Chapter 213: 9th Miss Xu Youyou

"Is that really Miss Nine?"

"She actually came in person!"

"Collecting rent is just a trivial matter. Why would Miss Nine come herself?"

"You must not have heard. Rumor has it that Old Master Xu has contracted a terrible disease. They've visited countless pharmacists and doctors around White Cloud City, but no one can cure him. Even a few Alchemy Grandmasters from Kyoto were helpless. The entire Xu Family is running around like headless chickens. Watching the Old Master grow weaker by the day without being able to do a thing, Patriarch Xu ordered all the younger generation to go out and look for a solution. Miss Nine's visit definitely isn't just to collect rent. She might be passing through in search of an expert!"

"I've heard about that too. Word is that Patriarch Xu has decreed that whoever cures the Old Master's illness could inherit the position of Patriarch, regardless of gender!"

"It's that serious? The Xu Family has always treated us tenants well, and they have an excellent reputation for a hundred miles around. Old Master Xu is a kind-hearted man. How could he suffer from such a terrible illness?"

Su Tan listened to the crowd whispering outside the wall.

Shortly after, a refreshing fragrance wafted into his nose. It was faint... lingering... neither overpowering nor bland. It was a subtle, distinct scent, carrying the pure, sweet aroma of a young maiden. It brushed softly against his face.

Su Tan's sense of smell was much sharper than that of an ordinary person. He could tell the person was approaching from a distance and had now stopped right in front of him. Although he couldn't see the newcomer's appearance—and perhaps it was just his imagination—he felt as if an immortal flower had drifted toward him on the breeze.

Miss Nine was like a blossom riding the wind.

"Miss Nine!"

"Miss Nine..."

Seeing Miss Nine approach, Xu Changqing and his two companions completely lost their previous arrogance. They instantly became as meek as timid young girls, their voices soft and weak. It was the absolute picture of subservience.

The young lady of the Xu Family didn't immediately pay attention to Xu Changqing and the other two servants. Bypassing them entirely, she spoke softly to Su Tan, "The Xu Family has failed in our discipline, allowing these servants to offend you, sir. Jiu apologizes to you here and hopes for your magnanimity and forgiveness."

Su Tan was bewildered. Miss Nine of the Xu Family was actually apologizing to him? He had never expected a situation like this. The servants had been throwing the family's weight around like petty tyrants, yet the master was incredibly amiable and was even apologizing on their behalf? What kind of logic was this?

"Miss Nine is truly kind and doesn't put on airs at all. Any other family would rather have their servants pay with their lives than lower their own heads to apologize!"

"Miss Nine has always been like this. Her reputation for benevolence has been known for a long time."

Su Tan overheard the villagers' discussions. If she was truly as everyone described, this Miss Nine was quite the anomaly. Judging by her voice, she sounded like a young girl of sixteen or seventeen. She probably didn't have much life experience; otherwise, no master would ever lower their own head. They would simply force the offending servants to confess and apologize themselves.

"There's no need to apologize," Su Tan said. "There are a bit too many people in the courtyard, and I'm not used to it. Everyone, please step outside. If you are here for medical advice or fortune-telling, please line up and wait. I only divine three fortunes a day. I'm afraid none of you will be able to get a turn today."

"Three fortunes a day?" Miss Nine's voice was crisp and melodious, like a lark. "I understand. I won't disturb you then!"

Su Tan had a rather good impression of Miss Nine. Therefore, he didn't care to pursue the matter of the servants' earlier offense. Ultimately, he was just too lazy to deal with anything troublesome.

"But Miss Nine..." Xu Changqing seemed unwilling to let it go.

"Shut up," Jiu snapped. "When did the Xu Family change our code of conduct to be so arrogant and overbearing? Or are your wings fully fledged now, and you think you no longer need to listen to the Xu Family? We have always treated others with courtesy, yet here you are, ruining the Xu Family's reputation! When you return, go receive your punishment!"

She absolutely despised it when servants used the Xu Family's name to act tyrannically outside.

Su Tan sat there quietly as Xu Youyou disciplined her subordinates. He couldn't interject, nor did he want to persuade her otherwise. Xu Changqing and the others had indeed gone overboard earlier. A punishment was deserved.

"Do you have any objections?" Miss Nine demanded.

How could the three of them dare object? They instantly wilted.

"Understood. We dare not object and are willing to accept our punishment!" Xu Changqing and the other two lowered their heads and bowed.

In the moment Xu Changqing lowered his head, a distinct glint of coldness flashed in his eyes. It appeared abruptly and vanished just as quickly... lasting only a fraction of a second.

AWOOO!

Su Tan obviously couldn't see it, but the White Wolf did. It informed Su Tan using an animal language that only he could understand. After acknowledging him as its master, Su Tan could automatically comprehend the White Wolf's speech, so this wasn't surprising.

It seemed the Xu Family was steeped in hidden turbulence and treacherous undercurrents. Perhaps... an earth-shattering event was about to unfold.

"It is for the best that you have no objections!" Miss Nine's gaze swept past the three men and returned to Su Tan. "Then please go about your business, sir. Jiu will not disturb you any longer." Her tone when speaking to Su Tan was remarkably gentle.

Perhaps it wasn't out of profound respect for him, but simply a habit born of good upbringing.

"Mm," Su Tan hummed in acknowledgment.

"Farewell!"

TAP TAP TAP.

Miss Nine turned around, preparing to leave the courtyard.

"Miss Nine..." Su Tan called out.

He wondered, "Should I tell Xu Youyou about the look in her servant's eyes?"

Miss Nine stopped, turned back, and asked, "Is there something else, sir?"

Su Tan paused, pondering for a moment.

It was someone else's family affair, so what right did he have to interfere? Perhaps Xu Changqing had only revealed a hateful glare out of momentary anger. Or maybe the Xu Family was already well aware of Xu Changqing's hostility but simply chose not to expose it. Forget it. It was better not to get involved when he didn't understand the situation, lest he draw a heap of trouble onto himself and ruin his peaceful life!

After coming to this conclusion, Su Tan said, "Have a safe trip!"

"Thank you!" Miss Nine had thought it was something important, but it turned out he was just bidding her farewell. She smiled brightly and walked away, taking that unique fragrance with her.

As for Xu Changqing and the other Xu Family servants... naturally, it was impossible for them to stick around!

Su Tan thought, "I always used to think that a person's temperament had to be seen with one's own eyes. Only now do I realize... hearing their voice, smelling their scent, and piecing together their speech and demeanor... can also let someone feel the nuances of their character."

His fortune-telling today had met with some minor hiccups, but no actual conflict broke out. After the incident, everything returned to normal. It was no different from any other day.

Once Su Tan finished his divinations, he began tending to his own chores. He didn't need anyone's help with sweeping the floor, watering the flowers, washing clothes, and the like. He was even thinking that once he grew completely accustomed to a blind man's life, he would try cooking for himself! After all, he couldn't rely on Village Chief Chen's family to provide his meals for the rest of his life, right? Even if he gained the means to hire servants in the future, he didn't want to constantly rely on others. He wanted to be self-sufficient.

For some reason, when he had first transmigrated here, he wasn't very used to living as a blind man and even felt his future was utterly hopeless.

However...

After experiencing it for a while, he felt that this kind of existence was what true life was all about. It was in the little details of living—walking, measuring the dimensions of a room, tracing the contours of chairs, tables, plates, and clothes...

In his previous life, he had never truly experienced life, nor did he feel like he actually had one. Although he had been an executive at a company, ever since he graduated, his activities outside of work had been pitifully few. He worked like a machine all day, leaving him with absolutely no time to even consider what it meant to enjoy life.

Now... he was genuinely experiencing it!

It wasn't bad!

In fact, he quite liked it.