Chapter 50: Yang Shu Arrives with an Invitation

  The tenth year of Zhenguan, spring.

  The eve of Lantern Festival, January 14th.

  Liu Laoshi bought a lot of lanterns at the county market and brought them back. Liu He's wife also started making rice cakes in the kitchen. Some families even hung red lanterns on their doors as early as the morning of the 14th.

  The festive atmosphere made Liu Yitiao feel that the Lantern Festival had arrived.

  Liu Xiaohui and Liu Er Tiao have both changed into new clothes, from morning till now they've been circling around Liu Yitiao. Begging Liu Yitiao to take them to the county town tonight to watch the lanterns.

  Shangyuan Night was the only festival in ancient times where there was no ban on going out, and men, women, old and young could all go out to celebrate together, without the many taboos of everyday life. So when they saw Liu Xiaohui and others surrounding Liu Yitiao, Liu Laoshi and Liu He's wife didn't stop them, but just smiled and watched from the side.

  Liu Yitiao was wrapped up by them and had no choice but to agree. The two little guys were so happy that they raised their hands in celebration with a "whoop".

  Old Liu came out and said to them: "Tonight, we'll all go together to see the flower lanterns and watch the acrobatics. Hmm, one by one, you two can do as you please, but Little Hui must stay by her mother's side and not run around."

  "Dad!" Liu Xiaohui heard this and pouted, saying: "I want to go with Big Brother and Second Brother, following Mom and Dad to watch the lanterns is so boring."

  "Hehe, Dad, just let little sister follow me, I'll take good care of her." Liu Yitiao smiled and hugged Liu Xiaohui in his arms, pleading for her. Little kids love to play, if they let her follow Old Liu and the others to stroll around the lantern market, how can she have fun?"

  Liu He's wife spoke up from the kitchen, "If Xiaohui wants to follow her brother, let her go. There's one thing, even if she does come back, it won't cause any trouble."

  "This," Lao Shi thought to himself, "Liu He's wife doesn't understand the ways of the world. On Lantern Festival night, all the girls from nearby villages will come out to watch the lanterns, and this is an opportunity for Liu Yi. Who knows, maybe he'll even find a good match. But with Xiao Hui by his side, nothing can be accomplished."

  After all, Liu Lao Shi still had a glimmer of hope for Liu Yi Tiao's marriage and wanted to create some conditions for him by any means possible.

  "Dad, let me follow big brother!" Liu Xiaohui blinked her big eyes and looked at Old Liu with a pitiful expression, saying: "Xiaohui will listen to big brother's words, won't run around randomly, and won't ask for things randomly."

  "Ah, you child..." Old Liu was about to say something, but was interrupted by the sound of someone knocking at the door.

  "Is Old Master Liu at home? Old Master Liu!!" A young man wearing a green shirt and a small hat was shouting loudly outside the gate of the Liu's house. Behind him, there was an elegantly decorated horse carriage.

  "Little Liu?" Old Liu looked towards the door and found it was an acquaintance, so he got up to open the door for him. When he reached the door, he asked: "Little Liu, how did you manage to come to my place today?"

  Xiao Liu smiled and said, "Master Liu, how could a lowly servant like me dare to disturb you? It was our master who sent me. Tonight is the first night of the Lantern Festival, and the county is bustling with lanterns and decorations. Master wants to invite you to stay for two days, watch the flower lanterns, and join in the excitement. That's why he sent me to pick you up."

  "Yang Lao Di?" Old Liu was surprised in his heart, how Yang Bo Fang was so enthusiastic this year. Old Liu smiled and said: "Thanks to Yang Lao Di for remembering, Xiao Liu Ge quickly come in and rest for a while, let me discuss with my family."

  "Ah, thank you, Master Liu!" Xiaoliu said with a sweet smile and followed Liu Lao into the courtyard. When they reached in front of Liu Yitiao and his siblings, he bowed and greeted them: "Xiaoliu has seen the two young masters and miss."

  Liu Yitiao was a bit better, but Liu Er Tiao and Liu Xiaohui had never seen anyone treat them with such courtesy. They stood there, not knowing where to put their hands and feet, let alone return the courtesy.

  Liu Yitiao was also puzzled, the old Liu family was just an ordinary farming household, how could there be people calling his siblings "young master" and "young lady"? Liu Yitiao slightly bowed his head and said: "This young fellow is polite, I don't know who you are?"

  "Oh, this little Liu Ge is from your Yang Shu's residence." Old Liu introduced to Liu Yi Tiao on the side: "He had come twice before, but you weren't here at that time."

  "Must be the young master, right?" Xiao Liu rushed to pay his respects to Liu Yi again and said: "My master has specifically instructed me that this time, please, Young Master Liu, you must go to the county town for a trip. My master has important matters to discuss with you."

  "Uncle Yang?" Liu Yitiao pondered for a moment, what could Yang Bo want to find him for? Could it be that he wanted to fulfill his promise about the farmer's household from last time? Liu Yitiao patted his head, these past few days have been busy, and he had forgotten about this matter. He then said to Xiaoliu: "Thanks for coming over, Xiaoliu brother, tonight is the Lantern Festival, my family happens to be going to the county town, at that time I will definitely go to the Yang's residence to pay respects to Uncle Yang."

  Liu Laoshi said at this time: "It's not necessary to pay respects, Xiaoliu has come to take us to the Yang residence for a short stay. We'll stay for three or two days and return after the Lantern Festival is over."

  "Oh?" Liu Yitiao glanced at Xiaoliu and saw him nodding. He thought to himself that this Yang Bofang was quite thorough in his planning.

  Xiao Liu saw that it was indeed Liu Yi who had come to see him, and he remembered Yang Bo's previous instructions. He knew that the true master of the Liu household was now this young man in front of him. So, he bowed his head and said: "Young Master Liu, the carriage is waiting outside the gate. Once you've packed your things, we can set off at any time."

  "Hmm." Liu Yitiao nodded and said: "Please wait for a moment, Little Sixth Brother."

  Because the time to go is not long, there is no need to prepare too many things, mainly some spare clothes and gifts for Yang Bo Fang. The whole family took less than a moment to pack up and set off with Xiao Liu's carriage rushing towards the county town.

  Arrived at the Yang's residence, the sun was still hanging on the top of the western mountain, and it was still early before nightfall. Mr. Yang himself came out to greet them, walked up to the carriage, and warmly called out: "Brother Liu, Sister-in-law Liu, I'm honored to have you here."

  "Mr. Yang is polite." "Uncle Yang is polite." Old Liu and Madame Liu got down from the carriage, all of them returned the courtesy.

  Liu Yitiao and others also paid their respects to Yang Bo, saying: "We have seen Uncle Yang!"

  "Ah, good, good!" Yang Bofang nodded with a smile and accepted their greetings. Then he said to Liu Laoshi: "Liu brother, Liu sister-in-law, it's cold outside, come in quickly."

  Entering Yang's mansion, Mr. Yang personally arranged a place for the Lius to stay and then excused himself, pulling Liu Yitiao into the study to talk.

  In the study, Liu Yitiao looked around at the furnishings inside, simple and elegant, with a strong scent of books. It was a good place to read.

  Yang Bofang nodded to Liu Yitiao to sit down, and after the servant finished serving tea, he chased the servant out of the door. He picked up his teacup and took a light sip before putting it back on the table. Liu Yitiao saw that he had something to say, but neither of them spoke, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the study became somewhat oppressive.

  "After a while, Yang Bofang picked up his tea cup again and looked at Liu Yitiao, saying: 'I heard that recently you signed some sort of 'contract' with some lowly people?'"