Chapter Seventeen: Moving to a New Home

Yang Cheng instructed Xiao Lan to select a secluded courtyard in the backyard for Su Yinxue and her son, offering them ample rooms and a tranquil environment suitable for their daily life. Lu Baichuan, meanwhile, had already chosen a quiet courtyard during their earlier stroll, convenient both for cultivation and for easy access to Yang Cheng’s main residence should any urgent matters arise.

All the courtyards were being cleaned, making them unsuitable for rest. Su Yinxue took the initiative to suggest exploring the grounds, eager to quickly familiarize herself with management duties. Yang Cheng and Lu Baichuan, meanwhile, sat in the council hall, assessing Yu Chen’s cultivation while chatting idly.

Suddenly, Yang Cheng raised a question: “Brother Lu, do you think among the hundreds of millions of servants in Flowing Cloud Nation, many gifted individuals suited for cultivation have been overlooked?”

Lu Baichuan was taken aback by the thought—he had never considered it before. Servants occupied the lowest rung of society; once condemned to servitude, it was nearly impossible for generations to escape their fate. Over time, the belief that servants were born to a lesser destiny had taken deep root in Flowing Cloud Nation, and few paid them any mind.

Seeing Lu Baichuan’s silence, Yang Cheng murmured, “There must be some, after all, aren’t we all human?”

Before long, Old Yang and several others returned, bringing with them one hundred carefully selected servants and a supply of bedding and household items, since the old residence offered little worth moving.

With the estate teeming with people, Yang Cheng sent Daniu and Maozi to greet the new servants and enlist them in the cleaning efforts. He instructed Aunt Wang and a group of over twenty elders to prepare a feast—dumplings, buns, noodles in abundance, and plenty of wild game meat.

He left Old Yang behind to clarify responsibilities: for now, Steward Su would handle internal affairs, while Old Yang managed external matters. Old Yang had no objections; he felt he lacked ability and experience, and feared delaying the young master’s business. The more talented people around the young master, the better. What’s more, Steward Su was once the daughter of a prominent household, wise and capable—a perfect support for the young master, which delighted Old Yang from the heart.

As dusk fell, Steward Su reported that all courtyards had been cleaned, weeds cleared, and ponds scrubbed.

During a pause for rest, Maozi and his crew had already arranged dozens of long wooden boards from the front hall out to the open grounds, their centers laden with pots and pans—basins of wild game meat, dumplings, buns, noodles, and aged yellow wine sourced from their business partner Gathering Pavilion. Two hundred sets of bowls and chopsticks lined the sides, forming a long row. Oil lamps illuminated the front hall, torches lit the courtyard, rendering the estate bright as day, reminiscent of the company banquets Yang Cheng once hosted.

Daniu, Maozi, and Xiao Lan called everyone to the feast. Once all were seated, Yang Cheng invited Lu Baichuan to join. As a cultivator at the Golden Core stage, Lu Baichuan rarely mingled with ordinary people, let alone shared a meal with them. But faced with Yang Cheng’s enthusiasm, he could not refuse.

The temporary banquet table stretched dozens of meters, with Yang Cheng and Lu Baichuan seated at the head, Xiao Lan attending nearby. To their left and right sat the two stewards, Su Yinxue and Old Yang, followed by Yu Chen, Daniu, Maozi, Xiao Wu, seventy or eighty relatives and friends who had come to help, and the hundred new servants, each in their place.

The relatives and friends, long familiar with the easy-going nature of the household, relaxed and joked among themselves. The new servants, experiencing such hospitality for the first time, were reserved and uneasy.

When Yang Cheng raised his wine cup, silence fell.

Yang Cheng spoke, “Thank you all for helping today, making it possible for us to settle in tonight. I also welcome the newcomers joining the Yang family. Tonight, let us eat and drink heartily. For those who came to help, please remember to seek Steward Su for your wages after the meal. Come, let us drain this cup together.”

Everyone raised their glasses. “Congratulations, Young Master Yang, on your new home!” “Congratulations, young master!” “If Young Master Yang ever needs anything, just ask!” Voices rippled through the hall.

“Drink!”

After everyone had drunk, Yang Cheng urged them to enjoy the feast.

The servants, long famished, had never seen such abundance. Unable to resist any longer, and with the master’s permission, they began to eat quickly.

The helpers understood the situation and hoped to leave a good impression with Young Master Yang, perhaps securing future work for themselves or their families. Between bites, they frequently toasted Yang Cheng, who accepted each with a smile, sipping modestly despite his limited tolerance.

After filling their stomachs, the guests relaxed and toasted each other freely. The new estate brimmed with laughter and lively conversation.

Amid the merriment, Lu Baichuan said to Yang Cheng, “I never expected such a vast estate could be organized in a day just by your call. I realize now that no matter how high one’s cultivation, some things are beyond reach. Cultivation only transforms spiritual energy into personal power; it cannot create something from nothing.”

Yang Cheng smiled. “Perhaps one day, you’ll see ordinary people wield even greater strength.”

Old Yang, flushed from drink and moved by the bustling estate, felt his eyes grow moist. He had served three generations of the Yang family, but tonight was the happiest—such a grand estate, so many servants, all thanks to the young master. Though a bit extravagant, the young master’s ability to earn far exceeded his spending.

After a while, Su Yinxue set aside her utensils and prepared to distribute wages to the temporary workers.

On her very first day, the young master entrusted her with the treasury keys—a tremendous sign of trust. Steward Yang admitted his limited literacy and poor arithmetic; it was up to her to manage, and she must not make a mistake on her first day.

She waited for some time, but after the helpers were full and began to depart, none came to collect their wages.

Steward Su had to put the money away, then led the servants in clearing the table. Night had fallen; she assigned rooms to the male and female servants, distributed bedding and supplies, and sent Xiao Lan and Yu Chen to prepare the rooms for the young master and Lu Baichuan. She worked late into the night, finally resting when all was settled.

The next morning, Xiao Lan brought water for Yang Cheng’s ablutions, opened a breakfast box from the kitchen, and served him. She then reported, “The two stewards and everyone else are already waiting in the front hall for you, young master.”

Yang Cheng was surprised—it seemed he was the last to rise.

As he stepped out, Lu Baichuan was already at his side. “Good morning, Brother Lu.”

Lu Baichuan nodded in greeting.

“And Yu Chen?”

“I had him begin cultivation three hours before you left your room.”

“So early?”

As they spoke, they arrived at the front hall to find both stewards and over a hundred twenty people assembled, awaiting Yang Cheng’s instructions.