Chapter 963: Acting as a Matchmaker for Sir

Xu Zengyi saw Chen Wuji enter, he was stunned for a moment, then he couldn't help laughing; he repeatedly tried to press down the corners of his mouth but couldn't.

"Just laugh if you want to, don't hold it in and make yourself sick!" Chen Wuji pulled over a stool and sat down.

The two courtyards are only this close; Xu Zengyi just needs to turn his head a little to guess what happened, he didn't even have a chance to cover up, so he might as well be frank.

Xu Zengyi's smile instantly widened; although his voice wasn't loud, to Chen Wuji's ears it was rather grating.

He glanced at the courtyard, pursed his lips and said, "Sir, you seem quite idle lately!"

This old fellow has been in charge of Xinglin Zhen's military affairs these days, yet he isn't busy at all; instead he seems to have grown old from idleness.

The courtyard is filled with all kinds of medicinal herbs and mountain produce.

"It's not exactly overly idle, but it's indeed not very busy." Xu Zengyi continued to laugh cheerfully.

His laughter isn't actually loud, but his whole body leans back and forth, giving a sense of restrained exhilaration.

Chen Wuji: ……

"Sir, that's enough, why are you still laughing nonstop?" Chen Wuji glanced at him and said unhappily, "This is the worry of happiness; someone like you, a lonely bachelor, definitely wouldn't understand."

Xu Zengyi nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, I don't understand this matter, but I also don't plan to ever understand it."

Chen Wuji's eyes lit up, "Sir, let me find you an old companion? Look at your age—you're certainly not young anymore; though you're just entering middle age, you already have the feeling of an old man, which is not good."

"Besides, you need to leave an heir; as the saying goes, among the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the greatest, a matter as huge as heaven. You may not care, but as your lord, I cannot not consider it for you."

Xu Zengyi's smile froze a bit, and he repeatedly waved his hands, saying, "My lord, I'm old; let's forget about this."

"What's there to calculate? I'll handle this myself!" Chen Wuji said firmly.

Let your old brat make me laugh.

"My lord, I've long been accustomed to being alone; I dare not trouble you again over such trivial worries." Xu Zengyi said.

Chen Wuji waved his hand indifferently, "It's just finding you a wife; what's there to worry about, it's a small matter. Alright, you don't need to say more—this is settled, start preparing the wedding wine."

Xu Zengyi: ……

"Shouldn't my lord ask what kind of woman I like?"

Seeing that he couldn't stop Chen Wuji, Xu Zengyi could only settle for second best and change his approach.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "No need, rest assured, I'll definitely make you satisfied."

Xu Zengyi tightly pressed the corners of his mouth, feeling he probably wouldn't be satisfied.

He hasn't prepared to start a family; no matter who is found, he certainly won't be satisfied.

And looking at his lord's current demeanor, he is surely about to do something conscience‑less; how could he truly find him a wife who suits his heart?

Those two laughs today were a huge loss.

"My lord handles myriad affairs; perhaps this matter should still be left to me to handle." Xu Zengyi tried again, unwilling to give up.

He hadn't finished speaking when Chen Wuji cut him off, "Just a few trivial matters; sir, don't take them to heart."

Having said that, not giving Xu Zengyi a chance to speak again, Chen Wuji smoothly shifted the topic and asked, "The army may soon march north. Xinglin Zhen and Guiling Xian are strategic points; we need a capable person to garrison them. Sir, do you have any candidates?"

"My lord has already summoned Chen Jiu northward; there's no need to arrange anyone else here—just order Chen Jiu to station troops." Xu Zengyi said.

There are simply too many Chen-surnamed officers in the army; to distinguish them, Xu Zengyi refers to Chen Bushi, Chen Luozi, etc., as Chen Three, Chen Nine, Chen Eleven.

Because Xu Zengyi started this, many in the army now also use these names.

There's also Little Chen Three and Little Chen Nine.

Chen Wuji's senior generation had seniority rankings; the junior generation naturally does as well.

However, the main line of the family head is too thin; only Chen Wuji remains alone, so naturally there is no ranking.

Chen Wuji thought for a moment and nodded, "Indeed, this place is only a few dozen li from Shenxian Ling; letting Ninth Uncle bring a hand would be good."

He sighed with a hint of regret, "The army now shows signs of rising generals; once they grow up smoothly, we shouldn't have to worry about lacking talent in the military. As for talent in governance… damn, it's truly worrying. Sir, do you think Lingnan has some bias toward certain kinds of talent?"

This situation isn't unique to him; Yang Yu has the same worry.

That old fox still came down from the heights of the imperial court, with wide connections and no lack of disciples and former officials.

"If we speak frankly by geography, indeed there is such a saying: some places favor civil officials, some indeed favor military generals, and some favor the three teachings and nine streams, as well as bandits." Xu Zengyi nodded.

Chen Wuji just said it offhand, never expecting it to actually be true.

He suddenly recalled the place where he studied in his past life; there, literary stars shone brilliantly, with the reputation of "five li produces a zhuangyuan, across the river two premiers, ten li nine provincial officials," showing the abundance of talent there.

But after a second thought, Chen Wuji felt this saying might have some truth, but shouldn't be so supernatural; the root cause of such a situation might be the story of Mencius' mother moving three times, i. e., regional culture.

"Kong Fang has invited two old friends; my lord, when you have time, please meet them. I chatted briefly with them, and they truly are men of real talent and learning." Xu Zengyi said.

"This kid works this fast?"

"Those two live nearby; they came as soon as they received Kong Fang's letter."

"Let's meet, let's meet now." Chen Wuji said immediately, "Eleventh Uncle, order a feast prepared."

"Yes!"

Over the past two years, Chen Wuji has tried every way to seek talent, but with little success.

Mature talent is hard to find; he himself has set up an academy, but the students he teaches still have a long way to go before they grow up.

Vacancies in Nan Jun's officialdom remain large, and many people hold dual posts.

These people have already petitioned more than once to voice their suffering, but Chen Wuji has no one usable at hand and no recourse, so he can only keep drawing big pies and ladling chicken soup.

Kong Fang and his party arrived quickly; in less than two quarter‑hours, they appeared before Chen Wuji.

Kong Fang's two friends are quite interesting; at first glance they look exactly like a fat and a thin monk.

One is stalwart in bearing, with a conspicuously general's belly; at first glance he looks like a military officer, on second look more like a merchant, his eyes shrewd yet revealing smooth deceit.

The other is the opposite—tall and thin, with a stern, wooden expression, full of dignity; at a glance he appears unsmiling and rigid.

"Jia Yujing and Zhao Chen have seen the Commander."

The two bowed and saluted, their demeanor showing obvious restraint.

"Please be seated!"

Chen Wuji raised his hand.