Xu Fu had been with the old master for many years. The old master trusted him completely. However, Han Ren saw it differently – the old master trusted a servant more than he trusted his own grandson.
Xu Fu glanced at Xu Han Ren, then quickly looked over the deed documents and told the old master, “Third young master’s documents are definitely correct.”
The old master then said, “Then keep them safe.”
Xu Han Ren trembled all over, suppressing his anger until the old master finished speaking. He bowed and said, “Grandfather, if there is nothing else, your grandson will take his leave.”
The old master casually responded with an “Mm.” Xu Han Ren turned to leave. Yu Yi tried to persuade the old master, “Father-in-law, actually, Han Ren has been very diligent these days…”
The old master waved his hand at Yu Yi, “You may go as well.”
Yu Yi had no choice but to withdraw, her brow furrowed, thinking about how to convince the old master to accept Han Ren.
The old master was confused, and with others instigating, this task had become extremely difficult.
Zhao Nanny advised, “Madam, your health is not good. Don’t worry about these troubling matters. Focus on your health. When the eldest and second young masters have sons, you can hold your grandchildren every day!”
Yu Yi sighed, “This body cannot be nursed back to health. I only hope that before I die, the Xu family does not fall apart. Only then can I face Cheng Xing.” If the three brothers continued to be disunited, she wondered how long the madam’s body could last. If the mission was not completed before her body gave out, it would be a complete failure.
Zhao Nanny, unaware that the madam had already passed away, quickly said, “Madam, don’t say such things. The doctor says your body is unexpectedly good!”
Yu Yi smiled faintly.
Yu Yi had originally wanted to speak to Han Ren and ask him to stay calm and wait, but Han Ren left home that very night and did not return for several days.
Yu Yi sent people to search for him, but the Xu family surprisingly did not know who Han Ren usually associated with.
After searching for three days and waiting for three days, they neither found Han Ren’s whereabouts nor saw him return.
Worried that Han Ren might have an accident after leaving in anger, that night Yu Yi waited until her attendants had withdrawn from the room, then quietly called upon the divine being.
The divine being responded, “What is it? Run out of pills?”
Yu Yi shook her head. The magical pill box had a light-colored square pattern on it. As the pills were consumed, the inner light-colored area gradually diminished: “There are still plenty of pills. This servant wants to ask the divine being to help find Han Ren.”
The divine being scoffed, “The mission should be completed independently by you.”
Yu Yi whispered softly: “This concubine can take fewer academic credits.”
After a short while, Tian Shen told her what Han Ren had said. Yu Yi suppressed the smile at the corner of her mouth; the longer they spent together, the more she felt she understood Tian Shen.
—
Upon learning that Han Ren was safe and sound, Yu Yi relaxed considerably. The next day, she found his temporary residence. This was the home of one of Han Ren’s like-minded friends.
Xu Han Ren saw her and felt somewhat ashamed: “Mother.”
“
Yu Yi did not mention his three-day absence from home, but said: “Han Ren, the Xu family has indeed wronged you, but if you abandon yourself because of this, you will be just like before. Whether it’s the Xu family or outsiders, they will think you are not capable.”
The current dynasty encourages commerce, and major merchants’ status is not below that of high officials. Therefore, Han Ren, whose temperament did not enjoy studying or writing, also wanted to achieve success in the business world like his two elder brothers.
However, when he was in his early teens, he gradually realized that he was different from his two brothers. He was a concubine’s son, clearly his father’s son, yet treated like an outsider and viewed with suspicion. Whenever he showed interest in the family business, his father would suspect he had ulterior motives.
He resented being born and not trusted by his father, and had also hated his own background, wondering why his birth mother was a concubine and not the principal wife. Yet how could he blame the mother who had nursed and raised him?
Later, he became disappointed and no longer wanted to stay at home. He preferred to make friends outside and not caring about what happened in the family. After all, as the third young master of the Xu family, even as a concubine’s son, he never had to worry about food, clothing, or expenses. Why should he trouble himself?
But a few days ago, Madam Xu suddenly found him, saying she wanted to give him shops to learn business management. After taking over those two shops, he had once been passionately excited about changing himself and how he would display his ambitions. Unexpectedly, troubles came in quick succession: first his eldest brother’s hostility, then his second brother’s suppression, and finally his grandfather forcing him to hand over the shops…
Xu Han Ren became agitated: “So what does mother think Han Ren should do? Whether it’s grandfather or father, they won’t give Han Ren any chance…”
Yu Yi said: “If you are determined, opportunities will always exist. But if you give up at the slightest setback, even if opportunities are right in front of you, you might not see them.”
These words were also from her own experience. She had once given up on the idea of survival. Fortunately, before she could drink the poison, Tian Shen took her to that pure white room. Afterward, she had thought countless times that if she had drunk the poison earlier, everything would have been completely different. From that moment, she would never easily seek death again. She had also imagined that if she were in the same situation now, would she still strive to live, no matter the difficulty or torture…
Chapter 12 Gathering Hearts (6)
Yu Yi gently shook her head, letting herself escape these thoughts, and raised her eyes to look directly at Xu Han Ren.
Xu Han Ren saw her looking at him and asked the doubt in his heart: “Why would mother suddenly rely on Han Ren?”
Yu Yi knew he was still worried that she was only using him to prevent her two sons from splitting the family. She simply said candidly: “My goal is for the entire Xu family to be united, not just to make Han Zhong and Han Xiao reconcile. If I only wanted to prevent them from splitting the family, I would have other methods. But if the surface is peaceful yet hearts are not, how can the Xu family prosper in the long run?”
Hearing these words, Xu Han Ren also fell into contemplation. Yu Yi seized the opportunity to say: “Actually, for you, splitting the family now would be a bad outcome. Han Zhong is powerful, Han Xiao is shrewd, and the old master is stubborn. If the family truly splits, I’m afraid you’ll get nothing.” The implication was that among the Xu family members, he could only rely on Madam Xu.
Xu Han Ren shook his head: “Han Ren is not trying to get more family property…”
Yu Yi already knew Han Ren was moved by her words and understood what he truly wanted was acknowledgment and respect from the Xu family. She smiled: “Even as a concubine’s son, you are still a Xu family member.”
If you are willing to work hard for the Xu family, I will definitely fight for a place for you in the Xu family.”
Xu Han Ren no longer hesitated and agreed: “Han Ren will work hard.”
Yu Yi smiled comfortingly.
