Insufficient balance

  Chapter 1: Sazae's World

  In Zhao Fu's eyes, the world is made up of sand.

  Although San Niang had planted many flowers and grasses in the courtyard, they could not cover up the endless yellow sand beneath. When the wind blew, the sand here was as fine as dust, often forcing women to use a veil to cover their faces.

  Even so, the skin on the faces of women outside was still not as delicate as that of girls at home. At least in his heart, those rough-handed and big-footed maids were no match for Shu Yiner.

  The windows and doors of the house are carved with patterns that are rarely seen here, even if Venetian glass has been filled in the gaps between the patterns, but the ubiquitous sand will still seep in from every seam.

  In the Central Plains, there will never be such a thing. This is a barbarous land. One day I must return to the Central Plains! Go learn from Wu Mu Ye and take back the old land of Great Song!

  His eyes gazed out at the sandy ground outside the window, he had long since lost interest in reading any books. The nature of a young person's heart is like the clouds in the sky, on a bright and sunny day, it can be blown away quickly by the wind in the desert.

  For the Central Plains, Zhao Fubo only had a vague impression that it was a place where San Niang wanted these men in the family to remember. Every year when worshiping the big map of Long Xing Jiuzhou and the eight-sided purple gold shield, San Niang would say so.

  "I command all descendants of the Zhao family to remember, the rivers and mountains of Central Plains are the foundation of our family... As sons of the Zhao family, you must practice martial arts and study hard!"

  The tedious rituals and numerous vows that had to be memorized often made Zhao Fubo feel dizzy. Among these miscellaneous things, the only thing that interested Zhao Fubo was a place called "Zhongyuan" where there was no sand.

  What pained him the most was that, despite having the Yang, Hu and Yue families' military prowess, they were still bullied by the Jin and Xia dynasties, and now faced the Mongol army. The imperial court, which had barely managed to maintain a semblance of stability in one corner of the empire, would probably not last much longer either.

  Because of what he thought in his heart, he was only interested in martial arts, practicing swords and guns, especially that gun manual he had been practicing for five years. The gun moves and training methods inside were unheard of and unseen by him, who loved martial arts, and he was so delighted that he even dreamed of practicing guns nonstop.

  As for other things...

  "Alas, this tattered book...!"

  He lazily shook the book in his hand and let out a long sigh. If possible, Zhao Fubo would rather stab himself with an iron spear a few hundred times or practice his knife skills a few more rounds.

  He liked to practice martial arts, and under the guidance of a martial artist at home, he was not an opponent for children of similar age in neighboring families. But the books he read were useless. At least he knew that what was written on these books would be incomprehensible to people outside this courtyard. Even if he wrote these characters on the sandy ground, no one could recognize them.

  Boringly, he put his chin on the desk, propping up a head that had grown heavy from seeing books. His clear black and white eyes gazed helplessly at those hateful square characters, which he couldn't recognize at all! Moreover, as his eyelids grew heavier, those square characters seemed to jump up and dance, and they even made mocking sounds together towards him.

  "Oh God... when can I finally finish this damn book?!"

  Although he was calling out the name of Allah, he didn't really believe in them. Because San Niang said that among the descendants of the Zhao family, only oneself could be trusted, and no one else. This was what made Zhao Fu Bo most perplexed - why did people from other families pray to the true god every day, except for his own family? Could it be that in this "Black-robed Food (modern-day Iraq)" there was only his family who were like this?

  "Shasha..."

  A faint sound of footsteps approached, and Zhao Fubo straightened his body, immediately opening the book in front of him to read. He pretended to be so serious, as if he had been holding the book from the very beginning, just like he had been so focused since dawn.

  "All warfare is based on deception... Lure them in with gain, disrupt them with chaos..."

  Outside the window, a young girl of about 15 or 16 years old was approaching. Her sweet and lovely face had curved eyebrows, and if she were to smile, her beauty would immediately bloom.

  She was dressed in a maid's uniform, with just a few simple hairpins, which set her apart from the rest. When she walked, her elegant appearance made it clear that she was a well-trained girl. If she did things, her meticulous and steady manner were beyond mention.

  In Zhao's family, she is a rare talent. To the extent that the women and maids in the house all guess that she might be the next mistress of the house!

  The rule of the Zhao family is the strangest.

  If what the book says is true, then the Zhao family should be from the Central Plains. But shouldn't men be in charge in families from the Central Plains?

  It's no longer the Zhao family now, San Niang is in charge, and in the future, it will probably be this little Shu Yu'er.

  She held the tray in one hand, steady and level on her shoulder, while the other hand swayed moderately. When her slender waist moved gently, it was as if she were a red willow being caressed by the wind.

  On the large plate, half of it was filled with roasted lamb that had been cooked to a golden brown, while the other half was filled with hand-pulled noodles that glistened with oil. Zhao Fubo's eyes lit up immediately when he saw the food, especially when he saw the serving girl, his eyes became even brighter and sparkling.

  Yes, such a girl is not common in this world full of sand. Compared to other girls here, she is as beautiful as the brightest dewdrop on the grass leaves at dawn.

  "Second Brother, Third Sister said so, if you don't recite your lesson, you're not allowed to have dinner!"

  As soon as he heard this, Zhao Fubo's excitement in the face of good food and beautiful women immediately dissipated with the wind. Especially Yu'er's warning made him cry out loudly.

  "Yuner girl, can't you let me eat first? I've been starving since morning!"

  When the pretty little face is raised, it's completely the same as the face of the upstairs servant girl. For a guy like Zhao Fubo, she definitely won't give him a good face. Even if he's the young master of the east house, even if San Niang can let him read books and practice martial arts, he's still a lonely person.

  Now the East House, neither has a young lady nor a servant. Even if it is Young Master Zhao Fubo, there isn't even a single copper coin in his pocket, but he doesn't seem to be liked by the young ladies and servants either.

  "No, San Niang said that if you can't recite this chapter of the book, you'll be starving until tonight!"

  "This old..."

  Although Zhao Fubo wanted to scold him a couple of times, he didn't dare.

  San Niang was the one in charge of the entire Zhao family. Not to mention that he was just a young master who had not yet come of age in the east wing, even Er Shu, who managed the family business in the west wing, could only lower his head and listen obediently when he saw San Niang with her head full of white hair.

  The only one who is not afraid of San Niang is probably Zhao Fubo's father, who was once the head of the household and had both literary and military skills. Unfortunately...

  "Hum, you're itching for a fight again, aren't you? You even dare to resent San Niang!"

  Shu Yiner's face turned cold, and she let out a cold hum. She wasn't afraid of the so-called "Second Young Master" in front of her at all. Compared to Xi Fang, he was just a nobody who didn't have anyone to care for him. Especially when facing herself, he had never put on his young master's airs.

  "Where is she? Who doesn't know me... I'm actually the best friend of Yu'er..."

  Zhao Fubo was still thinking about what words to use to coax Shu Yiner in front of him, but all he heard was a stern reprimand.

  "Go, who is best with you, don't be shameless..."

  But when it came to this, the coldness on Shu Yiner's face disappeared, replaced by a faint smile. Her clever black eyes turned a few times, and she had already thought of a way for Zhao Fubo.

  "Alright, if you can recite one sentence, you can have a bite to eat. Otherwise... you know I won't be able to help it either, San Niang will ask questions and see that you're in this state, she'll definitely flay you alive!"

  When it came to San Niang, Shu Yu'er's face showed a hint of anxiety.

  Yes, she was worried about the "Second Son" in front of her. However, studying wasn't Second Son's strong suit. If he were like the eldest son from the western house, Zhao Wujie, the second uncle of Zhao Fubo, who could use practicing archery and horseback riding as his studies, perhaps he would have gone out to play a long time ago.

  As one of San Niang's favorite maids, Shu Yiner was a pure-blooded Han Chinese, which was already rare in the Liu Garden.

  She was not only intelligent and resourceful beyond her years, but also exceptionally skilled in both reading and needlework, being the best among all the girls in the house.

  According to Zhao's family rules that a non-pure Han Chinese cannot be the legitimate wife, such a girl will become the official wife of the master in the future.

  It's precisely because of this that Yuner, who was only 15 or 16 years old, received respect from the other members of her family.

  This respect also includes her father, the face of Ruiyu Villa's master. Just for the sake of Ruiyu Villa, which is rich and unmatched in the world, whether it will be the eldest son of the West House or the second son of the East House in the future, if he really marries her, then the family's affairs can be worry-free first.

  It's just a family matter for daughters, and only daughters know it.

  Xifang Dalao is also a second-turn son, but he doesn't know how to turn, neither agile nor intelligent. Unlike the Er Lang in front of him who looks somewhat frivolous and smiling, although lazy about reading books, he is a wild young man who can ride fast horses and shoot strong bows.

  As for reading books, as long as he is willing, he can memorize them all!

  It's still too early to talk about these things. The rules at home are that a man under 18 cannot get married, and one who is not both literate and martially skilled cannot be the head of the household.

  A man who can't manage his own family, naturally can only be a master who doesn't manage the household, just like Zhao Wujie, Zhao Fubo's second uncle. He can only take charge of Difeng Village, for the sake of the Zhao family's horse breeding and sheep herding.

  This is what makes Shu Yiner anxious, the second Lang in front of her is clever and agile enough, but she has a heavy heart. Often makes her worry, mistakenly using her feelings. If this heart is entrusted to the wrong person, I'm afraid it will be difficult to feel comfortable for a lifetime.

  "Alright, I'll accompany you to recite it. I'll say a line and you follow with the next one. If we practice like this, you'll be able to recite it soon! But if you keep relying on me and don't make an effort to memorize it yourself, don't expect me to bother with you again!"

  Pressed by Shu Yun'er, Zhao Fu Bo helplessly sighed. What he couldn't understand the most was why he had to recite these foreign words that no one could understand.

  If it's horse riding, archery or practicing long spears and short swords, these are the kind of things men should be doing, so naturally they're not worth mentioning.

  "Yuner girl, why does Third Mother want me to recite this difficult thing and write out these square characters? I've never seen outsiders do such things!"

  Seeing Zhao Fubo's lack of enthusiasm for reading, Shu Yiner couldn't help but get annoyed. The faint smile on her face completely disappeared, and she lost her good temper.

  "Hmph, this is the family rule. If you can't recite books or wield a sword, then you're not worthy of being in charge. Are you going to become a spoiled brat or just a weakling who only knows how to guard the house? If so, I, Shu Yun, was wrong about you. I thought you were useful!"

  Seeing Shu Yiner getting angry, Zhao Fubo also gave up. Out of his own small courtyard, there were dozens of maids and young servants, but only this Miss Yu'er looked at him with a straight eye.

  Who made him an orphan with no one to care for him?