Wei Ni

Xiahou Zhuang originally lived in the residence of the Marquis of Lingzhi.

His father, Xiahou Wei, sent him to serve as a junior attendant to Xiahou Hui, intending for his brother, Xiahou Hui, who was the most talented in both literature and martial arts, to teach him by example and give him personal guidance so that he could succeed.

Just like Xiahou Yuan's intention in keeping Xiahou Rong by his side in his early years.

However, Xiahou Hui had been frequently visiting Chongwen Temple lately, and Xiahou Zhuang, with his free-spirited nature, couldn't stand it, so he found an excuse to go and stay at Xiahou Heng's residence for a while.

He was informed by the steward of the Marquis of Anning's residence that Xiahou Hui had sent Sun Lou to ask him to return home, so he rushed back without delay.

The main problem is that there's no time to waste.

These past few days he's been wandering around with other young men from noble families. Last night he even stayed outside the city, and he only returned slowly after midnight. If he had delayed any longer, he wouldn't have been able to get back in time to help prepare the meals.

Yes, Xiahou Hui would always host a family banquet or invite close friends and relatives to enjoy themselves whenever he had a day off, which had almost become a tradition. Therefore, Xiahou Zhuang had to rush back to help Uncle Sun and the others with tasks such as slaughtering sheep and dogs to prepare ingredients and setting up the table.

It wasn't that the servants at the Marquis of Lingzhi's residence were so few that they didn't even have enough people to host a banquet, but rather that the ingredients for Xiahou Hui's family banquet were slightly different from those of others.

One is the essential dog meat.

This stems from the fact that Xiahou Hui's troops all came from the Yan region.

Another dish is the mutton that is usually served, but it is not boiled or roasted; instead, it is a dish with a distinctly frontier flavor called "Hu Pao".

The same herdsmen handled the preparation, carefully selecting plump white sheep around one year old. The method involved cutting the meat and mutton fat into pieces about the size of willow leaves, then adding fermented black beans, salt, ginger, pepper, wild onions, long pepper, and black pepper. This mixture was then stuffed into the sheep's stomach, which was then sewn up. A pit was dug, firewood was piled up and burned vigorously, the ashes were pushed aside, and the sheep's stomach was placed inside. The ashes on both sides were turned back to cover it, and several long pieces of firewood were thrown on top and lit to continue burning. After about 15 minutes, it could be taken out, cut open, and eaten.

Xiahou Zhuang rushed back to assist the troops from Yan.

When he accompanied the expedition to Liaodong, he received great care from these soldiers. They generously taught him skills such as horsemanship, archery, hunting, and close combat, from which he benefited greatly. He kept this kindness in his heart and never presumed to sit and wait to be eaten during family gatherings.

The last reason is that Xiahou Hui also cooked for himself.

As Xiahou Zhuang's nephew and attendant, it wouldn't be right for him to "stay away from the kitchen," would it?

Xiahou Hui particularly loved pork belly, and he always personally fried and roasted it, which was a popular topic of conversation among the gentry and commoners of Luoyang.

After he drowned in Yanshi when he was a teenager, he often roasted meat for his seventh brother, Xiahou He. Now that he is the Commander of the Central Army, he is still enthusiastic about it. All his family members, as well as his friends such as Ding Mi, Fu Gu, Yu Song, Chen Qian and Wang Ji, have tasted it. Even many of the generals who participated in the campaign against Liaodong and the military officers of the Luoyang Central Army have eaten it.

In response, many people criticized him for disregarding his status by personally cooking and doing menial tasks, and for grilling meat for his colleagues and subordinates to win their hearts; while many others praised him for his unwavering sincerity and integrity despite his humble origins.

In Xiahou Zhuang's view, his sixth uncle possessed both qualities.

He knew that his sixth uncle would only eat one or two slices of pork belly each time he fried or grilled it, and that his expression was somewhat strange when he ate it.

What's strange is that Xiahou Zhuang couldn't understand why someone would close their eyes and quietly savor the food after taking a few bites, with expressions of satisfaction, melancholy, and reminiscence on their face.

Furthermore, he had privately inquired about this strangeness with his seventh uncle, Xiahou He, and the retainers in Yan, and they had also noticed it.

They didn't know the reason, and no one dared to ask.

Furthermore, Xiahou Zhuang felt that his sixth uncle was trying to win people's hearts because he had seen the soldiers of the Youzhou border army and the Luoyang central army eating meat, and their faces showed genuine emotion.

Perhaps this is why his sixth uncle could command the soldiers to fight to the death.

Xiahou Zhuang's insight was corrected by his father, Xiahou Wei, when he returned to Taishan County to visit his family. Xiahou Wei explained the key points to him in detail.

The so-called kindness and care for soldiers, and love for them like one's own children, are essentially just ways to win people's hearts.

If Xiahou Ba personally roasted meat for his soldiers, it would be a manifestation of his love for his troops; but if Xiahou Hui, who had many merits such as killing enemy generals and defeating Gongsun of Liaodong, personally roasted meat for his soldiers, then this should be called a courtesy.

Take a pot of grape wine as an example. A gift from a friend is a token of affection, while a gift from the emperor is an act of imperial favor. The taste may be the same, but the experience of drinking it is different.

The same task, done by people of different abilities, has different meanings in the eyes of others.

Xiahou Zhuang roughly understood.

This also sparked his desire to break free from his father's protection and venture out into the world—since Xiahou Hui returned to Luoyang, his actions and the meaning behind them were beyond the comprehension of someone his age. Even during his stay at the Marquis of Anning's residence, Xiahou Heng had explicitly suggested that he consider going to Liaodong to stay with Xiahou Ba for a year or two before returning.

In any case, the gates of the Marquis of Lingzhi's mansion will always be open to him.

He was delighted with the proposal and planned to take advantage of today's dinner to get Xiahou Hui's approval.

Traveling quickly.

When Xiahou Zhuang arrived at the martial arts training ground of the Marquis of Lingzhi's residence, panting heavily, he found himself a step too late.

The dogs and sheep had already been slaughtered and hung upside down on the weapon rack to drain the blood. The offal had also been cleaned up, and even the earthenware bowls containing various seasonings were neatly arranged on the table, ready to be cooked over a fire.

However, he wasn't without things to do.

When Han Long and his men saw him return, they exchanged a few pleasantries with smiles. Then they gestured with their mouths toward the shallow pit that had just been dug—where a little figure was squatting, eyes wide open, waiting expectantly for the men to cut up the dog meat.

He was naturally a minor ailment.

Judging from the slight dust on the hem of his clothes and the sweat stains on his temples, it was clear that he had been there when the dogs and sheep were slaughtered.

He had already run around the entire training ground before finally squatting down to rest.

Therefore, when Xiahou Zhuang saw this, he couldn't help but smile knowingly at his subordinates and nod to indicate that he knew what to do.

Xiao Quji was naturally very lively, and he was at the age where he was so energetic that even dogs would find him annoying. Whenever there was something to do in the manor, he would run over and ask all sorts of questions and cause all sorts of trouble, which gave Han Long and the other servants a lot of headaches.

no way.

In an ordinary family, a few slaps or a few lashes with a vine would be enough to make even the naughtiest child behave.

But this is the eldest son of the Marquis of Lingzhi!
Who would dare to act recklessly?
More importantly, Xiahou Hui was quite indulgent towards Xiao Quji's mischievousness and even told Wang Yuanji not to interfere too much.

"Quji is still young, and playing is his nature. Why discipline him now? Besides, my family has built its business on martial arts. If he is too restrained when he is young, he may become a law-abiding and obsequious person when he grows up."

That's what he said, leaving Wang Yuanji with no way to refute it.

However, due to her maternal instinct to worry about her child and her upbringing in a family of scholars, she could not condone Xiahou Hui's indulgence of his child.

You can tell what a person will be like at three years old~
The discipline and control of the eldest son must be extremely strict!
Unable to persuade Xiahou Hui, she sought an opportunity to ask Xiahou He and her cousin Ding Mi, who lived in the mansion, to help persuade him.

Xiahou He dared not refuse, but Ding Mi persuaded him to leave.

"How does the study of righteousness and rights compare to the study of naive rights?"

"It is not as good as its breadth and depth."

"How does the wisdom of righteousness compare to that of childishness?"

"It is better to think far ahead."

"How does the strategy of righteousness and authority compare to that of immature authority?"

"It is better to have a deeper plan."

How does the behavior of a person of righteousness compare to that of a person of childishness?

"Not as good as its outstanding achievements."

"If that's the case, why should Yiquan worry about Quji?"

After Ding Mi's questioning, Xiahou He remained silent for a long time, finally uttering a troubled expression, "But my sister-in-law has given me instructions, and it is truly difficult to disobey."

“This matter is easy. My sister-in-law has also asked me to help with this matter. If I go and speak on her behalf, I will surely be able to relieve her worries.”

Ding Mi, who was very involved in everything, came to see Wang Yuanji together with Xiahou He. At first, he strongly agreed with the view that children should not be spoiled, and even criticized Xiahou Hui with the saying "If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault". Only after Wang Yuanji nodded repeatedly did he reveal his true intentions.

First, appeal to their emotions.

It is claimed that Xiahou Yuan spent the latter half of his life on the battlefield, and Xiahou Hui only saw his father a few times as a child, and was orphaned at a young age. Therefore, he had the idea that he did not need to strictly discipline Xiahou Quji because of his young age—because he was also away on campaign when Xiahou Quji was born, and he did not want Xiahou Quji to suffer the same fate as himself in his childhood.
The other is a far-fetched connection.

He knew that Wang Yuanji came from a family with profound learning and had been famous in the capital since childhood. Her current worries were merely due to being a mother and being blinded by her own circumstances.

Therefore, he used Emperor Wu of Cao Cao as an example.

Emperor Wu was clever and quick-witted in his youth, but also unrestrained and dissolute, neglecting his studies. Yet, he laid the foundation for the state of Wei. If Emperor Wu had been strictly disciplined and bound by etiquette from a young age, where would he have found the courage and strategy to raise an army to overthrow Dong Zhuo, eliminate rival warlords, and unify the north? This shows that Xiahou Hui's decision not to restrain young Qu Ji was not out of indulgence, but rather to cultivate Qu Ji's adventurous spirit.
Furthermore, Xiao Quji is not yet of school age, and is merely a little restless and mischievous. He has not committed any wrongdoing, and to impose restrictions now would be an overcorrection.

Finally, there was a question that completely dissuaded Wang Yuanji: "As parents and elders, what we hope for in our children is nothing more than their happiness and good health. Why would we want them to be unhappy?"

Xiahou Zhuang knew about this little incident.

Therefore, I was quite envious of Xiao Quji.

There is no other reason.

The Xiahou family has always believed that "spare the rod and spoil the child." At the age of Xiao Quji, none of him, his elder brother, or his cousins ​​hadn't been beaten!
"Quji, let's go sit further away."

Xiahou Zhuang first went to the corner to fetch two folding chairs, then came over and took Xiao Quji's hand, saying, "If minced meat splashes on your clothes later, your father won't blame these uncles, but they will feel guilty."

"Oh, okay~"

Looking up, he saw it was Xiahou Village. Little Quji obediently did as he was told, pointing at the dogs and sheep and boasting incessantly, "Brother, you're late! The dogs and sheep have already been slaughtered! Brother didn't know that just now, this dog..."

"And also, that sheep was huge when it had wool, but after it was slaughtered, it was all smooth and tiny." "Those intestines were all sorts of colorful things, so ugly!"

"If my brother had come back sooner, I could have wielded a knife!"

From the moment he sat down in the shade, he gesticulated wildly as he described the scene, his words flowing like the raindrops dripping from the eaves during a continuous downpour, intermittent yet never ceasing.

Xiahou Zhuang was used to it.

Not only did she listen patiently, but she also occasionally made sounds like "oh," "eh," and "really?" which made him even more interested in talking.

This is one of the reasons why Xiao Quji was more obedient to him than Xiahou Hui.

Another reason is that it's somewhat funny.

Xiahou Hui forbade Xiao Quji from consuming dog meat because it was too dry.

Children are naturally curious.

It would have been better if Xiahou Hui hadn't prohibited it; after he strictly forbade it, Xiao Quji developed an inexplicable obsession with eating dog meat.

After his attempts to beg his parents with tears and tantrums failed, he secretly asked Xiahou Zhuang to hide a piece for him to try, just a small piece the size of a finger.

But Xiahou Zhuang wouldn't dare!
Having no other choice, he claimed that he could not eat dog meat before he got married, which finally made Xiao Quji stop insisting and become closer to him from then on.

The price he paid was that whenever there was a banquet in the mansion, he couldn't help but glance at the table where Han Long and the others were eating.

How could someone who spends the winter and spring seasons in western Liaoning forget the taste of dog meat?
After feeding Xiao Quji water several times and meticulously explaining every step of cooking the dog and lamb, Xiahou Zhuang finally welcomed the belated Xiahou Hui—being trusted by a little child is, in a sense, a joy that even adults find hard to bear!
"Father~ Father~"

Xiao Quji saw it too, and immediately skipped over, tugging at Xiahou Hui's clothes and shouting, "Father, roast meat! I'm hungry!"

"it is good."

Xiahou Hui affectionately ruffled his hair, then gestured to Xiahou Zhuang to light the charcoal first. "Quji, Mother will be here soon. Let's check if Mother's mutton is ready before we roast it, shall we?"

"it is good!"

Soon after, Wang Yuanji and Ding Mi's wife and children arrived, and a family banquet began at the martial arts training ground.

The aroma of dog meat simmering in the earthenware pot was irresistible, making the Yan tribesmen very eager to drink; the roasted mutton was cut into pieces and served on the table, with the broth poured over the steamed millet, making even the women's mouths water; sitting on the couch beside his father, Xiao Quji held an earthenware bowl and used bamboo chopsticks longer than his arm to pick up a piece of roasted meat with some effort, blowing on it to cool it down.

Even the servants who weren't entitled to sit were all laughing and chatting happily.

The offal of the dogs and sheep belonged to them, and when Xiahou Hui roasted pork belly, he would carefully scoop out the rendered fat to save for them to eat with wheat rice or bean soup later.

For ordinary people who rarely see oil and fish, this is already a very luxurious delicacy.

Xiahou Zhuang also sat with Xiao Quji, occasionally reminding him to be careful of the hot meat and not to get the grease on his clothes, but more often he would serve the meat that Xiahou Hui had cooked to the others.

He's a young attendant, but he's quite perceptive.

In particular, he was able to find time to eat a few pieces of roasted meat, while Xiahou Hui, who was still busy roasting meat, just slowly drank from a wine pouch without taking a bite of any meat.

The family members have gotten used to it.

"The general will not eat until the soldiers have eaten" was his motto during his time in the army, and after a long time, he found it difficult to change even when he was at home.

However, what no one knew was that Xiahou Hui had another reason for not eating it: he actually didn't like eating roasted pork belly, and could even say he hated it.

Because in his previous life, when resources were plentiful, he had long been tired of eating it.

He was tired of the food, yet he still made sure to fry it every time he hosted a banquet, simply because he missed and tried hard to remember some people and events from his past life. He had been in this era for many years and had long since adapted and accepted it, but a sense of loneliness always lingered in his heart, with no one to confide in and no one to empathize with.

Although his previous generation was just a commoner, ruthlessly whipped by life, working like a beast of burden for a few taels of silver to fill their stomachs, getting up earlier than the rooster and going to bed later than the rooster, he had long since lost faith in the light and lost all hope; now he has become a wealthy and powerful person with no worries about food and clothing, and should be grateful, but who says that if you pick up a watermelon, you are willing to lose a sesame seed?

Watermelon has its own sweetness, and sesame seeds have their own fragrance.

Sweetness lingers in the heart, fragrance is hidden in memories; both are the beauty and warmth that help us resist the indifference of time.

For more than a decade, he often savored the fragrance of sesame seeds in the quiet of the night.

But time flies like an arrow.

Countless beautiful and warm moments are but fleeting moments in the ashes of time. Unable to swim across the tide of longing, he keeps looking back, only to see sparse afterimages behind him. Everything familiar slowly blurs and fades away. Whether he is willing to say goodbye or not, the only choice left for him is to continue moving forward.

Yes~
In the reality of mountains and rivers, and on the vast and desolate wasteland of time, he was destined to trek alone.

Thinly sliced, marinated with scallions and ginger, cooked in a small red clay stove, with sizzling smoke rising from the red and black charcoal fire. The pork belly, cooked with his past life's techniques, still felt greasy to him, but also very flavorful.

His inability to forget was one of the reasons why he was out of place in the court of Wei.

Take the previous investigation into the long-standing abuses of the Shi family as an example. Most of the officials and nobles did not understand why he was so serious about it.

Even though he recovered the land that had been seized and spared the Shi family from levies and exploitation, Emperor Cao Rui, as the biggest beneficiary, still felt that the later actions of Grand Commandant Sima Yi were the most appropriate.

Why bother?
Why offend the powerful and wealthy families for the sake of a bunch of human-shaped tools who can't even be called "citizens"?
Because in his previous life, he was like the dust of the Shi family.

The finest dust, almost invisible in the sunlight, is simply ignored by the carnivores, readily available for their own consumption. In this life, he holds a transcendent status, a carnivore who can feast alongside kings, yet he still remembers that he was once dust; his eyesight is still excellent, he can still see dust. Therefore, given the opportunity, he strives to prevent the dust from being annihilated in the bright light.

Or perhaps, blending in with the world is the life wisdom that is more widely admired and chosen.

But going against the current is also a commendable act of courage!

Moreover, he was only doing what he could, and he did not intend to stop the tide of history with his own strength.

Because that's impossible.

Laws are made by people. Even in an era that claims to be governed by law, the fact remains that they serve the powerful. This is even more true in today's era of rule by man, where the nation and the monarch are supreme.

Human strength has its limits, so it's best not to try to emulate Kuafu chasing the sun.

It was fortunate that he was able to prevent the Jin dynasty from usurping the Wei throne and the Five Barbarian Invasions from taking place. Occasionally doing things to comfort his past life was simply a way of staying true to his original aspirations.

Besides, no matter what, he's a predator now.
Those who can freely purchase meat and wine for pleasure, and whose words can determine the life and death of others, those who walk the path of power, cannot become saints, nor can they be saints.

"Sixth Uncle."

When there was no longer a need to deliver roasted meat, Xiahou Zhuang seized the opportunity when Xiahou Hui was about to go and drink with his troops in Yan, and hurriedly made a request: "Recently, I have been at my uncle's residence, and my uncle advised me to go to Liaodong to hone my skills for a year or two."

"Oh?"

Somewhat surprised by the look, Xiahou Hui gently rubbed his beard, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "What are your own thoughts?"

"Uncle Liu, I think Uncle Da's suggestion is excellent."

Xiahou Zhuang smiled and answered cautiously, "However, my eldest uncle suggested that I go to Liaodong and serve under my second uncle, while I myself want to go to Xuantu County and serve as a foot soldier for General Wang."

I want to join Wang Qi's army as a lowly soldier.
Was it because his elder brother Xiahou Ba was so famous for his "spare the rod and spoil the child"?
Upon hearing this, Xiahou Hui couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.

But he soon realized his nephew's intention—his elder brother Xiahou Ba, out of love and care, would never let him have a chance to fight; but under Wang Qi's command, he would have the opportunity to kill the enemy.

After all, Wang Qi had previously been treated with great courtesy by him, and seeing that he had sent Xiahou Zhuang over, there was no reason for him to treat him as a mere decoration.

Of course, this also means that Xiahou Zhuang has to risk his life.

Therefore, he remained noncommittal for the time being.

Although, born into a family of military merit, Xiahou Zhuang should have been on the battlefield seeking glory at the age of seventeen, but he is already a third-generation descendant! His father and grandfather have already completed their initial accumulation of wealth and can support their children and nephews to start from junior officers, so why should he be sent to be a common soldier and risk his life?
In particular, Xiahou Hui summoned him back to his residence with the intention of having him befriend Zhen De.

"Sixth Uncle, let me go. I won't act recklessly or violently."

Seeing Xiahou Hui hesitate, Xiahou Zhuang quickly added, "And Sixth Uncle also knows that among all the brothers, I am the most suitable to serve in the military and carry on the family's martial spirit."

That brat has quite the nerve!

However, what he said was true, and his ambition was commendable.

“Yes, I can write a letter to Wang Kongshuo.”

After thinking it over, Xiahou Hui finally agreed, "But you must go to Taishan County first and get your fourth brother's approval before you can set off for Liaodong."

"Okay! Thank you, Uncle Liu!"

Immediately, Xiahou Zhuang's smile brightened. Knowing his father as he did, he knew he would never stop him from going to Liaodong. But when he saw Xiahou Hui about to get up, he quickly composed himself and said, "Um, Sixth Uncle, I have another request."

besides?

Xiahou Hui raised his eyebrows, and then suddenly realized, "Oh, I understand. There's no need to ask. The spear will be given to you, and you can also wear the ring-necked armor. I'll have Han Yun choose a fine steed for you."

"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Liu. However, I am not asking for armor, weapons, or fine horses, but rather for companionship with my peers and friends."

Since he is your friend, why do you need my approval?
Who is it?

"Deng Cheng Gong." (End of Chapter)