Talisman Haul from Xiu Clan!
Looks like Zhu-shi laoshi came back from a business trip from the Xiu clan and got a lot of neat things! However, his boss's sons took notice of his hefty haul...
Author's Notes
Writing this now because I want to turn it into a tiny comic before i forget~
"Hn~Hn~La~Ti~Da~~!"
Zhu-shi laoshi happily hums as he glides through the hallway in the Xiyong Estate.
He just got back from his trip to do business with the Xiu clan. In one arm he had a box full of Xiu clan trinkets and goodies that looked pretty good to be auctioned off for the auction house. Master Xiang would be pleased! Zhu-shi can feel his promotion drawing near. Now is finally the time for that raise! Keke!
He took a few evil-warding talismans from the box and spread them out to make it look like a fan and started fanning himself like he usually does. He continues to hum, a foxlike smile hidden behind the talisman fan.
As Zhu-shi continues to walk through the hallway to enter his office, he passed by one of the study rooms not realizing it was occupied...
"Hehhhh?? Wha...H-how did you get that answer gege?..."
Zhen-xi tilted his head to the side like a confused pup. After a few more seconds of thinking he gave up and looked at his older brother with puppy eyes.
Yoyo gave his younger brother an endeared smile, a rare sight others don't usually see. "You were close Zhen-xi."
He picks up the brush and points at Zhen-xi's mistake. "You just forgot to add this part here and then carry the rest over to the calculation."
"Ohhhhh...Sighs...Arithmetic is so hard gege...I don't know if I'll ever be of use to the family business wahhh!"
He plops on his back, landing on the comfy cushions, arms outstretched as if making a snow angel. He looks up at Yoyo.
"BUT! I'm glad you're my older brother Yang-gege! Because! Because! You're super smart!! AND RELIABLE! AND SUPER COOL!"
He paused.
"AND SMART! Father doesn't have to worry about the business ever! Because when you grow up you'll be in charge and then our family name will be known to all the land!!!"
Yoyo shakes his head in embarrassment, his brother looks up to him way too much.. "Don't say you won't be of use, Zhen-xi. You're just as important to us, father, and me. You'll do an amazing job. I can already see the potential in this moment." He gently ruffles his brother's hair.
"Ehh..," Zhen-xi pouts. "You're just being nice!"
"Nonsense." Yoyo puts down the brush and leans back on the cushions as well, slightly sinking into the comfy silk fabric.
"Say, we can take a break for now. It's been a few hours already. How about a couple of pork buns over to the kitchen?"
"Oo! Yea--!"
Before Zhen can fully answer, the two brothers heard a faint hum getting louder in the hallway.
Just then Zhu-shi laoshi appears before them in the doorway looking surprised at the sight of his master's young sons.
"Oh.....you're back...." Yoyo's shoulders drooped.
Even though his face barely showed much emotion, the look of un-amusement was clearly evident this time.
The fox-like smile morphed into an expression of starry-eyed tears of happiness.
"WAHHHHHH MASTER YANG!! MASTER ZHEN!! I'M BAAAACK!!!!" Zhu-shi runs towards them, his arms still carrying the box of goodies and talisman fan.
As if on reflex, Yoyo snatched the brush in front of him and pointed it towards Zhu-shi laoshi, holding it like a sword.
"Not one step closer, laoshi."
He wasn't getting any cringey gross hugs from this man any longer. And he especially wouldn't want to subjugate his younger brother with the same horrible treatment.
However, Yoyo took notice that Zhu-shi's arms were occupied for hugging. He was carrying a bunch of stuff. "What do you have there? Little souvenirs from your trip I assume?" Yoyo quickly deduced.
"Oh?" Zhu-shi held out the box in front of him. "Nonono, these aren't souvenirs, Master Yang, FUFU! These are SPECIAL ONE OF A KIND ITEMS! Super valuable, exceptionally rare artifacts I received from the Xiu clan!" He lowered the box for the younger one to see.
Inside were a bunch of shiny trinkets, miniature statues, wants of some kind, jade pieces, and other flashy items and jewels inside.
Zhen's eyes sparkled like jewels. "WOAHHHHH THEY LOOK SO COOL!!!!" Yoyo peeks into the box as well, still unamused. It all looked like a bunch of junk to him.
Zhu-shi chuckles. "Hehe isn't it? Not just any man can get their hands on them! But of course, a pro business man like myself was able to win these over without much effort! No hefty bargain is too high for me! Fufufu." He continues to fan himself with the talisman fan with a theatrical display. The gold paper foil reflected against the sunlight.
"Ooo!!!! NO WAY!!! ARE THOSE LIKE THE PAPER THINGIES TO SHOO THE GHOSTIESS???!?!?" Zhen pointed at the talismans, trying to reach them from Zhu-shi's hands.
"Ah, yes Master Zhen!" Zhu-shi kneeled down and gave a few talismans to Zhen-xi. "These are the very talismans the Xiu clan use to ward off evil spirits!"
His voice lowered and fell to a whisper, "But between you and me, these very talismans can also ward off not just spirits but any evil that takes form! Be it spirit, item, animal, and even human! IT'S THE ULTIMATE PROTECTION!"
Even though he was whispering, Yoyo could still hear him and sighs, arms crossed. "Laoshi, you always tend to exaggerate."
The two continue to ignore him and Zhen examines the talismans carefully. "Woah, how do these stick though? They're not sticky!!!"
Yoyo turned to his brother. "Zhen-xi, you shouldn't believe everything that man sa--"
"HUP!!!"
"E-eh?"
Zhen quickly slapped a talisman on his brother's face. As if by magic the talisman stayed in place in front of Yoyo's face, blocking his vision. Yoyo blew at the talisman, causing it to rise above his face only for it to float back down and cover him again.
"Pfft! HAHAHA YANG-GEGE YOU'RE A MONSTER NOW GAOOOOO~!" Zhen hooted.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Zhu-shi's boisterous laugh echoed through the room. "M-MASTER Y-YANG!! HAHAHAHA ACKACLAWFL A MONSTER!!!! PROTECT ME MASTER ZHEN!!" He hid behind the child.
Yoyo peeled off the talisman. Annoyance plastered on his face.
"The only thing we need protecting from...IS FROM YOU." Yoyo aggressively slapped the talisman on Zhu-shi's face.
"AAIEEE!" He fell, his back on the floor. Zhen was still dying in the background.
Yoyo crossed his arms and straighened himself, reassuming his dignified air. "I take it that those special items of yours shouldn't be held by us children. You were on your way to your office, correct? I assume you were planning to instigate these items as valuables for the auction house?"
"..Hn, yes Master Yang." A few tears forming in Zhu-shi's eyes. Master Yang's deductions are on point as always.
Meanwhile, while Yoyo was lecturing Zhu-shi laoshi, Zhen was sticking a bunch of talismans on his brother's back, decorating the full perimeter...
((zhen in the BG: ( •̀⩊•́ )/ ( •̀3•́ )// sticky stick!)
There seemed to be a bunch of noise coming from one of the study rooms?
Wu Xiang-Xiyong, the head of the household and father to both Yoyo and Zhen, noticed the sounds echoing through the hallway.
He walks towards the noise, accompanied by a couple of servants. Xiang stops at the study room and peers into the doorstep.
He chuckles at the sight before him.
He sees his sons and his employee, Zhu-shi, all covered in talismans.
"Having fun aren't we?" A low chuckle escaped once more.
His icy blue eyes met with Yoyo's ruby red ones. A cold second passed by and he continues on his way.
Yoyo, embarrassed being seen by his father, quickly removes all the talismans sticking on him and his brother. He forgot to remove another talisman on his face, but can be seen beet red under it. Both anger and embarrassment clearly evident. A far stretch from the usual stoic expression that is usually seen. He pushes Zhu-shi laoshi towards the door.
"Argh! We're trying to study!!"
The door slams. Zhu was left sitting outside, a bunch of talismans still stuck him. He was a shrine.
"A m-monster indeed."
:')
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epilogue:
The chaos now over, Yoyo heaved a hefty sigh. "Augh..." He regains his usual stoic expression.
Yoyo peered at himself in the mirror turning to look at his back.
"How many of these did you stick on me Zhen-xi?"
"A lot,,ehehe," Zhen replies as he was helping his brother remove the talismans off his back.
Yoyo sighs again as he gathers all the talismans and props them altogether on the table.
"I hope I'll never get these things on me again. They're a nuisance."
"Haha. You make a funny monster though!"
Yoyo shrugs. "Let's wait for Zhu-shi lousy get to his office. Then we retrieve the pork buns."
"Eh? Let's go now! I'm hungry gaoo~~!!" Zhen stuck an extra talisman on his head and stretched out his arms.
Yoyo facepalmed.
----In his office-----
"Ufufu~ The young masters are lively as always." Zhu-shi places the box on his table and retrieves his usual fan.
He looks out the window staring at the view of all of Wu City from high up.
"Then again, it was the first time I've seen Master Yang agitated." He imagines Yang's panicked angered face again.
The fox-like smile returned beneath the fan.
"I'd like to see that again ufufu..."