Yan Liqiang had dinner at the restaurant attached to the Ganzhou Guild Hall, where he ate authentic Ganzhou roasted whole lamb.
In addition to Lu Pein and Shopkeeper You, there were three other people sitting at the same table invited by Shopkeeper You. Those three people were also from Ganzhou and ran some businesses in the imperial capital. One of them, surnamed Wu, was a fur merchant, one surnamed Liu, was a timber merchant, and the other surnamed Wen, was a medicinal materials merchant. Furs, medicinal materials, and timber were also what Ganzhou was known for. Apart from these, although Ganzhou had a lot of products, only a few of them could do business in the imperial capital.
In this era, people who go out like to stick together. People from the same clan, school, classmates, and hometown are most likely to gather together to form an intricate network of relationships. Yan Liqiang has no objection to this, because unless he is a god who is detached from the mundane world, he will inevitably come into contact with these things.
The few people who knew Yan Liqiang's identity were very respectful to him at the dinner table, even a little flattering. Yan Liqiang was also humble and kind, not arrogant or impatient, and was quite polite and courteous to the fellow villagers from Ganzhou. In addition, with Lu Payen and Manager You acting as lubricants, the dinner was quite enjoyable. At least that was the case for Manager You and the other managers, and they were very satisfied.
Before he came into contact with these fellow townsmen, Yan Liqiang had not realized how special his current identity as the Eagle Captain of the Imperial Cavalry and Infantry Division was. But after having dinner today, Yan Liqiang realized that in the eyes of his fellow townsmen in Ganzhou, his current identity was more than special, it was simply awesome.
Because according to Shopkeeper You, there were only three people in Ganzhou who could get a position in the Imperial Capital before he came to the Imperial Capital. Among these three people, one was a doctor in the Imperial Capital's Ministry of War, the chief officer of the Ministry of War's Chariot and Liberation, surnamed Huang, and a fifth-rank official. Another was a member of the Secretariat, surnamed Cheng, and a sixth-rank official. The last one was a judge in the Imperial Hospital, surnamed Ma, and also a sixth-rank official. These three people were almost the three flags of Ganzhou people in the Imperial Capital's officialdom. They were not only famous among Ganzhou fellows in the Imperial Capital, but also had great reputations in Ganzhou. Shopkeeper You would visit the homes of these three people every year during the New Year and other festivals and give them some local specialties from Ganzhou.
After these three people, Yan Liqiang is the fourth native Ganzhou person who has made a name for himself in the system of the Imperial Capital. The youngest of the three, Ma Yuanpan, is already in his forties, so Yan Liqiang is still the youngest among them.
Because you are young, you have a bright future.
Yan Liqiang thought about it carefully and realized that if he didn't have the relationship with Sun Bingchen and didn't leave such a deep impression on Sun Bingchen on the way to the Imperial Capital, and if he didn't make a little contribution by chance, it would be really difficult for someone else to get a position in a place like the Imperial Capital when he first arrived. This is the result of everyone's opportunity and luck. Those who have the ability, but don't have this opportunity, can't get the position they have today, and those who have the opportunity, but don't have the ability, can only miss the great opportunity in front of them. He just has a little ability and opportunity, so he can gain a foothold in the Imperial Capital at a young age, which makes people envious.
The meal lasted until dark, and everyone left with great satisfaction.
Because it was getting dark, Manager You wanted to ask the guild's carriage to take him back to Luyuan, and Yan Liqiang did not refuse. When Yan Liqiang left, Manager You, Lu Peien and several managers at the same table came to see him off.
As soon as Yan Liqiang got on the car, Shopkeeper You handed him a package, "Brother Liqiang, this is a small gift from me and several shopkeepers. We congratulate Brother Liqiang on his promotion to the Eagle Captain of the Imperial Horse and Infantry Division, and bring honor to our fellow townsmen in Ganzhou. We also wish Brother Liqiang a bright future. This is our friendship as fellow townsmen, and there is absolutely no other meaning. Please don't refuse it, Brother Liqiang!"
The small package pressed on Yan Liqiang's hand, but he could not feel how heavy it was, only a few pounds. As soon as Yan Liqiang weighed it, he knew that the bulk of the package should be silver bills. Otherwise, the gift money sent by several shopkeepers in the Imperial Capital would only add up to dozens of taels of silver, which was too shabby and did not match the identities of several shopkeepers who could do business in the Imperial Capital.
Lu Payne smiled and said nothing.
"Since it is the intention of the shopkeepers, Li Qiang will not be hypocritical!" Yan Li Qiang took the package with a smile, "I am usually in Luyuan. Due to my duties, I don't come to the Imperial Capital City very often, so I am not well-informed. If there is anything about the Ganzhou Guild Hall in the future, just send someone to Luyuan to deliver a letter to me!"
Hearing what Yan Liqiang said, Manager You and several other managers smiled knowingly. After a few polite words, they personally escorted Yan Liqiang out of the Ganzhou Guild Hall and watched Yan Liqiang's carriage leave.
…
"Brother Lu, does Brother Li Qiang have a wife in Pingxi County?"
After the other shopkeepers said goodbye and left the Ganzhou Guild Hall, Shopkeeper You pulled Lu Payen aside and asked him a question in a low voice.
This question is the biggest regret for the Lu family. Hearing the question from Shopkeeper You, Lu Payne sighed in his heart, but with a smile on his face, "Could it be that Shopkeeper You has some idea in mind?"
Manager You laughed and shook his head. "I am just curious about Brother Li Qiang, who is so young and promising. But it is too early to have any idea. Brother Lu has learned a little about the situation in the Imperial Capital. It is a fight between dragons and tigers, and no one dares to get involved. If Brother Li Qiang did not work in the Imperial Capital, he would be a good son-in-law that is hard to find even with a lantern. But it is precisely because Brother Li Qiang has a bright future in the Imperial Capital that I dare not be too presumptuous..."
"I see!" Lu Paien nodded, "Brother Li Qiang doesn't have a wife in Pingxi City, but..."
"But what..."
"But brother Li Qiang is obsessed with cultivation and has a very high aspirations. He once told me that he would not marry anyone other than a peerless beauty or his confidante in the future!" Lu Pein said seriously.
…
Yan Liqiang sat in the carriage, looking through the window at the brightly lit streets and the bustling crowds of people in the imperial capital with a gaze that was difficult for ordinary people to understand.
Although Yan Liqiang and Manager You and others were talking and laughing in the Ganzhou Guild Hall just now, when Yan Liqiang was really alone, he could no longer force a smile to himself or pretend to be relaxed. In fact, every second, he had a feeling that all the people and things in front of him were like a fragile colorful bubble that burst at any time...
The mysterious face of the Taoist priest named Fang Beidou whom he met today loomed in Yan Liqiang's mind again...
At some point, a flame rose up in the night sky north of the imperial capital, illuminating the sky. It was unknown where the fire started. Teams of defense soldiers, blowing whistles, pushing water carts, holding water guns, hurriedly crossed paths with Yan Liqiang's carriage and rushed towards the fire...
Yan Liqiang sat in the carriage and just watched, not paying too much attention. After all, fires happened in every city, and since the defense department had already rushed over, there was no need to be nervous.
When the carriage arrived outside Xihua Gate, Yan Liqiang discovered that many soldiers had appeared at Xihua Gate at some point in time and were strictly checking the people and vehicles leaving the city.
When the Ganzhou Guild Hall's carriage was leaving the city, the soldiers outside directly opened the carriage door and looked inside and outside the carriage, even under the carriage. In the end, they found nothing and allowed Yan Liqiang's carriage to pass through the city gate.
Not long after leaving the city gate, the thunderous sound of horse hooves rushed up from behind, followed by dozens of rhinoceros horses passing the carriage where Yan Liqiang was sitting, rushing towards the road ahead. The riders on the horses were all strong men in strong clothes, carrying swords on their backs, and rushing in a hurry...
The carriage came directly to the gate of the Deer Garden. Yan Liqiang got off the carriage, took out a piece of silver from his arms and gave it to the coachman as a reward. Amid the coachman's thanks, Yan Liqiang took the two small packages and walked towards the gate of the Deer Garden.
"Ah, Captain Yan is here, open the door quickly..." The guard outside the Deer Garden saw Yan Liqiang coming back and his face suddenly broke into smiles. He opened the door and let Yan Liqiang in.
At this time, the entire Luyuan knew that Yan Liqiang was the person favored by Eunuch Liu, so who would dare to disrespect him
"Thank you for your hard work, brothers!" Yan Liqiang politely greeted the soldiers at the door.
"Of course, of course!" The gatekeeper looked flattered.
…
After returning to his own courtyard, Yan Liqiang's eyes narrowed as he entered the house. He discovered that some of the secret settings he had made in the house had been tampered with and someone had sneaked in. In the entire Luyuan, even the two eunuchs around Eunuch Liu would never dare to enter his house without his permission. Who on earth dared to come in
While Yan Liqiang was thinking about this question, he smelled a faint smell of blood in the room. He glanced around the room, picked up a sword hanging on the wall, and went upstairs.
He didn't have to look hard for him to find the intruder.
The intruder was a night walker wearing a turban and all in black. He was lying on the floor of his bedroom, motionless. There were some bloodstains on the bedroom floor, which seemed to have flowed from the man in black.
In order to prevent a trick, Yan Liqiang did not approach immediately, but came to the side of the black-clothed man lying on the ground, and used the sword in his hand to lift the black-clothed man's veil from his face...
A beautiful and charming face appeared in front of Yan Liqiang.
When Yan Liqiang saw that face, he was stunned.
That person in black turned out to be the fairy Jian Hua Ruxue...
(End of this chapter)