Chapter Twenty-Four: Sheng Ze Has an Appointment

  Qian Yiqun used to study the profession of training and teaching, which is also a way of making a living by piling up old papers. In the limited learning process, he happened to read a few more ancient books and a large number of book catalogues than ordinary people. After thinking hard for a certain day, Li Chaoyi suddenly remembered an important figure on his patrol route.

  Wu Shouyang

  The life experience of this immortal is a complete blank for Qian Yiqun, only knowing that the Qing Dynasty people compiled a book called "Wu Liu Xian Zong" and founded the Quanzhen School's Longmen Sect Wu Liu Branch. In such a world where secret methods are practiced everywhere in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, to establish a sect must have some real skills, and this founder is precisely the one who lived during the Chongzhen era.

  Qian Yiqun couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief for his own future, and the remaining thing was to slowly find out where this living immortal was.

  When the Ming dynasty, the traffic in the world is not convenient, and the news of going back and forth is delayed very seriously. Moreover, the circle of people at that time was narrow, and it was difficult to know about circles unrelated to oneself. Although the fox said that the highest cultivation of Qi is the most important, who among the ordinary merchants and travelers would go to recognize a Taoist? There are even people who hold the saying "not making friends with monks and Taoists is a good person", even if they knew, they pretended not to know.

  Qian Yiqun had been a runner for a month, following his uncle through the streets and alleys, familiarizing himself with the business, and would soon be able to take charge on his own. However, the search for Wu Lao Shenxian had made no progress whatsoever. He even accompanied his mother to the Xuanmiao Temple in the prefectural city, but the abbot said he had never heard of such a person.

  As time passed, Qian Yiqun's thoughts on searching for Xianzhen also faded away. Every day, he went to work and waited for his salary and various forms of respect, living a carefree life. The fox spirit still supervised him in meditation every day, but apart from the sword technique, it didn't teach him any other mysterious skills. If not for Qian Yiqun's timely reward of roasted lamb legs, he wouldn't even be able to get it to speak.

  However, these days Qian Yiqun's swordsmanship has been practiced to perfection and even repelled Dai Shiming's nocturnal visit. It's also interesting to note that some people believe they can disguise themselves by changing clothes and covering their face, thinking others won't recognize them? This is not only an invasion of Qian Yiqun's territory but also a contempt for his intelligence!

  Qian Yiqun actually hid a person in his home, and went to find Zhou Zhengqing to test the waters, seeing when this Mr. Dai would be able to "let go of past grievances".

  It just so happened that the matter of finding Zhou Zhengqing was delayed for two days, but Zhou Zhengqing himself came to the door. This scholar was more open-minded than the other two and didn't care about social status or family background, personally delivering a letter to Qian Yiqun's home.

  "Mr. Xu of the Returning Home Mansion is sending off his daughter to get married, would you like to attend the ceremony?" Zhou Zhengqing still had that bright and cheerful expression, with a hint of a smile in his words.

  Qian Yiqun took the invitation and asked without understanding: "I don't understand romance, how would I think of inviting you?"

  "You're also the genius who wrote 'The Lantern Flowers Bloom Again Tonight', how could I not invite you?" Zhou Zhengqing said with a smile, "However, this time it's Brother Lisan's idea, he just asked me to help deliver the invitation."

  Qian Yiqun was somewhat reluctant to go, and it so happened that he had some business with Zhou Zhengqing, so he couldn't refuse. He could only say: "It's better to obey than to show respect. There is also one thing I would like to ask for your advice, Brother Wu De."

  "I dare not claim to be a teacher, but Brother Jiu Yi's words are harmless." Zhou Zhengqing responded with a polite phrase, secretly delighted in his heart. In this chaotic world, who doesn't want to seek stability for their family? If one wants to change the dynasty without affecting their own family's rise and fall, they can only rely on their own strength.

  In those years, the two Jin dynasties were in a state of turmoil, and the people suffered greatly, but the aristocratic families continued to thrive as usual, relying on their family background. The imperial court took many measures to suppress the influence of these families, but by now they have become mere empty words. If Qian Yiqun was not from a prominent family, Zhou and Wen would not have hesitated to openly poach Chen Xiangming's talent.

  If they knew that Chen Xiangming was aloof and didn't show any extra care for Qian Xiaoge because of his pride, they would probably be delighted beyond consolation.

  "That day I had some misunderstanding with Teacher Dai..." Qian Yiqun said slowly, his eyes shifting, and the meaning of reconciliation was already expressed extremely clearly.

  Zhou Zhengqing is not a pedantic scholar in his study, where he doesn't know the implication of Qian Yiqun's words? He said with a smile: "Teacher Dai has long had the intention to visit and make friends, but recently there have been some inconveniences."

  "Oh? Has Teacher Dai had something happen recently?" Qian Yiqun asked with feigned enthusiasm, "As a native of Suzhou, I'm also considered a local. If you need someone to run an errand or anything, don't hesitate to ask."

  "How dare I trouble you with errands!" Zhou Zhengqing smiled and said, "In this Suzhou city, you are also a top-notch expert, but we have to wait until something big happens before we dare disturb you."

  Qian Yiqun pretended to be humble, waving his hand and saying: "Brother Wude, why are you teasing me?" Although he said so with his mouth, in his heart he was delighted, thinking that Zhou and Wen were only in the realm of report, while he himself was already sitting firmly in the realm of dependence. This kind of starting high and feeling superior to others was indeed intoxicating.

  "Lately, there have been too many disturbances in the northwest. Some evil people are mixed among the refugees and have come to Suzhou to cause trouble for the Zhang family of Muyang." said Zhou Zhengqing.

  "Are there still people coming from afar to stir up trouble? How big is the face of the Zhang family?" Qian Yiqun asked curiously.

  I don't know which funny point Zhou Zhengqing was poked at, but he laughed for a long time, leaning forward and backward, before saying: "The Zhang family has many treasures, and also has a big-mouthed eldest son. The reputation of 'Mùdū Zhang' is not small in the Jianghu either."

  "Is Teacher Dai the one the Zhang family invited to take care of their house?" Qian Yiqun asked curiously.

  "With Teacher Dai's identity, the Zhang family can't afford to invite him." Zhou Zhengqing saw that Qian Yiqun didn't know about Mi Fu's retreat in the mountains and carefully said, "He was entrusted by Duke Kaiyang to come and take care of his late friend."

  Qian Yiqun didn't know who Ke Yang Gong was and it wasn't convenient to ask in detail, so he just made some polite remarks and prepared to serve tea and see the guest off. Unfortunately, there was no decent servant at home, and Zhou Zhengqing had been sitting for a long time without anyone serving him a cup of tea. Fortunately, Zhou Zhengqing knew what to do and took the initiative to bid farewell after finishing his business.

  Qian Yiqun saw Zhou Zhengqing out of the gate and then opened the big red invitation letter. He was shocked to find that the Return Home Courtyard was actually in Shengze!

  But thinking again, the superior personally appointed him to go, and Jun Jie Wen Shi Zhou Gongzi himself brought an invitation. Such a face in Suzhou is also considered open, let alone in Shengze, even in Shengjing, it's worth rushing over! Qian Yiqun sighed slightly and went to the inner courtyard to find his father to discuss something.

  Qian Datong was promoted to a historic position, and he was in high spirits. He spent his days visiting old friends, building relationships that were as strong as iron buckets. Who knows, maybe one day he would be evaluated as an "able official" and take another step up. On this day, he was at home discussing with his wife, now that their son had also entered the government, where to rent a larger courtyard, which would be more convenient for having more children.

  The two old men were overjoyed to see their son coming in.

  Qian Datong asked: "Is something wrong with my son?"

  "But who's daughter have you set your eyes on, and I'll go propose to her family for you?" Madam Qian had been bothered by those matchmaker women wandering around the streets every day, and she had been struggling with whom to choose as a daughter-in-law for a long time.

  "That's not it," Qian Yiqun sat down under his parents, smiling and said, "It was County Lord who sent Zhou Gongzi to deliver the invitation, inviting Erzi to attend a gathering in Shengze on the seventh day of next month. I came to ask Father to lend him that precious horse."

  Qian Datong smiled and said, "You'd better take a boat to Shengze than ride a horse."

  Suzhou has a dense network of waterways, and most people travel by boat. However, Qian Yiqun felt that taking a boat was not impressive enough; nothing compared to the thrill of wearing a sword and riding a horse.

  "Yes," said Qian Mu with a pained expression, "riding to Sheng Ze will take at least one or two hours, if something happens to my son, it will break his mother's heart."

  Qian Yiqun thought for a moment and said that it was indeed more comfortable to take a boat.

  "Shall we go to Shengze's Returning Home Inn?" Qian Datong laughed and said, "Xu Mama's daughter getting married is not a small matter, ordinary scholars can't easily get an invitation, I didn't expect you could get one."

  "Actually, my son didn't really want to go..."

  "This won't do!" Qian Datong hastily interrupted his son's thoughts. "Your mother and I know you're not good with women, but this social engagement can't be avoided. This county magistrate may look cold on the surface, but he's actually quite capable. If you get his support, your future prospects will be even brighter than mine!"

  Qian Yiqun thought to himself: It's not that I'm not fond of women, it's just that the ones who catch my eye are really expensive! And I look down on those cheap prostitutes who sell themselves for a few coins, so I've given up going to brothels.

  "Father, their daughter is getting married, should we send a gift?" Qian Yiqun asked weakly.

  Her mother couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh: "My son is really a good boy!" At this age, twenty-something who has never experienced human affairs, except for those who study Taoism, only the poor are left. Qian Yiqun doesn't belong to either side, and as his mother, apart from praising him, she also feels somewhat surprised.

  "My son," Qian Daitong said with a worried expression, "you were originally from the Lotus Platform Star Mansion, why did you end up being born in my humble household..."

  "Father, what you're saying is unreasonable." Qian Yiqun had never felt that being born here was a humiliation to him. Not to mention that if the county's annals were to be recorded three hundred years later, he would still be considered one of the top figures in the county. Just for raising him for nineteen years, without even pointing a finger at himself, how could this kindness be repaid?

  Qian Datong smiled awkwardly and said, "My son, as a runner, there is also one's own way. If you can get through smoothly, you don't have to envy those scholars."

  "Please scold father."

  Qian Datong talked about worldly knowledge and human stories, and found that his son listened carefully, which greatly comforted him. "You go to the ceremony, it's just a courtesy to them, if the relationship is not close enough, they will still have to return your gift!" Qian Datong said with a smile, "This time, since it's the county magistrate's relative, let your mother buy you a Confucian robe, so you can get closer."

  Qian Yiqun felt warm and fuzzy inside, looking at his mother's loving smile, thinking to himself: Next comes getting married, having kids, and being filial to his parents. Indeed, another good man after twenty years.