Chapter 366: The King of Northern Liang at the Next Table

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**Alone to Beimang**Fenghuo XihouChapter 153: The Northern Cool King at the Next Table

Autumn winds blew fiercely, and Green Ant Wine became increasingly popular. At the fork of two post roads outside the city, the willows were exceptionally thick, and under their shade was a clean tavern. The owner, a man in his fifties, saw his business steadily improving. He had his son and grandson, who were free during the slack farming season, come to help. Originally, this kind of work was more suitable for his daughter-in-law, as women were better at bargaining with customers. However, the old man, being simple-minded and thin-skinned despite running the business for over a decade, found it hard to haggle. A few years ago, his daughter-in-law had gotten into trouble, offending a group of rowdy military officers. The old man didn't dare let her suffer that ordeal again, and even now, the memory sent shivers down his spine. If not for a passerby who happened upon the tavern and, disgusted by those flashy, armored scions, intervened to help them out of chivalry, not only would they have lost money, but his daughter-in-law's reputation might have been ruined. To this day, the old man felt guilty and useless. Later, he heard that those young officers who joined the army through connections might have been part of the Northern Cool Crown Prince's personal guard. The old man resigned himself to fate but lamented the great general, a tiger father with a dog son. When he got drunk in private, he would curse the dog-eat-dog world, wishing that when the general passed away, the Crown Prince would never become the Northern Cool King. Everyone said General Chen Zhibao was invincible on the battlefield but benevolent towards soldiers and common folk. The old man, along with other old farmers his age in the neighborhood, also believed General Chen was unparalleled in war and would make an excellent Northern Cool King.

Today, the old man was in a good mood. He brought out his homemade Green Ant Wine, which he usually couldn't bear to drink himself. Green Ant Wine wasn't expensive; nobles and commoners alike could afford it, save for greedy black-hearted merchants who would water it down for profit. However, even authentic Green Ant Wine varied in quality. It was usually sold by weight or by the bowl. Though the old man was honest, he couldn't afford to sell his mellow aged wine at a loss just to attract customers. The main reason he brought it out today was that the old wealthy man sitting there, drinking from a bowl, was his family's benefactor. That year, if not for this elder stopping those lawless officers, his daughter-in-law might have been dragged to the military camp by those scoundrels. This jar of Green Ant Wine today was on the house!

To the old man, the drinking Elder Xu didn't seem like a particularly rich gentry or merchant. He was dark and thin, likely earning a hard living, but he was dressed well—in what looked like silk and satin, which made him appear comfortable.

The old man finished serving a table of customers and finally found a moment to rest. He draped a damp cloth over his shoulder, sat down at the next table, and chuckled, “Elder Xu, why don't you call your nephew Yuan to have a bowl? I haven't seen you two in about two years. What's wrong? Are you afraid of drinking me out of business?”

A tall, imposing man stood at the edge of the shade. The old man remembered clearly that it was this man who had taught those little rascals a lesson. He later learned that he was Elder Xu's adopted son, surnamed Yuan. The old wine seller had been doing business here for many years and had seen countless children from wealthy families come and go, but none compared to this Young Master Yuan. Elder Xu had an adopted son whose character and appearance were truly commendable; good deeds always brought good fortune. However, unlike their few previous reunions, Elder Xu had brought two other people today: a young scholar and a well-behaved little girl. It was strange—Young Master Yuan wasn't sitting at the table drinking. Could the scholar be Elder Xu's biological son and the girl his biological granddaughter? They didn't resemble him. But the old man wasn't a gossip, so he didn't bring it up.

The wealthy old man waved his hand and chuckled, “He doesn't like to drink, and he's quite principled. Even if I personally urged him, he'd say overindulgence spoils affairs. He's always more articulate than me, so I can't win an argument with him. Elder Huang, let's just let him be.”

Old Man Huang nodded with a smile. “No worries, no worries. Not drinking is better than drinking, after all. Unlike Young Master Yuan, my boy isn't cut out for big things. He always sneaks a few sips when I'm not looking, but I'm too lazy to scold him. We're both old now; we've learned to be more open-minded.”

The old man surnamed Xu took a sip of Green Ant Wine, inhaled, chuckled, and said with an expression of great contentment, “My friend, you speak so frankly.”

The old man chuckled happily. “Frankly or not, it's all just talk. I don't understand any grand principles; I just live my life. My grandson started school to learn to read and write. I'm just waiting for the day he can replace the character for 'wine' on our signboard. It doesn't matter if it's pretty, as long as it's legible.”

The old man thought for a moment and said, “My son's handwriting is actually quite good. How about we use his for now, and then replace it when your grandson can write spring couplets?”

Old Man Huang paused, rubbed his hands, and said awkwardly, “That would be wonderful, but wouldn't it be too much trouble for you, my friend?”

The old man waved his hand, smiling contentedly. “It's no trouble. I'm just here today to wait for my son to come home. Once he finishes his drink, it's just a matter of writing it, isn't it? We just don't have ink and brush.”

Old Man Huang slapped his thigh. “If you don't have them, just go get them! The village isn't far, just two *li*. I'll send my grandson to fetch them; that little rascal is quick on his feet.”

A young child, who had only been attending private school for less than two years, had been happily squatting nearby, resting his chin on his hands and secretly peeking at the little girl sitting at the table, thinking she was truly beautiful. Hearing his grandfather praise his quick feet in front of everyone, he felt immensely proud and beamed with delight. Without needing a command from his grandfather, he stood up and zipped out of sight.

Old Man Huang generously accepted a bowl of wine from Elder Xu, took a small sip, and asked with a smile, “Is your son a scholar aiming for an official position?”

The old man shook his head. “He hasn't studied much, but for the past few years, I've pushed him to travel extensively. He's been away for long periods, hardly spending any days at home throughout the year. Sometimes, I regret it.”

The old man sighed. “Elder Xu, young people should go out and explore, gain more experience, otherwise they won't be able to support a family. A family business like yours must be considerable, unlike us who spend our lives on a small plot of land. So, Young Master Xu will definitely have to endure more hardships, which is a good thing.”

The scholar, who wasn't drinking much, smiled and looked up towards the end of the post road.

Old Man Huang had barely finished half a bowl of wine before he went to attend to other tables of customers. The tavern's business relied on a constant flow of customers and slim profits, so repeat customers were rare, and most faces were new. At one table sat scholars, whose voices were not loud, but they seemed to be spouting grand words about governing the nation, though Old Man Huang didn't understand any of it. At another table sat martial artists, mostly in rough, plain clothes, though one among them was relatively well-dressed and seemed wealthy. He spoke loudly with a foreign accent and was quite generous, ordering not only two jars of Green Ant Wine but also several catties of cooked beef. The various groups kept to themselves; the scholars engaged in high-minded discourse, oblivious to others.

The martial artists, however, glanced more frequently at the Young Master Yuan, who stood like a spear by the post road, and there was a hint of apprehension in their eyes. They knew their own capabilities; they were "crossing-the-river dragons" who had come to Northern Cool to make a living, hoping to open a security escort agency near Liangzhou or perhaps join a slightly larger gang. They had traveled a long way, leaving their homes in Liaodong, because they had been severely beaten by a "mad dog" also surnamed Yuan there. Their original gang had been annihilated by that young man and his troops. They certainly had skills, not like those self-proclaimed invincible fighters who only fought from one end of a village to the other, nor like the con-artist martial artists who invented some muddled routine and dared to call themselves grandmasters. They chose Northern Cool as their base because they knew the Northern Cool King had risen to prominence in Liaodong. Although Northern Cool was quite strict with martial arts circles, there was at least a historical connection. Besides, they were just a few small fish and shrimps, not committing any crimes against the state, hoping it wouldn't be too hard to earn a comfortable living. However, being unfamiliar with the place, they were extremely cautious, fearing they might encounter unreasonable local bullies. Young Master Yuan, whom they learned about from the tavern owner and the wealthy old man, greatly piqued their interest. The reason they spoke loudly, deliberately recounting heroic deeds from their travels, was precisely to see if they could catch the attention of the slightly limping wealthy old man. Securing a steady job as a guard or instructor was ideal, otherwise, they were running low on money and wouldn't have feigned wealth by ordering extra catties of beef. A single coin could stump a hero, so how could they dare to commit robbery by force within the territory of that 'Human Butcher'?

A scholar put down his wine bowl and tsk-tsked, “The Dragon Elephant Army ventured deep, showing the spirit of the Northern Cool Army, and the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry even fought all the way to the Northern Barbarian's Nanjing Prefecture. All true, but what did our Crown Prince have to do with it? I heard the Crown Prince was quite confident, apparently strategizing from a pleasure house in Liangzhou, thousands of miles away! Impressive, impressive!”

Another scholar, a classmate who had diligently studied the classics, shook his head, swaying, and chuckled, “It's the same thing! It's all about fighting on horseback. Isn't the Crown Prince's engagement with courtesans in a pleasure house also a form of mounted warfare? Yuanliang, your words are truly underestimating our hereditary Crown Prince!”

A scholar with a jade pendant at his waist sneered, “I'm waiting for this Crown Prince to 'ride' the Northern Mang Empress. That would be real skill. If he does, I'll be the first to acknowledge him.”

The scholar who started this topic said sarcastically, “Isn't there quite a significant age difference?”

The scholar with the jade pendant retorted, “Hasn't the Crown Prince always been known for his disregard for taboos?”

The table of scholars, supposedly concerned about the nation and its people, burst into laughter.

From a distance, Young Master Yuan, standing quietly, narrowed his eyes. A dense, murderous aura instantly erupted from him.

At the next table, among the three, old and young, the grateful little girl looked indignant, her eyes brimming with tears. The aged wealthy man took a sip of wine and smiled. Chen Xiliang, the scholar from Jiangnan, also offered a faint smile.

Hide replies... [Forceful Comment]Reply to Wang Dana Little Baby: More comments are better.If you don't understand after reading, check the chapter title.Don't mind me, I'm just a small tag. The poster was too lazy to type fifteen characters, so they used me.6 more replies.

At another table, a martial artist in the most presentable, opulent attire heavily set down his wine bowl. Without directly pointing at anyone, he tsk-tsked and chuckled, “I heard that the Northern Cool Crown Prince went to Wu Emperor City and even climbed its city wall. Later, by the Guangling River, he followed the Old Sword God and fought all the way to the Guangling King. I admit, even with a hundred times my courage, I couldn't do that. As for some people, they probably wouldn't just fail; they'd be scared stiff. Don't tell me about having masters to protect him. At that level of conflict, it doesn't matter if you're a crown prince, a grandson, or a son. I simply don't believe a spoiled brat who only bullies women could make a sword immortal like Li Chungang willingly escort him for thousands of miles. Or make the second-ranked master of the Wu Emperor City allow him to walk onto and out of the city walls?”

A friend beside him tugged at his sleeve, shaking his head slightly, signaling his companion not to act impulsively.

The scholar with the jade pendant remained calm and slowly said, “Does a boor deserve to speak of great affairs of the world? Can a toad open its mouth to the sky and swallow the sun and moon? What grandiosity!”

In a verbal dispute, how could a martial artist contend with a scholar? The martial artist in brocade, likely an inherently hot-tempered boor, gripped a knife on the tabletop upon hearing such biting sarcasm but was immediately restrained by his companions at the table.

Chen Xiliang finally spoke with a slight smile, “A toad swallowing the sky and moon—that's ambition. Even if it sounds unpleasant, it merely means one has high aspirations. But a frog at the bottom of a well looking at the sky—that's being narrow-minded.”

A scholar glanced at the poorly dressed, pale-robed Confucian, sneering, “And what are you, exactly?”

Chen Xiliang replied calmly, “Let's not talk about me. Even if you've read a few classic texts, you're still nothing. If I were your father, I wouldn't have ridden your mother to conceive you. What's the point of your existence?”

The little girl covered her mouth and giggled, secretly giving Big Brother Chen a thumbs-up.

Chen Xiliang patted the little girl's head and ignored the scholars who were so enraged they almost burst.

The wealthy old man glanced at the martial artists from out of town, then called out to Old Man Huang and chuckled, “Bring two more jars of Green Ant Wine and an additional five catties of beef for these brave men. Put it on my tab. And Old Man Huang, don't you dare reduce the price for this order.”

The men at that table were not overly modest; they clasped their fists in thanks.

Dust flew along the post road.

The old man stood up, hands tucked into his sleeves. He quietly looked towards his son, who had traveled north, beheaded Xu Huainan, and then Fifth Hao.

Xu Fengnian dismounted. Yuan Zuozong, the White Bear, had a fleeting smile at the corner of his lips as he stepped forward to take the horse's reins.

Xu Fengnian smiled and thanked him, saying, “Later, let's have a bowl of wine with Second Brother Yuan.”

Yuan Zuozong nodded.

The old man rubbed the head of his second son, Huang Man'er, then walked towards the table with his eldest son, murmuring, “You've gotten a bit darker.”

Xu Fengnian hummed in affirmation.

After the father and son sat down, the little girl thoughtfully moved to Chen Xiliang's long bench. She greeted the elder brother who had once picked up her wish money and given her a large watermelon, then shyly called out, “Young Master Xu.” The latter reached out, pinched her nose, and chuckled, “You're much fairer than me now. In the future, countless handsome young masters will queue up to admire you.”

At the table, the old man sat alone on one bench. Chen Xiliang and the little girl shared another. Xu Fengnian and Xu Longxiang sat together. Xu Beizhi took the last bench. Yuan Zuozong stood and drank a bowl of wine, then returned to his original spot.

Xu Xiao asked with a smile, “Oh, by the way, I boasted to Old Man Huang, the tavern owner, that your handwriting is excellent. I was thinking of having you write the character for 'wine' to hang on his signboard to attract customers. Can you do it?”

Xu Fengnian finished a bowl of wine, wiped his mouth, and said, “Why wouldn't I be able to?”

The little boy quickly brought an ink brush, ink, and a small piece of carefully treasured satin from home. Xu Fengnian raised his arm and wrote the character in one stroke, but very slowly and meticulously.

Old Man Huang was naturally overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly. When Xu Fengnian returned the ink and brush, he stood up, smiling, saying, “No need, no need,” and jokingly added that his father must have often come here to trick him into drinks, so it was the least he could do.

After a moment of silence, Xu Xiao seemed to hesitate, about to speak but stopping.

Xu Fengnian lowered his head, drinking, his lips touching the rim of the bowl. He looked up slightly and said, “I already know.”

Xu Xiao nodded.

Xu Fengnian quietly asked, “Are the men and horses ready?”

Xu Xiao smiled.

Xu Fengnian tightly pursed his lips. “I won't enter the city for now; I'll go later.”

Xu Xiao sighed inwardly.

Xu Fengnian drank another bowl, then gently stood up.

Xu Xiao raised an arm towards Yuan Zuozong.

Xu Beizhi bowed deeply to the old man before taking his seat.

While seated and drinking, he and Chen Xiliang looked at each other almost simultaneously, their eyes meeting briefly before quickly looking away.

After mounting his horse, Xu Fengnian galloped away towards the northwest. Ahead were 800 White Horse Volunteers of the Phoenix Battalion, to intercept and kill Prince Zhao Kai!

Xu Xiao sat drinking. Old Man Huang then leaned closer, chuckling playfully, “Young Master Xu is truly handsome, not at all like you, Elder Xu.”

Xu Xiao gestured for Old Man Huang to sit down and laughed heartily, “It's better that he doesn't resemble me; if he did, finding a wife would be difficult! He resembles his mother—that's good fortune!”

The wine seller nodded in deep agreement.

Xu Xiao stood up to pay, finally managing to hand the money to the old man after much persuasion. Before leaving, he said, “Those people who caused trouble here back then were not from the Phoenix Battalion. I needed to tell you that, my friend.”

Old Man Huang chuckled, “It doesn't matter. We common folk can't afford to offend anyone; we just seek peace and safety.”

Xu Xiao quietly said, “I wonder if I'll ever have another chance to come here and drink with you.”

The old man eagerly said, “That's an unkind thing to say! My friend, I always have a few jars of Green Ant Wine ready for you.”

Xu Xiao patted Old Man Huang's shoulder and left the tavern.

Old Man Huang stood by the tavern, suddenly enlightened. He turned and shouted to his son, “That 'wine' character—take down the old one and hang up the new one!”

Hide replies... [Forceful Comment]Reply to Shift Worker Bored: Damn it, you took up so many spots!Can I post a reply?Can this newly written character be hung? Will it withstand sun and rain for long?16 more replies.Hide repliesHello, great master1 page total3 repliesDon't have a Baidu account yet?View recently played games