Chapter One: Perplexity

  Several neighbors outside the Gao's mansion stretched their necks to see what was going on, trying to figure out what this group of people who suddenly arrived at the Gao's old house were doing. But just then, the courtyard gate was suddenly closed from the inside.

  Immediately afterwards, a burst of shouting and screaming erupted from inside, causing several onlookers to jump in fright. The timid ones immediately turned around and ran away, planning to report the incident to the authorities. Meanwhile, two brave ones quickly climbed up a soapberry tree outside the High family's courtyard, enduring the pain of being scratched by thorns as they stretched their necks to peer inside, trying to see what was happening.

  At the command of Gao Lao Gen, those servants from the Gao family's old mansion shouted and waved their tools as they swarmed forward, rushing towards Gao Huai Yuan and his group. Li Tong was standing in front, trying to intimidate them with false bravado, but he didn't expect things to take such a drastic turn.

  "Ah, ah... Oh no... We're from the Shaoxing mansion... Ah, you dare to hit us?!" Li Tong opened his arms to stop these seemingly crazy servants, but was immediately slapped twice. He was so startled that he turned around and ran away, unfortunately getting kicked in the back by a stout guy, causing him to fall onto the brick floor with a thud. His head hit the bricks hard, almost making him pass out. He could only hold his head, curl up into a ball, and didn't dare get up again.

  These servants turned against Li Tong after he was defeated, and immediately set their sights on Gao Huaiyuan and Xue Yan, trampling over Li Tong to advance towards them.

  Gao Huaiyuan was also confused for a moment. What on earth had happened? How dare these servants attack him, their young master?

  Xue Yan didn't care about that, seeing the servants rushing over, he immediately swung his fists and started fighting with them.

  While the other boys were frightened and retreated, Liu Er was also scared pale and quickly hid behind him, being shielded by Gao Huaiyuan's outstretched hand.

  Huang Yan and Zhou Hao couldn't take it anymore, a group of servants actually dared to bully their young master, this was unbearable! So the two of them protected the other youngsters, without time to find any weapons, they rolled up their sleeves and joined the fight with their fists, and a group of people opened up a martial arts battle in the front yard.

  Gao Huaiyuan took one look at Huang Yan and Zhou Huan, who were outnumbered and had already taken a few blows from the sticks. He too became enraged and shouted to the group of young men behind him: "Protect Liu'er!" Then he leapt into the fray as well.

  With the addition of Gao Huaiyuan, the battle ended very quickly. The servants who were shouting and rushing about were knocked to the ground one after another.

  Gao Lao Gen saw that things were not going well, threw away the stick in his hand and turned to run. As a result, he was kicked out by Xue Yan who came after him, and also fell into a dog-eating-shit position, lying on the ground and crying out: "Good man spare my life! Good man spare my life!……"

  Li Tong saw that all the servants had been knocked down by Xue Yan and Gao Hua Yuan, so he immediately got up and rushed over to kick the old man's back twice, shouting: "You're really doing it backwards! You even dare to hit Young Master? Are you looking for death? Ah! My head! It's all because of your good deeds, watch me beat you to death!"

  Gao Huaiyuan looked at the servants who were lying on the ground, all of whom were holding their heads and wailing, with a black line drawn across their foreheads. He strode to Gao Laogen's side, intercepting Li Tong who was still kicking him, and shouted: "How dare you! Knowing that I, Young Master, have come here, you actually dared to bring people to beat me up. Do you want to rebel?"

  Gao Lao Gen was wailing on the ground, but his heart was chilled to the bone. He also detected that Li Tong and the self-proclaimed Third Master were speaking with an air of righteousness, so he felt that something was amiss. He hastily cried out: "Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding! Stop fighting! It's all a mistake on my part, I thought you were swindlers trying to deceive us!"

  Gao Huaiyuan's face turned red with rage, and he cursed: "Blind your dog eyes! Can this matter be faked? Li Tong, show him my father's handwritten letter, let him see if we are fake swindlers!"

  After a while, Gao Huaiyuan sat in the middle chair of the front hall, glaring at Gao Laogen and several servants who were kneeling below, all of whom looked bruised and battered.

  "Oh dear! Young master, it's all my fault for being blind to the truth. This is really a misunderstanding. I heard that Third Master was... but didn't expect... and then you brought so many children with you... it's all my mistake! Please forgive me, Third Master!" After reading the letter and private seal from Gao Jian, Old Man Gao knew that today's incident was indeed a misunderstanding. The Third Master in front of him was indeed Gao Jian's true third son, who was now frightened out of his wits and almost blurted out that Gao Huairen was an idiot.

  Those other servants were also scared out of their wits. If the news that they had beaten up their master got out to the Shaoxing mansion, then they would be done for. They would all be sent to the government office and would definitely have to endure a severe beating. Their year's wages would be completely gone!

  These people were so angry that they wanted to curse Gao Lao Gen, and even bite him, but when they saw the furious face of Third Master, they were all scared and knelt on the ground, not daring to move.

  Gao Huaiyuan finally understood why Gao Laogen had brought a group of servants to surround and beat them. It turned out that this guy still thought he was an idiot, taking his group for swindlers. He suppressed the anger in his heart, thought for a moment, and then coldly said to Gao Laogen: "So that's how it is, it seems you've really misunderstood us!"

  "Yes, yes! It was indeed a misunderstanding. Otherwise, I would have given those little ones eight pieces of courage, and they wouldn't have dared to hit you, young master!" Gao Lao Gen hastily replied, while the servants beside him also nodded in agreement.

  "Well, since that's the case, all of you stand up and speak!" Gao Huaiyuan said, things had already come to this point, he didn't need to continue investigating further. Anyway, these servants had been beaten by him and Xue Yan earlier, not lightly either. He was new here, and would still need to use them in the future, couldn't make it too difficult for them.

  Gao Lao Gen and others were overjoyed as if they had been pardoned, repeatedly thanking him before getting up from the ground and standing in front of Gao Huai Yuan with their hands hanging down.

  Gao Huaiyuan continued to say with a cold face: "Today's affairs I can let bygones be bygones, but from now on, this old house will be managed by me. If anyone dares to commit the crime of below offending above again in the future, I will not forgive you. A severe beating is minor, just wait and see if I won't send you to the officials to punish you for the crime of below offending above!"

  The people below hurriedly paid their respects again and again, expressing their gratitude. In their hearts, they let out a long sigh of relief, thinking that this Third Young Master was not too ruthless after all. If he were, they would have been in for a real treat today!

  Gao Huaiyuan nodded and said, "These people are all with me. You quickly go down now, tidy up some rooms, let us settle down, and then get some food ready for us to eat!"

  What can these people say now, they don't even dare to fart, and they gloomily took orders and went away busy. And Gao Huaiyuan also took the opportunity to let Gao Laogen accompany him, and they walked around in a circle inside the mansion.

  The old house is slightly smaller than the Gao family's mansion in Shaoxing Prefecture, divided into three sections from front to back, with a small garden behind. Because Gao Jian has been away for quite some time and this place hasn't been properly maintained, everything looks somewhat dilapidated, many rooms are empty, and the window paper is damaged, giving off a desolate feeling.

  Although it's not as luxurious as Shaoxing Gaojia, it suits Gaoweiyan's taste. He likes that there are fewer people here, making it very quiet and allowing him to do what he wants without too many constraints. So although the environment is a bit old, he finds it quite satisfactory.

  After a busy cleanup by the servants, Gao Laogen voluntarily moved out of the main house in the backyard and gave the best suite to Gao Huaiyuan and Liu'er. According to Gao Huaiyuan's request, his entourage was also arranged to stay in the side houses on both sides of the backyard. As for those servants, they were all driven to the gatehouse and the side houses in front.

  Although Gao Lao Gen was reluctant to leave the backyard, because of the commotion just now, he also saw that this Third Young Master was not a fool at all, and had some prestige. As a steward, he could only live in the wing room in the front yard, so he had no choice but to agree to Gao Huaiyuan's request, and honestly moved out, letting go of the entire backyard to Gao Huaiyuan.

  After eating the dinner made by Fat Chef and Kitchen Girl, Gao Huaiyuan gathered everyone in the front hall, just about to give them a lecture. At this time, a hurried knocking sound came from outside the door.

  Someone outside shouted: "We are the runners of Daye County Government! Open the door quickly!"

  Gao Huaiyuan was taken aback, how did the county government officials arrive just as he got here? He then said to Gao Laogen who was stretching his neck to look outside: "You go take a look, what are the county government runners doing here?"

  Gao Lao Gen immediately ran out and soon brought in several bailiffs holding iron rulers and chains, wearing blue shirts. The leader was short and stout, with a powerful appearance, sporting a thick beard. As soon as he entered, he sized up Gao Huai yuan and the others.

  "Which one of you is the young master of the Gao family who just arrived?" The leading bailiff asked.

  Gao Huaiyuan saw them coming in, and didn't dare to be presumptuous. After all, he had been here for so long that he had some understanding of human relationships. In the future, he planned to settle down here, and inevitably had to deal with these officials, so he hurriedly stood up and greeted them with a bow: "I am Gao Huaiyuan, just arrived from Shaoxing, and haven't had the chance to visit the yamen to pay my respects to you all. I apologize for not welcoming you earlier, please forgive me, esteemed gentlemen!"

  As soon as they saw Gao Huaiyuan, although he was not very old, he was very worldly and did not put on the airs of an official's son. He was quite respectful to these people, so they immediately felt a good impression. The leader of the constables, Xing Lao San, had a smile on his face and hurriedly returned the courtesy: "I am Xing Lao San, the constable of Daye County government, and I have come here to disturb you without invitation. Please forgive me, High Official Gao!"