Chapter 43: You Must Not Mention Li Mansion
If the previous Chen Shun’an was merely third-rate realm, even as the son-in-law of the Zhang family and having done a favor for the Li Family.
In Master Li’s heart, he was still just an object that ‘could be used’.
What he valued was Chen Shun’an’s background, not the person himself.
After all, in the Sacred Dynasty where martial virtue is abundant, everything ultimately depends on strength.
Even wife and children are the same.
But now, Chen Shun’an has entered second-rate, although most likely potential exhausted, root bone set, first-rate hopeless.
But…
After all, he is He Yu Shu, a good hand at wearing treasure robe, split stone and open stele, grasping considerable lethality.
He can barely enter Master Li’s eye.
He seems like a person now.
“There is great terror between life and death. This Chen Shun’an has truly had a blessing in disguise…”
Master Li only thought Chen Shun’an’s breakthrough was related to his stumble and fall into well.
“Alright.”
Master Li pondered for a moment, slowed his words, and agreed.
“But from now on, you must not spread this matter out. When using coiling silk hand, you must not mention the Li Mansion.”
With that, Master Li leaned back in the grand tutor’s chair, closed his eyes, and looked fatigued.
Chen Shun’an noticed that Li Shicheng addressed him as ‘you’, not ‘Brother Shun An’.
Slightly more distant, but not obviously so, maintaining decorum.
Presumably, this matter had more or less damaged some of their past rapport.
“Many thanks, Brother Shicheng.”
Chen Shun’an was silent for a moment, then cupped his fists in salute.
……
Leaving the Li Mansion, he first returned to Weihang Street to fill the water cart.
Chen Shun’an then hurried nonstop toward Silver Ingot Street.
He had agreed with Master Li to teach martial arts at the Li Mansion every other day at dusk during the xu hour.
Mainly for the 《Golden Snake Coiling Silk Hand》 cultivation, which surprisingly had specific time requirements.
Sunrise at mid-morning, the si hour when yang energy rises;
Stars emerging in the east, the xu hour when yin energy gradually appears.
Unknown if by coincidence, it matched exactly the active times when most snakes emerge.
And that Yi Yan did not seem like true inheritance, yet was better than true inheritance, with food and clothing all in the mansion.
Li Shicheng and the others rubbed his bones and massaged his tendons for him every day, applied medicine and bathing, ready to answer questions anytime.
This treatment naturally was not something an old man like Chen Shun’an could compare to.
Chen Shun’an also found his time becoming increasingly tight.
Fortunately, for the other water carriers, the heavy and laborious water delivery task was nothing to him.
So he still had some spare energy.
Just a bit busier, and he had to cut back on the daily time going to the teahouse to listen to stories.
By noon, he ate lunch at the second meat shop.
Chen Shun’an and the other water carriers hid in the shade of the alley on Weihang Street.
Scarred Liu carried his load and pushed the cart back to the alley, originally wanting to practice punching for a bit more.
But seeing the weather was really unbearably hot and the other colleagues were napping, he reluctantly quelled his high-spirited practice martial arts enthusiasm.
Perhaps because he had given up on women, Scarred Liu was full of energy every day, with clear eyes and bright spirit.
His waist no longer ached, his legs no longer weak, though his ears hurt a few times every day.
Ah Hua and a few young water carriers hid under the well edge shelter, sleeping soundly taking advantage of the cool well water air.
Youth is good, lying down anywhere big or small.
Chen Shun’an smoked dry tobacco, squinting at the heat-distorted air outside the alley, gradually shedding his fatigue, feeling relaxed and refreshed all over.
It was at this moment that the ‘ge ji ge ji’ sound of carrying a sedan chair came.
Chen Shun’an looked toward the sound and saw a copper-topped large sedan chair stop at the alley entrance.
Blue sedan curtains, carried by two tall and burly sedan bearers.
At this moment, the sedan curtain was slightly lifted, and the sedan bearers quickly set down the elm sedan stool.
No need to mention how grand it was.
Quite a few people noticed the commotion and immediately stood up, looking in astonishment toward the person in the sedan.
Where did this noble person come from, coming to the water station at this hour?
Scarred Liu and the others also looked solemn.
Then, they saw a familiar figure step down using the sedan stool.
“Thanks to Horse Cellar Master’s kindness, personally seeing me off. San Dezi, I take my leave.”
“Where where, brother, go slowly. We’ll meet again in a few days!”
Looking at the person getting off the sedan.
Everyone was stunned.
San Dezi?
In broad daylight, what demon is this!
How did this guy get to sit in a large sedan chair, with Horse Cellar Master accompanying him?
Many people knew Horse Cellar Master, the boss of Baoquan Ice Cellar, who had contracted to build the largest commercial ice cellar in Wuqing County!
He had close ties with the Wuqing County water station and dealings with several landlords.
Today San Dezi was dressed like a proper person, long robe with sleeves rolled up, thin spun pants, and wrapped foot cloth shoes.
Not minding the heat, who knows who he learned it from.
After San Dezi stood at the alley entrance seeing off the sedan,
He then turned around, winking and making faces, strutting over to everyone with a pimp’s gait.
“San Dezi, you bastard, struck it rich?”
“Incredible! San Dezi, don’t deliver water anymore, it’s beneath your status. Go be a red-hat merchant, and in the future promote us brothers!”
“I have herbal tea here, San Dezi, take a sip…”
Everyone crowded around.
Summer cicadas shrilled, sparse trees around the alley.
The weather was hot and dry, and people’s hearts were restless too.
Chen Shun’an did not crowd close, sitting in place with a cheerful smile watching the scene.
He knew it was San Dezi’s plan to make ice drinks for the Qianning Country delegation’s visit to the Sacred Dynasty that had made gratifying progress.
He had probably secured investment and close connections with upper-class circles like Horse Cellar Master.
Chen Shun’an exhaled a puff of smoke, blew off the ashes, and stood up.
He tapped the pipe clean with his shoe sole, then scooped water to load the cart, and went off to deliver water.
Poor in the mountains, no one asks; rich in the deep mountains, distant relatives appear.
San Dezi now had too many relatives; Chen Shun’an saw no need to squeeze in.
Better to leave San Dezi a bowl of rice.
……
Just arriving at the side gate of the Li Mansion, Chen Shun’an was travel-worn, not even having time to change into a clean long robe.
It clashed with the blue bricks, red walls, and ancient charm of the alley.
And the gatekeepers A Da and A Er, upon seeing Chen Shun’an, shed their usual laziness and disrespect, immediately coming forward to greet him.
“Brother Chen is here?”
“Eldest Brother Chen, heard you love listening to stories. Tomorrow let’s go to the teahouse together, order some ‘Little Eight Pieces books’, Seven Heroes and Six Righteous Deeds of Good and Evil! My treat!”
The two chatted as they walked.
A Da came down the steps to personally greet him at the stone lion by the door;
A Er fully opened the side door, slightly bending his back, full of smiles.
Chen Shun’an was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.
Presumably, the two already knew he was a second-rate martial artist.
Chen Shun’an had previously thought these two were tough guys not fawning on power or martial force, but it turned out they could bow too!
“You’re too kind! No need for the two brothers to do this, it’s too stiff!”
Chen Shun’an mimicked the greenwood heroes’ tone from storytelling, bantering with them a couple lines.
Seeing Chen Shun’an’s reaction, A Da and A Er slightly relaxed.
Entering the Li Mansion.
Li Shicheng and Steward Zhao were both in the front courtyard.
Handed two hundred taels of silver to Li Shicheng.
Li Shicheng’s complexion suddenly improved.
Indeed, imparting family true skill was not just about money.
But without money, nothing gets done.
“Chief steward, it’s yours now.” Li Shicheng clapped his hands.
Having just reprimanded Yi Yan a few words, Steward Zhao stood in the courtyard, looking at Chen Shun’an with a quite complex expression.
As the saying goes, fists and feet have no eyes; strict teachers produce outstanding students.
In teaching the way and martial arts, how can there be no staff discipline.
And clearly, for Chen Shun’an this ‘adult apprentice’, Steward Zhao felt somewhat constrained.
Hard to beat, hard to scold; Steward Zhao feared Chen Shun’an might flip out in a rage.
After all, now they were both same-realm martial artists; Steward Zhao would need extra effort to subdue him.
But Old Chen had always been steady, unlikely to act that way.
Just teach him then.
