Little s.h.i.+tou was crouching in front of the entrance and combing Tiny's fur with his little hands. When he heard the trotting sounds of horses, he lifted his head and looked towards the direction of the sound. He noticed that the youth leading the group looked somewhat familiar, so he couldn't help but squint his eyes to check more carefully.

　　"Young Master, that five-room house with a courtyard in front is Uncle Yu's residence. From this servant's inquiry, there were only a few households within the entire village with such a big house, but…" Third Young Master Zhou's personal manservant, Simo, paused hesitantly for a moment.

　　"What?" Third Young Master Zhou had already recognized the little kid in front of the door from afar. It was Xiaocao's foolishly cute younger brother. This should be the place!

　　Simo also saw the little boy dressed in a patched-up green quilted clothing and sighed, "With Uncle Yu's abilities and the size of this house, the Yu Family should have decent living conditions. However, the clothes on his children were even more shabby than the other children in the village."

　　"Look, isn't that Miss Xiaocao's younger brother? His worn-out clothes should have been thrown out long ago. Recently, they should have earned at least sixty to seventy taels from selling game to Zhenxiu Restaurant. It's almost the New Year, but they're still unwilling to buy a new set of cotton-padded clothing for the children…"

　　Zhou Zixu frowned slightly and said, "Uncle Yu doesn't look like someone who would mistreat his children. Could it be that they have some undisclosed difficulties?"

　　Having personally experienced the struggle for power and constant scheming within his family, Zhou Zixu would think deeply about every situation he encountered. Wasn't his own family like this? Had his grandparents not been around to control the family, with the display of his talent in business over the past two years, the second branch would had been devoured by his greedy relatives long ago. Uncle Yu probably also had his own difficulties that he couldn't express.

　　"I remember you! You're the third young master of the Zhou Family, right?" Little s.h.i.+tou stood up and raised his head with a beaming smile.

　　Zhou Zixu dismounted from his horse, ruffled the little guy's messy hair, and said with a warm face, "Little s.h.i.+tou, who are you calling 'Third Young Master Zhou'? Call me 'Third Brother Zhou'! If you make a mistake again next time, then I'll punish you!"

　　"What kind of punishment?" Little s.h.i.+tou blinked and asked curiously.

　　"I'll punish you…" Zhou Zixu took a box of pastries from Simo's hands and smiled, "You will be forbidden to eat the pastries that Third Brother Zhou brings over!"

　　Little s.h.i.+tou eagerly stared at the exquisite food box within Third Young Master Zhou's hands and slowly read the name on the box, "Lian… ji… Pastry Shop! Is it the 'Lianji' with the biggest storefront and the most expensive pastries in town? Doesn't this box of pastries cost a lot of money?"

　　Zhou Zixu was somewhat amazed and said, "Oh, Little s.h.i.+tou is so young, but you can already read?"

　　Little s.h.i.+tou shyly scratched his head and said, "When playing at Wuzi's house, I learned a few words from Brother Wen…"

　　"Little s.h.i.+tou is so smart! I heard that your second sister is sick?" Zhou Zixu asked.

　　"Yes! She's very sick. If Eldest Granduncle hadn't lent us money, my second sister might have…" The little fellow lowered his head and appeared to be in low spirits. He and his older sister were both very obedient, but why does their grandmother dislike them?

　　"s.h.i.+tou, who are you talking to? Aren't you going to hurry up and gather some firewood while the weather is good? All you know is how to play! Everyday, you're only concerned about eating and not doing any work! Moreover, we have to provide for a chronic invalid! I must owe you people something!" Madam Zhang's jarring shrieks traveled over.   

　　Zhou Zixu couldn't help but furrow his brows, 'He's such a young child, yet he's already being ordered to work?'

　　Just as he was deep in his thoughts, a mean looking old lady with a fierce gaze came out of the door. With her hands on her waist, she made a stance of a shrew who loudly cursed in public.

　　Seeing three imposing people in front of her, Madam Zhang forced down the curses that was about the come out of her mouth. In front of the courtyard was Zhou Zixu who was obviously born of n.o.ble status, Madam Zhang's originally threatening manner immediately withered down. With her shoulder drooped and head shrunken, she asked in a timid voice, "You… Who are you looking for?"