Chapter 23: Betrothal to Li Qing, The Real and Fake Taoyuan

A full quarter of an hour later, the two finally stopped.

At this moment, Lady Hongfu was examining the Heart-Questioning Sword in her hand, then slashed it toward the stone table beside her.

Instantly, the stone table snapped in two at the sound.

The cut surface was smooth and level!

Hiss...

Seeing this, everyone gasped, unable to believe that the sword could be so sharp.

That stone table was a full inch thick...

Su Liang, however, was much calmer.

He was just rather speechless; was it necessary to be so violent?

Truly a model of an extraordinary woman!

After testing the blade, Lady Hongfu looked at Su Liang and said, "My good son-in-law didn't use his full strength just now, did he?"

Su Liang remained silent, which counted as an admission; not to mention his arm strength, the Heart-Questioning Sword weighed fifty-nine catties and the Swimming Dragon Spear weighed three hundred and sixty—could he use his full strength?

It would have shaken the Heart-Questioning Sword away.

The Curly-Bearded Guest also walked up at this time, staring at the long spear in Su Liang's hand and saying, "Little Su, this spear of yours must weigh over three hundred catties."

"That is indeed the case. Although this spear is only seven feet long, it weighs a full three hundred and sixty catties."

After Su Liang finished speaking, he handed the Swimming Dragon Spear to the Curly-Bearded Guest.

After taking it, the Curly-Bearded Guest swung it with the momentum, the spear moving like a swimming dragon.

He immediately said, "It is indeed a fine spear!"

Just at this moment.

Li Shimin had already walked over: "Good son-in-law, did you only forge these few weapons with those two batches of materials?"

Su Liang said indifferently, "How many did Your Majesty expect there to be?"

Li Shimin chuckled and said, "Good son-in-law, see if you can forge a sword for your father-in-law?"

Su Liang asked back in confusion, "Has the Retired Emperor not given you the Dragon Spring Sword yet?"

Hearing this, Li Shimin was immediately filled with embarrassment. Su Liang noticed his awkwardness and said, "I will see if I can collect some superior forging materials and forge a Son of Heaven Sword for you next year."

"Good, good, good... I am not in a hurry..."

Li Shimin said with a guilty conscience.

Seeing that Lady Hongfu was still holding the Heart-Questioning Sword, Su Liang immediately said, "Rest assured, I will also forge a fine sword for my mother-in-law when the time comes."

Only then did everyone return to continue eating.

This meal was intermittent and lasted for a full two hours.

During this time, everyone kept asking Su Liang to tell stories about the world of martial arts.

Li Qing also asked Su Liang to call Xue Rengui back; the three of them had traveled together for over three months at that time.

Su Liang told her that she would be able to see him in a few days.

He figured he was already on his way to Changancheng.

When the luncheon ended.

Lady Hongfu looked at Su Liang and said, "Your father-in-law has traveled thousands of miles to find you; prepare more Drunken Tang and Son of Heaven's Smile to send to the mansion tomorrow."

Su Liang was aware of this; the newly brewed Drunken Tang was snapped up as soon as it hit the market.

Even though the market price of Drunken Tang had been hyped up to one hundred thousand per dou, it was still hard to find a single jar!

After all, the end of the year was approaching, and many people were hoarding it, partly for fear of having no good wine for the holidays, and partly to use as gifts.

Son of Heaven's Smile was even more in demand due to its delicious taste and affordable price.

Su Liang was just about to agree.

At this moment, he saw the Curly-Bearded Guest wave his hand and say, "No need for such trouble. If you want to drink, just come over; it's only a few dozen miles away."

"Xian'er and I both traveled thousands of miles to get here, so we will stay here today."

Seeing her foster father say this, Li Qing nodded repeatedly.

That day, Li Qing and the Curly-Bearded Guest stayed at the Taoyuan Shanzhuang.

At this moment.

Li Jing, who had already reached the borders of Ningzhou, suddenly laughed heartily: "Haha... I will be able to see my precious daughter at the latest by the day after tomorrow..."

He then looked at Su Dingfang and said, "Dingfang, come help me think of a plan to marry my daughter to Little Su."

Upon hearing this, Su Dingfang asked, "Has the Duke of Wei's beloved daughter already arrived in Changancheng?"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Li Jing immediately acknowledged it and said, "My daughter must have arrived in Changancheng by now; she sent a letter through someone a few days ago."

"How about it, do you have any ideas?"

"You are now half a disciple of mine; you cannot side with that little Su just because I recommended you."

Su Dingfang also said with a smile, "If that were really the case, I fear your daughter would have already moved into the Taoyuan Shanzhuang by now."

Li Jing immediately asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Subsequently, Su Dingfang detailed some of the things he had heard from Xue Rengui to Li Jing...

Along the way, the two of them laughed heartily.

Regarding this, Li Jing sighed, "Perhaps I am already old; this world belongs to you young people now."

Hearing this, Su Dingfang said, "The Duke of Wei is joking. You look like you are not even forty years old; how could you be old?"

"That divine physician Sun Simiao is already over eighty years old, yet he still walks as if flying."

The next morning, inside the Taoyuan Shanzhuang.

Su Liang stretched lazily; he had stayed the night with Xiao Fengxian.

After more than a year apart, Xiao Fengxian had become even more mature.

One has to say, children of the martial world are truly heroic.

Just as Su Liang was eating breakfast, the Four Young Masters of Changancheng came to pay a visit, which was within Su Liang's expectations.

Su Liang knew the situation of the four; they had been busy moving house for the past two days.

They had even borrowed a carriage from Su Liang for this purpose, only finishing last night.

Cheng Chumo chuckled and said, "Brother Su, when will the soap business start selling?"

Su Liang teased, "What, are you out of silver to spend?"

Qin Huaiyu said, "That's not it, Brother Su; we want to use it for gifts."

Just at this moment.

Li Xian'er, who was eating breakfast nearby, suddenly said, "Isn't soap what my husband used to help me bathe yesterday?"

"Is it not for sale outside yet?"

Su Liang was speechless; to bring up such things—the Four Young Masters of Changancheng were instantly filled with embarrassment.

As the saying goes, as long as you are not embarrassed, the embarrassed ones are others.

Li Xian'er was exactly like that.

Su Liang looked at Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaiyu and said, "If you are short on money, just say so. Most of your wealth ends up in your fathers' hands; don't think I don't know."

"It's because you two spend your days in brothels that your fathers are like that."

"It used to be the Pingkang Ward, and now it's either the Tianqiao Ward or the Tianman Ward."

Hearing this, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaiyu remained silent, seen through completely by Su Liang.

Seeing that the two did not speak, Li Xian'er said, "Husband, didn't you say yesterday that you would bring it out for sale in two days? Why not today?"

"Why not choose Taoyuan City? I would like to go and see my husband's masterpiece as well."

"It just so happens that my foster father and I didn't get a chance to see it yesterday."

Su Liang then agreed, deciding to promote it in the Tianqiao Ward in the afternoon before starting sales in the East and West Markets.

Only there could it have a better effect.

He then had the four of them help out.

Naturally, he wouldn't let them work for nothing; Su Liang didn't take a single cent for the estates the four had bought.

Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaiyu had also helped Su Liang quite a bit.

Zhangsun Chong was his brother-in-law, so naturally he wouldn't treat him poorly.

As for Yuchi Baolin, he was just... just along for the ride...

In the afternoon, the group arrived at the Tianqiao Ward.

At this moment, the Lingyun Pavilion was filled with guests.

A moment later, they arrived at the high platform on the first floor.

"Fellow villagers and elders, brothers and sisters, life is like a white horse passing a crack in the wall; why not put down the matters in your hands."

"The general store has new items today; listen as I explain them to you in detail."

"Everyone, take a good look at the changes in this world!"

Cheng Chumo volunteered to step forward and speak.

He then had someone prepare a water basin and the soap.

A moment later, Cheng Chumo held the soap in his hand and continued, "This object is as smooth as grease and carries its own fragrance; it is called soap."

"It can be used to clean the body, ten thousand times better than the current bath beans!"

"After bathing with this, a lingering fragrance remains; I have already prepared a water basin for everyone, so you may step forward and wash to try it out."

The crowd took turns stepping forward to try it...

Within less than a quarter of an hour, the Lingyun Pavilion was filled with sounds of praise.

"Look, look, my skin is even smoother now."

"You should go try it too..."

"It washed so clean..."

"I can already feel my skin breathing..."

Two young ladies from noble families said, bouncing with joy.

"Look, look... my face is even whiter..."

"Pah, you shameless pretty boy, you have the nerve to say that..."

"This morning, I saw you stumbling out of Widow Zhang's house next door, leaning against the wall..."

"Watch out, or you won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning..."

After a man finished washing, he immediately began to brag to his companion, only to be met with a round of mockery.

"Heh... looking at you like this, you must be thinking of your wife..."

"None of your damn business..."

"Don't you want to buy some to take back for your wife?"

"None of your damn business..."

Two lecherous men teased each other, their faces full of hidden meaning.

"The things Young Master Su comes up with are truly extraordinary..."

"That goes without saying; are there ever few good things that Young Master Su comes up with..."

"I just wonder what other surprises Young Master Su has waiting for us..."

At this moment.

The Lingyun Pavilion was filled with such discussions everywhere.

Whether they were young ladies from noble families, sons of aristocratic clans, or even the famous courtesans of Lingyun Pavilion, all were full of praise.

Many men even hunched over slightly to ease their embarrassment.

A full hour later.

Most of the people in Lingyun Pavilion had finished washing.

Just then, a man with a shifty look in his eyes looked at Su Liang and asked, "Young Master Su, where is this soap sold? Surely it won't be impossible to buy again, right?"

Cheng Chumo was speechless; it was clearly his home turf today, yet they were asking Su Liang, which was obviously looking down on him.

He immediately wanted to step forward to argue, but Su Liang saw this and shook his head slightly, then replied, "It will be released today at the East and West Markets in Taoyuan County, and it will also be sold in the East and West Markets of Changancheng tomorrow."

"Everyone can head to the East and West Markets in a while to purchase it."

"You all need not worry; I guarantee every household will be able to buy some."

When the soap first came out, Su Liang didn't put it up for sale because he was afraid of it being snatched up; for something that even commoners use, he had to ensure every household could afford it.

At this moment, a woman of some beauty suddenly asked, "May I ask Young Master Su, how much is this soap worth?"

Su Liang said, "One bar of soap is ten wen; soap can not only remove dirt but also nourish the skin."

"In addition, we have also prepared laundry soap for everyone, which can be used to wash clothes, for only three wen."

A moment later, the crowd dispersed one after another.

Although Su Liang said he would guarantee every household could buy it, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't hoard it.

Seeing that the guests had all left, the fairies in Lingyun Pavilion also headed to the East and West Markets of Taoyuan County.

Seeing this, Su Liang shook his head slightly.

For this reason, Su Liang had hoarded several million bars, enough for all the commoners in the Jingji Circuit to use for two months...

No...

It was at least half a year!

Su Liang bathed every day, and the women followed Su Liang's lead; he had almost forgotten about that...

A quarter of an hour later, Su Liang and Li Xian'er also arrived at the West Market.

It was also because it was close; the southwest corner of the Tianqiao Workshop was the West Market.

Everyone else had gone to help.

A moment later, Li Xian'er, holding Su Liang's arm, asked, "Husband, is this the Taoyuan in your heart?"

Su Liang smiled and then said, "You could say that."

Li Xian'er asked in confusion, "Isn't this Taoyuan County built this way because of you, Husband?"

"Could it be that there is some place that is not to your liking?"

"Heh..."

Su Liang could only give a dry laugh at this.

If it weren't for the fact that technological development needs to be gradual, this Taoyuan County would certainly not be like this.

However, for the current Great Tang, it could barely be called a Taoyuan.

"Perhaps in just a few decades, this Taoyuan County will become a true Taoyuan County."

"Perhaps it will take a few hundred years, who knows."

After Su Liang finished sighing, he immediately took Li Xian'er's soft, boneless hand and said, "Let's go, Brother Yu will take you to see the real Taoyuan."

That day, Su Liang took Xiao Fengxian to visit all the workshops.

Until nightfall, Su Liang, who had just finished touring, said to Xiao Fengxian, "Xian'er, once all these are in place, we won't be far from the real Taoyuan."

Li Xian'er had not yet recovered from her shock; the things in the workshops had truly stunned her.

What was even more incredible to her was Su Liang's description of the future!

Airplanes that can fly in the sky...

Cars that can run without horses...

Something called a television where you can see people...

Something where a single cannonball can destroy an entire city...

Two people can talk to each other from ten thousand miles away...

Two people can see each other from ten thousand miles away...

One day, humans might even be able to land on the moon...

Everything Su Liang said was something Li Xian'er dared not even imagine.

Until the two were almost at the Taoyuan Shanzhuang.

Li Xian'er finally spoke slowly: "Husband, is everything you said true?"

"Of course it's true; one day, Husband will take you all up to the sky!"

Su Liang said in a firm tone.

Before Li Xian'er came, the other women also said they believed him, but Su Liang could see their perfunctoriness; they naturally couldn't accept things that weren't products of this era.

Only little Sizi later believed Su Liang's words without hesitation, and Su Liang was very happy about this; for this reason, Su Liang even promised her that he would take her flying into the sky one day to look at this Changancheng and this Taoyuan County from above...

Seeing that Su Liang's tone was serious and not like he was joking, Li Xian'er smiled and said:

"Okay! I believe you, Husband."

After saying that, she kissed him...

A long while later, she said, "As long as you don't leave me behind, Husband."

Hearing this, Su Liang hugged Xiao Fengxian even tighter...

December 24th.

Early morning.

Su Liang, still in Xiao Fengxian's bed, was woken up.

Su Liang didn't need to think to know who had come: his father-in-law, the Great Tang's God of War, Li Jing.

Li Jing had just returned to the capital yesterday; he hadn't come, presumably because he was handling official business.

He definitely had to come today, just not so early.

Su Liang had no choice but to get up slowly.

A quarter of an hour later.

After washing up, Su Liang walked slowly to the main hall.

Seeing Su Liang come out, Li Jing immediately stood up and laughed loudly, "Haha... Little Su, so you and my daughter have known each other for a long time."

"No wonder every time we met, you never dared to look me, your father-in-law, in the eye, haha..."

Hearing this, Su Liang immediately retorted, "It wasn't me, it was that Bearded Guest; you should go ask your brother what he did!"

"Haha... your mother-in-law already told me in detail about the things between you last night," Li Jing said, still laughing loudly.

"After all, Qing'er was raised by Brother Ke since she was a child, so it's normal for her to act that way."

Su Liang immediately asked, "Does Father-in-law mean that if little Xian'er had been raised by you, she would have done the same?"

"Not just me, but your mother-in-law too."

After Li Jing finished speaking, he pointed to the Lady in Red.

Su Liang was speechless...

Truly, they were worthy of being a family!