The clouds brought some shade to the city of Hangzhou on the ground. Amidst the faint sounds of firecrackers and gongs that came from far and near, Xiao Chan hugged the wooden bucket and ran into the shade of the tree. She hung the washed clothes on the rope that was placed across the courtyard. The young girl was at the most fresh and lively age. Even though she wore a patched gray skirt, the skirt occasionally fluttered in the breeze, showing off her slender and graceful figure. She smiled as she hung the clothes, chatting with a young man who was reading a book under the eaves.
That was her son-in-law. Of course, he was also her man now.
"It's so lively … son-in-law, do you think he'll be able to choose that martial arts master today?"
What she was talking about was the "Greenwood Conference" that had caused an uproar in the city these days. It was said that many people with special talents had shown their skills at the conference. Several generals with strong martial arts skills in the city, as well as the Holy Duke Fang La, had participated in the conference. Nowadays, the people outside talked about these things enthusiastically every day. It was even more interesting to talk about the powerful martial arts displayed by some people than the poetry conferences of the scholars.
Of course, it wasn't that there weren't any poetry gatherings and literary gatherings in the city these few days. Many literary societies had already made their moves in the past few days, and there were a few good poems circulating. There were also some articles that criticized the evils of society. A group of scholars who had not been chosen before naturally hoped to obtain an official position before the new dynasty was officially formed.
These poetry conferences and literary conferences were also attended by the teachers of the Martyr Wenren Academy, and their positions were not low. But naturally, Ning Yi did not go — the Tyrant's Saber Camp did not restrict him. But first, Ning Yi did not have a good reputation in the literary world of Hangzhou. Second, his identity in the Martyr Wenren Academy was complicated. No one dared to provoke him, but he did not have an official identity. Even if there was a discussion, it was only within the academy. So, his name did not spread out in the end. Taking a step back, even if someone invited him, he couldn't be involved in such boring things at this time. His poetry talent was fake anyway, so he should avoid it.
At that moment, when he heard Xiaochan mention the event, Ning Yi quirked his eyebrows a little. "It's the vice alliance master of the martial arts world, not a martial artist. But I didn't even invite your son-in-law, who is known as the Bloody Hand Butcher. How can it be considered a martial arts tournament? It's just a group of farmers entertaining themselves."
Ning Yi usually jokes, and his tone is always half bored and half teasing. Xiaochan laughs when she hears it. She grabs the back of the clothes on the rope and says, "Then you should go. Didn't Brother Chang say that you can go?"
Ning Yi held the book and smiled. "But he also said that it was a gathering of farmers. If Ah Chang and Ah Ming are too lazy to go, wouldn't I be lowering my status if I went? Isn't it better to ask me to be the Alliance Leader? "
"Oh, but I heard in the clinic that someone can breathe fire …" Xiaochan said with a little regret. "And someone who can do a hundred somersaults …"
Ning Yi doesn't comment on her idea that acrobatic masters are martial artists. Of course, the girl is not a fool. She is just chattering to join in the fun. After hanging the clothes, she puts the wooden basin back in the room and sits down beside Ning Yi. She starts fanning herself with the cattail leaf fan. When Ning Yi is reading, she also reads and occasionally talks with Ning Yi. After a while, she lowers her voice and says, "Son-In-Law, I heard that you talked about Mr. Qian in the academy?"
Since he went to see Qian Xiwen, the environment around Ning Yi has become a lot more relaxed. Maybe it didn't start with the visit to Mr. Qian, but after he talked to the young man on the roof that day, the people of the Tyrant's Blade Camp sent more clothes and daily necessities to him. Therefore, the world of the two of them has basically become smoother. However, what Ning Yi said about Qian Xiwen in class has caused repercussions in the academy. Now, most people think that Ning Yi has suicidal tendencies. Of course, Xiaochan knows about it and asks about it at this time. Of course, she also knows that her son-in-law's mood has been affected on that day.
Ning Yi looks at her and nods. He flips through the book and says softly, "It's okay. You know that we have done a lot in Huzhou. If someone wants to protect your son-in-law, they are either stupid or think that your son-in-law is useful — very useful. That Liu Dabiao … is an unconventional lunatic. It's not good to be too conservative, and it's not good to just rely on being handsome … I have to do something appropriate to get him to like me. Moreover, I really want to do something for Mr. Qian. I don't want his and his family's bones to be buried in the mass grave and not be able to be found in the future … "
Xiaochan nodded. In fact, although she seems to be cheerful recently, she is actually quite sensitive and worried about this and that. Therefore, as long as there is something that can be said, Ning Yi doesn't avoid talking about it. He will always talk about it with her. Speaking of that old man, the girl is slightly silent while fanning herself. After a while, she looks at Ning Yi and then says, "So, son-in-law, when you tell those children about this, do you want … do you really want to teach them well?"
"Why not?" Ning Yi glances at her with a smile.
"But … they are after all, after all …"
"Xiaochan, do you think … I am on the side of the imperial court?"
"Uh." Xiaochan probably didn't think about these things before. Now that she is asked, she is startled. She still regards Fang La's army as a rebel army. After thinking for a while, she stutters, "But, but … isn't the old man of the Qian family … isn't he …"
"I respect Qian Xiwen because the old man has his own path, and he carries it out very well. It has nothing to do with which side he stands on. If I stand on the side of the imperial court, do I have to stand with those corrupt civil officials and those cowardly military officials? Those bullies, hooligans, and people that I think are hopeless. No matter which side I stand on, I hope they die. Xiaochan, I don't stand on either side. People like Mr. Qian make me feel that he should live. As for the others, other than you and your young miss, even if they all die, I don't care. "
Ning Yi smiled, "Since I am a teacher here, I will do my duty as a teacher and teach them good things. Because they are only students, if they learn something, I will also be very happy. This world has become a little more interesting. Xiaochan, just like those officials when we escaped, I feel that it is a waste to let them occupy a place in my mind. They are cockroaches. If I see them, I will trample them to death. If not, I will pretend that I did not see them. In any case, they are everywhere. "
He shrugs, "In any case, I do not hate them, nor do I like them."
After saying this, he feels that his words are a little cold. However, when he looks at Xiaochan, he sees that she is holding her chin and nodding. It is obvious that he is not being perfunctory. In fact, Xiaochan's thoughts are more or less the same. She is a little servant girl. The world she lives in is nothing more than that little courtyard, her sisters in that courtyard, her son-in-law, and her young miss. In the future, she may even have children with her son-in-law. The things outside of the courtyard do not have much meaning to her. Of course, she is not as open-minded as her son-in-law. She still holds a grudge against those bad officials who betrayed her son-in-law. She feels that it is better for them to die.
In the afternoon of autumn, the atmosphere became a little leisurely as they chatted. The weather turned cold, and the wind was light and the clouds were light. On such days, with the celebration of the outside world, the various battles that happened around Hangzhou also seemed a little distant. Even though wounded soldiers were occasionally sent over, if he stayed in the academy, he would only give lectures, watch a group of Confucian scholars drink tea, and quietly discuss academic issues that are no different from domestic trifles. Sometimes, he would discuss the recent lively events that happened in Hangzhou. It really is like a peaceful and prosperous era of song and dance.
Ning Yi knows that he still has a hurdle to pass. No matter how leisurely he is now, there will always be someone who will come and make arrangements for him. Under low eaves, people can only do this. But this hurdle came a little abruptly, and he actually passed it a little strangely.
It was the morning of the third day after he chatted with Xiaochan. He finished teaching and was about to pack up his things to wait for the day's salary when Mountain Chief Feng Yongli came to find him. With a complicated expression, he told him that Liu Dabiao wanted to see him.
The area around Wenlie Academy is basically the territory of Liu Dabiao of the Tyrant's Blade Camp. Ning Yi now knows that the Tyrant's Blade Camp had participated in the battle in Jiaxing. It seems that they have finally returned. Ning Yi followed Feng Yongli out of the academy. On the road outside, he saw all kinds of flags fluttering. Most of them were broken or stained with blood. Groups of soldiers were probably disbanded nearby. At this time, they were returning home in twos and threes, shouting and pulling each other.
The house where Liu Dabiao lived was at the corner of the street. Perhaps because he had just arrived in the morning, it was very messy inside. Ning Yi entered through the door. There were also groups of soldiers running around. Some were arranging various items, while others were cleaning. After entering a few doors, Ning Yi was led into a relatively quiet courtyard. Two soldiers carrying sabers opened the front door for him. The room was filled with the smell of medicine. After he entered, the door closed behind him, and the surroundings immediately darkened.
The room in front of him was actually a little big. It was like the palace of an emperor on television — it was still small for the throne room. It belonged to the kind that didn't have the budget, so they rented a small hall. The area in front of Ning Yi was a little empty. Further ahead, there was a gauze curtain hanging. On the side of the gauze curtain, there was a window open. Light shone in, allowing Ning Yi to clearly see what was in front of him.
It was a large bed that looked like a dragon chair. It had a backrest and armrests, but there was no frame above. Because it was too big, it could only be called a bed. Only the outline of the bed could be seen through the gauze curtain. There were many strange things placed beside the bed. There was a table, books, various bamboo slips, a tripod, and an incense burner. There was incense burning in the incense burner, probably to dilute the smell of medicine. On the outline of the bed, there was a huge blade leaning against it. A figure was sitting there steadily. Because it was a black shadow, it looked very domineering with the huge blade. It was just that it was a little petite, which slightly diluted the murderous aura.
Beside the incense burner on the side of the bed, there was another figure that was probably a servant girl standing there, fiddling with something.
In the room, the three of them made the atmosphere quiet just like that.
At this time, Ning Yi was completely sure that the person sitting opposite him was indeed the girl named Liu Dabiao that he saw during the sneak attack on Peace Alley that day. After waiting like this for a long time, there was finally the first voice from the other side of the curtain.
"I am Liu Dabiao." Half of it was pretentious, and the other half was pretending to be a bandit. Although the words were rough, it was still a woman's voice. It became quite strange.
The voice was unpleasant … After a long time, he remembered that this was the first impression that Ning Yi had of this girl named Liu Dabiao.
*****
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