in the edge

Chapter 603 Another Encounter

Because the eldest son has passed the imperial examination, the Li family is holding a grand banquet today. All the neighbors can come and share in the good news, which also gives Du Chengfeng the opportunity to sneak in.

"So what's going on?"

Seeing that Carpenter Li and his wife were still busy entertaining the guests, Du Chengfeng randomly pulled a neighbor who was having a meal and started asking.

"Isn't this... isn't this Du Chengfeng's son who passed the imperial examination? Why is it that the Li residence is hosting the banquet?"

"From what you said, you are from another place, right?"

The neighbor who was pulled over had obviously drunk a lot and spoke in a much more relaxed manner.

"Then you really don't know. Speaking of the Li and Du families, there is a strange anecdote in it..."

As the neighbor told his story, Du Chengfeng gradually understood the problem.

According to the neighbors, the Li and Du families were not originally from Yangzhou, but fled all the way here from Jibei because they had offended a strong man in the north. Although the two families had different surnames, they were as close as brothers. As the saying goes, "brothers of one mind are stronger than iron." Although there were many hardships along the way, the two brothers managed to overcome all obstacles.

"Especially the one with the surname Du, who caused such a fuss back then... These two people, one is responsible for external affairs and the other for internal affairs, have made a great reputation."

"...Wait a minute, what about back then?"

Du Chengfeng keenly grasped the key.

"what do you mean……"

"Yes, back then."

The neighbor continued.

"Fortunately, the Du guy is dead, otherwise who knows how big a mess it would have caused."

"Dead, dead?"

Du Chengfeng was stunned.

Dead? Just like that?

How is it possible? How could he die like this?

You have to know that was him, that was another him. Even if it wasn't the him right now, at least it couldn't be that simple...

"So how did he die? Why did he die like this?"

"A big tree attracts the wind, and it offends too many people, that's how it is."

The neighbor sighed and simply picked up the wine jug and took a sip.

Then he continued speaking.

According to this neighborhood, when the two brothers first arrived in Yangzhou, Li opened a workshop to make money, and Du was responsible for giving Li ideas. God knows where Du got all those ideas, and with the two of them working hard, they managed to build such a big business in a short time...

"Will you wait a moment?"

Du Chengfeng suddenly felt that something seemed to be wrong.

"You mean, the one with the surname Du is the one who believes in Christ?"

"Of course! Who in Yangzhou doesn't know the wise man back then?"

Speaking of this, the neighbors immediately slammed the table.

"Of course, if it was just this Du guy, then there wouldn't be much to say, but with this carpenter named Li backing him up, it's simply..."

As the neighbors continued to tell their stories, Du Chengfeng probably understood what this other Du Chengfeng had done.

Duobao Zhiduoxing's nickname, he may not be Zhiduoxing, but the two words Duobao are well-deserved - it seems that in this world, he did not follow the path of a warrior, but instead secluded himself in the art of mechanical mechanisms.

It is precisely this research on mechanical mathematics that has made Du Chengfeng and Carpenter Li in this world a perfect match.

In this world, Du Chengfeng is responsible for drawing up the blueprints, while Carpenter Li is responsible for implementing them with his craftsmanship. They have come up with all kinds of fantastic ideas, and the rapid-fire crossbows they built have not been surpassed by any craftsman until now - even the imperial court of Da Lu specifically requested Carpenter Li as the supplier of military equipment, which is the foundation for Carpenter Li and his family to be able to rule Yangzhou.

But, it was just Carpenter Li’s family.

Just like what the neighbor said, a big tree will attract the wind. Du Chengfeng and Carpenter Li in this world have been making great progress, so naturally there will be people who are jealous of them - so, the strong man from the north who they offended suddenly appeared in Yangzhou somehow, and then, Du Chengfeng in this world died a violent death, and the entire mansion was razed to the ground.

Facts have proved that in the face of absolute power, the so-called mechanical arts are ultimately just a minor trick.

After losing the source of the blueprints, the status of the Li family naturally plummeted. Although Carpenter Li and his disciples could still continue to build the rapid-fire crossbow, after losing Du Chengfeng from this world, the Li family ultimately lost the opportunity to make further progress.

Moreover, after this incident, the court has realized that compared with real power, the rapid-fire crossbow is nothing after all. Of course, the demand for the rapid-fire crossbow still exists, but it is far less intense than before.

"This……"

After hearing this, Du Chengfeng finally understood the whole story.

Obviously, the self in this world might have encountered similar experiences as himself. Just like when he offended Na He Xi Qing, the self in this world also offended some people who should not be offended - but unlike him, the self in this world chose to flee all the way south, and then use the advanced knowledge in his mind to fight the enemy.

But the facts have proved that in the face of absolute power, advanced knowledge may not be advanced enough. At least in combat, only the power that can kill the opponent can be called truly advanced.

Obviously, his so-called knowledge, at least when it comes to practical application, is still not advanced enough...

"Wait a moment."

Du Chengfeng suddenly felt that something was wrong
"That is to say, the me in this world actually also has that memory... What's going on?"

Du Chengfeng stood there in a daze.

Although this question seems insignificant, if you think about it carefully, it always feels a bit terrifying - it is incredible for Du Chengfeng that he came to that world full of evil spirit, but another him, with the same memories, also traveled to another, extremely similar world?
"This kind of thing..."

Du Chengfeng subconsciously grabbed his hair. The amount of information here was a bit too huge. With the information he had now, it was impossible for him to make a complete judgment.

So after a moment of silence, he decided not to think about it for the time being, at least not to let himself lose consciousness at this time.

After all, he had a more critical question to ask.

"So, I have another question."

As he said this, Du Chengfeng looked at the drunken neighbor.

"What's the matter with this Du Chengfeng's son? He is from the Du family and the Li family, this..."

“So the two brothers have a good relationship.”

When the neighbor heard the stranger in front of him ask this, he laughed.

"This is indeed Du Chengfeng's son, but he is also the son of the Li family..."

As the neighbors told the story, Du Chengfeng finally understood what was going on.

It turns out that Du Chengfeng in this world has been busy with work for a long time and has no thoughts about men and women, so he has remained single. In addition, the two brothers have no parents, no parents' permission, and no matchmaker's words, so Du Chengfeng in this world doesn't take this thing seriously. However, this is where the trouble begins.

The strong man from the north was deliberately released by someone with ulterior motives, and the Du Mansion was razed to the ground. Du Chengfeng had no children, and he even had no wife, and he had already become a corpse.

"So Carpenter Li simply adopted one of his two children and let Du Chengfeng be his father, so that he could inherit the Du family's bloodline."

After going back and forth for a long time, the neighbor finally gave the answer.

"This way, when we visit Du Chengfeng's grave on Qingming Festival, at least he will have descendants to pay tribute to him, instead of being alone and helpless like a wandering ghost in the underworld."

"Ah this..."

After hearing this, Du Chengfeng finally understood the whole story.

No wonder the young man said he was his son, but called Carpenter Li "Dad". It turned out that he was originally Carpenter Li's son. As for changing his words, neither Du Chengfeng nor Carpenter Li were the kind of people who would care too much, so it was probably nothing.

It was this careless way of doing things that made him go around in circles. He even thought that this was really his son.

"But...it can be considered a good thing."

Thinking of this, Du Chengfeng couldn't help but sigh.

As for why he was sighing, it was of course because the self in this world was dead. He was trying to be clever but was beaten to death by a truly strong man. He had never heard of such a death. However, Carpenter Li's family in this world was living a good life, which was a good thing. Du Chengfeng felt relieved to see that his brother was living a good life.

However, at this moment, the neighbor came over mysteriously.

"Good thing? Is this considered a good thing?"

"……How to say?"

Du Chengfeng frowned.

He always felt that this neighbor seemed to have something else to say.

"This Brother Li... the relationship between these two brothers can already be described as stronger than gold. If this isn't a good thing, what else can it be?"

"L?"

The drunken neighbor gave a mysterious smile.

"That's just the way their love seems to be stronger than gold in the eyes of outsiders. Those who really know these two people actually know the truth... Since you don't understand, let me give you another hint."

Having said this, the neighbor raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the door.

In the direction of the entrance, a huge plaque with the words "Li Mansion" is hanging there.

"Have you ever thought about this? The Du family has been annihilated by the strong men in the north, but why is it that the Li family is not affected at all?"

"This……"

Du Chengfeng was stunned by the question.

This question... is really a bit hurtful.

He could sense what this neighbor was trying to imply, but after all, this was his good brother Carpenter Li, so he could only consciously restrain himself from thinking about it - after all, even in this world, the two of them had supported each other all the way from the north, how could it be possible...

How is it possible that such a thing could happen?
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Du Chengfeng was so angry that he even crushed the wine glass in his hand.

"We, they, they, how could they..."

“At first, no one thought of it.”

The neighbor was obviously drunk, but he continued talking.

"After all, even though the strongman from the North came, he didn't return alive. Three great scholars from the city were dispatched to suppress the strongman from the North at the crime scene... But there is a big problem here. The speed of the three great scholars was too fast. It was as if they had known that the strongman from the North was coming."

As the neighbors continued to talk, more and more doubts arose.

First of all, there were those great scholars who acted extremely quickly. Their prophetic approach was more of a silencing of witnesses than a catching of criminals - but this was not the most crucial point. The most crucial point was that after Du Chengfeng's death and the Li family's status plummeting, the Li family, which was at the end of its strength, was not even liquidated by its former enemies.

Not only was the Li family not liquidated, but they continued to survive well. There was always a demand for the Li family's rapid-fire crossbows in the court, and the orders never stopped.

And now, Du Chengfeng's son, or the eldest son of the Li family, has actually made it to the imperial examination, and has a high position and a fine horse to ride.

So in this matter, although the Li family suffered certain losses, they also gained huge benefits and even got a chance to survive.

"So, if it's not them, who else could it be?"

The neighbor laughed.

"If you ask me, this Li guy is still quite something. Although he lost a brother, he gained so much... If he hadn't lost this brother, this Li guy would have died with his brother, but now..."

"enough!"

Du Chengfeng grabbed the neighbor by the collar.

"Absolutely impossible! He absolutely cannot be that kind of person!"

"Hey! What do you mean!"

The neighbor, who was a little drunk, was sobered up immediately after being frightened by the stranger.

"What are you doing! You were the one who came here to ask me! I was telling you this with good intentions, but you actually did this... Let go! Let me go!"

"I……"

Du Chengfeng, furious, clenched his fists and was almost about to hit on the spot.

But in the end, he dropped his clenched fist.

There is no need for that. This kind of thing is really unnecessary. Just as the neighbor said, he was the one who ran over to ask - what's more, the Carpenter Li in front of him is not the Carpenter Li he knows. Maybe what the neighbor said is right?

Just like he in this world chose a different path from his own, perhaps Carpenter Li in this world also chose a different path...

"No."

Thinking of the kind attitude of this old brother towards him, Du Chengfeng took a deep breath and put this neighbor aside.

Even for the sake of the other Carpenter Li, he had to at least find the Carpenter Li in this world... or the master of the Li family, and get things clear.

After all, even if he died in this world, his death would not be in vain.

Especially in this situation where there is suspected to be a murderer, Du Chengfeng must avenge himself even for the sake of another self.

(End of this chapter)