vstars Chapter 278 Uncle 9, don't be a coward, come on!
Chapter 278 Uncle 9, don't be a coward, come on!
As the saying goes, "One autumn rain brings one chill, and ten autumn rains mean it's time to wear cotton clothes." Yinzhuo has always been a person who is afraid of the cold. Even though the weather outside is not yet winter, with the wind howling and the snow falling and chilling the roads, he has already started to wrap himself up like a ball and hibernate.
"Sixth Brother, is it really that cold? You're already bundled up like this, what are you going to do when it gets even colder? If you're really cold, let's not stay in this pavilion. Isn't that just asking for trouble?"
"Looking for trouble when you're innocent?" Yinzhuo wrapped his cloak tighter around himself, looked up at Yintang who had asked the question, and pointed to the open space outside the waterside pavilion where construction was underway, indicating that he should look there.
"What do you mean by 'looking for trouble when you're innocent'? Xiao Jiu, if you can't speak properly, then shut your mouth. Nobody thinks you're mute. Your sixth brother is still in charge of the Ministry of Works, isn't he? This pavilion is cold. Just ask them to come and renovate the floor and add an underfloor heating system. It's no big deal. See how fast they work? It'll be done in five or six days. Qingxi Study will also be getting underfloor heating in a few days. I can also mooch some of my father's charcoal allowance."
Although Yinzhuo has now left the palace and established his own residence, as long as he lives in Changchun Garden, all his food, clothing and daily necessities are still paid for by his father. Who is his father? He is Kangxi, the emperor. All the good things in the world have to be provided for him. For example, charcoal in winter and ice in summer have never been lacking in Yinzhuo's Shufeng Pavilion.
"Oh, Sixth Brother, you still remember that you're in charge of the Ministry of Works? If you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost thought I was the one in charge of the Ministry of Works. I'm saying, Sixth Brother, why do you leave such a big place like Enze Garden and prefer to stay in Shufeng Pavilion? So you're planning to fleece Father Khan? Sixth Brother, I'm not trying to criticize you, but we're already so rich, why are you still fussing over these pittances?"
Listen to that! As expected of the God of Wealth, Jiu! That's some extravagant talk. A few measly dates? Do you dare say that to your elder brother and the others again? If you don't get a snot bubble from his nose from being punched by your elder brother, I'll admit defeat.
"Xiao Jiu, I've realized that all the books you've read over the years have gone to waste. There's a saying, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and a great river is formed from countless small streams.' Everything is built up little by little, and money is no exception. Even a mosquito's leg is still meat, right? Besides, what's wrong with taking advantage of our father? We're both willing participants, don't you understand? A loving and harmonious relationship between father and son? What do you mean by haggling over a few pennies? Haven't you heard the saying, 'Money should be spent wisely, not carelessly'..."
Yinzhen now realized that his sixth brother was absolutely right. If he hadn't spoken, no one would have thought he was mute. Look at the trouble he'd gotten himself into with just one sentence. If his ears hadn't grown calluses by now, he probably wouldn't have been able to leave this waterside pavilion.
It must be said that Yinzhen was right to have this awareness. After all, Yinzhuo was idle all day long, and now that he finally had a chance to practice his eloquence, he had to make the most of it. Yinzhen was like Sun Wukong with the golden headband on, not only feeling uncomfortable from his sixth brother's nagging, but also having no legitimate reason to interrupt him. The moment he came out of the waterside pavilion, Yinzhen made a very, very serious decision—he would not set foot in his sixth brother's Shufeng Pavilion for the next month.
Although Yinzhuo, the head of the Ministry of Works, was a hands-off manager, he still held the title of "head" to some extent. Moreover, he had the strongest backing of the Qing Dynasty. Even if the people in the Ministry of Works were stubborn, they wouldn't dare to mess with him. It was said that it would take five or six days, but in reality, it only took three days. Yinzhuo's waterside pavilion was already completely transformed.
Needless to say, the effect of lighting the earthen stove was that the temperature in the waterside pavilion, while not exactly warm as spring, was at least not cold for Yinzhuo, who was now wearing only a single layer of clothing. Don't be fooled by how resolute Yintang was when he left, saying he wouldn't set foot in his sixth brother's place for a month... Heh, that decision now seems rather unserious. Look, only four or five days have passed, and he's already running off to his sixth brother's place again.
"Sixth Brother, it's so much more comfortable sitting here now that you've installed an underfloor heating system. Dexi, go and have someone make me an ice bowl. With the underfloor heating in this room, I always crave something cold after a while..."
Logically speaking, Yinzhen's request was not excessive at all, and as his elder brother, Yinzuo should not have stopped him. However, the problem was that Hongxu was also here today. Look, as soon as he heard the words "ice bowl," he stopped his calligraphy practice immediately.
"It's hot. If you really feel hot, go outside and cool off before coming back. Why eat iced dishes on such a cold day? Dexi, go to the small kitchen and bring some fruit and snacks to your Ninth Master. These are the coldest things you can eat. Eat if you want, otherwise just go and drink your tea."
Yinzhen only realized that little Hongxu was present after he had spoken. Well, since his sixth brother wouldn't let him eat, he wouldn't eat. Given his previous experience of being scolded for speaking carelessly, Yinzhen wisely chose to remain silent this time. Yinzhen was very satisfied with Yinzhen's pragmatism. Dexi brought over a fruit plate, took a tangerine that Yinzhen liked from the tray, peeled it, and handed it to him.
"That's more like it. Our little Jiu is so sensible. Here, this is a reward from your sixth brother. These oranges are very sweet. Take some with you when you go back."
Hongxu was still hoping that his Ninth Uncle could try to get him to share in the glory today, but when he saw that Yinzhen had given in without even resisting, the light in the little guy's eyes seemed to go out in an instant. He stared at his Ninth Uncle with disappointment for a long time before he sighed softly, picked up the small calligraphy brush specially made for him on the table, and began to continue his calligraphy practice.
"Sixth Brother, look at the look in your son's eyes just now! He even sighed! Who's to blame for me not being able to eat the iced bowl? I haven't even sighed yet, and he's already sighing."
Who is Yinzhen? From a young age, he was a tyrant in the palace, with a status comparable to the tyrant of the countryside. When he was paired with Yinzhen, the destructive power was amplified. He never expected that after being arrogant and domineering for more than twenty years, he would be looked at with such a disappointed look by a three-year-old child. Who could tolerate that?
No wonder they're uncle and nephew; look, their thought processes are almost identical. Isn't that a coincidence? Yinzhen's words perfectly reflected Hongxu's thoughts. Yes, who's to blame for not getting the ice bowl? If it weren't for your cowardice, Ninth Uncle, wouldn't we be completely ecstatic by now? Isn't it said that where there is oppression, there is resistance? Ninth Uncle, why don't you step up...?