Chapter 150: Dragon Pendant

Lunch was simple: two bowls of hand‑pulled noodles, two plates of shredded pickled vegetables, and the old man kept eating lightly.

While eating the noodles, Lu Cheng said, "Master, when you have time, I'll take you to hunt in the northeastern forest; the forest is all snow and there are plenty of mountain goods."

"I've heard there are many pheasants there, their meat is very fresh, and there are also dumb roe deer that, when they see people, will curiously stop, and can be killed with a single strike of a stick…"

After finishing, Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow; indeed, Xu Erye was interested, and even paused his noodle‑eating.

Which man could refuse the lure of shooting while hunting? Even Xu Erye, though old, still has a young heart.

"I don't even have a Linked Lever Gun; where would I go hunting?"

Xu Erye spoke casually, but his tone clearly held some expectation.

Lu Cheng replied immediately, "That's easy; I know people at the forest station. When the time comes, I'll give them some money and borrow it for a few days—no problem."

Xu Erye finally brightened, "Alright, then I'll go with you. The two of us working together would even dare to tackle a tiger."

"Sure, we'll hunt tigers, Bear Blind…"

Lu Cheng said, then suddenly changed the subject.

"But you see, the Disciple is already thinking about being filial to you; shouldn't you introduce the Senior Sister?"

Xu Erye gave a sideways glance, "I ask why you're so kind, taking me hunting? So you're just waiting for me here."

"Hehe, you once said Senior Sister is also in the Capital City; with the New Year approaching, not going to greet her would be so impolite."

Xu Erye shook his head helplessly; given Lu Cheng's recent good performance, he finally relented and said.

"You, really can be clingy! Go to the cabinet beside my bedside; there's a small box there, bring it to me."

Lu Cheng got up to fetch it, puzzled—he was supposed to introduce the Senior Sister, why was he now looking for a wooden box?

The wooden box wasn't large, made of some unknown wood, and felt very heavy.

When Xu Erye took out a Jade Pendant from inside, Lu Cheng couldn't help but feel his eyes light up.

It was a round Jade Pendant, with a hollow‑carved Five‑Claw Dragon in the center, overall showing a jade‑green hue.

Not only was the jade of excellent quality, but the carving was also superb; the dragon looked lifelike, its five claws strong and vigorous.

Lu Cheng took it in hand, twirling it, "Master, you still have such a fine item? This must be jadeite."

"It is indeed jadeite. During the early years of the war, I exchanged five jin of grain with a person fleeing the conflict; looking at his attire, he was either rich or noble."

That person said this Dragon Pendant was a reward from the emperor after Lord Zuo Zongtang achieved great merit.

A lineage? Just looking at the pendant itself, in a feudal dynasty, only the emperor could use a Five‑Claw Dragon.

If that's true and it truly was an imperial gift, then it's essentially a national treasure.

Lu Cheng glanced at it again, then tossed it onto the table.

It's just a Dragon Pendant; it can't compare to Senior Sister.

"Hey hey, you little brat!" Xu Erye picked it up affectionately, held it to his mouth and blew on it twice.

"Such a valuable thing—aren't you afraid you'll break it by tossing it?"

"Master, could you stop changing the subject? When I bring up Senior Sister, you suddenly jump back to the Jade Pendant."

"You know nothing! I already told your Senior Brothers that when someone comes looking for this Jade Pendant, it will certainly be you, my junior disciple; no matter what hardships they have, for the sake of the teacher's face, I will help them once."

Hearing Xu Erye's words, Lu Cheng, who was slurping noodles, froze for an instant, his eyes already reddening.

It turned out the Master had always been thinking of him, knowing he was usually a bit of a troublemaker.

Now the Master still has the energy to protect him, but after a hundred years when he grows old, no one will protect him anymore.

Worried that Lu Cheng might cause a big trouble someday, the only ones he can turn to for help are those Senior Brothers in high positions.

Lu Cheng unconsciously set down his chopsticks, "Master, over these years I've indeed been quite a jerk, causing you constant worry; have I especially disappointed you?"

Xu Erye often said he regretted teaching Lu Cheng martial skills; otherwise this kid wouldn't be so ignorant of the world.

He recalled that one year, at the Shichahai Ice Rink, Lu Cheng struck the son of a Grand Courtyard Commander; if Xu Erye hadn't intervened, Lu Cheng wouldn't be standing here safely today.

Such incidents are countless.

If Xu Erye claimed he wasn't disappointed, that would be false.

The disciples he trained are all top‑notch heroes, except this Closed‑door Disciple, who turned into a street drifter.

"If Master can give you this Dragon Pendant early today, then I won't be disappointed in you any longer."

Xu Erye looked across and said, "Lu Cheng, the Master doesn't have high expectations of you; just work well, treat Qing Yan properly, and you'll be the Master's most outstanding disciple."

Lu Cheng took the Dragon Pendant back, paused silently, and said, "Thank you for the Master's recognition; I certainly won't disappoint you, elder."

Seeing Lu Cheng so solemn for the first time, Xu Erye patted his shoulder.

"Hmm, back then I was willing to take you as a disciple again because I saw you as moldable talent."

Of course, now that things are liberated, there are fewer opportunities for merit, so you needn't strive to surpass the Senior Brothers; sometimes a simple life is a blessing.

Xu Erye's life could be described as grand and tumultuous; only when he neared the end did he understand many things.

A person lives one life; what they seek is simply stability.

He doesn't have high expectations for Lu Cheng; as long as he doesn't go astray, that's enough.

While eating, he chatted a lot with the Master, and it was clear the elder was very pleased.

When he was happy, he even mentioned where that Senior Sister works: in the Song and Dance Troupe under the Capital City's General Political Department Cultural Troupe, as Deputy Leader, belonging to a Senior Master-level Unit.

A female Comrade reaching a Deputy Leader rank shows how capable she is; Lu Cheng grew even more curious, vowing to visit her when he has time.

It wasn't until 5 p. m. that he wandered back home.

Chen Xianglan, seeing so many gifts tied to the bicycle, asked, "San'er, didn't you just visit your Master? Why did you buy so many things again?"

Lu Cheng, while securing the bicycle, untied the rope on the rear seat and said, "The Master gave them…"

The moment the words left his mouth, his head was struck.

"Mom, could you stop hitting my head? Lately I feel my brain's not enough, and I still have to write poems at night."

Editor Cai had helped him; having promised the commission, he couldn't go back on his word.

"You deserve it! You messed up again, why are you taking your Master's stuff? He's just an old man."

Lu Cheng also didn't want to take it: "My Master's stubbornness, you aren't unaware of it, you insist on giving it to me; if I don't take it they won't let me leave."

Chen Xianglan sighed: "Seeing how good your Master is to you, you must work well in the future, don't make your Master worry again."

"Got it, got it, don't worry, Mom, I'll go back to the room first."

In winter the days are short and the nights long; before long the sky darkened, and I wondered whether it would snow.

Lu Cheng lifted the heavy curtain, entered the West Wing Room, then removed the iron lid of the coal stove and placed a few pieces of coal.

He put his hand on it to warm for a while, finally latched the room door from inside, then sat at the desk, lifted his coat, and took out several boxes of Magnetic Tape and a tape recorder.

Even the complex electronic devices of later generations can be handled, and even the most hidden educational websites can be easily found; not to mention today's simple buttoned electronic products.

He cranked it, and beautiful melodious singing came out of the tape recorder.

The song is from a foreign love‑song prince, and its title is "mandy".

He didn't dare turn the volume up, after all if someone hears this thing the consequences would be worse than lewd music, surely it would bring unnecessary trouble.