Chapter 84 of 100

Chapter 84

15 min read3,831 words

Cheng Yuanyue approached Mr. Wangzhai with a deep bow, showing the utmost respect. Although Cheng Yuanyue was not originally a disciple of the elder, he respected him as if he were one.

Mr. Wangzhai almost thought he had encountered a disciple and was about to speak. His son, Xu Di, who had already heard the steward's introduction, quickly said, "Father, this is Mr. Cheng from Cheng's Silk Shop in the city. He is also a friend in business to your son."

Xu Di, Mr. Wangzhai's son, was not fond of reading and had no interest in pursuing a career in the imperial examinations, but he was very enthusiastic about business. Through the connections of his father's disciples, he had done some business and was already a well-known merchant in the provincial capital. Compared to Mr. Cheng, they were not on the same level.

Although Mr. Cheng was not his disciple and he had heard that he was a merchant, Mr. Wangzhai did not show any disrespect. He returned the bow and said with a smile, "Pleased to meet you, pleased to meet you."

Knowing the identity of the other party, Cheng Yuanyue was very pleased and said to his son, "Why don't you come forward and pay your respects to Mr. Wangzhai? It is a great honor to meet such a great scholar."

Cheng's son responded, somewhat uneasy, and took a few steps forward, about to kneel and kowtow, but he noticed that the other party's gaze was not on him at all.

Mr. Wangzhai, leaning on his cane, took a few steps forward, bypassed Cheng's son, and said sincerely, "Could this young friend be Mr. Yan Chao?"

Cheng's son pulled at the hem of his robe to avoid the awkwardness of being seen kneeling and kowtowing, but he saw Mr. Wangzhai warmly speaking to Lin Yan Chao, and he couldn't help but wonder what was going on.

Lin Yan Chao, upon hearing Mr. Cheng mention Mr. Wangzhai, knew who the visitor was. He bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, venerable sir. I should have come to your residence to pay my respects, but I didn't expect you to come here."

"Not at all, I couldn't wait to meet you," Mr. Wangzhai said with a radiant smile.

"It is a great honor for my humble abode to have you two visit. However, I have never met either of you before," Lin Gaozhu said, knowing that the visitors were extraordinary, but he never imagined he would know such a person. Normally, he dealt with clerks, subordinates, or fishermen, and he had never interacted with such cultured people.

Seeing Mr. Wangzhai speaking to Lin Yan Chao, Lin Gaozhu wondered how Yan Chao could have such influence to invite such a person.

Mr. Wangzhai smiled and said, "Please forgive me, sir, for not informing you in advance and for being an uninvited guest. I am known as Mr. Wangzhai, and I live in the southern part of the city. I am a simple teacher by profession."

Mr. Wangzhai did not want to hold himself in high regard and was being modest.

Lin Gaozhu and the others were still confused. Lin Gaozhu could only say, "I have heard of you, I have heard of you."

Xu Di smiled and said, "My father has been teaching for thirty years and is rightly called a famous scholar. I am his eldest son. This visit to your residence is to celebrate the New Year and to thank Mr. Yan Chao for saving my son's life."

Everyone was enlightened. Mr. Cheng and his son looked at Lin Yan Chao, thinking, "So that's how it is. This young man must have had such good luck to save Mr. Wangzhai's grandson."

Understanding the reason, Lin Gaozhu was very pleased and invited them into the house, no, into the Lin residence, to sit down.

As soon as Xu Di sat down, he said to Lin Yan Chao, "Your young talent is truly remarkable. Since the former Minister of War, another virtuous man has emerged in Hongtang Village."

Mr. Cheng's son felt uncomfortable, thinking that a poor scholar did not deserve to be called a virtuous man.

After a few more jokes, Xu Di ordered his servant to bring a tray of silver and said, "I am a businessman and only know about money, so I may seem a bit vulgar, but the gift is sincere. Here is one hundred taels of silver as a token of gratitude, though it is not much."

One hundred taels of silver!

The Lin family almost couldn't close their mouths. Mr. Cheng and his son almost covered their faces with their sleeves, thinking, "What is this? I boasted about bringing fifty taels of silver to the Lin family, but now the Xu family casually gives one hundred taels."

Mr. Cheng's son wished he could slap himself.

Lin Gaozhu hurriedly refused, "How can I accept this?"

Mr. Wangzhai said, "If it weren't for Mr. Yan Chao saving my grandson, he would have been dead. My family has a single line of descendants, and Mr. Yan Chao has done us a great favor. The gift may seem vulgar, but we ordinary people can only offer such things. You wouldn't look at anything else."

Seeing the sincerity of the Xu family, the Lin family felt embarrassed to accept the gift.

After the Lin family accepted the gift, everyone began to chat and laugh. Lin Gaozhu warmly invited them to stay for dinner and hired a famous chef from the village to cook.

Mr. Cheng and his son were in a dilemma, not knowing whether to leave or stay. When they heard Lin Gaozhu also invite them, they felt their faces were about to be lost.

At the banquet, the Lin family was radiant and proud. Mr. Wangzhai and Lin Gaozhu sat as the main guests, and the others followed in order.

Mr. Cheng and his son ate in silence, not because they were neglected. Xu Di, being a man of the world, occasionally chatted with them, making them feel neither neglected nor overly favored. However, this respect was entirely due to the Lin family, not because of Mr. Cheng's position as a silk shop owner.

Especially when Xu Di asked about the relationship between Mr. Cheng and the Lin family, and Lin Yan Chao truthfully said he was his future father-in-law, Xu Di became even more friendly and introduced a profitable business to Mr. Cheng's silk shop, which far exceeded the value of fifty taels of silver.

This made Mr. Cheng and his son even more ashamed to face Lin Yan Chao.

Mr. Wangzhai was in high spirits, frequently toasting with Lin Gaozhu and asking Lin Yan Chao about his studies. When he learned that Lin Yan Chao had chosen the Book of Documents as his main text, he was very pleased. He was one of the top scholars in the region on the Book of Documents and tested Lin Yan Chao on the spot.

The test was not difficult, mostly to gauge Lin Yan Chao's foundation. Lin Yan Chao answered each question.

Mr. Wangzhai praised him, "Your foundation in the classics is very solid. I had intended to teach you the Book of Documents, but I would have been laughed at for my arrogance."

Lin Yan Chao smiled and said, "Mr. Wangzhai has great breadth of mind. If you had asked deeper questions, a narrow-minded person might have insisted on proving superiority, and my knowledge would not have been enough."

Everyone laughed, and Mr. Wangzhai said, "Scholarship is high or low, not determined by debate. You know how well you have studied, just like drinking water, you know whether it is warm or cold."

Lin Yan Chao said, "I have learned a lot from you."

Mr. Wangzhai stroked his beard and smiled at Lin Gaozhu, "Your grandson is not ordinary. His future is beyond my prediction."

Hearing such praise from a great scholar, Mr. Cheng and his son were shocked. They knew Mr. Wangzhai's character—rigorous in his studies and never exaggerating, which earned him the respect of scholars. Lin Qianqian, listening from inside, felt a sweet pride, as a wife.

Mr. Cheng's son couldn't help but say, "Mr. Xu, you are too kind. My... future brother-in-law is not as great as you say."

Xu Di, thinking Mr. Cheng's son was being modest, said, "Mr. Yan Chao's talent is not just that. When my son was in a hopeless case, I had appealed to the governor and the three departments, but they all said it was too complicated and could not be resolved. If they forced a judgment, it would have caused a scandal among scholars."

"I thought my grandson was doomed, but Mr. Yan Chao's words, 'Can Yan be attacked?' left everyone speechless. I never thought reading could be so useful. I can only admire him."

This left Mr. Cheng and his son speechless, and even the Lin family looked at Lin Yan Chao differently.

Halfway through the banquet, the Xu family left. Mr. Cheng slowly poured a cup of wine and said to Lin Yan Chao, "Nephew, I was shortsighted and didn't recognize your talent. I apologize for my narrow-mindedness."

Mr. Cheng drank the wine in one gulp. His son, Mr. Cheng's son, looked unhappy, thinking his father was bowing to a young man.

My future father-in-law is not simple.

Lin Yan Chao raised his cup and said, "Uncle, you are too kind. We will be family soon. There is no need for apologies. I cannot promise great wealth or status, but I will never let Qianqian down. I will drink this cup to show my sincerity."

Lin Yan Chao drank the wine in one gulp. Mr. Cheng looked at his daughter sitting next to Lin Yan Chao and nodded slowly. Mr. Cheng's son, lacking his father's grace, was reluctant to lose face but, under his father's gaze, had to bow and offer a toast to Lin Yan Chao.

The banquet was a joyful occasion, and Mr. Cheng no longer felt comfortable asking Lin Gaozhu to let Qianqian return home.

As they were about to leave, Mr. Cheng took out a jade bracelet from his sleeve and gave it to Lin Qianqian, saying, "This bracelet was made for you by your mother. It was meant for your wedding day. It was made to your size, but it turned out to be a bit large."

Lin Qianqian put on the bracelet and nodded, "Father, I was just missing a bracelet. I will wear it when I grow a bit more."

"Yes. When a daughter grows up, she will leave home. I have nothing else to say. Remember to visit with Yan Chao next year."

"Okay," Lin Yan Chao and Lin Qianqian said together.

Mr. Cheng and his son got into the carriage, and the driver flicked the reins, driving away. Lin Yan Chao and Lin Qianqian watched them go.

Suddenly, Lin Qianqian ran out from beside Lin Yan Chao, knelt on the dirt road, and shouted, "Father, I am unfilial!"

Tears streamed down Lin Qianqian's face.

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