Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 61 Youyang Sun Zhigao

Officials of this dynasty are allowed one day off every ten days.

Hanlin Lane, Zhao Mansion.

Zhao Han had a rare moment of free time. At this moment, he was standing in the courtyard, watching the maids and servants running around busy preparing for the upcoming wedding ceremony.

A large red silk curtain embroidered with a picture of a hundred children, a mandarin duck quilt, and a love pillow.

There are gilded double happiness candlesticks that can burn for three days, and auspicious items such as peanuts, red dates, and longans scattered on the tent.

There were also several open boxes and cages in the corridor, filled with newly-cut wedding clothes, embroidered shoes, and gifts prepared for returning home.

In short, everything is available and ready.

Just as Zhao Han was about to go to the study, he saw Changqing running towards him hurriedly across the courtyard.

A burly man followed behind him.

"Brother, didn't you say a while ago that you wanted to learn some martial arts?"

Zhao Han raised his eyebrows slightly, "Why? Have you found a suitable master recently?"

Chang Qing nodded rapidly, pointing at the man behind him and said with a smile, "Look, brother, he's the boxing and kicking master I've chosen."

"I am Pei Hu, the humble servant, and I am here to greet my lord." Pei Hu spoke in a deep voice and clasped his fists respectfully.

Zhao Han looked at him intently. He saw that the man was wearing a navy blue coarse cloth shorts and had a pair of bright eyes under his thick eyebrows.

He has a strong and agile figure with arms and legs as big as a monkey and waist as thin as a bee. You can tell at first glance that he is a person who has practiced martial arts for many years.

Changqing scratched his head and chuckled, with a lingering fear on his face.

"Brother, he's actually the security guard that Mother Hu bought a while ago. He said he's been learning martial arts from his father since he was young."

"Last year, I had an argument with someone in the village and accidentally injured the head of the household's son. To avoid the disaster, I left my hometown and came to Bianjing to seek a living."

"I just didn't believe it and insisted on testing his skills. As a result, he almost broke my ribs with one palm strike."

As he spoke, Changqing lifted up the corner of his clothes, revealing a bruise under his ribs.

"Look, bro, I'm almost catching up with you with this strength."

Upon hearing this, a hint of barely perceptible surprise flashed across Pei Hu's eyes.

He had trained hard in the Imperial City Division for many years, getting up early and working late to acquire the strength to break stones and split rocks.

This young servant boy actually said that his strength is not as good as that of His Royal Highness the Prince, a scholar who spends all day with pen and ink. There must be a limit to flattery, okay?

"I am good at boxing and swordsmanship. I wonder what my lord wants to learn?" Pei Hu asked respectfully.

Zhao Han glanced at him inconspicuously, then slowly unbuttoned his outer robe, rolled up his sleeves, and revealed his well-defined forearms.

"I do know a bit of boxing, so why don't you let me try you first?"

"If this suits my taste, I will personally present the gift."

Pei Hu's pupils shrank slightly, and he wondered what kind of punishment would be waiting for him if he accidentally injured His Royal Highness the Prince.

"What are you still standing there for? I want to test your kung fu!"

"If you can become my brother's master, you won't have to do odd jobs outside." Chang Qing lowered his arm and couldn't help urging him.

Pei Hu came back to his senses, took a deep breath, and said, "Master, please teach me."

Zhao Han's eyes darkened, and he was the first to punch, going straight to the center. The force of his punch was so strong that it made a sound of breaking through the air.

Pei Hu disagreed and decided to stop at the right time, using only 30% of his strength to counter the attack.

The moment the two fists connected, there was a loud "bang" and he took four or five steps back. He looked down at his numb elbow, his face full of surprise.

In the next round, he no longer held back his strength, and in less than half an incense stick of time, Zhao Han was defeated miserably.

The two of them sat on the steps wiping the sweat from their foreheads.

Pei Hu's eyes became more respectful, and he said with a bow, "My Lord's strength is far beyond that of an ordinary person, and his muscles and bones are a martial arts prodigy."

"If you practice hard day and night, you will become a leader within five years."

Zhao Han turned his head and looked at him. "With your skills, being just a guard in charge of the house is really a bit of a waste."

"I'm new to Bianjing and I'm unfamiliar with the place. I'm lucky to have a place to stay."

"As for wasting one's talents, it all depends on my luck."

"Every year, there are many scholars who are talented but not appreciated in the imperial examinations, let alone a crude warrior like me?"

As Pei Hu spoke, his expression did not change at all.

Zhao Han pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and patted his shoulder.

"Starting tomorrow, I will learn martial arts from you. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will definitely recommend you to serve in the military camp."

"Thank you, my lord. I will teach you everything I know without reservation!" Pei Hu pretended to be surprised and clasped his fists respectfully.

After Pei Hu left, Zhao Han looked at Chang Qing and asked in a low voice, "Is his identity clean?" "Don't worry, sir, I've seen his household registration, and it's perfectly clean."

"If you're still worried, I'll go to the government office and ask him when I have time. I'm sure I'll find out everything about his ancestors' livelihoods for three generations."

Zhao Han nodded and said, "Go ahead, be careful."

-

Youyang, a prosperous residence.

This place is not as prosperous as Bianjing. The three-courtyard house with white walls and black tiles is built against the mountain.

The bluestone steps wind their way up, and the occasional chirping of tits adds a unique elegance.

Early this morning, Sheng Wei was so angry that his beard was shaking, and he slammed the teacup in his hand heavily on the stone table in the yard.

"Let him go!"

"Ever since he failed the provincial examination last year, he's been asking for money so many times!"

The servant lowered his head and spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "Young Master Sun said his mother is ill, but he has no money to hire a doctor to prescribe medicine."

"I only ask that the official give him another twenty taels of silver. He will surely pass the provincial examination next year."

"Sick again?!" Sheng Wei laughed in anger. "His mother must have been sick more than ten times in the past six months!"

He counted on his fingers and said, "In the first month, they said it was typhoid fever, in the second month, it was heart palpitations, in the third month, it was a sprained arm, and in the fifth month, it was a headache... Now it's July, what disease is it again?!"

The servant shrank his neck and shook his head repeatedly, indicating that he didn't know either.

The eldest lady, Mrs. Li, was wearing a tan-brown robe and had a gentle face. She stepped forward and said, "It's only twenty taels of silver. Just give it to me."

"Why are you so angry for no reason?" Li said with a puzzled look on her face.

Sheng Wei frowned, took a deep breath, and gritted his teeth, "No!"

"Do you think he still looks like a scholar now?"

"Yesterday, the shopkeeper at Qianjin Pavilion told me that Sun Zhigao had already borrowed nearly a hundred taels of silver from him!"

"How much money can his mother earn from laundry and mending? In the end, he still relies on my family to pay it back for him."

Li pursed her lips and frowned as she said, "Sun Zhigao passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve. Everyone in Youyang who saw him called him a child prodigy."

"I think he's just feeling down for a while because he failed the provincial examination last year."

"If you can calm down and work hard, you may be able to pass the provincial examination next year."

Sheng Wei sneered.

"I see Sun Zhigao coming to our house to ask for money every time. It's obvious that he's being indulged by you!"

Li's face turned pale at his words. She defended herself, "On the road to the imperial examination, those who can pass the exam are rare."

"He just failed the provincial examination once. Weren't you very satisfied with Sun Zhigao in the past?"

"Besides, I'm doing this for our family and Shu'er's future!"

Sheng Wei sighed to the sky and raised his hand to twist his swollen eyebrows.

"The past is the past, I tell you the truth."

"During this trip to Bianjing, I became acquainted with Brother Hong's son-in-law by chance."

"Only after meeting him did I finally understand what a scholar is. His demeanor is truly as gentle as jade, and he treats people with respect and courtesy."

"Unlike Sun Zhigao, who didn't work hard after failing the exam, but instead studied late into the night and spent his days eating, drinking and having fun."

"You've read all the sage books into a dog's stomach!"

Li twisted the handkerchief in her hand and was silent for a moment. She said softly, "How can our family's status compare to that of the second branch?"

"In a small place like Youyang, apart from Sun Zhigao, I have never found a brother who is better than him."

He passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve, and there were only a few such people in the Jiangnan region who could pass the examination.

In Li's opinion, as long as Sun Zhigao puts his mind to it, he will have no worries about not getting into high school.

After Shulan came of age, she married into the Sun family. The Sun family was short of money, but the Sheng family had plenty of it.

The two families are tied together, and when Sun Zhigao becomes an official in the court in the future, they will also be able to benefit from it, and Pinlan will also be able to marry into a good family.

She would not always bow down to Wang Ruofu.

"I need to think about Shu'er's marriage again."

"If Sun Zhigao comes to ask for money again in the future, just chase him away."

"Tell him that if he doesn't stop being a playboy and study hard, my Sheng family won't give him a penny."

Although Sheng Wei did not raise his voice, every word he said was as firm as iron and did not allow for any compromise.

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(End of this chapter)