Chapter Eighteen: Inquiring About the Nature of Sentiment in the World

  The next day, the guest house was open as usual. Xue Weihai, that old man, came very early, and he seemed to have nothing to do all day.

  Song Kai could naturally tell that Xue Wei Hai was a man of some status, and although he didn't usually pay attention to such things, today he had something on his mind and as he looked at the old man, an idea began to form in his heart.

  He picked up a pot of brewed tea and carried a plate of fried peanuts, then walked upstairs and sat down opposite Xue Weihai.

  Xue Weihai narrowed his eyes, "What's going on? I already bought the Supreme Card yesterday, and no matter how eloquent you are today, it's impossible to get gold from me."

  Song Kai put on a stern expression, "How can I say this, Mr. Xue? I've always been operating with good intentions."

  "Oh, that's good," Xue Weihai tasted a few peanuts and nodded, "Not bad, not bad, but even if these peanuts are delicious, my pockets are still empty."

  "Old fox," Song said with a hint of ridicule, then beamed with a smile: "Xue Lao, we've known each other for a long time, haven't we?"

  Xue Wei Hai was taken aback and said: "Ah, yes, we've known each other for five days now, it's really been a long time, haha."

  Song Kai's actions paused for a moment, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't known this Old Man Xue for a long time after all. The reason why he felt so familiar with Old Man Xue was just because he had met him on the first day of his rebirth, and then they had met several times afterwards, giving him a very familiar feeling.

  "Haha, really? I feel like it's been ages since we last met. Five days is a long time, and if you think about it, that's 15 springs and autumns already! It's indeed quite a while," Song Kai continued with a thick face.

  "Stop it!" Xue Weihai's old face couldn't hold on anymore. This year, the dragon's yang addiction is quite popular, and although Xue Weihai doesn't dislike it, he absolutely doesn't like this set.

  Song Kai smiled and said directly: "Old Xue, okay, to be honest, I want to ask for your help."

  "You little scamp! Can't you just speak directly? It's enough to make an old man's hair stand on end," Xue Weihai said with a bitter smile. "What business?"

  "Yes, it's just helping Song Mou with his marriage," said Song Kai.

  "Hahaha!" Xue Weihai burst out laughing upon hearing this, "Song Lang, your face is indeed thick enough! Alright, I'll help you find a suitable marriage arrangement, how's that?"

  "No need, Old Xue," Song Kai said, "I just want to marry the Liu family's daughter, yes, that woman who jumped into the river on that day."

  "Oh, you're referring to the daughter of the Liu family," Xue Wei Hai hesitated for a moment, "This... is indeed a bit troublesome, I've heard that Young Master Yang has already given betrothal gifts to the Liu family."

  "What's the big deal?" Song Kai poured himself a cup of water. "Old Xue, if it were two days ago, I wouldn't have said these things, but now, you've also seen that my inn is getting better and better, and with Liu Niangzi, we're a match made in heaven, aren't we? Moreover, Liu Niangzi and I have been childhood sweethearts for over ten years, can you bear to see us part ways like a pair of mandarin ducks?"

  Xue Weihai was speechless for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "Song Lang, as a scholar, you should understand that marriage is not a trivial matter. Since the Liu and Yang families have already formed an alliance, it's not easy to reverse the situation."

  Song Kai nodded and said, "Xue Lao, I naturally understand these things. Yesterday, I found a matchmaker to go to the Liu family to discuss marriage, but was driven out by Yang Huaiyan. Although Liu Zhang is greedy for wealth, he is not completely unreasonable. I think that if I find someone with an even higher official position than Yang's to propose the marriage, it should change Liu Zhang's mind."

  "So you thought of me?" Xue Weihai sat up straight with his legs crossed, furrowing his brow slightly as he said: "What you say does indeed make some sense. To be honest, Song Lang, I do know people who hold higher positions than the county magistrate, and they will certainly come forward to act as matchmakers for you. However, there are some behind-the-scenes matters that are not easy to deal with... Yang Rongguang may only be a seventh-grade county magistrate, but he is half of the heart and soul of the Jiangnan Inspector, so..."

  Xue Weihai didn't continue speaking, many things weren't something Song Kai could understand.

  Song Kai understood a bit after hearing this, the Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner was like a local emperor in the Jiangnan region. At present, it was the late Tang Dynasty, and the eunuchs were in power in Chang'an City, the court was in chaos, while locally, the surveillance commissioners of various regions controlled their own armies and made decisions on their own, although no one dared to openly rebel against the Tang Dynasty and declare themselves king, but also no one would listen to the court's orders.

  The headquarters of the Jiangnan Road Observation Envoy is in Hangzhou, and for Suzhou City, he will naturally set up many informants to prevent the governor, generals and others from disobeying his orders.

  Song Kai sighed, "So that's how it is. I was overthinking things. It turns out the Yang family has such a background."

  Xue Weihai shook his head and sighed, "As for Yang Rongguang, he's not a bad person at heart. He has some integrity and is diligent in governance. His only shortcoming is that he's too doting on his son. If Yang Huaiyan insists on marrying the Liu family's daughter, I'm afraid Yang Rongguang won't back down. I...I really..."

  Song Kai waved his hand and looked out of the window, where a large goose flew by outside.

  "What is this thing called love in the world? It's just a lifelong promise. Two flying guests from the ends of the earth, how many times have they weathered the cold and heat? Joyful reunions are sweet, parting sorrows are bitter, and among them, there are also foolish boys and girls. You should have something to say, but in the vast expanse of clouds and mountains, who is it for?"

  After finishing his poem, Song Kai squeezed out two tears.

  Xue Weihai's teacup tilted in his hand, he turned his head to stare at the lone goose flying high outside the window, with Song Kaiyun's endless poetry echoing in his ears.

  I recall that day, Liu Yuvan jumped into the river from the small bridge without hesitation, while Song Kai, a bookworm with no ability to truss a chicken, also jumped into the river regardless of his own life. The scene and emotions are once again vivid in my mind.

  "What is this thing called love in the world? It's just a promise of life and death... A promise of life and death." Xue Wei Hai lowered his head, and quietly wiped away a tear.

  Song Kai looked at Xue Weihai with a sideways glance, his heart tense, and whether he could persuade this old man depended on this poem.

  Xue Wei Hai wiped away his tears, stood up tall and said: "You little scoundrel really wrote a great poem. Now I understand, perhaps that Nie Hong was just your pseudonym. The Water Tune Song Head and the Moon Above the Willow Branch were also written by you for Liu's wife, weren't they? Alright, alright, old man me will take a walk..."

  After finishing speaking, Xue Weihai turned around and left, his figure somewhat desolate.

  Song Kai was taken aback, what's going on with this old man Xue, why does his back look so lonely?

  As he walked out of the inn, the sunlight was still a bit dazzling. Xue Weihai rubbed his eyes and a bitter smile appeared on his face. Ah, it had been many years since he last cried, except when Zhou Ce's knife was about to take his life.

  Today, I was unexpectedly moved by this little guy's few words of sorrow.

  But what's to be done about this marriage?

  Go directly to Yang Rongguang? That's naturally out of the question. Can't ruin years of planning for this marriage matter.

  Go find Liu Zhuanggui and promise him a good deal, this might work, but if it gets out later that it was your own idea, Yang Rongguang will still hold a grudge.

  What's going on?

  Xue Weihai was walking when he saw three to five people coming towards him, laughing and chatting. Xue Weihai glanced over and had already made up his mind. He turned around and returned to the Hongchen Inn once again.

  In the guest house, Song Kai still felt a little guilty and ashamed. He not only plagiarized poetry but also deceived an old man to the point of tears.

  Just about to go downstairs, Xue Wei Hai was seen walking back up with a smile.

  Song Kai hastily went forward and said: "Mr. Xue, just now I was too rash, speaking of the marriage, if Mr. Xue really finds it difficult, then let's forget about it."

  Xue Weihai burst out laughing and said, "What's difficult about it? I just went out for a stroll to clear my mind and came up with a plan. Look, this matter of yours will be settled by these few people."

  Xue Weihai pointed to the entrance of the store. Song Kai looked over and saw that it was Sun Ximei, Li Menghuan and a few others.

  "Them?" Song Kai was taken aback.

  Xue Weihai invited Song Kai to sit down and said in a low voice, "Didn't you say you wanted to find someone with an official position higher than the county lieutenant to be the matchmaker?"

  Song rubbed his head and said: "Xue Lao, you're not asking me to go ask Sun Lao for help, are you? Although he's a medical doctor, but..."

  "It's not Old Sun, Old Sun's official position is one rank lower than the county magistrate, I'm talking about that little girl behind, Li Menghan, do you know who she is? She's the daughter of the current Princess Royal, as long as you treat her well, this matter will be settled," Xue Weihai smiled slyly.

  Song Kai first stared at Li Menghan for a while, and it turned out that this woman was also a county master. He shook his head afterwards, "Old Xue, she's just a little kid, what can she do?"

  Xue Weihai's old face turned bright red, and he barely held back his laughter. He called the young lady a little brat. If Li Menghan had heard that, this inn would probably have been blown away.

  "Alright, Song Lang, let me tell you, I've been thinking for a bit and I'm sure Yang Huaiyan must have promised Liu Zhuang some benefits. As for the benefits, it's probably related to textile processing or sales. If my guess is correct, it should be about this year's silk tribute. Tomorrow at..." Old Xue was indeed an old fox, able to deduce the general situation and come up with a plan in just a few minutes.

  Song Kai nodded repeatedly as he listened, and after finishing, he asked in a low voice: "Xue Lao, is it really feasible? The position of the imperial son-in-law is very high, but that is ultimately an idle job. Can the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau really listen to the words of the imperial son-in-law?"

  Xue Weihai blinked his eyes, "You can rest assured about this, there's absolutely no problem with the Weaving Department, besides, even if there were any problems, you've already married Liu Niangzi, what are you afraid of?"

  Song Kai smiled and patted his head, saying: "Xue Lao, why not add another condition? Tonight I'll spread rumors that Yang Huaiyan... is like this and that, which will make Liu Jiqian give up his thoughts."

  Xue Weihai listened to Song Kai's words, and suddenly slammed the table, laughing loudly, "Good you, Song Lang! Looking at your writing style, I thought you were a talented person who had read extensively, but I didn't expect you could also come up with such a sinister idea."

  "It's not that ruthless, compared to Old Xue, you're still far behind. That move of Old Xue's, 'killing without shedding blood', is even more brilliant," Song Kai chuckled.

  An old man and a young man flatter each other for two sentences, then burst out laughing without mentioning it.