CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 87 RULES

Gu Chengyu also somewhat understood. For women like this, they either committed a wrongdoing or discovered the master’s private affairs, thus were given mute medicine. If one is alone, staying here is considered fortunate; otherwise, their future could be uncertain.

Gu Chengyu carefully observed Dumb Granny, noticing her clean attire and neatly trimmed fingernails. Hmm! She’s clean-minded; since she’s already been purchased, there’ll be a place to settle her in the future.

This yard is rented because soon, he’ll be taking the child student exam. If he passes, he’ll go to the county or Prefecture to study, and so many people will need alternate arrangements. He came today to make such arrangements.

"Dumb Granny! This is the young master!" Yu Tuanzi pointed at Gu Chengyu and spoke to Dumb Granny.

Dumb Granny hastily knelt and bowed deeply to Gu Chengyu. Startled, Gu Chengyu rushed forward to help her up, while Dumb Granny appeared somewhat anxious and fearful.

"No need for such a formal bow; please rise!" In fact, Dumb Granny was a slave purchased by Gu Chengyu, and Yu Tuanzi had already given him the bill of sale. He hadn’t asked for detailed circumstances; he only knew he had bought a cook.

Gu Chengyu could understand her worries, as she feared the master despised her muteness, hence her anxiety.

In truth, Gu Chengyu wouldn’t mind Dumb Granny as long as she performed her duties well. Being mute is of no concern. However, Yu Tuanzi hadn’t reported this matter, which made Gu Chengyu squint his eyes; it’s a bad habit!

Such formal kneeling and bowing rules were applicable in Dayan Dynasty official households; it seems Dumb Granny served in an official household before. Ordinary families usually just perform a polite greeting.

Just as he helped Dumb Granny up, Gu Chengyu heard noisy sounds from the backyard.

"Young master! Class just ended; after a short break, they’ll practice martial arts," Yu Tuanzi led Gu Chengyu into the inner courtyard.

Gu Chengyu had long planned a day’s curriculum for these people. A teacher was invited to the courtyard, although this teacher wasn’t very learned and was already elderly; Gu Chengyu merely intended for them to learn literacy, not involved in imperial examinations.

Next came the martial arts practice, for both genders alike. In the afternoon, they learned etiquette, taught by another granny, who was also purchased after committing wrongs in a wealthy household and got sold. She usually stayed inside her room without coming out.

"How are they learning etiquette? Making such noise, it’s unbecoming!" Yu Tuanzi and Gu Chengyu entered the backyard, seeing two children running and playing, frowned and loudly reprimanded them.

When renting this courtyard, the first rule made by the young master was to forbid loud noise, given ordinary families lived left and right. If others knew that children were living here in such numbers, there’d inevitably be excessive speculation and rumors.

"Ding Yi, gather everyone in the courtyard. The young master is here." Yu Tuanzi observed Gu Chengyu’s expression, noting his unchanged face.

Feeling uncertain, as the young master’s impassive look made him uneasy. Under his watch, these children had been in his care for over two years but still lacked manners. These little rascals couldn’t be easily fooled.

Called Ding Yi was a young boy, around eleven or twelve years old; seemingly the eldest among them, considering the arrangement by age, Ding Yi to Ding Twenty. The Ding surname was casually assigned by Gu Chengyu.

Originally fetching water for handwashing, Ding only then realized Steward Yu had arrived. Hearing his call, Ding Yi promptly responded, noticing beside Steward Yu stood a boy even younger than him.

"Steward Yu! Young master!" Ding Yi stepped forward to greet; he had seen Gu Chengyu, but that was two years ago, during which Gu Chengyu hadn’t appeared even once, leaving Steward Yu to manage them.

Having been purchased at ten, the age of understanding, he felt apprehensive seeing so many children bought by the master, fearing some peculiar inclination. But unexpectedly, their buyer was a boy.

And during these two years, they were spared from tasks, enjoyed sufficient food and clothing, only required to study, practice martial arts, albeit without leaving the premises, making him wonder what the master intended. Generally, even wealthy families wouldn’t specially hire teachers for such slaves.

Previously, they lived in a village courtyard; however, over a month ago, Steward Yu relocated them to town, staying over a month, essentially unchanged from village life, apart from learning etiquette.

Now that the young master arrived, he knew it was time they were needed.

"Hmm! No need for other words, first gather everyone." Previously, some went indoors to rest, so not everyone was in the courtyard. Currently, those present looked fearfully at Gu Chengyu, all eyes curious.

Understandably, some youngsters, due to age, were unfamiliar with Gu Chengyu, seen over two years ago. Furthermore, being young and learning etiquette, they weren’t aware of the need to greet.

"Young master! Steward Yu! Everyone is assembled."

Yu Tuanzi prepared a chair and desk for Gu Chengyu, serving him tea.

Seated in the round chair, Gu Chengyu lifted the tea bowl to taste, finding it was Biluochun. The tea broth was clear and gentle, greenish-yellow and bright, yet the tea leaves inside were large, likely harvested after April of this year.

Gazing at the tea leaves in the bowl, Gu Chengyu recalled the wild mountain tea he found up Changling Mountain last year, having picked two seemingly oldest shrubs for space, also taking cuttings for propagation yet forgotten, not checked since, perhaps they’ve grown by now?

"Young master! This is this year’s Biluochun, and I’ve refrained from drinking it myself." Yu Tuanzi eagerly eyed Gu Chengyu, having heard that gentlemen of wealthy households favored Biluochun, spent half a month’s silver on two taels at a tea shop. It’s costly indeed!

Suddenly, Gu Chengyu remembered, as Yu Tuanzi acted on his behalf externally, needing guest treatment; hence buying two taels of tea was presumably for entertaining guests.

"Such could be entered into public accounts, deducted from the silver I give you, provided accounting is clear." Clear water harbors no fish; Gu Chengyu understood this, allowing for a degree of acceptance.

"I didn’t mean it that way." Somewhat embarrassed after his little intentions were discerned by Gu Chengyu, Yu Tuanzi’s monthly allowance wasn’t much. Without funds for interaction, it’d reveal a weak spot, inviting contempt.

"Fine! Is everyone here?" Gu Chengyu inspected the orderly group of youngsters below, seeing more girls, totaling thirteen, all young. The remaining seven boys included two older than ten, others of similar ages. Well, in ancient times, girls held low value; after all, selling daughters was more common.

Yu Tuanzi cleared his throat, "This is the young master; why haven’t you greeted him? Weren’t you taught yesterday?"

Below, the children unexpectedly encountered a boy of similar age, their curiosity piqued.

Then, the etiquette-teaching granny stepped forward, directing everyone to bow before Gu Chengyu. This time, Gu Chengyu did not move. Being young, controlling respect was challenging, requiring establishment of an initial rule.