Chapter 110: Activating Ouyang Rong, Finally There's News (Seeking Monthly Votes)

To have a healthy body, one's life must be regular.

Three meals a day are absolutely essential.

In the morning, after Pei Shaoqing got up and finished his morning routine and breakfast, he took Zhao Zhilan out to the mountain to visit Ouyang Rong, specifically bringing him some gifts.

Horses cannot go up the mountain, not even Black General, so Pei Shaoqing called two Jing'an Guards to accompany them, letting them stay at the foot of the mountain to look after the horses.

Trekking over mountains and through streams, passing through a sea of bamboo, they caught sight of the two-story wooden building Ouyang Rong had built with his own hands.

In front of the house was a vegetable patch, and behind the house was a medicinal field.

In the courtyard, chickens and ducks gathered in groups, and cats and dogs played.

A large wild boar lay lazily under the eaves, sleeping.

This kind of life was simply turning the real world into a farming game; it couldn't be more comfortable, except for the lack of a woman, leaving him to be his own pilot at night.

The dog was the first to see Pei Shaoqing.

"Will I be prosperous this year?" Pei Shaoqing asked.

The dog opened its mouth and answered, "Woof! Woof, woof, woof!"

The wild boar was startled awake, stood up, and stared vigilantly at Pei Shaoqing, clearly remembering this big villain.

"Is someone here again, Brother Pig?" Ouyang Rong, who had rolled up his sleeves and was holding half a head of green vegetable, heard the commotion and came out. After seeing Pei Shaoqing, the expression on his face instantly stiffened, and he muttered to himself, "It's not that person here again, is it?"

"Brother Ouyang, long time no see!" Pei Shaoqing laughed and walked up, casually giving the baring-teeth dog a slap, "Your dog speaks better than you do."

"Why has Lord Pei come?" Ouyang Rong managed to squeeze out a smile, not inviting him in to sit.

He was cut off from news deep in the mountains.

He did not yet know that the person standing before him was already a Jing'an Guard Hundred-Household, a Baron of Pingyang, and a wearer of the Qilin Robe.

Pei Shaoqing turned back and beckoned.

Zhao Zhilan handed over the gifts.

Pei Shaoqing shook them, "Pastries from the best shop in the city. I've brought gifts today, so Brother Ouyang must show some hospitality."

It's over, Ouyang Rong felt as if the sky had collapsed.

A weasel paying respects to a chicken—nothing good will come of it!

Last time, without bringing gifts, he acted like a bandit and snatched so many of his medicinal herbs; what would happen this time now that he had brought gifts?

"Lord Pei, please come in." He casually threw the washed vegetables in his hand into the courtyard to feed the chickens, took the pastries with both hands, and turned to invite Pei Shaoqing and Zhao Zhilan into the house.

Pei Shaoqing stepped inside, looking left and right at the very simple and unadorned yet uniquely styled interior, "I hadn't been inside the house to look last time."

"My humble abode is a bit crude; it really makes Lord Pei laugh," Ouyang Rong said hypocritically.

Pei Shaoqing nodded, "It is indeed shabby, but I am a kind-hearted person; I can't laugh when I see people living miserably."

Ouyang Rong: "............"

"Eh, Brother Ouyang, are you making lunch?" Pei Shaoqing said, seeing the pot hanging in the fire pit.

Although there are stoves for cooking in Shuzhou, most households have fire pits, with a hook suspended above the pit to hang a pot or jar for heating.

Ouyang Rong nodded, placed the pastries on the table, and said, "I only made enough for one person."

"I've had enough to eat," Pei Shaoqing nodded.

Ouyang Rong took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and said through gritted teeth, "Lord Pei, this is my home, damn it!"

"I know, but when you built this house, did you have approval from the county? And do you have a deed for the land?" Pei Shaoqing paced around the room with his hands behind his back, asking casually.

Never mind that the Great Zhou law didn't stipulate that one couldn't build a house without approval; the power to interpret the legal provisions lay with him.

Ouyang Rong laughed, hurriedly stepping forward to help Pei Shaoqing sit down, "I hadn't finished speaking; although this is my home, damn it, Lord Pei, please don't be a stranger—just treat it as your own home."

"I can't stand this grievance; I've never lived in such a shabby house," Pei Shaoqing shook his head.

Damn it! Can one do whatever they want just because they have power?

Ouyang Rong didn't want to communicate with him, "Lord Pei, please sit for a moment; I'll go finish stir-frying the vegetables."

A man living alone usually has decent culinary skills.

He quickly finished stir-frying one meat dish and one vegetable dish.

He even served the rice for Pei Shaoqing.

"This official is not one to eat alone. Lan'er, you two don't be polite either; go get a pair of bowls and chopsticks and sit down to eat together. It doesn't matter if you aren't full; just pad your stomachs a bit," Pei Shaoqing said to Zhao Zhilan.

"Many thanks, Lord Pei!" Ouyang Rong had never dreamed that one day he would be eating his own cooking in his own home, yet still have to say thank you to someone else.

Is there any justice left? Is there any rule of law?

After finishing the meal, Pei Shaoqing picked his teeth and said casually, "Coming here today, besides missing Brother Ouyang, there is also a piece of official business to attend to."

It's coming, it's coming!

Today it's courtesy first, then force!

"Lord Pei, please speak," Ouyang Rong took a deep breath.

Pei Shaoqing said concisely, "Collect taxes."

"Didn't I just pay last month?" Ouyang Rong stood up abruptly upon hearing this, his eyes wide as he glared at him.

Pei Shaoqing nodded, "This is for this month."

"Ha! Hahahaha!" Ouyang Rong suddenly burst into laughter. After laughing enough, he slammed his hands onto the table, "What do you want this time? Speak!"

"Fierce Sun Grass," Pei Shaoqing said truthfully.

Ouyang Rong sat down with a thud, waved his hand in despair, "Take it, take everything."

Pei Shaoqing looked at Zhao Zhilan.

Zhao Zhilan stood up, cupped her hands to Ouyang Rong, and then went out to the medicinal field behind the mountain to find the Fierce Sun Grass.

Ouyang Rong drank his tea with a melancholy look in his eyes.

He actually managed to drink it with the feeling of drowning his sorrows.

As long as there is sorrow in one's heart, whatever one drinks is wine.

Soon, Zhao Zhilan returned holding a pile of Fierce Sun Grass.

"To think Medicine King Valley would expel a genius like Brother Ouyang; they truly have eyes but fail to see!" Pei Shaoqing picked up a stalk of Fierce Sun Grass, examined its quality, and said.

The expression on Ouyang Rong's face stiffened instantly.

"How did Lord Pei find out?" After a moment of silence, he pursed his lips and asked with a calm expression.

Pei Shaoqing replied, "Heh, I heard it."

Ouyang Rong was noncommittal; Medicine King Valley was some distance from Tongzhou, and family scandals should not be aired in public, so where would Pei Shaoqing have heard it? He must have sent people to inquire.

"My judgment of people is always accurate; Brother Ouyang does not look like someone capable of killing his master," Pei Shaoqing said.

Ouyang Rong gave a bitter smile, "Does the truth matter? Right now, I am the one bearing such a reputation."

"I am willing to help Brother Ouyang clear his name and punish the true culprit," Pei Shaoqing said sincerely.

Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment, "Why?"

"Give and take, after all. This official never lets his friends suffer a loss," Pei Shaoqing smiled slightly and shook the Fierce Sun Grass in his hand, "What does Brother Ouyang think?"

Ouyang Rong remained silent. After a long while, he shook his head decadently, "Forget it. I'm doing quite well as I am now, and life is quite comfortable."

Except for being hit up for favors by you every three days.

How could this be? How could one be content with the status quo?

If you don't become the Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley, where will I get an inexhaustible supply of high-quality medicinal herbs to use in the future? Where will I find a physician who can serve me personally anytime, anywhere?

"Brother Ouyang! In the prime of your youth, are you going to waste your time in these deep mountains and old forests? Are you going to bury your talents?" Pei Shaoqing said in an agitated tone.

He had to do it for his own interests.

Activate Ouyang Rong's ambition!

If someone insists that you must be ambitious when you are clearly living well, then most people who say such things are looking to take advantage of you.

Ouyang Rong raised his teacup and drained it in one gulp, then gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "Isn't a life lived any way still a life? Who decreed that a person must get ahead? There must always be someone who is ordinary and plain; why can't that person be me?"

"Fine, it's fine if you think that way, but does the truth of your master's death also not matter? Can you bear to let him die with hatred in his heart? Can you truly manage to not think about the enemy who killed your master?" Pei Shaoqing played his trump card directly.

Ouyang Rong was dumbstruck, remaining indifferent and silent.

Pei Shaoqing put the Fierce Sun Grass into his Storage Ring, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Ouyang, thank you for your hospitality and the Fierce Sun Grass today. You can think over what I said. No one can live only for themselves; one must also live for those who truly care about us."

As his voice fell, he turned and left decisively.

Zhao Zhilan followed closely behind.

A large wild boar poked more than half of its head in from the doorway, grunting as it looked at Ouyang Rong without saying a word.

Because it could not speak.

Ouyang Rong looked at the wild boar and sighed.

"Brother Pig, do you think I am a bit too selfish? Master taught me skills, Medicine King Valley provided resources, yet I only want to live according to my own ideas, unwilling to shoulder any responsibility, and haven't even gone to investigate the truth of Master's death..."

…………………………

Returning home, Pei Shaoqing gave the Fierce Sun Grass to Xie Qingwu, "Wife, see if these are enough."

"So many, it's enough, it's enough." Xie Qingwu nodded repeatedly, picked up a stalk to examine it, and praised again, "This friend of yours really takes great care of the herbs. At a glance, there are basically no defective ones. The price this quality sells for on the market is not low."

"Perhaps he saved the best quality ones for me," Pei Shaoqing said with a straight face.

Ouyang Rong's professional ability is so strong; he must be made the Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley. This would benefit the entire Medicine King Valley and the entire Jiang Hu!

And incidentally, it would also benefit him, Pei.

And only lastly would it benefit Ouyang Rong.

Xie Qingwu said, "Husband, introduce me to him one day; I want to thank him in person."

"We'll see," Pei Shaoqing replied, then added, "Wife, manage your time well for this seclusion to refine medicine; don't take too long. We have to enter the capital at the end of the month."

Although this world does not distinguish between the Gregorian and solar calendars, Great Zhou has two sets of calendars: one is the universally recognized Jiuzhou Calendar, and the other is the Great Zhou Calendar.

Great Wei also has its own Great Wei Calendar internally.

Their operations all differ from the Jiuzhou Calendar.

For example, today is the fourth day of the ninth month of the thirtieth year of Jingtai in the Great Zhou Calendar, but according to the Nine Provinces Calendar, the fifteenth of the eighth month is not until the month after next. People in the Zhou State generally use the Great Zhou Calendar for official documents, but privately, they actually all use the Nine Provinces Calendar.

The neighboring Wei is the same. The set of calendars created by feudal dynasties to strengthen their rule is too chaotic for the common people, and they have long been used to the Jiuzhou Calendar.

This year is 4250 of the Jiuzhou Calendar. It is said that before the spiritual energy withered, there was only the Jiuzhou Calendar; later, when mortals took charge, every country started its own calendar.

"Rest assured, the Gathering Qi Pill is not difficult. I will master it quickly after practicing a few more times; it won't delay much time," Xie Qingwu said with a slight smile.

Pei Shaoqing touched her belly, "But this will delay your pregnancy plan."

"That's right, so husband must fill me up tonight," Xie Qingwu said with seductive eyes.

Pei Shaoqing wanted to make her full to the brim right now.

Just as he was about to make a move, the voice of the maid, Qiuye, sounded from outside: "Young Master, Commandant Chen requests an audience."

"Coming right away." After replying, Pei Shaoqing looked at Xie Qingwu helplessly, "Couldn't come earlier or later."

"You go quickly. Commandant Chen has even found his way to the house; it must be something important. I can be filled up anytime here," Xie Qingwu pushed him with a smile.

"I'll make sure you're filled to the brim tonight, wife," Pei Shaoqing left behind a sentence, shook his head, and turned to leave.

Arriving at the main hall, before he could speak, Chen Zhongyi said first, "My Lord, we have found Young Hero Ye."

(End of this chapter)