Chapter 4

Fang Xing woke up, feeling his body somewhat heavy. He reached out and felt the soft moans of a young girl.

"Master, can you sleep a little longer!" Xiao Bai said, wriggling. Early in the morning, the fiery Fang Xing immediately sprang up.

"Slap!"

After a crisp slap, Xiao Bai, dazed, rubbed her small buttocks and quickly got up.

After a somewhat awkward wake-up, Fang Xing first drank a belly full of cold tea, then, with Xiao Bai's assistance, got dressed.

After Xiao Bai brought water and washed Fang Xing's face, she handed him a willow branch.

"What's this for?" Fang Xing held the willow branch, which had been soaked in water, and examined it from all sides. Only after Xiao Bai demonstrated did he realize it was an ancient toothbrush.

After chewing the willow branch into a fibrous state, Fang Xing asked helplessly, "Is there no toothbrush?"

"Spit!" Xiao Bai brushed her teeth very seriously. After the fibers of the willow branch protruded, it functioned like a toothbrush. After spitting out the mouthwash, she showed her shiny teeth and smiled, "Master, there are pig bristle toothbrushes sold in the city, but the steward said they are too expensive and won't buy them."

Pig bristles were strategic materials at the time, so they were not cheap.

Fang Xing spat out the salt water, looked at the broken willow branch in his hand, and shook his head, "Don't use this tomorrow."

"What should we use then?" Xiao Bai asked with clear eyes.

"Tomorrow! Master will have a toothbrush." Fang Xing remembered that there were many daily necessities in the warehouse, and there must be toothbrushes.

Thinking of yesterday's delicious beef, Xiao Bai said happily, "Master, who gave you the beef yesterday? Is there any left?"

Fang Xing was taken aback, then thought about the issue. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Your master has a friend who often goes to sea. Those things from overseas are not rare."

This excuse could work for now, but as time went on, Fang Xing would need to come up with another reason.

"If others ask, just say someone gave it to you, understand?" Fang Xing said, then went to the courtyard. Seeing the big trees, his spirit suddenly lifted, and he started running around the yard.

When Fang Jielun came to pay his respects, he saw Xiao Bai counting the laps...

"Five laps, Master, two more to go!" Xiao Bai waved her fists and shouted, making Fang Jielun's face turn serious, and he scolded, "How do you speak to Master!"

"Steward Fang." Seeing Fang Jielun, Xiao Bai became a bit timid. She bowed and glanced at the panting Fang Xing.

When Fang Xing ran to this point, Fang Jielun hurriedly stopped him and said with concern, "Master! You just woke up, you need to take care of yourself! Should I go to the city and buy you some ginseng? Have the kitchen stew an old hen, I guarantee you'll be full of energy, but... don't overdo it!"

In Fang Jielun's view, his master was a literary star, not someone who should run like a martial artist!

Fang Xing was also exhausted. He felt that this body was just beginning to recover, and daily exercise was essential.

After catching his breath, Fang Xing waved his hand and said, "You don't understand, life is in movement. If I lie in bed every day, I'll end up weak!"

Ignoring Fang Jielun's earnest advice, Fang Xing wiped his face and asked, "Is that young lady Zhang now alone?"

"Indeed." Speaking of Zhang Shuhui, even Fang Jielun showed admiration and gratitude. He said, "Master, Young Lady Zhang has done so much for you. What do you think...?"

"Pick a date!" Fang Xing wobbled and went inside, then called Xiao Bai to tidy up his things.

"Pick a date?" Fang Jielun was first stunned, then overjoyed, tears streaming down his face. He muttered in the courtyard, "Master, you also know about Mu Shao'ai. I am so happy!"

After Fang Xing inventoried his property and was disheartened to find only fifty-three taels, he came out and saw the tearful Fang Jielun.

Seeing Fang Xing come out, Fang Jielun rushed over and said, "Master, I'll pick a good day. Since the Zhang family no longer recognizes the young lady, we'll save on the formalities and just bring her in."

Fang Xing looked at Fang Jielun, and both of them felt a bit awkward.

It was truly pitiful. After Fang Hongjian was demoted and lost his position, the Fang family's relatives disappeared. Now, with the young Fang Xing in charge and having been in a daze for three years, even friends had become strangers. So, it wasn't just the issue of Zhang Shuhui, but the entire wedding had no guests.

But Fang Xing thought for a moment and said, "Such a good young lady, even if the wedding is simple, I will make it up to her later."

"Ah! I'll find someone to pick a good day." Fang Jielun, seeing his master's flexibility, was greatly relieved and happily left.

"Come, let's go see the young lady." After a breakfast that Fang Xing found unsatisfactory, he frowned and took Xiao Bai out.

Unfortunately, there were no servants! Fang Xing felt very regretful. If he had two big men following him, it would have been a real show of status.

When they reached the three small rooms, Fang Xing saw a servant woman fetching water.

"The steward arranged this, saying that the young lady is your fiancée and should not be neglected." Xiao Bai thought the steward was truly wise and powerful.

"Good!" Fang Xing put away his folding fan and, under the servant woman's fearful gaze, entered the hall.

In the hall, Zhang Shuhui was writing. Seeing Fang Xing enter, she stood up and bowed, then frowned and invited him to sit down.

"Master, you haven't had the formal wedding yet, this is not proper!" Xiao Bai whispered in Fang Xing's ear, explaining why Zhang Shuhui frowned.

Oh! So she was a victim of feudal etiquette! Fang Xing cleared his throat and said, lowering his eyes, "I was too hasty."

Zhang Shuhui was only seventeen, just a naive girl in modern times, but here, she had been a mature woman for three years.

Fang Xing glanced at the shy young girl and stood up, saying, "I just came to see you. The steward has already picked a date. When the time comes... cough, cough!"

The rest of his words were stopped by Zhang Shuhui's blushing face. Fang Xing, somewhat embarrassed, said, "I'll leave first."

Just as he reached the door, Fang Xing remembered something and turned back to ask, "Was the beef... pork good yesterday?"

"It was good." She still kept her head down, but the redness on her face had faded a bit.

"That's good." Fang Xing laughed dryly, "I have many things, and I'll have someone bring them to you."

Zhang Shuhui said softly, "Since I was disowned, I am already Master's person. Everything is up to Master."

What the heck! Fang Xing left the small house and walked a distance before asking Xiao Bai, "Xiao Bai, what did Young Lady Zhang bring when she came?"

"Nothing." Xiao Bai said admiringly, "She was wearing plain clothes, showing respect to the master."

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