“小 master, please feel free to ask anything. As long as this old servant knows, I will tell you everything without holding back.” The burly, barbarian-looking Steward Mason, with muscles all over his body, spoke in a refined manner, which actually had quite a comedic effect.

Peter Brooks chuckled and placed the medicine bowl on the small table by the bed. A maid nearby stepped forward and carefully tidied up the items on the table. Although these servants all had an indescribable air about them, as if they were somewhat afraid of their young master who couldn’t lift or carry anything, this made Peter Brooks a bit frustrated. Thinking back to his previous life, he’d always gotten along well with people—at least, no one ever plotted to smash him over the head with a brick, nor did anyone treat him like a ferocious beast.

Looking at the little maid in front of him, who was probably only thirteen or fourteen, her movements and expression while tidying up were as if she were roasting meat at the edge of a tiger’s den—nervous and terrified. Could it be that the original owner of this body had committed some heinous, outrageous crime against this little sister, who was still in the midst of puberty, neither curvy nor shapely?

Just as Peter Brooks was staring at the little maid and letting his thoughts run wild, Steward Mason at his side seemed to sense something off in his young master’s gaze. He quietly leaned in to Peter Brooks’s ear and whispered, “Young master, did this little maid do something to upset you? This old servant will give her a good scolding for you later.”

Hearing this, and seeing the complicated expression on Steward Mason’s face, the little maid seemed frightened by his words as well. Her grip slipped, the tray tilted, and the lacquered bowl fell to the floor. The little maid’s legs gave out, and she simply knelt on the ground, trembling. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with fear and terror, and the other servants nearby also looked at Peter Brooks with fear on their faces, which made Peter Brooks even more depressed.

What’s with these people? He hadn’t acted like some lecherous fiend, nor had he threatened the girl in any way, yet in their eyes, he seemed like a demon king who had just crawled out of hell. Peter Brooks immediately realized that these people had completely misunderstood his pure intentions.

“What are you all doing? Steward Mason, I was just thinking that this maid looks too skinny, and I was wondering if the rations we give the servants aren’t enough. Such a small matter shouldn’t make her react like this, should it?” Peter Brooks could only force a bitter smile and explain to Steward Mason in front of him. He was new here and didn’t want to leave everyone with a bad impression. At the very least, it was better to be liked than feared.

After hearing Peter Brooks’s words, everyone present seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, all looking visibly relieved, which only made Peter Brooks more curious. Could it be that the original owner of this small body he now inhabited was truly cruel and violent, killing without reason?

Chapter 3: Better to Be a Young Master Than a Master

Although the Steward Mason in front of him was truly not much to look at, Peter Brooks’s modern education had taught him not to judge a book by its cover. After all, this was the chief steward of the Chen household, and anyone who could hold such a position was surely no ordinary person.

Upon hearing Peter Brooks’s words, Steward Mason finally put on a look of sudden realization, his face full of emotion. “Both the old master and young master are so kindhearted. How could the rations not be enough? Every servant in our household gets a pound and a half of millet per day. In ordinary families, who could eat their fill like they do here in the manor?”

“A pound and a half per day?” Peter Brooks was startled. Damn, that’s more than I can eat! Even back in medical school during military training, the most he could eat in one meal was half a pound of rice, which was enough to make him roll his eyes from being so full. He hadn’t expected that people in ancient times had even bigger appetites than he did. Just imagine a little girl, about the size of a modern middle schooler, eating eight ounces of millet in one meal—damn, they’re all big eaters!

Looking up, he saw Steward Mason looking confused, and suddenly remembered that the weight of a “jin” in ancient times varied a lot. Maybe a pound and a half here was about the same as a modern pound. He’d have to check for himself someday. For now, it was best to keep a low profile and not give himself away. If he made Steward Mason suspicious, he might call that old physician to force more medicine down his throat, and that would be truly unlucky.

“Heh, it’s nothing. I just thought this child looked too thin. Besides grain, she should eat more meat… Well, Steward Mason, let’s get back to business.” Peter Brooks shamelessly declared in front of everyone that he had no such lustful thoughts. Besides, as a twelve- or thirteen-year-old kid, even if he wanted to, he didn’t have the ability. He’d have to wait another two or three years, until his body was more developed, before thinking about the grand direction of human reproduction and development.

※※※