Chapter 69: No Worries Without Being a Gentleman

  Xiao Fan watched the five girls on stage singing and dancing, feeling both amused and annoyed.

  It's just a form of business promotion, as long as it attracts customers, that's all that matters. Other businessmen imitating his ideas is not something he opposes, but if you completely copy him, that's not right. Can't you use your brain and make some slight changes? It's still the original flavor of Zui Xian Lou's specialty.

  Xiao Fan looked around and carefully examined the decoration of this Hui Bin Building, the more he looked, the more familiar it felt. Many details were exactly the same as the original Drunken Immortal Building. It was as if they had moved the entire building from Jiangpu to the capital. Xiao Fan had a hunch that he definitely knew the owner of the wine house and was very familiar with him...

  It's been a short time since I traveled through time and space, and I haven't reached the point where I know everyone in the world yet, have I?

  Xiao Fang's kung fu skills were already making Zhu Yunwen very dissatisfied by his side.

  "Xiao brother, Xiao Fan! You splashed me with wine, don't you need to apologize? What's the meaning of sitting there like a fool?"

  Xiao Fan regained his composure and calmly asked: "May I ask what is the ambition of Your Highness, Prince Taishun?"

  Zhu Yunwen was taken aback by this serious question, and then he immediately formally adjusted his clothes, straightened his waist, looked straight at Xiao Fan, and solemnly replied: "My ambition is to support the country above, comfort the people below, govern the world with benevolence, righteousness, and generosity, and create a prosperous era comparable to that of the Han and Tang dynasties."

  Xiao Fan nodded and said seriously: "Your Highness's ambition is indeed lofty, but how can it be achieved?"

  Zhu Yunwen's eyes showed excitement, just like Xiao He of the Han Dynasty meeting Han Xin, or Ximen Dafu seeing Jinlian. He hastily asked: "Brother Xiao is highly talented, I wonder what can you teach me?"

  Xiao Fan slowly stretched out four fingers and said: "It's very simple, just do the four characters: win people over with virtue."

  Zhu Yunwen's expression became increasingly respectful, and his attitude also became more reverent. With a humble attitude of "treating you as a national scholar", he respectfully said: "I wish to hear the details."

  "To govern by virtue is the root of Confucianism. In other words, I can spray wine on your face and you should let me continue until I'm satisfied..."

  Zhu Yunwang fossilized: "......"

  After a while, Zhu Yunfeng jumped up and shouted: "Is this what they call winning people over with virtue? You're obviously bullying people! What does virtue have to do with it?"

  Xiao Fan looked at Zhu Yunwen, who was unhappy, and asked coldly: "The benevolent and righteous way you learn every day, have you thought about it carefully? Isn't it just this kind of thing? To understand benevolence, thickness, and forgiveness is to be a true gentleman. This is what the sage teaches you. Don't you want to be a real gentleman?"

  Zhu Yun's face turned solemn, with a deep thinking expression, and he said: "Mr. Huang often teaches me that a gentleman can be deceived but not trapped, can be cheated but not fooled..."

  Xiao Fan smiled and said: "To put it bluntly, a gentleman is just meant to be bullied..."

  Zhu Yunwen said unhappily: "How can you say that? A person with heavy benevolence and virtue can be called a gentleman, but a gentleman is not a fool, who would bully him so easily?"

  Xiao Fan sighed inwardly, this guy had been wronged by Huang Zicheng quite badly...

  Xiao Fan's eyes rolled around and he smiled, saying: "You think a gentleman can't be bullied? Let me show you."

  Just then, a salesgirl selling wine and water passed by the table of two people. The girl had a rosy face, charming eyes with spring in them, and a strong air of worldly experience. Her small, flirtatious eyes glanced around the messy table, looking like she was just from a brothel.

  Under Zhu Yun's curious gaze, taking advantage of the girl's back to the two, Xiao Fan suddenly flashed out and heavily touched the girl's fat and straight buttocks, then quickly withdrew his hand, picked up the wine glass, and pretended to be nonchalant.

  The girl was suddenly pinched on the buttocks, and she let out a loud "ah" of surprise. She quickly turned around, her face flushing with anger and embarrassment as she glared at the two men, her eyes darting back and forth between them as if trying to confirm who had committed the assault.

  Xiao Fan coughed twice, then with a look of unbearable pain, he said to Zhu Yunwen: "Brother Zhu, how could you...you can't do this! This is not right!"

  "Ah? This... has nothing to do with me! Clearly it's..."

  "A gentleman has his desires, but he must pursue them in a proper manner. Brother Zhu, why must you sneak around?" Xiao Fan said with a heavy heart.

  Zhu Yunwen's mouth was twisted in endless grievance: "I..."

  In such a clear situation, the wine-selling girl couldn't help but understand. Seeing Zhu Yun's handsome face and charming appearance, the girl's anger gradually dissipated, replaced by a blushing smile. She coyly glanced at him and scolded: "Young master, you're really bad! Taking advantage of others, not caring about others... You must buy my wine! A 20-year-old daughter red only costs two taels of silver. Young master, please buy a jar, don't let me take advantage of you for nothing..."

  Zhu Yunhe almost cried: "It wasn't me who did it..."

  "Oh dear, sir, you're being unreasonable. You've taken advantage of the situation and yet nobody's blaming you, so why not just admit it? Sir... let's buy a jar of wine..."

  Xiao Fan smiled slyly and raised an eyebrow at Zhu Yunwen, shouting: "Young master, pay up! You can't occupy something for nothing!"

  The wine-selling girl smiled and said: "That's right, it's just two taels of silver, isn't the young master such a stingy person?"

  Zhu Yunwen glared at Xiao Fan, then extremely helplessly took out two taels of silver, his expression mournful and utterly dejected.

  The wine-selling girl received the silver and happily placed a jar of wine on the table for the two, then gave Zhu Yunheng a flirtatious glance, "Young master, come find me again after you've finished drinking, I'll let you take advantage of me once more..."

  The girl went away with a spring-like smile on her face.

  Zhu Yunwen's eyes were filled with hot tears as he looked at Xiao Fan with a wronged expression: "You framed me..."

  Xiao Fan smiled and said, "You've been labeled a good-for-nothing with a bad reputation for nothing, and you've even played the role of a scapegoat. But what's the benefit to me? What have you gained?"

  "I've learned a lesson..."

  Xiao Fan burst out laughing and said: "Do you still want to be a gentleman?"

  "Only a turtle egg can be a gentleman!"

  Xiao Fan sighed in relief: "The child can be taught!"

  He secretly let out a sigh of relief, and in the future when Yan Wang rebelled against him, he wouldn't say something as foolish as "Don't kill Yan Wang, or I'll be known for generations to come as a regicide who killed his uncle".

  Goodbye.

  Zhu Yunhe couldn't help but ask: "How did the buttocks of that girl earlier feel when you touched them?"

  Xiao Fan's face was filled with relish: "Soft but not greasy, smooth as cream, good buttocks too."

  Zhu Yunfeng's face suddenly turned red with envy and admiration.

  Xiao Fan returned to Jiangpu when it was already dusk.

  Zhu Yunwei reluctantly saw him off as he left the capital, and they made a date to meet again in a few days. The way she looked when saying goodbye was like an abandoned child, very cute.

  Returning to the Mountain God Temple, Xiao Fan saw from afar that the temple was lit up with flickering lights, and his heart was filled with warmth. Although the cold kiln was broken, it could still provide shelter from the wind and rain, and someone had lit a lamp waiting for him, this was what home felt like.

  Tai Xū was gnawing on a huge hoof, eating with gusto, his mouth overflowing with oil. From time to time, he would pick up the wine jug and take a big swig, then let out a satisfied sigh.

  The little beggar girl also learned from Tai Xu's example, but unfortunately she was too young, with small hands and a small mouth, holding a large hoof and not knowing which angle to take a bite from, looking at Tai Xu eating and drinking with a full face of worry and envy.

  Xiao Fan had just entered the temple gate when the little beggar girl put down the hoof she was holding and came to welcome him with a beaming smile.

  Tai Xū gazed at him and said: "I thought you wouldn't be back today, the Emperor summoned you to the palace, did he grant you an official title?"

  "Cough... No, my ambition is not in the imperial court, but among the mountains and rivers..."

  "Alright, most likely it was the Emperor summoning you and then casually asking a few questions before sending you back...". Tai Yu's words were spot on.

  Xiao Fan respectfully said: "Master's over a hundred years of age is indeed not lived in vain, but this time the disciple has returned with an imperial edict..."

  "What imperial decree?"

  Xiao Fan coughed twice, then straightened his waist and said loudly: "Listen, from today on, I will study hard and plan to take the imperial examination to become a Zhuangyuan..."

  "Pffft!" Tai Yu spat out a mouthful of wine far away, his eyes wide with shock: "You? You got the top score in the imperial exam?... Are you kidding me?"

  Xiao Fan accompanied with a smile: "Master, you are good at fortune-telling, help me calculate whether I am the literary star descending to the mortal world..."

  Tai Xū burst into loud laughter: "You? Still thinking you're a literary star descended to the mortal world? If Wén Qǔ Star were to attach itself to you, even the heavens wouldn't permit it."

  Xiao Fan's face turned black: "Master, when you deceive others, they are stunned. I am your most obedient and filial apprentice. Why do you have to be so direct? Can't you just deceive me a bit?"

  "So if I were to deceive you, would you believe me?"

  "I don't believe it."

  "I don't believe it either."

  “……”

  The little beggar girl was very clingy to Xiao Fan. After eating, she would stick to his side, as if only by Xiao Fan's side could she find a sense of security.

  Xiao Fan gently stroked her head, the little beggar girl slightly lifted her head, closed her eyes and comfortably enjoyed Xiao Fan's caress, gradually leaning her small head into Xiao Fan's arms, like a lazy little cat, cute and gentle.

  Xiao Fan looked down at her, recently well-nourished and not lacking in food or drink, the yellow complexion of the little beggar girl had gradually faded away, her skin becoming whiter and smoother, sparkling with a tender glow that inspired pity and love. It was clear that in a few years she would grow into an extraordinary beauty.

  There are many coincidences in life, some of which are beautiful and some of which are regrettable.

  The encounter with the little beggar girl was a beautiful coincidence for Xiao Fang, and before he knew it, their fates were tightly tied together, inseparable for this lifetime.

  "Huh? You have a birthmark on the back of your neck..." Xiao Fang looked at the small beggar girl's clean neck in surprise, and a very eye-catching dark red diamond-shaped birthmark was right before his eyes.

  The little beggar girl didn't even open her eyes, but just slightly curled up the corners of her mouth and said, "Born with it from her mother's womb."

  "Nonsense! I still don't know if I was born with it. By the way, let me ask you something, do you know your origins?"

  The little beggar girl suddenly stiffened and said in a very stiff tone: "I don't remember."

  Xiao Fan didn't notice the cold expression on her face, and continued to think: "That's troublesome... Never mind that for now, do you remember what your name is?"

  The little beggar girl shook her head: "I was born with a low fate, without a name. You can call me Ah Mao and I'll respond, you can call me Ah Gou and I'll also respond..."

  Xiao Fan smiled and said: "That's not possible, a girl must have a good name."

  The little beggar girl raised her head from his arms, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she whispered: "Then give me a name."

  Xiao Fan gazed at her delicate face with a hint of vicissitude, his heart slightly aching. At such a young age, she had already suffered so much hardship and struggle, a little girl without even a name, fighting for survival every day. Why was heaven so cruel to her?

  Xiao Fan gazed at her small face, her pale complexion, big eyes, thin lips, and straight little nose bridge, forming a stunningly beautiful and delicate countenance. Her eyebrows were very fine, like two narrow willow leaves, quietly covering the top of her eyes. The only flaw was that her eyebrows were too sparse, after all, she was only eleven or twelve years old, like the tender buds of early spring, her small features had not yet fully developed.

  Xiao Fan smiled and said, "Lazy to get up and paint the moth eyebrow, playing with makeup and washing late, your eyebrows are too light, in the future when our conditions are better, I'll paint your eyebrows for you. Hmm, the name 'painting eyebrows' seems pretty good..."

  The little beggar girl muttered to herself for a moment, then whispered: "I know there's a bird called the painted eyebrow too. That kind of bird is good at fighting but its cry is clear and melodious..."

  The little beggar girl looked at Xiao Fan with beautiful eyes that shone with a fervent passion, as if it were a faith, and said deeply: "...... But this kind of bird cannot leave the mountains and forests, once it leaves the mountains and forests, it is nothing."

  The strings deep in Xiao Fan's heart were quietly plucked.

  The little beggar girl lowered her head, repeated it several times, then raised her head and looked at Xiao Fang, saying in a very serious tone: "From today on, my name is Xiaohua Mei, Xiao Hua Mei."