Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 98 Guan Yu's Ambition

When Guan first met Master Liu that year, Master Liu was a wealthy man with more than ten servants and three carriages and horses, a family that was considered to be living in luxury.

However, he had no wife or children, was fond of drinking, and was also kind-hearted, often spending his money to help others.

If a man has no wife and children, it is difficult for him to save money. This world is also cruel, and kind-hearted people often end up ruining their families.

In just two years, he went from a life of luxury to a lonely old man.

The master was destitute and his basic needs were uncertain.

Guan had no choice but to be a good man to prevent the master from starving to death.

But Confucius seemed content even in poverty, saying that peace of mind is paradise, and that wealth and poverty both depend on a peaceful heart. He considered extravagant feasts and beautiful women as fleeting illusions.

Someone asked the Master, "Is this the reason why you do not marry?"
The master was furious. He took a ruler and pointed it at the man, saying, "You, Guan Changsheng, haven't married either, yet you dare to mock this old man?"
Mr. Guan felt that what the Master said made sense.

Just then, Guan injured his hand while practicing martial arts. If his hand was injured, he would not have food, and his teacher would also not have food. So he went to the Tingyi Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic to have Xiu Niang apply medicine.

Xiu Niang has no surname. She is an orphan adopted by a doctor, but the doctor did not allow Xiu Niang to take his surname, saying that all people under heaven are one family and there is no need for a surname. A name that can be used to call people is enough.

In fact, this was because the doctor would change his name every now and then... Even Xiu Niang didn't know his real surname.

In fact, Guan knew that this doctor was not a good person and that he often changed his name because he frequently went to neighboring counties to swindle money from people.

But in any case, doctors do save lives and heal the wounded, so they can't be considered evil people.

The doctor had no children, and Xiu Niang was both his daughter and his apprentice, addressing him as her master.

This is how the world is often, and I, Guan, am quite similar to you, Master.

Xiu Niang's hands were as delicate as scallions, while Guan's hands were as rough as wood. But when she gently applied the medicine to Guan's hands, it caused Guan to scream in pain.

Strangely enough, Guan had often been injured while escorting goods and hunting in the past, and had applied medicine to his wounds, but had never felt any pain.

But when Xiu Niang applied the medicine, she couldn't help but cry out for no reason.

Xiu Niang said fiercely with a stern face, "Don't scream. It's good that it hurts. Only pain will help."

After saying that, he pressed hard on Guan's wound and rubbed it vigorously, as if he wanted to kill Guan.

Guan was in so much pain that he was numb, and said to Xiu Niang, "No wonder you can't get married because you're so fierce."

Xiu Niang pouted and said, "What's it to you?"

Guan said he wasn't afraid of being threatened, and if no one else wanted him, he could take him in...

Xiu Niang looked at him coldly and said that she had no intention of getting married. She wanted to practice medicine and save 100,000 people to repay the orphan girl for saving her life.

Guan laughed and said, "Your life is so precious. You must have been deceived by the doctor. Do you know how many 100,000 people are?"
Xiu Niang glared at Guan and said that this was a vow she herself had made to Heaven.

Mr. Guan admired her greatly, for she, a young woman, had such lofty ambitions, while he, a self-proclaimed heroic man, was muddled and clueless about the future.

Guan asked her if she looked down on him for lacking ambition.
She asked... "Do you even respect yourself?"

Guan thought to himself, "You're just beautiful, have good medical skills, and are ambitious..."

—So it seems justifiable for him to look down on Guan.

So Guan took wine to the Master and asked him, "What should a great man aspire to?"

The Master glanced at him and said, "Is immortality something you yearn for but cannot have?"
Guan felt ashamed, never expecting the Master to have such discerning eyes...

Confucius said that when a man says he has ambitions, it is usually because he either loves but cannot have them or his desires are not fulfilled... I see that you have no ambition for wealth and fortune, so it can only be for women.

Guan had no choice but to nod and admit it.

The Master shook his head and sighed, saying, "Chang Sheng, your so-called ambition is nothing more than what you desire in your heart. If your heart is full of women, then your ambition can only be to consummate your marriage with a woman. If you really want to set your goals, you should go out and climb high to look far into the distance. Your ambition will naturally be found at the top of the mountain."

After thinking about it, Guan felt that the Master was right, so he thanked the Master and went out to climb the mountain.

Perhaps the Master truly possesses some skill...

If he hadn't told Guan to climb to a high place for a better view, Guan wouldn't have fallen off the cliff.

If Guan hadn't fallen off the cliff, he wouldn't have been carried into the doctor's home.

If Guan hadn't stumbled into the doctor's house, he might have missed out on Xiu Niang for the rest of his life.

The doctor went out to commit fraud; it was Xiu Niang who treated Guan.

She remained fierce and indifferent when treating Guan, looking at him as if he were a corpse.

So much so that when she spoke, Guan thought he was hallucinating.

She said, "Is it really worth taking my own life just because I didn't want to marry you?"

Guan stared at her for a long time without saying a word, seemingly lost in thought: suicide?

What suicide attempt?
Xiu Niang sighed, still keeping a straight face: "I really made a vow, I really never thought about getting married, I never thought about anyone... It's not that I look down on you."

She applied that damned ointment to Guan again, staring at him intently as she said, "You're a fine young man, there's no need for you to jump off a cliff and die for me."

Guan choked and couldn't catch his breath for a long time.

This time, Guan's waist was seriously injured, but he didn't feel any pain at all.

Later, it took Guan a long time to make Xiu Niang understand that Guan really had no intention of committing suicide.

Perhaps because she had talked a lot with Xiu Niang during the days she was treating Guan, she also began to confide in Guan.

"Why must women get married? I only want to practice medicine and help people, but why does everyone force me to get married? My master is also forcing me to learn needlework and weaving, and won't let me go out anymore..."

"But he said all living beings under the heavens are equal..."

"Why should men be able to save the country and bring peace, while women must give up their ambitions? Why should men be able to travel the world, while women can only be confined to the inner chambers?"

"I only want to practice medicine... but everyone gossips, saying that I am an unclean person because I take pulses and handle medicine for men..."

When Xiu Niang said this, her eyes were full of melancholy.

Guan felt a pang of heartache because of her.

Guan said, "Xiuniang, marry me. If you marry me, you can study medicine diligently and practice healing to save lives. I will protect you as you travel the world and save countless lives! If anyone goesssips, I will beat them to submission!"

Xiu Niang stared at him blankly for a moment, then smiled. At that moment, Guan seemed to see a solitary orchid blooming in a secluded valley, serene and pure, yet surpassing all other beauties in the world.

But after laughing for a while, Xiu Niang burst into tears and said softly, "Chang Sheng, I know your heart, but you can't win the world's respect on your own... I don't want to be buried in the inner chambers, but I also don't want you to wander and be silent because of me."

“You possess unparalleled bravery and should be able to roam the world freely. If you are preoccupied with me, it will only thwart your ambition to soar to the heavens.”

From that time on, Guan had an ambition.

Guan wants to conquer the world and win everyone's respect!

……

Shortly after Guan recovered from his injuries, something happened at Xiu Niang's home: the doctor was convicted, and her home was searched.

This crime was not a false accusation, but rather the county authorities discovered that the doctor had committed fraud and sentenced him to exile.

It seems the doctor knew this day would come, so he didn't let Xiu Niang take his surname. Xiu Niang wasn't implicated, but was mistaken for a maid and almost forced into slavery by the county officials.

Guan took her home, but was no longer able to set up a pharmacy for her.

That night, she didn't cry, but instead took off her clothes and lay down in bed with Guan.

She said that if she could find a place where she could reopen her clinic and treat patients, she would marry Mr. Guan again to prevent him from being gossiped about.

Guan was not afraid of gossip, but she was unwilling to accept it. Guan had no choice but to set up a simple altar at home and kowtow to heaven and earth to swear an oath of marriage.

Soon after, Xiu Niang became pregnant.

She said she wanted a peaceful place, so she named her unborn child 'Ping' (平), saying that both boys and girls would use this character.

Guan originally wanted to join the army, hoping to gain a good reputation through military achievements, so that she could fulfill her ambitions.

Unexpectedly, just as the child was about to be born, Master Liu was murdered by the county officials.

The Master treated Guan like a teacher and a father; this grudge must be avenged.

However, after being convicted of killing an official, Guan was reported by the pavilion, and Guan had no choice but to flee north for his life.

Xiu Niang was about to give birth and could not go far with me. I did not want her to be implicated. Since no one knew that she was my wife, I entrusted her to the Du family in Jiechi, near Jie County.

The Du family makes their living from salt. Years ago, their matriarch suffered a difficult childbirth and was saved by Xiu Niang. Now that Xiu Niang is about to give birth, she is also relying on the Du family to protect her.

Now, Guan has found a good place where Xiuniang can fully realize her ambitions, and he also has comrades who can travel the world with him.

Mr. Guan, you can go back and marry her now.

……

Setting up a pharmacy requires 100,000 coins, which Guan can raise himself.

The affairs of the world are governed by your profound wisdom, and I, Guan, am willing to assist you.

Jiechi (Salt Pond) is a salt-producing area. The Du family makes a living by privately selling salt, so we can form a long-term alliance. I, Guan, would like to ask you to help my lord establish this alliance.

There is a strong military culture in Hedong, with every household practicing martial arts and forging weapons. There are also many people who have abandoned their homes. We can recruit a hundred blacksmiths. I, Guan, would like to invite them on behalf of my lord.

The recruitment of craftsmen and the transportation may require ten million coins; please allocate them, sir.

—Guan Yu, a disciple of the sect, respectfully requests your presence.

……

"Ten thousand for a pharmacy? Ten million for salt and iron? That's not enough."

“I deeply admire Yun Chang’s simplicity.”

"Guan Yu wants to establish a salt industry and hire blacksmiths. This is a matter of hiring talent. He should be hired with five times the salary, tentatively estimated at fifty million coins."

"I believe that Lady Xiu Niang is a great sage of our time. Since Yun Chang wants to invite her to set up a medical school here, I will give her fifty million coins to establish a medical institution and recruit many female doctors."

"In the field of medicine, saving lives is priceless. Fifty million is merely a token of our appreciation. Future funding will be provided in countless amounts."

"The above amount is one hundred million coins. Yun Chang, please feel free to use it. I will set up a clinic in Xihe and wait for the virtuous doctor to come here to get married."

—Liu Xuande replied.

……

Liu Bei prepared 100 million coins for Guan Yu.

Guan Yu never imagined that one day he would be able to use such numbers to calculate wealth...

When he set out with fifty cavalrymen, Liu Bei filled them with gold, silver, and silk.

Even so, they could only take away valuables worth a few million coins.

To help Guan Yu negotiate business deals and to help him with accounting and writing documents, the sensible Bian Bing accompanied Guan Yu to Hedong.

Everyone was somewhat silent along the way.

They never imagined that carrying money would be so arduous...

Fearing someone would steal it, fearing losing it, wanting to drink and have fun, yet daring not to drink even half a cup more...

And in the manor behind them, there is still endless wealth waiting for them to spend.

Only Bian Bing, who was so tired of counting money, remained relatively calm.

Guan Yu returned via the Flying Fox Pass without encountering any problems along the way—and even if he did, it wouldn't have mattered much, as it was still uncertain who would rob whom...

……

On the other side of the Juma River, Su Shuang was also lamenting, "Transporting money is so damn tiring!"

However, Su Shuang's physique and luck were not as good as Guan Yu's.

The accident happened on his way home with the money.

Su Shuang is dead.

This chapter is 3 words long, but it took me 8 hours to write, a whole night.

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(End of this chapter)