Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 24 My Name is Can (meaning "volcano")
The old steward, Deng Xun, replied with a smile, "This old servant thinks that this young man is very ambitious and also very cunning."

"Oh?"

"This man has only been by your side for half a year. You only recruited him to repay the debt of saving your life."

At that time, it was a crucial moment for the Yu and Su families to discuss a marriage alliance, so the young master couldn't possibly confide everything to him.

"You mean, he figured out the relationship between our Yu and Su families on his own through some clues?"

"Yes!"

"Go on."

"While the responsibility for the young master's murder cannot be traced back to a mere advisor, the advisor..."

Strictly speaking, the advisors are not members of the Yu family, but rather private advisors recruited by the young master.

With the young master dead, this man will have no further connection with my Yu family. But in this Longshang, if he leaves the Yu family, what future does he have?
This man has taken an unconventional approach, using the trick of ingratiating himself with the Suo family in hopes of catching your eye, sir. He is certainly bold and resourceful.

Yu Xinglong smiled slightly: "Although this move is risky, if we bet right, it could be very rewarding."

"That's right. So this old servant believes that this child is ambitious and resourceful. It's rare to find someone so young with such cunning and skill."

"Um……"

Yu Xinglong tapped the table lightly with his fingers, his gaze falling on a pile of books in the corner of the desk.

Those were the property and personnel ledgers that Yu Huanhu had sent back.

The six farms comprise more than 50,000 mu of fertile land.

The three horse farms collectively raised over 15,000 warhorses.

In addition, there were herders, tenants, and freemen who depended on these estates and pastures, totaling tens of thousands of people.

This is all that his son earned with his life, oh, and also the unanimously approved position of "heir apparent".

Yu Xinglong chuckled self-deprecatingly. These businesses had barely been handed over when they were already being targeted.

The concubines and their families, the various deacons, and especially that arrogant and incompetent fool Yu Xiaobao…

Who should manage these assets?
The family's senior stewards, while trustworthy, are also not entirely trustworthy.

They are considered trustworthy because these high deacons derive their authority from powerful families.

Therefore, they and the Yu family share both prosperity and adversity.

They are untrustworthy because they have never clearly taken sides in the conflict between the Long Vein and the Second Vein.

Now that his eldest son has passed away and his second son is still young, it will be even more difficult to win them over to his side.

Under these circumstances, entrusting these industries to them for management would only strengthen their bargaining power to sell at a higher price.

As for Yu Xiaobao and the Yu family's side branches, Yu Xinglong didn't even consider them.

Having already suffered a loss at the hands of Huan Hu, how could he not learn from that lesson?

For Xinglong, loyalty is paramount, though ability is also indispensable.

He has no shortage of loyal and capable people under his command.

However, it's not easy to find someone who meets both of these conditions at the same time...

After thinking for a long time, Yu Xinglong suddenly said, "Xiao Deng, what do you think about letting Yang Can become a steward in the eldest branch of the family?"

Deng Xun was slightly moved and said, "Does Master want to use him?"

"good."

Butler Deng's gray eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes. He couldn't quite fathom the deeper meaning behind the patriarch's plan.

Deng Xun hesitated and said, "Master, Yang Can has already offended the Suo family badly."

If the master wants to use him, that's fine, but sending him to the eldest son's branch might be...

"Will it displease the Suo family, and my daughter-in-law, right?"

Yu Xinglong got up from his seat, walked to the window, and stood with his hands behind his back.

Spring sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled shadows on his face.

"I will also transfer all the estates and pastures that Huan Hu returned to the eldest son's family for management!"
"In that case, would the Suo family and my daughter-in-law still harbor any resentment?"

Steward Deng vaguely sensed Yu Xinglong's intentions and said hesitantly, "Master wants to use the estate and ranch to appease the Suo family."

Was Yang Can being used as a thorn in the side of the eldest son's family, to be used later?

Yu Xinglong nodded slightly: "Little Deng, you really know me!"

Since Yang Can is trying to gain favor through opportunism, then I will give him that opportunity.

All the assets that Huan Hu handed over, I will allocate to the eldest son's branch.

Therefore, it wouldn't be good for the Suo family to get into further trouble over Yang Can.

A gust of wind blew past the window, making the iron horse under the eaves clang.

Butler Deng understood and a smile appeared on his face: "Whether the young mistress is pregnant or not is still unknown."

Even if she is already pregnant, whether she will give birth to a boy will not be known until nine months later.

Yu Xinglong returned to his desk and sat down, picking up a thin porcelain teacup and gently stirring the amber-colored tea:

"If she gives birth to a son, the Suo family will have a reason to interfere more, or even plot to seize the position of heir..."

Butler Deng said, "At that time, we can 'find some new evidence' and let Yang Can come forward to implicate the Suo family again, thereby cutting off the Suo family's outstretched claws."

Yu Xinglong said, "If Madam Su is not pregnant, or if she gives birth to a daughter, the Su family will have no reason to make trouble, and I can take these properties back from the eldest branch at any time."

Butler Deng clapped his hands and laughed: "In order to escape, Second Master has no choice but to cut off his own arm, so he must be quite unwilling."

If he intends to use these farms to cause trouble, this year's harvest will be disastrous. Then, someone will have to step forward and take responsibility.

Yu Xinglong smiled slightly: "The accounts will be settled at the end of the year, and if my daughter-in-law is pregnant, that will be the time for her to give birth..." Butler Deng said meaningfully: "To cut off the Suo family's claws, we need Yang Can."

To give an explanation to each branch of the family, we also need someone like Yang Can.

Yu Xinglong nodded slightly, took a sip of tea, and then said calmly, "Go and make the arrangements."

"Yes!"

Steward Deng respectfully agreed, then asked in a low voice, "Master, should we send someone to the Central Plains to investigate the background of this Ding Hao and the Luo family?"

"No need."

Yu Xinglong said calmly, "When the poplars turn golden, it's time for the fruit to ripen and fall."

When the time comes, Yang Can, this fruit, will have to be picked no matter who it's given to; surely we won't let it rot on the tree?

……

The next day, Yu Xinglong met with Yang Can again.

"Yang Can, you are someone my son Chengye values ​​highly, and you have saved his life. I will not treat you unfairly."

Yu Xinglong said to Yang Can in a gentle tone, "You were originally a member of the eldest branch of the family, but now you can no longer be a secretary."

After much deliberation, I wish to appoint you as the second steward of the eldest branch of the family. Are you willing?

The term "eldest son" as used by Yu Xinglong should more accurately be "the eldest son's lineage" or "the eldest son's long lineage."

However, people have become accustomed to using "eldest son" to refer to the eldest son's lineage.

Yang Can was secretly delighted; the move had indeed been made.

He didn't hide his surprise. Young people should wear their emotions on their sleeves. The less calculating you are, the more trustworthy your superiors will be.

Yang Can gratefully clasped his hands and said, "With such trust from the clan leader, I... dare not fail to devote myself wholeheartedly and serve with my life."

From this day forward, he is also entitled to consider himself a retainer of the Yu family.

Although his position as steward was merely an external affairs steward for Yu Chengye's branch of the family, it was quite different from that of Yi She, who represented the Yu family and held sway over a region.

Regardless of the circumstances, taking this step is crucial, like the barrier between officials and clerks; only by crossing it can one open up a vast and open world.

Yu Xinglong seemed quite satisfied with Yang Can's statement. He stroked his beard and smiled, "According to your calendar, you are already twenty-three years old, past the age of coming of age. You should have a courtesy name to establish yourself in the world. I wonder if you have asked your elders to give you one?"

Yang Can said, "When I fled from the Central Plains to Longshang, I had not yet reached adulthood, so I never asked my elders to give me a courtesy name."

Yu Xinglong pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "In that case, I will volunteer myself."

Your name is Yang Can, and the character "Can" means "spark," but a spark must eventually ignite a prairie fire to gain power. I've got it…

Yu Xinglong raised an eyebrow and said, "How about we name you 'Volcano'?"

Yang Can cupped his hands and said, "I dare not refuse such a gift from an elder. I wish to use 'volcano' as the character for the name, to emulate the force of lava breaking through the earth, and to express my ambition to burst forth and soar to the heavens!"

Yu Xinglong smiled and said, "Very good! Little Deng..."

Yu Xinglong turned to look at Steward Deng, who was standing to the side: "Send Huoshan to the eldest son's house and help him settle down."

……

Inside the main house, Xiao Qingmei was full of vigor and ambition.

She sat in a round-backed chair in front of the screen wall in the passageway, with her legs crossed, holding a cup of tea in her hand.

Her small hands held the tea lid, idly wiping the tea, her eyes sweeping over the maids and servants in the three rows and six columns in front of her.

She learned this mannerisms from Granny Tu.

When she was in the Suo family, she had seen that old woman, Tu, gather the maids and servants and give them a lecture.

About half of the maids and servants standing in front of me were part of the Suo family's dowry, and the other half were from the original eldest branch of the family.

Xiao Qingmei's reprimand today was mainly aimed at those who originally lived in the parents' room.

“You’ve all been living within these high walls for too long. Whether you came from your maiden home with the young mistress or were originally serving in the eldest son’s household, you should all know the rules and how to behave appropriately.”

The little girl was quite eloquent; she spoke clearly and distinctly, as if challenging a famous actor, and the whole courtyard could hear her clearly.

“Our young mistress is a kind and gentle lady who will not mistreat anyone, but we servants must also have some sense of propriety.”

At this point, Xiao Qingmei took a sip of tea, looking quite old-fashioned.

"Rules are rules. The master's leniency is a blessing from the master. We can't take advantage of our age, familiarity with the master, or long service to become lazy, negligent, or even outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant..."

"Pop~" Little Green Plum flicked her tongue and deftly spat out a tea leaf, then glared at him with a sharp look.

"From now on, if anyone dares to do this, and I catch them, they'll be asking for trouble, and no one can blame them."

Little Qingmei stood up, placed her teacup on the small table beside her, put her hands behind her back, and walked down the stone steps with her chest out and belly protruding.

"From now on, the rules of this house must be clearly defined. No one is allowed to skip any of the things that should be done; and no one is allowed to spread any words that should not be said."

If anyone doesn't take my orders seriously, the young mistress may be easy to talk to, but that doesn't mean I am easy to talk to.

"Since the young mistress has appointed me as the second steward of the eldest branch, then some people will have to think twice before making a decision. Are you as strong as the family rules?"

"Qing... Sister Qingmei..."

A pretty maid in green, who looked even younger than Qingmei, walked briskly from under the flower-lined corridor and called out to her.

"Remember to address him as Second Steward in formal settings!"

Xiao Qingmei's pretty face hardened. This silver-tongued woman was originally from the eldest son's family, and Qingmei was inherently hostile towards her.

The little plump girl put on a stern face and asked in a affected tone, "What is it?"

With a hint of amusement in her eyes, she called out loudly, "Second Steward, the Second Steward is here!"

(End of this chapter)