Brother, Brother, But I'm a Profligate! - Chapter 12

Fu Jing has Bing Chun summoned.

Fu Jing summoned Bing Chun for a brief questioning, only then discovering that Fu Sili occasionally stayed out overnight.

Recalling the dirt stains on Fu Sili’s clothes from the last time, Fu Jing asked Bing Chun, “I heard he does not take you with him when he goes out?”

Bing Chun replied, puzzled, “He did at first. But after once or twice, he told me to stay in the courtyard.”

“Not even Feng Fu?”

Feng Fu was the young servant in Ming Si’s courtyard. Bing Chun answered, “No, not him either.”

“Pick a day, any day, and follow Sili out of the manor. Observe him for the day, but do not let him discover you.”

Bing Chun stiffened for a moment before nodding in belated agreement. Fu Jing dismissed him with a wave, instructing him to send word once Fu Sili returned to the manor.

Bing Chun turned to leave, but after a few steps, he suddenly doubled back. “Young Master previously gave me some valuables that the Old Master had gifted him. I saw the Young Master was in a bad mood at the time and thought they might be fakes. However, after having them appraised, they turned out to be genuine.”

Bing Chun’s monthly salary was already more than enough; this sudden windfall of wealth had become a hot potato in his hands.

“Given by Father? When?”

“On the very day the Old Master returned to the manor.”

“Did Sili say anything at the time?”

It had been over a month. Bing Chun resisted the urge to scratch his head, struggling for a long while before squeezing out a sentence: “It seems that when the Young Master saw me hesitating, he scolded me, saying something like, ‘If I give it to you, just take it.'”

Bing Chun’s face turned bright red. He had not expected the Eldest Young Master to cross-examine such a casual remark so thoroughly. Unable to recall more, he added as an afterthought, “But after that first time, whenever the Old Master gave things, the Young Master kept them and did not give them to me.”

Fu Jing toyed with a mutton-fat jade cup, the clean porcelain tapping lightly against the tabletop. With a final thud, Fu Jing finally spoke.

“When you return, go with someone to the warehouse of Yaozhi Chunxin. Take some items and replace everything given by Father, piece for piece.”

Lately, bird fighting had become a trend in the Capital. In these autumn and winter months, quail fighting was the most popular form of gambling.

Fu Sili had visited many entertainment spots recently and knew that these young lords played hard; those with deep pockets would not hesitate to throw away a thousand gold pieces.

His eyes grew hot at the sight. He gathered his savings, organized his assets, and took out sixty taels to purchase several blue-gray Luhua quails from a North China merchant.

Luhua quails were of upper-middle quality and could usually sell for at least fifty taels each. However, this merchant’s quails had been spooked during the journey and were huddled sickly in their cages. Fearing they would die on his hands, the merchant let Fu Sili snag a bargain.

To raise these quails, he rented a courtyard outside and spent several days busying himself with the sick birds, sometimes even staying overnight. Despite his efforts, only three of the spooked quails survived.

Fu Sili stayed out for a long time this trip. Around the hour of the Dragon, he returned looking quite filthy, with a stray, bedraggled bird feather stuck in the seam of his clothes.

Feng Fu hurriedly boiled water for Ming Si to wash, while Bing Chun showed Fu Sili all the items Fu Jing had sent over.

Fu Sili’s hand paused on his belt, and his face, worn from the day’s work, lit up. He touched the silver and played with the fan for a while. After a long moment, he asked with squinted, smiling eyes, “Fu Jing is back?”

“He returned last night.”

Bing Chun suddenly remembered he needed to report Fu Sili’s return to Fu Jing. Just as he was plotting a way to slip out, there was a knock at the courtyard door.

The two went out together to find Qiu Yuan standing at the gate. “Young Master? The Eldest Young Master has prepared breakfast and asks you to join him.”

Fu Sili glanced at the surprised Bing Chun, then looked down at his own filth. “Tell the Eldest Young Master that I am a mess and have not washed yet, so I will not go. Let him eat first; I will come once I have cleaned up.”

Strangely enough, he still had not adjusted to Fu Jing being his elder brother. In private, he mixed “Eldest Young Master” and “Fu Jing,” only dutifully calling him “Big Brother” to his face.

It was different with his second brother, Fu Guanqing, or his cheap old man, Fu Anhuai. He had switched to calling them family after only a few meetings. Fu Jing was the only one whose title he struggled to change.

Perhaps it started with that display of authority, but Fu Sili felt their relationship was actually quite good. However, under the influence of this “good relationship,” the boundaries between them were becoming increasingly blurred.

Qiu Yuan said stoically, “The Eldest Young Master specifically said not to worry about washing first. It is fine to go and eat as you are.”

Fu Sili asked suspiciously, “Such a rush? Is there something important?”

Thinking a busy man like Fu Jing would not seek him out for nothing, Fu Sili assumed there was urgent business. He did a quick wash of his face and hands and hurried after Qiu Yuan to see Fu Jing.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Fu Jing looking at him with a serious expression.

Fu Sili’s heart skipped a beat. His footsteps faltered almost imperceptibly, and he nearly walked in with uncoordinated limbs.

Even after he sat down, that gaze remained fixed on him. Fu Sili mentally reviewed his recent actions and found nothing particularly out of line.

He calmed himself slightly but dropped his flippant attitude, clearing his throat. “Big Brother?”

The man asked, “Have you been very busy lately?”

Busy? How strange that this man was making small talk.

Fu Sili raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning trepidation. “Not busy, not busy. Just walking around with a few friends, eating, drinking, and playing. It is nothing compared to Big Brother being occupied with a myriad of affairs.”

Fu Jing looked at the insincere Fu Sili and smiled. “Eat first.”

Yaozhi Chunxin only looked like a lavish pavilion from the outside; the interior was simple to a harsh degree, with very few belongings. Even Fu Jing’s meals consisted of simple ingredients with nothing precious.

Fu Sili chewed his food distractedly, stealing glances at Fu Jing.

When both had set down their chopsticks, Fu Jing spoke softly, “The Sun family is about to run into trouble. When you are out, do not associate with them. The Xu family, however, are worth getting to know.”

“As the New Year approaches, people are coming and going throughout the Capital. Thieves are bound to be mixed in with the crowds. You must be more careful when you are out; it is best to have someone with you.”

Fu Sili nodded along. “I know, I know.”

He waited for Fu Jing to continue about the Sun and Xu families, only to find his cheap older brother persistently lecturing him about safety. Safety when going out? Everyone knew that.

Afraid he might miss some news, he listened more closely, only to find the same few sentences being repeated over and over.

Fu Sili listened half-heartedly for a while, instinctively picking up his bowl to continue eating. He stuffed cabbage leaves into his mouth while his mind drifted elsewhere.

He froze when a hand landed on the back of his neck. In an instant, he remembered the slap Fu Jing had given Fu Guanqing.

He slammed his bowl down and demanded, “What are you doing!”

Fu Jing swept a glance over him. The youth stared back, chin slightly raised. Fu Jing asked in return, “What am I doing?”

As he spoke, he moved his hand away. Fu Sili rubbed his neck and instinctively looked at Fu Jing’s hand, only to see a thin, blue-gray bird feather held between those long fingers.

Fu Sili: “…”

Fu Jing glanced at the feather and asked calmly, “Why the fuss? What is this?”

Fu Sili snatched the feather from Fu Jing’s hand, threw it on the floor, and leaned back into his chair with a grin. “Just a bird feather. It is not like it is gold.”

He was about to cross his legs when he remembered that Fu Jing was essentially his provider. Thinking of the silver Fu Jing had sent, he reflected on himself and straightened his posture. “How is the Sun family going to run into trouble?”

He had just seen the Sun family’s son in a tavern a few days ago, engaging in a drinking contest.

“Sun Xinglei was caught pocketing money by substituting the timber meant for palace construction.” Fu Jing looked over Fu Sili’s clothes and smiled faintly. “Did you go off and get into a fight with someone?”

On the surface, Fu Sili was still running around with those profligates. Naturally, nothing good ever reached Fu Jing’s ears.

“How could I? I am not a troublemaker.” Fu Sili laughed, cupping his fists toward the outside in a mock gesture of respect. “As they say, harmony brings wealth. I want to get rich, I want to get rich, I want to get rich.”

Fu Jing: “…”

He chanted it several times to express his firm will to be kind to others. When he looked at Fu Jing again, he blinked. “Does Big Brother have any other important business?”

“Nothing else in particular.”

Despite saying “nothing else,” the man remained seated. Puzzled, Fu Sili rested his chin on his hand. “Since Big Brother is free today, did you miss me?”

Fu Jing showed no sign of annoyance. “I happened to be back and called you for a meal, while also seeing what you have been doing outside.”

Fu Sili said casually, “What else could I be doing? It has been peaceful lately; even if I wanted to cause trouble, I would have no opportunity.”

Speaking of trouble, something had happened in the manor recently. “A few days ago, Second Brother got engaged to the young daughter of a Hanlin official. Why hasn’t Fu Anhuai arranged a marriage for you?”

“Or are you already engaged?” He shook his head. “No, I have not heard of any women in your courtyard.”

Fu Sili was rarely interested in gossip regarding Fu Jing’s marriage and wondered when he might have a sister-in-law.

As he pondered, the corners of Fu Jing’s mouth curved up, but there was no smile in his eyes. Those narrow eyes gazed at him quietly.

Fu Sili froze slightly. Fu Jing said, “If you need it, I shall speak with Father and arrange a marriage for you as well.”

Fu Sili gave a dry laugh. “Let us leave that for Second Brother.”

Fu Jing did not stay much longer before returning to his study. Belatedly, Fu Sili realized that Fu Jing disliked that topic.

He wondered why his ability to read people’s expressions seemed to fail him only when he was in front of Fu Jing.

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