Long Aotian’s Beautiful Butler Has Run Away chapter 83

Chapter 83: Getting Married

“What? The clothes have already been taken away?!” Shen Bingsi was shocked.

Tailor Zhang looked up from the mountain of fabric and pushed up his glasses, which were as thick as bottle bottoms. “Yes, Steward Rong came to pick them up himself. Weren’t those clothes made for him?”

“Who is Steward Rong? Who said they were made for him? You must be old and senile!” Shen Bingsi suddenly paused. “Wait, Steward Rong… could it be Rong Xie?”

“Why are you speaking so aggressively, old fellow! I know at a glance who they’re for. Didn’t you give measurements based on his figure?” Tailor Zhang was annoyed. He knew this Old Servant likely had an extraordinary status—last time Steward Wang personally attended to him—but no matter how extraordinary his status, he couldn’t question his professional skills.

Shen Bingsi was completely bewildered now. How did Rong Xie end up becoming a steward at the Lanyuan Villa District? Didn’t he want to live a carefree life? Hadn’t he had enough of being a steward at Huanxue Villa, that he ran to the Lanyuan Villa District to be a steward again? Moreover, anyone with eyes could see that the Lanyuan Villa District had far more troublesome matters than Huanxue Villa, requiring interaction with all sorts of people. Rong Xie hated that kind of work the most.

…

At least, that was how it used to be.

Now… Rong Xie had changed. Shen Bingsi couldn’t understand him anymore.

“Where is Steward Wang? Where is Steward Wang right now?” Shen Bingsi asked frantically.

“Steward Wang? He’s holding the ten-day meeting in the Steward’s Courtyard right now!” Another tailor looked up from the needlework table and answered. “Go out the door, turn left, walk along the lake. There’s a courtyard with a black lacquer gate; that’s the Steward’s Courtyard. The garden stewards should all be there.”

Hearing that all the stewards were there, Shen Bingsi realized he could see Rong Xie working here with his own eyes? He wanted to see just what kind of life Rong Xie meant by “living my own life.”

Shen Bingsi stomped out the threshold in exasperation, heading for the Steward’s Courtyard. Just after rushing a few steps, he saw two stewards walking toward him, snippets of their conversation drifting into his ears.

“Steward Rong…” “Starting a family and career…” “Delayed…”

Shen Bingsi immediately slowed down, straining his ears to listen. The stewards’ conversation became very clear.

“Don’t know which girl got lucky. Pity my family only has a boy.”

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“Don’t indulge in wishful thinking. He has a clean background; marrying a daughter from a small family is no problem. Why would he look at hereditary servants like us?”

“That’s not necessarily true. After all, Steward Rong has no family and no backing. Those small family daughters also hope to marry someone of equal status, or someone who can take the imperial exams and has prospects for officialdom.”

“What you say makes sense. Although we are hereditary servants, our families have quite a bit of savings, enough to live comfortably. We aren’t worse off than those merchant families outside.”

“Exactly. Those merchants outside still have to watch our expressions to do business.”

…

“Wait!” Shen Bingsi felt something was wrong the more he listened. He simply blocked their path, stopping them.

The two were talking when an Old Servant suddenly popped out horizontally. They braked hard and looked at the Old Servant in surprise.

Not only did the Old Servant lack the self-awareness of blocking his superiors, but he also asked aggressively:

“Is the Steward Rong you’re talking about Rong Xie?”

“Ah… his name is Rong Xie.” The two involuntarily answered the Old Servant’s question.

“What ‘which girl got lucky,’ what ‘equal status’? What does this have to do with Rong Xie? Rong Xie isn’t getting married!” Shen Bingsi forcibly suppressed the irritability in his heart, his temples throbbing.

“That’s a strange thing to say. When a man reaches the age, he should start a family. Steward Rong is young, promising, and handsome. He only didn’t marry early because he was delayed by ‘circumstances.’ Otherwise, how could a talent like him be left till now?”

“Good thing he came to our garden now. With so many of us colleagues and seniors, could we fail to find a girl that satisfies him?”

“Yeah. During the ten-day meeting today, Steward Zhang left halfway through, saying he already had a candidate and went to invite her.”

“That was too fast!”

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…

“By the way, which steward do you work under? Why haven’t we seen you before?”

The two stewards spoke one after another, making Shen Bingsi feel like his head was going to explode.

What “when a man reaches the age, he should start a family”!

What “definitely can find a girl that satisfies him”!

What “if not delayed by ‘circumstances'”—what “circumstances”? Are they implying he delayed Rong Xie?!

Shen Bingsi clenched his fists tightly, glaring at the two stewards like enemies. The stewards were startled by his gaze and dared not ask whose subordinate he was, hurriedly walking around him.

After walking a distance, the two stewards looked back and found the old madman still turning his head to glare at them. That staring gaze was terrifying. They dared not look again and fled as if their feet were oiled.

Shen Bingsi stood there for a moment, feeling as if a large stone were pressing on his heart, unable to breathe evenly. He had thought of many possibilities—what Rong Xie would do and what kind of life he would live after leaving him—but the only possibility he hadn’t thought of was—Rong Xie getting married.

How could Rong Xie get married! Rong Xie wouldn’t! Rong Xie clearly wasn’t the type to start a family… Was he really not?

“I want to live my own life… choose my own family…”

Before leaving, Rong Xie seemed to have said such words to him.

Shen Bingsi’s head was buzzing at the time; he hadn’t heard clearly what Rong Xie said. Afterward, he used the Heaven-Severing Blade and felt like he had blacked out, never recalling what Rong Xie said or what it meant.

Only now did he remember. Rong Xie did seem to say something like choosing his own family.

Choosing his own family—didn’t that mean starting a family?!

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Fine, Rong Xie. So you harbored such intentions!

This was your true purpose for betraying me and running away!

Shen Bingsi felt half his body go numb. He stumbled forward and suddenly bumped into someone.

A familiar voice came: “Immortal Master Shen?”

Shen Bingsi looked up and found the person standing before him was Steward Wang, whom he had been looking for.

Like a drowning man grasping a straw, Shen Bingsi grabbed Steward Wang’s collar. “Is Rong Xie getting married? Did he tell you he’s getting married?”

Steward Wang had intended to talk to Shen Bingsi about the clothes. Unexpectedly, Shen Bingsi bombarded him with two baffling questions, leaving Steward Wang confused.

“Speak! Speak!” Shen Bingsi was frantic. Tearing sounds came faintly from Steward Wang’s collar.

“Immortal Master Shen, don’t rush, don’t rush. What about Steward Rong?” Steward Wang hurriedly tried to save his clothes.

“Don’t call him Steward Rong! He isn’t some damn steward!”

“Okay… okay. Immortal Master Shen, don’t get excited. Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you.”

Steward Wang was a veteran by Grand Secretary Wang’s side. To reach his level of stewardship, he had considerable skill in reading people. He knew Shen Bingsi and Rong Xie had a very good relationship. Sometimes, when friends were close to a certain extent, they would mind the other starting a family, because after marriage, friends couldn’t be as close as before.

Judging by Shen Bingsi’s reaction, this seemed to be the case.

However, people always had to get married. Friends would eventually accept this fact. It was just that this fact should be stated by the person involved; irrelevant people had better avoid the brunt.

“Immortal Master Shen might have misunderstood,” Steward Wang laughed after clearing his thoughts. “Young Master Rong just moved to Lanyuan and is unfamiliar with the place and people. How could he be in a rush to get married? Even if he wants to marry, he needs to have a girl he likes first, right?”

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“…” Hearing this, Shen Bingsi’s expression improved somewhat, and his hand gripping Steward Wang’s collar slowly loosened.

Suddenly, he tightened his fingers again, staring at Steward Wang. “How do you know he doesn’t have a girl he likes? Did he tell you?”

Steward Wang hadn’t expected Shen Bingsi to be so mentally agile on this matter, catching the loophole so quickly. He could only laugh it off. “Hehe, does this need to be told? Steward Rong came alone, with only a servant boy at home. Doesn’t that mean there’s no girl he likes?”

“Oh…” Shen Bingsi seemed to accept this explanation. He released Steward Wang. “So, it’s not that he wants to get married, but you guys found out he has no family, so you thought of introducing him?”

Steward Wang gave an awkward laugh. Unexpectedly, Shen Bingsi guessed the actual situation. He explained, “Immortal Master Shen may not know, but today was Young Master Rong’s first time attending the end-of-period gathering. The stewards are all enthusiastic people. Seeing such a young and handsome new colleague, they inevitably ask a few more questions and care about his personal issues. So, a few stewards mentioned introductions…”

“So that’s how it is,” Shen Bingsi nodded. “None of this was his idea. It’s you people making trouble out of nothing.”

Steward Wang’s awkward smile froze on his face. Usually adept at handling situations, he didn’t know what to say.

It seemed… that was the case… but also… not quite that way of putting it…

“I understand!” Shen Bingsi patted Steward Wang’s shoulder. His tone became light, and his face showed some liveliness. “Steward Wang, stop meddling in others’ business. Even if Rong Xie is my best friend, there’s no need for you to find him work or introduce girls to him. This makes you look very idle. Grand Secretary Wang’s household doesn’t keep idle people; you understand what that means?”

Steward Wang’s heart skipped a beat, and he became alert immediately. Shen Bingsi appeared to have calmed down on the surface, but in reality, he cared very much, even threatening to complain to Grand Secretary Wang if this continued.

“I understand Immortal Master Shen’s meaning. I won’t do unnecessary things,” Steward Wang hurriedly stated his stance. “However, Young Master Rong entering the villa as a steward was recommended by a retainer in the villa named Hermit Baishui. Grand Secretary Wang interviewed him personally. Originally, the interview was for a retainer, but Young Master Rong said he was good at managing gardens. Upon detailed questioning, Grand Secretary Wang appreciated him greatly, so he stayed on as the Garden Steward. It has nothing to do with this lowly one. Please be aware, Immortal Master Shen.”

“Mm, so that’s it.” Shen Bingsi crossed his arms, his expression toward Steward Wang improving further. “What else? What about the matchmaking part?”

“Hehe, this lowly one doesn’t know any girl worthy of Young Master Rong. I haven’t put effort into that aspect.” Steward Wang smiled apologetically. Having reached this point, he had long extinguished the thought of matchmaking for Rong Xie.

As for the one already being discussed… it had nothing to do with him. He would just pretend he didn’t know.

T/n: Oh, jealousy~ jealousy~ haahahaha

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