Half an hour later, Lady Lu, Zhang Wenwan, sent Lu Daoyu to invite Ding Youwei and her party into the city. The Lu Residence had sent two luxurious twin-shaft horse carriages and six ox carts, and invited Master Xu along as well. Ding Youwei shared a carriage with Lu Weiwei; the two naturally had much to talk about. Run'er and Zongzhi, however, walked on either side of their Uncle Chou, Chen Caozhi. Run'er was full of questions, asking about his missions to Chang'an and Ye City, and how he had battled the assembled scholars with words at Di Qin's Imperial Academy. Zongzhi smiled and listened beside them. Everything he wanted to ask, Run'er was asking for him anyway-
After a year apart, Chen Caozhi felt that his nephew Zongzhi's bearing had changed a little. He had once been too quiet and reticent, but after more than half a year studying in Wu Commandery, receiving guidance from an enlightened teacher and associating with fellow students, his learning and knowledge had grown. His speech and manner now had an open, buoyant grace-
Run'er remained as innocent and endearing as ever. She whispered, "Uncle Chou, there are too many people and ears about now. Once things are quiet, tell me how you managed to marry two Auntie Chous. I want to hear." Then she murmured to herself, "Xie Daoyun of the Catkins Verse, Love-struck Lu Weiwei-Uncle Chou married them both. Hee-hee, two Auntie Chous. I like them both."
Chen Caozhi gave a quiet chuckle.
When they reached Zhenqing Daoist Abbey outside the commandery city's West Gate, its new abbot, Young Daoist Li, had already received word and was waiting respectfully by the roadside with his fellow Daoists. Young Daoist Li was the nephew of the late abbot, Daoist Li. Chen Caozhi had known