Chapter 47: The Servants Come in Pairs This Season

Yun Zhao expressed her gratitude, and Steward Fu turned to attend to other matters.

The three of them had other priorities to address; first, they had to pass the culinary trial. Only after clearing this hurdle could they remain at the Song estate.

Bai Lingxiao would chop the vegetables, Yun Zhao would tend the fire, and Xiaotong would handle the stir-frying. Once Steward Fu tested their dishes, they would secure their places permanently.

Those who had lied about their culinary skills would be promptly expelled.

"Not bad," Steward Fu praised. "All three of you are quite capable. From now on, you will be in charge of this stove."

"Since you have no tasks assigned for today, go find a room to settle in."

With that, he casually pointed at a servant to lead the way.

"Yes," Yun Zhao smiled, "thank you, Steward Fu."

The servants' quarters at the Song estate accommodated four people per room, while only the stewards were granted single rooms. Since the remaining staff counts were exact multiples of four, Yun Zhao and her two companions were assigned to share a room together.

"Now we just wait to hear from A-Yan and the others," Yun Zhao said, lying down on the freshly made bed. "I wonder when they will contact us."

"We should hear from them soon," Bai Lingxiao replied. "Although their group is rather large, the processing shouldn't take until nightfall. Let's rest for a while."

Meanwhile, outside the main gates of the Song estate, Gu Dinghan felt as though the sky had fallen.

"What do you mean, they're all let in, but I'm left out?"

Gu Dinghan was on the verge of tears. He had been standing at the very end of the line, never anticipating that there would be a strict headcount limit!

Refusing to give up, he pleaded, "Steward, please have mercy and take me in as well! One more person won't make a difference, and you can even pay me a lower monthly wage."

The steward looked troubled. "Please return, young man. We are truly fully booked."

Gu Dinghan sighed, pulling a long face as he turned to Qi Yan and Meng Wenchang. "Big Brother, Seventh Brother, it seems I truly lack the fortune to enter the Song residence."

"It's pitiful that we brothers have never been separated, yet today we must part ways. I shall find some odd jobs to do outside, but you must not forget this brother of yours!"

He wept with such genuine sorrow that even the steward felt a pang of sympathy.

Qi Yan and Meng Wenchang exchanged glances, each seeing the profound speechlessness mirrored in the other's eyes.

If the circumstances weren't so extraordinary, they would genuinely have disowned this brother of theirs.

"Second Brother," Qi Yan said with a melancholic sigh, "who told you to have such poor luck? Rest assured, Big Brother and I will not forget you."

Meng Wenchang added, "Second Brother, it has always been Big Brother and Seventh Brother taking care of you. Now that you are out here alone, you must take good care of yourself."

Moved by this deep fraternal bond, the steward wiped away a tear and relented. "How about this: every time we recruit, a few people who lied about their skills end up being driven out of the estate. You can stick around nearby for now. As soon as a vacancy opens up, you can fill it. If none open up, you may leave of your own accord."

Gu Dinghan brightened instantly. "Thank you, Steward! Thank you, Steward! I shall forever keep your immense kindness etched in my heart!"

His reaction was so dramatic that the steward hurriedly waved him off. "Think nothing of it, think nothing of it."

It was merely a trivial favor, yet from the way he carried on, one might have thought the steward had saved his entire family.

"Come along now, follow me."

Much like the maids' contingent, the group of male servants was divided into several assignments, such as the kitchens and the spiritual herb plantations.

Gu Dinghan poked Qi Yan in the ribs. "Hey, Seventh Brother, based on your understanding of our little sister, where do you suppose they ended up?"

Qi Yan pondered for two seconds. "The kitchen."

"Why?" Meng Wenchang asked, curiosity piqued. "If I recall correctly, Senior Sister Bai and Junior Sister Zhao don't really know how to cook, do they?"

During their recent survival training in the Nanmu Forest, it had always been Xiaotong or the three of them preparing the meals.

It wasn't that Bai Lingxiao and Yun Zhao were entirely incapable, but their culinary creations were barely edible, lacking any semblance of color, aroma, or exquisite flavor.

"The kitchen requires not just cooking, but also delivering meals to various courtyards," Qi Yan explained, a faint trace of a smile touching the corner of his eyes. "Zhao has a fire affinity spiritual root and frequently helped Xiaotong tend the fire while she cooked. As for Senior Sister Bai, she is a sword cultivator..."

He glanced at the other two. "Her knife skills should be rather impressive, shouldn't they?"

Gu Dinghan gave him a thumbs-up. "Seventh Brother, I believe your analysis is spot on. Senior Sister Bai certainly excels with a blade."

All sword cultivator friends knew that a sword cultivator with poor knife skills was no true sword cultivator.

Consequently, the three of them opted for the kitchen. When filling out their areas of expertise, Qi Yan reported tending the fire, while Meng Wenchang and Gu Dinghan signed up for cooking and knife work respectively.

Steward Fu glanced at their forms. "You also tend fires? There happens to be a young woman in the maids' group who applied for the same role, and she does quite a competent job."

The servants recruited this year were truly amusing, arriving in matched pairs.

Without overthinking it, Steward Fu led them toward the kitchens.

Upon arrival, however, Qi Yan failed to find any trace of Yun Zhao.

Only after overhearing a discussion did he realize they had already been transferred to the servants' quarters.

After completing the same vetting process as the maids' group, the three young men were successfully accepted. Steward Fu then led them to the servants' lodging area to settle in.

The Song estate was indeed heavily guarded; along the way, they crossed paths with at least five patrols of estate guards.

As they rounded a corner, Qi Yan nudged Gu Dinghan, signaling him to lower his head.

Though puzzled, Gu Dinghan complied. The moment he heard Steward Fu respectfully address someone as "Young Master," he bowed his head even lower.

Song Zhiyuan inquired, "Steward Fu, are these newly recruited servants?"

Steward Fu replied promptly, "Reporting to the Young Master, exactly so. I am just taking them to the servants' quarters to get settled."

Song Zhiyuan nodded and swept his gaze over the group. Among them, one figure struck him as inexplicably familiar.

He took a couple of steps forward, only to be reined in by Xue Hairui. "Senior Brother, aren't we heading to the cultivation chambers?"

"That person over there looks rather like an acquaintance," Song Zhiyuan said. "Wait a moment, Hairui, let me go take a look."

Xue Hairui nodded obediently. "Very well, Senior Brother."

Steward Fu hurried over two steps to stand behind Song Zhiyuan. "I wonder which of these men is an acquaintance of yours, Young Master? I shall summon him over."

"There's no need," Song Zhiyuan raised a hand. "I shall go ask myself."

Hearing this, Steward Fu felt a slight jolt in his heart.

It seemed this "acquaintance" was someone of considerable importance. He hoped he hadn't inadvertently offended anyone just now.

Noticing Song Zhiyuan walking in their direction, Gu Dinghan grew increasingly anxious. He glanced at Qi Yan, only to find him acting as nonchalantly as if he had never met Song Zhiyuan in his life.

"You," Song Zhiyuan stopped directly in front of Qi Yan. "Straighten your posture and raise your head so I can get a good look at you."

Qi Yan, who had been slouching slightly, straightened up immediately at the command.

Upon meeting that unfamiliar, utterly ordinary face, Song Zhiyuan imperceptibly took a step back.

It wasn't because the face differed from what he had imagined, but rather...

Song Zhiyuan had always considered himself rather tall, yet this fellow stood a full head taller than him.

Compared to this man, he suddenly felt somewhat... lacking in stature.

Steward Fu cautiously inquired, "Young Master, is he truly an acquaintance of yours?"

Song Zhiyuan shook his head. "No. I was mistaken."

After they departed, Steward Fu turned to ask, "Yao Qi, do you happen to know the Young Master?"

A look of mild bewilderment crossed Qi Yan's eyes. "I do not."

Gu Dinghan hastily chimed in, "Steward Fu, my younger brother here is just an ordinary country fellow. How could he possibly know a celestial figure like the Young Master?"

Steward Fu pondered this and decided it made sense.

This Yao Qi was simply a tall, lumbering fellow—much taller than anyone else around, yet somewhat slow-witted, disinclined to speak, and stubbornly burying himself in hard work.