As summer approaches, the weather gets hotter.
The streets of Xindu, paved with bluestone, now resembled scorching hot iron plates.
If the soles of the shoes are even a little thin, they'll feel burning hot when you walk on them.
So, nothing serious happened, and everyone hid.
I went to a quiet country village, with mountains and water. Even if it wasn't very cool, it was still refreshing.
Those who enjoy lively atmospheres can go to teahouses and restaurants, where ice basins are placed in the corners, which can always cool them down. They can also chat and vent with a few friends or neighbors, which will make them feel less restless.
Of course, the poor people who had to work under the scorching sun still had to make a living...
As soon as Liu Zhiheng entered his father's courtyard at the Liu family mansion, he dismissed the old women and maids, leaving only the servant boy to attend to him.
Then he took off his half-wet outer shirt, snatched his father's fan, and started fanning himself wildly.
"It's so hot! It's so hot!"
Seeing his son's chubby face turn as red as a monkey's bottom, and his body covered in sweat, Old Master Liu felt sorry for him, but still scolded him.
"Serves you right! You always ate so much that you became fat and bloated. Now you know it's hot, but it's too late!"
Despite saying that, he still had his servant bring over an ice basin and personally poured his son some cold tea.
Liu Zhiheng gulped down the herbal tea, gestured for his father to pour him another cup, and then simply took off his undergarment, leaving his shirt bare.
Old Master Liu could hardly bear to look any longer. He pushed the new tea over and asked, "Is everything settled?"
"It's all taken care of!" Liu Zhiheng nodded and replied, "All business dealings with them have been handled smoothly. The clansmen have also been informed!"
At this point, he got angry again and said irritably, "Luckily I got there in time, otherwise I would have really gotten into trouble."
"Sixth Uncle was confident in his granddaughter's beauty and was determined to send her to the palace."
"Perhaps he was displeased because I stopped him earlier, so he secretly went through other people and gave them a generous gift."
"Father, this requires your personal intervention. I am a junior, and if I do something wrong, people might accuse me of disrespecting my elders."
Old Master Liu frowned and snorted coldly, "These past few years, our family has protected these people too well, which has made them lose their sense of propriety. They thought they couldn't do without our help, but little did they know that without our family, they would be nothing more than cattle and horses to be slaughtered."
Liu Zhiheng was angry, but he couldn't bear to see his father upset over these clansmen, so he quickly advised, "Father, at worst we can just send them back to their hometown."
Grandpa Liu nodded and instructed, "You don't need to worry about this. I'll go out tomorrow."
Liu Zhiheng breathed a sigh of relief and complained in a low voice, "Outsiders all think that people like us have an easy life, but they don't know that everyone has their own hardships. We have to be on tenterhooks whenever there's any trouble in the palace."
Old Master Liu glared at him and scolded, "Don't say such things again. Fortune favors the bold, and everyone does it this way."
"Fortunately, the Li family gave us a heads-up this time, otherwise our family would have fallen into the same vortex as everyone else. If we had, we would have had no chance of escaping unscathed."
"Yes, Father, don't worry, I understand. This is at home, I was just saying a few words casually. Outside, I wouldn't dare mention a single word." Liu Zhiheng quickly changed the subject, "Should we bring Zhimin and Xiujie back?"
"Yes, of course we should accept them. Things are about to change. They're young, and if they're not careful with their words, they might say something they shouldn't and ruin the family's plans."
Grandpa Liu missed his grandson and immediately told his son, "Don't bother running around here sweating it out, go to Luo'an right now."
"Yes." Liu Zhiheng looked distressed, but he got dressed and went out again under the scorching sun.
Because it is nestled against the mountains, Luo'an Academy is much cooler than the city.
The students had finished their classes and were now on their lunch break. No one was out on the streets; they were all hiding in the academy, finding a grove of trees or a thatched pavilion, holding a glass of iced juice, reading or chatting leisurely.
Because he needed to ask for leave for both of his sons, Liu Zhiheng went directly to visit Dean Zhou.
When Dean Zhou heard Liu Zhiheng's excuse that the old man was slightly unwell, he readily approved the leave, and then asked him for help at the end.
"After Lord Liu returns to the city, could you please help me find Lord Li and invite him to the academy for a cup of tea when he has some free time?"
A glint flashed in Liu Zhiheng's eyes, and he guessed that Dean Zhou must have something to discuss with Li Lao Er, and it was definitely not as simple as just having tea.
But he didn't ask aloud; he simply agreed readily.
Since he has close ties with the Li family, if anything happens, Li Lao Er certainly won't hide it from him.
Taking advantage of the dusk, when the sun was half-set and it wasn't so hot, Liu Zhiheng took his two sons back to the city.
Almost as soon as he entered the city gate, he chased his son off the carriage and went straight to the small courtyard in the south of the city to find Li Lao Er and Mr. Wen.
Seeing their father pat his bottom and run away, Zhimin and Xiujie weren't angry. They turned around and headed straight for Baiyunjian, where they first had two pieces of fruit ice cream cake to cool off.
They had all heard at the academy that this fruit ice cream cake was a new product launched by Baiyunjian in the past few days, and it was selling like hotcakes in Xindu. They had been looking forward to it, and today they finally had the opportunity to try it.
Of course, it's okay to come home late. Just give one to Grandpa and one to Mom, and you'll make them all smile.
As for Dad... well, he doesn't have enough money in his purse. We'll talk about it next time.
Liu Zhiheng was unaware that his sons disliked him. After having dinner and chatting for a while at the small courtyard in the south of the city, he went home.
Li Lao Er didn't know what Dean Zhou had to do. The next day, he made some arrangements, took two boxes of pastries from Baiyunjian, and then went to the academy.
Dean Zhou was pleasantly surprised and delighted that Li Lao Er had arrived so quickly.
Li Lao Er presented two boxes of pastries, took a sip of tea, and then got straight to the point.
"Dean Zhou, what brings you here? Has my little nephew gotten into some trouble?"
"No, no!" Dean Zhou quickly waved his hand and replied, "Your Excellency misunderstands. Jia Kang is a very good child. Although he is not as diligent in his studies as others, he is considerate in his actions, respects his teachers, and is well-liked by his teachers and classmates."
“Especially since he’s been writing travelogues lately, spending all his time in Tibet and rarely going out, how could he possibly have the chance to cause trouble?”
Hearing this, Li Lao Er felt relieved.
Dean Zhou quickly gave instructions to prepare a banquet and invited Mr. Peng and Li Laosan to come and drink together.
Mr. Peng was Jia Huan's father-in-law. Apart from not being good at handling household chores, he was a very good person in terms of character and knowledge, and Li Lao Er had no reason to dislike him.
Li Laosan is practically family; even if Dean Zhou hadn't invited him, Li Laoer would still have gone to the cafeteria to check it out.
Soon, Mr. Peng and Li Laosan arrived, and the banquet was served.
Mr. Peng has a refined taste; ice basins were placed in all four corners of the flower hall, along with several pots of fragrant jasmine, creating a lush and cool atmosphere.
Eating here doesn't feel particularly stuffy or unbearable.
The four of them took off their outer garments, ate and drank, and got along quite well and had a lively time.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Dean Zhou, his face flushed with the effects of the wine, finally spoke up, "My lord, I heard that the Emperor is going to select a tutor for the Second Prince?"
Two updates today!
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