Early in the morning on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Yan Feng rushed into Yan Gui's yard.
Not finding anyone, he ran to the martial arts field, where Yan Gui was practicing archery.
As long as he has free time, Yan Gui exercises every morning and evening, never slacking off. He never thinks he is that good, at least that's the case with his father, General Yan.
But he knows that hard work can make up for lack of talent.
Yan Feng was so anxious that he jumped up and down, but Yan Gui still slowly and carefully shot the twenty arrows he had prepared, with each arrow aiming directly at the center of the bull's eye. If one arrow missed the target, he had to shoot the full twenty arrows again.
Everyone knows Yan Gui’s rules. No matter how urgent the situation is, unless human life is at stake, no one dares to disturb Yan Gui at this time.
"What's up?"
Yan Gui took the towel handed to him by the servant, wiped the sweat off his face and looked at Yan Feng.
"When did you make this sand table military exercise? How come I didn't know about it? If it wasn't for Xiao Qi who was playing so hard last night and refused to go to bed, I wouldn't have known you made this thing."
Yan Feng danced with joy, losing his usual calmness. "Don't tell me, this thing is really good. It can tell at a glance where there are mountains and gullies, where to ambush, and where to be on guard."
Yan Feng was still not satisfied with what he said, smacking his lips repeatedly, "I said, you should give me the sand table directly, but now you gave it to Xiao Qi. I tried to coax him all night last night but failed. He insisted that it was a gift from his aunt. You said this kid deserved to be punished, and he almost got beaten by me. Now make one for me quickly. I got Xiao Qi's sand table, but the little bastard put away all the flags and carriages, and I can't find them."
Yan Gui wiped the sweat off his face, put on his clothes, and strode out.
"Where are you going? You have to make a new set for me." Yan Feng followed behind.
After chasing all the way to the stable, Yan Gui untied Xiao Hei's reins, got up and mounted the horse: "Let's go to your home."
Yan Feng asked doubtfully, "Why are you going to my house? I came here to ask you to make a sand table for me."
Yan Gui didn't even listen, shook the reins, and rode away.
The sun had risen, and the snow on the rooftops looked dazzlingly white.
Ever since Yan Xiaoqi got the little carriage given by her aunt, she always puts it on the bed when she sleeps, for fear of losing it.
Yesterday, his aunt gave him another sandbox, and he wanted to eat, drink, defecate, urinate and sleep on it. The worst thing was that his father wanted to snatch it away.
Now that his father is gone, his brothers are surrounding his sand table, eyeing them covetously.
I have never seen such a father and such a brother. This is a gift from my aunt. It is given to me, not for you.
Just as he was staring at his brothers, Xiao Qi heard the maid report that General Yan had arrived. He couldn't help but burst into tears. Finally, his savior had arrived.
When Yan Xiaoqi saw Yan Gui, he loved him more than his own father. He rushed over and complained that his father and his brothers wanted to steal his toys, which were given to him by his aunt.
Yan Gui hugged the chattering Yan Xiaoqi, carried him on his shoulders and walked a few steps to the sand table, looking at it carefully and turning around to look at it.
This thing is amazing, it's so good, it couldn't be better.
He squatted down and flattened the sand table, creating Yancheng, Xiongzhou, and the mountains, rivers and roads in between.
Yan Gui's eyes sparkled, and he reached out and planted the Yan family flag from Yancheng onto the city wall of Xiongzhou.
If the Yan family can really recapture Xiongzhou, then they will be able to hold their heads high and avenge their previous humiliation.
That city had been seized by the enemy for more than 20 years. My grandfather was thinking about the city that had not been recovered until his death. If he could take it back, he, Yan Gui, could say in front of the ancestors of the Yan family without any shame that he was the best son of the Yan family.