CH 74

TL: Moonlit

The incident of the head of the Yan family apologizing to the young female from the Xie family at the Prince’s residence has indeed been leaked. The reason behind it can be easily discovered if one is curious enough. This news has spread, and they have all warned their own children not to speak thoughtlessly when they are out and about.

They definitely don’t want to go and apologize to the younger generation. They have no face left to show.

Haven’t they noticed that the head of the Yan family hasn’t been seen outside for a long time?

They are worried about running into acquaintances and being questioned without a proper response.

As for Yan Qi, the main culprit, he has been strictly restricted. Only when he learns to speak properly and behaves will he be allowed to go out.

The originally arranged marriage prospect has been ruined because of this incident.

As they approach adulthood, they will have to rely on forced matches to solve their lifelong affairs.

As for the business of the Yan family, it has also been affected. People believe that their family has lost their moral education, and doubts have arisen about their products as well.

Suddenly, their business becomes difficult. Yan Shan’s plans to open another branch have been put on hold.

But the most troublesome of all is Bai Xing. Among the prominent families in the capital, all the well-known female members know about his close relationship with Yan Qi. Now that Yan Qi has caused such a scandal, even their perception of Bai Xing has changed. Some even ask him if he has visited Yan Qi in light of the incident.

After the downfall of the Bai Mansion, Bai Xing has lost his previous confidence and arrogance. With the incident involving Yan Qi, he now fears running into familiar faces when he goes out.

They were all once prominent and proud young females in the capital.

Now, they have become negative examples for teaching children in each household.

However, it has prompted prominent families to pay attention to the education of their female offspring.

The occurrence of an incident like Yan Qi’s ultimately reflects the failure of their own upbringing.

Perhaps they were too indulgent, too lenient.

That’s why they acted so arrogantly when they were out and about.

But how should they educate them?

If they had experience, they wouldn’t have allowed their children to turn out this way. Some perceptive individuals have noticed that the young female from the Xie family, who used to be quite willful and reckless, has completely changed since being with the Princess. Rumor has it that he will soon be opening the first milk tea and dessert shop in the capital with the Princess as the store manager.

If only the Princess would be willing to impart some parenting methods to them.

And so, a peculiar proposal requesting the Princess’s guidance in child-rearing experiences appeared on William’s desk.

When the news reached Lin Su’s ears, even he, despite his composure, couldn’t help but find it absurd.

The thoughts of these prominent families in the capital are quite strange!

How does he suddenly seem like someone knowledgeable about parenting?

He doesn’t even have a child!

William smiled as he looked at the sulking Lin Su, rarely showing a childish side. It was endearing: “If you don’t want to, you don’t have to pay attention to it.”

Lin Su caught sight of the smile in William’s eyes: “No, don’t they want to know how I educate them? The ranch construction has just been completed, and they need workers. Let each family send their female offspring who needs to be educated to work.”

William thought about the various female offspring, including Su Ge and Xie Bai, who had come to work at the ranch from the beginning with Lin Feng. He nodded, “That’s a solution. Let’s settle it this way. Since they made the request, they won’t be allowed to back out.”

Originally, they were worried that the palace would not accept this matter, and they were thinking of submitting proposals multiple times. Unexpectedly, within a week, they received a response.

The efficiency was even higher than before.

But when they opened the reply, the prominent families were dumbfounded.

The reply letter stated: “Notify all prominent families to bring their female offspring who will receive education to assemble at Ai Su Ranch on XX date before 8 a.m. Refusal is not allowed…”

Shouldn’t the gathering point be at the Prince’s residence?

Isn’t Ai Su Ranch located on North Star? Is the Princess planning to establish a ranch on the capital star?

Well, that’s great. Does that mean the people in the capital star will also be able to enjoy meat?

But why do they have to go to a ranch?

The day arrived quickly.

On that day, the elders of each family personally drove to the outskirts of the West City District. If there were no special reasons, they wouldn’t bother coming to desolate places like the West City District.

Yan Qi was brought out by Yan Shan early in the morning. He hadn’t been out for quite some time, and he had lost weight, looking mentally unwell and gloomy.

“Why did you bring me here?” Yan Qi looked puzzled as he was suddenly brought to the outskirts of the West City District, watching the hovercars descending from the sky and the bewildered female offspring getting off the cars. He instinctively sensed an unusual atmosphere.

Yan Shan patted his head, “Your grandfather feels incapable of teaching you, so he specially enrolled you here to learn. No matter what happens during this period, endure it, understand?”

“Learn?” Yan Qi was momentarily stunned upon hearing those words. Even when he was confined to his home, nobody came to teach him. How could he suddenly be expected to learn here, in this kind of place, with whom, the air, soil, and dilapidated buildings?

Yan Shan didn’t know much either, but he couldn’t let Yan Qi know about it. Despite being like this, this little brat was still so unlikeable. “Why are you talking so much? Look, isn’t that Bai Xing? I didn’t expect him to be sent here too. Don’t you want to go say hello?”

Yan Qi looked at Bai Xing, who coldly glanced at him and then averted his gaze as if pretending not to see him. He instantly felt deflated. “Forget it, he’s definitely mad at me.”

With such an incident happening, Bai Xing must have been affected as well. It’s better to keep their distance for now.

Seeing that he still considered his friends, Yan Shan felt unexpectedly relieved. At least it showed that Yan Qi wasn’t beyond redemption.

In front of the vast Ai Su Ranch gate, more and more people arrived, but there was no sign of anyone coming out.

Some of the offspring couldn’t help but complain, “They woke us up early in the morning just to make us bask in the sun here?”

“Yeah, what’s the point? I didn’t even have time to drink my nutritional supplement this morning, and now I’m starving.”

“When can we leave? I’m tired of standing. Can I go sit in the car for a while?”

The adults hadn’t complained yet, but the young offspring were getting impatient one by one.

The adults from each family frowned and pulled their own offspring aside to educate them.

When Lin Su got off the hovercar, Xie Bai and Su Ge followed behind him. The three of them walked through the crowd and nonchalantly pushed open the gates of Ai Su Ranch.

The previously noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

Yan Qi’s expression darkened when he saw Lin Su again. He turned to leave, but Yan Shan grabbed his arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Brother, do you think I haven’t been humiliated enough?”

Yan Qi’s eyes turned red, and tears of grievance welled up.

“You think what happened before was humiliation?” Obviously, Yan Qi’s confinement for this period of time hadn’t had any effect, and he hadn’t reflected on his own problems in the slightest. “When you ridiculed Xie Bai’s contract plant, weren’t you humiliating him? Now that you feel uncomfortable, have you ever considered others? Stand here honestly and don’t go anywhere. Do you think you still have a choice? Let me tell you, this learning experience is something you have to accept, whether you like it or not. It’s not a joke.”

Yan Shan spoke to him so sternly for the first time, and Yan Qi didn’t dare to act up.

The gates of Ai Su Ranch opened, and Lin Su turned around and scanned the people gathered outside the courtyard. He carefully counted the number of individuals and was surprised to find that there were nearly sixty young offspring, a number that exceeded his expectations.

It seemed that the prominent families in the capital star were indeed numerous.

“Xiao Bai, record their names.”

“Okay.”

While Xie Bai was registering, Lin Su spoke up, “I won’t talk about why you’re here. Let me explain the rules here. Starting today, all young offspring who enter Ai Su Ranch will be provided with accommodation. You can go home to visit your families once a week, but for the rest of the time, it will be closed off, and parents are not allowed to visit either. If you can’t accept this, you can leave now.”

Lin Su’s words stunned the people from these prominent families. Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, the Princess, this ranch is empty. How are we supposed to live here?”

On the way here, Lin Su had already roughly planned and explained it to Su Ge.

Now, upon hearing this question, Su Ge continued, “Do you see the two-story building over there? It was originally meant as a dormitory for the ranch staff, but now it will be used as your dormitories. Your parents can go home and pack up. Remember, each person is only allowed to bring two sets of bedding, bedsheets, pillows, and five changes of clothes, as well as a one-month supply of nutritional supplements. Excessive items are not allowed. We will inspect, and any violators will lose one point. Each person starts with a base score of 10 points, and if you lose all your points, you can go home. Increasing your score will earn you additional rewards, which will not be disclosed for now.”

Just hearing all this made it clear that the days here wouldn’t be easy. Many young offspring were already complaining, and some even cried and demanded to go home.

The faces of the prominent family adults lost their luster, and they changed from their previous indulgent and doting manner to a stern and oppressive one, quelling the complaints.

After Su Ge finished speaking, Lin Su spoke again, “In addition to the above requirements, there is one more thing. After entering the ranch, you will wake up at 7 o’clock in the morning for a run. After 8 o’clock, it’s your work time. Your residence and learning privileges here will be earned through labor. Don’t ask me what kind of work it is, because you will do whatever I ask you to do. After entering the ranch, you are not allowed to disobey any orders. If you can’t comply, play tricks, or cause trouble, once discovered, no matter which family you come from or what background you have, you will be kicked out.”

“Now, parents, please go back and pack their things. Young offspring who are entering, follow behind Xie Bai and line up in three queues to come in.”

Hearing Lin Su explain so many rules and seeing their own spoiled offspring meekly lining up in queues, about to leave, some parents suddenly felt reluctant. Shouldn’t they just take them back? They were just being disobedient, did it mean that they couldn’t afford to keep them anymore?

As soon as this thought arose, they remembered the words “no refusal allowed” written in the reply letter.

That’s right, this opportunity was requested collectively by them. How could they go back on their word?

They could send them to see how it goes first. If it didn’t work out, they could bring them back later.

With such thoughts, the adults from the prominent families got in the car, turned back three times, and gave three reminders before going home to pack their belongings.

William sent Bruno and the personal guards to help distribute the dormitories for these people.

The returning parents could only hand over the bedding and clothes they brought to the person responsible for verification at the entrance. Even if they had a little more, everything was thrown out, and the severity was comparable to entering the military.

For a while, the mood of these prominent family adults became complex.

They didn’t know if their decision was right or wrong.

But at this point, it wasn’t easy to back out. The relationships among these prominent families seemed harmonious, but who hadn’t badmouthed someone in private?

If they regretted it at this point and went back, they didn’t know how it would be talked about.

The collected luggage was labeled with name tags and sent to the students’ dormitories in batches.

The young offspring from these prominent families, who had never done chores at home, didn’t know how to make beds.

They anxiously and uneasily unpacked the bundled bedding and haphazardly spread it on the beds. The remaining items were randomly stuffed into the cabinets.

As soon as Yan Qi entered, he sensed that something was off in the atmosphere inside the room. There were a total of 62 people, with six people assigned to each dormitory and the remaining two forming one dormitory.

He was assigned to the first room on the left-hand side of the second floor. When these people saw him enter, they rolled their eyes and made disdainful and cold snorting sounds. Their expressions varied, but they all showed their disdain towards him.

Someone directly said, “Aren’t you, Yan Qi, feeling ashamed now? If it weren’t for you, how could we all end up like this?”

“Kong Pei, what gives you the right to speak here? Wasn’t your brother dismissed from his position because he offended the princess? Who’s better than who?”

“Why are you still unsatisfied, Yan Qi? What point did I make that was wrong?”

“Exactly, it’s clearly your fault. If it weren’t for you, why would we be here!”

With a swooshing sound, the five people surrounded Yan Qi in the center, ready to teach him a lesson and show him who’s boss.

Yan Qi was already in a bad mood, and now that he could vent his anger by fighting, it was exactly what he wanted.

Just as the battle was about to break out, Lin Su, who had come to check the situation, knocked on the door panel. “Since you’re so spirited, why not go outside and run a few laps? Bruno, keep an eye on them. Run ten laps, and those who can’t finish are not allowed to sleep until they do. Keep running until you’re done. Off you go.”

After speaking, Lin Su smiled at the six people and turned to continue walking to the next dormitory.

The sudden turn of events made the six individuals tense up. There was no time to explain, and the punishment had already been handed down.

The soldiers assigned by Bruno urged them to leave the dormitory and line up, running in the large courtyard under the scorching sun.

Some of the prominent family adults who hadn’t left yet hurried over to inquire about what was going on. Why were they running right after moving in?

Their offspring were weak, could they handle it?

No one explained to them, and they were even urged to leave quickly.

On the way back, the adults who had personally sent their offspring for “transformation” felt complicated emotions akin to squeezing a large mansion into their hearts.

However complicated it may be, the situation had come to this point, and from now on, they could only rely on their young offspring themselves.

Lin Su inspected the dormitories and found that none of them could properly make their beds. He called over the guards and had them demonstrate how to make a bed and set a standard. Those who didn’t meet the standards for the dormitory’s internal affairs would be punished by running laps. The punishment would be lifted when they met the standards.

After Lin Su finished speaking, he had someone write down these rules and post them at the entrance gate. He instructed someone to teach them how to clean up the internal affairs and then left them alone.

He only notified them that they would have to wake up at 7 o’clock the next morning for a run and start working after 8 o’clock.

After Lin Su and his team left, the young offspring who had just arrived in this unfamiliar environment looked at each other, feeling bewildered and uncertain about the future.

“What do you think he means by ‘work’?”

“It’s obviously manual labor. What else could it be?”

“Of course, I know it’s manual labor, but what kind of work?”

“Who knows? It can’t be anything good. I just can’t understand why a princess like him would bother with our affairs.”

“I think we can’t blame him for this. We wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for Yan Qi’s mistakes. It’s because of him that my father insisted I come here, and I’m getting married next month.”

“You’re right!”

“I heard that Yan Qi and the others in his dormitory were punished with running laps for fighting, and they had to run ten laps. The area is so large, it must have exhausted them. I feel like we should just behave, avoid trouble, and get through this period of time.”

…

Lin Su came out of the dormitory, leaving two guards to stand watch.

Xie Bai was watching Yan Qi and the others running laps when he saw Lin Su approach with a smile. “Lin Su, are you done with everything?”

“Yes, things are almost settled for today. Did the seeds arrive?”

“They arrived earlier and are in the warehouse. But Lin Su, are you really planning to have them help with planting?” These seeds were all purified by Lin Su himself, indicating their significance.

Xie Bai couldn’t help but worry about entrusting them to these pampered young nobles.

“It’s fine. If they damage anything, their families will have to compensate.” Lin Su wasn’t worried at all about these noble families not being able to afford it. “I sent a message to my male father and your male father yesterday.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Bai’s eyes lit up. “Did Uncle say when he will come?”

“He said he still has some unfinished matters to attend to, so we have to wait. It might be around the middle of this month. But there’s no rush. You don’t have to come here tomorrow either; there’s plenty to do at the milk tea shop.”

Thanks to Xie Bai’s assistance, Lin Su was able to handle so many tasks. It would have been overwhelming for him to handle everything alone.

“Alright, then let Su Ge accompany you. He knows how to plant no matter what.”

After all, Su Ge had done plenty of this kind of work back on the North Star.

After a brief conversation, both of them focused their gaze on the six individuals running laps.

Initially, the six young ones seemed energetic, but now they were in a sorry state. Lin Su called over the soldier in charge of supervising the run. “How many laps have they completed?”

“Only four laps.”

Lin Su nodded. “Tell them to come here.”

The soldier shouted loudly towards the six individuals running in the distance, and they paused before running toward Lin Su.

Gasping for breath, drenched in sweat, and pale-faced, they appeared on the verge of exhaustion.

“Stand in formation,” Lin Su said softly, observing their efforts to straighten their bodies despite their fatigue. “How are you feeling? Tired?”

They nodded weakly and hoarsely replied, “Tired.”

“Do you still have the energy to fight?”

They shook their heads. “No.”

At this moment, all they wanted to do was sit down and lie down. They just couldn’t bear to run anymore.

“Do you know how many laps you’ve run just now?”

Again, they shook their heads. They had lost track amidst the exhaustion. They just felt like they had run many laps.

“You’ve completed four laps in total. That means you have six laps remaining. Starting tomorrow, while others run one lap, you will run three laps. You will continue until you complete the remaining six laps. Any objections?”

The six individuals, afraid of Lin Su’s punishments, shook their heads one after another. “No objections.”

Despite appearing similar in age and not significantly different in size, they couldn’t help but feel the overwhelming presence emanating from Lin Su.

“So, now, tell me why you were fighting,” Lin Su said.

This time, all six individuals pursed their lips, unwilling to speak up.

Lin Su smirked and sneered, “Do you think I wouldn’t know if you didn’t say anything? It’s because of Yan Qi, isn’t it? You think that you’re standing here today because of Yan Qi’s mistakes?”

Yan Qi opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but ultimately couldn’t find the words to say.

Lin Su glanced at him and continued, “I can tell you now that while there may be some connection between you standing here and Yan Qi, it has more to do with your own issues. If you were good enough, your parents wouldn’t have collectively proposed to His Majesty, requesting me to educate you. I could have refused, but then I thought…”

Lin Su paused for a moment, and a smile slowly spread across his lips, revealing adorable dimples on his cheeks. He appeared beautiful and approachable.

However, in the eyes of the six individuals, that smile inexplicably turned wicked.

“Seeing that you’re clearly unhappy but can’t do anything about it is quite interesting. Let me tell you, there’s only one way to leave this place: either become outstanding or remain here as my free labor. Got it?”

It was wicked to bully others and then ask if the ones being bullied understood.

The six individuals who had just been punished didn’t dare to retort and nodded one after another. “Got it.”

“Very well. As long as you listen obediently and work honestly, I will reward you. But if not, there are still many punishments like today’s. Alright, go and rest now.”

As Lin Su waved them off, the six individuals stood for a moment before reluctantly shuffling away, pushing and shoving each other.

Observing the previously arrogant young ones now wilted like frostbitten eggplants, Lin Su found it quite amusing.

Tugging at Lin Su’s sleeve, Xie Bai said, “Lin Su, thank you for showing mercy earlier.”

Otherwise, he might have been standing here facing punishment as well.

Lin Su smiled and ruffled his head. “Let’s go, we’re heading back.”

He instructed the guards who were staying behind not to allow the young ones inside to leave without permission. If anyone violated this, they were to note down the names.

Returning to the Prince’s Residence, Lin Su happened to run into the Great Fox who had just returned from the palace.

Upon seeing him, William directly held Lin Su’s hand and asked, “How was it? Did you have fun today?”

“Quite well,” Lin Su smiled and leaned closer. “What did His Majesty say?”

“He mentioned that some noble families who had returned from the ranch inquired about canceling their proposal. They were worried that their own children, with their weak constitutions, wouldn’t be able to handle it and would regret it. His Majesty rejected their request,” William replied with a smile in his eyes. “As if things would be so easy. They think they can come and go as they please?”

Lin Su had anticipated that the noble parents would have regrets, but he didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

He found it amusing. “I can understand their feelings. After all, they have raised their children with their own hands. But rest assured, when they see them again, they will surely be taken aback.”