On February 11th of the fifteenth year of Yuanping in the Han Empire, the temperature was still cold. After the first spring, the ice and snow had melted for many days. That morning, a sudden light snow fell, covering Pingxi County again.
“The New Year has not yet come into bloom, but in early February I am surprised to see grass buds. The white snow thinks that spring is coming too late, so it penetrates the trees in the courtyard and turns into flying flowers…” Sitting in a four-wheeled carriage, Yan Liqiang watched the flying snow outside the carriage window brushing against the green buds of the willow trees by the roadside. He was moved and could not help reciting a poem.
The person who was reading it didn't pay much attention to it, but another person sitting in the carriage couldn't help but turn his head and look at Yan Liqiang with surprise.
Sitting in the carriage with Yan Liqiang was Yan Dechang. Today's Yan Dechang was completely different from the blacksmith Yan who usually stood in the blacksmith workshop with his chest exposed, holding a hammer and teaching his apprentice loudly by the furnace. Yan Dechang wore a dark purple hat on his head, and his messy beard was carefully trimmed. Coupled with the fitted and gorgeous brocade robe he was wearing, at first glance, he was not a blacksmith at all, but the head of a wealthy family.
The team outside the carriage was also very impressive. Zhou Yong and sixteen soldiers from the manufacturing bureau were fully armored, carrying swords and bows, leading the way. Behind the carriage where Yan Liqiang and his son were sitting, there were eight ordinary four-wheeled carriages used to transport goods, which were carrying gifts for Yan Liqiang's visit to the Lu family. The gifts on the eight carriages, except for two carriages carrying two newly made steam engines from the manufacturing bureau, the other six carriages were carrying some carefully selected items - one of the carriages had two live deer, another carriage had several loads of grains, and the other carriages were filled with scented tea, preserved fruits, fine wine, various silks and satins, and more than ten sets of gold and jade jewelry...
The snowflakes flying outside did not make the whole team feel bad at all. Except for Yan Liqiang who was sitting in the carriage, everyone outside the team was happy and excited.
"Li Qiang, what you just read was... a poem?"
Hearing Yan Dechang's whispered question, Yan Liqiang turned his head and met Yan Dechang's inquiring eyes. Yan Dechang was a blacksmith. Although he was not illiterate, he had only heard of poems and lyrics from others, and he himself did not know a single word. This kind of literary pastime has always been a niche thing in this world, so even if Yan Dechang heard it, he was not sure whether what Yan Liqiang had just read was a poem.
"Uh... Father, well, I was just moved and just recited a poem..." Yan Liqiang explained.
"Did you do it yourself?" Yan Dechang asked immediately.
"Yes!" Yan Liqiang could only nod his head and silently said in his heart, Han Yu, Mr. Han, I'm sorry...
"Take a look at this..." Yan Dechang said, taking out a book from his arms and handing it to Yan Liqiang.
Yan Liqiang took a look and found that the book was "Journey to the West", which looked to be about 70% new. Just below the brand new cover of the book, there was a line of words - Author - Ganzhou Yan Liqiang!
Yan Liqiang looked at the book, then looked at Yan Dechang's serious eyes, and felt inexplicably embarrassed. He didn't know what to say, so he could only smile foolishly and rub his nose.
"This book was brought to you by a foreign merchant who came to Liuhe Town a few days ago when you went to Tianchi to compete with others. The merchant said that this book was originally serialized in the Han Empire Times. Anyway, I don't know what serialization means. It was compiled into a book last year. As soon as it came out, it caused a sensation in the Imperial Capital City and gradually spread. Almost all storytellers in teahouses and restaurants in the Imperial Capital City tell this story. The merchant said that this book was written by you in the Imperial Capital City. Is that true?"
"I indeed wrote this when I was free in Imperial Capital City!" Yan Liqiang could only continue speaking with gritted teeth.
"You have been practicing martial arts every day under my urging since you were a child. You have never even been to a teahouse, and you have never heard of any supernatural stories. How can you write such a world-famous story all of a sudden? And the poem you just wrote, although your father is not good at writing, I can hear that the poem you just wrote is good. You have never learned any poetry since you were a child. Even when you were in the National Martial Arts Hall, no one taught poetry in the hall. I heard that people who can write poetry are all scholars who have studied various poetry books for decades!" Yan Dechang looked at Yan Liqiang with deep eyes, "You have never been exposed to these things since you were a child, how can you write such a book and such a poem?"
Could it be that my father already knows the secret of my rebirth
A thought flashed through Yan Liqiang's mind, and he didn't know how to explain it to Yan Dechang. For a moment, Yan Liqiang even felt a little dry in the mouth.
Just as Yan Liqiang was struggling internally, hesitating whether to tell Yan Dechang the truth, Yan Dechang spoke next, and his voice suddenly became much softer. Before speaking, he looked towards both sides of the carriage window.
"I've also noticed that since you woke up after being beaten by the young master of the Hong family during the preliminary examination of the national martial arts county exam, you've become a completely different person. Since then, you've changed every day, and your abilities have become stronger and stronger!" At this point, Yan Dechang licked his lips, and his tone suddenly became mysterious and cautious, "Tell me the truth, were these things taught to you by the immortal grandfather in your dream?"
The immortal old man in the dream
Yan Liqiang was slightly stunned, but only for a moment. He blinked his eyes, and then his face showed an extremely serious look. He also lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Father, I'm telling you, don't tell anyone. These things were taught to me by the immortal grandfather in my dream. The story of Journey to the West was also told to me by the immortal grandfather!"
"If that's the case, how could I possibly tell anyone about this!" Yan Dechang suddenly felt relieved, with a look of astonishment on his face. "Did the old immortal in the dream teach you your ability to study the world?"
"Yes, in addition to these, the immortal old man also taught me many things!"
"This is a matter we just need to talk about between father and son. From tonight onwards, I will pretend I don't know anything and you should stop telling anyone else. It's not a good thing if this kind of thing spreads too much!" Yan Dechang said cautiously.
"I know, but I only told you this because you asked me, father. If someone else had asked me, I would never have admitted it!"
"That's good, that's good!" Yan Dechang nodded, exhaled a long breath, and then suddenly changed the subject, "By the way, have you really thought about going to the Lu family this time? You have to know that if you say something about this kind of thing, you will be responsible to the end!"
"Don't worry, father. I've already thought about it!"
"I heard from your uncle Qian before that he felt that you and the ninth young lady of the Lu family were a good match. Your uncle Qian and Mr. Lu both wanted to bring you together, but it didn't work out. Why is it that this time..."
"The Lu family's young lady actually likes me, but she always has a bit of a young lady's temper. It's also my fault that I was a little too direct that day, which made her feel a little embarrassed, so it didn't work out. But this time is different. When I was fighting with Feitianmen this time, my life or death was uncertain at the beginning, and many people didn't think highly of me. After the Lu family's young lady knew the news, she ate vegetarian food every day and went to the Lotus Temple to recite the "Great Compassion Sutra" 81 times a day to pray for my safety. She lost a lot of weight in more than a month. She didn't tell me about this. I learned about it from other channels. I was very moved after I knew it. I think that although the Lu family's daughter is a little spoiled and has a bit of a young lady's temper, she is kind-hearted, well-behaved, and has no bad reputation. She can be a good match for me..."
Yan Dechang suddenly sighed, "As the saying goes, no one knows a son better than his father. Why do I feel that you really decided to do this for the Lu family this time?"
Yan Liqiang was silent for a while, and finally told Yan Dechang the truth, "I don't want to hide it from my father. I took in the daughter of the Lu family, which is equivalent to taking in the Lu family. The Lu family is a prosperous clan in Pingxi County, with deep roots, which is not comparable to ordinary wealthy families. Our Yan family seems to be very prestigious now, but in the entire Yan family, there are only two people, my father and I. Some things can't be bought with more money. Just like this time, if something happens when I compete with Feitianmen, everything in the Yan family will probably be gone in an instant. Not to mention that the Lu family has a relationship with our Yan family. In terms of power, once our Yan family and the Lu family are married, we will be the first family in Pingxi County in the future. We can completely gain a foothold in Pingxi County and take root there. As long as we are not guilty of a serious crime like treason, almost no one can touch us. Moreover, after taking over the Lu family, the entire Lu family’s manpower, material resources, and relationships can be used by me, unlike now when there is always a layer of separation and we are tied up. I now need the Lu family to stand by me completely. I can accept such a result by marrying a woman... "
Yan Dechang stared at Yan Liqiang for a long time, "I don't care why you want to marry Miss Lu, but if you really marry her, don't let her down!"
"Don't worry, father. I'm not such a heartless person. Miss Lu is loyal to me, smart and beautiful, with a relatively simple mind and personality. She is more than qualified to be a good wife and mother. Since I want to marry her, I will never let her down!"
"That's good, that's good!"
(End of this chapter)