Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 531: The Children's Table [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you 40k]

Chengguo Mansion,

Horse stables,
Sheds collapsed and walls fell down,
a mess,
The well water poured out to put out the fire formed a stream, flowing everywhere.

Near the wall, tung oil splashed everywhere, igniting many places, and traces of charred fire could be seen everywhere.

Gate direction,

An escort officer wearing the uniform of the Fire Squad was walking towards the stable accompanied by the Feng family's steward.

Behind the two men were a dozen soldiers, carrying a number of fire-fighting tools such as ladders, saws, and thick ropes.

"Officer Li, this way please."

The Feng family steward stretched out his hand.

The escort of the Fire Squadron hurriedly smiled and nodded.

When they arrived near the stable, Officer Li stepped on the dirty water on the ground and began to investigate.

"Sniff."

Li, the guard, sniffed and asked, "Is the tung oil burning?"

The Feng family's steward nodded with some fear.

Li looked down at the dirty water flowing on the ground and said, "Manager Ye, this mansion uses a lot of water!"

The Feng family steward was a little scared and said, "It's a good thing that the young masters who came to visit today were so kind that they ran over to help when they saw the fire! If it weren't for one of the guys who was so strong and could carry water so quickly, a disaster would have almost occurred!"

Li Yaguan showed a look of understanding on his face and said, "No wonder! Just now, my soldiers stood on the fire watchtower and saw the size of the smoke, and they knew something big was going to happen!"

Looking at the surrounding buildings, the officer sighed, "Fortunately, it didn't catch fire."

The area around the Chengguo Mansion was inhabited by high-ranking officials and nobles of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Ninety percent of the surrounding buildings were wooden. If the fire got big, sparks would fly everywhere, and the consequences would be disastrous.

The subordinates of Yaguanhe were all in a hurry to put out the fire. Fire and water are merciless and if they are not careful, something serious will happen.

"Yes!" said the Feng family's steward.

After talking with the Feng family's steward, he also asked a few servants who were present at the time.
After inspecting for a while, Officer Li said to the Feng family's steward:
"Manager Ye, you see, this frightened horse pulling down the stable and the fence has some benefits."

"That's because the collapsed roof was covered with mud. After it fell to the ground, it covered an area of ​​the ground. There happened to be a lot of burning tung oil spilled there, which indirectly reduced the fire a lot!"

"If this pile of tung oil catches fire, it won't be so easy to put out."

The Feng family's steward nodded repeatedly.

Officer Li looked around again and then set his sights on the pile of hay by the wall.

Waving to his subordinates behind him, Officer Li shouted, "Come on, bring the ladder over here!"

"Yes!"

quickly,

A fire-sub came over carrying a bamboo ladder.

"Build it on the north wall!"

Manager Ye of the Feng family looked at Li Yaguan who was climbing up the wall with a ladder and said, "Li Yaguan, we also suspect that the spark came from the side."

"Ah."

Nodding, Officer Li climbed up the wall, looked toward the other side and frowned.

As he was retreating down the ladder, Li Yaguan said, "Manager Ye, I remember that the charcoal used in the mansion is silver bone charcoal, right?"

"The charcoal used outside is not silver bone charcoal, but just ordinary charcoal."

"Normally, there wouldn't be sparks from this charcoal that could be blown so high and float over the wall to this side."

Talking
As Officer Li glanced around, he suddenly stopped walking down the bamboo ladder.

After descending another step of the ladder, Officer Li leaned over and picked up a black object with his fingers from the top of the pile of hay that was burnt black and covered with water stains.

"Officer Li, what is that?!" the Feng family's steward widened his eyes and asked in surprise.

"call."

Officer Li blew on the thing in his hand and said, "Charcoal."

"Charcoal? How can such a piece of charcoal get here? It must be so big!"

The Feng family's steward and Officer Li looked at each other and stopped talking.

If the wind can't blow the charcoal over here, then someone must have thrown it over here.

What happened in the martial arts arena,
It did not affect the Feng family's banquet today.

Feng's front yard,

There were maids carrying trays, walking in an endless stream from the big kitchen to the various courtyards.

In the reception hall,

The old Duke Chengguo was already too old to entertain guests, so the host seat was occupied by the son of the Duke Chengguo, who was even older than Gu Yankai.

Xu Minghua, Marquis of Yongyi, stood beside the table holding the wine cup in both hands, and with a smile on his face he showed the bottom of the cup to the Prince of Chengguo who was sitting at the top of the table.

The standing Prince of Chengguo also politely showed the bottom of his cup, then extended his hand and said with a smile: "Lord Xu, please take a seat."

While he was speaking, a maid from the Feng family wanted to step forward to pour wine, but was rejected by the Prince of Chengguo with a wave of her hand.

After filling his own glass again, the Prince of Chengguo held the wine cup in both hands, raised his glass to Gu Yankai who was standing beside Xu Minghua and said:
"Lord Gu, please forgive me for the poor hospitality today. Erlang has also worked hard today. He has not even had a meal at my house, but he has already made such an effort."

Gu Yankai stood up, raised his glass and said with a smile: "Brother Feng, what are you talking about? I saw those guys helping to put out the fire today, and they seemed to be still eager to get more done! These guys are as energetic as calves!"

Several dukes and marquises present at the table all chuckled.

"please."

"please."

The two of them clinked their glasses from a distance, drank it all, and then showed the bottom of the glass.

After toasting everyone, the Prince of Chengguo burped and sat back in his chair. He waved to the maid beside him and said, "Go, call Zixun over."

The maid agreed and left.

On the other side of the seat,

Most of those sitting there were already married, such as Feng Zixun from the Feng family, Fu Boran, the Earl of Changxing, Han Jiyun, the Marquis of Zhennan, Xu Zai Zhang, Rong Xian, etc.

Among those present, some looked younger than Xu Zaijing.

When the fire started, they were not playing Cuju with Rong Xian, but were staying in the hall with their fathers and brothers, listening to the dukes and marquises talking about important matters in the court.

At this time, few people were talking at the table. They all focused on the person who was speaking.
This person was Feng Zixun who had returned from Beizhou.

"It's also thanks to my wife who repaired the secret room left by the previous dynasty, so that we can have a place to hide, otherwise..."

Listening to Feng Zixun's somewhat fearful words,

Han Jiyun from the Zhennan Marquisate nodded and said, "Beizhou was an important town in Hebei during the previous dynasty. Many aristocratic families have lived here for generations, which is why there is such a large secret room."

"Cumulus is right!"

"Brother Zixun, what happened after that? What happened when the brothers of the Xu and Gu families killed the bandits in Beizhou?"

Fu Boran, who was a scholar and an official, asked while holding up a wine cup.

Han Jiyun also looked at Feng Zixun with curiosity.

Feng Zixun raised his wine cup and clinked it with his glasses from a distance. After drinking it all, he looked at Zai Zhang who was looking at him with a smile and said with a melancholy tone: "Sanlang, I'm not saying anything, but it's a pity for our two younger brothers to study."

Just as I was about to continue,
The maid of the Feng family came over, bowed to everyone and said, "Sir, the prince asked you to come over."

Feng Zixun nodded, stood up, bowed to everyone at the table and said, "Brothers, please wait a moment."

Watching the 'speaker' leave,

The others turned to look at Zai Zhang who was standing aside.

Zai Zhang smiled and waved his hands, saying, "As you all know, with my mother here, Xiao Wu's explanation at home is not very clear, so let's wait for Zi Xun to come back."

In another room,

Those sitting at this table were unmarried people, considered children, ranging in age from eight to twenty years old.

Among them was Xu Zaijing's sworn brother, Lu Zezong, the son of Duke Lian.

At this time, Lu Zezong was sitting next to Xu Zaijing, who had changed his clothes and boots. He didn't look at Xu Zaijing who was filling his glass with wine, but looked at the ten-year-old child of the Yao family, Duke of Qian, not far away with a worried look on his face.

When the wine cup was about to be filled, Lu Zezong noticed it and hurriedly reached out to support the glass, then smiled at Xu Zaijing.

Gu Tingye, who was sitting next to the child of the Duke of Qian, raised his wine cup and said:
"Shisilang, Yao Shisilang, I won't take advantage of you. You take a sip and I'll drink a cup!"

Seeing the child's hesitation, Gu Tingye continued: "If you dare to drink a cup, I will tell you about my experience in Beizhou City. How about it?"

Qi Heng on the side said: "Second Uncle, Yao Xiaodi is too young, please stop teasing him!"

Gu Tingye waved his hand, signaling Qi Heng not to speak, and continued: "I say, Shisi Lang, you are not afraid, are you?"

As he spoke, Gu Tingye looked at everyone at the table with a wicked look, and winked at Lu Zezong, signaling him to start a commotion.

Xu Zaijing sighed, and when he saw the Yao family kid looking over, he was about to speak.
The Yao kid looked at Xu Zaijing, stood up from his chair, raised his wine cup and said, "Second brother Gu, you and fifth brother Xu fought for the country in Beizhou together. This cup of wine is for you!"

As he said this, the young Yao Jia Shisilang raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp. "This is you. I."

Gu Tingye was speechless when he saw Yao Shisilang’s face huddled together after drinking.

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk."

"The gap, this is the gap in how we conduct ourselves and how we speak!"

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said with a sigh.

Qi Heng couldn't help but smile and pursed his lips.

After Xu Zaijing finished speaking, he glanced at Qingcao behind him without waiting for Gu Tingye to speak, and said, "Qingcao, go get a bigger bowl."

"Qingcao, take one more." Gu Tingye shouted from behind.

Qingcao smiled and bowed. Just as she took a few steps outside, a maid from the Feng family came forward to ask questions.

Soon, Qingcao brought over a few silver cups.

Xu Zaijing then held up a large silver-handled wine bowl, looked at the Yao family child and said, "Brother Yao Shisi, please."

Gu Tingye, who was standing by, quickly raised his bowl and said with a smile, "Yao Shisi, you can't tell, you are a small boy, but you are good at talking."

Yao Shisilang smiled and scratched the back of his head.

While Gu Tingye was speaking, Xu Zaijing had already raised his wine bowl to indicate that he wanted to drink it all.

Seeing this, Gu Tingye hurriedly finished drinking and showed his wine bowl like Xu Zaijing.

After Gu Tingye finished drinking, the child from the Duke of Qian bowed and sat back in his seat.

Qi Heng, who was standing by, smiled and quickly filled his glass with wine. He stood up eagerly with the wine cup in hand and said, "Second Uncle Gu, Brother Jing, I..."

"Hey!"

Gu Tingye stood up and stopped Qi Heng, then turned around and said, "Change the bowl for Brother Heng!"

Seeing the large silver wine bowl being handed over and Qi Heng's somewhat stunned expression, the children present all started laughing.

Afterwards, starting with the example of Sisilang, the Duke of Qian, several unemployed children toasted Gu Tingye and Xu Zaijing with either wine or drinks.

This made Gu Tingye smile continuously.

In the morning, Xu Zaijing played Cuju, trained frightened horses, and helped put out the fire.

Physical energy is consumed, and the Feng family chef’s cooking skills are excellent, so Xu Zaijing ate and drank at the same time, and his chopsticks kept moving.

At this time,

Yao Shisilang, the Duke of Qian, came close to Lu Zezong, and the two children, who were not much different in age, whispered a few words to each other.

"Sworn brother."

"Well?"

Xu Zaijing's puffy cheeks moved constantly, and he raised his chin, motioning for Lu Zezong to speak.

"Brother, Shishilang said he wants to ask you something."

Xu Zaijing nodded several times, took a sip of drink to swallow the food in his mouth, and said with a smile: "Ask."

"Brother Xu Wu, can I go and touch your little black colt in the afternoon?" Yao Shisilang asked.

"Why not?" Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

Lu Zezong also smiled.

Yao Shisilang nodded and continued, "Oh! Is that little black colt the offspring of the horse that the emperor gave to Brother Xu Wu when he was a child?"

"Correct!"

"Oh"

Then, Yao Shisilang looked at Xu Zaijing who was about to drink, and said with a rolling eye: "The little black colt is so tall and strong, does it eat a lot? I heard from the nanny next to me that it can knock other horses away today!"

Xu Zaijing put the silver bowl of drink to his lips and nodded, "It eats a lot! But usually it's my A-lan and Xunshu who feed it."

"Oh, then. Brother Xu Wu, what color do you like?"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Hearing this,

Gu Tingye, who was eating and watching the conversation between the two, suddenly became distracted and started coughing.

Xu Zaijing also quickly swallowed the drink in his mouth so that he did not cough.

"Color? Shisilang, why are you asking this?" Xu Zaijing said, looking at the child in front of him.

Yao Shisi looked at Lu Zezong in a panic and said:

"Hey... I just like Brother Xu Wu and Brother Gu Er. I want to know what colors you two like to wear so I can dress like that in the future!"

At the table, several other smart little kids looked at Yao Shisilang with admiration as he spoke.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Gu Tingye looked at Yao Shisilang with a sidelong glance, with an expression that said 'I know what you are thinking'.

Approaching Yao Shisilang, Gu Tingye said, "Aren't you doing this for you?"

Listening to what Gu Tingye was about to say,

"cough!"

Xu Zaijing coughed.

Gu Tingye looked sideways at Xu Zaijing in confusion. Seeing Xu Zaijing shaking his head slightly, Gu Tingye thought about it, then understood and said:
"Shouldn't you ask me first?"

"Oh! Then what color do you like, Brother Gu?"

"pink!"

Gu Tingye said firmly,

Yao Shisilang looked at Xu Zaijing again.

"Light green, tender yellow, and crimson purple."

Xu Zaijing finished speaking.
"Oh"

All the children at the table nodded.

There was some confusion in Lu Zezong's eyes, because Yao Shisilang and other boys of the same age as him had happy looks in their eyes, as if they had completed some mission.

Soon, the children left the table under the pretext of changing clothes.

backyard,

There were also several tables set up for the ladies and the bridesmaids.

There were voices of talking, laughter, and the clatter of dishes and chopsticks.

The eldest daughter-in-law of the Feng family smiled and apologized countless times at the table.

The Feng family's housekeeper came to the eldest daughter-in-law of the Feng family with a serious face.
After the eldest daughter-in-law of the Feng family put down the wine cup, the mother of the Feng family leaned over to the eldest daughter-in-law of the Feng family and whispered in her ear: "Madam, the officer of the fire squad said that..."

"I have asked, during this period..."

Listening to the words of the housekeeper, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Feng family took a deep breath, and then she didn't curse out loud, nor did she look in a certain direction to give people a clue.

"okay, I get it."

Among the ladies also sitting at this table,

Princess Pingning picked up the serving chopsticks and picked up the food thoughtfully.
Madam Wu, who was good at observing people's expressions, moved her eyes and whispered to Sun: "It seems that the Feng family has found out something."

Sun nodded slightly, raised her glass and clinked it with Madam Wu's, and said, "Why didn't I see your Liu Lang today?"

Madam Wu shook her head and said, "It's his best friend's birthday today, so he didn't come."

At this time,

The banquet room where the unmarried girls are sitting,

Several maids of different ages walked in quickly and whispered in the ears of several noble ladies.

Zhang Jia Wu Niang looked at the little maids in confusion.
After the person has finished speaking,
Zhang's Fifth Lady held a drink in her hand and approached a noble lady who was a relative of hers. She said, "Sister Yao, what's going on? I saw that the maid was from Brother Fourteen's side, wasn't she?"

Chai Zhengzheng, the refreshed Rong Feiyan, and Gu Tingyi, who were also at the table, looked over in confusion.

"Ah? Nothing."

After Zhang Jiawu Niang asked with a smirk on her face, the girl from Yao family whispered a few words to her.

Wu Niang returned to her seat.

Looking at the puzzled Chai Zhengzheng, Gu Tingyi and Rong Feiyan, she muttered a few words in a low voice.

Rong Feiyan and Chai Zhengzheng's eyes lit up.
Gu Tingyi said in a low voice with some doubt: "My brother and brother Jing like these colors. Do you still need to ask? Madam Chang knows it all."

"You know that too?" Chai Zhengzheng looked at Gu Tingyi and asked.

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)