twelve years old, and he was not very tall. With a stool, he could just barely reach the same height as Zhou Guan Jia.

  Everyone was confused and didn't know what he was doing by standing on the stool, just at this moment, Fan Xian raised his right hand to his mouth, blew two hot breaths, and then lifted it high.

  "What are you going to do?" The words still lingered in Zhou Guan's mouth, without having the chance to be spat out with saliva.

  Fan Xian's small hand had swung back and then slapped forward fiercely!

  Crack! A crisp sound, Zhou Guan Jia was knocked to the ground by this slap, a bright red palm print appeared on his face, and a thread of fresh blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He was completely stunned, he absolutely did not expect that this little kid's strength would be so great, and...this little kid actually...dared to hit him!

  Xiao Fan Xian jumped down from the stool, rubbed his wrist, took a handkerchief from a small servant girl beside him and wiped his hands. He looked at Zhou Guan Jia who was covering his face with his hands on the ground and said in a soft voice: "Even if you are well-read in poetry and books, you can still be beaten up. Although I don't abuse my servants, I'm happy to let you know what it means to be a young master."