Chapter 42: The Girl Next Door Has Just Grown Up (2)

  Although it's not the first time I've returned to my new home, and I've already lived here for a month.

  But when Liu Guan saw from afar the white flowers swaying in the wind on the thatched roof, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace he had never felt before.

  That's my home!

  He ran quickly and shouted from afar: "Mother!"

  Madam Guan stood at the door, and when she saw Liu Guan, she smiled, but tears streamed down her face. In the year that Liu Guan was away, although the family had no worries about food and clothing, Madam Guan felt anxious. Ah Guan, unknowingly, had grown up into a strong pillar of the family.

  At first, when Liu Quan and Shi Zui collaborated on brewing wine, Mrs. Quan was still worried.

  The whole street is full of wine sellers, what kind of wine can Liu Quan brew? But the fact was beyond her expectation, Liu Quan brewed a unique good wine. Nowadays, the Liu family uses "making a fortune overnight" to describe their situation, which is not exaggerated at all. Especially with the release of 'Wansui Wine', the whole Shuixian County was boiling. Although it's said that Wansui Wine has become a tribute wine and ordinary people can't drink it, Shuixian Huadiao still exists.

  When one man gets Tao, his chicken and dogs rise to heaven.

  When Wansui wine was appointed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang as a tribute wine for worshiping heaven, the price of Suishui Huajiao skyrocketed.

  In Peng City, a year-old cellar-aged Xishi Huadiao has been sold at the sky-high price of 3,000 yuan. This is truly a cellar-aged wine, with a drier and more mellow taste than those newly released Huadiao wines. If one didn't understand Liu Quan's intention in storing his wine before, now they do.

  The small inn where he stayed in Pei County has been closed.

  It is now a specialized wine sales facade, with cars and horses coming and going every day, bustling with noise.

  Who dares to say that Liu Quan is a fool? Can a fool brew Suishui Huadiao and Wanshui wine? Even Lü Weng was stunned by this.

  In a year's time, Liu Gong's height had already surpassed that of his wife, nearly eight feet.

  When he ran in front of Mrs. Kuang, he had to lower his head to speak. The mother and son didn't say a word, they just looked at each other silently.

  Although in her heart, Liu Jian still couldn't quite acknowledge Madame Jian's identity. But this body... those blood ties of flesh and bone, how could they be severed? After a long while, Liu Jian softly spoke a sentence: "Mother, your child... has come back!"

  "It's good to be back, it's good to be back!"

  Madam Liu pulled Liu Quan and called for Shen Shi and others to enter the courtyard.

  The wall on one side of the courtyard has been pushed down, apparently for expansion... Liu Quan is now a high-ranking official, and his residence must be different from before. As a high-ranking official, he can have two houses, three heads of cattle, and two servants. The so-called servant is just a servant.

  This servant is also divided into three six nine classes.

  One is a servant, also known as a slave; another is a bondservant, called a bondslave.

  A hereditary slave is another name for a slave. Life and death are in the hands of the master, the master dies and the slave dies, unless the master grants amnesty, otherwise he will be a slave forever. It's not just this generation that is a slave, sons, grandsons, as long as there are people in the master's house, they are slaves for generations to come.

  This kind of slave is not something that just anyone can have.

  The Lü family may have a lot of wealth, but they don't have the qualifications to own slaves. Only 'shi', and that is 'shi' recognized by the state, can have slaves. Of course, the Liu family doesn't have any slaves now, everything has to wait until Liu Kan meets Ren You before they can be assigned.

  Contrary to Liu's expectations, there was another guest at home.

  Lü Jia!

  She had a apron-like thing tied around her waist, with black soot still on her face, holding a pan of roasted meat, walked into the house.

  Liu Jian saw Lü Jia for a moment and was taken aback. He never thought that he would see Lü Jia at this time, in this place.

  "Auntie, what are you doing here..."

  "Hey, what's with the way you're speaking?" Mrs. Qian was somewhat displeased, and reached out to pat Liu Qian's back. "A Dai just returned from Fengyi yesterday. And yet, as soon as she got back, she came running over to see me..."

  "Besides," said Mrs. Qian in a low voice, "don't blame Ah-jiao for not visiting you, she also sneaked out today."

  Liu Kan's face twitched slightly, then smiled and said: "A Qiang, thank you for your hard work..."

  But this sentence made Lv's tears flow down. Madame Kong was suddenly flustered, and Liu Kong was also at a loss.

  "Auntie, don't cry, you'll become ugly if you cry too much!"

  "Yes, yes, Auntie, don't cry... If there's anything that's troubling you, just tell me. As long as I can do it, I'll definitely help you."

  Liu Kan stepped forward under the gaze of Madame Kan and softly comforted her.

  This comfort was still okay, one comfort... Lü Ji just let out a loud cry and burst into tears, those tears seemed to open the floodgates, gushing out.

  They could only sit awkwardly on one side, looking left and right, pretending they hadn't seen anything.

  "Ah Jian, it's all my fault. If I hadn't asked for your help in the first place, you wouldn't have suffered so much, and sister..."

  Liu Jian's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

  With a sympathetic inquiry about Lü Zhi's situation, but the words reached the tip of her tongue, she didn't know where to start. It was still Madame Kuang who consoled and finally stopped Lü Zhi from crying. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Liu Kuang finally figured out the cause of the matter. After marrying Liu Bang, Lü Zhi lived in Liu Bang's house in Zhongyangli. However, because Liu Bang looked down on Liu Kuang, Lü Zhi also suffered a lot of grievances along with him.

  After Liu Bang got married, Liu Jiao separated from the family.

  The good fields at home were given to the eldest son Liu Bo, and the second son Liu Zhong. The remaining good things were left by his wife, and the youngest son Liu Jiao lived with Liu Bang's family. As for Liu Bang, he only got some poor land. He didn't like farming anyway, so it was better this way. In half a year, he didn't even know what his own fields looked like, and everything relied on Lü Zhi to manage the household affairs alone.

  Not long after their marriage, Liu Bang left.

  Carrying Lu Yun and Zhou Bo, saying they were going to find a way to get rich.

  As for what to do next, no one was clear. However, Fan Zeng and Xiahou Ying stayed in Pei County as officials, and it was unlikely that they would return to their old careers.

  It's been almost half a year since I left...

  Liu Jian watched as Lü Cu calmed down, her beauty amidst the rain like a pear blossom, pitiful and touching, causing him to feel a deep ache in his heart.

  At the same time, it seemed as if Lü Zhi's bright smile appeared before his eyes.

  A pang in his heart, Liu Quan suddenly stood up and turned around, wanting to walk out...

  "Ah Jian, what are you doing?"

  "I......" Liu Jian's words reached his lips, but he didn't know how to continue. Ah yes, what was I going to do? I...what could I do?

  Pei County was part of Chu State in ancient times.

  The people of Chu are open-minded and unrestrained. They don't pay much attention to matters between men and women. As long as they look pleasing to the eye, they may well do it in the wild.

  But once married, unless the man is willing to dissolve the marriage contract, the woman can't even think about freedom. That day, Lü Zhi put medicine in her wine.

  Liu Gong later became dazed and confused, but as for Lü Zhi's words, they were still fresh in his memory.

  That little tail that used to follow me around is gone from now on...... Is it a farewell, or a declaration of determination? Perhaps, it's both.

  Lü Zhi was a very resolute woman, once she said something, she would definitely do it.

  Xun Shi took advantage of the opportunity to tease Lv Luan and make her laugh, while Madame Quan walked over to Liu Quan's side and patted his back.

  "Ah Jian, forget it... If you go back now, it will only make things harder for her. Some things are destined to be and cannot be changed."

  Can't it be changed?

  Or why change?

  Liu Jian still can't quite put into words what kind of feelings he has towards Lü Yu. If he says it's a good feeling, then the impression Lü Jiǎo gave him is even better. However, this heart of his ultimately cannot shake off and also cannot bear to part with. Maybe I should do something? But what should I do?

  "A'gan, what do you think we should do next?"

  Tang Lie pulled Liu Jian, diverting the topic. Lv Jiao, after all, was just a little girl, and after being persuaded for a few words, she smiled with joy.

  As soon as Tang Lie asked this, pairs of eyes turned to Liu Kan at once.

  Yes, what's next?

  Tang Lie is fine, Zhou Chang is also okay, Cao Wu Shang, Shen Shi Qi, and even including Madame Kuai in it, all believe in Liu Kuai, there will definitely be action.

  Liu Kan came back to himself and fell silent, lost in thought.

  A moment later, he lifted his head and smiled slightly. "Next step, I plan to finish building the house first, then find two good slaves."

  "Is that all?"

  Cao Wushang was anxious, "Aqian, you must think of a way to let me also get a crown to wear. Otherwise, seeing Aqi every day under my eyelids is really uncomfortable. No, I don't care, this matter... you must think of a plan for me."

  Tang Lie and others looked at Cao Wu Shang's anxious appearance and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Liu Kan smiled and said: "Old Cao, don't worry. Wanting to wear the crown is not difficult... it's just that we need to wait, wait for an opportunity."

  Cao Wu Shang had always known this, but it required an opportunity.

  "But when will it be?!"

  Liu Jian's eyes seemed a little deeper, looking out of the house. This living room is directly opposite the courtyard gate, from here, you can see the vast sky and earth.

  "It won't be too long, maybe... it will happen sooner than you think."

  Lü Jing sat quietly beside Mrs. Guan, from her angle, she could only see Liu Guan's side profile. Her eyes were shining with a flirtatious glint, as if they were about to overflow with water. Her cheeks were rosy, just like the sunset at the horizon. Her heart was racing, and an inexplicable feeling surged up in her mind.

  Sister is right...... Ah Jian, actually not stupid at all!

  ————————

  Recommend again!