HUS Chapter 24: My Name is Can, Courtesy Name Huoshan
HUS Chapter 24: My Name is Can, Courtesy Name Huoshan
Dec 11, 2025
Butler Deng smiled and replied, "This old servant believes that this young man is quite ambitious and also very shrewd."
"Oh?"
"This person has only been by the young master's side for half a year. The young master recruited him merely to repay a life-saving debt. At that time, it was also a crucial moment when the Yu and Suo families were discussing the marriage alliance, so the young master couldn't possibly confide everything to him wholeheartedly."
"You're saying that he figured out the relationship between our Yu and Suo families by observing subtle clues himself?"
"Yes!"
"Continue."
"When the young master was murdered, the responsibility certainly couldn't be traced to a mere adviser. Moreover, an adviser... Strictly speaking, an adviser isn't considered a member of our Yu family, but rather a private consultant recruited by the young master himself. With the young master's death, this person has no more ties to our Yu family. But in this Longshang region, if he leaves the Yu family, what prospects does he have left? This person took an unconventional approach, using the method of implicating the Suo family in hopes of catching your attention, My Lord. One could say he has both courage and strategy."
Yu Xinglong smiled faintly, "Although this move was risky, once he gambles correctly, there's much potential for advancement."
"Exactly so. Therefore, this old servant believes this young man is ambitious and has methods. For someone so young to possess such scheming abilities is quite rare indeed."
"Mm..."
Yu Xinglong tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers, his gaze falling on a pile of ledgers in the corner of the desk.
These were the property and personnel account books that Yu Huanhu had sent people to transfer back.
Six major estates, totaling over fifty thousand mu of fertile land.
Three horse ranches, raising over fifteen thousand warhorses in total.
In addition, there were herdsmen, tenant farmers, and free citizens attached to these estates and ranches, totaling tens of thousands of people.
This was everything his son had exchanged with his life. Oh, plus a unanimously approved position as "heir."
Yu Xinglong smiled self-mockingly. These assets had barely been returned before people started eyeing them.
The concubine branches and side lineages, various major stewards, especially that incompetent fool Yu Xiaobao with his high aspirations but low abilities...
Who should manage these properties?
The several major stewards of the family, though trustworthy, were also untrustworthy.
They were trustworthy because these major stewards derived their authority from the Yu clan.
Therefore, they shared glory and loss with the Yu family.
They were untrustworthy because they had never clearly taken sides in the struggle between the eldest and second branches.
Now with the eldest son dead and the second son still young, it would be even more difficult to win them over to his side.
In this situation, handing these assets over to them would only strengthen their bargaining chips as they waited to sell to the highest bidder.
As for Yu Xiaobao and those concubine branches and side lineages of the Yu family, Yu Xinglong didn't consider them at all.
Having already suffered losses at Yu Huanhu's hands, how could he not learn his lesson?
For Yu Xinglong, loyalty was paramount, though capability was also indispensable.
People with loyalty and people with ability, he had no shortage of either under his command. However, finding someone who possessed both qualities simultaneously was difficult...
After pondering for a long while, Yu Xinglong suddenly said, "Little Deng, what do you think about having Yang Can go to the eldest branch as a steward?"
Deng Xun was slightly moved and said, "My Lord wishes to employ him?"
"That's right."
Butler Deng's graying eyebrows furrowed slightly, a trace of confusion surfacing in his eyes. For a moment, he couldn't fathom the deeper meaning behind the clan head's arrangement.
Deng Xun said hesitantly, "My Lord, this Yang Can has already thoroughly offended the Suo family. If My Lord wishes to use him, there's naturally no problem, but sending him to the eldest branch, wouldn't that..."
"Make the Suo family dissatisfied, make this old man's daughter-in-law dissatisfied, is that it?"
Yu Xinglong rose from his seat and walked to the window, standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
Spring light filtered through the carved window lattice, casting mottled shadows on his face.
"This old man will also allocate all the estates and ranches that Huanhu returned entirely to the eldest branch's management!
Under these circumstances, will the Suo family and this old man's daughter-in-law still feel dissatisfied?"
Butler Deng vaguely grasped Yu Xinglong's intention and said hesitantly, "My Lord intends to use the estates and ranches to pacify Mistress Suo's heart. And place Yang Can as a nail driven into the eldest branch, keeping him in reserve for future use?"
Yu Xinglong nodded slightly, "Little Deng, you still understand me best! Since this Yang Can is speculating to seek advancement, this old man will give him that opportunity. All these assets that Huanhu handed over, this old man will allocate entirely to the eldest branch. This way, the Suo family won't easily cause more trouble over a mere Yang Can."
A gust of wind passed outside the window, making the "iron horses" under the eaves ring out with tinkling sounds.
Butler Deng had already understood, a trace of a smile appearing on his face, "Whether the young mistress is with child remains unknown. Even if she's already pregnant, whether she can give birth to a male infant won't be known until nine months later."
Yu Xinglong returned to sit by the desk, picked up the thin porcelain teacup, and gently stirred the amber-colored tea, "If she bears a son, the Suo family will have reason to interfere more, even to scheme for the heir's position..."
Butler Deng said, "At that time, we can 'discover some new evidence' and have Yang Can come forward to implicate the Suo family again, thus severing the claws the Suo family extends."
Yu Xinglong said, "If Mistress Suo is not pregnant, or gives birth to a daughter, the Suo family will have no reason to make an issue of it, and this old man can reclaim these assets from the eldest branch at any time."
Butler Deng clapped his hands and laughed, "Second Master had to cut off his own arm to extricate himself, so he's bound to feel unwilling. If he wants to use these estates to cause trouble, this year's autumn harvest will certainly look quite poor. When that time comes, someone will have to step forward to take responsibility."
Yu Xinglong smiled faintly, "When the accounts are settled, it will be the end of the year, which is also when my daughter-in-law would give birth if she's pregnant..."
Butler Deng said meaningfully, "To sever the Suo family's claws, we need Yang Can. To give an explanation to all the branches and lineages, we also need a Yang Can."
Yu Xinglong nodded slightly, took a sip of tea, and only then said calmly, "Go make the arrangements."
"Yes!"
Butler Deng respectfully agreed, then asked in a low voice, "My Lord, should we send someone to the Central Plains to investigate the background of this Ding Hao and the Luo family?"
"No need."
Yu Xinglong said indifferently, "When the poplar trees turn golden yellow, it will be time for the melons to ripen and fall from the vine.
At that time, this fruit Yang Can, regardless of who we give him to, must be plucked. We surely won't let him rot on the tree, will we?"
...
The next day, Yu Xinglong received Yang Can again.
"Yang Can, you were someone my son Chengye valued, and you saved his life. This old man will not treat you unfairly."
Yu Xinglong said to Yang Can genially, "You were originally a person of the eldest branch. Now you can no longer serve as an adviser. This old man has deliberated repeatedly and wishes to appoint you as Second Steward of the eldest branch. Are you willing?"
Yang Can was secretly delighted. This chess move had indeed succeeded.
He didn't hide the surprise in his heart. Young people should show their emotions openly. The less deep one's scheming appeared, the more at ease those in power would feel about using you.
Yang Can gratefully clasped his fists and said, "Since the Clan Head trusts me so, this subordinate... this vassal dares not do anything less than devote himself entirely, serving with his very life."
From today onward, he too was qualified to consider himself a retainer of the Yu clan.
Although his position as steward was only an external affairs steward for Yu Chengye's branch, quite different from someone like Yi She who represented the Yu family and governed a region as an external affairs steward.
But regardless, taking this step was critically important, just like the barrier between clerks and officials. Only by crossing it could one find boundless opportunities.
Yu Xinglong seemed quite satisfied with Yang Can's pledge. Stroking his beard, he smiled and said, "This old man sees from your records that you're already twenty-three, past the age of capping. You should have a courtesy name to establish yourself in the world. Have you asked an elder to give you a courtesy name?"
Yang Can said, "When this vassal fled from the Central Plains to Longshang, I had not yet reached the capping ceremony, so I never asked an elder for a courtesy name."
Yu Xinglong pondered briefly, then nodded, "In that case, this old man will presumptuously volunteer. Your name is Yang Can. Can means like scattered sparks, yet scattered sparks must eventually spread into a prairie fire to achieve their potential. I have it..."
Yu Xinglong raised his eyebrows and said, "Your courtesy name, why not name it 'Huoshan'? What do you think?"
Yang Can cupped his hands and said, "A gift from an elder cannot be refused. This vassal is willing to take Huoshan as my courtesy name, to emulate the momentum of molten lava breaking through the earth, and harbor the ambition of erupting toward the heavens!"
Yu Xinglong smiled and said, "Excellent! Little Deng..."
Yu Xinglong turned to look at Butler Deng standing nearby, "Escort Huoshan to the eldest branch and help him settle in."
...
Inside the inner residence of the eldest branch, Xiao Qingmei was full of spirit and vigor.
She sat in a round-backed chair in front of the screen wall in the main hall, her legs crossed, holding a cup of tea in her hands.
Her small hand held the tea lid, skimming the tea water intermittently, her glance sweeping across the three rows and six columns of maids and old servants standing before her.
This manner, she had stolen from observing Nanny Tu.
When she was at the Suo family, she had witnessed Nanny Tu summoning the maids and old servants for a lecture.
About half of the maids and old servants standing before her were part of the Suo family's dowry, while the other half were originally from the eldest branch.
Xiao Qingmei's admonishment today was mainly directed at those who originally belonged to the Yu family's eldest branch.
"You've all been in these high-walled compounds for a long time. Whether you came with the young mistress from her natal family or were originally serving in the eldest branch, you should all understand the rules and know your place."
The little girl's tongue was quite nimble. These words came out clear and sonorous, like a famous performer warming up their voice, audible throughout the entire courtyard.
"Our young mistress has a gentle temperament and won't mistreat anyone, but we servants must also have some sense of propriety."
At this point, Xiao Qingmei took a sip of tea, looking rather old-fashioned.
"Rules are rules. The mistress's generosity is the mistress's grace, but we can't rely on being older, more familiar, or having served longer to become slack and lazy, or even outwardly obedient but inwardly defiant..."
"Pfft~" Xiao Qingmei flicked her tongue and neatly spat out a tea leaf, her sharp gaze sweeping out like a blade.
"From now on, anyone who dares to do such things, once this young lady catches you, you'll be throwing yourself onto the punishment board, and you can blame no one else."
Xiao Qingmei stood up, placed the teacup on the small table beside her, put her hands behind her back, and walked down the stone steps with her chest out and belly forward.
"From now on, the rules in this residence must be clear. The work that should be done, not a bit less is permitted. The words that shouldn't be said, not one sentence is permitted to spread. Whoever doesn't take this young lady's instructions seriously, the young mistress may be easy to talk to, but that doesn't mean this young lady is also easy to talk to. Since the young mistress has made this young lady the Second Steward of the eldest branch, certain people better weigh whether their bones are harder or the family punishment is harder..."
"S-Sister Qingmei…"
A pretty maid in blue clothing who looked even younger than Qingmei came quickly from the flower corridor, calling out to her.
"Remember to call me Second Steward on formal occasions!"
Xiao Qingmei's pretty face stiffened. This Qiaoshe was originally from the eldest branch, so Qingmei instinctively felt antagonistic toward her.
Xiao Qingmei put on a stern face and said in an affected tone, "What is it?"
Qiaoshe's eyes carried a trace of mocking amusement as she said loudly, "Second Steward, the Second Steward has arrived."
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