Chapter 5

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In the first year of the Shengli era, 698 AD.

Living in such an era, don't expect to eat any sumptuous meals; even a stir-fried dish is hard to come by.

Yang Shouwen's dinner was braised cured mutton.

With millet as the base, the cured mutton was placed on top, mixing the aroma of the mutton into the millet while also reducing the greasiness. In addition, there were two dishes of vegetables. However, they looked watery and unappetizing.

Don't underestimate such a simple dinner; for this era, it was already quite sumptuous.

Yang Chenglie, as a county military officer of the ninth rank, received a monthly salary of 1.5 guan and fifty shi of fine millet. This might not seem much, but compared to the salaries of local officials during the Zhen Guan era, it had increased significantly. Since Wu Zhaoyi took power, she had been working to improve the treatment of local officials. If it were during the Zhen Guan era, no one would have been willing to take on a position like the county military officer of Changping.

However, the Yang family's main income still came from the two hundred acres of official land.

Yang Chenglie, who had lived in the county for a long time, rarely inquired about the official land. When Yang Dagang was alive, the income from the official land was mostly in his hands. Now that Yang Dagang had passed away, Yang Chenglie had reclaimed most of the income but still provided Yang Shouwen with sufficient living expenses. In this regard, Yang Shouwen lived more comfortably than Yang Rui.

Yang Shouwen looked thin but had an astonishing appetite.

A single dinner consumed one jin of millet and half a jin of cured mutton.

After eating his fill, Yang Shouwen put down his chopsticks and looked up at Yang Rui.

Although Yang Rui had been beaten up, they were still brothers by blood. Beating him was justified, and Yang Shouwen felt no guilt. But not giving him a meal would have been his fault.

Yang Rui's dinner was a tough one. The fatty and fragrant cured mutton in his mouth had no taste at all.

A slight chew made his cheeks hurt. He wanted to skip the meal, but one glare from Yang Shouwen made him lose his temper.

Yang Shouwen's beating had indeed frightened him.

"Speak up, what brings you here?"

Yang Shouwen, having eaten his fill, knelt on the bed and asked calmly.

Yang Rui put down his chopsticks, holding his cheeks and trembling, "It's almost the 15th of August. Father plans to admire the moon at Maitreya Temple, so he sent me to check things out and asked Aunt to make some preparations to avoid any mishaps."

"Admire the moon?"

Yang Shouwen then realized that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching.

Admiring the moon and family reunions were common activities during this era.

However, from Yang Rui's words, it seemed that Yang Chenglie's moon-watching was not just for family reunion; he had invited someone.

This was normal, as Yang Chenglie had been the county military officer of Changping for over ten years.

In these ten years, the county magistrate of Changping had changed several times, but Yang Chenglie remained in his position, with no signs of promotion. By seniority alone, Yang Chenglie should have been promoted. However, he seemed unconcerned, content to stay in his position for over a decade.

"Is Father inviting guests?"

Yang Rui hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Father has an old friend coming, a distinguished guest, so he plans to entertain him."

Distinguished guest?

Changping was a remote and cold place; who could be a distinguished guest?

Yang Shouwen was initially stunned but then dismissed it. How distinguished could a guest be? And what did it have to do with him?

Yang Chenglie was just a county military officer in a small county. Yang Shouwen didn't think his guest could be that distinguished.

Instead of worrying about this, he should think about how to improve his life.

In the past, he had been indifferent to life. But now, Yang Shouwen felt he needed to make some changes. Even if the millet and cured mutton were delicious, eating them every day would get boring.

"It's getting late, I doubt you can return tonight."

Yang Shouwen stood up and walked out, saying, "I'll have Aunt prepare bedding for you. Stay here tonight and return in the morning... Oh, how will you explain the injuries on your face to Father?"

"Ah?"

Yang Rui's heart skipped a beat and quickly said, "I'll say I fell and won't betray Elder Brother."

"Nonsense, if you don't tell Father the truth, wasn't the beating for nothing?"

"Ah?"

At this moment, Yang Rui suddenly felt his usually clever mind was not enough. He looked at Yang Shouwen with a puzzled expression: Does he mean I should complain to Father? Wouldn't that just invite more trouble?

Yang Shouwen, with a look of disappointment, shook his head and sighed.

"Tell Father that I beat you. If he asks why, you'll have to think of an answer... Yes, that's it! I'm tired, I'm going to rest."

With that, Yang Shouwen walked out of the room without looking back.

What did he mean?

Yang Rui watched Yang Shouwen's figure disappear outside the door, his mind in a mess.

After all, he was just a thirteen-year-old boy, smart but limited. He couldn't understand Yang Shouwen's intentions, only feeling... Could it be that his madness had returned? In any case, Yang Rui was thoroughly confused.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Brother Nizi, why should Second Young Master report to Master truthfully?"

Night had fallen.

Lady Yang was clearing the table outside, while Youniang curled up beside Yang Shouwen, looking up at him with her big, watery eyes, her face showing confusion, "Master loves Second Young Master the most. If he knows Brother Nizi beat him, won't he blame Brother Nizi? With Grandfather gone, no one will protect Brother Nizi. What will happen then?"

Yang Shouwen smiled and patted Youniang's little head.

He leaned against a pillar, one foot dangling, looking up at the dark sky.

A dark cloud drifted from the horizon, quickly approaching Hu Valley Mountain. Yang Shouwen said softly, "With Grandfather gone, there's still Youniang. If Master blames me, Youniang will protect Brother Nizi, right?"

"Of course, Youniang will."

Youniang nodded vigorously, answering seriously.

A warm feeling flashed in Yang Shouwen's eyes as he hugged Youniang, "Youniang protects me, and I will protect Youniang."

Youniang's face lit up with a bright smile.

Heaven had thrown him into the first year of the Shengli era, living a dazed life for seventeen years, and then a bolt of lightning woke him up. Such a fantastical event happening to Yang Shouwen left him feeling inexplicably confused.

Logically, with such a fantastical experience, he must have a great mission.

But Yang Shouwen didn't want to bear any mission. Being reborn once was already a great satisfaction for him. In his previous life, he was bedridden, spending his days with books or staring at a computer screen. Now, he could run freely and feel the warmth of his family... This was enough for him.

He just wanted to live happily, carefree, and without any worries.

Sometimes, he thought those seventeen dazed years were a kind of happiness, at least those seventeen years were happy.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the courtyard in a ghastly white.

Thunder roared, and heavy rain poured down.

Rainwater flowed down the eaves, quickly forming a curtain of water.

This rain looked heavy!

He quickly called Lady Yang to take Youniang back to bed. He returned to his bedroom, sat on the bed, and spread a sheet of white paper on the desk, using a charcoal pen to write quickly under the oil lamp.

The charcoal pen was the first item he made after regaining consciousness.

Yang Shouwen was also skilled with a brush pen, but he found it troublesome. It was good for showing off, but for daily use... Even after being reborn for seventeen years, adapting completely was not easy. The charcoal pen was more convenient.

That night, lightning and thunder raged outside.

Yang Shouwen, however, was inspired and didn't stop writing until around the second watch, feeling quite tired as he fell asleep on the bed.

The thunderstorm ceased at dawn.

This heavy rain was astonishing, causing the streams in Hu Valley Mountain to swell and even washing away the mountain paths.

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