Chapter 356: Heading to the Seven Provinces Green Forest Assembly

Listening to Ning's voice, Duan Fengyun looked at Qin Shubao and found it quite amusing.

Duan Fengyun had not expected that the dignified "Little Mengchang" Qin Qiong, Qin Shubao, could actually be lectured by his mother in such a way.

Seeing Duan Fengyun's smiling face, Qin Shubao said awkwardly:

"Brother Qin, I apologize, I have let you see a joke."

Duan Fengyun waved his hand and said:

"It is no joke; I envy you for having such a good mother."

At this moment, Ning finally walked out, and upon seeing Duan Fengyun for the first time, she did not react immediately.

She stared at Duan Fengyun for a while, but she still could not recall who was before her.

So she asked:

"Shubao, who is this?"

Duan Fengyun said with a smile:

"Auntie, have you forgotten who I am?"

Seeing Duan Fengyun's smiling face, Ning began to have a vague impression.

But after all, she was old, and for a moment, she still could not remember who Duan Fengyun was.

Seeing that his mother had not remembered, Qin Shubao introduced him:

"Mother, this is Brother Qin Shuang, the benefactor who saved me, you, and Uncle Qin An back then.

We have been looking for him for over ten years; I never expected to meet him at the county office today."

Upon hearing this, Ning immediately moved to bow and pay her respects, but was stopped by Duan Fengyun.

"Auntie, you must not, you really must not.

Are you not trying to diminish my standing by doing this?"

Ning shook her head and said:

"Benefactor, you reached out to save us mother and son back then.

We will never forget this kindness as long as we live.

Benefactor, please, come inside, please come inside and sit."

Seeing the situation between Duan Fengyun and Qin Shubao, Ning knew they had been chatting outside for a long time, so she hurriedly invited Duan Fengyun into the house to sit.

Duan Fengyun sat in Qin Shubao's home, looking at the main hall which had almost nothing in it, and he had not expected the lives of this mother and son to be so impoverished.

Ning said self-deprecatingly:

"I have let you see a joke, Benefactor.

Our place here is too simple; I have let you see a joke."

Duan Fengyun hurriedly waved his hand and said:

"Auntie, please do not say that.

I actually like this warm feeling."

Subsequently, Duan Fengyun feigned curiosity and asked:

"Shubao, were you not just talking about your Uncle Qin An?

Why have I not seen him?"

Qin Shubao, who had been smiling, turned solemn upon hearing Duan Fengyun mention Qin An, and said with nostalgia:

"Uncle Qin An passed away long ago due to a chronic illness."

Duan Fengyun sighed and said:

"So that is how it is.

But when I saved you back then, you seemed to be fleeing from the pursuit of the Sui Army.

Thinking about it now, why were those Sui soldiers hunting you down?

Although the Emperor is devoid of Dao, he would not wantonly condone soldiers killing commoners, orphans, and widows!"

After hearing this, Qin Shubao said with a face full of resentment:

"Brother Qin, to tell you the truth.

My father was the once-famous Qin Yi, who guarded the Yangtze River with his Golden Mace.

Back then, my father swore to resist the Sui Army's offer of amnesty, and ultimately died tragically at the hands of the Sui Army.

Before my father was captured, he handed our family's Golden Mace to us.

That group of Sui soldiers was hunting us down back then to cut off the roots and seize my family's Golden Mace.

If it were not for you, Brother Qin, taking action, my mother, Uncle Qin An, and I would have long since been buried in a foreign land.

We would not be here today.

All of this was caused by the Sui Army, all caused by that Mountain-Reliant King, Yang Lin."

Looking at Qin Shubao's resentful expression, Duan Fengyun understood his hatred for Yang Lin.

The hatred of a father's murder is irreconcilable; it is no wonder Qin Shubao is so hateful.

If it were Duan Fengyun, he would likely be even more extreme than Qin Shubao.

Duan Fengyun patted Qin Shubao on the shoulder and said:

"Shubao, I believe that one day you will definitely be able to take your revenge.

The current Emperor is licentious and extravagant, and the people are displaced; I believe that one day someone will raise a banner of rebellion and overthrow this corrupt dynasty."

Qin Shubao nodded; he held the same view as what Duan Fengyun had said.

Qin Shubao asked:

"Brother Qin, why did you suddenly come to find us?"

"And how did you know my name is Qin Shubao?"

Duan Fengyun spoke up:

"Back when I saved you all, I actually secretly protected you for a portion of the journey.

It was only after you successfully arrived in Licheng that I left.

So, naturally, I know your name.

The reason I came to the county office to find you is the very matter I just told you about.

I intend to join forces with others in the path to rise up and overthrow the tyrannical Sui Dynasty.

It just so happened that I heard from others that there is a 'Little Mengchang' Qin Qiong, Qin Shubao, in Licheng, Shandong. I didn't know if this Qin Shubao was the same Qin Shubao I had saved, so I came to the county office to try my luck.

Shubao, I wonder if you have any interest in joining this cause I just mentioned."

After hearing Duan Fengyun's words, Qin Shubao stared at Duan Fengyun with a serious expression and said:

"Brother Qin, do you mean to rebel?"

Duan Fengyun nodded and said:

"That's right. I wonder if you have any thoughts of joining?"

Qin Qiong looked at his mother, who was busy in the kitchen not far away, and for a moment, he did not know how to answer Duan Fengyun.

If he followed Duan Fengyun to rise up in rebellion, then he and his mother would inevitably be displaced once again.

It had been so difficult for him and his mother to finally settle down, and Qin Shubao did not want to drag his mother into this.

Duan Fengyun followed Qin Shubao's gaze and knew that Qin Shubao did not yet have the intention to rebel; no matter how much he said, it would be useless.

So it was better to wait a while longer; sooner or later, Qin Shubao would join the anti-Sui camp.

Duan Fengyun patted Qin Shubao on the shoulder and said:

"Shubao, I know you have concerns.

I won't force you. Let's talk again when you have made up your mind one day."

Qin Shubao looked at Duan Fengyun and nodded slightly.

He was very grateful that Duan Fengyun did not pressure him and gave him the chance to choose for himself.

"Shubao, Benefactor, come and eat!"

At this moment, Ning came up carrying a food box.

Roasted chicken, roasted duck, beef, and other dishes that they usually couldn't bear to eat were all placed on the table by Ning.

"Benefactor, you arrived suddenly, and I didn't have time to buy groceries and cook, so we'll have to make do with this.

Next time you come, Benefactor, I will treat you properly."

Ning said.

Looking at this table of a feast, Duan Fengyun smiled and said:

"Auntie, you don't need to call me Benefactor.

My surname is also Qin, so just call me Qin Shuang.

Hearing you call me Benefactor makes me feel a bit uncomfortable."

Qin Shubao also stood up and said:

"Mother, Brother Qin is right.

My surname is Qin, and his surname is also Qin; who knows, perhaps we were one family five hundred years ago."

After hearing this, Ning smiled and said:

"Alright, alright, alright. Qin Shuang, come, hurry and sit at the table to eat.

Shubao, don't you have a jar of wine that has been stored for a long time?

Hurry and bring it out to drink with Qin Shuang.

A guest has arrived; what kind of hospitality is it to have no wine?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Shubao immediately ran to his room, and before long, Qin Shubao walked back in holding a jar of wine.

After Qin Shubao filled a cup for Duan Fengyun and himself, he said:

"Brother Qin, I have you to thank for this.

On normal days, my mother wouldn't allow me to drink.

I've kept this jar of wine for a long time and never had the chance to drink it.

Since you came today, I can finally drink this jar of wine in good conscience."

Hearing Qin Shubao's words, Duan Fengyun burst into laughter.

He never expected that the dignified Qin Shubao would be such an obedient child, listening to his mother so well.

After hearing Qin Shubao's words, Ning said with a huff:

"You child, not letting you drink is for your own good.

Drinking leads to trouble; don't drink when there's nothing going on.

It's fine to have a little wine on an occasion like today.

Oh my, stop talking so much, come, hurry and use your chopsticks."

Unable to resist Ning's enthusiastic urging, Duan Fengyun's bowl was filled with meat; looking at the full bowl of meat, it had been a long time since Duan Fengyun had experienced this feeling.

Duan Fengyun suppressed the nostalgia in his heart, raised his wine cup, and said to Ning:

"Auntie, I toast you.

I wish you good health and a long life."

The sweet-talking Duan Fengyun made Ning beam with joy.

While laughing, Ning pointed at Qin Shubao and said:

"Shubao, you should learn more from Qin Shuang when you have the time."

"You are like a block of wood day in and day out; you can't even say things that please others. How will you ever take a wife like this?"

Watching his mother lecture him incessantly, Qin Shubao, not knowing how to respond, could only lift his wine cup and keep pouring wine into his mouth.

With Ning constantly adding food to his bowl and Qin Shubao continuously pouring wine, Duan Fengyun successfully ate until he was stuffed.

For such a long time now, this was the first time Duan Fengyun had eaten until he was stuffed.

Duan Fengyun stood to the side, rubbing his round, bulging belly, and letting out a loud burp from time to time.

Seeing Duan Fengyun in this state, Ning was very happy; at the very least, it showed that Duan Fengyun was well-fed.

And after having his fill of wine and food, Duan Fengyun also proposed his departure.

"Auntie, Shubao, I have drunk the wine and eaten the meal; I think I should be going now."

"You don't need to ask me to stay; I still have other important matters to attend to. Once I have finished my business, I will definitely come back to see you."

Although Duan Fengyun said this, Ning still began to persuade him:

"It was not easy for us to meet; why don't you stay for the night before leaving?"

Qin Shubao also began to persuade him:

"That's right, Brother Qin."

"It was not easy for us to meet; why don't you just stay here for the night before leaving?"

"I still have many things I want to chat with you about."

Duan Fengyun shook his head and said:

"Shubao, I still have to go and do that thing I just told you about."

"After I finish it, I will definitely come back to find you."

Since Duan Fengyun had spoken this way, Ning and Qin Shubao naturally found it difficult to continue persuading him.

The two of them saw Duan Fengyun to the door, and Qin Shubao said:

"Brother Qin, you must come to see us once you have finished your business."

Duan Fengyun nodded, bid the two farewell, and left.

He turned around, waved his hand, and walked forward until he disappeared from the eyes of Qin Shubao and Ning.

As for his next destination, Duan Fengyun had already decided on it back when Qin Shubao was unwilling to raise the banner of rebellion.

The Seven Provinces Green Forest Association; it was time for him to go and pay a proper visit to that bandit leader, Dan Xiongxin.

It was just that Duan Fengyun did not yet know that Dan Xiongxin had been hunting him down for over ten years.

(Although the plot of Sui Tang Hero Biography is used, the character personalities, routes, and plot are all different, so please do not flame.)

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