Page 19

Seeing the innocence in his eyes, his handsome features, and his tall, sturdy build, he felt somewhat satisfied and nodded. "Martial training is grueling. Only perseverance leads to success. If you cannot endure it, then forget it."

At Rong Xi's signal, Liu Zishi immediately dropped to his knees and bowed, declaring loudly, "This disciple pays respects to Master!"

From that day on, young Liu entered hell mode.

He learned to read and study in the mornings, then went to the Feng Clan in the afternoons to train in martial arts. 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, he was deeply gratified as well.

That was a later matter, not to be mentioned for now.

After accepting a master at Feng Carpentry, Rong Xi accepted an invitation and rode by carriage to the Hu Residence.

Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping greeted him at the gates. 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 Brother. When he learned that you had come into the city today, he insisted that I invite you here as a guest. It is only that some worldly affairs suddenly tied him up, so I ask Eldest Brother to wait a while."

Rong Xi seemed flattered beyond measure. "Your honored father is showing me such kindness. I am ashamed to receive it."

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

"Father, do you know who this name belongs to?" The young Feng man pointed at the signature on the contract.

Feng Shan looked baffled. "Who?"

Knowing that his father disliked listening to gossip from the streets, the young man could only explain, "Rong Xi is the legitimate eldest son of the Minister of Personnel in Shengjing. Because he made a mistake and angered the minister, he was sent to Linxi."

He told Feng Shan every last detail of the rumors.

"There are no shortage of people sharing the same name and surname." Feng Shan paid the rumors no mind whatsoever.

"Father, I do not know why you suddenly accepted that young servant as your disciple." The young Feng man wore a conflicted expression. "It is nice enough that I will have company when practicing martial arts in the future. But look at these drawings—I keep feeling that they resemble spirit tablets."

When Feng Shan had examined the drawings earlier, he had already harbored the same suspicion. Yet the other drawings all depicted novel things he had never seen before, so he could not be certain whether the final drawing was truly a spirit tablet.

Spirit tablets were ancestral memorial tablets, commonly enshrined in a household's ancestral hall.

"No matter what it is, if the client has commissioned it, we must naturally act according to the agreement." Feng Shan's rough hand brushed over the drawings, and he smiled.

Hu Residence.

After getting down from his carriage, Hu Yunde hurried toward the main hall. The moment he saw Rong Xi, he burst into hearty laughter. "I have kept this young gentleman waiting. This old man offers his apologies."

"You are too courteous, Lord Hu." Rong Xi bent and gave a deep bow. "I should have come to visit sooner."

The group took their seats again.

Observing Rong Xi up close, Hu Yunde found that although he was indeed broad and stout as the rumors claimed, his bearing was leisurely and his manner elegant. He was truly a gentleman like jade, utterly unlike the rumors.

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

Having done business for many years, Hu Yunde possessed far more experience than Hu Yulin. He spoke with the three of his early days of building his enterprise, drawing repeated exclamations of amazement from Rong Xi and Jiang Weiping.

Hu Yulin rubbed his forehead helplessly. From childhood to adulthood, he had lost count of how many times he had heard these tales. His father's habit of boasting still had not changed.

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

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

When Rong Xi asked about apothecaries in the city, Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping became worried and quickly asked, "Is Eldest Brother unwell?"

He shook his head with a smile. "My body is weak. I received an excellent prescription from a physician and wish to buy the medicinal ingredients, then return to decoct and take them."

"Eldest Brother need not go personally. If you have the prescription, I can send a servant to the apothecary to purchase them." Hu Yulin warmly offered.

Rong Xi said with a smile, "There is no need. I have never seen the bustle of the city, and I wish to have a look around."

Since he had put it that way, Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping naturally accompanied him.

The three strolled through the market streets together, while Liu Zishi trailed behind them shoulder to shoulder with the Hu Clan's sturdy servants.

Rong Xi had long memorized the prescription Chen Chuangu had given him. At the apothecary, he informed the shopkeeper and successfully obtained the medicine.

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

Thinking that the youth would be constantly running about while practicing martial arts in the future, wearing out clothes and shoes quickly, Rong Xi wanted to buy several extra sets in case of need.

"You need not spend so much, sir. I have enough clothes." The set he wore had only been on him for half a month and still looked as good as new. There was truly no need to buy more.

Hu Yulin laughed heartily. "Zishi is fortunate indeed. Eldest Brother is truly kind and benevolent."

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

The clothing shopkeeper naturally recognized Hu Yulin and was also fairly familiar with Jiang Weiping. His mouth split into a broad grin as he 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!

Hearing this, Liu Zishi was practically dumbstruck. He had wanted to refuse, but seeing Rong Xi's resolute expression, he knew he could not disobey and thus kept silent.

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

Just then, a man entered from outside. Around thirty years old, of average height, his face was haggard and dark circles ringed his eyes like ink. He wore old clothes and carried a cloth bundle as he approached the shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, do you buy old clothes here?"

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

The man opened the bundle, revealing silk garments and satin fabrics within, his expression uneasy.

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

"Could you raise the price?" The man clutched the clothes tightly and bargained with difficulty.

The shopkeeper put on an indifferent act. "At most, half."

The man was clearly disappointed. Just as he hesitated, at a loss for what to do, someone beside him spoke. "I wish to buy them at the original price."

Not only was the man stunned, even the shopkeeper turned an inexplicable gaze toward Hu Yulin.

Jiang Weiping did not understand what his friend meant and looked at him in puzzlement.

The man selling clothes hurriedly bowed. "So it is Young Master Hu. My respects."

"Shopkeeper Duan, no need for such formality." Hu Yulin's narrow eyes curved as his sincere smile appeared. "Xuan Shi is a regular patron of Gourmet Pavilion. Though I have only met Brother Duan a few times, we have long known each other in spirit through exquisite delicacies."