Chapter 558

A table full of a feast.

"Come, try this!"

"Try the chicken marrow bamboo shoots too."

"Is the food at home still to your liking?"

Xu Rongguang, with silver hair and a silver beard, his face glowing with health, held a small bowl and ate rice quietly.

Whichever dish the Old Lady Xu at the head of the table pointed to, the maid would step forward and pick up a chopstick-full for Lady Xu's bowl.

Lady Xu hurriedly used her chopsticks to press down on the mountain-like pile of food and moved her rice bowl away.

"Alright, Mother, your daughter is here to celebrate Father's birthday, not fleeing a famine in Huangzhou; how could I have such a big appetite?"

"You've lost weight..."

"Every time I come back, I've lost weight. Was I originally a chubby girl full of fat?"

Old Lady Xu looked displeased.

"When I gave birth to your eldest brother, he was only seven jin two liang. You, on the other hand, were seven jin eight liang. Half a jin difference! The midwife said if you were two liang fatter, it would have been dangerous. If you weren't a chubby girl, who was?"

Lady Xu was speechless: "You're digging up old accounts from ages ago."

This was a blind spot in his knowledge; Liang Qu didn't quite understand and quietly put his head together with Hu Qi.

"Cao Shixiong Hu, what level is seven jin eight liang for the Mistress?"

"I'm not married, I don't know."

Hu Qi scratched his head and leaned toward the Sixth Cao Shixiong. The Sixth Cao Shixiong leaned further, and they kept asking until they reached the Third Cao Shixiong to find out.

"A normal male infant is about six jin six liang, a female infant is one or two liang less. Approaching or exceeding eight jin, nine times out of ten, it's a difficult birth."

"That is quite chubby."

Xiang Zhangsong rubbed his chin. His "Eye-Insight Technique" suddenly felt a needle-prick. Meeting the Mistress's slanted gaze, he hurriedly lowered his head to eat, stretched out his chopsticks, and picked up a goose web for Liang Qu's bowl.

"Liang Shidi, try this pickled goose web; it's no worse than your family's cook."

"I don't think so. I still like the Private Secretary's; it's spicy enough, strong enough, and perfect for rice."

Guan Congjian, who had followed to mooch a meal, commented as such.

"Stop talking, just eat your food!"

Zong Lichan rolled her eyes and stuffed a large piece of meat into Guan Congjian's bowl.

"The one you picked up is also good for rice."

Guan Congjian gnawed on the meat in large bites and added vaguely.

Liang Qu leaned back slightly.

Damn!

Suddenly I understand why the two of them could get together.

Someone is playing dumb!

"Only I could recognize you at a glance. Your father was stunned for a while when he saw you. It's really funny, he didn't even recognize his own daughter. When General Xu came to act as a matchmaker back then, I knew he would be a good son-in-law who would cherish my daughter—honest and blunt. It's just your father who makes a fuss about everything."

"Ahem!"

"Xiao Chun, what are you standing there for? Didn't you see the Master has phlegm to spit? Let him spit it out clean and comfortably."

A small spittoon was handed to Xu Rongguang.

Lady Xu found it truly funny: "Mother, have the daughters and granddaughters from other rooms all returned?"

"A few have returned. Your father's birthday banquet lasts until the end of the month. I've realized that the earlier they return, the more successful they are."

All the weariness of the journey and all the longing were silently poured out in this private family banquet.

After the meal.

The servants cleared the bowls and chopsticks.

Yu Dun and Lu Gang lay on reclining chairs reading books; Cao Rang and Xiang Zhangsong strolled through the courtyard; Xu Zishuai fiddled with the trinkets on the antique shelf, taking apart and reassembling a woodworking toy.

Lady Xu and Old Lady Xu went to the next room to talk privately.

Xu Rongguang took the hot tea and chatted idly with Yang Dongxiong, his "old son-in-law."

They chatted awkwardly for a few sentences from the grand perspectives of court affairs, official position changes, and various policy decisions.

"How is everything at home?"

"Quite well." Yang Dongxiong straightened his back. "In recent years, I've taken in a few new disciples, all of whom are promising. The matters in the martial arts hall are now managed entirely by the Seventh and Eighth, without me having to worry about a thing."

Xu Rongguang nodded.

"In taking disciples, quality is more important than quantity; for people, sincerity is beauty, and upright character is noble."

"Father-in-law is right. The martial arts hall has been open for more than twenty years, and I've only taken these eight disciples. It's a pity, it should stop here."

Xu Rongguang put down his teacup: "Why is that? You have talent, and you and Xiao Wan don't have many children; you should spread your branches and leaves more."

"There are pearls and jade before me." Yang Dongxiong sighed. "Father-in-law, Marquis Weining, you know him, the Prince of Yue!"

"Marquis Weining has achieved the Wu Sheng Realm, and the Imperial Court has celebrated throughout the land; no one does not know."

"When the Prince of Yue arrived in Pingyang Prefecture, he took a fancy to the Ninth at first sight and insisted on taking him as a disciple. The Ninth has filial piety and disagreed!

In the end, there was no other way; the Prince of Yue took a step back and had to let his own grandson, his direct grandson, a four or five-year-old child, acknowledge the Ninth as his master."

Xu Rongguang was astonished.

"Your ninth disciple has attracted such attention from a Wu Sheng?"

Many of the Xu family's daughters married out.

Xu Rongguang knew all too well the methods of pulling people in through marriage alliances, acknowledging god-relatives, and taking disciples.

Even as the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, it is not easy to see a Wu Sheng; being able to say a few words during the annual distribution of sacrificial meat is already remarkable.

His son-in-law's ninth disciple actually has such ability?

"Yes, I really didn't expect it. This June, when the Prince of Yue traveled south from the Imperial Capital to take up his fief, he widely recruited talented people. Passing through so many prefectures along the way, he issued gold, silver, and copper tablets.

He said that the gold tablet is for seeds of Grandmasters, and there are only five or six in a prefecture, and only two or three boarded the boat. Who would have expected that when he arrived in Pingyang Prefecture, he would exclusively give the Ninth a jade tablet! He said it was above the gold tablet! Unique!"

Xu Rongguang's expression gradually became serious; he picked up the teacup again and blew on it.

"Father-in-law, guess what the Prince of Yue prepared for the apprenticeship gift?" Without waiting for Xu Rongguang to think, Yang Dongxiong revealed the answer, "A Xuanhuang Tablet! A fifth-rank Soul Golden Lotus! Isn't that a coincidence?"

Xu Rongguang didn't know if he was too old, and his understanding of many pieces of news was a bit slow. He held the tea lid half-open and subconsciously replied.

"Where is the coincidence?"

"The Ninth gave me an opportunity in July; your son-in-law has smelted a hundred scriptures! There are also ten great merits..."

Opening the mysterious light, smelting a hundred scriptures, consuming the long Qi of heaven and earth...

Three terms popped up one after another.

Xu Rongguang seemed to have suddenly caught a flash of lightning in his thoughts. The tea lid in his hand fell into the teacup, spinning around, and he blurted out.

"Are you going to become a Jiang Zongshi?"

Yang Dongxiong took a sip of tea.

After a long while.

"It's not good to say too much. The Xuanhuang Qi is already being exchanged; I'll strive for it within a month or two."

"Have you heard? The husband of Xu Rongguang's daughter, that son-in-law from Huaiyin Prefecture, is about to become a Jiang Zongshi!"

"A Jiang Zongshi? Isn't that the same as our family's ancestor? An old immortal who can live for three hundred years?"

"Yes! I heard General Xu acted as the matchmaker back then! Of so many sons-in-law, he's the first to have such great success. It's truly incredible. The key is that he cherishes his wife and has never taken a concubine. Mr. Xu's daughter still looks like she's in her twenties or thirties!"

A few servants whispered among themselves.

Liang Qu passed by.

The boat arrived in the morning, and the meal was eaten at noon.

By the time the Dragon Girl finished tidying up a room, before evening, the news had already spread.

As expected.

No matter who it is, even a master, everyone likes to be provided with emotional value.

He was just about to lift his foot to leave.

"It's not just the husband who is powerful; the disciple he took is even more powerful. That's not just a Jiang Zongshi; it's a seed of a Wu Sheng! He's going to be enfeoffed as a prince in the future! The Huo family young master, do you know that fierce Hai Yecha?"

The maid carrying the tray nodded: "I know, I know, he's very fierce. He looks hard to talk to at a glance. I heard that the day he came, he sparred with the Second Young Master Xu of the second room and beat him so badly he couldn't get out of bed. Everyone says he's a reincarnation of a star, and it made Sister Lian cry."

"It's not a reincarnation; it's passing the military examination, the twenty-eight mansions of the Wolf Smoke Realm. They say even so, he's not enough for the little disciple to fight with one hand!"

The servant corrected.

"Anyway, people have already put the word out, just waiting for the Hai Yecha to return from Lushan to teach the Huo family disciples a lesson on behalf of the Xu family, to let them know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is..."

"Wait, did anyone say that?" The servant was puzzled.

"Oh, it's the same thing." The maid waved her hand, "If you don't fight, how can you tell who is better?"

Liang Qu was stunned. He walked out from a side path, and the servants scattered like birds and beasts. The maid carrying the tray ran slowly and was caught on the spot.

"Where did you hear this?"

The maid was afraid when she saw a stranger, pointed in a direction, and lowered her head to leave.

Liang Qu followed the path to find them.

In the small garden.

"What Sea-Patrolling Hai Yecha? It's just to bluff you all. Once you go to Nanzhili, you'll know that martial bones and such are a dime a dozen, worthless.

Just on the boat I took when I came, a small boat, more than twenty rooms, there were three with martial bones! The twenty-eight mansions, we people in Nanzhili think it's too far and are too lazy to compete."

Xu Zishuai crossed his legs, shook the reclining chair, and chatted with five Xu family disciples in their teens.

"Big Brother Xu, can you really deal with that outsider? Step out and help us teach him a good lesson!"

The fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy was emotionally agitated and took the initiative to step forward to massage Xu Zishuai's shoulders, arms, and legs.

I really don't know what Huo Hongyuan did to provoke the Xu family disciples to share a common hatred and be filled with righteous indignation.

The little brother begged.

"Small matter." Xu Zishuai patted his chest. "I don't need to step out; just my little junior brother—what Hai Yecha, what Ji Water Leopard—he can beat him with one hand!"