OFTLHFRO C109

Chapter 109: Just Playing Around (Messing with Them)

“Auntie, no need. Our home may not compare to the General’s Mansion, but it’s still bigger than this courtyard. You’ve been raised pampered, but we live rougher. With outsiders around, even at night we wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully.”

Hearing Luo Mingchen’s words, the smile on Liu Lanyun’s face nearly collapsed, her fists clenched tightly in secret.

Auntie…

Forcing down her anger, Liu Lanyun turned to Huo Yan again. “Since you’ve returned home, you must learn to get used to the household’s rules. Don’t keep carrying on recklessly as in the village, lest you invite ridicule when you go out.”

“If the General’s Lady dislikes me for being without manners, then I shall go speak with Father. As a child, no one taught me, and now that I am grown I must suddenly learn rules? So stifling—better to return to the village.”

Huo Yan’s words choked Liu Lanyun silent.

Seeing that he refused to yield, Liu Lanyun softened her tone once more. “Dalang, I’m not trying to force rules upon you. The situation in the capital is very different from before. With people who understand etiquette by your side, they can remind you of certain matters. And even if you don’t think of yourself, you must think of the children. The little girl is still so small. That hair bun—surely you tied it yourselves? It looks like she’s some scullery maid.”

Luo Mingchen was exasperated. Glancing at the false hairpieces on her head, he said, “So long as a child is clean, isn’t that enough? Tie their hair into something so complicated, and she’ll end up bald like you—will you pay for it?”

Liu Lanyun: “…”

Honestly, just exchanging ten sentences calmly with Luo Mingchen felt like it would shorten her life by several years.

“My meaning was—”

Before she could finish, Luo Mingchen cut in. “Hurry along now. We don’t need it. If you have that much free time, then find these foodstuffs instead.”

He then handed her the ingredient list Huo Yan had written as Luo Mingchen dictated.

Originally planning to continue persuading, Liu Lanyun heard Huo Yan add: “Does the General’s Lady intend for me to go beat the gongs on the main street, to help you drum up some business?”

Her eyelids twitched. “Since you don’t want it, then forget it.”

With that, she led her people away.

But after only a few steps, they heard Luo Mingchen call from behind: “Don’t forget to have the ingredients sent early. If you’re late, we’ll complain!”

Liu Lanyun stumbled, nearly falling flat on the cobblestone path.

What sort of people are these?!

Once they’d gone, Luo Mingchen turned to Huo Yan. “One thing she did say right. We’re both men—indeed we should find someone to look after Xinyue.”

Previously, when they had matters to attend to and left their daughter with Chen Xiuyue and Huaniang, the child was noticeably more finely kept.

Now while she was still little it didn’t matter much, but as she grew older, bathing and the like would become inconvenient.

After some thought, Huo Yan said, “We can ask Third Highness.”

“Exactly. He should have some hidden guards under his command, right? We can hire two. That way things will also be easier to manage.”

Back at home, when they went into the space to farm, the moment they came back out, Lin Tianlei brought men over. However mature Huo Yuhui was, his strength was still limited—he couldn’t drive away a grown man.

All the more so now that they were in someone else’s estate, and this courtyard didn’t even have a proper gate. Someone could barge in at any time.

Thinking of this, Luo Mingchen felt even more strongly that they should hire a few people to help take care of the children. If something happened, regret would come too late.

“Good.”

So the couple returned to their room.

Luo Mingchen began sketching simple drawings for the spicy hotpot menu, while Huo Yan was writing a letter.

After drawing a few, Luo Mingchen asked in puzzlement, “What are you writing?”

Huo Yan didn’t answer at first, but pulled out a paper from his breast to show him. “This is the dowry list.”

Luo Mingchen opened it without much thought. Seeing the long list of items, he was shocked. “So many?!”

“Mm.”

Quickly, Luo Mingchen caught on. “You mean to put all of this into my space?”

Huo Yan nodded slightly. “Yes.”

“But my space is only so big…”

As he spoke, Luo Mingchen craned his neck to peek at the letter Huo Yan had finished. “You’re sending that grain to the Third Prince?”

Huo Yan said, “Selling it cheaply works too. Once winter hits, many places suffer disaster. Grain prices will soar.”

Luo Mingchen thought for a moment. “Better to just give it. Aren’t we going to hire some hidden guards from him anyway?”

No matter the era, capable people were always in demand, and even rarer were those who came with dependable guarantees.

As for the grain—once gone, more could be planted in the space, with a short growing cycle. Consider it a gift, and it would also free up room, since not all the dowry could fit in the storage area.

Perhaps spooked by Luo Mingchen’s earlier threat of “complaining,” Liu Lanyun actually had all the ingredients delivered in less than half an hour—just in time for lunch.

Luo Mingchen had thought that if the kitchen lacked pots or bowls, he’d have to use ones from the space, but it turned out to be fully stocked.

As he stoked the fire, Luo Mingchen remarked to Huo Yan, “Looks like Huo Yuntao really is determined to keep you here in the General’s Mansion.”

“Let him be.”

After lunch, the couple took the children out to stroll the streets.

Seeing them prepare to go out, the steward immediately said, “Eldest Young Master, why not let me find someone to drive the carriage for you?”

Luo Mingchen glanced at him. “No need to look. You’ll do. Come along.”

The steward froze. “This… there are still many matters in the household that need my attention.”

Luo Mingchen asked, “What, is the General’s Mansion unable to function without you?”

That, of course, was impossible to admit. The steward stammered, “Not exactly…”

“Then it’s settled.”

So the steward had no choice but to mount the driver’s seat. “Eldest Young Master, where are you headed?”

Huo Yan said, “The street.”

The steward: “…”

That was as good as saying nothing.

With no choice, he drove the carriage onto the main avenue.

Luo Mingchen clicked his tongue. “You drive so fast, how are we supposed to look around? Get down and lead the horse slowly.”

Aggrieved, the steward had no choice but to dismount and lead the horse at a crawl through the streets.

After two streets, exhausted, he tried: “Eldest Young Master, there are many things to see here. Wouldn’t it be better to walk down and look?”

Huo Yan glanced at him. “No money. Just looking.”

The steward: “…”

At this, Luo Mingchen turned his head toward the window to hide his laughter.

Truly, that was an irrefutable reason.

After another two streets, the five of them returned.

The steward, nearly crippled from walking, heard Luo Mingchen say cheerfully, “You did well driving today. Same again tomorrow.”

Reeling, limping, his head buzzing, the steward said tearfully, “Young Master Luo, I have matters tomorrow.”

Luo Mingchen smiled. “No worries. Tomorrow I’ll have the General’s Lady assign your tasks to someone else. You just lead the horse for us.”

At that, the steward fell into despair, but could only nod bitterly.

The next morning after breakfast, the couple again took the children out.

This time the same steward was called, but after two days of this torment, he had fled. A young, robust guard had been put in his place.

“In that case, we won’t stroll today.”

At this, the guard fell into silence.

Before they returned, Luo Mingchen smiled brightly and said, “If the steward doesn’t return tomorrow, then he won’t need to stay in the General’s Mansion any longer.”

At present, Huo Yuntao could easily agree to returning his late wife’s dowry to Huo Yan—expelling a steward was nothing at all.

The guard silently prayed that the steward would manage to survive.