Chapter 682: Give Me a Name, Please!

Chen Yan felt very surprised, and Li Shimin felt the same.

The elderly lady before them seemed more formidable than they had imagined.

The saying "birds eat insects, insects eat grass, humans eat humans" surprised both Chen Yan and Li Shimin.

However, after hearing the last sentence, Chen Yan helplessly said, "Madam, your expectations of me seem a bit high; I'm just an unambitious second‑generation."

"My life's ambition is merely to eat and wait for death; how could I become that person?"

Ding Huirong retorted, "Since the adult's ambition is to eat and wait for death, why is he now Minister of Revenue, and why did he forcefully revoke the Buddhist Establishment's privileges a few months ago?"

"This…" Chen Yan was at a loss, not knowing how to answer.

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng, who were following, seemed thoughtful upon hearing this.

Li Shimin's expression turned strange as he said, "I heard the Emperor and the Empress forced him to take office; he had no choice but to accept."

Ding Huirong shook her head, "Perhaps so."

Chen Yan inexplicably felt this manner of speaking was familiar, yet he couldn't recall where.

He pondered briefly, "Madam, your former status must have been unusual."

Mentioning that, Ding Huirong's eyes flashed with an inexplicable light, then quickly dimmed, "You misunderstand, sir; I have no special background, my family is not a great household, I am merely the daughter of a schoolteacher."

"Oh?" Chen Yan added a compliment, "I suppose your father must be a person of profound learning."

Ding Huirong shook her head, "You overpraise, sir; my father is no scholar of profound learning, just an old fool who babbles about gods."

"Who can compare to a great talent with eight dou of brilliance? The name Chen Zaijiu is known to everyone."

Chen Yan: "......"

Why does everyone keep raising this question?

"Now there's also the title 'Tang Dynasty Weightlifting King,'" Xiao Sizi suddenly interjected, provoking Chen Yan's anger; in front of the elder he couldn't lose his temper, so he glared fiercely at the little brat.

Ding Huirong was startled, "I haven't heard of this; has the sir been granted a princely title? Why call him Weightlifting King?"

Upon hearing that, Gao Yang burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, Madam, you don't know; his title of Weightlifting King wasn't bestowed by His Majesty, but recognized by everyone."

"It's because he's so strong at bearing weight that he's called Weightlifting King."

"Nevertheless, the title is quite nice; once he earns merit, I will certainly suggest to His Majesty that he be formally granted the title of Weightlifting King."

Li Shimin nodded seriously, "I think that's fine!"

Chen Yan: "......"

Hearing Li Shimin's words, even Empress Changsun couldn't help but smile faintly, then asked gently, "Elder, now that you live here alone, aren't there many inconveniences, and also......"

"And after death no one will handle the funeral, right?" Ding Huirong guessed what she meant and voiced the sentence for her.

Empress Changsun nodded.

Ding Huirong's eyes gradually filled with a memory, "I have nothing left to lose; I've waited here for them for almost thirty years, I'm tired, and I don't want to wait any longer."

"So I entrusted Xiao Liuzi: after I die, give him this house and land, and have him cremate my remains into ash and scatter them into the Wei He."

"Perhaps, whether the ash drifts with the wind or flows downstream, I no longer wish to keep waiting."

"......"

"Birds eat insects, insects eat grass, humans eat humans!"

Coming out of Ding Huirong's courtyard, Li Shimin crossed his arms and chuckled, "Zi An, this seems to echo the question I asked you before, and your answer then had a similar cleverness."

"That old lady surnamed Ding is indeed extraordinary......"

Chen Yan replied, "I think perhaps age and experience make one see many issues very clearly in old age."

"There's a saying I truly agree with."

"Regardless of the dynasty, it may seem lacking many things, but in fact it lacks nothing; it's just that they never reach the common people."

"Hmm." Li Shimin's mood grew heavy, he sighed, "Let's go, I'll accompany you to the Wei He dock, have lunch, then set out again."

"Alright." Chen Yan nodded in agreement, then said to the following Xiao Liuzi, "Liuzi, you're a good fellow; if you ever run into trouble, come to the Chen residence in Chang'an and find me."

"Thank you, sir." Xiao Liuzi pounded his chest, "Rest assured, sir; everyone says I'm as clever as a monkey, and I can definitely take good care of myself and my sister."

Chen Yan laughed and patted his head, "You silly kid, don't say such things casually, or they might actually work."

"But you are indeed clever; next year, bring your sister to Chang'an, and I will take you to do business, earn big money, so you can save a dowry for your sister and she can marry splendidly in the future."

Xiao Liuzi's eyes lit up instantly, "Really? Sir?"

"Could I still deceive you?"

Chen Yan was speechless, then recalled something, and gestured to Xue Li, who understood, took a golden cake from his bosom and handed it to Chen Yan.

"Take it, buy some good food for yourself and your sister, make your bodies stronger, and also buy some daily necessities for Madam Ding." Chen Yan slipped the golden cake into Xiao Liuzi's bosom.

He expected Xiao Liuzi to decline as others do, but the fellow took it outright, then grinned, "Since it's given by you, Liuzi will accept it."

"From now on, Liuzi's life belongs to you."

Chen Yan muttered, "Who wants your life? Keep it for yourself!"

"I've told you, don't say such things again, or they might truly work."

"Alright, that's enough, remember to keep it safe, I'm leaving now."

He finished speaking, waved his hand, and left, followed by Li Lizhi and others, keeping pace with Li Shimin.

Xiao Liuzi waved cheerfully until Chen Yan and the others' silhouettes vanished completely from view.

Then he touched the golden cake in his bosom, lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, his eyes slightly reddening.

Xiao Liuzi inhaled deeply, wiped his nose, and once again showed his familiar smile, turning to run back to Ding Huirong's house.

To the absent‑minded Ding Huirong, he said, "Grandma Ding, next year I will leave Weinan County for Chang'an; the sir said he'll help me earn big money, save a dowry for Xiao Qi, so that Xiao Qi can marry splendidly in the future!"

"I promise!"

Hearing that, Ding Huirong came to herself and said slowly, "Have you really decided?"

"Of course!" Xiao!"

He said, holding the freshly obtained gold cake with both hands, he solemnly presented it to Ding HuiRong: "I understand the rules, I won't let you trouble yourself for nothing."

"Here, this is for you!"

Ding HuiRong lowered her head to look at that gold cake, then raised her eyes, looking at the pair of eyes full of hope before her.

In those eyes, there was light.

"......"