Young Lord Leonard Is Feeling Lonely

Zhang Mu knew that Qin Sanniang and Zhang Zhuzi came to provoke him. He sat silently by himself. If it weren't for his own carriage being taken by the shop for deliveries today, Zhang Mu wouldn't have ridden the village carriage at all.

Qin Sanniang saw that Zhang Mu ignored her, and most villagers looked down on her and wouldn't respond to her.

Qin Sanniang made a few snide remarks at Zhang Mu but received no response, so she lost interest and sat down with Zhang Zhuzi.

Seeing the carriage was full, it started heading towards Qingmiao City. On the way, the villagers began chatting, sharing local gossip and amusing stories.

Among them, Sister Zhu whispered gossip eagerly, "Have you heard? The Young Master seems to want to pick a few boys from our village to be his attendants. Oh my, imagine serving the Young Master—what a promising future! I wonder if my little Chengzi could catch his eye."

Nearby, Sister Hong snorted and said to Sister Zhu, "Zhu, you're too naive. The Young Master said he wants to pick attendants, but do you really think it's that simple? Everyone in the village knows the Young Master is... well, a 'duanxiu'... and he's connected to Yuanbao's elder cousin, Tudan. I heard Tudan went home to see his parents recently. Looks like the Young Master is lonely these days. Tsk, Zhu, would you really send your little Chengzi to be toyed with by the powerful?"

Sister Zhu gasped, her face immediately changing. She hurriedly waved her hand, "Pah! No way would I send my little Chengzi!"

Sister Hong spat, "Zhu, look at your little Chengzi's looks. Do you think the Young Master would even notice her? At least Tudan is quite handsome. Your Chengzi? Tsk tsk, too ugly. The Young Master wouldn't want her."

Sister Zhu blushed deeply, "How can you say that? My little Chengzi isn't ugly! Look at your son Liu Xiaocheng, full of pockmarks like a sesame cake. You still have the face to talk about my Chengzi? At least mine is fair and clean without a pockmarked face!"

"So what if my Liu Xiaocheng has pockmarks? He's still better looking than your little Chengzi!" Sister Hong retorted stubbornly. The two glared at each other like fighting roosters.

Sister Zhu spat and turned her head aside, angrily saying, "Hmph, I won't stoop to argue with a shrew like you."

Sister Hong also spat, pinching her daughter Liu Xiaoning beside her and scolding, "Useless thing, why are you a girl? If you were a boy, I'd send you to the Young Master."

Liu Xiaoning winced in pain from the pinch, tears welled up instantly, but she didn't dare cry. She covered her arm and bit her lip, afraid to speak.

Qin Sanniang, sitting beside Sister Hong, overheard their conversation. She thought about the Young Master being a 'duanxiu' and wanting a boy as an attendant... If she could get close to the Young Master, maybe she could be as illustrious as Su Li.

Qin Sanniang's eyes flicked as she remembered her own boy, Zhang Zhaocai, who was fair-skinned and much more handsome than Sister Hong's Liu Xiaocheng and Sister Zhu's little Chengzi!

Qin Sanniang quietly said to Zhang Zhuzi, "Zhuzi, did you hear? The Young Master wants to pick attendants. What do you think about Zhang Zhaocai?"

Zhang Zhuzi scratched his head, "The Young Master is a 'duanxiu.' It wouldn't be good for Zhaocai to follow him. Besides, I'm still counting on Zhaocai to carry on the Zhang family line."

"Pah! Zhuzi, my belly isn't incapable of bearing boys!" Qin Sanniang patted her belly and said, "We have to find a way to get that little rascal Zhaocai to the Young Master's side. Later, when we have our own son, we'll rely on Zhaocai to pave the way for him."