Liu Bei: My younger brother is a deity.

"I'm not fighting anymore, I'm not fighting anymore."

Liu Bei and Zhang Fei finally couldn't take it anymore and waved their hands to stop.

Liu Quan stopped what he was doing.

"Ah Quan," Zhang Fei asked, panting, "what was the name of that move you made when you pressed yourself against me and sent me flying?"

"Iron Mountain Lean!" Liu Quan said.

"Good name!" A rough voice came from outside the door.

"Father!" Zhang Fei exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here?"

"If I hadn't come, would you, you brat, still remember to come home?" Butcher Zhang glared at his son, then looked at Liu Bei and Liu Quan, "My two young masters, I'm sorry to have troubled you with my unfilial son."

Zhang Fei muttered, "I didn't."

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Uncle, you're mistaken. My brother and I are very close to A-Fei, and we're all very happy together."

They then invited Butcher Zhang in, and the adult and three children chatted idly in the courtyard.

Butcher Zhang paid special attention to Liu Quan. This child was so skilled in martial arts at such a young age; he must have been taught by a master.

They also felt that the Liu brothers' demeanor was quite different from that of ordinary villagers, and even some powerful families' sons might not be able to compare to them, which amazed them.

After chatting for a while, Butcher Zhang took his leave with Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei and Liu Quan escorted the two to the village entrance.

Even after getting into the oxcart, Zhang Fei was still reluctant to leave.

Liu Bei took his hand and said, "Whenever you have time, A-Fei can come to my house to play often, and stay for as long as he wants. Isn't that right, A-Quan?"

Liu Bei also sought Liu Quan's opinion.

After three years of getting along, Liu Bei had long regarded Liu Quan as family, as his own younger brother, and would even occasionally forget that Liu Quan was an immortal.

Liu Quan nodded.

Zhang Fei hurriedly said, "My two brothers are welcome to visit my home. We don't have tofu, but we have plenty of meat."

Liu Bei laughed heartily: "Very well, then it's settled."

On the way back, Butcher Zhang noticed his son's sullen expression. "What's wrong? Still thinking about your two new friends?"

Zhang Fei nodded. "Father, may I learn martial arts from Quan?"

Butcher Zhang was taken aback: "Does he agree? I think that young brother Quan's martial arts skills are quite extraordinary. He must have inherited them. Such skills are family heirlooms, priceless. Why would he teach you?"

Zhang Fei's eyes lit up. "Wow, Quan is so generous!"

Butcher Zhang was taken aback again, then quickly realized, "They agreed to teach you?"

Zhang Fei said excitedly, "Yes, I asked Quan before, and he said he was willing to teach me."

Butcher Zhang thought to himself, "Could it be that the child doesn't understand the importance of this kind of skill?"

He hurriedly asked, "Do his parents know?"

Zhang Fei said, "A-Quan has no one left at home, so he lives at A-Bei's house. A-Bei also has no father, only a mother, who is a very kind aunt. Her tofu is really delicious!"

Butcher Zhang asked in surprise, "Liu Bei and Liu Quan weren't biological brothers?"

"Yes, they are cousins. A-Bei's martial arts were taught by A-Quan."

"Who is Ah Quan's master? Would he agree to that?"

"Hehe, Father, you don't know, do you? Quan doesn't have a master. He says he learned all his skills in his dreams."

Butcher Zhang was filled with awe.

People these days, from royalty and nobility to commoners, are all superstitious.

It can be said that the Han Dynasty was the most popular era after Confucianism was infiltrated with the mystical doctrine of the Five Virtues, and society was permeated with a trend of talking about ghosts and gods and emphasizing prophecies.

Therefore, they have a special awe and fascination with extraordinary people, things, and events.

At that moment, Butcher Zhang wondered, "Could it be that Liu Quan received martial arts instruction from an immortal in a dream? Wait, the immortal only taught martial arts?"

He already had a good impression of his son's two new friends, and now he even had the idea of ​​simply leaving his son in Lousang Village.

In the end, he shook his head, realizing that this move was too utilitarian and might displease the immortals.

Let my son interact with these two teenagers naturally.

Putting his mind at ease, Butcher Zhang smiled and said, "Your uncle's birthday is next month. Why don't you invite the two Liu brothers to stay at our house for a few days?"

Zhang Fei was overjoyed, and then asked, "Can I learn martial arts from A-Quan now?"

Butcher Zhang said, "Since A-Quan is so generous, I naturally have no problem with it. However, you can't just learn his skills for nothing."

Zhang the butcher thought for a moment and said, "How about this? The Su family is planning to buy a batch of fine horses from the grasslands as a birthday gift for your uncle. I will go and talk to the Su family and ask them to bring back a few foals. You can give them to the Liu brothers. Don't say anything more; just consider it a gift between friends."

Zhang Fei was overjoyed, "Great! Father, is there a share of this colt for me?"

"Yes, yes!" Butcher Zhang laughed.

More than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

At dawn that day, Zhang Fei rushed from Zhuoxian County to Lousang Village.

He rode a blue donkey, followed by a group of strong servants.

"A-Bei! A-Quan!" He shouted at the top of his lungs before even entering the courtyard, "Are you all ready? You'll be staying at my house for a few more days! My uncle is celebrating his birthday, and we slaughtered quite a few pigs and sheep; there'll be plenty of meat this time!"

Liu Bei came out of the house and, seeing his hurried appearance, couldn't help but laugh: "You're in a real hurry, setting off before dawn, aren't you?"

"Absolutely!" Zhang Fei jumped off the donkey, wiping the sweat from his face. "I couldn't sleep at night, tossing and turning, just hoping for dawn to come quickly."

Liu Quan then came out of the house and greeted Zhang Fei.

Upon seeing Liu Quan, Zhang Fei became more obedient, and his voice also decreased significantly.

After the three of them tidied up, Liu gave them a stack of pancakes and a jar of fermented bean curd, and told them a few things like "Don't be naughty" and "Be respectful to your elders" before letting them go.

Zhang Fei ordered his servants to bring out two more strong donkeys.

Liu Quan easily leaped onto the donkey's back and sat down steadily.

Although he had never ridden a donkey before, his exceptional calculation ability and control over his body allowed him to know what to do just by glancing at Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei had never ridden a donkey before, but he didn't want to show his inexperience, so he secretly observed the sitting postures of A Fei and A Quan.

Then, with a swift movement, he flipped over the donkey's back and fell off on the other side.

Zhang Fei let out a "ga ga ga" laugh. This guy's voice has recently started to change, and it's extremely unpleasant.

Fortunately, Liu Bei was thick-skinned enough. He just smiled sheepishly and tried again, this time successfully getting on the donkey's back.

This guy was really brave. He got on the donkey's back, then immediately kicked the donkey's belly with both feet, and the donkey started running fast.

"Come on, come on, let's see who runs the fastest!"

Zhang Fei cracked his whip, "Let's compete then!"

Liu Quan smiled and gently patted the donkey's head before joining the chase.

The three boys ran along the main road by the Juma River.

About an hour later, a row of houses came into view in the distance, located three miles outside the east gate of the county town.

This is Zhangjiazhuang.

Zhangjiazhuang is not small, with about a hundred households, most of whom are surnamed Zhang.

The main road leading into the village was paved with gravel, and there were neat courtyard walls on both sides. Morning glories were climbing on the walls, and they were in full bloom at the moment. The purple-red flowers were in full bloom.

There are several large locust trees in the village, their canopies like canopies, providing a large area of ​​shade.

The sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking rose and fell, and occasionally the laughter of children could be heard from the depths of the alley, creating a lively scene.

It's especially lively today.

When Zhang Pu, the clan chief of Zhangjiazhuang, celebrated his birthday, the entire main road was covered with red cloth.

These days, cloth is money, which shows that the Zhang family is quite wealthy.

Every household also has a red paper cutout of the character "寿" (longevity) pasted on their door.

A colorful tent was erected at the entrance of the village, and several long tables were set up under the tent, piled high with congratulatory gifts.

Some brought wine, some brought cloth, some brought grain, and some even brought live chickens and ducks, creating a cacophony of chatter.

Several servants dressed in new clothes stood at the entrance of the village to greet the guest. Upon seeing Zhang Fei, they all greeted him with smiles: "Young master is back! Second Master has been asking about you several times!"

Zhang Fei, with his head held high and a hint of smugness, led Liu Bei and Liu Quan into the manor.

People kept talking to him along the way, and he responded to each one, but he didn't stop walking and went straight into the depths of the village.

Zhang Pu's house is located in the very center of the village, and it is the largest and most magnificent residence in Zhangjiazhuang.

More than a dozen tables have been set up in the courtyard, stretching from the main room all the way to the patio, and then from the patio to the main gate.

A red cloth was laid out on the table, with bowls, chopsticks, and wine cups set out. The cooks were busy in the backyard, and the smoke and aroma of cooking oil mingled together, filling the entire village.

Zhang Fei led Liu Bei and Liu Quan into the courtyard and headed straight for the main room.

A group of elders knelt in the main room. In the center was an old man with white hair and beard, a robust build, and a face like a red date. Although his eyes were somewhat cloudy, they still shone with a sharp light.

This is Zhang Pu, the elder brother of Butcher Zhang and the patriarch of Zhang Family Village.

Zhang Pu was twenty years older than Zhang the Butcher, and it could be said that he raised Zhang the Butcher like an older brother or father.

"Uncle!" Zhang Fei stepped forward and kowtowed. "I'm back! These two are my good friends, Liu Bei and Liu Quan!"

Liu Bei and Liu Quan also stepped forward to pay their respects, kowtowed respectfully, and said a few auspicious words of birthday wishes.

Zhang Pu sized up the two men. He saw that Liu Bei was imposing and Liu Quan was handsome. Although their clothes and appearance did not show wealth, they each had their own demeanor. He was secretly amazed.

He smiled and nodded: "Good, good! Fei'er has made good friends."

After greeting Liu Bei, Liu Quan, and his uncle, Zhang Fei led the two men out.

They naturally went to sit at the children's table.