Chapter 15: Observing the fool part 2

Zhen zoya stiffen and clenched harder at the wooden box. He know that whatever it was inside the wooden box will decide how much humiliation he will receive for the rest of the year.

His steps get heavier as he step forward. He can feel the mockery of all the eyes that was on him and knows that they were all waiting for him to make a fool of himself in front of the patriarch.

"His gift must be extraordinary!"

"Hahaha! It must something so rare!"

"Maybe it was something so amazing!" 

" I'm sure it was something only someone like him can get hahhaha!!"

Zhen zoya can hear all the sarcastic remarks behind his back, he try his best to ignore them.

He kneeled in front of the patriarch without saying anything and present the wooden box that even him don't know the content is. Zhen zoya keep his eyes at the floor waiting for the humiliation he was about to face.

One of the servant took it and bring it to the patriarch. The whole hall was quiet and all excited to see what the useless disgrace of the Zhen clan had brought.

Then they heard the patriarch gasped. They all looked at the patriarch, even Zhen zoya raise his head and look at the patriarch.

"Lord patriarch, what was inside the box." One of the elder speak. He rarely see the patriarch have this reaction.

'could it be that the waste gift was so horrible that it even surprised the patriarch?' they all have similar thoughts but dare not to say it openly.

All the people who hated Zhen zoya to the bone couldn't help to let out a sneer thinking that the disgusting waste of the family will finally be kicked out.

"What's your name, child." They hear the patriarch said with a cold and indifferent voice.

Zhen zoya trembled and spoke " My name is Zhen zoya, lord patriarch." He said in a indifferent tone not letting anyone know his emotion.

"Where did you get this thousands year old ginseng?" The patriarch word made everyone's eye widen even Zhen zoya.

"Did I heard it right?" 

"A thousands year old ginseng?"

"How could a waste like him get such treasure?"

"Could it be he stole it?"

While the younger generation murmurs with each other the elders look at the content of the box and saw a golden colored ginising that length at least an arm of a infant.

Zhen zoya stiffen and look at the patriarch and the wooden box. His back start to sweat.

'could.. could it be the servant stole it and try to frame me for it?' he thought and start cursing at the servant and himself thinking he was so stupid to accept it.

"Zhen zoya, where did you get the ginseng?" He heard a cold voice behind and recognize it, it was the voice of his father.

"B-big brother... could it be you stole it?" He heard Zhen shifen's soft but accusing voice.

'could it be her?' he thought.

"Ha!what did we expect to a disgraceful wastrel bastard like him?" He heard someone said.

"How disgusting. To such length just for favor." 

"He's really a stain to our Zhen clan!"

"We should kick him out!"

" Yeah! Kick him out!"

Almost everyone shouted for him to be kicked out. Zhen zoya clench his fist and bite his lip to stop himself from crying.

'ha...what did I expect to this family.' he said to himself and ready to accept to be kicked out of the clan. 'It was the same anyway. I was still alone even if I get kicked out or not.'

"Silence!!!" The loud voice of the first elder silence everyone as his powerful qi oppressed everyone present. "Do you all think that a thousands year old ginseng can be stolen that easily?" He said with intimidation.

Zhen zoya was shock at his words and was surprised that someone was trying to defend him.

"But, how can someone like Zhen zoya can have something like that?" Someone on the crowd yell with all his might.

"Why don't you listen to the boys explanation first before you let your speculation ran wild." Zhen Moli said in a calm voice.

"Boy, where did you get this ginseng?" The first elder asked.

Zhen zoya immediately thought of a answer inside his head. " My servant notice that my sickness was acting up this morning and go to the back of the mountain to find some herbs, when he came back he has a various of herbs and this ginseng. He said he will cooked it for me but I thought it would be a waste so I decided to give it to the patriarch. Neither me or my servant has any idea that it was a thousands year old." Lies came out of his mouth smoothly without any stuttering.

"I see. You have a loyal servant. A golden ginseng like this can be sold for a thousands of taels of golds yet he bring it to you." The first elder said.

The other elders also nod their heads. The patriarch look at the thousands year old ginseng.

"Didn't you said that your sickness was acting up this morning?" Patriarch said.

"Yes, lord patriarch." Zhen zoya answer respectfully.

"As I was please with your gift, from now on your free to take any medicinal herbs that you wish from the clan's herbs inventory. I will also sent some gift to your manor tomorrow morning." The patriarch said and close the lid of the wooden box.

"You may all go back to your manors." The patriarch said and walked out followed by the elders.

Zhen zoya make way and bow to the patriarch and elders. He can hear some disagreement from his back but he couldn't care about them since his mind still in frenzy.

He couldn't believe that the patriarch give favor to him for the first time. He also said that he can take any medicine he wished from the clan's herbs inventory and send him gifts.

He was so busy with his thoughts that he never realized when he arrived at the door and step out of the hall.

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Zhen zoya watch as his servant clean while muttering something. Li weiyu will look at him from time to time and asked if he needs anything.

Then, he watch him go to the kitchen and then he heard some clattering. He didn't go to the kitchen to watch since the servant might get suspicious of him.

'You have a loyal servant.' he remembers the word of the first elder and let out a snort.

'This fool must be up to something it's better to observe first.' he thought and decided to watch the servant first to know what is he planning to do.

After some time, Li weiyu came out of the kitchen carrying a wooden tray and put it down on the table in front of Zhen zoya.

" Your meal is ready, young master." He said with a smile. 

Li weiyu made a simple knife cut noodles and stir fry vegetables that he brought from the system mall.

Zhen zoya looked at the food with doubt then look at Li weiyu who was still standing in front of him waiting for him to pick up the chopsticks. He was thinking that this servant might poison the food but the smell of the food made his stomach grumble.

He decided to throw aside his doubt and eat his fill first. If he die today at least he was full, also, the servant who poison him will also die not long after him. The meal was not poison and surprisingly tasty.

'Hmm..if this fool wants to act as a loyal servant then let's see how good his acting skills are.' he said looking menacingly at Li weiyu already planning how to make things difficult for the servant.

Li weiyu: What the fuck is wrong with him again?(⁠-⁠_⁠-⁠;⁠)⁠・⁠・⁠・

System#17: 乁⁠(⁠ ⁠•⁠_⁠•⁠ ⁠)⁠ㄏ