boyutpedia Chapter 21 Not just anyone deserves to have 5 taels of silver given away so easily.
Chapter 21 Not just anyone deserves to have 5 taels of silver given away so easily.
Master Li's voice was loud and clear. His gaze swept over Wang Quanfu and then landed eagerly on Zhang Yuan, looking him up and down with curiosity and a sense of pride.
Wang Quanfu hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, his face beaming with smiles: "Greetings, Master Li! This is indeed my nephew, Qingyang!"
"I brought him here today specifically to pay his respects to you, a highly respected elder!"
He nudged Zhang Yuan secretly.
Zhang Yuan immediately stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said in a clear voice with just the right amount of childishness and respect: "Junior Zhang Qingyang greets Master Li. When my father was alive, he often thought of you, an old friend and elder. I am very honored to meet you today."
The words were taught to him by Wang Quanfu on the way, but his demeanor was carefully crafted by Zhang Yuan as "a polite young man with a touch of shyness."
"Good! Good boy! Like father, like son! At such a young age, you are so polite and know how to behave, and you are also kind, righteous, brave and martial. The Zhang family has a worthy successor! Captain Zhang can rest in peace now!"
Master Li grinned from ear to ear, personally helping Zhang Yuan up and pulling him inside, while merely nodding to Wang Quanfu.
"Please come in quickly! Prepare some good tea!"
Zhang Yuan let Master Li pull him along, his face showing a hint of shyness from the praise, but his heart remained calm.
After passing the screen wall, a bright and open view suddenly appeared before me.
Zhang Yuan's gaze was calm as he quietly surveyed the rather luxurious mansion.
The courtyard is deep and secluded, with carved beams and painted rafters.
It is many times more impressive than Chen Wenyuan's elegant courtyard.
The bluestone slabs underfoot were so smooth they could reflect a person's image.
The vermilion lacquer on both sides of the veranda is brand new.
The maids and servants standing under the covered corridor were dressed in clothes that were much more presentable than those of ordinary peasant families.
A faint fragrance of incense, along with the mixed scents of flowers and trees, filled the air.
This courtyard exudes an air of immense wealth.
Fengming County is a small county with a population of only 80,000 to 90,000, and its resources are far from abundant.
Even Luyang Prefecture, which governs five counties and three towns, is only a medium-sized prefecture, far inferior to those wealthy counties.
The Li family must be quite wealthy to have such a courtyard in Fengming County.
At least in Fengming County, which is only about five miles in circumference, they were among the wealthiest families.
However, Zhang Yuan keenly sensed a hint of deliberate intent.
The brand-new paint couldn't conceal the subtle, old cracks in some of the beams and pillars.
The seemingly antique rosewood flower stand placed in the corner of the courtyard has a slightly crafted carving pattern that lacks true antique charm.
"This person is extremely concerned with appearances and grand gestures, but his true character and inner qualities are probably not as profound as they seem."
Zhang Yuan had formed a preliminary judgment about Li Yuanwai's character.
This confirms Wang Quanfu's vague hints on the road: Li Decai values profit even more than reputation, and especially enjoys the feeling of being praised.
Wang Quanfu still treated Zhang Yuan like a child, and his words were not straightforward.
He didn't expect Zhang Yuan to understand.
As they walked, Zhang Yuan was led into a lavishly decorated warm hall.
The ground was covered with a thick Western-style velvet carpet, which made no sound when you stepped on it.
Several calligraphy and paintings hang on the wall, seemingly works by famous artists.
In the center of the hall, a round table made of rosewood was set with exquisite tea snacks and fresh seasonal fruits.
Master Li warmly invited the two to sit down and personally poured Zhang Yuan a cup of fragrant pre-rain Longjing tea.
"Nephew, please try this tea. It was just brought here by fast horse from the south."
Master Li smiled amiably, his gaze lingering on Zhang Yuan.
"I have heard that my nephew not only inherited the bravery of Captain Zhang, but also killed a cow with a single blow outside the city the other day to provide relief to the disaster victims, and his reputation for benevolence and righteousness has spread far and wide."
Looking at Zhang Yuan, Master Li narrowed his eyes: "You've even become a disciple of Master Zheng of the Pan Shi Martial Arts School, studying martial arts? And Counselor Chen has also taken you as a student, to study Confucian and Taoist classics? Wow, truly a man of both literary and martial talents, your future is limitless!"
Zhang Yuan picked up the teacup, took small sips, and behaved obediently and properly.
His face held just the right amount of shyness for his age, along with a hint of joy at being praised: "Uncle Li, you flatter me. I have never forgotten my father's wishes; I practice martial arts only to strengthen my body and protect the local area."
"Under the tutelage of Master Zheng and Teacher Chen, I have only just begun to grasp the basics and dare not claim to have achieved mastery. Teacher Chen taught me that a gentleman focuses on the fundamentals, for when the fundamentals are established, the Way will naturally arise. I, Qingyang, dare not slacken my efforts."
"Excellent! What a wonderful saying, 'A gentleman focuses on the essentials'!" Master Li clapped his hands and laughed heartily, appearing very pleased. "If Captain Zhang were alive, he would surely be pleased! Come, try this osmanthus cake; it's very soft and fluffy."
He warmly invited Zhang Yuan to have some snacks and asked him some questions with great concern.
Zhang Yuan answered honestly that the osmanthus cake tasted really good.
Ever since the Green Bamboo Gang nearly starved to death, Zhang Yuan has had a particularly good appetite.
Seeing the harmonious atmosphere, Wang Quanfu quickly seized the opportunity, his face beaming with smiles, and leaned forward slightly: "Master Li, look how accomplished my nephew Qingyang is at such a young age. As his uncle, I am truly proud of him."
He coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "To my shame, recently my trade routes through neighboring counties have been severely squeezed out by a few ignorant guys. They're all just ordinary cloth and medicinal herb businesses."
"The cloth is fine, but those batches of medicinal herbs transported from the south are all common tonics. If the supply is cut off, the loss is a small matter, but the delay in our customers getting their medicine is a big deal..."
"You see, your Baofeng Shipping Company has wide connections and knows many people. Could you please put in a good word for us and smooth things over? Could you ask those checkpoints to give us some leeway?"
Wang Quanfu spoke earnestly, his eyes fixed on Master Li with pleading eyes.
Master Li paused slightly, his smile fading a bit. He picked up his teacup and took a slow sip, seemingly ignoring Wang Quanfu's words, his gaze fixed solely on Zhang Yuan: "Nephew, practicing martial arts is hard work, you must take good care of your health."
"This fifty taels of silver is a small token of my appreciation from your uncle. It's to buy you some medicine and clothing, so please don't refuse."
As he spoke, he casually waved to the old butler standing beside him.
The steward understood immediately, turned around and went out. A moment later, he came back in with a tray covered with red silk, on which were neatly stacked five ingots of ten-tael official silver.
Just as the steward was about to hand the tray to Zhang Yuan, he paused, a hint of hesitation and embarrassment on his face. He bowed slightly to Master Li and said, "Master, Madam... just learned that you intend to give silver, and specifically asked me to convey a few words."
Master Li frowned almost imperceptibly: "Oh? What does Madam want to say?"
The butler cleared his throat, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear: "Madam said that Master cherishes old friendships and values relationships, which is a good thing."
"But times are tough these days, money is hard to come by, and expenses in the household are high. There are many rumors circulating outside, saying that the young master of the Zhang family killed a cow with a single knife at the age of eight. It sounds incredible, but Madam thinks..."
"Children's words and rural rumors are not necessarily to be believed. Sir, you are kind-hearted, but you should also be wary and not be blinded by empty reputations. Not everyone is worth giving away fifty taels of silver so easily."
These words were like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly freezing the previously harmonious atmosphere in the warm hall.