The Young Master Educated in the West

Nhat Khang said nothing more. He merely cast a brief but razor-sharp glance at her, then departed as if she had never existed.

The heels of his boots struck the ground, leaving a faint trail of dust in the blazing sunlight.

Mam stood behind her, also keeping silent.

Only when the young master's figure had completely vanished did she let out a sigh of relief, tugging at Lua's sleeve:

"Oh my goodness... you are so unlucky to be questioned today of all days. If he asks for your name, he'll remember your face, you know."

Lua did not reply. She only nodded, her trembling hands placing the pot of soup onto the wooden table, her heart still echoing with his brief question, which felt like a silent warning.

As night fell, the small room was once again filled with the sound of steady breathing and the gentle rustle of a bamboo fan.

Ty, lying in the innermost corner, was already asleep, while Aunt Bay lay facing the wall, whether awake or dreaming, no one knew.

Lua lay on the outermost edge, right next to Mam. Tossing and turning, she finally turned over and whispered:

"Hey, Mam..."

"What is it?"

"This afternoon... when Young Master Khang asked for my name... I saw his face... he looked so educated. But... why is he so cruel despite looking like that?"

Mam let out a chuckle, the sound catching in her throat:

"Educated? Yeah, he just returned from studying in the West."

"Really?"

"Really. He left three years ago. I don't know what he studied, but I heard it was a prestigious school. Back then, he only returned once a year, staying for a few weeks before leaving again. But this time he's back for good, since three months ago."

"Why did he come back?"

"To help the master manage the plantation. Now he's basically the master's right-hand man."

Mam turned to lie on her side, her voice dropping lower.

"Ever since he came back for good, the tension in the house has been palpable. Everyone is stressed, and we have to be much more careful in everything we do."

Lua nodded, saying no more.

She remembered clearly that his gaze this morning held no malice or scolding; it was merely a question.

But it had made her heart leap into her throat.

A well-educated man, dressed so neatly with perfectly groomed hair... yet he could beat someone half to death over a single sack of rice.

What, then, was the point of education?

Mam spoke softly, as if to comfort her.

"Go to sleep. Worrying won't change anything. As long as we don't cross him, we'll be fine."

Lua turned to face the wall, closing her eyes.

A few days later, summer arrived, the sun scorching the earth from early morning. The air in the kitchen was thick with the smell of charcoal ash and sweat.

Just as Lua finished washing a batch of vegetables, she turned around to see Mam tying her hair up high, a paper fan in hand, her face crumpled in misery.

"Oh heavens, I'm going to shrivel up and die today. Aunt Bay, did the young master really order me to stand and fan the master for the entire afternoon?"

Aunt Bay nodded, her hands still slicing meat: