Chapter 56

"Uh..."

"In fact, what I mean is, you don't have to take it so seriously.

Ryō, you are very smart, and you shouldn't doubt that. However, you have been pampered since childhood, both by your father and mother, who have always held you in high regard. Therefore, you can't see the ugliness hidden in the shadows. Now, you suddenly have to face these ugly things, and you find it hard to accept, even to the point of self-doubt.

Ha, in my opinion... there's no need to."

Bodhi jumped down from the porch and ran to Yang Shouwen's side, lying down next to him.

Yang Shouwen buried his hand in Bodhi's thick fur, feeling the warmth emanating from Bodhi's body.

"Ge Jiajun grew up in the old military inn and has seen too many ugly things.

If you approach him with your ideals and try to interact with him, he definitely won't agree with you and might even look down on you. In fact, why should you sincerely engage with such people? Show your strength, let him know you are better than him, and he will naturally bow to you. Once he bows to you, then you can win him over. This is called 'giving a sweet date after a beating.'

To deal with such stubborn people, you must be like taming an eagle. Only after he submits to you can you start to win him over."

"Oh!"

Yang Rui listened and seemed to understand.

Yang Shouwen continued, "As for the matters in the yamen, you need to learn to be patient.

Let me tell you a story... Once, there were two constables, both full of righteous zeal and a hatred for evil. One day, they discovered a case, and behind that case, there was a hidden mastermind. One of them, driven by his sense of justice, wanted to punish the evil. The other opposed his approach. As a result, the two eventually parted ways and even became enemies. The constable with the strong sense of justice risked his life to bring the mastermind to justice. But what was the result? He was exposed and ended up disabled.

The other constable, however, played along, dealing with the other side while secretly gathering evidence. After about ten years, he had enough evidence and was in a high position. Then he struck a fatal blow... The mastermind was eliminated, and he became a hero, got a promotion, a raise, and even won the heart of a beautiful woman."

Yang Shouwen was telling his own story.

Yang Rui listened with great interest and couldn't help but ask, "What about the disabled constable?"

Yang Shouwen smiled wryly and shook his head. "That fool lay on his sickbed for ten years, his beloved girlfriend left him, and his family was bankrupted by his medical expenses. But after ten years, no one remembered his efforts. Even if they did, it was only to mock him... Ryō, what would you do if you were in his shoes?"

"I..."

Yang Shouwen rubbed his face, patted Bodhi, and stood up.

"Think about it carefully, don't always be so idealistic... As for what to choose, that's up to you.

Think about your mother, think about Qingnu, think about your father.

You are a smart person, I believe you will figure it out. If you can't, then you might as well die."

With that, Yang Shouwen left with Bodhi.

"Youniang, do you need my help?"

"Sizi is so stupid, the more you help, the more trouble you cause."

"Who said that? I'm very capable... Come, let me wring out your clothes."

Before he finished speaking, there was a tearing sound as Yang Shouwen, using too much force, ripped the clothes Youniang had just washed.

"Sizi, I told you not to help, don't cause trouble... Go away, quickly go away!"

Youniang roared in anger, and Yang Shouwen left the well with Bodhi, looking embarrassed.

Seeing his brother, who had been in a daze for seventeen years, acting so silly, Yang Rui couldn't help but sit on the ground and laugh.

Elder Brother is right, if I still can't figure it out, I might as well bash my head in!

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

The next day, before dawn, Yang Shouwen pulled Yang Molili out of bed.

Yang Molili, who was extremely grumpy in the morning, finally gave in to Yang Shouwen's tyranny after her nose and face were bruised, and lay on the ground pretending to be a toad.

"Yang Molili, the toad; ribbit, ribbit, jumping non-stop..."

Youniang stood in a horse stance on the square, practicing under Yang Shouwen's guidance while mocking Yang Molili.

"Alang, why can Youniang stand, but Yang Molili has to lie down?"

Yang Molili cried out in委屈, "I don't want to be a toad."

But who cared?

"Youniang, follow me, punch, inhale; retract, exhale... It's as if you are clamping a sheep between your legs... Yes, just like that. Maintain your breathing, punch, retract. Don't move too fast, slowly, feel the sheep struggling."

Yang Shouwen taught Youniang what he had read in a book in his previous life.

Combining the Golden Toad Guiding Technique and the Eight Postures of the Vajra, he created his own set of exercises.

Youniang followed Yang Shouwen, practicing slowly.

When the sun rose, Youniang's little face was flushed, and her forehead was covered in sweat, but she was very spirited.

"Big Brother, what are you doing?"

"Teaching Youniang to practice boxing."

"I want to practice too!"

Qingnu, who had recovered after two days of rest, ran out as soon as it was light.

Completely ignoring Yang Molili, who was practicing the Golden Toad Guiding Technique on the ground, Qingnu ran to Yang Shouwen's side, standing next to Youniang and mimicking her movements.

Yang Chenglie and Song Shi came out of the meditation room and saw the lively scene on the square, both smiling.

"Since Sizi woke up, the house has become more lively."

"Yes, last night Ryō even came to apologize to me, this child is becoming more sensible."

Yang Chenglie looked at Yang Shouwen, who was teaching the two little girls in the sunlight, and his eyes filled with satisfaction.

He walked over and called Yang Shouwen over.

"Today, you and Molili go down the mountain and bring two more jars of wine.

Also, buy some snacks to go with the wine. Tomorrow, we will have guests, and we don't want to run out."

Yang Shouwen looked at Yang Chenglie with wide eyes, "Father, how many old friends are coming?"

"Just one."

"There are five jars of wine on the mountain."

"Uh, I already drank one jar last night... I plan to drink two more today, so the remaining two jars won't be enough for tomorrow."

You just want to drink yourself, don't you!

Yang Shouwen rolled his eyes, looking helpless.

Father spoke with a righteous tone, as if he was thinking of the guests.

"Alright, I'll go down the mountain with Molili later."

Yang Shouwen said and left. But after a few steps, he stopped and turned to Yang Chenglie, asking curiously, "Father, aren't you on duty at the yamen today?"

"What duty? Am I going to be tricked again?

I already reported to the county magistrate yesterday that I was unwell and needed two days of rest. Let him and Lu Yongcheng fight it out for two days. Once he realizes my value, he will change his attitude. I can also use these two days to relax."

Value?

Father, you really know how to use words!

Thought crime, Amitabha... Yang Shouwen smiled and shook his head, then left.

Yang Chenglie stood there, looking puzzled, and turned to Song Shi, "Wife, what did Sizi mean?"

"Huh?"

"Why did he shake his head after talking to me? Did I say something wrong? What does his attitude mean?"

Song Shi looked puzzled, glancing at Yang Chenglie and then at Yang Shouwen.

Finally, she spat, "Are all the men in the Yang family crazy? First Sizi, then Ryō yesterday, and now you. Sizi just shook his head, and you are overthinking it. Don't you feel tired, Alang?"

With that, Song Shi walked away.

"Overthinking?"

Yang Chenglie stood there for a while, then shook his head and muttered, "Maybe I am overthinking... But why did Sizi's smile just now seem so strange, giving me a bad feeling?"

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

Let's not talk about Yang Chenglie's overthinking on the mountain.

Yang Shouwen finished practicing with Youniang and the others, then dragged Yang Molili down the mountain.

He had other things to do this time.

At the foot of the mountain, he first went to Tian Cunzheng's house to check on the horse he had left there, then went to Old Hu's house.

He took out a drawing and placed it in front of Old Hu.

"Old Hu, make twenty of these according to this design and size."

"What is this?"

Old Hu looked at the horseshoe on the drawing, looking puzzled.

Yang Shouwen said, "Why so many questions? Can you make it or not? If not, I'll find someone else in the city."

"Are you kidding? If I can't make this little thing, how can I be the best craftsman in the valley below Tiger Mountain?"

Old Hu was furious.

Without a word, he snatched the drawing, "Thirty coins each, five hundred coins for twenty. Come back in three days to pick them up."

Old Hu's craftsmanship was good, but he was sometimes too talkative.

Yang Shouwen smiled as he left Old Hu's house, planning to buy some wine and snacks at the village store, but then he heard someone shouting, "Young man, please wait."

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