C97. Drunk.
Zhang Liangdong hadn't seen Yuan Li for a long time, and the two of them had a lot to catch up on. In the course of their conversation, the topic turned to Jian Qibo.
As soon as Jian Qibo was mentioned, the conversation shifted to his runaway son, Jian Shaoning. Zhang Liangdong's expression was complicated as he sighed, "Shaoning escaped from Luoyang back then, and no one knew where he went. I was deeply worried, but I had no power to help him at that time. Now that chaos is erupting again in the world, the former emperor has already forgotten about Jian Qibo's family. I only hope that he can live safely."
Because of Jian Shaoning's special status, Yuan Li didn't mention in the letter that he had taken him in, fearing that the letter might be intercepted in Luoyang. Therefore, Zhang Liangdong still didn't know that Jian Shaoning was in Youzhou.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Li whispered a few words to someone.
Thinking he had given some instructions, Zhang Liangdong was surprised when he heard someone behind him say, "Le Jun? I'm here!"
That voice!
Zhang Liangdong's eyes widened suddenly, unable to believe it, and he turned around to see Jian Shaoning looking at him in shock.
"Lord Zhang..." Zhan Shaoning murmured.
Not expecting to see Jian Shaoning here, Zhang Liangdong was moved. After the initial shock, his eyes were moist, and he beckoned tremblingly, "Shaoning, come here, let me have a look at you."
Confused, Jian Shaoning glanced at Yuan Li, who nodded with a smile before Jian Shaoning hesitantly approached Zhang Liangdong.
Studying his face carefully, Zhang Liangdong saw that Jian Shaoning had matured a lot in the past year. Both Jian Shaoning and Yuan Li were no longer carefree teenagers.
Seeing shades of his friend, Jian Qibo, in Jian Shaoning's face, Zhang Liangdong couldn't bear the sorrow and choked out, "Good, good child. I didn't expect you to be here in Youzhou. Your uncle can finally be at ease seeing you safe."
Jian Shaoning's eyes welled up, but he quickly regained composure. He said, "I must thank Lord Yuan for taking me in and allowing me to meet you properly."
"Good, you are both good children," Zhang Liangdong then turned to Yuan Li, crying and laughing, "Tonight, you both must not leave! Stay here and have dinner with me, keep me company and chat!"
Jian Shaoning agreed, but Yuan Li hesitated for a moment. Thinking of Chu Hechao, he eventually nodded under Zhang Liangdong's hopeful gaze. Later, while Jian Shaoning and Zhang Liangdong chatted and laughed, Yuan Li sent someone to inform Chu Hechao.
Yuan Li didn't join in their reminiscing but instead engaged in a casual conversation with the nearby Xiang Hongyun.
Their conversation was enlightening. Yuan Li, a soul from the future, had novel thoughts, but Xiang Hongyun, a native of ancient times, had progressive ideas on agriculture, handicrafts, commerce, and more. This proposal, much like Shang Yang's reforms of the Qin state, presented innovative ideas that bordered on the radical. However, Yuan Li recognized the potential in these ideas. While they might be underdeveloped and possess some flaws, they undeniably offered a valuable approach.
Yuan Li was surprised by his forward-thinking plans, which, if applied to the ailing Northern Zhou, could potentially sustain it for another twenty years.
Impressed, Yuan Li praised Xiang Hongyun as a competent advisor, while Xiang modestly demurred.
Xiang's ideas were usually kept to himself. He kept them close to his heart, rarely revealing them to outsiders.
But then, Yuan Li appeared. Despite his initial reluctance to speak much, Xiang Hongyun found himself drawn into conversation under Yuan Li's gentle guidance and encouraging words.
Unconsciously, he poured out his heart, sharing his innermost thoughts with Yuan Li for the first time. By the end, he had exposed all his thoughts, only realizing then and there, and promptly closed his mouth.
Seeing this, Zhang Liangdong burst into laughter, teasing Yuan Li, "My usually quiet disciple has spoken more to you today than to me throughout his time with me."
Yuan Li chuckled, "Is that so, Master Zhang?"
Zhang Liangdong jokingly scolded, "What do you mean by that? Yuan Lejun, let me tell you, my disciple admires Wu Shanshi from Yizhou, wanting to be his advisor!"
Xiang Hongyun smiled without a word, observing Yuan Li's reaction.
Raising an eyebrow, Yuan Li calmly responded, "Wu Shanshi is indeed a hero, and it is no disgrace for the young master to seek refuge with him."
Amused, Xiang Hongyun remarked, "Is that all the Governor has to say?"
Yuan Li smiled faintly and said, "If you wishes to hear more from me, I certainly have more than just one sentence. Let me tell you of three disadvantages of seeking refuge with Wu Shanshi."
Xiang Hongyun bowed respectfully, eager to listen.
"Firstly, Wu Shanshi is a provincial governor with a multitude of advisers. Figures like Wei Ji, Mi Tai, and Wang Yun from the Ruzhou gentry have dominant positions among his advisers. Being fellow Ruzhou natives, they tend to exclude scholars from other regions like you," Yuan Li succinctly explained. "Secondly, Wu Shanshi himself dislikes change and has a conservative and traditional nature, which clashes greatly with your ideas."
Xiang Hongyun listened attentively, wearing a pensive expression.
"Thirdly," Yuan Li smiled faintly, "You have already taken Lord Zhang as your mentor and journeyed together to Youzhou. Your teacher remains in Youzhou, yet you choose to seek refuge with Wu Shanshi. Do you think he and his advisers will trust you?"
Xiang Hongyun replied nonchalantly, "They will not trust me."
Yuan Li chuckled and then shifted the conversation, "However, these three points are not the most important. The crucial factor lies in your own thoughts. If you truly wish to go, who can stop you?"
This remark left Xiang Hongyun momentarily stunned before he sincerely responded, "You are right, sir."
At present, Yuan Li had many people under him. Although he was short on personnel, he no longer faced the severe shortages of the past and did not need to force anyone to stay in Youzhou. He chuckled and shook his head, jokingly saying, "The departure of a talented individual feels like a missing piece, but it's just a momentary feeling."
After the laughter, it was getting late, and they all moved to the dining hall for dinner.
*
Estate.
Chu Hechao returned home with wood shavings and branches, tossing a white snake he caught on the mountain to a servant, "Put it in a cage and guard it well."
The servant was frightened and cautiously held the snake, "General, there's no cage to keep the snake in the estate!"
"In that case, keep it in a bucket," Chu Hechao scanned the room with a menacing look. "Do I have to teach you everything?"
The servant hurriedly retreated.
Yang Gonggong, who was serving him, sighed and said with a bitter expression, "General, why do you keep bringing such creatures back home."
It seemed that the general's habit of bringing wild beasts home had not changed.
Ignoring the comment, Chu Hechao strode into his room. Behind him, six or seven soldiers carried a blood-stained, massive black bear. Chu Hechao instructed them to place the bear in front of Yuan Li's door and knocked, "Lejun?"
There was no response from inside.
Frowning, Chu Hechao asked, "Where is the Governor?"
The servant replied, "The Governor went to have dinner at Master Zhang Liangdong's residence and asked you not to wait for him tonight."
"Master Zhang?" Chu Hechao narrowed his eyes. "Which Master Zhang?"
"It's the esteemed scholar Zhang Liangdong."
Zhang Liangdong was here?
After a moment of contemplation, Chu Hechao changed his clothes and had someone lead the way to Zhang Liangdong's residence.
*
While Yuan Li and Zhang Liangdong were enjoying a drink, a messenger arrived to report that the Grand General was on his way.
Excited and surprised, Zhang Liangdong exclaimed, "Quickly, quickly, please welcome him. Haha, this old man is gaining quite the face. Just arrived in Youzhou and already received a personal greeting from the Governor, and now the Grand General is paying a visit. I can die without regrets now."
"Who's dying?" a deep voice interrupted as a tall man entered the room, his robes billowing. After scanning the dining hall, he looked at Zhang Liangdong with a smirk, "On the first day in Youzhou, why speak such dispiriting words?"
Assisted to his feet, Zhang Liangdong observed Chu Hechao from head to toe before marveling, "The General is even more impressive now."
Chu Hechao nodded slightly in acknowledgment and then turned to Yuan Li, his expression unchanged, "I heard from my servant that you came to visit Master Zhang. Upon hearing of Master Zhang's arrival in Youzhou, I decided to come and see for myself."
Touched and embarrassed, Zhang Liangdong exclaimed, "Back then, you sought me out for supplies, and I kept avoiding you. I never expected you to personally visit me upon knowing of my arrival. Please, sit, let's have a drink together."
A low table with food was brought over, and Chu Hechao, lifting his robe, sat next to Yuan Li.
Noticing the wood shavings in his hair, Yuan Li asked in a low voice, "Did you rush here right after returning home?"
Chu Hechao replied curiously, "How did you know?"
Yuan Li grinned mysteriously, "I just calculated."
Before he could respond, Zhang Liangdong interjected, "Grand General, where did you come from? Why do you still have wood shavings in your hair?"
With a twitch of his mouth, Yuan Li remained silent.
Chu Hechao glanced at Yuan Li and replied, "I went up the mountain and just returned."
The meal was enjoyed by all, with Zhang Liangdong and Jian Shaoning ending up in tears and Yuan Li feeling sentimental after a few drinks.
Chu Hechao remained mostly silent throughout, occasionally lifting his chopsticks to eat.
After dinner, as the sky darkened, Yuan Li and Chu Hechao bid farewell to Zhang Liangdong and started their journey back. Along the way, Yuan Li, belatedly realizing he was feeling lightheaded, rubbed his temples in confusion.
Could it be?
His head pounding, he gradually lost consciousness, wondering if the low-alcohol drinks of ancient times could truly make him drunk.
However, considering that his body had rarely encountered alcohol before, it seemed somewhat understandable.
Sensitive to Yuan Li's state, Chu Hechao called out, "Yuan Li?"
Looking up dazedly, with flushed cheeks, Yuan Li mumbled, "Yes?"
Feeling an itch in his palm, Chu Hechao remarked to himself, "He's definitely drunk."
Instinctively denying it, Yuan Li said, "I'm not drunk."
Muttering to himself, Chu Hechao concluded, "He's really drunk."
He looked around and then squatted down with his back against Yuan Li, saying, "Come up."
Yuan Li looked at the person in front of him dazedly.
His broad back, the clothes stretched tight against his strong thighs, looked familiar and reliable. He looked for a while before climbing onto Chuhao Chao's back.
Chuhao Chao stood up, turning his head to ask the guards to follow from a distance, and slowly led him towards the estate.
Yuan Li frowned and said, "This wine tastes bad."
Chuhao Chao chuckled, "If it tastes bad, why are you drinking it then?"
Yuan Li sighed, "You don't understand the ways of the world between adults."
Chuhao Chao's tone turned dangerous, "Be careful how you speak, and know who you're talking to."
Yuan Li replied hazily, "You're my boyfriend."
Chuhao Chao didn't understand the term, "What does boyfriend mean?"
Yuan Li frowned, thinking, "You don't even know this," and said, "I don't want to talk to you."
Chu Hechao laughed, stopped walking, and threatened, "Explain yourself to me."
Yuan Li responded with his sleeping breath.
Chu Hechao, helpless, continued walking.
As the night grew darker, Yuan Li suddenly woke up and realized he was still on Chu Hechao's back.
"Why haven't we arrived yet?" he asked, looking ahead into the darkness and patting Chu Hechao's neck.
Chu Hechao replied that they were almost there.
Yuan Li said 'oh' and suddenly said, "Brother, don't be uncomfortable."
Chu Hechao was surprised, "How do you know I'm uncomfortable?"
"You haven't kissed me in days," Yuanli said bluntly.
Chu Hechao chuckled, "I'll kiss you when we get back. Today I killed a black bear on the mountain and caught a rare white snake. Tomorrow, I'll show you."
"Okay," Yuan Li suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "Is it Lady White?"
Chuhao Chao, not understanding the words he was saying, casually replied, "Yes, it's Lady White."
Yuan Li's expression darkened, he suddenly grabbed Chu Hechao neck with a menacing look, "How can you captured Lady White? What if Lady White comes to you for repayment?"
Chu Hechao coughed, trying to appease him, "Then should I kill her?"
Worriedly, Yuan Li said, "But what if she comes back for revenge?"
Chu Hechao's temple pulsed with frustration, not knowing how to handle his drunken wife. He couldn't kill her, but not killing her was also a problem. "What do you suggest then?"
After hesitating for a moment with a frown, Yuan Li suddenly felt nauseous and said slowly, "I think I'm going to be sick."
Chu Hechao's expression changed slightly, "Don't vomit on me."
He immediately put Yuan Li down and helped him to the corner to vomit, but after a while, Yuanli looked up pitifully, "I don't feel like vomiting anymore."
Chu Hechao sighed, picked him up again, and said, "I've never catered to someone like this in my whole life."
Yuan Li chuckled, hugged his neck, and as drowsiness overcame him, he fell asleep again.
Chu Hechao adjusted the person on his back and carried Yuan Li back to the estate safely.