Inheritance

Nie Qingqing stood by the railing, seeing the warm noonday sun and pedestrians coming and going on the street.

The young man walked down the road with a hand on his knife. He did not hurry back in panic, showing how calm he was inside. He even had the leisure to buy a few green tangerines, squeeze the peel oil over himself, then eat both peel and fruit—clearly using them to cover the smell of liquor.

"No wonder my father wouldn't let me talk to him too much." Nie Qingqing smiled and pressed a hand to her forehead, then summoned people to clean up.

She personally delivered a jug of wine to every table still occupied on the second floor, exchanging a few casual words with familiar guests.

Less than half an hour later, hoofbeats sounded outside. Then Nie Yannian and Zhang Guinian came upstairs together.

"Uncle Zhang, Father." Nie Qingqing invited the two men into a private room.

"What happened?" Nie Yannian had been busy at the Martial Arts School when he received word that someone was causing trouble at Drunken Moon Pavilion, so he hurried over.

Zhang Guinian also held shares in Drunken Moon Pavilion, which was why he had come along.

Nie Qingqing was in no rush. She first served tea, then explained what had happened.

After hearing it, Nie Yannian did not think embarrassing the Young Lord was any great matter. He merely laughed. "Old Zhang, look at this. Some people have lived in comfort for so long that they think a peaceful world has always been this way, that whoever gains power is the strongest. They've forgotten that status and power are only the surface—blades, swords, and fists are what lie beneath. People like that are like children playing house. But no one can play house forever. Otherwise, they're fools, fated to be slaves all their lives!"

He spread his hands with a laugh, then continued, "If you say Little Gelder has worldly sense, he spends all day fretting with me over a few taels of silver. If you say he doesn't, he knows who can be relied upon. He saw long ago that the Princess Consort and Prince Xin were at odds, and that I belonged to the Princess Consort's side. So he wasn't foolish enough to switch households like Liu He, nor was he foolish enough to stand by with folded arms. Instead, he knew whom he ought to curry favor with."

"Father, judge deeds, not hearts; judge hearts, and there are no good people. I think Young Master Meng is an honest, kind man." Nie Qingqing spoke up for Meng Yuan.

"If he's honest and kind, then I'm a saint!" Nie Yannian snapped, then continued, "And besides, you've only known him for a few days, and now it's Young Master Meng? He hasn't shed his registered status yet, and he came from a gelding background. How did he become a young master?"

Nie Qingqing gave a graceful smile. "He acted righteously, helping those in peril and relieving those in distress. He carries the bearing of the ancient wandering heroes. Why can't he be called young master?"

"Talk to him less!" Seeing his daughter constantly speaking for an outsider made Nie Yannian furious.

Nie Qingqing smiled. "Father, I already agreed on your behalf that Young Master Meng could help you with your work and contribute to the household expenses. Don't make things difficult for me."

"Which of us is the father here? You agreed for me?" Nie Yannian fumed. "Do you think it's easy for me to earn money? Running a Martial Arts School means sending money around in every direction, and there are several bastards sitting around waiting to take their cut. Hardly a few coins ever reach my hands!"

"Anyway, I promised him. If you don't need another hand, I'll find a way myself."

Nie Qingqing obediently curtsied to Zhang Guinian. "Uncle Zhang, please talk some sense into my father. Don't let him cheat the poor man out of his money again. It's truly pitiful."

After saying that, Nie Qingqing left.

Only then did Zhang Guinian speak. "You cheated him out of money?"

"It was bounty money. Besides, I was the one who took him out to earn it in the first place. He insisted on treating everyone and playing the grand hero. Who can he blame?" Nie Yannian said.

"You said it yourself—that bounty was earned by Little Gelder risking his life. Even if he treated everyone to wine and women, he couldn't have spent it all, could he? Old Nie, just watch. You cheat him out of a little bounty money, and don't go and hand over your precious daughter in return!" Zhang Guinian mocked.

Nie Yannian recalled what his daughter had said just now, and sure enough, he fell silent.

"Old Nie, what are you thinking?" Seeing that Nie Yannian had stopped talking, Zhang Guinian laughed again. "I can tell you like that boy. This time, he stood up for Qingqing and for you. Hurting that foolish Young Lord's pride is no great issue. You and the Princess Consort's elder brother went through life and death together. The Princess Consort remembers old ties; one word from her, and this matter will be smoothed over."

"This little matter isn't worth troubling the Princess Consort over."

Nie Yannian sighed. "I'm thinking of finding someone to take over for me. In a few more years, we won't be able to lift our blades anymore. I have only one daughter and no clan kin. I'm afraid that when the time comes, she'll have no one to depend on. I need to find someone to protect her."

"You're planning to pass down your true skills? Let him take over for you?" Zhang Guinian asked curiously.

"Damn it, that gelding is too good at climbing up the pole once he gets hold of it. I've already passed down my true skills!"

Nie Yannian smiled helplessly. "I had planned to choose one from Ren Debiao and Wu Changsheng, and I observed them closely. Both boys are good. Ren Debiao progresses quickly in martial arts; after just over two years, he's nearly Eighth Rank. Wu Changsheng is quick-witted in handling matters, knows how to read the room, and his aptitude is not bad either. I actually favor Wu Changsheng more. If that boy is properly trained, even if he never makes a great name for himself, he can still take over my operation. If some noble patron gives him a hand, he might end up living even more comfortably than I do."

"So who are you choosing?" Zhang Guinian asked curiously.

"Didn't Little Gelder show up?" Nie Yannian spread his hands. "The moment this boy arrived, he immediately outshone Ren Debiao and Wu Changsheng. Not only is his aptitude for martial arts exceptional, but he entered the ranks within a month or so. He's even more diligent in training than I was back then! And there's no need to mention his temperament—he has ideas of his own, and treats everyone else's gossip like farting!"

Nie Yannian pointed south, then continued, "Last time we went to Peach Blossom Ridge to kill the Buddha Demon, after I crippled Great Tail Venerable, I hurried over to check on those two. In the end, Wolf One fought desperately, and Little Gelder was even fiercer than Wolf One. That was how he killed Wolf One. Ren Debiao had studied martial arts for so long, yet when Wolf Two fought desperately, he lost his nerve and didn't dare fight to the death."

"You can see it as soon as they fight. Ren Debiao doesn't dare fight or risk his life like Little Gelder does, and he's petty-minded too. If today's matter had been Wu Changsheng instead, he probably wouldn't have dared throw a punch directly. Doesn't that mean they were both outdone by Little Gelder?"

As he spoke, Nie Yannian laughed again. "Little Gelder knows exactly what he wants. He even studies and learns to read, planning to follow the path of being accomplished in both literary and martial arts!"

Hearing this, Zhang Guinian also laughed. "The Princess Consort's whole family is steeped in learning. Even a gelding has been touched by Literary Qi."

"I don't think he has the makings of a scholar. His poetry might not even be better than the Young Lord's!" Nie Yannian mocked.

"Reading more is never a bad thing." Zhang Guinian chuckled. "By your account, his temperament is sound, his aptitude is good, and he's sensible and ambitious. But how is he with people? If he is to take over your operation in the future, he can't rely only on a blade."

"He's all right in that regard. He knows what to say to what sort of person!" Nie Yannian laughed without end. "The Princess Consort had me teach that group of children, saying I only needed to instruct them casually. Out of all those children, he was the only shameless one who dared ask to borrow money from me! I had already taught him more than the rest. Once he got his bounty, he spent every last bit on wine, all so I'd teach him more. Afterward, he even had the gall to come borrow money from my daughter. I've never seen anyone so shameless!"

"He just doesn't treat you as an outsider. And haven't you been deliberately nurturing him?" Zhang Guinian saw through it all. "As long as he isn't an ungrateful wolf and isn't harsh or heartless, that's enough. You teach him skills, and he knows to weep at your grave—that will do."

"Let's watch a while longer. Young people's temperaments haven't settled yet; who knows what he'll become?" Nie Yannian sighed. "There's no rush. The Princess Consort is a good judge of people. Later, I'll take him to see her and let her have a look."

"Fine, it's your business anyway." Zhang Guinian rose to his feet. "I should be going. Aren't you going back to wipe his ass?"

"Wipe his ass?" Nie Yannian laughed. "You know Xun Mei, right? The Princess Consort's personal little accountant! He sweet-talked Xun Mei into trusting him. Xun Mei has always thought he's an honest and kind man! Believe it or not, he's already sweet-talked Xun Mei again by now. It won't be my turn to wipe his ass!"