Xiaoyaoshanjun

Chapter 68: Planting Good Causes

It was around seven or eight o'clock, and there was still a lot of noise in the yard outside.

Hu Yuwei and the scholars ate in the yard, while Tian Buli ate alone in the kitchen.

The three children had already eaten their fill. Many people gave them gifts, in addition to money, mostly meat, wine, cloth and some useful things.

Then there are tea sets and stationery. Hu Yuwei is a scholar and indeed needs these.

When several families in nearby courtyards heard that a scholar had been discovered here, they sent gifts such as eggs, beef, and mutton. Even the restaurant where we often ordered meals from sent wine and meat.

Accepting gifts on the day of passing the imperial examination is not considered corruption or bribery. There are similar unspoken rules among scholars and officials in the Tianyue Dynasty.

Someone once reported the matter to the Holy Emperor, but the Holy Emperor brushed it aside with the words "This is a happy day for the country, there is nothing wrong with celebrating it" and did not recognize the charge.

The Holy Emperor was very tolerant towards officials. He would basically not execute officials unless they had caused trouble and public anger had to be appeased at the cost of their heads.

Hu Yuwei will definitely have a comfortable time as an official in the future. He will be able to go to the Holy City for examination next spring and may have a chance to meet the Holy Emperor.

Tian Buli waited quietly. The three children had also eaten their fill and were running in and out of the yard and the kitchen.

"Second Dad, when are we going to sleep?"

The little dog came over and asked Tian Buli why the people outside who were giving gifts still refused to leave and were shouting at the rich man outside, saying that they were reciting poems and composing couplets.

Tian Buli said with a smile: "You can tell Tiger and Leopard to go to sleep, and I will clean up later. You still have to go to school tomorrow, and I will prepare some meat and cakes for you to send to the school for the teacher and classmates tomorrow morning.

The puppy nodded, "Okay, I'm going to bed."

"Go ahead." Tian Buli got up and started to pack up, organizing the tableware to be sent back to the hotel tomorrow, as well as the bowls and chopsticks sent by nearby neighbors.

After being busy for a while, the meeting outside began to adjourn.

Not long after, Hu Yuwei walked in.

"My benefactor, let me help you."

Although Hu Yuwei was physically weak, he had a good alcohol tolerance and did not get drunk even after drinking a lot.

Others knew that he was in poor health and were worried that he might drink to death, so they did not persuade him to drink too much. Instead, they mainly discussed current affairs and relations with the state government.

Tian Buli smiled and said, "Sir, you are too polite. I will pack up today and be busy for half a day tomorrow morning. I will go back in the afternoon to congratulate the people in the city so that Dou Niang and the others won't worry."

Hu Yuwei found a place to sit down. He hadn't cooked for a long time and didn't know how to do housework, so he didn't know what to do.

After hearing what Tian Buli said, Hu Yuwei thought for a moment and said, "I won't go back yet. I'll go to the cemetery next month and burn some paper money."

Tian Buli was efficient and tidied up the messy basket of meat in no time.

"You are weak and you have to go to the Holy City thousands of miles away for exams next year, so don't run around. I'll take Tiger and Leopard with me to burn the paper. They can't help you here, so you might as well go home, where there's Damiao who can take care of them."

Hu Yuwei was very receptive to advice, and even something as big as burning paper was put aside after a few words from Tian Buli.

"Alright."

Tian Buli went somewhere else to pack up his things, and Hu Yuwei also went back to the house to rest.

Hu Yuwei looked over the gifts he had received in the main hall. The etiquette for the guests coming today was written in black and white on the gifts. Even the neighbors who came to help empty-handed were placed at the back.

Not long after, Tian Buli came out holding a black food box with golden patterns carved on it.

"Sir, take a look at this."

Seeing this, Hu Yuwei asked curiously, "This box looks good and luxurious. Who gave it to you?"

Tian Buli said with a smile: "It is indeed extraordinary. I think this box can be used as a dowry for a county lady. But you would never guess that this is a food box, not a jewelry box for dowry."

Hu Yuwei said quickly: "Was it sent by Princess Hanjiang?"

Tian Buli didn't keep anyone in suspense and opened the lid of the food box.

A blooming flower is hand-carved on the lid. After taking out the lid, you can see the burgundy wooden inner wall. There is a plate in the octagonal box, and a half-eaten white fish is lying quietly inside.

"I ate half of it this afternoon. The fish sent by Princess Hanjiang is indeed effective in warming up the body, so I specially left half for you."

Hu Yuwei asked doubtfully, "Is this a gift from Princess Hanjiang?"

"Yes." Tian Buli admitted readily, "There were a lot of people here just now. When I took it out, they must have been envious. But this fish was probably cooked at noon. It was still hot when I ate it, but it's cold now."

"This box looks good, and it also has the effect of keeping warm. I will take it home and use it tomorrow."

It was just a fish, and Hu Yuwei felt that it was definitely not an ordinary fish, but it had been released for a long time, so he might as well give it a try.

Hu Yuwei quickly picked up his chopsticks and tasted a mouthful of fish. After swallowing it, he praised: "It is indeed delicious. I wonder what kind of fish it is? I think it must be very expensive."

"Definitely." Tian Buli took the lid of the food box and looked at it carefully. "I think this box can be sold for a hundred taels of silver."

Hu Yuwei said, "How can I sell the things the princess gave me?"

"This time, the gift money will be divided into three parts. I will keep one part for daily expenses and study, and you can give one part to Dou Niang to buy a house when you go back and have good food and drink. The remaining part is for you to use so that you can marry a wife and build a big house in the future."

Tian Buli said readily: "Okay, I'll repair the grave site and make it better when I get back."

Hu Yuwei was not good at many things, but seeing that Tian Buli was thoughtful, he said gratefully, "Thank you!"

Tian Buli smiled and said, "You eat, I'll go clean up and go to bed. Today, Princess Hanjiang sent someone to invite me to study in Yanxia Mountain. I haven't thought about it yet, so I'll decide in two years."

"If someone tells you about this, you can just say you will persuade me. If I don't listen, it's my business. Just promise to persuade me."

Hu Yuwei nodded, "Okay."

Tian Buli quickly packed up his things, then practiced his kung fu for half an hour before lying down to sleep.

The next morning, Tian Buli had just returned to the street corner after sending his puppy to school when he was stopped by a group of people. "My dear husband, please stay."

Tian Buli turned around and saw that the people were not looking for trouble, but Gao Jingxian and Gao Shi whom he had met before, as well as Gao Fengyou and two unfamiliar women.

One was in her thirties and looked like a wealthy lady, and the other was a young woman of eighteen or nineteen, but she was not the Bu Zeng heroine I met yesterday.

"It's Mr. Gao. Is Mr. Gao going out to enjoy the scenery?"

Tian Buli's conversation was polite, but he was no longer as respectful as he was in the past few days.

Gao Jingxian smiled and said, "We are here to look for Mr. Hu. I wonder if Hu Jieyuan is at home?"

"Yes, please. I'll lead the way." Tian Buli took the initiative to lead the way. There were some issues between the two sides in the past, but they were all in the past.

If Xia Bayuan came, Tian Buli would not make a decision on his own.

The standards for men and women in this era are different. The murderers of Hu Yuwei's father are Xia Bayuan's brothers and subordinates. Although he is a little angry with Xia Bayuan, he is not so hostile to Xia Bayuan's wife Gao.

Gao did not bring her son Xia Yelin here because of this reason.

This is the Gao family’s business now and has nothing to do with the Xia family.

A group of people walked towards the courtyard, and Gao took the initiative to say, "There are too many idle people here. It was fine before, but now everyone knows that Mr. Jie Yuan lives here. If they keep bothering us, how can we have time to study?"

"My brother has a quiet house in the north. There are many dignitaries nearby. It's a good place to visit or study quietly."

Gao Jingxian's wife was not good at talking, so after her sister started talking, Gao Jingxian followed up with, "Yes, I felt yesterday that the yard was too small, and the area was too noisy, with constant sounds of chickens and dogs barking, so why not live in my yard."

Tian Buli smiled and said, "You guys go talk to the master. He knows a lot of people, so he might have already made up his mind. I won't make random promises on his behalf."

Gao Jingxian smiled and said, "That's right. You know my son Feng You, and this is my daughter Feng Ge."

Gao Fengge also looked like a daughter from a Wu family. She smiled gracefully and said, "Hello, young lord!"

"Meet Miss Gao." Tian Buli said with a smile, "I am just a young student now. Even if I pass the imperial examination, I am not your husband. Being called your young husband all day long makes me feel light-headed."

Gao smiled and said, "Young people become more mature after they get married. Have you ever thought about getting married, young husband?"

Tian Buli said directly: "Not for now, I plan to wait a few years before deciding."

Gao continued to ask: "Do you have a crush on someone?"

"No." Tian Buli thought that he was introducing a wife to him, so he rejected it with certainty.

Seeing that Tian Buli did not like Gao Fengge, Gao smiled and said, "My niece is not only good at handwork, but also good at washing clothes, cooking, sewing, and housework. She has also studied for a few years."

Tian Buli felt a little embarrassed, but he really didn't want to get married. Now he just wanted to improve himself.

After Gao said something, Gao Jingxian said, "Young Master, I think Mr. Hu lacks someone to take care of him. Besides, Mrs. Hu is not around, so Mr. Hu must be lonely. I wonder if Mr. Hu has ever thought about taking a concubine?"

Tian Buli looked at the brother and sister in astonishment, then at Gao Fengge, whose face was calm but with a slight smile, as well as Gao Fengyou and his mother.

Soon Tian Buli understood what these people were thinking, and at the same time, he looked at the road ahead and figured out the key.

"This... is indeed a matter, but it's hard for me to talk about it. You guys can talk about it."

Tian Buli left this matter to the Gao family as he couldn't bring himself to speak up.

Gao smiled and felt relieved.

Tian Buli's attitude is very important, and this time Gao is sure that he will help.

Because Tian Buli always felt a little guilty about the affairs of the Hu couple, he would definitely not object to finding a caring person for Mr. Hu.

As they were walking, when they were almost at the door of their house, Tian Buli suddenly asked, "Who is your brother's daughter whom you said you would introduce me to last time?"

Gao smiled and said, "She is my third brother's daughter, not this. If you want to see her, I will arrange a meeting for you tomorrow."

Tian Buli breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good. I was mainly worried that Mr. would take this into consideration. If not, that's good. I will leave now. I will go back to the county to congratulate you in the afternoon."

Gao Fengge, who was standing next to her, had a smile on her face. She knew very well that she was that person.

Although Tian Buli was young, he was just a student and did not seem to have the character of a scholar.

Soon the Gao family met Hu Yuwei again. Although Hu Yuwei was more than ten years older than her, he had the character of a scholar and was a top scorer in the provincial examination. He would definitely become a juren or jinshi in the future, and maybe even the top scorer in the imperial examination.

Although she was a concubine, Gao Fengge did not feel wronged. Instead, she felt that she was marrying above her station.

With Tian Buli's help, many things are indeed as simple as a natural process.

Hu Yuwei himself couldn't speak up about the matter between Dou Niang and Tian Buli, so taking a concubine now would indeed be a good explanation to both parties.

Hu Yuwei also asked a question, "The girl that Tian Sheng mentioned before, is she Miss Feng You?"

"No." This time Gao Fengyou's mother said happily, "It's another one. There are several girls in our family who are both talented in literature and martial arts. They are all good wives like my sister-in-law!"

Gao Rou helped Gao Jingxian's family to get married, so naturally Gao Jingxian's family remembered this favor.

"That's good." Hu Yuwei was relieved and agreed to this matter in front of Gao Jingxian and his wife.

Gao Jingxian said happily: "We should do this as soon as possible. I think we should move there today. My house will be used as my daughter's dowry."

Tian Buli sat on the side and watched. Hu'er and Bao'er, who had gotten up early to eat, stared at these people, and then secretly looked at the beautiful woman, inexplicably having an extra mother.

Fortunately, this is not the first time that there is a new mother. There were two more mothers in the past few months, and now there is a younger one, Gao Si Niang.

Since Hu Yuwei wanted to take a concubine, Tian Buli didn't want to get in the way and went back to the poor county town carrying the two boys who were crying and kicking and refusing to leave.

(End of this chapter)