Chapter 1080: Chapter 903, Attracting Attention
Wang Qi and others brought Wang Lifu out of the pharmacy and then followed Zhang Da to his residence.
Along the way, Zhang Da repeatedly hesitated to speak to his ntor.
Noticing this, Wang Qi did not respond and only whispered inquiries about Wang Lifu’s affairs at the pharmacy.
Only after entering Zhang Family’s house and sitting down for a cup of hot tea did Wang Qi smile at Zhang Da: “Do you have sothing to tell your teacher?”
Seeing that Wang Qi finally asked him, Zhang Da hurriedly said, “Teacher, I know you are of noble character and do not seek to cling to the powerful, but today’s chance to et Madam Xiao is truly rare.”
“I personally think that we should not have left after just a couple of words. Teacher, with your profound knowledge, you should have taken the opportunity to show it. If Madam Xiao knew, she would definitely ntion it to Sir Xiao,”
Wang Qi shook his head: “I understand what you an, but Madam Xiao is a lady after all, and it is not appropriate for us n to stay for too long. As for eting Sir Xiao, there is no rush yet.”
Zhang Da quickly asked, “Isn’t Teacher here in Ganzhou City to erge from retirent?”
Wang Qi laughed: “That is in my plans, but there’s no hurry,” adding after a pause, “This ti, I will be staying in Ganzhou City for a while, and I am afraid I will be imposing on you during this period.”
Zhang Da imdiately stood up: “Teacher frets too much, it is my utmost wish for you to be here.”
In this way, Wang Qi stayed in Ganzhou City with a few family mbers.
…
“Miss, the painting you wanted has been bought.”
Bi Shi laid out the painting she had just purchased from the street on the desk.
Daohua carefully examined the painting, which depicted a realistic streetscape of Ganzhou City. Now, at the end of the year, the festive atmosphere was thick on the streets, and the artist captured this mood vividly.
“It indeed shows true talent and learning!”
At this mont, Xiao Yeyang ca in from outside, took off his cloak, ward himself at the charcoal basin, and then approached Daohua: “What are you so engrossed in? I ca back and you didn’t even notice.”
Daohua, seeing Xiao Yeyang, imdiately bead with joy: “The new year is just a few days away, and you finally ca back. I was wondering if I should prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner and send it to your camp.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled and pulled her to sit down: “How could I not co back to spend the new year with you and Uncle?”
Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang: “Wasn’t it said that you were just going to inspect the Jinwei Guard and return? How co it took so long?”
Upon ntioning this, Xiao Yeyang beca sowhat agitated: “It’s all because the Border Army of the Jinwei Guard is too incompetent. When I went there, I happened to encounter a group of Xiliao people crossing the border to snatch wealth.”
“The Border Army, despite outnumbering the Xiliao people by several tis, did not stand to confront but retreated continuously, leaving the common folk at the rcy of the Xiliao marauders.”
“To rectify the military discipline of the Jinwei Guard, I ended up delaying there for over half a month.”
Hearing this, Daohua frowned, “Given that, it’s not surprising that the Xiliao dare to raid towns and villages.”
Xiao Yeyang rubbed his temples: “Zhu Jianzhong of the Jinwei Guard is still a competent Commander, he didn’t embezzle the army’s provisions, unlike so other Commanders who even skimd off the military supplies, leading to even more issues with their Border Army.”
Daohua stood up to massage his temple, indignantly saying, “I see, the Commandant Office of Xiliang is simply useless, practically just a decorative figure.”
Xiao Yeyang snorted and sneered: “Decorative figure? You underestimate the local tyrant here; they are busy wielding their power.” He sighed, “It’s also because the Imperial Court has not paid attention to this place in recent years, leading to many problems here.”
Daohua: “Luckily you ca; otherwise, allowing Xiliang to continue like this, once the Xiliao attack, Xiliang might easily change hands. You must submit a morial when you return, and let the Emperor know how arduous your work is here.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled, pulling Daohua in front of him, and hugged her on his lap again: “I’m glad you are with , or I would be fighting alone here.”
Saying that, he tried to get affectionate with Daohua.
Daohua pushed him away, “It’s broad daylight, and people are coming and going. It wouldn’t look good if soone saw this. Be careful.”
Xiao Yeyang held Daohua’s cheeks and kissed her fiercely, then smiled: “Alright, let’s not talk about unpleasant things. What were you looking at just now?” He then turned his gaze to the painting on the desk.
Daohua quickly said, “Take a look at this painting, see what you think?”
Xiao Yeyang scrutinized it carefully, nodding, “Not bad, the artist has a high level of painting skill.” He looked at the written characters on the painting, “The calligraphy is bold and energetic, fully revealing its character.”
Talking, she hissed in surprise.
Just now, he had been focused on the painting skills and didn’t observe the scene depicted.
“Is this painting of the main street in Ganzhou City?”
Daohua nodded with a smiling face.
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua: “Who painted this? Does Ganzhou City have such a talented person?”
Daohua laughed and said: “Do you rember when we first ca to Xiliang, we were robbed by a group of bandits?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded.
Daohua: “This painting was done by the teacher of those bandits.”
Xiao Yeyang raised his eyebrows: “Bandits have a teacher?”
Daohua smiled and told Xiao Yeyang about their encounter with the Wang Clan mbers: “That gentleman was genteel and well-mannered, he seed to possess a great family’s deanor, so I paid so attention.”
“He set up a stall on the street selling calligraphy and paintings, and I had soone buy so. By the way, that gentleman is also Zhang Da’s ntor.”
Xiao Yeyang pondered for a mont: “Zhang Da? I rember him, he’s a practical man. He managed the coal mines very well, and his master…”
Daohua: “I bought quite a few of that gentleman’s paintings. You can take a look later. You are short of hands, right? If he really has genuine talents, you can employ him.”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at the painting and beca curiously intrigued by Wang Qi, who insisted on educating children in his clan in reading and rationality: “I will have soone inquire about it.”
Seeing that Xiao Yeyang had noted this down, Daohua did not continue to dwell on it: “The master is resting at ho today, let’s go and talk with him.”
In the following days, Daohua was busy with New Year’s preparations and did not continue to pay attention to Wang Qi until after the fifth day of the New Year.
“What? Wang Qi left Ganzhou City?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, rembering the information he gathered, and smiled: “It turns out, Wang Qi is quite a figure in this Xiliang.”
Daohua eagerly sat next to Xiao Yeyang: “What all did you find out?”
Xiao Yeyang smiled: “The Wang Clan has a rival who has been suppressing them for decades, do you know who it is?”
Daohua shook her head: “Don’t keep in suspense.”
Xiao Yeyang: “It’s the Wei Family.”
Daohua: “The Wei Family where the Commander resides?”
Xiao Yeyang ‘hmd’ in affirmation.
Daohua looked surprised: “The Wei Family can be said to be the top aristocratic family in Xiliang, to be suppressed by the Wei Family, it seems that the Wang Clan is no ordinary family.”
Xiao Yeyang said: “Several decades up the line, the Wang Family could be considered on par with the Wei Family as a major clan. The Wei Family’s prestige cos from producing several Commanders, while the Wang Family’s prestige cos from passing on teachings and cultivating a large number of scholars.”
Hearing this, Daohua gasped in astonishnt: “It’s hard to imagine, the people who robbed us back then ca from a family that cultivated scholars.”
Xiao Yeyang: “The decay and downfall of the Wang Clan has been significantly aided by the Wei Family. Thankfully, every generation of the Wang Clan had one or two capable people that enabled the Wang Clan to survive through the Wei Family’s oppression.”
“That Wang Qi, he’s the current spokesperson of the Wang Clan. Although he is not the Clan Leader, the Clan Leader has to listen to him.”
Daohua: “Hearing you say this, Wang Qi seems quite capable. Can he be of use to you?”
Xiao Yeyang grinned: “Wang Qi bears the Wang Clan’s mission. Previously, he ca to Ganzhou City, making a big show to find his student and selling calligraphy and paintings on the street, what do you think was his purpose?”
Daohua: “He wanted to catch my attention?”
Xiao Yeyang laughed: “Catching your attention is like catching mine.”
Daohua: “So, his leaving with his clan mbers, does he want you to personally invite him out of retirent?”
Xiao Yeyang: “If Wang Qi really is as formidable as rumored, I wouldn’t mind making the trip personally.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)