After the two entered, they directly sat on the chairs at the head of the table. Huang Youde sized up Zhu Kaishan's family, while the Yun Family steward observed Zhu Gouwa.
"Zhu Kaishan, your third son has been favored by the Yun Family, and they wish for him to become a Disciple of the Yun Family. Are you willing?"
Huang Youde asked.
"We are willing," Zhu Kaishan quickly replied with a slight bow.
As a poor family, facing the wealthiest town chief in Huanglong Town, there was an inherent sense of humility ingrained in them.
"Alright, here are two pre-drafted contracts. You just need to press your handprint."
"From now on, your third son will live with the Yun Family, severing all ties with your Zhu Family. However, to compensate you, the Yun Family will give you one hundred taels of silver as a one-time payment."
Huang Youde briefly explained the contents of the contract.
Upon hearing Town Chief Huang personally state there would be one hundred taels of silver, Zhu Kaishan and his wife, along with their eldest son, felt reassured.
As for the second brother and fourth sister, they were merely bystanders.
Zhu Gouwa was stunned when he heard that they were buying him for one hundred taels of silver.
Immediately, a hint of joy also appeared in his heart.
Because a family that could produce one hundred taels of silver was definitely wealthy, he might get to eat meat many times a year in the future.
Furthermore, he wasn't particularly satisfied with his current name.
Even his playmates called him Gouwa Ge; it would be utterly embarrassing when he grew up.
So, he could accept a name change, and even looked forward to it.
Zhu Kaishan stepped forward two paces, directly bit his finger, and following Huang Youde's guidance, pressed it firmly onto both copies of the contract.
While he was pressing his handprint, the Yun Family steward directly signaled to the servant outside.
The servant understood, and quickly left.
Soon after, he returned carrying a wooden tray, on which twenty ingots of silver were placed.
These were specially exchanged by the Yun Family for smaller, broken silver pieces, making it easier for Zhu Kaishan's family to carry.
Zhu Kaishan didn't stand on ceremony, directly picking up the silver and stuffing it into his clothes near his chest.
After he finished stuffing it, he tidied his clothes again, ensuring no outward signs, then stepped back two paces to stand with his family.
"Alright, Zhu Kaishan, you can leave through the back door now," Huang Youde said, seeing Zhu Kaishan put away the silver, and prepared to usher them out.
"Wait a moment. Let this young friend kneel and kowtow three times to his parents, as a thank you for their nurturing grace!"
"After this, he will be a Yun Family Disciple, and will have no relation whatsoever with your Zhu Family."
The Yun Family steward spoke up, stopping Zhu Kaishan who was about to leave.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Gouwa turned to face his parents, directly knelt down, and then heavily knocked his head against the blue bricks paving the ground.
Zhu Kaishan and Zhu Liu Shi, suppressing their tears, accepted their third son's kneeling ritual.
If their family had been a little better off, they would not have been willing to send their son to another family, change his surname, and sever all ties with the Zhu Family.
After kowtowing, Zhu Kaishan did not look at Zhu Gouwa again, and directly walked out of the side hall.
Zhu Liu Shi, holding her fourth sister, followed closely, with the eldest brother and second brother behind her.
The eldest brother glanced at his third brother, whose forehead was covered in dust, and a hint of gratitude showed in his eyes.
While the second brother also understood, he didn't feel it as deeply as his parents. After also glancing at his third brother, he quickly followed his family out of the side hall.
In a few breaths, only Huang Youde, the Yun Family steward, and Zhu Gouwa remained in the hall.
To be honest, at this moment, a hint of regret was in his heart, but he didn't show it.
"What was your original name?" the Yun Family steward asked.
"My original name was Zhu Gouwa," Gouwa replied very softly.
"Hmm, if only the surname is changed, this name doesn't sound good. It's better to change it completely."
The Yun Family steward muttered softly to himself, then closed his eyes and began to ponder.
Ten breaths later, he opened his eyes again and said,
"From now on, you shall be called Yun Sheng!"
"A good name! Clouds rising, rising step by step!" Huang Youde interjected before Zhu Gouwa could speak, his flattery quite obvious.
"Thank you, Uncle Yun, for bestowing this name," Yun Sheng said, then knelt down again towards the steward, preparing to kowtow.
"Nephew Yun, this is not allowed!" The steward quickly got up and helped Yun Sheng to his feet.
"Yun Xiang, please take Yun Sheng to wash up first. He will temporarily stay at the Huang Family Estate these few days. After the 'Xuan Cai Hui' (Talent Selection Gathering) is over, we will return to Yun Family Estate together."
The steward instructed the servant outside the door.
After this servant entered, he led Yun Sheng away.
"Congratulations, Steward Yun, on finding such a talent!" Huang Youde flattered again.
The Yun Family steward waved his hand and said,
"Town Chief Huang, I hope you can keep the matter of Yun Sheng joining the Yun Family today a secret."
"Of course, my lips are sealed. I know nothing at all."
Upon hearing this, Huang Youde quickly assured him.
On the other side, Yun Sheng was led to a side room, where servants then prepared bathwater for him, and the servant named Yun Xiang even brought him a set of new clothes.
He also brought him a steaming bowl of rice, on which there were actually a few pieces of meat.
Yun Sheng's throat moved a few times. He disregarded all etiquette, directly picked up the bowl, and began to devour the food.
He had eaten little for breakfast and nothing for lunch, so he was terribly hungry now, and most importantly, there was meat.
Yun Xiang saw Yun Sheng eating with relish and didn't stop him. He even thoughtfully poured a cup of tea and placed it nearby.
Dozens of breaths later, a large bowl of rice was consumed, causing Yun Sheng to involuntarily let out a satisfied burp.
Seeing Yun Xiang beside him, he uncharacteristically blushed, directly picked up the teacup, and drank water to hide his embarrassment.
"Little Brother Yun Sheng, for the next few days, you will temporarily stay here. You must not leave the Huang Family compound, otherwise Steward Yun will trouble you."
Yun Xiang advised during Yun Sheng's break from drinking water.
He could only listen and nod.
After drinking the tea, Yun Xiang tidied things up and left, while Yun Sheng began to take a hot bath in the side room.
For the next few days, Yun Sheng lived the happiest life he had experienced since birth.
Yun Xiang would deliver his meals every day, and there was meat almost daily.
Three days later, several carriages departed Huanglong Town. Only Yun Sheng was selected from the entire town.
Upon arriving at Nanyang County, they met up with several other teams and together headed towards Yun Family Estate, hundreds of miles away.
In the county town, Yun Sheng met another selected child, Yun Yang, who was about the same age as himself.
The two of them boasted to each other about their past heroic deeds in the same carriage.
For example, robbing bird nests, or catching crabs of a certain size.
The two of them competed with each other in this manner until they arrived at Yun Family Estate.
After getting off the carriage, Yun Sheng saw the other Yun Family Disciples who had passed the 'Xuan Cai Hui' (Talent Selection Gathering) from other places, a total of eight people, all boys.
After entering the estate, all ten were brought before the Estate Master, Yun Hanqing, and each underwent another test.
A white ball, two feet in size. Each child being tested spread their hands, palms pressed against the white ball.
After the test, the surface of the white ball would glow with several colors.
Some showed four colors, and some even five colors.
Yun Sheng and another person named Yun Hua both showed three colors, but the colors were different.
Yun Sheng's were gold, blue, and red, while the other's were gold, green, and yellow.
After the test, Yun Hanqing had someone make a bracelet engraved with their names for each of them to wear on their wrists.
Then, the allocation of living quarters began. Yun Sheng and Yun Hua were assigned to the same room.
