Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 114 Luring the wolf into the house
When Wang Xi thought about brewing new wine, the first thing that came to mind was grape wine.

Because wine was very popular in the Tang Dynasty, its color and aroma were unmatched by the low-alcohol grain spirits available today.

The poem reads: "Fine wine in a luminous cup, I long to drink, but the pipa urges me on."

It can be seen.

Currently, the most expensive wine in Chang'an is from the Western Regions. Although Chang'an already has its own homemade wine, it still cannot compare with the wine from the Western Regions.

Wang Xi was very confident about this, but he did need to carefully consider the business aspects.

The scale of Yi Xian Jue's business is definitely not suitable. It is too small and does not meet the requirements for providing housing for the people. However, Bai Siyong's concerns are not without reason.

Making money from winemaking was secondary for him; the key was to please the emperor. If the secret recipe were leaked, all his efforts would be in vain.

We need to find some trustworthy people.

And for such people, you can only go to your own home to find them.

The Wang family certainly doesn't lack manpower.

The thought of going to find Old Wang gave Wang Xi a headache. He had once boasted that he would be self-reliant, but now he was going to ask his family for help. Old Wang would definitely laugh at him.

You know, he's been provoking Lao Wang from time to time lately, and Lao Wang has been holding his breath, looking for an opportunity to retaliate. If he were to deliver himself to Lao Wang's doorstep, you can imagine how Lao Wang would ridicule him.

He had to find another way, but fortunately, this matter wasn't urgent. He could start brewing the wine first, and the location for brewing the new wine would still be the former nameless academy. Wang Xi planned to completely transform that place into a winery.

After leaving Yixianjue, Wang Xi rushed back to Wuming Academy without stopping. He was still thinking about helping Hongxiu with her makeup. He had even already planned in his mind how to dress Hongxiu up to make her look more like a teacher.

However, when he returned to the nameless academy, he found it empty; Hongxiu had gone home, citing illness as the reason.

Wang Xi was well aware of Hongxiu's scheme and thought to himself, "You can escape the first day of the month, but can you escape the fifteenth?"

However, many junior female students were waiting for him, hoping to learn that kind of makeup technique from him.

Wang Xi thought to himself, "If I teach you, how will I teach Hongxiu?"

"My senior brother is a bit tired today, so he will only teach the theory and not the practice."

"theory?"

Qin'er opened her eyes wide.

"You little traitor!" Wang Xi smiled and nodded, "That's right!"

Aokiji asked curiously, "Is there a theory behind this makeup?"

"Of course."

Wang Xi said in a serious tone: "What kind of makeup matches your mood and what kind of occasion it is. In addition, if you want to do a good job, you must first have the right tools. If you want a near-perfect makeup look, you have to improve the makeup products you use now."

Qin'er was surprised again: "Senior brother can do this?"

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "I know a little! I know a little!"

The junior female students standing nearby listened with shining eyes and rushed over, showering her with flattery, hoping that when Wang Xi had new makeup products, they would be the first to see them.

Wang Xi thoroughly enjoyed himself, engaging in a series of rambling conversations that delighted his junior female classmates.

And so we spent a pleasant afternoon.

"theory?"

Hongxiu looked at Qin'er, who had just returned, with surprise.

Qin'er nodded and said, "Yes, Wang Xiaoque didn't teach us makeup techniques, she just gave us a theory lesson."

Hongxiu retorted, "You guys are so easy to fool. There's no theory behind this makeup."

Qin'er said, "But what Wang Xiaoque said seems to make a lot of sense."

"???"

"Father, Uncle has arrived. And this is..."

Wang Xi had just returned home when he discovered that not only were Wang Shouyi and Li Qiao sitting in the hall, but there was also a stranger.

Wang Shouyi quickly said, "You're always so rude, this is your Uncle Li."

Uncle Li? Could he be a member of the royal family? Wang Xi quickly bowed, "Wang Xiaoque greets Uncle Li."

The man laughed and said, "No wonder, no wonder. I've long heard that the young master of the Wang family is like a bird that doesn't fly for three years, but soars into the sky; he doesn't sing for three years, but astonishes everyone with his voice. Seeing him today, it's truly as the rumors say. He is handsome and intelligent."

"This guy's not bad, he knows how to talk." Wang Xi chuckled and said, "Uncle Li, you flatter me."

At this moment, Li Qiao suddenly said, "Your Uncle Li has recently come to the Ministry of Rites as an Assistant Minister. He will be of great help to me and will be in charge of education reform. If you have any questions, you can go and discuss them with Uncle Li."

Wang Xi's expression changed, and he secretly sized up the man again before nodding and saying, "Yes, nephew understands."

Li Qiao wants to find help, which is certainly possible, but it's unclear whether the person is reliable.

The man then said, "Since you call me Uncle Li, then Uncle Li will call you Sparrow. Is that alright?"

Wang Xi quickly replied, "Of course."

The man chuckled and said, "Sparrow, if you ever need anything in the future, you can come to Uncle Li. Uncle Li will definitely take care of it for you perfectly."

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "If the sparrow disturbs Uncle Li, please don't take offense."

"It's not my fault! It's not my fault!"

The man smiled and waved his hand.

Wang Shouyi said, "Li Zhongyun, don't spoil him too much. This kid is really good at causing you trouble."

The man replied, "It's alright, it's alright. I quite admire your son."

Wang Shouyi immediately said to Wang Xi, "Hurry up and thank Uncle Li."

"Thank you, Uncle Li."

"Don't thank me yet. I don't want Uncle Li to have to ask you for help later."

"Oh! Uncle Li, you're too kind. Whatever it is, just tell me, and I'll do my best to handle it properly."

Wang Xi patted his chest and said.

"Haha!" Li Qiao laughed after hearing this, "The two of you really do have similar tones of voice." Upon hearing this, the man and Wang Xi exchanged a glance, both looking slightly embarrassed.

Wang Shouyi hurriedly said, "Que'er, you should go back to your room and rest first."

"Yes. Sparrow takes her leave."

Once outside, Wang Xi wondered where his uncle had found this helper. Xiao Man hadn't mentioned him before. He hoped he wouldn't ruin his plans.

Judging from Li Qiao's tone just now, he should be entrusted with an important task, specifically related to education reform, which was initiated by him.

Upon arriving at his courtyard, Wang Xi became increasingly uneasy. Suddenly, he beckoned to Wang Facai, who immediately came over.

"Fa Cai, do you know that guest?"

"Young master, are you referring to Li Zhongyun?"

"Yes."

Wang Xi nodded.

Wang Facai said, "This man's surname is Li, and his given name is Linfu."

Wang Xi was taken aback. "Li Linfu?"

Wang Facai was also startled, "Young master, do you know this person?"

Wang Xi was taken aback, then shook her head and said, "I don't know him. What's his relationship with my uncle? Are they relatives?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Wang Facai's eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions. He said, "If we're talking about relatives, you could say that. Li Zhongyun is the great-grandson of Prince Changping, Li Shuliang, so he can be considered a member of the imperial clan. However, the reason he was able to take up a position in the Ministry of Rites is entirely because he is the nephew of Doctor Jiang."

"Doctor Jiang's nephew?"

"Yes."

Wang Xi was unaware of this, but if Li Linfu was Jiang Jiao's nephew, then it would make sense.

Jiang Jiao had helped Li Qiao a lot, so Li Qiao naturally wouldn't refuse to take care of his nephew.

Thinking of this, Wang Xi was furious. He had gone to great lengths to find jobs for them, and they had turned around and let wolves into the house.

Wang Xi knew very well who Li Linfu was; even ten Wang Shouyis plus ten Li Qiaos might not be a match for him.

This is nothing short of inviting trouble.

wrong!

Historically, Li Linfu didn't rise through the ranks this way. Could it be because of me? Oh, I see. He must be thinking the same thing I am—trying to curry favor with the emperor through opera. Damn it, this fellow opera singer is my nemesis! How should I deal with this?
"Young Master! Young Master!"

"what?"

Wang Xi suddenly woke up with a start, looked up and saw Wang Facai looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"What are you thinking about, young master?" Wang Facai asked.

Wang Xi blinked, then suddenly looked at Wang Facai and laughed, "I'm thinking about raising an army for a thousand days to use it for one."

Wang Facai looked at Wang Xi with suspicion.

Wang Xi said, "I'm short-handed right now, so I'm planning to assign you some tasks."

Wang Facai was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Young master, can you trust a lowly person like me?"

Wang Xi laughed and said, "Whether you trust me or not, you're always hanging around in front of me. Since that's the case, why not give you a chance to win my trust?"

Wang Facai hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "I will never disappoint you, young master."

Wang Xi smiled and nodded. "I'm going back to my room now. Oh, and please tell Hua Daiyu not to bother me for the time being."

"Yes."

After Wang Xi returned to the house, Wang Facai stood in front of the door and muttered to himself, "It seems that the young master is more mature than I imagined."

Just then, someone next to him said, "Fa Cai, what are you muttering to yourself?"

Wang Facai turned his head and glanced at her, then subconsciously said, "Hua Daiyu."

Hua Jie was holding a jar of candied fruit, eating it while curiously observing Wang Facai.

Sister Hua glared at her angrily, "How dare you call me that? Let me tell you, I will never call you Wang Baoyu."

Wang Facai said dejectedly, "I admit I misspoke, I admit I misspoke. Let's go outside and talk, so as not to disturb the young master."

Sister Hua said, "I've come to bring food for the young master. The palace sent some fine candied fruit today."

Wang Facai looked into the jar and found that it was already more than half full. "Young Master is doing his homework and told me not to let anyone disturb him."

Sister Hua scoffed, "Since when has Young Master needed you to relay messages to me?"

Then we walked inside.

Wang Facai reached out to block his way, but Sister Hua, a ruthless woman who didn't mince words, immediately launched a flying kick. The kick was incredibly fast and powerful, and Wang Facai dared not take it head-on. He jumped back to dodge it, and his expression immediately changed. He put on a mournful face and begged for mercy, "Sister Hua, I've only just earned a little bit of Young Master's trust. If I can't even complete this first task, then I'll be finished."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

Sister Hua asked, "What do you mean?"

Wang Facai said, "Just now, the young master said he would arrange something for me to do, and at the same time told me not to let anyone bother him."

After listening, Sister Hua thought for a moment and said, "Alright, seeing how pitiful you've been guarding the gate for so many days, I'll give you some face this time."

"Thank you, Sister Hua. Thank you, Sister Hua."

"But you must remember, you are not allowed to call me Hua Daiyu anymore."

"Yes Yes Yes."

Wang Facai nodded vigorously, "I will definitely remember this."

"That's about it."

Sister Hua casually handed the jar to Wang Facai, saying, "Take this in and feed the young master when he gets hungry later."

Wang Facai took it, looked inside, and sure enough, there were only two or three pieces left. As soon as Sister Hua left, he ate them himself.

(End of this chapter)