People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 461 Killing the Chicken

"You don't have to be nervous. I came here today just to visit friends with my wife. This is a private matter." Looking at a room full of boys and girls staring at him, Xu Chen felt a little embarrassed and said this helplessly.

Cai Wenji also found it a little funny and almost lost her composure, but luckily she managed to hold back: "That's right, today we are the guests and you are the hosts, why are you getting even more nervous?"

Everyone in the Liu family looked at each other, not knowing how to react.

How could they not be nervous? As former relatives of the Han Dynasty, they would be deceiving themselves if they said they had no resentment towards Xuan Xia and Xu Chen. However, reality was stronger than people. Now it was Xuan Xia's world, and the man in front of them was the new ruler of China. Not only did they dare not express resentment, but they would be in fear of the ruler.

Perhaps to ease the atmosphere, Xu Chen then started chatting and laughing: "It has been three years since your family came to Xuanxia. How are you doing now?"

Among the crowd, the most prominent one was obviously the man who had greeted Xu Chen and his wife before. He was Liu Hong's eldest son and the pillar of the Liu family today.

After thinking for a while, the eldest son of the Liu family said carefully: "It's not bad."

Xu Chen nodded: "You moved here later. Did the people in this village discriminate against you?"

The eldest son of the Liu family said: "Many families in the village have moved in, but my family is not special. The villagers get along well with each other, and there is no barrier when we visit each other."

"That's good." Xu Chen laughed, but he also stroked his mustache, glanced at them, and said, "It's hard to go from luxury to frugality. Can you adapt to the life of ordinary people now?"

The eldest son of the Liu family was slightly stunned when he heard this. After hesitating for a moment, he smiled bitterly and said, "It has been more than three years. What is there to be uncomfortable with? It is not difficult to support the family by relying on the fields. As long as we can live a stable life, we have nothing to ask for."

Xu Chen took a look and saw that the Liu family members had different expressions. It was hard to say whether they were really as calm as the eldest son of the Liu family said.

This kind of answer is more like a statement, saying that I am very good and obedient.

Xu Chen had no intention of continuing the topic. If he continued, everyone would feel awkward.

"I have heard of Mr. Liu Hong's reputation for a long time. Today, I can't contain my admiration for him, so I come to visit him. I just wonder what he is discussing with the local village chief?" Xu Chen had felt doubtful before, and now he couldn't help but ask, just to change the subject.

The eldest son of the Liu family said quickly, "There are several brick kilns in the village. According to government regulations, such township industries are owned by all villagers in the village. Their expenses, output, profits and dividends must be accounted for frequently. My father is old and not good at labor, but he has some knowledge, so he was invited by the village to do the accounting."

When Xu Chen heard this, he finally understood the reason, but he was also a little amused.

Liu Hong can be considered a mathematician and astronomer of this era, but he went to work as an accountant for such a small factory in a township. This is a bit embarrassing, but he can't blame others.

This old man could obviously accept the offer to be a professor at Xuanxia Academy, but he just didn't want to accept the good offer.

It has to be said that Xu Chen still envied Liu Hong's knowledge. When it comes to astronomical principles, Xu Chen might be able to say a lot of advanced things, but that is too far beyond reality for this era. But when it comes to truly studying the movement of celestial phenomena, Xu Chen certainly cannot understand it. Liu Hong is the authority in this area.

Today, I came here not only to find a teacher for Zhou Liang, but also to learn from him.

The atmosphere in the room was somewhat silent, and it was Cai Wenji who eased the atmosphere, occasionally taking out some preserved fruits and snacks to tease the children, which made everyone less awkward, and gradually everyone started talking and laughing. Not long after, footsteps appeared in the courtyard, and then an old man walked into the room with a child.

Everyone in the room immediately greeted the old man, who was none other than Liu Hong, the owner of this small courtyard.

Xu Chen and Cai Wenji also stood up at the same time, and then saluted Liu Hong respectively.

Xu Chen was quite respectful of a purely technical official like Liu Hong, even if he was an official of the Han Dynasty. He bowed and said with a smile, "I have heard of Mr. Liu's name for a long time, but I have never had the opportunity to visit him. Today I finally get to meet him. It is really a blessing for me."

This gesture was really a show of respect and all the Liu family members were shocked.

Who is this person in front of him? Although he is called the prime minister, his actual status is no less than that of the emperor. A person of this status would not treat Liu Hong, who is just an ordinary citizen, in such an attitude even to important officials of the court, let alone to Liu Hong.

What is the supreme? It means that I am the only one who is supreme in the world. Others should only greet me and say hello to me. How can I treat others with such courtesy?

After all, they were all former nobles, and the old monarchical concepts had long been firmly engraved in their minds. They had no way of understanding Xuan Xia's liberation thoughts, and they were still used to kneeling on the ground and looking up at the venerable.

Not to mention them, even Liu Hong was flattered to see Xu Chen like this.

As a relative of the Han royal family, he did not have a good impression of the Xuanxia court and Xu Chen. Although he knew that Xu Chen was coming, he was not prepared to have a good expression. Anyway, he was old and was not afraid of angering Xu Chen.

Although technical officials are much more pure, they are not stupid. If Xu Chen was a tyrant like Cao Cao, Liu Hong would not offend him. He would have to be respectful to him even if he had to hold his nose. After all, he really knows how to kill people.

And since he came to Xuanxia to observe Xuanxia's policies and understand Xu Chen's deeds, it is easy to judge that Xu Chen is actually a very open-minded person who is very rule-abiding and reasonable. Such a person is easy to bully, and as long as he does not break the rules, nothing will happen.

However, as soon as he entered the room, Xu Chen's behavior made Liu Hong's prepared expression go awry. How could he still show a cold expression when the other person was like this?

He felt that Xu Chen was easy to bully, and Xu Chen also felt that Liu Hong was easy to manipulate. He was just an arrogant old man, so he just needed to give him more face and appease him.

As expected, Liu Hong's face froze at first, but he finally softened: "The Prime Minister has condescended to come to my humble home. I have nothing to offer you, please don't blame me."

"How could this be!" Xu Chen pretended to be surprised, then stepped forward and held Liu Hong's hand: "There are countless officials in the Han Dynasty, but only a few can catch the eyes of young people. Only you are admirable for your academic excellence. It is a blessing for young people to see you in person, let alone other things."

Liu Hong looked at Xu Chen's face. Although he knew that this was a compliment from Xu Chen, he still saw some sincerity in Xu Chen's eyes.

Being recognized by others, especially by someone as important as Xu Chen, it is inevitable for anyone to be complacent. Liu Hong is no exception. What puzzles him is why Xu Chen favors him so much?
Although he was a relative of the Han royal family, in fact, a technical bureaucrat like him was a marginal figure in the Han Dynasty and was not taken seriously at all. On the contrary, after arriving in Xuanxia, ​​Xu Chen repeatedly asked Cai Wenji to hint that he should be a professor in the academy.

At this time, Xu Chen made a look to the side, and Cai Wenji immediately understood and stepped forward to help: "Sir, you also know that my husband studies the natural science school and has always focused on studying principles and developing technology. Your profound knowledge is exactly what my husband desires the most. I have nothing else to ask for after meeting you today."

Liu Hong looked at Xu Chen, then at Cai Wenji. After a moment of silence, he turned to look at his daughter-in-law and said, "Go to the yard and kill two chickens to entertain the distinguished guests."

(End of this chapter)