Seeing the clouds

Chapter 57 Chapter 56 The wealthy family smells of wine and meat

Zhang Yue and the others stayed at Yongzhou Governor's Mansion for a few days. Zhang Yue also went to read the Tiehe Sect's martial arts secrets while recovering from his injuries.The founder of the Tiehe Sect was once a member of the military, so whether he was a swordsman or a spearman, he followed a decisive battlefield path. This is why Fang Qifu and others were able to fight in the Qin Dynasty after they defected to the Qin Dynasty. One of the reasons why Da Qin, which is full of talents, quickly gained a foothold.After Zhang Yue watched carefully, he also had a different understanding of the way of the sword.But for some reason, after losing the battle with He Lin, no matter how concentrated he was, he couldn't feel the improvement of his Qi. This made Zhang Yue quite disappointed. Fortunately, Fang Suxiao was there to comfort and accompany him, which made Zhang Yue feel disappointed. This will not affect your mood at the beginning of the month.

During their stay in the mansion, Zhang Yue and Fang Qifu occasionally met a few times, but most of them happened by chance.Zhang Yue knew that Fang Qifu was busy with his affairs and was embarrassed to ask him for advice on martial arts-related matters.

Zheng Baiyu took Li Jingxiong to Chang'an City to play most of the time every day, and was basically not in the house.

On this day, Zhang Yue and Fang Suxiao were sitting on a stone bench in the mansion chatting, when Fang Tianding came over with a bag of things.

Zhang Chuchu greeted him: "I haven't seen Brother Tianding for a few days. Is there something wrong with Brother Tianding?"

Fang Tianding threw the things in his hands on the stone table in front of the two of them, and replied with a smile: "Isn't it just for you?"

This made Zhang Yue a little surprised: "For me?"

Fang Tianding glanced at the baggage on the table: "Open it and take a look."

Zhang Yue and Fang Suxiao opened the bag out of curiosity. Inside were two exquisitely crafted iron masks and five exquisite doughs.

Zhang Yue picked up an iron mask and looked up at Fang Tianding with some confusion: "Brother Tianding, is this?"

Fang Tianding looked at his expression and laughed angrily: "You don't just want to go east like this, do you? The east is not as good as the west. Not only are you well-informed, but there are also many people who know you. When the time comes, you will bear this face. , I'm afraid someone will cut off your head and change it for money before you take a few steps. You are likely to be chivalrous and cause trouble along the way, so be prepared. Since you have changed your identity, you might as well change it completely, you This handsome face should also be replaced. I spent a lot of effort on these things, especially these five faces, and I owe a lot of favors. You must keep them well."

Only then did Zhang Yue suddenly realize that he had never thought of changing his appearance to hide his identity along the way. He was really stupid.He quickly thanked me: "Thank you, brother Tianding. I will keep this kindness in my heart at the beginning of the month."

Fang Tianding said indifferently: "Oh, it's okay, it's okay, after all, we are a family... we are our own people."

As a result, before the word "human" was uttered, Fang Tianding was keenly aware of Fang Suxiao's sharp eyes and quickly changed his words.

Fang Suxiao nodded with satisfaction.

Zhang Yue put away his things and remembered the problems he had encountered in the past two days, so he asked: "Brother Tianding, since I fought with the old man from the Blood Knife Sect, I seem to have fallen into a bottleneck for some reason. No matter how I practice, I can’t feel the slightest improvement in energy, what’s going on?”

Fang Tianding was a little surprised at the rapid improvement of the young man's cultivation, and he replied: "It seems that you have learned a lot after the battle with He Lin. The reason why you cannot feel the improvement of Qi is because you have indeed fallen into a bottleneck. Overcoming this bottleneck It means that you have to truly step into the first-level realm, but this process will be relatively long, so you have to be mentally prepared."

Zhang Chuchu continued to ask: "But now I can't feel the improvement of Qi, how can I get over this bottleneck?"

Fang Tianding sat on the stone bench next to the two of them and explained Zhang Yue's doubts: "When a river is blocked by sand and gravel, the best way to continue flowing without the help of external force is to increase the water potential. Break through the resistance of sand and gravel. There is a word in the political arena called "nurturing hope", which almost means this. The same principle applies to martial arts practice. When you fall into a bottleneck, you cannot slack off in practice. When your Qi is strong enough, the bottleneck will naturally be broken through. So don’t be anxious about this, just feel free to do it naturally. Don’t have any thoughts about going out for a walk and feeling the resonance between heaven and earth. And it’s not easy for you to have such a level of cultivation at your age. Don’t belittle yourself. When you were your age..."

As soon as these words came out, Fang Tianding immediately regretted it. His original intention was to comfort Zhang Yue, but when he thought that he was already a powerful champion at this age, he felt a little embarrassed.

Then he coughed and changed the subject: "How long have you been practicing martial arts?"

Zhang Yue blurted out: "How many months?"

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yue's words made Fang Tianding, who had seen countless scenes, stunned. Fang Suxiao didn't know anything about martial arts, and looked at his cousin with a confused look.

Fang Tianding said in disbelief: "You're not lying?"

Zhang Chuo shook his head: "No."

Fang Tianding suddenly became uneasy. He could reach the threshold of the first level after practicing martial arts for a few months. This was no longer a gift, but a genius.He was taught by his uncle and mother since childhood, and fought on the battlefield as a teenager. After more than ten years of training in martial arts, he was only just above the first level at his age.

Fang Tianding suddenly felt that his previous comfort was unnecessary.

Zhang Chuchu saw the confusion in Fang Tianding's eyes, exposed the scar on his chest, smiled and told the two of him his experience, and Fang Tianding was relieved.

Fang Tianding said interestingly: "I didn't expect you to meet Li Muzhi. It's very rare for you to survive the extradition of Qi machine. No wonder your level has improved so quickly. But because of the extradition of Qi machine, although your starting point will be higher than others There is a lot, but when you advance to a higher level in the future, you will also need to spend more effort to make up for your innate Qi deficiency, but once you can resonate with the Qi of heaven and earth, it will no longer have any effect when you reach the level of supernatural power."

"It's a pity that my martial arts skills are different from yours. My martial arts strength is also honed through bloody battles on the battlefield, so I can't give you much martial arts advice."

Zhang Yue shook his head with a smile and said: "It doesn't matter, brother Tianding has helped me enough. His kindness is as deep as the ocean. I'm afraid I will never be able to repay him in this life."

Fang Tianding smiled and nodded. He was very satisfied with his future brother-in-law.

The three of them chatted for a while, and Zhang Yue suddenly remembered the youth conference mentioned by Fang Qifu before. He was very interested and asked Fang Tianding: "Brother Tianding, what is the youth hero that the governor mentioned before? "

Fang Tianding replied: "The Youth Conference is a competition jointly organized by various sects in the world. It is held every four years. Almost all the prestigious forces in the world will participate. There are countless geniuses in the conference. It has been in existence for decades. . At first, the purpose of holding youth fights was for each sect to make friends with each other and train the juniors, but with the development, it has now become the best way to increase the reputation of the sect. "

Fang Suxiao also became interested at this time and asked: "Did my cousin participate in it back then?"

Fang Tianding raised his eyebrows: "Of course."

Zhang Chuchu also asked, "What was Brother Tianding's ranking back then?"

Fang Tianding said as he should: "The leader."

The two of them were amazed.

Fang Tianding yawned and said nonchalantly: "Don't look at me now, I'm single. Back then, fairies from all sects and sects who admired me had to queue up in a long queue from the gate of the Governor's Mansion to Chang'an City. By the Lotus Lake."

Zhang Yue looked at Fang Tianding with more reverence in his eyes.But there was some sadness in Fang Suxiao's eyes. She was from the Fang family. Compared with Zhang Chuo, she knew a lot about Fang Tianding. She knew that there was a reason why Fang Tianding had not married a wife at his age, but she didn't know much about it. explain.

Fang Tianding smiled and patted Zhang Yue's shoulder: "We will never be apart forever, and we will always be together forever. May all lovers in the world get married eventually. So you have to treat my sister well. If you let me know that you are flirting with women outside, You have betrayed my sister. Cousin, even if I pursue you to the ends of the earth, I will sink you to the bottom of the Weishui River."

Fang Suxiao felt extremely embarrassed and whispered: "Cousin..."

Zhang Chuchu didn't speak, he just looked at Fang Tianding and nodded with firm eyes.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Yue looked at the somewhat absent-minded Fang Tianding and asked, "Brother Ding, are there any requirements for participating in the Youth Conference that day?"

Fang Tianding came to his senses and replied: "There are no requirements. Anyone with a crown or below can sign up."

Zhang Chuchu felt a little regretful: "It's a pity that I'm past my prime and can't compete with the young heroes in the world."

Fang Tianding smiled and said, "Aren't there Bai Yu and Jing Xiong?"

Zhang Chuchu thought for a while and said, "Bai Yu can't do it. If his three-legged cat skills were to compete with others on stage, he would definitely embarrass my uncle and his master Deng Daxia. The big stone is feasible, but he has never learned martial arts. It’s probably difficult even if you don’t have all the strength.”

Fang Tianding said: "Let Jing Xiong give it a try. Anyway, as long as he doesn't use third-rate despicable tricks."

Zhang Chuchu nodded, thinking that he would also teach Li Jingxiong some martial arts techniques on the way, so as not to be ridiculed by some young men during the martial arts competition.Fang Suxiao suddenly said: "Cousin, I want to see it too."

Fang Tianding rolled his eyes at her: "At the beginning of the month, I happened to be passing by on my way eastward. Why don't you, girl, join in the fun? Just stay at home."

Fang Suxiao was obviously unhappy with her cousin's attitude.

Zhang Chuchu comforted him: "It's okay. It happens every four years. I will definitely accompany you to the next youth conference."

Fang Suxiao felt much happier after hearing Zhang Yue's consolation, and then she deliberately snorted at Fang Tianding to express her dissatisfaction with her cousin.

Fang Tianding shrugged and smiled helplessly.

Later, Zhang Yue listened to Fang Tianding's advice and planned to leave the house for a walk, so the two of them resigned to Fang Tianding.

Fang Tianding looked at the backs of the two of them, and suddenly felt sadness welling up in his heart, and hummed softly: "Out of the east gate, there are women like clouds. Even though they are like clouds, they make me think of them..."

"Out of this place, there is a girl like a tea. Although she is like a tea, it makes me think..."

He looked up at the sky, thinking how time flies. Unknowingly, this was the sixth year since she left.

Then he sighed: "May lovers eventually get married..."

I'm afraid I'll never have another chance.

The north wind is cool.

Zhang Yue wore the mask given to him by Fang Tian and walked with Fang Suxiao on the road to Chang'an City. The two of them talked and laughed along the way, as if they had known each other for many years without any restraint.Chang'an Street was bustling with traffic and pedestrians, and no one paid any attention to the young man wearing a mask and the girl with a scar on her right eyebrow.

Zhang Chuchu bought some pastries at the pastry stall and handed them to Fang Suxiao.Fang Suxiao accepted it happily, took the cake, and started eating without caring about the image.

In fact, from the moment she made up her mind to take off the veil, she no longer cared about her image in the eyes of others, except Zhang Chuo.

The two of them walked past a steamed bun shop. Fang Suxiao stopped and looked at the steamed bun shop for a while.When Zhang Yue saw her like this, he smiled and said, "What's wrong, are you remembering the past?"

Fang Suxiao nodded: "I think of Yunxia."

Zhang Chuchu stood next to her, looking at Baozipu and saying, "Me too. Every time I see the prosperity of Chang'an, I think of Yunxia. After all, I have stayed there for ten years."

Fang Suxiao suddenly held his hand and said with a smile: "You were still a playboy at that time."

Zhang Yue felt the remaining warmth in his palms and argued with a smile: "Am I considered a playboy?"

Fang Suxiao looked at the iron mask on his face that seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and said confidently: "What about the scar on my eyebrow?"

Zhang Yue was immediately defeated: "It was my fault. I did have a young master's temper at that time."

Fang Suxiao shook his head: "I have to thank you for your young master's temper, otherwise the two of us would not have such a profound intersection."

Zhang Chuchu understood what she meant and asked, "Then do you forgive me?"

Fang Suxiao glanced at him: "Let's see how you behave in the future."

Zhang Chu thought for a while and said: "If we...really get married in the future, I would like to draw your eyebrows every morning."

After hearing these words, Fang Suxiao felt as if she had eaten honey, extremely sweet.But she still said calmly: "Then you'd better keep your word."

Just as the two were enjoying themselves, there was some noise from the grain station nearby. They walked in to take a look and found that the steward of the grain station was scolding a worker who was transporting grain.Seeing that it was an ordinary thing, the two of them didn't take it seriously, and were about to turn around and leave. Suddenly, the abusive steward threw a few coins outside the grain station, and the worker who had been scolded earlier dragged a lame legs, walked to the door and slowly picked up the copper plates that had fallen on the floor.

Seeing the steward of the grain station being so insulting, the two of them were a little displeased, but as they didn't know the situation, they couldn't comment too much. They just watched quietly until the lame man staggered away from the place, then they looked aside. The old woman asked about the previous situation.

Fang Suxiao was afraid that Zhang Yue and others would scare the old woman, so she asked, "Auntie, what happened just now?"

The old woman looked at the slightly weird mask on Zhang Yue's face and instinctively resisted. But fortunately, the little girl who asked the question was pretty, so she politely replied: "What else could it be? It's just that the steward didn't like the lameness. It’s common for a man with short legs to do his job poorly.”

Fang Suxiao then continued to ask: "Can you tell us about the lame man?"

The old woman thought for a while and said: "The lame man's name is Zhou Song. He lives in the south of the city. A few years ago, his leg was broken by the second ancestor who drove a carriage on the street. The second elder in the family is in poor health. , had to drag a lame leg out to make a living. But who needs a lame person to work? Many people came to transport grain and rice through intercession, but even so, he worked with other workers every day They have the same job, but they get half the wages and are humiliated. It’s extremely pitiful.”

Fang Suxiao frowned: "Is there such a thing?"

The old woman sighed: "There's nothing I can do. It's good to be able to give him a job. It's better than not being able to get a job and starving to death with my two elders at home."

At this time, Zhang Yue was already angry in his heart. He said coldly: "You should get the same money for doing the same job. Why should he get half less than others just because he has a lame leg? No. For this reason, I will go talk to the manager of the grain station."

The old woman was so frightened that she grabbed Zhang Yue's wrist and advised, "Boy, don't bring trouble to yourself. Do you know who owns that grain station? It belongs to the Tiger Claw Gang!"

Zhang Yue was unmoved: "So what?"

The old woman looked at the young man who wore a mask and spoke with justice and said without tears: "My young master! The Tiger Claw Gang is a big and respectable gang in the entire Chang'an City. Today you help Zhou Song to ask for something." Say it, as soon as you leave tomorrow, something will happen to Zhou Song's whole family. You are not helping him, you are harming him! Is it possible that you can still keep an eye on Zhou Song every day? "

Zhang Chuchu and Fang Suxiao thought carefully and felt that what the old woman said was indeed reasonable, so Fang Suxiao took out some broken silver and handed it to the old woman as a thank you for her kindness.

As the two of them walked on the road, the atmosphere suddenly became a little heavy.

Fang Su smiled and said: "When I saw that lame man, I remembered how I had sold myself to bury my father and my mother. How could there be such a pitiful person in such a prosperous city of Chang'an?"

Zhang Chu said: "The wine and meat of the Zhumen are stinky, and the roads are frozen to death. There is no fairness in the world. This has been the case from ancient times to the present."

Fang Suxiao suddenly stopped and said, "No, I still can't let go of that man."

Zhang Chuchu nodded and replied, "Me too."

Fang Suxiao suggested: "Let's catch up and take a look."

Zhang Chuchu nodded in agreement, and the two of them chased in the direction where the man disappeared just now.

(End of this chapter)