“Little Uncle? Hey? Little Uncle?”
“What’s up?”
Pei Yan spoke as he frowned slightly. He seemed to hear a crying sound.
At the same time, Pei Haochuan’s voice continued through the phone: “Ahem, it’s not a big deal…”
“Not a big deal? Hanging up then.”
“Hey, wait, wait, wait… I wanted to borrow Zhuying from you, Little Uncle!”
“Zhuying?”
There really was crying.
Pei Yan stood up, his tone casual. “What do you want Zhuying for? Don’t tell me it’s just to go riding.”
“Ah, Mulin and I are heading to… this afternoon…”
“Dongjiao Racecourse?”
Shen Ju blinked. “What do you want me to go there with you for?”
Han Chengfeng had only just coaxed his sister back to normal when her loud voice nearly deafened him.
The uncle who had been kicked by Shen Ju climbed up from the bushes, covered in grass and mud, looking disheveled as he came over to apologize. He didn’t dare utter a single harsh word, thinking he’d really hurt the little girl. After fumbling around, he pulled a phone with a shattered screen like a spiderweb from his pants pocket. He gave Shen Ju a resentful glance before adding Han Chengfeng’s contact info.
The uncle decisively transferred 20,000 bucks to Han Chengfeng first, telling him to come find him anytime if there were issues. So Han Chengfeng decisively let the uncle go check on his back injury.
After promising to buy his sister Han Chengyue a new hanfu outfit, he finally calmed her down. Then, while gripping his sister’s braided pigtails, Han Chengfeng efficiently launched his “recruit little bro” plan.
“What else? Big bro’s taking you to have some fun.”
Han Chengfeng struck a pose like they were old pals, then made an “I get you” face. “I know you’ve just been brought back to the Guan Family, so you gotta tread carefully with everything. Guan Mulin grew up there from a young age—no blood ties, but all that time together bred feelings. Plus, he’s tight with Pei Haochuan and Ke Sheng. Compared to that, what do you have…”
Han Chengfeng dragged out his words.
Then, like he was dropping a surprise: “You’ve got me!”
Shen Ju: “Huh?…”
Han Chengfeng wore a reliable, affirmative expression. “Shen Ju, you and I are on the same side!”
“Here’s the deal: Pei Haochuan, Guan Mulin, and I are meeting up this afternoon at Dongjiao Racecourse for a race—just like that fight the other day. Loser apologizes. How about you come with me?”
Han Chengfeng thought that even if Guan Shen Ju was useless at everything, just showing up with him would make for a hilarious look on Guan Mulin’s face.
“No worries, you don’t have to actually do anything. Just treat it like going to play.”
One hand still tugging his sister’s braid, Han Chengfeng patted Shen Ju’s shoulder with the other. “I’m genuinely on your side here. I feel bad for you! I care about you! So…”
“What are you guys talking about?”
A voice came from nearby.
Pei Yan walked over with his phone, raising a brow at Shen Ju and Han Chengfeng.
He glanced down at the little girl whose braids Han Chengfeng had messed up—probably the one who’d been crying earlier, with tear tracks still on her face.
Han Chengfeng hadn’t expected to run into Pei Yan here. His mouth hung open: “Pei-Pei-Pei…”
Pei Yan nodded at him. “Just call me Pei Yan.”
Han Chengfeng mumbled, “Pei… Pei-ge.”
Holy shit! Did I just mention Pei Haochuan? I did, right?! Did Pei Haochuan’s little uncle hear that?! Why is Pei Yan even here?!
Han Chengfeng wanted to add Shen Ju’s contact and chat with him privately.
But his sister refused to budge, her eyes darting from Shen Ju to Pei Yan and back, glued to the spot.
Traitor! Turning her elbow outward! That pissed him off!
Pei Yan hadn’t hung up the call—Pei Haochuan was still listening on the other end. He’d failed to convince his little uncle the whole way, but now it seemed he’d overheard Han Chengfeng’s voice. Once he confirmed it was that scumbag, he immediately yelled from the phone… “Little Uncle? You ran into Han Chengfeng? Little Uncle, how’d you even bump into that guy? Don’t pay him any mind!”
Pei Yan glanced over and tapped the speaker button.
Shen Ju noticed: “…”
Hmm, Pei-ge’s such a considerate move?
Han Chengfeng didn’t catch the detail because he’d clearly heard Pei Haochuan’s voice and exploded. “Fuck! Pei Haochuan, you bossing around your little uncle now? He ignores me if you say so?”
Pei Haochuan choked on the other end: “No, Little Uncle, I…”
Pei Yan looked at Han Chengfeng. “You’re all heading to Dongjiao Racecourse this afternoon?”
“Yeah, and I was thinking of bringing Guan Shen Ju along too.”
Han Chengfeng dropped all pretense, blurting it out boldly. “Guan Mulin’s going. I want Shen Ju on my team—we’ll race against Pei Haochuan and Guan Mulin.”
Pei Yan turned to Shen Ju. “You going?”
Shen Ju opened his mouth to speak.
996: [Host, say yes!]
[This Han Chengfeng guy’s spot on—totally gets it! Guan Mulin has Pei Haochuan; you need someone too. Han Chengfeng—he’s your solid ally!]
[Can’t ride? No biggie. You’re just there to mess with Guan Mulin. Back then, your mom gave you both the same pocket money—that’s bullshit unfair! Guan Mulin’s hogged way more Guan Family cash growing up. Why should a fake young master get the same as you now that you’re back?!]
[Be unreasonable, bully him behind his back, take back the money your mom gave him!]
Nearby, Guan Mulin—who was tutoring Pei Haochuan—froze: “…”
You can hear it over the phone too?
Electromagnetic waves or what…
But Guan Mulin pursed his lips, wondering if Shen Ju really felt upset.
After all, treating everyone equally was sometimes the real unfairness.
Plus, what this 996 said was right—everything he’d gotten growing up rightfully belonged to Shen Ju…
[But Brother 996…]
Shen Ju’s hesitant voice rang out: [It’s been so long already. Why didn’t you have me kick up a fuss from the start, stop her from giving money to second bro? Isn’t this just hindsight bitching?]
996: […]
Guan Mulin let out a “pfft” chuckle.
Pei Haochuan shot him a look: You still find this funny?
Guan Mulin: But he calls me second bro.
Pei Haochuan, full of confusion: What? No clue.
Guan Mulin nodded: After all, you don’t have a little brother.
Pei Yan couldn’t help but quirk his lips. He spoke up: “If you’re going, I’ll go with you.”
Shen Ju’s eyes lit up instantly. “Bro, you’re coming with me too?”
It was like he’d found someone close and dependable, instantly making him agree without hesitation. This unguarded closeness—even skipping the “Pei”—made it feel like Pei Yan’s presence alone was a safety net. That trusted sensation hit Pei Yan like a kitten’s paw brushing against him, and he couldn’t help raising a brow slightly.
“Yeah.”
Pei Yan nodded, his words loaded. “After all, I still can’t leave you alone right now.”
Pei Haochuan: “…”
What the hell? Can’t leave him alone?! Why do I not get any of this shit?!
“Oh, right—I keep a horse at Dongjiao Racecourse too. Her name’s Zhuying, undisputed king of the stables there. This afternoon, I can teach you to ride her.”
Pei Haochuan wailed: “Little Uncle!”
Pei Yan hummed, either not getting it or just now realizing: “You still haven’t hung up?”
Pei Haochuan choked: “I…”
“Hanging up now. See you this afternoon.”
Click. The call ended.
Pei Haochuan stared at his phone, unable to believe it.
Snapping out of it, he turned to Guan Mulin, hoping for shared outrage: “Mulin, you heard that, right?! My little uncle’s been fooled by Guan Shen Ju! He’s lending Zhuying to him for a ride—not even to me for racing! And Guan Shen Ju’s teaming up with Han Chengfeng—he’s clearly out to get you…”
Pei Haochuan paused: “Mulin, you listening to me?”
Guan Mulin: “I am.”
Pei Haochuan: “…Then why are you smiling?”
Guan Mulin coughed lightly: “It’s fine. Can’t borrow Zhuying? No sweat.”
“No, I mean Guan Shen Ju and Han Chengfeng…”
“Oh, right.”
Guan Mulin nodded. “My little brother’s coming to the racecourse this afternoon too. I’ll call ahead and have them prep a riding outfit for him.”
Pei Haochuan sucked in a sharp breath, grabbing Guan Mulin’s shoulders and shaking: “Mulin! Mulin, what’s wrong with you? Snap out of it, Mulin!!”
That afternoon, Dongjiao Racecourse.
Pei Yan drove Shen Ju and Han Chengfeng to the spot.
But when they arrived, they found Qin Soxi had dragged Guan Muya along too.
Time rewind.
Because Guan Mulin had tipped off the group in the Special Incident Investigation Bureau chat.
They’d agreed earlier: anything on Shen Ju and this 996 System, share in the group to gather intel and figure out countermeasures. So after pinning down Pei Haochuan’s apparent seizure, Guan Mulin posted in the group.
Crew Member Little Mulin: [Heard Chirp-Chirp and the ox-horse communicating again. Can’t hear if not in the same place, but phone calls work.]
Guan Mulin summarized the earlier call.
He mentioned their afternoon plans at Dongjiao Racecourse and how Shen Ju, egged on by System 996, might hassle him over money.
Bureau Chief Qin: [Sigh, my bad for not thinking it through—letting the ox-horse slip through again.]]
Bureau Chief’s Wife: [Honey, it’s not your fault. This stuff’s impossible to balance perfectly.]]
Bureau Chief Guan: [This ox-horse thing’s a total bad apple! Corrupting kids! Gotta eliminate it! [Voice-to-text: It even picks up tone and adds exclamation points?]]
Bureau Chief Qin: [Yes, Dad. Dad, calm down.]]
Crew Member Little Yao: [Maybe one of us should head to Dongjiao Racecourse this afternoon to check things out in person.]]
The group was debating who to send when “Crew Member Little Mulin” popped up again.
[No worries, Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Big Bro—don’t stress too much.]
[I think Chirp-Chirp’s got a good head on his shoulders.]
Crew Member Little Mulin followed up leisurely: [He even calls me second bro, after all.]
The rest: “……”
![Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life]](https://i1.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/farmm.jpeg?resize=151,215 "Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life]")
