The second day was sunny, and the rising sun showed that today's journey would be smooth.
Before leaving, Yan Cheng met the burly man who had fought with Ding Shang yesterday on the first floor of the inn. He had a white cloth wrapped around his head, as if he had been affected by yesterday's fight.
The burly man also saw Yan Cheng. Compared to Yan Cheng's silence, he walked straight over to find Yan Cheng and seemed to be very interested in Yan Cheng.
This time Yan Cheng knew his name.
The rough man has an elegant name, Wen Boyang. He is from Beijing and is a scholar. He had previously gone to the southwest to visit relatives and is currently on his way back to Beijing to take part in the provincial examination in August.
What surprised Yan Cheng was that Wen Boyang had only been an adult for one year. When he heard about this, Yan Cheng's eyes widened uncontrollably, with surprise visible in his eyes.
If she looks like this at 21, what will she look like at 31?
Wen Boyang doesn't care about his appearance and can even joke: "Maybe I grew up too fast. My mother said that my father and I look like brothers."
Before parting, Wen Boyang said, "I live in the Wen Mansion in West City. You can find me there when you go to the capital."
Yan Cheng blinked.
West City of Beijing...
＊
After passing the boundary marker is Luyang. The weather is not very hot at this time, the plants are still sprouting, and the scenery is still a bit monotonous.
But this does not prevent Yan Cheng from appreciating it. Who says that bare mountains, rivers and streams are not scenery?
Yan Cheng had a pony that was just right for his height. He rode along the river, feeling the clear sky and gentle spring breeze.
It would be better if there wasn't a droning voice chattering in my ears.
"Yan Cheng, look, there are fish in the river. Lots of them, but they're a little too small. I want to eat grilled fish."
"Yan Cheng, Yan Cheng, is that a pheasant flying in the sky? Leng Yan is very skilled in martial arts, so he must be good with a bow and arrow as well. Can you ask him to shoot the pheasant down? I'm craving roast chicken."
"Oh my god! Yan Cheng, look, there's a rabbit over there. It's white and so cute! But it's too skinny. It might not taste good when used to make spicy rabbit head or braised rabbit meat."
"...Hey! Riding a horse is so tiring. Yan Cheng, why did you follow Master Ma to suppress the bandits? What can you do when you're so young? It's good enough that you don't cause trouble for Master Ma!"
"It will definitely take a long time to go to Luyang. I heard that the capital is very prosperous and there are many interesting things. Why don't you want to go to the capital earlier?"
"Since the capital is so good and you want to go there so early, why don't you just take your people there directly? Why are you following me?"
Yan Cheng was annoyed to death by Ding Shang. This guy seemed like he had never seen the world. He would talk about anything strange he saw, and he kept on talking like a chatterbox.
The key point is that as they talked, they talked about food, which made him want to eat too.
The rabbit just now looked really good. I guess its meat must be as beautiful as its appearance, right?
Yan Cheng licked his lips unconsciously, and when he heard Ding Shang muttering, he couldn't help but turned his head suddenly.
"You have to finish the road you chose even if you have to kneel down. It was you who insisted on going to Luyang with us, so don't complain about being tired. Otherwise, you can take your people and take a detour to the capital."
Damn it, he kept talking all the way, isn’t Ding Shang thirsty?
My ears are getting calloused.
Ding Shang quickly said that he was just saying it casually, he was not tired at all, and please don't chase him away.
Isn't it just "driving away"? Among this group of people, Yan Cheng is the nephew, Ma Zikun is the uncle, and only Ding Shang is an outsider.
Yan Cheng snorted coldly: "Your people are all behind you. Why do you have to go with me instead of going with them?"
Ding Shang: "They are all servants, and their conversation is meaningless. But you are my good classmate, and we have common topics, right?"
Yan Cheng: "I didn't admit what you said."
Has this guy completely forgotten the time he caused trouble for him before?
Ding Shang was thick-skinned. After leaving Yulin Prefecture, Yan Cheng became his most familiar peer. His affection for Yan Cheng instantly increased, and he selectively forgot his bad past.
Not long after, they arrived at the Futai Yamen.
Yan Cheng dismounted and acted as a well-behaved and quiet junior behind Ma Zikun. Ding Shang was not completely useless. At least at this time he knew how to be mute quietly.
Several officials were already waiting in front of the yamen. The leading official had a long face, small eyes, and a thin build, but his attitude was enthusiastic. "I am Li Pu, the prefect of Luyang, along with Zhang Kai, the deputy prefect, and Gan Wenjin, the assistant prefect, to meet with Lord Ma."
"Master Ma's arrival has brought glory to our humble home in Luyang, just like a long drought finally ending in rain. I believe that under Master Ma's leadership, the Luyang bandits will surely be completely wiped out."
Yan Cheng: ...
What a great flattery! It seems that Uncle Ma quite likes to hear it, and the smile on his face is more genuine.
"Are these two the younger generation of Lord Ma's family? They are really promising young people."
Li Pu looked at Yan Cheng and Ding Shang with a kind smile. Ma Zikun just nodded without further explanation, as if he tacitly agreed that they were just the younger generation who came with him to play.
Young and promising?
Can you tell they are promising young people just by meeting them once?
This Magistrate Li is really powerful.
Yan Cheng thought to himself that Li Pu was really good at talking, flattering people one after another, with a shy smile on his face, hiding shyly behind Ma Zikun, like an introverted child who rarely communicated with others.
Ding Shang didn't need to act at all. It was the first time he was praised like this. His face turned red and he stood behind Yan Cheng, feeling at a loss as to what to do.
"Master Ma, you must have come all this way and worked hard. I have prepared a welcoming banquet early. Would you please come and enjoy it?"
Ma Zikun stopped smiling, squinted his eyes and looked meaningfully at Li Pu, who was still smiling happily, and agreed without saying much.
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