Xu Lanyin explained, "Actually, ever since I sold the land, I've felt really uneasy. I felt so sorry for my mother and brother, and I've been thinking about how to get my family out of this predicament. I thought about how to make food to sell, I thought about beautiful pictures to make patterns, and I also thought about this kind of chess to sell in the shop to make some money. This kind of chess is based on the stone chess. The stones are not beautiful and too simple. Birds are beautiful and can fly..."
Xu Lanzhou still expressed serious doubts.
Xu Lanting suddenly became energetic and jumped for joy, "I want to fly a bird too."
Several people took the chessboard and chess pieces to Qin's house.
Qin was anxious and didn't sleep either. Hearing that her daughter had invented a new kind of chess was incredible, and her eyes widened.
Xu Lanzhou was still sleepwalking. He frowned and said, "How could our silly sister suddenly become so smart?" He then said with a sigh, "This kind of chess, even a smart person couldn't invent it."
Xu Lanyin said, "If smart people can't invent it, then who invented the more complicated Go and chess? I was stupid before because I never doubted Gu Wangchen's heart, and all my thoughts were on him. I wasn't really stupid. Dad, Mom and you are all so smart, how could I be stupid? Mom taught me a lot before, but I didn't take it to heart. Later, I stopped thinking about Gu Wangchen, and many strange ideas came to my mind. This may be called enlightenment and accumulation of knowledge. Bird chess is a change I made based on stone chess, and stone chess was taught to me by my younger brother." She pouted again and said, "No matter how stupid I am, I dare not joke about this."
Although Qin and Xu Lanzhou were perplexed, they could only temporarily believe her explanation, believing that a miracle had occurred in their family. Since they had never seen or heard of such a chess game before, there was really no need for her to lie... So, could this chess game really have been invented by her?
Qin was surprised and excited, her face flushed and she was sweating profusely. Xu Lanyin quickly wiped her back and face with hot water.
Xu Lanzhou wasn't sure this chess set would win the favor of Miss Min, but his family was desperate, so he had to give it a try. If he could establish connections with the county magistrate, even if they were just servants, Gu Wangchen wouldn't dare go too far. After all, he was a thief with a guilty conscience, and he was afraid his misdeeds would reach the county magistrate's ears. Even if he insisted on denying it, he would still be in trouble.
For the first time in more than two years, Xu Lanzhou smiled brilliantly. "I'm going to look for my eldest brother tomorrow morning and ask him to accompany us to the county town."
Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "It turns out that my eldest brother has dimples."
Xu Lanzhou blushed a little, and said stubbornly, "You are still the eldest sister. It took you so many years to realize it."
Xu Lanyin laughed dryly. The original owner really only had Gu Wangchen in her eyes and only thought about Gu Wangchen.
Qin smiled and said, "Among you three siblings, Zhou'er looks most like your father. Your father has dimples."
The four of them, mother and children, started playing Flying Bird Chess on the kang. It was simple and fun, and after a few rounds, Xu Lanzhou didn't want to stop.
Seeing that Qin and Xu Lanting were clearly in a bad mood, Xu Lanyin said, "It's late. It's time to rest."
She put away the chess pieces, and Xu Lanzhou took Xu Lanting out.
The next day after breakfast, Xu Lanzhou went to bring Xu Dashi and Old Lady Xu home.
The old lady hadn't slept well the previous night and looked haggard. She was worried about the money and was also afraid that her granddaughter would be schemed against again and her reputation would be ruined.
She glared at Xu Lanyin fiercely and cursed her a few times, "Silly girl."
Xu Lanyin naturally wouldn't bother with her and pulled Xu Dashi to play chess.
Old Lady Xu didn't understand, but Xu Dashi did. He wondered how Xu Lanyin had suddenly become so clever, but he smiled and said, "This chess game is simple, interesting, and looks fancy. I'm sure the young lady will like it. I'll take you to find Li's uncle and ask him to introduce you to the county magistrate's steward, or we can present it directly to the master." He then said to the old lady, "Grandma, go back and tell my mother that I have to go to the county town on an urgent matter."
Xu Dashi also attended school for two years as a teenager, paid for by Xu Qingyan. He particularly admired his capable second uncle and refused to believe the village rumors that Xu Qingyan was a "thief." Therefore, he was very kind to the children of the second wife. He also looked very much like Xu Qingyan, tall and handsome, much more attractive than his biological father, Xu Qingming.
When Old Mrs. Xu heard that this thing might be favored by the county magistrate's daughter, she smiled with wrinkles on her face.
Xu Lanyin then instructed, "It's not certain whether the chess piece can be given away or not. Just let grandma and big brother know. Don't tell anyone else yet, and don't tell anyone at home either."
Old Mrs. Xu curled her lips and said, "This girl has really become smart. Your grandfather likes to show off, and your aunt likes to brag, but I won't tell them about things that haven't happened yet." She also warned the two siblings not to offend important people.
Qin was also worried, so she supported herself and sent them out of the hospital.
After arriving at the county town, they walked straight towards the county government office.
Xu Dashi was not familiar with Uncle Feng. He had only seen them twice at Carpenter Tian's house and knew that they lived in an alley behind the county government office.
On the way, they bought two bags of snacks. Xu Dashi told them about the Honourable Min, a good official who worked for the people. He was also said to be a relative of a prominent family in the capital, and that he was one of those people who had connections in the court and could easily get a job...
I asked along the way and found the Feng family, where Uncle Feng and his wife Xu were.
Uncle Feng, barely thirty, considered himself a member of the government, and his attitude was quite haughty. When he heard they wanted to send chess to the county magistrate's daughter, he scoffed inwardly. These unworldly peasants, only able to draw a few lines on the ground with a stick and play pebble chess, dared to show off at the county magistrate's house. Madam Min had sent people to the capital to buy so many fine goods, so dazzling that it would dazzle anyone's eyes, yet they still couldn't catch the young lady's eye...
But Xu was very polite. She secretly tugged at her husband's clothes and said with a smile, "Take it out and have a look. If it's good, let my head of the household take you to Butler Tang." She then explained, "The eldest lady is a female relative, so my head of the household can't see it. Give it to Butler Tang. If he thinks it's good, he'll give it to Master Min, who will then pass it on to the eldest lady."
Xu knew that although Xu Dashi was a farmer in the countryside, he was educated and a steady man. Even if he had a hundred guts, he wouldn't dare to fool the county magistrate's daughter. She also guessed that the little brother and sister didn't come specifically to give him chess pieces. They probably wanted something, or wanted to establish a relationship with the county magistrate. If they wanted to establish a relationship, they wouldn't have the opportunity to meet the master, and knowing the steward Tang was already a big deal. If they wanted to do anything, they should remind them that a child's chess set can't be much good. It's best not to talk about difficult matters.
Uncle Feng heard his wife say this and could only force a smile and said, "Show it out and I'll help you take a look. If it doesn't work, don't embarrass me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
