Chapter 40: Meeting Uncle Li Again

  I chuckled dryly at the bearded uncle who was disguised as a wealthy bodyguard, and followed him upstairs. As soon as I reached the top, I heard the elegant sound of a guqin coming from the elegant room at the end of the corridor. The big-bearded man walked to the end of the corridor, lifted the curtain of the elegant room, and said, "Hehe...I thought it was someone else, but it's actually my virtuous nephew who has arrived...Come sit down quickly, I'm so bored being alone..." Uncle Li sat upright on the soft couch, with a table of exquisite dishes from Yunwen Pavilion in front of him, drinking alone. Two bodyguards stood not far away by the window, and when they saw me arrive, they gave me a fierce stare to intimidate me...

  One maid is bowing her head to play the zither, and another maid is pouring wine for him. This old man really knows how to enjoy himself. Hurriedly making a bow and walking over: "Oh dear, I thought it was someone else, but it's actually Uncle, nephew pays his respects first."

  "Haha... don't be polite, sit down... come, pour me a drink, it's been a few days since we last met, how have you been?" Uncle Li was indeed very enthusiastic, his butt hadn't even warmed up the seat yet, and he picked up his cup to clink with mine: "Come on, let's finish this cup first."

  "The day before yesterday, I heard from Fang Xiang about my talented nephew..." Uncle Li paused for a moment, his eyes gleaming as he looked me up and down: "I really didn't expect that my nephew would be so talented, even in evaluating people and discussing matters, you have your own unique perspective. Your theory of 'thick and black' is truly incisive. You indeed have the potential to found a new school of thought..."

  "Ah? Uncle's praise, I'm ashamed and dare not accept it. Actually, those words were just my random thoughts......" Uncle Li is also too good at flattering people! Founding a school and creating a new style? And even establishing his own family, isn't that a bit exaggerated? It's making me, this young master, blush. Hurry up and drink two mouthfuls of wine to cover up... damn it, why didn't he serve grape wine instead? I really resent Uncle Li for not asking about my preferences as a guest."

  -

  "Is that so?... Young Master's absurd and ruthless remarks, surprisingly have some commonalities with the emperor's tactics...... Can't help but admire Young Master's talent!..." Uncle Li's expression was very serious, but his eyes were lecherous. Is Uncle Li implying that all emperors are thick-skinned and ruthless? It seems like he's intentionally trying to remind me of the copyright dispute, I'd better swallow my pride first.

  "Uncle, I haven't thanked you yet for saving my life. You racked your brains to come up with this plan just for me, and I'm really... really, I'm a straightforward person, not good at saying thank you. Today, let's just drink to our friendship, here's to you! *clink* Ah, the wine is great, it's always more fun to freeload!"

  "Good nephew, you're wrong. I'm just borrowing flowers to offer Buddha... Haha... Don't blame me, good nephew, it's all because of my talent." Look, Uncle Li is really good at being a person. He clearly took the knife for us, but he's still humble about it. His character is not bad. If the old man were twenty years younger, we'd be willing to follow Uncle Li and cut off chicken heads and burn yellow paper.

  Eyes must be sincere, expression must be touching, hands must tremble a little, to fully express gratitude towards Uncle Li: "Uncle's noble deed, nephew is grateful and tearful..." Wrong words used, not intentionally, who made me forget, it's all because of the Tang Dynasty's lack of idiomatic dictionaries, making this all-around teacher become an idiot when it comes to idioms.

  The music stopped abruptly, and it seemed that the palace maid who was playing the zither was also a knowledgeable person. Uncle Li's face turned slightly green, and he stared at me for a while before saying in a low voice: "No need, no need... come, come, come, I'll toast my talented nephew with a cup of wine." It seemed that Uncle Li couldn't understand how the prodigy who was highly regarded by him had become a master of blank stares.

  "...old goods, only seven or eight bushels high... that's just the young master's humble words, what does this old guy mean, is he praising or mocking? Don't mind him, the wine may not be very tasty, but it can't be wasted."

  Uncle Li wiped his mouth, threw a piece of dried meat into his mouth and chewed: "Can't see through it... A wise nephew with the reputation of being a rogue for over ten years... Now he can actually say something that opens up a new school of thought..." Uncle Li had a very meaningful gaze and expression. Listening to him made me break out in cold sweat, having the reputation of being a rogue for over ten years, Fang Yilao this stinker was also really scary? How old is he? Not even sixteen yet, already bearing the name of a rogue for over ten years... Did this big green rogue start going out and flirting with good women, robbing people while wearing a mask when he was still in his split-pants kid era?

  Uncle Li's words, are they meant to advertise for me, making me the ancestor of a sect? Then Master Li Zongwu would probably be very resentful and scold me in later generations for plagiarizing his copyright over a thousand years ago, hahaha!

  I've already explained the issue of my sudden rise to fame to him before, but unfortunately Uncle Li didn't believe me. Can't dwell on this topic anymore, quickly change the subject: "Uncle, how do you have time to come here in disguise today?..."

  "Hehe... I rarely have leisure time, today I finished my morning court early and decided to take a stroll in the city wearing casual clothes... I heard that this place has delicious food, so I thought of having a drink with you, my virtuous nephew. It seems that I've disturbed your studies..."

  "Uncle, don't say that. Actually, since the last time we met, I've been thinking about when to come and pay my respects to you. Who would have thought that today I'd hear from Princess He Piao that you're inviting me? I'm truly delighted. It's rare for Uncle to steal a half-day of leisure, so I've come especially to listen to your teachings."

  Uncle Li, what's wrong? Two eagle eyes stared at me, a minor boy.

  "...stolen life half a day of leisure..." Uncle Li stroked his beard and cup, repeatedly reciting this sentence. After a while, he slammed the cup down, almost slapping my face into the dish: "Good! Good! Good! Exquisite and lifelike, really...good sentences are hard to come by, wise nephew...the more I look at you, the happier I am, we're really compatible...haha, come on, today I'm feeling generous!"

  Clang, clang, clang... again three large cups, at least half a catty of muddy wine made the two old men's eyes roll back and their faces turn black, what they hated most was this stuff, ... damn it, San Le Chuan.

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  PS: Thanks for the readers' suggestions, I will consider them. Next Monday, this book will be on the top three charts, and next week, it will be on the list of recommended books... Oh my god, I'm exhausted from rushing to finish the manuscript...