Chapter 0005 Old Tang Alley

  Standing in the courtyard, Tang Sheng gazed at this old-fashioned quadrangle house. There were two sturdy giant willow trees inside the yard. The main building had three bays, with ancient upper and lower layers of traditional windows. The upper layer was pasted with white paper window flowers, while the lower layer was glass. The door and window frames were painted vermilion red, and the uneven, cracked main pillars exuded an air of vicissitudes. The green glazed tiles on the main building structure seemed especially ancient.

  Tang Sheng knew that such an old house was no longer capable of withstanding any earthquakes. A magnitude 3 or 4 earthquake could cause it to collapse. The east wing, west wing and south wing were all ancient buildings lower than the main house, their ages were very distant.

  An elderly man with a hoary head and white hair walked out of the main hall, his deep brown face full of wrinkles, with a hint of majesty.

  "You're that young fellow who came to Jiangling to study, aren't you? What's your name?"

  "Hello, Master Tang... it's me, my name is Tang Sheng."

  Grandfather Tang's face didn't show any special expression, he raised the cane in his hand and pointed to the south house, "The south house has been cleaned up, you can live there. The rules of the yard are that after 10 o'clock at night, the gate will definitely be locked, if you pass this time, don't come back. You're on your own for meals, I'm too old and don't have the energy to serve you. That's all."

  "Thank you, old man, take a rest, I understand."

  Old Master Tang obviously didn't have a good impression of this young man who was sent to live with them by his son Tang Yu, and being handsome wasn't worth anything.

  "Besides... both the east and west houses have been rented out, don't disturb others, break the rules of the courtyard, or I'll kick you out. It's strange that Tang Yu is willing to help you get connections in Jiangling, but why did he let you live in Old Tang Alley?"

  "Don't get me wrong, I don't know my uncle either, it's just that my dad knows him, so he asked him to help me board in Jiangling."

  In that case, it would be easier for Old Master Tang to accept. He took another look at Tang Sheng and then turned around and went back into the house.

  Tang Sheng smiled wryly, and the experience was similar to when he came to Lao Tang Alley last time. Although the specific details were not clear, it was roughly like this. He turned around and entered the south-facing house, which wasn't completely shaded. The window on the south side faced the street.

  It's not necessary to suffer in order to prove the 'value' of this journey through time, I've already suffered enough.

  After walking around the house, there is a narrow room with only three square meters outside, and inside it is a large room of seven or eight square meters. On the south side, there is a large window, which can see sunlight, but outside the window is the street, and a little noise will affect the rest at night.

  A long kang with a chimney, on the east side is a stove, where fire is lit for heating or cooking. In winter, if no fire is lit, it will be freezing to death. At the end of the kang, several quilts are stacked, which are old-fashioned peony-patterned cotton-padded quilts and mattresses, rarely seen in recent years.

  That year, Tang Sheng had never lived here before, he just came to take a look and then called Tang Yu to ask for a change of place. Later, in order to pester Tang Jin, he lingered on here, but still didn't spend a night here, only treating this south room as a temporary resting point.

  Tang Sheng threw his luggage to the side of the rolled-up quilt at the foot of the bed, and took another look around the small south house. For Tang Jin's sake, I also have to live here. Fortunately, it's not winter yet, and when winter comes, the kang will be warm, and if that doesn't work, we can add an iron stove.

  The day he arrived at Lao Tang Alley, he saw Tang Jin, and his excitement was beyond words. Unfortunately, he didn't get to talk to her.

  After deciding to stay in this southern house, Tang Sheng took out his mobile phone and dialed his father's number.

  "Dad, I've arrived in Jiangling and have settled down. Have you taken care of those transfer procedures at school?"

  "Actually, these things weren't handled by Tang Yu, but were done by someone else arranged by Secretary Tang. His stern voice came from the other end of the line, '...I've taken care of everything for you. It's a sign of progress that you can proactively bring up studying in Jiangling. But let me tell you, Jiangling is not like Nanfeng in the provincial city. You need to learn to be independent and self-reliant. From now on, consider me as if I'm not your father when you're in Jiangling. My work is busy, so don't call me again. Even if you do call, I won't answer. Tang Yu also won't help you with anything. Don't expect to live like a young master here...'"

  "Dad, I'm willing to come on my own initiative, just to temper myself, you can rest assured."

  "Well, nothing else, I'll hang up then. I'll get Secretary Li to contact you..."

  After crossing over, the first brief conversation with Father ended. To Tang Sheng, his father's voice was so familiar, yet so distant, but that voice was so real. The feeling of being reborn was truly wonderful. I must cherish this opportunity and definitely cherish it.

  At this moment, Tang Sheng had a strong desire to see his father, but he endured it.

  For a moment, he felt a bit unreal, raised his hand and lightly slapped himself on the ear, huh, slightly painful.

  In my mind, I still see the scene of myself offering sacrifices in front of father's tombstone. Ah, can't think wildly anymore, dear old dad is alive and well, what's the point of offering sacrifices? If I continue to offer sacrifices, it would be a great unfilial piety. Hmm, forget about it, it was just a dream after all.

  Everything starts from here again, Dad has never died, it's just a 'dream' I had.

  And Tang Jin, she didn't either... That was just a dream, a very premature dream. I guess I've just woken up from it now.

  Just as I was in a daze, my phone rang. I picked it up and answered, and it was Li Chongfeng, Dad's secretary.

  "......Tang Sheng, you're here? I'm free now, let's go find you, just name the place."

  "I'm at Old Tang Alley, you come to the outer street of Old Tang Alley, there's a small restaurant on the south side of the road, let's meet there."

  "Alright, alright, I'll hurry over right away, that's settled then, see you soon..."

  ……

  Tang Sheng walked out of the old Tang alley and found a small restaurant not far away on the outer street where he had agreed to meet with Secretary Li. It was already past one o'clock in the afternoon, and neither Tang Sheng nor Secretary Li had eaten lunch yet. This person was Li Chongfeng, his father's personal secretary.

  Li Chongfeng is a native of Nanfeng, and he also followed Secretary Tang to Jiangling. He appears to be in his thirties, wearing glasses, with a refined and cultured demeanor, dressed impeccably, with a sleek and shiny seven-three-parted hairstyle, looking extremely spirited.

  He has a family in Nanfeng, Jiangxi Province, and his wife is also a government employee. However, she did not accompany him to Jiangling this time and stayed at home to take care of their child.

  Like many successful people, Li Chongfeng also carried a black briefcase with some important documents and his mobile phone.

  Tang Sheng and Li Chongfeng were very familiar with each other. As early as in Nanfeng, Li Chongfeng was already quite familiar with this young master of the second generation.

  The two men didn't say much when they met, just exchanged a smile and went into the small restaurant one after the other. Li Chongfeng also didn't take this second-generation ancestor seriously in his heart, because this kid was like farting in front of his father, trying to please him was useless, it's better to report to Tang Secretary about his misdeeds to gain favor, so Li Chongfeng didn't show a humble attitude in front of Tang Sheng.

  In fact, Tang Sheng of that generation had hardly used Li Chongfeng at all. He knew that the one with the surname Li didn't put himself in his eyes. The main problem lies with his father, who has a deep-seated resentment towards this son for not living up to expectations. Who among those around him can look at the young master straight in the eye?

  "Tang Sheng, this is your transfer certificate for entering Jiangling High School. Don't worry about anything else, it's all been taken care of. Just go and report directly."

  Tang Sheng took over the notice handed by Li Chongfeng, glanced at it and folded it up to put it in his pocket.

  "Also, Secretary Tang asked me to tell you that unless there's something urgent, don't call him or me. If you're going to stir up trouble, you need to be prepared to take responsibility for the consequences. This must be made clear, do you understand?"

  Li Chongfeng spoke in a deliberately cold tone, he was too familiar with this second-generation ancestor. In front of his father, he was like a frightened mouse, speaking with trembles, and usually called himself Uncle Li, even smiling and accompanying him, as if afraid of offending himself.

  But today when Li Chongfeng met Tang Sheng, he found that the child seemed to have become a bit more profound, and felt that people couldn't see through him?

  Tang Sheng used chopsticks to pull out the dishes in the plate, suddenly raised his head and looked at Li Chongfeng, "...... Secretary Li, I usually won't call you, but if I do call you, you'd better answer immediately. Some things are missed, and you can't afford to bear the consequences."

  Li Chongfeng was taken aback, furrowing his brow as he looked at Tang Sheng. "Hey, how did this kid's tone change? Hasn't seen him so arrogant in a while?"

  "...Tang Sheng, didn't I just tell you? Secretary Tang doesn't allow me to answer your calls..."

  Tang Sheng suddenly stood up with a shout, his face cold and staring at Li Chongfeng, slapping the chopsticks in his hand on the table.

  "You can refuse, but I'm telling you now, the consequence is that you will disappear from Secretary Tang's side, don't believe me? Try it!"

  After speaking, Tang Sheng didn't look at him again and turned around to leave the small restaurant, leaving Li Chongfeng sitting there in a daze. Hmm... when did this kid become so strong? Didn't he take the wrong medicine or something? How dare you scold me? I don't believe it.

  Li Chongfeng also stood up with a huff, settled the bill, and walked out with his small package. From afar, he could still see Tang Sheng walking alone along the side of the road. Let's go take a look, kid. You may not be afraid of me, but you're destined to never get out from under Secretary Tang's thumb.

  A Passat parked by the road was driven by Li Chongfeng. He let out a cold hum, got in and started the car, then quickly drove away.

  Tang Sheng beat him because in his memory, this Li Chongfeng was later coerced and bribed into betraying the Tang family's interests. For such a person, he had reservations in his heart, so he could speak to him without courtesy. At present, he would not go to great lengths with him either. Now he still doesn't have the guts to betray Secretary Tang's interests, his small wings are far from reaching a hard degree, and they are still too far apart.

  He slowly made his way into the alley, thinking in his heart about everything that was going to happen at Old Tang's Alley.

  That life missed a lot, coldly watched a lot, and regretted a lot after ten or twenty years. What about this life?

  Well, can't miss it, can't be a bystander or a big bad guy anymore, I want to make up for my mistakes, and regain everything.

  Having figured all this out, Tang Sheng's footsteps became more firm and powerful. He believed he had the ability to change everything!

  PS: From now on, except for Monday updates at 0 o'clock, all other updates will be changed to daytime. There are not many people at midnight, and I also need to adjust my schedule. Staying up late every night is not good either. Please collect and vote, thank you!