The other children also shouted and swarmed after them, and the youngest, Third Sister’s daughter Eleanor Ford, happily followed behind the group of kids.

“These children.” The Young Family shook her head with a smile.

Everyone headed outside, with Eldest Sister and Second Sister supporting The Young Family. Henry Howard still looked as vigorous as ever, striding at the very front with a commanding presence. Younger brother Brian Howard followed at the back, and while no one was paying attention, he quietly said to Samuel Howard, “Big Brother, are you really all right now?”

Samuel Howard smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’m fine, you rascal.” He gave him a light pat.

Brian Howard scratched his head and grinned foolishly. He was rather gentle by nature and usually didn’t talk much, but his care and admiration for Samuel Howard were genuine. These days, he often came by to check on Samuel Howard. Although Samuel Howard used to be a bit fierce with Brian Howard, he still looked after his younger brother, and the bond between them was mutual.

Now, Samuel Howard would naturally continue to pass on this warm baton of affection.

Their conversation was overheard by Third Sister Claire Howard up ahead, who turned back and smiled at them. Samuel Howard noticed a trace of melancholy in her smile and understood what was on her mind.

Third Sister had always been gentle and quiet, the type to suffer in silence rather than speak up. After giving birth to her daughter Eleanor Ford, her belly had remained still ever since. In ancient times, it was said that of the three forms of unfilial conduct, having no descendants was the worst. Not being able to bear a son brought her trouble with her husband’s family. Facing their cold looks every day would wear down anyone’s spirits, and since Third Sister always kept things bottled up, her mood grew even gloomier.

It’s often said that daughters are their mother’s little confidantes, and when a daughter has troubles, she usually tells her mother. The old father Henry Howard was rather rough around the edges—telling him wouldn’t help, and he might even agree with the in-laws. Back when The Young Family gave birth to three daughters in a row, Henry Howard also looked displeased, and it wasn’t until she had Samuel Howard that The Young Family finally turned her fortunes around and could hold her head high.

Sometimes Third Sister would quietly complain to The Young Family at home, but The Young Family had no solution—this was the same everywhere in the Ming Dynasty. In the past, even when Samuel Howard knew about it, he didn’t take it to heart. But now, Samuel Howard was different. In his previous life, he had always valued family, and after coming to the Ming Dynasty, his spiritual anchor and roots were in this family, so he naturally cared more about the fate and feelings of its members.

He was determined to help Third Sister—he just had to figure out how.

Persuade her husband’s family that having a son or a daughter is the same? In the Ming Dynasty, that kind of talk wouldn’t work.

Convince them that having a daughter is better than a son? This wasn’t the Tang Dynasty, the era when Emperor Xuanzong doted on Yang Guifei.

Use his fists to show her husband’s family the strength of her natal family and force them to treat her well? That… might actually work.

In any case, he was set on helping Third Sister. As for how, he’d take his time to figure it out.

As Samuel Howard was thinking, he suddenly heard two timid voices nearby: “Y-Young master…”

Chapter 3: Expectations

Samuel Howard turned to look and saw two servants, dressed as houseboys, approaching nervously. From Samuel Howard’s memories, he knew these were the two who had accompanied him on his recent outing as bodyguards. One was named David James, the other Little William.

David James was 19 this year, and true to his name, he was dark-skinned, sturdy, and honest. Little William was 20, fairer in complexion, and more quick-witted.

One was the son of Jiang Baihu, the commander of the Wuzhaibao garrison, and the other was the son of Yang Baihu, also from the garrison. Both had been chosen as Henry Howard’s houseboys from a young age. After Samuel Howard was confirmed as a candidate for the position of sheren a few years ago, Henry Howard assigned the two to be Samuel Howard’s personal attendants.

They knew that Samuel Howard was destined to inherit the position of commander of Wuzhaibao, and if they served him well, they would become his trusted aides—their futures were in Samuel Howard’s hands. Naturally, they served him diligently and dared not slack off.

Samuel Howard’s courage and strength also inspired both fear and admiration in them. Although he was younger than both of them, neither dared to look down on him. They waited on him hand and foot, always afraid of displeasing him.

At the beginning of the year, when Samuel Howard went traveling, the two served as his personal bodyguards and did their best, which pleased Samuel Howard greatly. The journey went smoothly, and both hoped that after returning to Wuzhaibao, not only would the young master rely on them more, but the master would also reward them.

Who could have expected disaster to strike? Samuel Howard had an accident, and Henry Howard flew into a rage, punishing them severely. If not for Jiang Baihu and Yang Baihu pleading on their sons’ behalf, the two would have been dismissed from the houseboy team.

But in the end, everything depended on Samuel Howard’s recovery. Samuel Howard was Henry Howard’s greatest hope. If anything happened to Samuel Howard, Henry Howard would lose all hope and would certainly not treat Jiang Baihu and Yang Baihu kindly.

David James and Little William, as the sons of Baihu, were not as destitute as ordinary military households, and joining Henry Howard’s houseboy team was not just for a meal. But in the garrison, if you weren’t a trusted houseboy of the commander, there was little future to speak of.