Chapter 6: The Li Family Admires Chrysanthemums

  Xuchang, provincial capital within the city walls, rear courtyard.

  "Father, what's going on?" Cao De was holding a volume of poetry and strolling quietly in the courtyard when he suddenly walked to the entrance and found Cao Song preparing his clothes with the help of several servants.

  Seeing that it was his own son who had come, Cao Song suddenly chuckled. "I just didn't want to disturb Ah Dan. This time, Yan State has just been settled, and Ah Dan must be busy with military affairs. I plan to leave a letter and take a light vehicle to Huaxian County, so as not to let him go to great lengths for me again."

  "Father, why didn't you tell me you were leaving? I'll pack your luggage right away..." He said as he turned to go back into the house.

  "Where do you want to go?"

  Suddenly, Cao De was taken aback by his father's words and felt inexplicably stunned. He stopped in his tracks, turned around, and said in surprise: "I will return to our hometown with you."

  At this point, Old Man Cao Sheng furrowed his brow, seemingly having thought of something, and said displeased: "This is absolutely not the time."

  "Why... Father."

  "About this matter... you're not unaware of it, are you?" After a sigh, Cao Song instructed the servants to continue cleaning up, and he himself sat down on the couch, saying in a tone that was not without disappointment: "For the past few days, the whole city of Yan has been talking about Zhen's affair. They say... 'Yan's Ah Zhen is at his wit's end?' I'm afraid if Zhen stays alone in your brother's army with no one to take care of him, and he says something improper again, even your brother won't be able to protect him..."

  "Could it be that Father wants a child?"

  Nodding, Cao Song smiled and said: "Not bad, you'd better stay in Xuchang. Firstly, you can be a long historian in Ah Man's army to assist him with government affairs. Secondly, teach Cao Pi and Cao Cheng to read and write. Thirdly... it is necessary to restrain Cao Xin, not let him think he is right, speak nonsense, otherwise, one day Cao Xin will be dealt with by military law."

  At this point, Cao De couldn't help but blush and feel ashamed when he saw the old man going to so much trouble, "It's all because I didn't discipline Xiner properly every day, which is why he said such things at the banquet..."

  "Speak out, I will surely be beheaded when I go to Xuzhou?" Haha... Cao De wanted to say something but stopped, and the old man's cloudy eyes suddenly flashed with a hint of mockery, and he burst into loud laughter: "This time I will definitely take a detour through Xuzhou, and make Tao Gong understand that things in this world are not so simple, haha..."

  Smiling and nodding, Cao De asked again, "Then... for this trip to Hua County, are Father's money, silk, and clothes all prepared? When will we set off?"

  He pointed to some clothes in the house and said, "A'Dan has given me a lot of money and silk, which is enough for use. This morning I have already sent someone to prepare the horse carriage, and the books and silk are all on the carriage. I will take these clothes and leave immediately, without wanting to disturb anyone."

  Seeing Cao Song's determination, Cao De felt a pang in his heart but was also powerless to stop him. He choked back tears and said: "Then... child... send father off."

  *

  Just then, when Cao Anmin and Zhou Yu were heading to the west of the city together, they didn't expect that Cao Shuang had already set off. Perhaps Cao Anmin never thought that his grandfather would leave without disturbing anyone, and Cao Shuang didn't think that this trip would be one from which he could not return.

  "Zhou Jiao, what are you doing here? Can today's tasks be completed?"

  At this moment, in the Li family's large mansion west of the city.

  Cao Anmin agreed to come to Li's house in the west of the city for Zhou Yu, to redeem him. But unexpectedly, it seemed that Li's family was bustling with activity.

  "Li Guan Jia, we have guests today." Zhou Yu asked as he stepped forward.

  That steward was a stout middle-aged man with a big mole between his eyebrows and a eight-shaped beard, looking like a typical steward at first glance.

  The steward sneered at Zhou Yu and Cao Xin, stroking his eight whiskers, and coldly said: "Is this something that a servant like you should ask?"

  When he heard this, Zhou Yu didn't get angry, as if he was used to the other's arrogance. He scratched his head and said in a rough voice, "I'm here to redeem myself. It's good that you're here, Li Guanjia. Quickly return my contract."

  As soon as this was said, the family members by the door were suddenly shocked, but they didn't know what kind of madness this poor and loud man had contracted.

  Although ordinary people can't see it, the steward is not an ordinary person after all. Looking at Zhou's straight waist and then looking at the young scholar behind him, his attire is also not that of an ordinary family. Could it be... that this fellow has made connections with some high-ranking officials?

  With that, his eyes rolled around and he didn't dare to be presumptuous for a while. He stuttered: "Ah... the contract is with the master himself. Today there are guests in the mansion, and the master is busy receiving them. Let me go inform him, please wait for a moment."

  "What kind of guest is your master entertaining?" Hurriedly stopping the butler, this time it was Cao Anmin who spoke.

  When he saw the other party asking questions, the housekeeper stood up straight with his thumb pointing to the inner courtyard and said in a very dignified manner: "Cai Yong, Cai Zhonglang."

  It was just a casual question, but it made Cao Anmin's heart skip a beat instantly.

  "But there is the 'book bone hole reaches, refreshing and has spiritual power' called Feibai book, Cai Boji?" Although it is said that he doesn't understand calligraphy very well, however, anyone who likes the Three Kingdoms has heard of the name of Eastern Han scholar, Cai Yong, and this person is also known as Cai Feibai because of his unique creation of Feibai book.

  However, Cao Anmin did not think that this "book bone hole is reached, refreshing and has spiritual power" was actually an evaluation of Cai Yong many years later, but no one knew about it at the time.

  Indeed, the steward was taken aback by Cao Anmin's words, but he quickly regained his composure and nodded in agreement. "Ah yes, yes, it's indeed Cai Bogui, Cai Zhonglang has been invited to our mansion to appreciate chrysanthemums together with many nobles and officials from the city... and also Cai Zhonglang's beloved daughter Cai Wenji has arrived..." As he spoke, the steward couldn't help but glance around with a sly and lustful gaze, revealing his lewd nature.

  However, at this time, Cao Anmin seemed to have fallen into some kind of contemplation, and only heard the word "share chrysanthemum" from the former, but the latter was completely unheard...

  Chrysanthemum, Grandfather actually liked chrysanthemums...

  But now, he was wandering outside, unable to come up with a solution after thinking for several days and nights. For Cao Anmin, who had been with him for nearly 10 years, the elder was like his own grandfather and father. Watching him leave for Xuzhou to meet his death, he couldn't even think of a single way to help, and suddenly felt a bitter smile in his heart.

  At this point, Cao Anmin couldn't help but think of a poem that his ancestor had taught him in his past life:

  "The hall is filled with chrysanthemums and narcissus, among which a solitary clump of flowers resembles frost. It's as if the white-haired old man has entered the scene of young people's revelry today."

  It was Bai Juyi's poem, ten years of emotions exchanged for the old man's white hair, and also gave Cao Anmin a rare precious family affection in his previous life.

  Everyone says that raising a pet can produce emotions in just one month, let alone people, especially loved ones.

  Am I really so incompetent?

  "Big brother? Big brother? What's wrong with you, big brother?"

  Suddenly a loud shout, instantly awakened the sleepwalking Cao Anmin, but seeing the two people in front of him with their mouths agape, he knew he had lost his composure.

  "Hey big brother, want to go in and join the fun?" Zhou Bo asked with some confusion.

  He shook his head, but Cao Anmin suddenly felt a sense of foreboding at this moment. He refused, saying: "No, Li Guanjia, since there's something going on at the Li residence today, I'll come back another day with Brother Zhou. I have some business to attend to and need to return to the manor."

  "Alas, big brother, this..."

  Regardless of whether Zhou Yu was willing or not, Cao Anmin turned around and walked out without looking back.

  Only Li Guan was left standing there in confusion. "What a strange person..."

  And suddenly, at this moment, five people slowly walked out of the mansion and came to the door.

  One of them was about sixty years old, with a white beard all over his face. Although he had reached the age of gray hair, his eyes were still bright and spirited, and his expression was healthy and robust, with a strong literary flavor. Behind this elderly scholar followed three young people: a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl and a gentle and elegant woman. From afar, both women seemed to have stunning beauty, but the gentle woman appeared even more like a fairy from a dream, as if she had just stepped out of a painting, leaving onlookers enchanted and intoxicated.

  These three people were naturally Cai Yong and his daughter Cai Wenji.

  As for the other two, one was a somewhat pale and sickly young literary man, while the other was none other than the master of the Li household, Li Zhen.

  At this moment, Li Zhen took the lead in walking to the door and saw the butler rebuking him: "Li San, why are you making such a commotion? Don't you know that I'm entertaining a distinguished guest? You've disturbed Mr.'s poetic inspiration, can you take responsibility for it?"

  As soon as this was said, seeing the old master blaming himself so severely, Li San suddenly sweated like rain, and his previous arrogance instantly vanished, and he truthfully reported everything that had happened from start to finish.

  And in a moment, everyone from the beginning heard the steward's narrative, and one by one became serious, while Cai Wenji was muttering to herself in a low voice:

  "The garden is full of chrysanthemums and yellow osmanthus, with a solitary clump that looks like frost. It's as if the white-haired old man has entered the scene of young people... The white-haired old man has entered the scene of young people... This is indeed a good poem." He turned his head to look at the pale scholar and asked: "Feng Xiang, brother, do you recognize this person?"

  At this time, Li San suddenly interrupted and continued to say: "That person is very strange. When I said that Cai Zhonglang had arrived at the mansion, he said... 'Is it the bookish and refreshing Cai Bogui with a strong personality?' It really made me puzzled."

  Upon hearing this, everyone was even more shocked. Cai Yong's body shook violently on the spot, his eyes suddenly brightening as he stared at Li San and hastily asked:

  "May I know his name?"

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