Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 18 When the Spring Rain Comes
The first rain of spring has arrived.

First came the strong raindrops, which pattered like marbles on the blue tiles.

Then, a sound like waves rose in the forest, misty like the spray from a waterfall.

Thunder rumbled, and the ridge beasts crouching on the upturned eaves seemed to come alive at that moment.

From the snouts of each of the roof ridge beasts hung streams of glistening water.

The flat cobblestone floor of the mountain villa was covered with countless tiny, leaping water droplets carved out by the rain.

Even the smoke rising from the kitchen was softened by the rain, slanting and swirling into the rain curtain.

In the courtyard stands an apricot tree, its newly blossoming pink and white petals unfurling in the rain, each petal scooping up a pool of water from the sky.

Yang Can stood in the side room, with the window open, looking at the scene in the courtyard through the curtain of rain under the eaves.

In the courtyard, two rows of sword-wielding warriors wearing straw raincoats stood solemnly on both sides of the cobblestone road, rainwater flowing quickly from their raincoats onto the ground.

On the long cobblestone road, a tall figure with a slightly hunched back strode forward.

The guard who held the umbrella for him had to jog to keep up with his pace.

A graceful figure dressed in white appeared beneath the ceremonial gate ahead; it was Suo Chanzhi, as beautiful as a pear blossom in the rain.

She stood beneath the hanging flower canopy of the second gate, and when the tall figure appeared before her, she gracefully bowed.

The tall figure stopped, and it was unclear what he said to Suo Chanzhi. Suo Chanzhi bowed to him again, then turned around and accompanied him into the second courtyard.

Two umbrellas floated slowly toward the main house of the second courtyard.

Who is this person? Could it be from the Suo family...?

Just as Yang Can was thinking this, he heard a crisp voice: "This is our second master of the Suo family."

Yang Can withdrew his gaze and looked in the direction of the voice.

The one speaking was Xiao Qingmei, who was standing under the apricot tree, holding an oil-paper umbrella.

"Has the second master of the Suo family arrived?"

Xiao Qingmei nodded slightly: "After Young Master Yu died, Granny Tu sent someone on horseback to report to our Suo family. Upon hearing the news, our clan leader immediately sent the Second Master over."

Yang Can was overjoyed to hear this. Without the Suo family's interference, this play would really be difficult to perform well.

Thankfully, the star has arrived!
Qingmei paused for a moment, then said, "The day before yesterday, the clan leader summoned all the elders of the Yu family to the water dungeon."

Yang Can asked, "What's in the water dungeon?"

Qingmei said, "That bandit is locked up in the water dungeon. Oh! By the way, Commander Cheng is in there too."

Yang Can nodded. "Very good. The opening drums have sounded, the grand show is about to begin."

"Thank you for your help, Qingmei."

Yang Can smiled and nodded to his childhood sweetheart, knowing that she had come to tell him this news.

It's very likely that Suo Chanzhi sent her.

Xiao Qingmei held up an oil-paper umbrella and tilted her head to look at Yang Can.

Her fine white teeth peeked out from her red lips, giving her a hesitant look as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

But in the end, she said nothing, only pursed her lips, lifted her skirt, and gracefully walked away.

She wore a pair of high-toothed wooden clogs so that the rain wouldn't easily wet her feet when she stepped into the rain.

Yang Can stood by the window and looked out. It was a pair of jet-black lacquered wooden clogs with indigo straps tied around ivory-white ankles, making the ankles appear exceptionally slender.

When she takes a step, the clogs separate from her snowy feet, and she only hooks her toes on the clogs, forming a perfect arc between her arch and the clogs.

When she lands, her clogs touch the ground first, and with a soft "tap," her light and delicate feet land on the clogs, just like a goose's webbed feet lightly touching the surface of water.

The rhythm of the feet is pleasing to the eye.

Yang Can couldn't help but narrow her eyes. Not only was her mouth small, but her feet were also small. She guessed they were size 32 or 33.
The little girl, who was holding an umbrella in one hand and lifting her skirt in the other, suddenly stopped and turned around to look at Yang Can.

Suddenly, she remembered something else and wanted to tell Yang Can.

Their Second Master Suo is a man with a fiery temper. If Yang Can goes up against him, he'd better be careful not to provoke him, otherwise, getting a beating from him would be the least of his worries.

When she turned around, she found Yang Can staring at her.

Qingmei's eyebrows twitched dangerously.

Yang Can, who knew nothing about it, raised an eyebrow at her, looking puzzled.

"despair!"

The wooden clogs stomped hard on the stone floor!
At a time like this, you still have the leisure to peek at other people's butts. You shameless, ignorant man!

The little green plum was both embarrassed and angry, unaware that there was also a hidden little bit of secret joy in her heart.

She walked away with a "tap tap tap" sound, her wooden clogs making a series of crisp sounds on the cobblestone floor, like scattered chess pieces.

Yang Can touched his chin, puzzled. What's wrong with him?

With a tense expression, Qingmei disappeared through the gate of the second courtyard without looking back, leaving only the Suo family guards standing there like guns in the rain.

What's so interesting about guards? Yang Can closed the window.

The sound of the rain was blocked outside the window, but it still drifted in through the cracks. Yang Can lay back on the couch and closed his eyes slightly.

Everyone's here; it's time for the show to begin.

For him, the most crucial moment had arrived!

Whether he can go from being an extra to a leading man on this stage depends on his performance from now on.

……

In the rain, the heads of the various branches of the Yu family and all the elders sat solemnly in the Mingde Hall of Phoenix Villa.

The pattering rain outside made the atmosphere inside the hall somewhat oppressive.

The funeral was over, and the mourners had all gone down the mountain, but the Yu family members remained on the mountain.

The Yu family is large and prosperous, with a large population. It is a rare opportunity to gather everyone together, so naturally they would like to discuss some important family matters.

Especially now that the eldest son has just died, the Yu family must consider a major issue: "establishing an heir!"

The establishment of an heir by a powerful clan is akin to the establishment of a crown prince in a country; there must be a designated successor recognized by all parties.

Logically, since Yu Chengye is no longer alive, Yu Xinglong's second son, Yu Chenglin, should be established as his heir.

However, it is common knowledge that the patriarch Yu Xinglong is physically weak and sickly.

Yu Xinglong's second son, Yu Chenglin, is only seven years old. It will take at least twenty years for him to be able to stand on his own two feet.

But given the patriarch's health, no one was sure if he could last another twenty years.

Although the Yu family was a de facto local separatist regime, it needed to learn from the governance experience of a dynasty in many aspects, but it was also more flexible, and its rules and systems were not as strict as those of an imperial dynasty.

In situations where the future is highly unstable, in order to ensure the stable development and succession of the family, the adopted son may not necessarily have to be the youngest son of the eldest son's branch.

Today, Yu Xinglong convened a meeting at Mingde Hall with the elders of the Yu family and the heads of each branch of the family. Everyone guessed that the selection of an heir would be the most important topic of the day.

As expected, after everyone was seated, Yu Xinglong didn't bother with any pretense or euphemisms; he went straight to the point and revealed the reason he was holding the family meeting that day.

“My son Chengye died young, so the family should establish an heir. My second son Chenglin is young but quite intelligent. I intend to establish Chenglin as my heir. I wonder if any of the other branches of the family have any objections?”

Upon hearing this, the heads of each household instinctively looked towards Yu Huanhu.

Yu Huanhu looked down at his nose and into his heart, resembling an old monk in deep meditation, without uttering a word.

Many people believe that Yu Chengye's death is related to him. At this time, his every word and action may be misinterpreted, and he is in an awkward position, not suitable to take the initiative to challenge others.

After waiting a moment and seeing that the hall was silent, Yu Xinglong coughed lightly and said slowly, "If none of you have any objections, then I, the clan head, hereby announce..."

"Brother, wait a minute, I have something to say!"

Finally, someone stepped forward.

The one who stood up and spoke was Yu Xiaobao, the head of the third branch of the Yu family.

Yu Xinglong's generation had three brothers: Yu Xinglong, Yu Huanhu, and Yu Xiaobao.

In his youth, Leopard Lord led three or five henchmen, riding hawks and hounds, frequenting brothels and red-light districts every day; he was a complete playboy.

Such a person was naturally not capable of shouldering great responsibilities, so the power of the eldest son's branch was basically divided up by his eldest and second eldest brothers.

Who knew that after this playboy turned forty, he suddenly became "unperturbed" and began to focus wholeheartedly on his career.

However, this Leopard Lord started too late. The cake of the eldest son's family had long been divided up by his eldest and second eldest brothers. Leopard Lord, who was determined to start a business, was a man with great ambitions but little talent. What kind of business could he possibly build?

Yu Xinglong and Yu Huanhu both treated this little brother as a joke, letting him do whatever he wanted without disciplining him much, since it didn't cause any real harm.

Unexpectedly, he jumped out on this occasion.

Yu Xinglong didn't look at Yu Xiaobao, but instead glanced at Yu Huanhu first.

Yu Xinglong was unsure whether the third brother's sudden appearance was at the instigation of the second brother.

Yu Xiaobao said casually, "Brother, to be honest, Chenglin is indeed a very intelligent kid."

But he's too young, and you're too old, brother. No, it's that your body is too weak.

"Given Chenglin's age and my elder brother's health, isn't it inappropriate to make Chenglin our heir?"

Only Yu Xiaobao could speak so recklessly; he's been like this since he was a child.

However, what he said is exactly what many people are worried about.

The infant mortality rate is too high in this era. Who can guarantee that a seven-year-old child will grow up healthy and without illness?
Furthermore, it is common knowledge that Yu Xinglong is in poor health. What if Yu Chenglin is still young and Yu Xinglong has already passed away?
Yu Xinglong's face darkened, and he glanced coldly at Yu Xiaobao before asking, "Then, in your opinion, Third Brother, what should we do?"

Yu Xiaobao said, "I think Ziming is a good kid."

Ziming is his courtesy name. Yu Ziming's real name is Yu Rui, and he is the eldest son of Yu Huanhu.

Yu Huanhu glanced at Yu Xiaobao indifferently. The third brother is really a little cutie. His methods of instigating me and my eldest brother are as childish as ever.

Seeing that Yu Huanhu did not respond to him, Yu Xiaobao took the initiative to pull him into the fray, asking, "Second Brother, what do you think of my suggestion?"

Yu Huanhu smiled, his two nasolabial folds as clear as a blade slicing through sand.

He shook his head and said slowly, "Not good enough. My son, Yu Rui, isn't qualified."

(End of this chapter)