Voices rose occasionally. Search: \(¨Complete¨ Book¨God¨Site¨\) to read high-quality literature for free.
Outside, the sky remained overcast. In the simple courtyard, people occasionally walked past, and some would peek inside from the outside before running away with pattering footsteps.
In the reception hall, as Hong Ti accepted the tea tray from the dark, thin boy and placed teacups beside the main seat and the guest seat, she overheard the two men discussing topics she didn't quite understand.
"...Li Heng is also a scholar of Confucianism. What books did you study in the past?"
"...When I was studying, I learned most of the Analects, Zuo Zhuan, Doctrine of the Mean, etc.... I particularly enjoyed the Analects..."
"...Indeed the proper path. It reminds me of how my teacher back then didn't think much of the Doctrine of the Mean, saying that reading it was useless and far from the Great Way... I, on the other hand, ended up reading it more because of that..."
"...Actually, all Great Ways converge..."
Due to the uncertain nature of Ning Yi's current identity, and his quiet return with Hong Ti, not many people in the village were disturbed. Apart from the old man's welcome outside the gate, there were no other welcoming formalities. At this moment, everything happening in this small courtyard was like an ordinary mountain woman bringing a new son-in-law home. Some were curious, but no one was clamoring. In the living room, the conversation was simple and plain, without much excitement. In the courtyard, the men were silent, while the women curiously went about their business, quietly speculating on the development of events.
"Speaking of which, Li Heng's family is in Jiangning. I once went there myself many years ago, but I wonder what Jiangning is like now..."
Liang Bingfu sat in the host's seat, speaking to Ning Yi with a slightly stern expression, his eyes bright and his back straight. Ning Yi sat respectfully on the chair at an angle to him, answering his questions. Hong Ti kept silent in the room. She looked somewhat like a newly married bride, or perhaps Ning Yi's sister. She first brought tea for the two men, then massaged Liang Bingfu's shoulders, and then sat down next to Ning Yi, slightly lowering her head, her eyes calm, but occasionally feeling bored, she would clasp her hands between her legs.
After discussing the situation in Jiangning, the old man asked about Hangzhou. He finished the tea in his cup, and Hong Ti went to refill it. The old man tapped his cane and smiled slightly. "Hong Ti, if you're bored, go do something else. We'll have him stay for dinner later, go tell them to prepare."
Hong Ti nodded, glanced at Ning Yi, and Ning Yi waved his hand with a smile, silently saying, "I'll keep Grandpa Liang company."
Before long, Hong Ti left the room, gently smoothing her hair. Several men who had been pretending to stroll around in the courtyard quickly went to the side. Most of those who could be here at this time were elders and core members of the Qingmu Village, as well as their families. They were preparing dinner in the kitchen, and Hong Ti also went over to help, washing vegetable leaves, melons, and fruits under the eaves, occasionally looking back at the room.
After a while, she waved over the dark, thin boy who was taking care of Liang Bingfu and asked him about the old man's physical condition today. From the conversations that vaguely reached her ears, she knew, of course, that the old man's health was not as good as he made it out to be.
In fact, although Ning Yi was not highly accomplished in orthodox learning, he was in daily contact with Confucian scholars such as Qin Si Yuan and Yao Zu Nian. Liang Bingfu was only of average talent, and his scholarship from his younger days had not been studied for many years. It was certainly impossible to stump Ning Yi. After chatting for a while, it was basically Ning Yi speaking and him listening. However, the old man, after all, had supported the village for so many years, and he would occasionally express some views when he thought of something.
Although it was summer, the afternoon passed quickly. Before long, dusk had fallen. After dinner was prepared and the tables and chairs were set up, the old man still sat upright, chatting with Ning Yi. At this point, they were talking about the work in Right Minister's Residence, the situation in the north, and the situation at the border. Ning Yi explained everything to the old man, starting with the Zhang Jue incident, one by one. These matters could not be dealt with perfunctorily. The old man listened carefully, and when he heard of Zhang Jue's death, he sighed heavily. When he heard of the reactions from all sides caused by this incident, he clenched the handle of his cane with his right hand, trembling slightly. After dinner, Hong Ti wanted to persuade him to rest, but the old man simply waved his hand. "You go out, I'll… continue chatting with Li Heng."
Hong Ti walked out of the room and went to the outside of the courtyard. During the day it was still overcast, but at night, even the light of the stars and moon was invisible. In the valley below, there were spots of torches, and at the back of the courtyard gate, there were also two torches burning. She stood in the faint light and looked down for a long time. The two most important men to her were chatting inside at this moment, and for her, it was an extremely complex feeling.
After a long time, she went into the courtyard and lit the lanterns under the eaves. Hearing a creaking sound, Ning Yi walked out of the room with warm yellow light opposite, stood there and looked at her for a while, then raised two fingers in front of him, shaking them with a smile.
"Grandpa Liang he..." Hong Ti walked over.
"He's already asleep," Ning Yi said softly. "The old man is really energetic."
"He's forcing himself."
"I know, but it also represents how important he considers this matter, this is his test for me..."
"Grandpa Liang didn't make things difficult for you..."
"Yes, but I also take this matter very seriously." Speaking in a low voice, the two walked towards the gate of the courtyard as if taking a stroll. Ning Yi smiled. "The things the old man has done are actually very admirable. He carries a lot of responsibility... just like you."
"I... I'm not as busy as Grandpa Liang."
"It's just different divisions of labor."
The summer night wind blew past from the mountainside. Walking to the side of the road where they could overlook the valley, Ning Yi squatted down, and Hong Ti accompanied him and squatted down as well. In the valley, every household had already finished dinner. There was not much entertainment at night. People crowded on the roads between the houses to chat, and the sound of children playing and chasing each other came up from the darkness. In the distance, the outer market of Lüliang was even more lively, and seemed a bit chaotic. Hong Ti pointed to the bottom and introduced to Ning Yi where the residences were, where the materials were stored, where new houses were to be built, where things had happened, and so on.
Before long, she introduced the several groups of courtyards below the mountainside, which were where the "guests" who had come to Lüliang this time were gathered. He Yuanwai, with the Qi family background, the envoy sent by Dong Pang'er, the lieutenant general from the Wusheng Army, the heroic knight who claimed to be invincible in the Central Plains, the head brothers from the mountains in the vicinity of Lüliang... Most of them came with their own purposes, or shouldered missions, in short, there were many. There were also those who really thought that Hong Ti was holding a martial arts contest to recruit a husband. These days, they had been trying to contact Liang Bingfu by various means. Because Hong Ti had not returned, Liang Bingfu had been suppressing and delaying the matter.
"Now that I'm here, and you've returned, don't let the old man be so tired. Over the next few days, let's resolve these matters." Ning Yi said in a low voice. "You basically know their identities, right?"
Hong Ti nodded. "I know."
"Well, Zhu Biao will come to find me later. I'll explain it to him. In the next day or two, we'll probably know what to do. Before that, can you take me to see the progress of 'that thing'?"
"Okay." Hong Ti stood up, raised her hand, and pointed to a place on the side and back of the mountain. In the darkness there, it seemed to be emitting a dark red light.
Soon after, the two went towards that place along the mountain road. It was the blast furnace workshop hidden in the mountain. For Ning Yi, neither the Yuanwai, nor the envoy, nor the amnesty edict that shook the north of the Wu Dynasty this time were his purpose for coming here. Outside the Lüliang Mountains, the Jin people were gradually reaching their peak, and the Mongols were sweeping and expanding. Sometimes, thinking about the short-term and long-term interests on an unremarkable Lüliang Mountain felt a bit boring.
But of course, there were also things of great weight here, like the mad woman in the mountain village, like the old man who finally fell into slumber in exhaustion, like the woman who was the head of a village and still had patches sewn on her clothes. Sometimes, it would make him recall the simple words she said when he first met Hong Ti: "Living like less than a human being..." In contrast, the clownish antics of a group of small characters felt boring and helpless.
However, even with such emotions, before doing what he was asked to do, these trivial problems still had to be solved. That night, Ning Yi and Hong Ti went to see the progress of the blast furnace's improvement and the small amount of steel that had been refined. After receiving Ning Yi's entrustment, Hong Ti and Liang Bingfu had both done their best in this matter. Although the progress was not much, it was already very much their best. He then met with Zhu Biao, explained the investigation of outsiders in the village, and began to plan more detailed exploration ideas.
At the same time, on the Lüliang side, the unification and reorganization of the bandits on the stronghold originally belonging to Xiao Xiangma had reached its final moment. Early the next morning, they set off with the soldiers, and arrived at Qingmu Village that evening, as envoys of Jin Prince Tian Hu, and received accommodation and hospitality. While making a request to meet Hong Ti, she also began to inquire about the identities of the other people who had come this time, and then quickly responded, began to form alliances, and visited various families.
It was also on this evening that Ning Yi saw her in the incoming mountain team with a monocular telescope on the hillside. At this time, the lenses of this telescope were purely hand-ground, and even the best products were not very clear, so he held the telescope and looked for a long time.
"Wow, that is... Lou Xiaowan or Lou something... Where's Shuheng..." Holding the telescope and looking left and right for a long time, and thinking for a moment, Ning Yi handed the telescope to Zhu Biao next to him.
Then he became a little happy: "Ah, at least I know why I got beaten up, it's at least a good thing..."
Of course, that night, Ning Yi did not go over to greet this old friend whom he had not seen for a long time.
Lou Shuwan's reunion with him was a few days later...
Support (Complete Book God Station) to share this site with those little friends who need it! If you can't find a book, please leave a message!