Chapter 7: The New Name is Huang Li (Collect it)

  Name, it is said that different names will bring people different luck. From the name alone, one can see the character and luck, and those who have some understanding of Feng Shui can do so. If a person is good at analyzing characters, they can analyze even more thoroughly. This has also given rise to many profound theories, such as Qimen Liu Nian, Wuge Liuge, and so on, which make people believe involuntarily.

  Although the Zhang family hoped that Huang Li would come up with a more impressive name, Huang Li didn't care about it and even liked his current name. Huang Li, like an emperor, haha, from now on he will be called by this name.

  A name is just like a piece of clothing, nice clothes can boost one's confidence or make them look better, and you can also tell someone's height, weight, and build from their clothes. However, changing into new clothes doesn't change your body shape. Similarly, no piece of clothing is perfect, they all have flaws, so no matter what name you choose, there will always be drawbacks to pick out.

  The name has been decided, and there are also guesses about his past experiences, but it seems that there are some differences of opinion. Hmm, that's right, not only is he thinking, seeking, Zhang Lao Suo and his family have also made many interesting speculations from his performance.

  "Judging from your accent, Brother Huang, you should be from the southern coastal area. You were murmuring something in your coma, hmm, don't know what language it was, but it sounds a bit like the bird language spoken by the foreign monks in the town church." Old Zhang puffed on his pipe, reasoning amidst the swirling smoke, "In my opinion, Brother Huang is either a merchant from the south who has dealt with foreigners or a student who has drunk Western ink."

  Oh, the current Huang Li nodded, but didn't say anything, and the doubts in his heart didn't decrease. The traveling merchant still had some meaning, but students, huh, did they even have half a student's demeanor?

  "Dad, I think Huang brother is more like a lone ranger. Zhang Xiaosuo stroked the wound on his arm that had just scabbed over and cautiously expressed his differing opinion, "His skills are even better than Bai family's head guard Hu Lao Si, those flying knives he threw were more accurate than the ones used by street performers."

  Red Beard, or more euphemistically, Lone Ranger. This is a product and appellation of that era when oppression and exploitation were extremely prevalent and severe.

  The long-term suffering and hardships of life, as well as the constant persecution by those in power, have given these poor people a kind of endurance that can withstand any misfortune. They believe that wealth and poverty are predetermined by fate, and that they themselves have no power or authority to change their circumstances. They are as docile as sheep and as easily manipulated as tofu. As for the great affairs of the world, they know very little about them and do not even want to know. Because from ancient times to the present, no matter how things change, no matter which dynasty is in power, poor people always have to pay taxes and hand over their grain, and cannot afford to miss a single grain.

  The county government office is the yamen, it's a place where life and death are decided, to them, that's heaven. Most people after being humiliated and oppressed, use their inherited humble nature to endure. But there are also some people who when the blade is pressed against their neck, have no choice but to make a final resistance, that is to escape into the deep mountains and forests, join a group of people with the same fate as "red beards", specializing in robbing the rich and killing enemies.

  Lazy people fight for food, good people fight for dignity! Those with red beards are all dignified heroes! At least in the eyes of many poor people, having a red beard is not only not scary, but can also evoke admiration from many people, especially young ones.

  From the ordinary conversation, Huang Li already knew what Red Beard meant, that is, bandits, but in Zhang Xiaosuo's tone, there was no contempt and fear, but a thread of expectation and admiration.

  It turns out that I might be a bandit, yeah, it makes sense, otherwise how would I be so familiar with guns, so agile in my movements, so heavy in my punches, and so accurate with my knife skills. Think about it, taking down a tiger with just one slash, is that something an ordinary person can do?

  "Uncle Huang is the master chef of the restaurant." A childish voice suddenly rang out, and Niu Niu blinked her beautiful big eyes that she inherited from her mother, and said with a smile: "Mom said that his stir-fries are even better than the ones sold by the braised meatball vendor in town. And also, Uncle Huang is chubby, he looks just like the master chef of a restaurant."

  Zhen Niang's face turned red, this private gossip was spoken out by the child, making her feel very embarrassed.

  I'm a chef? Huang Li scratched his head, he just wasn't used to the plain boiled rice and dishes of the farmhouse, which didn't have much flavor, so he added some oil with animal fat and stir-fried two small dishes. Could it be that the master chef only knew how to make less than five dishes, or had he forgotten all about cooking skills and needed to go back and review?

  Forget it, this is not a place where one should linger for long. Let's go out and take a walk, maybe we can think of something else that's useful.

  "Tomorrow, Xiao Suo's brother is going to town, and I'll go with him." Huang Li paused for a moment, then continued: "Maybe we won't come back. These days, thank you for your care, I almost didn't die in the disaster. A person should repay kindness, but I..."

  "Huang Xiaoge, that's not a nice thing to say." Zhang Laosuo knocked out the cigarette ash on the ground, lit another one and started puffing away, saying slowly: "People, who hasn't had their share of troubles? Even Qin Qiong was reduced to selling his horse when he fell on hard times! We villagers may be poor, but our hearts are still good, we can't just stand by and watch someone die without helping, it's not about seeking any reward."

  "It was my mistake, don't be angry, old man." Huang Li smiled and explained: "What I mean is that everyone should help each other. In the future, if there's a need for me, just speak up. Hehe, who knows if I have the ability, or where my destination is."

  "You're a capable one, and my old eyes can see that!" Zhang Laosuo puffed out a mouthful of smoke and comfortingly said: "If you can't make it on the outside, then just come back."

  This was just a polite remark, but Huang Li had been living here for over a month and knew that the Zhang family's life was very difficult. The Zhang family's simplicity and kindness really moved him, they did their best to make sure he ate well. That's why he always wanted to repay them.

  "Hehe, if I couldn't make it outside, I'd really have to swallow my pride and come back." Huang Li said with a smile.

  Zhang Laosuo waved his hand at Zhen Niang, who picked up her drowsy daughter and smiled apologetically at Huang Li before walking back to her own room.

  "Little Lock, you should go to sleep too, we have to get up early tomorrow!" Old Zhang told Little Lock to rest as well.

  "Huang Xiaoge, the world outside is not at peace!" Zhang Laosuo saw that everyone had left and said to Huang Li with a heavy heart: "We ran to this mountain valley to live, but we were forced to have no choice. Your skills are good, but your brain——" He paused for a moment, then continued: "Let me tell you about the general situation of Fengliu Town and Baiyan County, so that when you go out to make a living, you'll have an idea..."

  Huang Li was grateful, this is practical knowledge that can let him know what to pay attention to and what to be careful about. He got up and poured a bowl of water for Zhang Lao Suo, and listened intently as Zhang Lao Suo began to speak.