Chapter 252

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Liang Yan was both angry and annoyed.

Never mind children, even proper adults, once anger rushes to their heads, find it very hard to weigh pros and cons.

At this moment, he couldn't care about anything else, and only said loudly: "As a person, I don't change my name when walking, I don't change my surname when sitting. My surname is Liang, I've been called Liang Yan since childhood, it's the name my mother asked a scholar to help choose, hoping I would 'be strict with myself'."

"My father's surname is Liang, he never had the surname Xiang. He was an escort guard. If you must say what relationship my father has with the Xiang surname — he previously escorted goods for the Xiang family, and for the sake of protecting the escort and the people, he lost his life on the journey — my father did such a thing, he answered to the escort silver, he answered to his conscience! Why would I not dare acknowledge it?!"

"If you say I have some relationship with the Xiang surname, my father lost his life because of their family, they raised me for a few years, I owe their family daily expense money, I acknowledge that! You want to speak, speak about me, why speak about what my father did!"

Every sentence of his was stiff and hard, the more he spoke the more agitated he became, speaking and speaking, not only were his fists clenched tight, even his face turned red with urgency, one look and you could tell he was dead serious.

Yang Mian across from him had originally thought he was in the right and held the upper hand, how could he have expected to hear such inside information, he went "ah" and said: "I... I didn't know this matter... is it really true?"

Liang Yan said: "Who said my father's surname is Xiang? I'll go find him and make him speak clearly!"

He also said: "I have identity documents, I have a travel permit, I have a birth-date card, and also the letter the Xiang family wrote back then wanting to take me away — if you don't believe me, in a moment I'll go back and take them out to show you as proof!"

Seeing his reaction like this, Yang Mian was startled, he knew in his heart that what was just said was most likely true, and not a lie, he hurriedly said: "No need! No need to take them out! I also heard it from others, sorry, Liang Yan, it's me who didn't figure it out clearly and just spouted nonsense here, I'll apologize to you! Sorry!"

He also said: "I really don't remember who it was! When I go back I'll inquire and inquire, I'll explain clearly to the fellow disciples, how about that?"

While speaking, seeing Liang Yan had already turned around, looking like he was going back to demand an explanation, fearing trouble would arise, he hurriedly stepped forward and dragged him back, saying: "Aren't you looking for my uncle to build a roasting stove? Today was delayed, in some days he has to go to Kucha to run trade, who knows when we'll meet next time! Do you still want the roasting stove or not?!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly pulled Liang Yan outside, saying: "I also don't know who spread it, hearing them all say it so, with nose and eyes 【vividly】, I believed it, everyone else also believed it one by one, all thought your surname is Xiang, that you are that Xiang Yuan's son."

"That person is too wicked, helping kidnappers escape — our Master Cheng's family has a younger sister, she was kidnapped by kidnappers, last month the kidnappers were caught, the yamen finally rescued her back, she used to often come play at the martial hall, helping everyone pick up arrows, she was very familiar with us, after being rescued back, she never came again, heard she lost a whole circle of weight, and was scared into not liking to speak, everyone hates that kidnapper to death!"

Liang Yan was dragged to the doorway.

He helplessly said: "Let me go tell Zhu Zhan first."

"Just have someone pass a message!"

Yang Mian indeed shouted for a passing fellow disciple, had the other person pass word to Zhu Zhan, saying Liang Yan was going home with him for a trip and would return in the afternoon, and also called a carriage, forcibly pulled the latter up, apologizing non-stop all the way.

Seeing the other party sincerely admitting fault, Liang Yan then said: "You also didn't do it on purpose, moreover if it were me, I'd also look down on people who help kidnappers do bad things, not wanting to associate with their children, don't blame you! Still have to thank you, otherwise I wouldn't even know why everyone didn't want to associate with me."

Yang Mian then said: "Rest assured, when I go back tomorrow, I'll definitely help you explain clearly, and also ask who exactly was talking nonsense behind your back!"

Liang Yan did not plan to wait until tomorrow.

But he naturally wouldn't explain more to Yang Mian.

The two were ultimately of similar age, they talked all the way, and very quickly became familiar.

Yang Mian had long been curious, held it in for half a day, finally couldn't hold it in, and asked about Liang Yan's life story.

Liang Yan only said his parents were both deceased, currently he was staying at Zhu Zhan's household, outwardly saying he was seeking refuge with his grandaunt Zhou Shi, but actually he was adopted by someone and received their support.

"You say it out, it doesn't matter, I originally just rely on people's kindness..."

Yang Mian angrily said: "What do you take me for!"

He also said: "Zhu Zhan's family people are good, don't want outsiders talking nonsense — am I then bad?"

He said: "There are always those mouths that spew shit, liking to say this and that about others, my mother is four years older than my father, she married a 'Da Die' before, that Da Die died, then she remarried my father, outsiders always have long-tongued ones saying my mother brought my sister into the family to scheme for the family property, ugly to death, and still have to say it to my face, as if seeing my family harmonious and beautiful makes them anxious — you don't mind those people! My mother says, they're like flies, eggs have no cracks, yet they still want to stand on them with six legs and rub their hands!"

"I see your horse stance is very solid, archery is also accurate, Master Tong often praises you, do you have some knack?"

"No other knacks, I just practice more, I pull the bow three hundred times a day, hold horse stance for two hours, on my arms and legs, I hang sandbags — Master tells me not to pull that many, not to hang that heavy, says doing it like this is not good, I just can't help it..."

Yang Mian was startled, saying: "You're also too hardworking, be careful your arms hurt, legs hurt!"

When the carriage arrived at the Yang household, the two had already started calling each other brothers.

Once they arrived, Yang Mian entered the door and loudly called for his sister, called for brothers and sisters, called for father and mother, called for aunt and uncle, and forcibly dragged Liang Yan inside, shouting: "I have a friend from the martial hall who came back with me today!"

The Yang family was evidently accustomed to being warm and hospitable, one by one they greeted Liang Yan, serving tea and water, arranging seating, urging him to eat, and even wanting him to stay overnight.

Liang Yan directly said he had matters, in a moment he still had to go home to eat, fundamentally no one listened.

Yang's mother said: "Where is your home? I'll send someone to deliver a message, just say noon is kept at our house to eat, you children friends interacting, who isn't eating a meal at the east house, a meal at the west house?"

She also said: "Mian'er used to have so many fellow disciples come, every time they all had to eat at our house!"

Yang Mian hurriedly said: "Mother, don't force him to stay, next time he comes again, he still has to rush back for class — just pack some convenient food for the road!"

In a moment he also called uncle, and spoke of Liang Yan's purpose.

"... His sister wants to build a roasting stove, able to roast goose, roast chicken and duck!"

That uncle then said: "What kind to make? Is it a ground-level tile kiln stove, or a ground-level brick kiln stove?"

Liang Yan had heard Song Miao describe it, and hurriedly said: "Sister said best is a ground-level stove, easy to clean!"

Yang Gufu then said: "In the back courtyard they just built one, also ground-level, I'll take you to see if it is."

He led Liang Yan over to look, after looking at the stove, chatting, there were actually even blueprints — he took out the blueprints, and finally said: "Don't know what kind of stove your sister wants, I only know how to make brick-built, tile-built ones, also earth kilns, others I don't know, you go ask if it's the style she wants."

Liang Yan asked clearly in detail, hurriedly thanked him, and wanted to leave, in the end still couldn't refuse, and was stuffed with a few meat-filled flaky pastries before going out the door.

He hailed a mule cart, and headed straight for Sanzao County Alley.

Upon entering the door, he saw inside a person was tidying the bowls and chopsticks in the room.

Liang Yan couldn't help rubbing his eyes, only thinking his eyes were blurry.

And the person inside had already heard the movement, raised her head, seeing him, looking quite pleasantly surprised, grinned and said: "It's Young Master Liang!"

"Zhang... Zhang Niangzi? How are you here?"

That person inside, naturally was Zhang Siniang who had already come to work.

She said: "I came to the Capital to join Young Lady, currently working at our food shop!"

Just as they were speaking, Song Miao at the back heard the movement, and had already walked out, seeing Liang Yan, very surprised, greeted him, hurriedly poured him tea, and asked: "How come you came at this time? Hot? Have you eaten?"

Speaking she also said: "Just now well water was drawn, hurry go wash your face, wash your hands, just made cold jelly noodles, soaked in the well for half a day, you wash your hands and come eat a bowl, cool off!"

Upon seeing Song Miao, Liang Yan, sweat-soaked and parched alike, could not be bothered with any of it; he was simply impatient, and handed over the drawing like he was presenting a treasure, saying: "Jiejie, there's a fellow disciple at the martial hall I'm at, his maternal uncle knows how to build kilns — take a look, can this be used? Is it the kind that can roast goose, roast chicken and duck like you wanted!"

Song Miao took it and looked; sure enough, several styles of kilns were drawn on it.

She said in surprise: "It's the middle of the day, you made a special trip all this way just to deliver a message to me?"

Liang Yan was just drinking water; hearing this, he accidentally swallowed a hawthorn leaf, and with it still caught in his throat he looked up — the whole person froze for a moment.

When he was in Hua Prefecture, he had heard Song Jiejie mention the matter of kilns to others a few times; at that time, the way she described the appearance and taste of roast goose, roast pigeon, roast chicken and such, it truly made one's saliva nearly flow down.

Besides that, there was also that expectant look when Song Jiejie spoke, which left an impression too deep on him; so today, upon hearing someone could build kilns, regardless of whether it was the same kind, he didn't think twice and ran out — his heart held nothing else, only thinking: if by a fluke it hit the mark, how happy Jiejie would be!

As for everything else, he truly hadn't thought much at all.

Seeing the other party with a dumb, blank look, how could Song Miao not understand.

She said: "Looking at this maternal uncle's drawing, he seems to know his trade; I'll find time in these two days to go ask — if he can make it, that would be wonderful!"

Then in a gentle tone: "Next time there's something like this, just send someone with a message — you took leave this afternoon? Can you rest at home a bit before leaving?"

Liang Yan couldn't help but say: "Others don't know what kind of kiln Jiejie wants; I was afraid they'd get it wrong, and Jiejie would happily run over there only to make a wasted trip!"

He hurriedly added: "I didn't take leave, I still have to go back for class — I won't make it if I delay any longer!"

Then he said: "Jiejie, I'm not having the cold jelly anymore; I just drank a lot of water, afraid I won't find a toilet halfway!"

He ran to the back courtyard, went to the ice cellar, washed his hands and face; seeing Xiao Lian's room door shut, he checked the time, reckoned the other was napping, and though regretful in his heart, in the end he didn't go disturb her, and returned to the outer hall.

Just as he came out, he saw Song Miao had already brought out two bundles for him, and also a food box.

"Some snack tidbits, originally a guest's order; I conveniently made an extra portion for myself to eat for fun — you take some back; martial training is very hard, and you get hungry easily; normally when hungry you can eat this to tide yourself over, or share with fellow disciples you get along with — all up to you!"

"Inside there are some that keep, and some that don't; I've written a label on each, clearly stating when best to finish eating — you read and eat accordingly!"

Speaking, she also pointed at the food box: "Inside is cold jelly; I mixed sugar-vinegar water and packed it together; if you're afraid it's inconvenient on the road, take it back and eat then — there's ice in the food box!"

She knew Liang Yan had a particularly serious personality; fearing to delay his return to the martial hall, once she confirmed he had indeed eaten the crisp biscuit, she no longer insisted he stay.

Right at this moment, hoofbeats sounded outside, and also wheel sounds.

Song Miao went out to look; it was that driver Xu Shifu and Cheng Erniang, who had finished delivering things and just returned.

Cheng Erniang carried down the two loads from the cart body; seeing Liang Yan, she hurriedly said: "Liang Yan's back?"

Then said: "How long can you stay this time? Xiao Lian's probably already asleep; I'll go wake her up!"

Liang Yan hurriedly said: "Auntie, don't wake her; I just came back for a moment, I'm leaving right away!"

Seeing them talking here, the driver hurriedly closed the cart body, called out to Song Miao, and asked: "Young Lady, it's about time; if there's nothing else, I'll head off first?"

Song Miao glanced at the water clock; seeing there was still more than half a double-hour until the mao hour, she said: "Xu Shifu came at just the right time; this younger brother of mine needs to return to the Xu Family Wuguan, at Baokangmen Waizi — you send him there; round trip, there's still a bit of time left, no need to come back, just count it as the mao hour."

Xu Shifu agreed at once, immediately waved Liang Yan onto the cart, didn't forget to help open the cart body, and also carried his bundles and food box for him; carrying them, he laughed: "Didn't expect these things to be quite heavy."

Song Miao then said: "If convenient, trouble Shifu to carry them into the martial hall for him."

Xu Shifu patted his chest and agreed: "Young Lady rest assured, leave it to Old Xu! Definitely will deliver the person safe and sound!"

Liang Yan got on the cart; barely sat a moment, and once out of Sanzao County Alley, Xu Shifu started chatting idly with him — first asking if he and Shopkeeper Song were real siblings, what he came for today, then asking how long he'd been at the martial hall, where his family was, what livelihood, and so on and so forth, practically wanting to investigate eight generations of ancestors.

Liang Yan answered honestly at first; seeing him ask more and more, he became a bit unwilling to speak.

Seeing there was still one street to Baokangmen Waizi, Xu Shifu suddenly said: "Aiya, Liang family lad, I actually forgot something — once inside Baokang Gate it's hard to turn around; the streets there are narrow, I'd probably have to detour half a day to get out."

"Today happens to be my grandson's birthday; I originally promised to bring him sweet cakes at noon; didn't expect the morning delivery took that long, and now I've taken this job of yours too — already anxious; if I detour half a day and can't get out, I might not get home until evening — you're younger, and right now the distance isn't far either; why not sympathize with this old man, exert yourself a bit, and walk there yourself?"

Liang Yan, a mere lad, facing an elder who needed to go home and deliver birthday cakes to his grandson, already had thin face — how could he say no?

He honestly agreed, and also said: "No matter, I'll walk back myself; Xu Shifu hurry back to celebrate your grandson's birthday!"

Xu Shifu said: "Really no matter? Forget it; if Young Lady finds out later, she'll blame me..."

Liang Yan said: "I won't tell; you rest assured."

Sure enough, he carried the food box, shouldered two large bundles, and got off the mule cart.

And that Xu Shifu, the moment he set him down, didn't pause for a beat; whip waved, and he drove the mule turning and leaving.

He drove very slowly, and even hung a different-colored cloth outside the cart body — this is the mark in the Capital for mule cars soliciting passengers, indicating this car can take riders — walking along, he'd stop passersby from time to time, asking if they wanted a ride.

After running half an incense stick's time, a woman holding a child flagged him down; after boarding, she said: "Shifu, go to Chengxiang Fang."

"Where's that?"

"Behind Baokangmen Waizi; you drive forward, I'll shout when we arrive!"

"Alright!"

Xu Shifu drove the cart, no longer mentioning whether turning around was convenient, even less mentioning he needed to go back for his grandson's birthday; he just urged the mule forward.