Chapter 6: The Secret of Long Life

  After entering the house, Li Jiancheng asked the woman about her situation. It turned out that her husband's surname was Qin, and hers was He, with a single name of Qing. Her husband had joined the army in his early years, and their family originally had some savings. However, he died in battle, and over the years, the taxes had depleted their savings, which is why such an incident occurred earlier. If it weren't for Li's appearance today, her daughter would have been taken away as collateral. The little girl, actually older than him, was named Qin Yao, nine years old this year. The mother and daughter relied on each other for survival, and they were still able to make a living.

  "The young master just said he needs my help with something, I don't know what it is, as long as I can do it, I'll help." Madam Qin asked.

  "It's like this, I wanted to open a store selling something, but couldn't find anyone, so if possible, I thought of asking Mrs. Qin to help me sell it, that way you mother and daughter won't have to worry about being bothered by someone in the future." Li Jiancheng explained.

  "May I ask what kind of store you plan to open, and what kind of goods you will be selling?" asked Qin's wife. Li Jiancheng hadn't expected her to think so much, it seemed she also had some business acumen. So Li Jiancheng told her that he planned to open a hotel, and sell wine with an even higher degree than now, but he wasn't confident in finding unfamiliar people, and after discovering earlier that she was a person of good character, he wanted to ask for her help in selling.

  "In that case, my mother and I will have no choice but to rely on you for a living. From now on, you'll be our master." Seeing Li Jiancheng say this, Madame Qin agreed to help. After discussing the details, she told him to come find her once he had everything ready, and she would go to the hotel to take care of things.

  Then he bid farewell to the mother and daughter, while Li Jiancheng took Li Shimin and Li Yuanji back, thinking about where to find a store.

  ……

  "Young master, young miss, Old Lady wants to see you." A guard-like person said to Du Gu Wen and Du Gu Feng who had just arrived home.

  "Alright! We know." replied Dugu Wen, then he and Dugu Feng walked towards the Yu's residence.

  "Grandma, I and my cousin are here." Dugu Feng shouted. It turned out that Dugu Wen and Dugu Feng were not biological siblings. The grandmother in the family favored Dugu Feng more, so she let her speak.

  "Come in." was all that could be heard from inside the house, spoken in a gentle voice.

  Two people entered the house and saw Yu Chuhong sitting on the bed, while those who didn't know thought she was old, so it was like that. Only a few people knew that she was practicing her skills on the bed.

  "Little Phoenix, I heard you were naughty again today and didn't stay at home obediently. You even took your older cousin out to play." Yu Chuhong seemed to be scolding her, but the affection in her tone was unmistakable.

  "Grandma, I'm so bored staying at home all day. There's no one to take me out to play, so I had to go by myself." Du Gu Feng looked pitiful and innocent, making anyone who didn't know the situation think she was being bullied.

  "Alright, alright! It's not your fault anymore." Yu Chuhong's words made Dugu Wen very puzzled. If it were someone else, they would have been punished long ago. "By the way, did you have fun going out today? Did you run into anything interesting?"

  "Ah! We..." Then Dugu Feng recounted the events of today, and when she mentioned being teased by a few playboys, You Chuhong's eyes flashed with cold light. Standing on the side, Dugu Wen was trembling with fear - there weren't many people in the household who didn't fear the old madam, and her dignity wasn't something ordinary people could withstand. Then Dugu Feng continued to speak of the three Li brothers, naturally mostly talking about Li Jiancheng. At first, You Chuhong wasn't present, but when she learned that Li Jiancheng was only seven years old, she gradually revealed a thoughtful expression. Meanwhile, Dugu Feng continued to talk endlessly about Li Jiancheng's good qualities, especially when mentioning how he had recited a poem for her and then bashfully lowered his head.

  "Hehe, when will our little phoenix be shy again?" Seeing her like this, You Chuhong couldn't help but laugh.

  "Grandma is teasing you, I won't tell you anymore." Dugu Feng pouted.

  "Alright, alright. Grandma won't say anything more." Yu Chuhong stopped smiling and her face gradually turned serious, "Feng'er, Grandma is asking you, do you like him?"

  "Grandma..." Dugu Feng shouted and then bashfully lowered her head.

  "Since you like him, there are some things you should know." Seeing Yu Chuhong's serious expression, Dugu Feng raised his head, while Dugu Wen perked up his ears. "According to what you said earlier, Li Jiancheng's son will definitely be an extraordinary person in the future, and if you want to be with him, you must have enough ability, otherwise, he might look down on you."

  "But others don't like reading books!" Dugu Feng was a bit flustered.

  "Hehe, it's not that serious, you don't like reading books, you can still practice martial arts!" Yu Chuhong smiled again. "If grandma passes on her lifelong skills to you, then you'll have the capital to be with him in the future, right?"

  "Alright! I'll listen to you, Grandma." Dugu Feng's face was firm and determined.

  "Hehe, Grandma used to ask you to practice martial arts with me, but you refused. Now, for the sake of your lover, you've finally agreed." Yu Chuhong teased again, then turned her head to say to Du Guwen, who had a hopeful face: "You'll follow Feng'er from now on, although your talent isn't very good, it's still passable." And Du Guwen responded with a joyful face.

  Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, Li Yuanji three people returned home.

  "You little scamp, running out to play every day is one thing, but taking your younger brothers to the tavern to drink and even getting into fights with people? You're getting more and more capable, it's infuriating!" As soon as Li Jiancheng arrived home, he was met with his mother's torrential attack.

  "I know I was wrong, please forgive me, wise and powerful, beautiful and intelligent mother." Although he was being scolded, Li Jiancheng didn't get angry, on the contrary, he felt a little happy. In his past life, no one had ever taken care of him, but in this life, he finally had a mother to take care of him. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

  "Alright, alright! Look, you've made the child cry." Li Yuan still thought that Li Jiancheng had been scolded to tears, but he didn't know that he was actually surrounded by a feeling of happiness.

  "You little stinker, you still know how to flatter. This time I'll forgive you since you're helping me out, but next time don't think I'll be so polite." Although she was scolding him, Dou Xian's face was filled with a smile.

  "Alright, alright. It's getting late too, hurry up and eat dinner, then let the kids go rest." Li Feng still came out to mediate. Actually, it's not that late now, if we put it in our previous life, it would be around 6 or 7 o'clock, but what electricity is there in this era? They use candles, how bright can they be? So people in this era go to bed very early, except for those who work at night.

  The whole family enjoyed their meal together, while Li Jiancheng returned to his bedroom. Lying in bed, he couldn't sleep, still thinking about making a fortune.

  "Knock, knock..." A soft knocking sound came. "Who else is coming to see me now? It can't be Mother again, can it?" As he thought, Li Jiancheng quickly ran to open the door.

  "Ah..." Just as Li Jiancheng opened his mouth to call out, he was blocked. A person wearing a night-traveling outfit with blood oozing from their chest used their hand to cover his mouth.

  "Little brother, don't panic, I have no malicious intent. I'll let go of your hand, and then you listen to me, if you understand, nod your head, got it?" The man in black said, seeing him nod his head, he let go of his hand, while staring at his mouth, ready to cover it as soon as he showed any sign of shouting.

  "Who are you and why have you come running here?" Li Jiancheng asked calmly, despite being a little frightened.

  "I don't have much time, so I'll make it brief." The man in black paused for a moment before continuing, "I am a descendant of the Northern Zhou dynasty. Yang Jian plotted against me and took my throne, so I wanted to sneak into the palace and assassinate him. Alas, my skills were not refined, and I failed in my attempt. Instead, I was poisoned and my internal organs were severely damaged. However, before I escaped, I stole a book of martial arts secrets from the imperial treasury, which I now give to you. I hope that one day you can use this book to overthrow the Yang dynasty and avenge me. You must take an oath!"

  Seeing the black-clad man with a look that said he would take action if he didn't agree, Li Jiancheng reluctantly agreed, but in his heart he was very happy. The Sui Dynasty wouldn't last long and would soon perish, and he could also obtain a martial arts manual out of thin air, what's not to be delighted about? Seeing Li Jiancheng make the poisonous oath, the black-clad man handed over the manual to him.

  "The pursuers are closing in, even if I die I won't fall into their hands. You must remember your oath, otherwise I'll haunt you from the afterlife!" The man in black said a few words and then jumped away, afterwards someone was heard shouting: "Catch the assassin, reward of one thousand taels, enfeoff as Marquis..." The gradually fading voices stopped.

  Li Jiancheng saw the cover of the secret book: "The Long Life Formula of the Sun".