Chapter Thirty-Three: A Joyous Banquet (Part One)

  In the spring of the second year of Shi Huang, a small rain fell.

  Although the rainwater is not very large, it is as precious as gold for farmers. People often say that spring rain is like oil, even in places where such rainwater is not scarce, a timely spring rain at least heralds a good harvest this year.

  After a year of commotion, even if the remnants of the six nations were unwilling, they still had to face reality.

  The six states have perished and the five hundred years of turmoil have come to an end. Today, the master of this world is Qin Shi Huang, and the state of Qin has unified the world.

  Who rules the world?

  Such things have always been the concern of the aristocratic masters. No matter who gets the world, the common people will eventually live. The fight is enough, and the people are almost dead, it's time to consider the future... So, people's attention also shifted accordingly.

  A year's plan starts with spring!

  It is the same with Lv Weng.

  After a brief fluctuation, the Lü family gradually stabilized. Of course, if it weren't for their son Lü Ze being crippled by Liu Quan to avoid conscription, everything would have been perfect! Looking at the limping Lü Ze in front of him, Lü Weng's heart felt uncomfortable. Knowing that Liu Quan did it to save Lü Ze, but Lü Weng couldn't shake off the feeling.

  Liu Quan was just a son of a food stall owner who relied on himself for meals back then, how did he become so audacious?

  What Lv Weng could not accept was that Liu Jian and his mother had become wealthy after a brief period of difficulty. At the time, when Lv Weng heard that Liu Jian had exchanged his knife and cloth for Qin currency, he secretly ridiculed Liu Jian's foolishness. Who would have thought that after just a few months, Liu Jian's wealth had increased several times over? Meanwhile, Lv Weng suffered heavy losses due to the currency unification.

  The Lv family is wealthy and has a big business, so they won't mind losing some money.

  However, as Liu Guang's reputation began to rise in Pei County, Lv Weng's heart started to feel a bit uncomfortable.

  A small mixed breed, unexpectedly able to stir up a storm.

  When people in Pei County mention Liu Guan today, at least six out of ten will give a thumbs up and praise him as a good man.

  What about Lv Weng?

  In comparison, it seems to be somewhat obscure. Especially with Lv Ze's matter, the blow to Lv Weng is very great. He increasingly realizes that if he doesn't have good connections in Pei County, his future days will likely be very difficult. Yes, they will be extremely difficult.

  Lü Wēng's heart had already made plans.

  Just as spring began, Lv Weng was about to celebrate his 50th birthday. He took this opportunity to send out invitations, and anyone in Pei County who could be named would receive an invitation.

  At the same time, in order to boost his family's status, Lü Yong also invited Xiao He to serve as the master of ceremonies. Xiao He was highly respected in Pei County and the elders looked up to him very much. Moreover, he had now become a Longguan, although it was an insignificant position that did not even receive official recognition from the Qin dynasty, but for the people of Pei County, Xiao He was undoubtedly an existence worthy of pride, a great figure.

  However, Xiao He's superficial prosperity could not conceal his family's difficult situation.

  The Xiao family in Pei County was not a large clan, but with the old and young added up, there were dozens of them. Except for a few acres of land, the entire Xiao family almost relied on Xiang Yu's meager salary to make ends meet. If they encountered natural disasters, they even had to rely on Xiang Yu borrowing money to survive.

  Lü Gong paid Xiang Yu a very generous reward, and Xiang Yu naturally would not decline.

  It was also because of Xiao He's appearance that Lü Yong's birthday banquet was suddenly upgraded, and even people from afar in Nie Sang had heard about it. Naturally, Liu Bang, who was resting at home in Fengyi Zhongyang, also caught wind of the news.

  After the great bloodshed at Bazi, Liu Bang had been recuperating from his injuries at home.

  Fan Kuai, Zhou Bo and Lu Wan, including Xiahou Ying, naturally followed Liu Bang back to Fengyi.

  Liu Bang thought that after the Battle of Zhao Yang Daze, Pei County would no longer have peaceful days.

  After all, Liu Bang and others had also done that unscrupulous business before, and they more or less had some connections with the various bandits. Although Liu Bang thought he was being careful, he still didn't dare to take risks. So he decided to hide in his hometown, on the one hand to recover from his injuries, and on the other hand to avoid trouble.

  As long as Liu Bang doesn't appear, I believe no one will make trouble.

  There is a way of thievery. Some things are mutually understood among people. If the facade is really torn apart, no one will have a good life.

  So Liu Bang stayed at home all winter.

  Liu Bang's father, Liu Taigong, was more commonly known as Xing Jia Gong by the villagers in Zhongyang. Xing Jia was his childhood name, but it was more well-known than his given name, Liu Taigong. Xing Jia Gong was a simple and honest countryman who was somewhat timid, stubborn, and weak-willed. He had four sons, with the eldest son, Liu Bo, already married with children.

  Liu Zhong, the second son, is also going to be a father this year.

  The youngest son Liu Jiao was the most favored by his father. He was very intelligent and had also followed the village elders to learn characters and read books.

  And the third son, Liu Ji, was the least favored by Xiang Yu. This child was idle and lazy all day, surrounded by people who were not good for him. What made Xiang Yu unbearable was that his youngest son, Liu Jiao, seemed to admire his third brother, Liu Ji. Now, Liu Ji was recovering from an injury at home, and Liu Jiao followed him around every day. Xiang Yu was very worried that his youngest son would be spoiled by Liu Bang, wasting all his efforts.

  "Is it Lü's birthday banquet?"

  Liu Bang stretched out his legs and sat under the big tree at the village entrance, scratching his head and asking: "Why is Lao Lü doing such a thing?"

  By Liu Bang's side, a young boy about seven or eight years old knelt and sat.

  Liu Bang's son, named Liu Fei. Although Liu Bang has not married yet, he has been close to Widow Cao from Fengyi in recent years and had a son with her. Liu Fei looks weak and pale. This is no wonder, after Liu Fei was born, Liu Bang left him to his mother to take care of, while he went out to have fun with Widow Cao and others every day.

  Liu's wife was getting old and naturally didn't have much energy to take care of Liu Fei.

  As for Xing Ju, he also disliked Liu Bang and extended this feeling to Liu Fei. If it weren't for Liu Zhong and Liu Jiao taking care of him all the time, Liu Fei would be no different from an orphan without parents. But the little guy didn't complain, instead, he respected his father very much.

  This time Liu Bang returned, and Liu Fei followed closely behind him without taking a single step back.

  Perhaps it was because of Empress Cao's death that Liu Bang felt guilty and therefore treated Liu Fei with great affection.

  Lü Zhi smiled and said, "Lü Lao probably wants to take this opportunity to build a good relationship with the locals and win over some people. After all, he's an outsider, and last year his son's incident made him feel a bit of crisis, so that's why he's doing this."

  Liu Bang nodded, "It seems Lü is a bit anxious!"

  Fan Qiao sneered, "The old man didn't want to let his son answer the summons at first, and now he's become a cripple. It's just a pity for the young Liu family, wasting a military achievement... However, that kid is quite capable, I'm starting to admire him."

  Fan Kuai's "young Liu", refers to Liu Yan.

  Liu Bang sighed, "The Liu family's young master is indeed impressive... Hehe, this time when I return, I will definitely get along well with him."

  "Dad, Liu's little one... but harmed his mother..." Liu Fei suddenly asked.

  Liu Bang was taken aback, turned his head and glared at Liu Fei, saying sternly: "Fei, from today on, you must remember that your mother died of illness... Do you understand? These days are different from the past, disaster comes from the mouth, we must be more cautious... Your mother's matter, from now on, is not allowed to be mentioned again."

  "Alright, kiddo!"

  Liu Fei opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.

  The words reached the tip of his tongue, but in the end he swallowed them again. He lowered his head, his expression wooden, unable to discern any emotions inside him.

  Liu Bang stood up and stretched his waist.

  "After staying in this place for half a year, I'm so bored that even the birds have flown away! Tu Zi, let's pack up and get ready to return to Pei County. Since Lü Laotou has prepared a feast for us, if we don't go, wouldn't that be impolite? Hehe, we must eat our fill at his place."

  Lu Wan said: "But going to Lü's old man's wine party, must have a gift... We haven't made a move for almost a year, where is the extra money?"

  "Can't go if there's no money?"

  Liu Bang smiled and said, "I don't believe it. Not only do I want to go, but that old man must also come out to greet me with respect... Let's go, if we're late, we won't make it!"