"To be honest with you, my father was very good with spears and sticks when he was young." Gao Yanei was very protective of his father.
"Okay, I believe it. Go on." Zhang Shixun waved his hand. Whether Lao Gao was good at both literature and martial arts had nothing to do with him.
"...The great scholar Su saw that Dad was a talented person and was worried that he would ruin Dad's future, so he recommended Dad to the young Grand Commandant Wang."
Zhang Shixun thought to himself that the truth must not be like this. Perhaps Master Su saw that Gao Qiu was not a good student, so he found an excuse to send him away.
"...Then, by chance, your father had the good fortune to meet the emperor at Captain Xiao Wang's place. From then on, your father became extremely successful and unstoppable." Zhang Shixun knew this Captain Xiao Wang. It was clearly written in "Water Margin" that Captain Xiao Wang was a son-in-law of the emperor, who dabbled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and was also a playboy, who had similar interests with Zhao Ji.
"Exactly! It turns out my brother also knows about my father's experience."
Zhang Shixun wanted to ask if Gao Qiu was really appreciated by Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, for playing football, as recorded in unofficial history. After some thought, he decided not to ask. After all, getting into the imperial court by playing football wasn't a very glorious thing, and since it involved his family's privacy, he decided not to ask.
Gao Yanei spoke of his father and said, "Although my father rose through the ranks, he was always grateful to the great scholar Su. He would visit him with generous gifts during every festival. Later, when the great scholar Su was demoted and left the capital, my father would often ask people to send him gifts. Even after the great scholar Su passed away, my father was still grateful for his kindness. Whenever the descendants of the great scholar Su came to the capital, he would take good care of them, providing them with food and accommodation, and even giving them money for their departure..."
"That's right! You're loyal and righteous." Zhang Shixun nodded in approval and said, "You told me all this simply to tell me that your Gao family is trustworthy and righteous, and to reassure me."
"That's exactly what I meant. Don't worry, brother. We in the Gao family always keep our promises. We will definitely do what we promised you." Gao Yanei made the decision and said, "Brother, I will go and reply to my father. He is waiting for news from here."
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave. Aren't you going to have dinner here with me?"
"No more."
Zhang Shixun waved his hand and said, "Go away. I won't keep you here any longer."
Gao Yanei stood up and said, "Brother, please excuse me for laughing. Just wait for my good news in the next two days."
Zhang Shixun escorted Gao Yanei out of the door, and Gao Liu at the door took the horse and helped Gao Yanei ride on it.
Gao Yanei grinned at Zhang Shixun and rode away on his horse.
Just as Zhang Shixun was about to return to the courtyard, he heard someone behind him call out, "Master Zhang."
He turned around suddenly and saw a handsome young man in a green robe and a small hat standing in front of him.
"You...are?" Zhang Shixun felt that this person looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him.
"You don't recognize me so quickly?" The man smiled, revealing a pair of dimples on his face, with red lips and white teeth.
"Ah! You are Ding... Ding..." Zhang Shixun rubbed his eyes, almost unable to believe his eyes.
It turned out to be Ding Dusai.
"Shh...!" Ding Dusai placed his slender index finger on his red lips, "Don't call my name."
Zhang Shixun nodded repeatedly and asked quietly, "Madam Ding, where are you going?"
"I went to Sister Li's house and didn't expect to meet you. What a coincidence."
"Yes." Zhang Shixun couldn't hide his inner joy.
Ding Dusai looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to them, so he asked, "Is this your home?"
"Yes."
"Oh! So you and Sister Li live on the same street." Ding Dusai said in surprise.
"Sister Li?"
"yes!"
Zhang Shixun scratched his head. "Which sister Li is the one who took shelter in the house where we two took shelter?"
"It's also this Sister Li." Ding Dusai's face turned red when he thought of the embarrassment of that night.
"So, she also has a house here in Money Lane?"
"yes."
"You live in the same alley as me, what a coincidence."
Zhang Shixun wanted to invite her to his home, but he couldn't bring himself to ask. After all, they were not very familiar with each other, and it would be embarrassing if she refused.
Ding Dusai's pretty face flushed red, and she stood there awkwardly for a while before saying, "I saw you that day."
"Which day?"
"Lotus Shed." Ding Dusai lowered his head and his voice was almost inaudible.
"I came to see you that day specifically." Zhang Shixun blurted out.
Ding Dusai's face turned even redder after hearing this.
Zhang Shixun asked, "I didn't cause you any trouble that day, did I?"
Ding Dusai glanced up at him and whispered, "After you were taken away by Kaifeng Prefecture, the bailiffs found the backer and took my father to Kaifeng Prefecture as well. If it weren't for His Royal Highness Prince Yi's intervention, he might have been imprisoned as well."
"I'm really sorry." Zhang Shixun said apologetically, thinking: It seems that the Ding family still has some foundation, otherwise, why would that Prince Yi come forward?
Oh no! Oh no! Could it be that Prince Yi has taken a fancy to Ding Dusai?
Just as he was lost in thought, Ding Dusai, standing opposite him, raised his head and said, "I sent someone to visit you in prison and learned that you have been released."
"Well! I only stayed there for one night and was released the next day." Zhang Shixun was overjoyed when he heard that she had asked someone to visit him in prison.
If she wasn't interested in me, why would she care so much about me?
"I'm relieved that you're okay." Ding Dusai nodded, "I have to go and see Sister Li."
"I send you."
"Need not."
"Let me take you there and get to know your sister's home at the same time." Zhang Shixun was unwilling to miss the opportunity to get close to her.
The two walked a little further, and Zhang Shixun asked, "Has your sister's house not arrived yet?"
"We're almost there. Do you see that weeping willow tree up ahead?"
"I see." Zhang Shixun looked at the weeping willow tree not far away and said, "Your sister is very surprised. Most people don't plant trees in front of their houses. They believe in 'a clear and unobstructed front, and lush greenery behind the house.' Look at the houses along the street. Who has a tree in front of their door?"
"Hmph! My sister is a person who doesn't believe in evil. She is always unconventional in everything she does." Ding Dusai pouted.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with being unique and it's commendable, but planting trees should also be for good luck, right?" Zhang Shixun looked at her cherry-red little mouth and had an urge to pounce on her and take a bite.
"Are there etiquettes for planting trees?" Ding Dusai had no idea of the dirty thoughts in Zhang Shixun's mind.
"Of course." Zhang Shixun turned his gaze from her red lips to the willow tree, trying hard not to let his thoughts run wild.
"Tell me about it."
"For example, pine or cypress trees are usually planted in cemeteries."
"Bah! Don't talk about that. It's unlucky."
"Okay, let's not talk about pine and cypress, let's talk about willow. They usually grow near water, so willows are shady and not suitable to be planted in front of a door."
"What about planting a willow tree in front of the door?" Ding Dusai asked as he slowed down his pace.
"If you plant a willow tree in front of your door, over time, the yin will become stronger and the yang will become weaker, and your family fortune will decline."
"Sir, what you said is true, you are not kidding me?"
"Do you think I'm teasing you?" Zhang Shixun said seriously.
"I'll tell my sister." Ding Dusai quickened his pace and walked very fast.
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