Chapter 1162

Hu Xiaotian noticed that Yang Yingqiong was indeed good-looking; although not an absolute beauty, she belonged to the type of pretty at first glance, and she was sunny and lively, graceful and unassuming, and it was said her martial arts were also not bad. He subtly gave Chang Fanqi a look, and Chang Fanqi felt embarrassed, letting his big head droop.

Finally finding a moment when no one was paying attention, he quietly moved to Hu Xiaotian's side and whispered, 'I appreciate your good intentions, but this kind of thing cannot be forced.'

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, 'Chang elder brother, I'm not trying to do anything for you; I just promised the old lady, a gentleman's word is as swift as a whip—you can't possibly make me lie to an old person, can you?'

Chang Fanqi was speechless, thinking, 'Under someone else's roof, how dare I not lower my head? Regardless of how he arranges things, whether I ultimately agree or not still depends on my own will.'

Old Lady Chang and Yang Yingqiong chatted for a while, already amused by the girl's openness and broad-mindedness to the point of smiling brightly. Hu Xiaotian hadn't yet brought up the matter with her when the old lady furtively called him aside and whispered, 'I think that Miss Yang is quite good; Xiaotian, please ask her if she has any marriage prospects.'

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, 'Auntie, you don't even know what she looks like yet.'

The old lady mysteriously said to Hu Xiaotian, "I've asked already, she's pretty, as Miss Weisa told me, she's beautiful, good-tempered, good family background, Xiaotian, hurry up and ask for me." The old lady is a daughter-in-law enthusiast, her face full of eagerness.

Hu Xiaotian leaned close to her ear and whispered a few sentences; the old lady was delighted, nodding repeatedly, grabbing Hu Xiaotian's hand and not letting go, she whispered softly: "As long as Miss Yang takes a liking to us, this matter will be settled like that."

Hu Xiaotian deliberately said, "I'm just worried that Elder Brother Chang won't agree." While speaking, he also deliberately glanced at Chang Fanqi in the distance. Seeing him whispering with his old mother there, Chang Fanqi guessed there was nothing good, and glared at Hu Xiaotian anxiously, though he could do nothing about it.

The old lady laughed and said, "Why bother with him? I'll decide this matter for him. As long as I'm still alive, the big marriage decision won't be up to him." The old lady actually had a domineering side as well.

Hu Xiaotian returned to Chang Fanqi's side with a smile, and Chang Fanqi was really getting anxious: "What did you say to my mother?"

Hu Xiaotian unhurriedly said, "This is your home, hey, how about showing some host's manners? Hurry up and greet the guests."

Over there, the old lady had already shouted, "Fanqi, why don't you hurry over and help Miss Yingqiong peel garlic?"

Chang Fanqi's big face flushed red: "Hey..."

Hu Xiaotian saw this fellow's embarrassed look; he was almost laughing his belly off.

No matter how embarrassed and awkward Chang Fanqi was, there was one thing he couldn't deny: his old mother was in a great mood tonight, though she had supposedly been bedridden, she miraculously improved; the old lady was actually not sick at all—it had all been an act. Chang Fanqi is a filial son. Although he rarely speaks at night, he shows no displeasure; even though he knows Hu Xiaotian has ulterior motives, after all the latter isn't malicious, and in fact Chang Fanqi's impression of Hu Xiaotian has changed quite a bit without him realizing it.

That night's New Year's Eve dinner was also enjoyed by all, complete and satisfying. After the dinner ended, Chang Fanqi saw Hu Xiaotian and the others off one by one, returned to the courtyard, and saw his old mother standing there alone. He hurried forward to support his mother, saying with concern: "Mother, why are you standing here? It's windy outside; watch out for catching a chill."

The old lady said, "Son! I'm very happy tonight."

Chang Fanqi said, "Mother, I know you haven't been this happy in a while; go rest. I'll tidy up."

The old lady grabbed her son's big hand and said, "Fanqi, don't rush; latch the door, we mother and son will go inside to talk."

Chang Fanqi nodded, turned and latched the room door, then helped the old lady back inside.

Mother and son sat on the edge of the bed, and the old lady let out a long sigh, saying, "Son, do you think I've become foolish?"

Chang Fanqi shook his head and said, "In my heart, Mother, you are forever the most perfect person in this world."

Hearing her son say that, the old lady couldn't help laughing, she shook her head and said, "You little fool, when did you learn to cheer people up?"

Chang Fanqi said, "What I say is all true."

The old lady nodded, reached out her hand, and Chang Fanqi hurriedly extended his hand for her to hold; the old lady grabbed his right hand with her left, and with her right hand gently stroked his face, saying, "Mother hasn't seen your face in a long time."

Chang Fanqi's nose soured, and he almost burst into tears: "It's my inadequacy; I failed to cure Mother's eyes."

The old lady laughed and said, "Silly child, you're not a doctor, so why blame yourself? Besides, everyone gets old; I'm sixty-three now, and even if I were to pass away now, there'd be nothing regrettable about it."

"Mother, don't say such inauspicious things during the New Year; I still want to serve you for a long life."

The old lady shook her head and said, "I don't want you to serve me; a respectable man's ambitions lie afar—how can he spend all his time clinging to an old woman like that? What propriety is that?"

Chang Fanqi felt gloomy, thinking of his current situation, fearing there was no future left for him.

The old lady said, "Don't think I'm muddled, keeping everything from me; actually I'm clear in my mind. This is Dongliang Jun, Dakang's territory. Previously you were stationed at Dongluo Storage, and you lost Dongluo Storage. Now we mother and son have become captives of Sir Hu, right?"

Chang Fanqi had always thought his mother was muddled, so he never told her the truth, just kept weaving lies to put her at ease, but he never expected the old lady to know everything, to understand everything, and she blushed with shame, saying, "I'm useless, I've let Mother suffer humiliation."

The old lady said, "I don't feel any humiliation; Sir Hu and his people have always treated us mother and son with extra respect, being very courteous."

Chang Fanqi said, "That's because he has ulterior motives."

The old lady said, "It's not just because she appreciates your ability; Mother knows you should be happy about it—if in others' eyes you had no worth at all, we mother and son probably wouldn't be alive today."

Chang Fanqi nodded; indeed the old lady was perfectly clear-headed.

The old lady said, "Son, actually our Chang family's ancestor was the Dakang famous general Chang Zhenshan; later the Chang family experienced ups and downs but always served Dakang, until your grandfather's generation, which looked down on fame and office, our hometown Yan Prefecture previously belonged to Dakang, but later the Da Yong founding emperor Xue Jiurang self-proclaimed emperor, establishing the Da Yong dynasty, and we became subjects of Da Yong. I am just a woman of modest manners, I don't understand grand principles, but I once heard your father say that the world's great trend is that division inevitably leads to union and union inevitably leads to division; whether it's Da Yong or Dakang, they drink the same Yong River water and believe in the same sage teachings—they're actually one family. The true enemies are the barbarian tribes like Black Hu and Sha Jia. These years the Central Plains have been invaded by barbarians not because of internal division, but because everyone pursues their own interests; how many rulers truly consider the people's welfare?"

Chang Fanqi remained silent.

The old lady said, "Your father joined the Da Yong army but never achieved his ambitions, suffered constant repression, and died depressed. Although you are exceptionally brave, you long went without important posts in Da Yong; after being stationed at Dongluo Storage, Qin Yangming, envious of talent and ability, continually suppressed you, and Mother has seen it all. In fact, the Central Plains realm need not necessarily bear the surname Xue, nor must it be Long; whoever has ability can become emperor, as long as that emperor can resist foreign invasion and lead the people to a good life, that is a good emperor." The old lady uttered the simplest, most unadorned truth.

Chang Fanqi said, "It's my own inadequacy."

The old lady said, "Son, Mother knows you stay in Dongliang Jun solely because of me; if you truly still wish to return to Da Yong, you don't need to worry about me—just seize the chance to escape."

Chang Fanqi shook his head and said, "How could I not care for Mother? Besides, even if I fled back, it would be a dead end; losing Dongluo Storage through my hands is already a capital crime impossible to escape, and moreover I've been threatened by Hu Xiaotian, personally delivering Qin Yangming into his hands."

The old lady said, "Before your father died, he once said, 'A scholar dies for one who truly understands him; a person, no matter how great his talent, if he fails to find someone who appreciates him, is a hero with no place to use his abilities.' These days I have secretly observed Hu Xiaotian; although he holds the position of a regional lord, he is approachable, puts on no airs of superiority, and shows utmost care for us mother and son. Son, it's not that I urge you to surrender, but rather the wise adapt to the times become outstanding—you cannot just muddle through life like this."

Chang Fanqi whispered, "Mother, I will give this matter careful thought."

The old lady said, "In this world there's no obstacle that can't be overcome; living well is more important than anything."

On the first day of the new year, a group of subordinates came early in the morning to pay New Year's respects to Hu Xiaotian; Hu Xiaotian had earlier had Weisa prepare red packets, which he distributed to everyone; after the formalities, he summoned Weisa to go with him to pay New Year's respects to Zhuge Guanqi's place.

The two arrived at the lane leading to Zhuge Guanqi's home, just seeing Zhuge Guanqi and his wife returning from outside; originally the two had risen early that morning to go to the Temple of the Martial Sage to offer incense to their ancestors, and Zhuge Guanqi smiled, saying, "We were just thinking of going to pay New Year's respects to our lord, but it turns out you arrived first."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "It's only proper for a younger brother to pay New Year's respects to his elder brother; Brother Guanqi, Sister-in-law, do you have any red packets?"

Hong Lingxue giggled and said, "Yes, yes!" She affectionately grabbed Weisa's wrist and invited them to sit at her home.

Having arrived at Zhuge Guanqi's study and sat down, Hu Xiaotian said, "Actually I had wanted to come over yesterday, but thinking that Brother Guanqi had just returned from a long journey and needed proper rest, and that you and Sister-in-law surely had plenty to talk about, I dismissed the idea." (To be continued~^~)