Page 19

Seeing that his eyes were innocent, his features refined, and his build tall and sturdy, Feng Shan felt somewhat satisfied and nodded. "Training in martial arts is grueling. Only perseverance brings success. If you cannot endure it, then forget it."

At Rong Xi's signal, Liu Zishi immediately knelt and bowed, declaring loudly, "This disciple greets Master!"

From then on, young Liu began living in hell mode.

He learned to read in the mornings and trained in martial arts at the Feng Clan's in the afternoons. At Feng Shan's command, he had no choice but to run back and forth every day.

Though Liu He's heart ached for him, seeing how spirited he was and how greatly his bearing had changed filled him with immense comfort.

That was a matter for later, so it would not be mentioned for now.

After taking a master at the Feng family carpentry shop, Rong Xi accepted an invitation and rode to the Hu residence.

Hu Yunde and Jiang Weiping welcomed him at the gate. Once they reached the main hall, servants brought tea on trays. Rong Xi took his seat and heard Hu Yulin say with a smile, "My father has long wished to make your acquaintance, Eldest Young Master. When he learned you had come into the city today, he insisted that I invite you here as a guest. However, some mundane business has suddenly occupied him, so please wait a while."

Rong Xi appeared flattered. "Your honored father is showing me such generosity. I am unworthy to receive it."

The three chatted idly in the hall, unaware that the Feng Clan father and son had shut themselves away to study the drawings in the courtyard.

"Father, do you recognize this name? Do you know who he is?" the young man of the Feng Clan asked, pointing at the signature on the contract.

Feng Shan looked bewildered. "Who?"

Knowing that his father disliked gossip, the youth could only explain, "Rong Xi is the legitimate eldest son of the Minister of the Shengjing Ministry of Personnel. Because he made a mistake and enraged the minister, he was sent away to Linxi."

He told Feng Shan all the rumors.

"There are no shortage of people with the same name," Feng Shan said, utterly unconcerned by the gossip.

"Father, I do not know why you suddenly took that young servant as your disciple." Young Feng looked conflicted. "It is nice enough that I will have company when training in martial arts later. But look at these drawings. I always feel they resemble ancestral tablets."

When Feng Shan had been looking through the drawings earlier, he had harbored the same suspicion. Yet the other designs were all novel objects he had never seen before, so he could not be certain whether the final drawing was indeed an ancestral tablet.

Ancestral tablets were memorial tablets for one's forebears, usually enshrined in the family ancestral hall.

"No matter what it is, the employer ordered it. We should fulfill the agreement." Feng Shan's rough hand brushed over the drawing, and he smiled.

Hu Residence.

After getting down from his carriage, Hu Yunde hurried to the main hall. At the sight of Rong Xi, he immediately laughed heartily. "I have kept you waiting, young gentleman. Allow this old man to apologize."

"You are too courteous, Master Hu." Rong Xi bent and made a deep bow. "I should have come to pay you a visit sooner."

The group took their seats again.

Looking closely at Rong Xi, Hu Yunde found that although he was indeed as stout as the rumors claimed, his manner was leisurely and his presence elegant. He was truly a gentleman as fine as jade, utterly unlike the rumors.

Just as Hu Yulin had said, he was an excellent young man.

Hu Yunde had spent many years in business and possessed far more experience than Hu Yulin. As he spoke with the three about his early days of starting out, Rong Xi and Jiang Weiping exclaimed in admiration again and again.

Hu Yulin rubbed his forehead helplessly. Since childhood, he had heard those stories more times than he could count, yet his father's fondness for boasting had never changed.

His and his mother's ears had long since grown calluses.

Shortly after noon, Hu Yunde left the residence on urgent business.

When Rong Xi asked about pharmacies in the city, Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping became concerned and quickly asked, "Eldest Young Master, are you feeling unwell?"

He shook his head with a smile. "I am frail by nature. A physician gave me an excellent prescription, and I wish to buy the medicinal ingredients to decoct and drink when I return."

"You need not go in person, Eldest Young Master. If you have the prescription, I can send a servant to the pharmacy to buy it," Hu Yulin warmly suggested.

Rong Xi smiled. "There is no need. I have never seen the bustle of the city, and I would like to go take a look."

Since he had said so, Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping naturally accompanied him.

The three strolled through the streets, while Liu Zishi trailed behind them alongside the Hu Clan's sturdy servants.

Rong Xi had long memorized the prescription Chen Chuangu had given him. At the pharmacy, he informed the shopkeeper and obtained the medicine without issue.

Young Liu carried the packets of medicine as they continued wandering. When they passed a clothing and hat shop, Rong Xi said to Liu Zishi, "I will have several sets of clothes, shoes, and socks made for you."

Thinking that the youth would be running about for martial arts training in the future and that clothes and shoes wore out easily, Rong Xi wanted to buy several extra sets in case they were needed.

"You need not spend so much, my lord. This servant has enough clothes." The set he wore had only been worn for half a month and was still as good as new. There was truly no need to buy more.

Hu Yulin burst into laughter. "Zishi is fortunate. Eldest Young Master is truly kindhearted."

The Hu Clan's sturdy servants all looked at Liu Zishi with envy.

Naturally, the clothing shopkeeper recognized Hu Yulin and was also fairly familiar with Jiang Weiping. He grinned broadly and personally came forward to greet them.

"Young Master Hu, Young Master Jiang." Upon seeing Rong Xi, he paused in surprise. Only after Hu Yulin introduced him did he smile and say, "Young Master Rong."

Rong Xi nodded in response, pushed Liu Zishi to the front, and said, "Make five sets according to his measurements."

Five sets!

Liu Zishi was utterly dumbfounded. He had wanted to refuse, but seeing Rong Xi's resolute expression and knowing he could not disobey, he fell silent.

Only when the shop assistant measured him did he secretly wipe away tears.

Just then, a man entered from outside. He was around thirty, of average height, with a haggard face and dark circles beneath his eyes. Dressed in old clothing and carrying a cloth bundle, he walked to the shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, do you buy old clothes?"

The shopkeeper glanced sidelong at him. He found the man familiar but could not recognize him for the moment, so he replied, "That depends on what sort of old clothes they are."

The man opened his bundle, revealing silk and satin garments inside. His expression was uneasy.

The shopkeeper touched them and found the fabric to be of superior quality and still ninety percent new. He said, "I can take them, but compared to before, the price will be more than half lower."

"Could you offer more?" The man hugged the clothes tightly and bargained with difficulty.

The shopkeeper replied perfunctorily, "At most, half."

The man was clearly disappointed. Just as he stood there at a loss, someone beside him spoke. "I wish to purchase them at their original price."

Not only was the man greatly surprised, but even the shopkeeper turned a baffled gaze toward Hu Yulin.

Jiang Weiping did not understand his friend's intentions and looked at him in confusion.

The man selling the clothes hurriedly bowed. "So it is Young Master Hu. Greetings."

"Shopkeeper Duan, no need for such formality." Hu Yulin's narrow eyes curved as he smiled sincerely. "Xuan Shi is a regular patron of Gourmet Pavilion. Though I have met Brother Duan only a few times, we have long known each other through fine cuisine."