The hall was empty now.
Yang Shichang pulled her into his arms and comforted her softly. "Uncle Xu is Father's good friend. Father admires and respects him greatly, and so do I."
"You've told me that before. To turn an ordinary commoner's family into an aristocratic clan in a small county town in just over a decade, his talent and wisdom are indeed rare.
But he is still a commoner, unlike disciples of aristocratic clans such as ourselves, who practice martial arts from childhood."
"Ordinary commoners already look old in their forties and fifties, and most don't live past sixty. Am I wrong?"
Yang Shichang laughed. "You haven't met him. How can you judge him so casually?"
"If you met him, you would know what sort of man Uncle Xu is."
Yang Shichang dropped the subject. "Change your clothes in a bit and come with me to accompany my sister, her husband, and the others for a stroll through the streets."
"I'm not in the mood. I want to stay home with Feng'er while he studies and practices his writing."
"Suit yourself, then." Yang Shichang shook his head with a wry smile.
"Brother-in-law, Mingyuan, is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
At the entrance to the Yang Residence, Yang Shichang looked at them with a faint smile, holding Xu Dewen in his arms.
"Then let's see how the rouge shops, distilleries, and restaurants in the Commandery Seat differ from those in our county town."
"Mingyuan, you really never forget your business, wherever you go. Still, that's fine. It'll be noon soon, so we should find somewhere to eat and drink."
He turned to Xu Dezhao with another smile. "Zhao'er, tell your uncle if there's anything you want to eat or have. Whatever your father usually forbids, your uncle will