Chapter 176 -

Chapter 176: Chapter

Hearing everything Master Bai said, Yimei simply tilted her head, idly playing with her chopsticks.

Knowing how terrible this family was, she knew they wouldn’t even be able to put on a believable act in front of Old Madame Bai. The old woman was sharp, but she was still a mother at heart. She already missed her family, and Yimei had no intention of letting some foolish maternal affection blind Old Madame Bai into changing her mind and bringing this chaotic family back to the main estate.

Yimei knew very well that she would have to pull a few clever tricks to make this New Year an unforgettable event for the Bai family. Just thinking about the mischief she was planning brought a slow, wicked smile to her face.

Zhengyu noticed her strange, scheming grin and raised an eyebrow, staring at her in suspicion. He couldn’t help but wonder what on earth his crazy wife was cooking up in her head now.

Once breakfast was over, everyone scattered to attend to their own affairs, and Yimei stood up from her seat.

Yimei pulled her thick, padded cloak tighter around her shoulders as she stepped out of the estate. Though her fever had mostly broken thanks to Grandmaster Zhang’s herbs, a lingering chill still hovered in her bones. Qinqin walked closely by her side, holding an umbrella to shield her from the biting morning draft, while Liu Feng walked ahead, keeping a sharp eye on their group.

Behind them trailed Second Uncle Chengbang, Madame Liu, Ruizhe, and Xiuying, all looking thoroughly miserable as they dragged their feet toward the market district.

When they arrived at the shop, the morning light revealed the progress from the day before. The carpenter Yimei had hired had already fixed most of the broken window frames and reinforced the front doors, giving the building a much sturdier, cleaner look.

Stepping inside, Yimei immediately turned to Xiuying and Ruizhe with an authoritative sweep of her hand.

"Open all the windows," Yimei commanded, her voice calm but carrying no room for argument. "Let the fresh air clear out the damp dust inside."

Xiuying grumbled under her breath, but a sharp look from Liu Feng made her instantly scurry toward the window latches alongside Ruizhe.

Yimei walked straight into the back kitchen, inspecting the stone stoves, counter space, and storage cupboards. Turning to Madame Liu, who stood by the doorway with her arms folded defensively, Yimei offered a cool, decisive smile.

"Madame Liu, from today onward, you are in charge of cleaning and maintaining this kitchen," Yimei instructed plainly. "I want every pot, pan, stove, and tile scrubbed until it shines."

"Me? Scrubbing stove grease?" Madame Liu gasped, her face twisting in outrage. "I am your elder!"

"You still haven’t learnt your lessons from yesterday huh? Why must you always need me to remind you that you signed a contract.. now get to work," Yimei corrected smoothly, without missing a beat.

Leaving Madame Liu sputtering in anger, Yimei walked back to the main hall and addressed Second Uncle Chengbang. "Second Uncle, you will come with Qinqin and me to the market. We need to buy new kitchen utensils, large serving pots, tea sets, and special spices."

She paused, looking around the spacious front room with a calculating gaze. "I am turning this shop into a teahouse that serves special meals and delicate teas, so we need to gather all the supplies today."

Finally, Yimei turned to Liu Feng. "Liu Feng, stay here and watch over Ruizhe, Xiuying, and Madame Liu. Make sure none of them slack off on their cleaning duties. The carpenter will also be back shortly to finish up the rest of the window frames and wood trim. I have already paid him in full, so just oversee his work while we are at the market."

"Understood, Young Madame," Liu Feng replied with a respectful nod, resting his hand casually on the pommel of his sword as he turned a cold stare onto the second branch. "I will ensure everything is done to your exact standards."

Meanwhile, Zhengyu instructed Bai Kang on where to push his wheelchair until they finally arrived in front of Grandmaster Zhang estate. Looking up at the grand gates, Bai Kang was thoroughly impressed by how massive and refined the residence was.

"Is this where you go every day, Elder Brother?" Bai Kang asked, his eyes wide with wonder.

Zhengyu immediately pulled an annoyed expression, turning his head to frown at him. "Stop calling me that. Elder Brother? Do I look old to you?"

Bai Kang scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, letting out a small, embarrassed laugh. "Well, you are still much older than me, and I didn’t know what else to call you. Elder Brother sounds respectful and suitable."

"Well, stop it," Zhengyu instructed stiffly. "When we are at home and not tutoring, you can simply call me Zhengyu. However, while I am actively teaching you, you will address me as Shifu. Understood?"

"Understood," Bai Kang nodded obediently.

Reaching the entrance, Bai Kang knocked firmly on the heavy wooden doors. A moment later, Ah Cheng opened the door with a bright smile, greeting Zhengyu warmly. But as his gaze shifted to the young man standing behind the wheelchair, he tilted his head in curiosity.

"Zhengyu... this boy here looks quite a bit like you," Ah Cheng noted, waving casually at Bai Kang. "Is he your brother?"

Zhengyu gave a sour nod. "Yes, he is. Bai Kang, meet Ah Cheng, Grandmaster Zhang son. Ah Cheng, this is Bai Kang... my second half-brother."

Ah Cheng looked closely at Bai Kang, momentarily lost in his appearance. Despite his quiet demeanor, Bai Kang had a strikingly handsome build for a young boy. His dark hair was tied up into a neat, stylish man-bun with soft side-bangs framing his sharp features, perfectly complementing his simple, dark-green robes.

"Are you going to keep staring, or are you going to let us in?" Zhengyu snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Ah Cheng quickly snapped back to his senses, clearing his throat as he stepped aside. "Right, come in! Father went out to attend to some business, and Mother is resting in her quarters. She tripped earlier and injured her leg, so she’s taking a nap."

"I hope she recovers quickly," Zhengyu said, his expression softening with genuine concern.

Ah Cheng smirked, folding his arms as he led them inside. "So, why are you here today? Did you come for more walking practice... or more marriage advice?"

"Marriage advice?" Bai Kang tilted his head, completely confused.

Zhengyu’s ears instantly flushed a bright, burning red. "Shut up!" he barked, thoroughly humiliated as he glared at Ah Cheng. "I am here for my usual treatment! And I am using the opportunity to tutor my brother."