Chapter 63 - Distant Relatives

The Yu family’s ancestral home was especially lively today. Since the family head had spoken, the Yu family members, who were usually scattered all over America, gathered together to participate in this family meeting.

The women chatted and laughed in the tearoom, the men gathered in twos or threes to talk, and some of the younger generation who weren’t familiar with each other yet got to know each other in the living room.

Yu Tang’s cousin from his seventh uncle, Yu Qi, was also among them, and he sat with his cousin from eighth aunt’s family. Seventh uncle and eighth aunt had the same father, so their families naturally were closer.

“Today’s banquet was prepared especially for you.” The younger cousin flattered Yu Qi. “To be accepted into such a great university, the family head must be very proud.”

Yu Qi smiled composedly. He definitely didn’t think that this was prepared especially for him. He was outstanding, and the family head had expressed that he valued Yu Qi on more than one occasion, but Yu Tang, who had gotten into Halun University, was just as outstanding. Compared with Yu Tang, the family head’s own grandson, Yu Qi was ultimately a level lower.

As time passed, the number of people in the living room increased. Some of the smarter younger generations were already in the study on the second floor, speaking with the family head and third grandfather.

The talented youth Yu Qi didn’t want to see the fawning faces of those people, so he stayed in the living room with his cousin.

“I hear that the butler recently got a PhD.” In truth, this younger cousin didn’t have much in common with Yu Qi. As they spoke, he brought up the Yu family’s butler. As someone who had gotten a PhD in ‘professional stewardship’, he had to be mentioned.

The butler wore a tailored suit, white gloves, and an exquisite bowtie. His hair was combed back neatly, and he stood at the door with a smile, looking like a Victorian aristocratic gentleman.

“Butler Cao, I haven’t seen you in two months, and you seem to have become even more handsome.” Second aunt entered with her daughter, Yu Zhu, and greeted the butler with a smile.

“Hello, Uncle Cao.” Yu Zhu followed along and nodded her head in greeting.

The smile on Butler Cao stayed the same. He inclined his body slightly, and warmly informed them of the whereabouts of the others in the house. After that, a maid stepped forward to guide the two ladies.

Every single person who entered the door would greet Mr. Butler when they saw him. This drew Yu Qi’s attention.

He also had a butler back home in China, but in his opinion, a butler was just the manager who supervised the servants. However, this butler of the Yu family seemed different; his status in the family wasn’t inferior to that of the family members.

“Pc atlr tberf, la’r yfra lo sbe vbc’a boofcv Deaifg Jjb.” Llr mberlc kjr bo wlzfv gjmf, klat ojlg rxlc jcv rbwf ogfmxifr. Cr tf rqbxf bc atlr qblca, atf ogfmxifr bc tlr ojmf agfwyifv.

Deaifg Jjb tjv yffc lc atf Te ojwlis obg bnfg afc sfjgr, jcv tjv atf ojwlis tfjv’r vffq agera. Mbg bcf atlcu, atlr qfgrbc tjv fzmfiifca mjqjylilas, jcv kjr jyif ab vb atf kbgx bo atgff wfc. Rb wjaafg tbk wjcs rfgnjcar bg ijybegfgr atfgf kfgf lc atf tberf, tf tjcvifv atfw jii wfalmeiberis. Zbgfbnfg, atlr ofiibk xcfk tbk ab mbcvema tlwrfio kfii, jcv kjr qjgalmeijgis ubbv klat kbgvr. Lf mbeiv mbjz jcsbcf lcab j ygbjv rwlif.

This sort of person with exceedingly high EQ was usually much more formidable than those with high IQ.

Butler Cao seemed to be mild and polite, but no one could be said to be close to him; getting any information from him was basically impossible.

It was almost time, but Yu Tang still hadn’t arrived. Yu Qi’s cousin looked at his watch and said with schadenfreude, “I reckon Yu Tang’s going to be late.”

The family head hated latecomers the most. Because of this, he once had Butler Cao shut Yu Zhu out.

As he spoke, Yu Tang strolled in with Dugu An. At the door, Mr. Butler, who had never moved once, unconsciously took a half-step forward when he saw Yu Tang. His lips curved far more visibly.

“Your M… Welcome home, young master Tang.” Butler Cao spoke in perfect Mandarin, and stepped forward to hold out his arm to support Yu Tang.

Yu Tang gave the butler a quick look, and that outstretched hand immediately turned to receive the large box that was in Dugu An’s hands and pass it to the maid on the side.

“Grandfather and third grandfather are in the study. Some of the young masters are also there.” Butler Cao led Yu Tang in as he quietly explained the current situation. “Grandfather is writing calligraphy; you can go up and take a look.”

Speaking up to this point, the butler had already accompanied Yu Tang to the foot of the stairs. He promptly halted and bowed slightly. Because Yu Tang was late, the maids were busy elsewhere, so there wasn’t anything wrong with the butler personally leading him in.

The others didn’t notice anything, but Yu Qi and his younger cousin, who had been observing the butler, looked at each other in astonishment. The butler’s attitude towards Yu Tang was too unusual, and could be simply described as eagerly attentive. Sure enough, the family head was biased towards Yu Tang.

The current head of the Yu Family, Yu Taixian, was Yu Tang’s paternal grandfather. The purpose of this banquet was mainly to introduce his own grandson.

In a silk Tang suit, Yu smiled and gave him a theme on the spot.

Yu Tang smiled, pulled up the sleeves of his shirt, dipped the brush in ink, and raised it. In his mind, however, he was thinking of Song Xiao at the hotel – who knew if he had obediently eaten or not. Yu Tang raised his hand to begin writing. Free and unconstrained, a vigorous and powerful “竹” appeared vividly on the paper.

 

Little Theater

 

Grandpa: Did you write the character 竹 because you want to become a bamboo-like nobleman?

Fish Tang: I want to do someone called Junzhu.

Xiaoxiao: What does it have to do with me?

Cao Gonggong: This “do” isn’t that “do”.