Chapter 127: Fishing by the Moat, Beating Up Prince Lie

Yo~

Lu Yuan looked at Lin Fusheng with a stunned expression, then broke into a grin and said:

"Boss, you're so awesome now."

Lin Fusheng grinned and said:

"It's still because of you, kid—you've got the greenhouse and the grain thresher; there's no way the boss wouldn't get promoted."

Lu Yuan hurriedly waved his hand and laughed:

"What does this have to do with me? I may have come up with these things, but it's all thanks to the boss handling things quickly."

"Look at this greenhouse—I gave it to you that day, and you had it set up the next day."

"Could an ordinary person work that fast?"

Lu Yuan flattered him without changing his expression.

Lin Fusheng burst out laughing:

"Hahaha, kid, don't put on this act for the boss—we're family, no need for this!"

Lu Yuan said solemnly:

"It's the truth, no lies—if it were an ordinary person, could they get things done this fast?"

Nobody in the world dislikes hearing nice words; even if they're fake and hard to believe, people still love to hear them.

Lin Fusheng laughed and patted Lu Yuan on the shoulder:

"Alright, alright, once the boss becomes bureau chief, the boss will arrange a position for you."

"In five months, it'll also be the time for a major reshuffle across departments—many older folks who can't get promoted will retire, leaving lots of positions vacant."

This doesn't matter; Lu Yuan isn't even looking at that position.

Lu Yuan nodded, then said:

"I'll just follow the boss's orders—boss, I'm heading to the greenhouse."

Lin Fusheng kept nodding:

"Go on, then."

Lu Yuan immediately tethered his horse, came to his greenhouse, unlocked it, went in, and began taking notes in his little notebook.

Lin Fusheng didn't leave either; he followed him inside.

For this two-mu greenhouse, Lu Yuan actually uses very little of the space—not even a tenth.

That's just a small vegetable garden.

Lin Fusheng never said anything, but whenever others remarked that Lu Yuan demanded such a big greenhouse yet only used a tiny patch, wondering if it was wasteful.

Lin Fusheng wanted to give those people two slaps—"you don't know a hammer!"

Lately, Lin Fusheng kept feeling that Lu Yuan's potatoes were weird.

He often made strange, unusual requests.

For example, he'd suddenly ask for potatoes that produce many tubers per plant, or else he'd ask for potatoes that yield huge tubers.

Lin Fusheng had no idea what Lu Yuan was up to.

Still, even though he didn't understand, Lin Fusheng was greatly shocked.

Anyway, whatever Lu Yuan wanted, Lin Fusheng would prepare it for him.

These days, the Agriculture Bureau's clerks were really suffering—if they couldn't find what Lu Yuan demanded in the city, they'd ride out to the countryside to look for it.

Lu Yuan was focused on recording things, so Lin Fusheng, who had wanted to chat with him, didn't want to disturb him.

……

Meanwhile, in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the palace, the Hall of Double Glory.

Gu Qingwan leaned sideways against the dragon throne.

Before her lay one after another yellow small square box; opening them revealed the important memorials submitted by the six ministries.

Soon a eunuch hurriedly came to the desk and respectfully said:

"Your Majesty…… Prince Lie…… couldn't be found……"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingwan's usually indifferent face suddenly furrowed her brow, looking annoyed.

"Wasn't he supposed to stay in the Hanlin Academy and study properly!! How could he be missing again!!"

Gu Qingwan couldn't suppress the anger in her heart and shouted sternly:

The head eunuch quickly knelt and said:

"Perhaps…… perhaps……"

The head eunuch wanted to make an excuse for Prince Lie, but…… he really couldn't come up with anything.

All he could do was lower his head and stammer:

"Your Majesty, I'll send people to look for him."

Gu Qingwan took a deep breath, then finally pursed her lips and said weakly:

"Forget it—he's either out fishing or riding his horse crazy. When he comes back, bring him to see me!"

"You may retreat."

The head eunuch then quickly nodded and said:

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After the head eunuch left, Gu Qingwan helplessly leaned against the dragon throne, her jade hand lightly pressing her forehead.

Gu Qingwan has ways to deal with foreign enemies, corrupt officials, and governing the state.

But when it comes to her own younger brother, she truly has no idea what to do.

Her younger brother is simply too unruly.

Every day it's just eating, drinking, having fun, fighting, cricket fighting, walking birds, fishing—anything improper, he's the most capable.

If it weren't so, this throne wouldn't have come to this woman of mine.

My younger brother really has been spoiled rotten by our father.

Fortunately, my younger brother still fears me; before, I could still manage him.

But now where would I find the time to manage him?

I've found so many contemporary masters and teachers for him, but my younger brother either skips class or sleeps through it.

Even that teacher doesn't dare to manage him.

If I say too much, my younger brother will just get a beating.

Originally I thought to put my younger brother in the Hanlin Academy, letting those scholars of literature, arts, divination, calligraphy, painting, and chess influence him.

But before those people could influence my younger brother...

My younger brother brought that gang to the Hanlin Academy every day to fight crickets—really stunk the place up!

Lately he's suddenly become obsessed with fishing, going out every few days.

A ten-meter-high wall, and I don't know how he managed to climb over it!

This really worries Gu Qingwan to death.

With just this younger brother, if I hit him I can't bear to beat him to death.

If I don't hit him, he keeps acting like this every day, really leaving me with no recourse.

Sigh...

After a helpless sigh from the sister toward her brother, Gu Qingwan picked up the memorial before her again.

…………

After about an hour and a bit, Lu Yuan finished his records, checked the potato growth, then locked the greenhouse and prepared to leave.

At that moment, Lin Fusheng came out from the neighboring greenhouse and said:

"Yuan'er, are you going to have a child?"

Huh?

Lin Fusheng's words left Lu Yuan a bit dazed, but he still shook his head and said:

"No, we haven't even started yet."

Lin Fusheng then nodded and said:

"Then you better get on it; once you have a child, the old man will still come find you for a drink."

Lin Fusheng has always wanted to drink with Lu Yuan.

But Lu Yuan won't drink while trying to have a child, which really frustrates Lin Fusheng.

Lu Yuan startled, realizing he was waiting for himself to drink, then he grinned and said:

"Sure, I'll definitely put in the effort!"

After finishing speaking with Lin Fusheng, Lu Yuan then rode his horse back.

As he was walking back along the road, Lu Yuan blinked, reined in his horse, and went off to fish.

Lately, things have returned to calm.

Lu Yuan now spends his days doing nothing except at night when he tries to make a baby with his wife.

With this idleness, Lu Yuan's hands started to itch again.

Go cast a line!

Immediately, Lu Yuan went to the moat; in this freezing weather, several degrees below zero, only that part of the moat doesn't easily freeze.

Upon arrival, he saw it indeed hadn't frozen, and he immediately went to his usual spot.

After tethering his horse, Lu Yuan glanced around, saw no one, and took out various items from his storage space.

Then he swung the fishing rod, let's go!

After casting the line, Lu Yuan took out a small stool, sat down, lowered the ear flaps of his dog-head hat to shield his face, then lit a fire beside him to warm himself.

Even if he has a perfect physique and isn't afraid of catching a cold, he still ought to be a bit more comfortable, right?

You can't show off in the dead of winter!

It's only just past one in the afternoon; he can fish for three or four hours.

Lu Yuan had just finished setting up when a sound of horse hooves appeared behind him.

Lu Yuan couldn't be bothered to look back.

But at that moment, the horse hooves stopped behind him, and then a voice sounded:

"Hey hey hey, go fish over there; this spot is mine."

Huh??

This moat is so big, so long.

What nonsense, just your spot??

Lu Yuan turned back with a bewildered face.

At that moment he saw a young person sitting on a tall, large horse.

His age is about the same as Su Changliang's, around eighteen or nineteen.

This person has an extraordinary bearing with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes.

He looks like a son of a high-ranking official.

Lu Yuan instinctively opened the system to look.

Whoa, just looking at that horse, it's a four-star horse.

Then he looked at the person on the horse.

Half star.

Lu Yuan:???

To be honest, this star rating is something you can only see in your own Siheyuan; it's really uncommon elsewhere.

Then I looked at the label below this person.

【Brave】

【War God】

【Stubborn】

【Arrogant】

【Luxurious】

【Afraid of older sister】

【Afraid of older sister】

【Afraid of older sister】

【Afraid of older sister】

……

Lu Yuan looked at the label with a face full of question marks.

Lu Yuan counted them.

Good grief, more than a dozen of the labels after it are all 'Afraid of older sister'!!

How damn afraid of an older sister must one be?

However……

Brave?

War God?

Is this kid a military household?

Of course, no matter who it is, Lu Yuan isn't afraid.

Who is Grandpa?

Grandpa is the Heaven-upholding Guard!

I've just set up my rod and prepared my spot, and now you come riding in on your horse, flapping your lips, and as soon as you open your mouth you want me to give up my spot?

On what basis!!

Besides, there are plenty of spots here; where can't you go?

Do you have to steal my spot?

Are you just looking for trouble on purpose?

Is Lu Yuan someone who can suffer a loss?

Of course, I definitely won't give in.

I'm not a coward either.

Immediately, Lu Yuan couldn't be bothered to look at this person, gazing at the lake surface as he said:

"You're really interesting; with all this empty space, you could cast your rod anywhere."

"But you have to come and fight over my spot, and then claim it as yours—why don't you just say the whole river belongs to you?"

The next second, this person instantly jumped off his horse, raised his head, and said:

"You're right; this river is my family's. Get lost now, or I'll really beat you!"

Hearing his words, Lu Yuan tilted his head slightly, amused, and looked at him to the side as he said:

"You still want to beat me?"

And this person just glared and said:

"You think I don't dare, huh!"

Lu Yuan then grinned, showing his teeth, and said:

"Come try."

This person stared for a moment, then seriously sized up Lu Yuan, who looked to be in his twenties, hmm……

What grand master are you pretending to be!!

This person wasn't polite either; the next second he launched a tiger pounce, charging at Lu Yuan.

Result: a clang.

Lu Yuan instantly rose and pressed this person down to the ground.

Gripping this person's head, he shook it left and right.

"Oh, submit or not!"

Lu Yuan used the canopy to press down hard on this person's back, grabbing his hair and raising an eyebrow as he said:

However, this person, being held down by Lu Yuan, gritted his teeth and said:

"This doesn't count; you're cheating!!"

Lu Yuan wore a strange, amused expression and said:

"How am I cheating?"

This person gritted his teeth and said:

"Your earlier act of sitting there and deliberately not resisting was a show of weakness to the enemy."

"It's appropriate in military strategy, but since we're in a one-on-one duel, it should be a true man's fight—you're being calculating, not like a real man!"

"Even if you kill me now, I'll still look down on you!"

Lu Yuan: "???"

This person's way of speaking is quite interesting.

Lu Yuan was left somewhat torn between laughter and tears.

Lu Yuan glanced at his fishing rod—there was no movement at all.

Hmm…

The next second, Lu Yuan let go of the person, raised an eyebrow, and said:

Fine, get up.

After the person got up from the ground, he brushed off the dirt on his body while raising an eyebrow and said:

You're quite impressive—who are you? I know all the formidable people your age in this city, so why don't I know you?

Lu Yuan looked at him, amused, and said:

Then who are you?

This person didn't mince words, immediately saying:

I'm Gu Lie!

Lu Yuan blinked, then slightly raised his eyebrow and said:

Well, still an imperial surname, huh?

Gu Lie, however, snorted and said:

What's up, are you scared?

Don't worry, I won't come after you from behind!

That's not what a real man would do!

Lu Yuan, somewhat amused, said:

I'm not scared at all.

After Gu Lie finished brushing off the dust, he let out a light hum and said:

Just don't be scared!!

The next second, Gu Lie instantly lunged at Lu Yuan again.

However, the next second—bang!!

Another muffled thud.

Gu Lie instantly fell to the ground, grimacing, and said:

Ow ow ow!!!

Lu Yuan wore an amused expression and said:

Are you convinced?

However, Gu Lie blinked, then gritted his teeth and said:

Not convinced!! I specialize in leg techniques; just now we were too close, I couldn't unleash my moves. If you're capable, don't use fists—let's fight with legs!

Lu Yuan was genuinely amused by this person's antics.

Anyway, we still haven't caught any fish.

He immediately nodded and said:

Fine!! As you say!

Having said that, Lu Yuan released Gu Lie again.

After Gu Lie got up, Lu Yuan stepped back two paces, amused, and said:

This distance?

Gu Lie rolled his neck, then nodded and said:

Alright!!

Just this distance!

Having said that, Gu Lie suddenly lunged at Lu Yuan, a high whip kick aimed straight at his face.

However…

At that moment, Lu Yuan performed a leg sweep.

Then, with a bang, Gu Lie was slammed to the ground again.

That hit was really not light.

But this time Lu Yuan didn't do anything to Gu Lie; instead, he instantly rushed toward his own fishing rod.

Then he frantically began pulling the line.

Meanwhile, Gu Lie, having gotten up from the ground, rubbed his leg with one hand and his waist with the other.

Upon seeing this scene before him, he was stunned, then looked toward the river.

Upon seeing that, Gu Lie became overexcited and hurriedly shouted:

I fuck!!!

Awesome!! Such a big fish!! Where's your scoop net??

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan, while pulling the line, said:

Over by the fire—quick, hurry up!!

Gu Lie, too, forgot his sore waist and legs, gritted his teeth, quickly went to the fire side, picked up the scoop net, and hurried to help Lu Yuan net the fish.

In the end, a seven-catty big carp was pulled up.

Now the two of them seem to have forgotten what just happened, squatting by the bank watching the lively carp in the net, giggling foolishly.

At this moment, Gu Lie looked at Lu Yuan with a face full of admiration and said:

"Brother, you're too fierce, how did you fish? Can you teach me? What bait did you use? Any skill?"

(End of chapter)