Chapter 5: First Meeting with He Zhizhang, The Girl Steals a Chicken

  As time went by, the sun rose in the east, and the table and chairs were ready in the living room. Dish after dish was brought out from the kitchen, but Tang Guan sat on a chair dozing off.

  A burst of firecrackers startled Tang Guan, who then realized that someone had already entered in a steady stream. Tang Weixi also came out of the central hall and went forward to greet them.

  "Everyone, please come in quickly"

  "Congratulations, Tang Yuanwai"

  "Congratulations... Congratulations..."

  Tang Guan was somewhat surprised to see the people coming, not the simple farmers he had imagined, but instead a group of Confucian scholars dressed in attire, some with their hair tied up in a bun, others wearing a Tang-style hat (a type of hat popular during the Tang Dynasty), and they all looked like bookworms.

  In fact, the banquet also has different levels. The ones that are often shown on TV, where guests sit down and start eating as soon as they enter, are not like the one Tang Weixi organized, which was more elegant, with guests being scholars from all over the region.

  These bookworms also knew that Tang Weixi was no ordinary businessman and had helped many poor scholars who came to the capital for the imperial examination.

  I received an invitation letter and didn't care what was written on it at first. When I arrived, I would talk about it later. But when I saw the content, I couldn't help but be shocked.

  The young master of Tang's family is no longer foolish, this is a rare thing.

  The name of Tang Guanzhi was once popular, and Tang Weixi had a small reputation in this area. At that time, he was also very embarrassed, but now he has a sense of pride and relief.

  "Get well soon, come and visit us when you're free, gentlemen."

  Tang Guan heard the words and knew that Tang Wei Xi was trying to win people over. These scholars currently have no official titles or wealth like his own family, so how can they be considered Lang Jun?

  Although he thought so, he still stepped forward and saluted one by one. The crowd was even more surprised to see that Tang Guan was no longer foolish, his movements were smooth, and there was a heroic spirit emanating from his eyebrows, and they all returned the salute one by one.

  "Mr. Tang, congratulations! It seems that your son is a late bloomer and will be entrusted with great responsibilities by heaven!"

  One of the bookworms immediately started flattering, and the rest followed suit. These bookworms had spent ten years studying hard, and if nothing else, they were extremely skilled at giving people a pat on the back and making them feel good about themselves.

  Tang Guan muttered to himself: "Do you need to say that? I'm someone who's about to change the world."

  Just as everyone was chatting, a loud and clear poetic voice came over.

  "Though I have been ill for a long time and cannot be cured, Wen Qu is still at peace. My loyalty has been fully expressed, and the disease has already passed."

  "Congratulations, Mr. Tang Yuanwai! Congratulations, Mr. Tang Yuanwai! Ji Zhen has come to offer his congratulations!"

  Tang Weixi saw a joyful expression on the newcomer's face and stepped forward to greet him, saying: "Seasonal truth, my nephew's writing is elegant and refined, I'm sorry for not welcoming you from afar."

  "Tang Yuanwai is really a blessing in disguise, I must ask Brother De to thank the gods for their protection, and specially come to offer congratulations"

  The newcomer was He Zhizhang, styled Jiqin, a scholar from Shaoxing Prefecture. It was said that several years ago he had already made a name for himself in Chang'an, when he was only in his teens. Now over twenty, his reputation had grown even greater.

  Tang Weixi was delighted to see that all these talented individuals had arrived, and his face glowed with pride as he beamed with satisfaction.

  Tang Guan looked at He Zhi Zhang, his eyelids twitching. In his arms were three hundred poems by Tang Shi and one of his own, "Occasional Writing on Returning to the Countryside". In his memory, He Zhi Zhang seemed like he would pass the imperial examination in a few years and become the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

  At once he didn't dare to be slow, without his father's instruction, he went forward and said: "Seasonal brother, your poem is really good"

  The tender voice made He Zhi Zhang stunned, looking at Tang Guan, smiling and saying: "Qubing, you say where my poem is good?"

  Tang Wei's face turned red with embarrassment, his own son had just recovered from a serious illness and was still young, how could he say three six nine, so he immediately went forward to greet and welcome Zhang into the seat.

  "This poem says that my father is loyal to the heaven and earth, hoping to move the heavens so that I can get better. But I got better on my own, although it was slow, but not too late, with a talent like Wenquxing"

  Tang Guan immediately translated the poem with great enthusiasm, and as soon as he finished speaking, everyone was stunned, even He Zhizhang's expression turned serious.

  Only a moment of Tang Weixian's joy, immediately excited, secretly thought: "Really have heavenly help! Really have heavenly help!"

  "Tang Yuanwai, from now on, you can't be so reckless. If you teach him well, he won't be like this in the future." He Zhizhang composed himself and bowed to Tang Weixi, clearly also shocked by Tang's words, which had used a rhetorical question.

  Tang Wei was overjoyed and laughed heartily, feeling extremely relieved. He immediately invited everyone to take their seats, but He Zhi Zhang couldn't help but steal glances at Tang Guan from time to time. He had originally only intended to flatter him with a few words, but unexpectedly, his casual remark had actually hit the mark. He felt that this naturally foolish person who had suddenly become clever and could compose poetry like an adult was truly a rare talent.

  Everyone raised their cups and changed plates, and the host and guest were delighted. Except for He Zhizhang occasionally asking Tang Guan a few questions, he was answered one by one, and nothing else happened. For a while, He Zhizhang favored Tang Guan even more.

  Tang wore a crown, but couldn't drink wine, he just made a flirtatious face at He Zhizhang, this talent for flirting wasn't acquired later in life, it was innate.

  Everyone saw Tang Crown's lovely and lively appearance, and they all praised him endlessly. Originally, Tang Crown was still a laughing stock, but now he has become a little prodigy.

  Just as the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves, Tang Guan suddenly discovered that on another table full of dishes, a dirty little hand grasped a chicken leg and tore it off.

  The crowd on the stage naturally didn't notice this, and Tang Guan also remained silent. Seeing that the owner of the small hand seemed to want to escape, he finally spoke up: "Father, I remembered that there are still books that haven't been put away, and I'm afraid they might be mishandled by the servants. I'd like to go back and tidy them up first before coming back to accompany the gentlemen."

  Tang Weixi's face turned red with rage, his eyebrows furrowed and he shouted: "Nonsense!"

  He was just about to speak in rebuke, but He Zhi Zhang spoke up and said: "Tang Wen Wai, loving and cherishing books is the duty of a scholar, let him go."

  He Zhizhang spoke up, and the readers present nodded in agreement. Moreover, they already knew about Tang Guan's current situation, and staying would only be an obstacle. After all, adults have their own topics to discuss among themselves.

  Tang Weixi also nodded silently and said seriously: "Go quickly and come back quickly"

  "Thank you, Father!" Tang Guan immediately got up and left, backing away quickly, and after losing sight of the crowd, he dodged and weaved, hiding in a nearby thicket near the banquet.

  It's nonsense to tidy up the books, he was just curious how this Tang Fu had a guardian watching over it, yet still allowed a little beggar to come in, and the owner of those small hands was obviously just a child like him.

  After a long time, the empty tablecloth shook, and a young child with a small braid poked out, still tightly grasping a greasy chicken leg.

  Tang Guan remained silent and followed the child, who was crawling cautiously on all fours, to see where he was going.

  Until he was out of sight, the little boy dared to get up, looked at the chicken leg in his hand, and a flash of joy passed through his big watery eyes, swallowing a mouthful of saliva, but not taking a bite.

  Cong Zhong Tang Guan was even more curious, seeing the little boy wanting to walk again, and suddenly jumped out, waving his hand to grab the little boy's arm, but this grab was soft and fluffy.

  "Little thief, where are you running to?"

  The child was startled by Tang Guan's sudden appearance, stunned on the spot, his arm tightly grasped by Tang Guan, a burst of pain, his small face covered with dust from falling to the ground, looking dirty.

  "I...I'm not a little thief" The child seemed to have never suffered such humiliation, and his big eyes welled up with tears.

  Tang Guan couldn't help but loosen his grip on the child's arm, and upon taking a closer look, he was shocked. The child's skin was so tender that even a light grab had left five fingerprints behind.

  He had only intended to tease this strange little kid, but unexpectedly seeing the other cry without reason, he suddenly felt a pang of tenderness and also felt very surprised.

  "How did you get into my house?" Tang Guan asked, seeing the girl trying hard to hold back her tears.

  "I... I and my mother came"

  "Your mother?" Tang Guan was even more confused, and his mind couldn't help but think: "It seems like the content is a bit too much, could this be my father's illegitimate child? Could there be a hidden concubine in our household? That wouldn't make sense, would it?"

  Tang Guan muttered to himself as he asked: "What's your name?"

  "My mother said that a girl's name cannot be casually told to others." Little Tong saw that Tang Guan was no longer hurting himself, and hid the chicken leg behind his back, making a soft noise.

  "Hmm, indeed can't speak randomly, what!? You're a girl?" Tang Guan subconsciously wanted to respond, and in an instant realized something and widened his eyes.

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