Xu Di explained it simply, but Zhang Zhaoci and Xu Rao felt very sorry for him because they knew that if their son didn't show his true abilities and demonstrate his strength, no one would genuinely want to learn from him. Xu Di must have sacrificed a great deal for this.
Xu Di breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You don't need to feel sorry for me. To be honest, I really enjoy the way you look at me when you're listening to my lectures. Ah, I've always been the one listening to others' lectures, being trained by others, and having to obey others' orders. Now I'm actually being an instructor for others and having them obey my orders. I'm so excited no matter how I think about it."
In addition to daily training, soldiers have two days off each month to stroll around Hexi City, and some military households who live nearby can even go home to visit their families.
Ma Ming won first place in this exercise, and in addition to the monetary reward, he was also given an extra two-day holiday.
Xu Di was surprised that Ma Ming brought several people to his home. When they arrived, Xu Di was still fast asleep on the kang (a heated brick bed). No matter how resolute his character was, his body was still too young and hadn't been properly trained. Although he hadn't participated in the exercises during those five days in the mountains, he was exhausted from thinking about too many things and working himself to the bone.
After the doorman went to inform them, since Xu Di was still sleeping, he told Zhang Zhaoci. Zhang Zhaoci didn't think much of it and had someone lead him to Xu Di's room. It turns out that this is how Xu Di's classmates always do when they come to his house to play.
As a result, Ma Ming and his group, who were somewhat reserved, did not expect to be directly led to Xu Di's room. Zhang Zhaoci instructed Qingmiao to make tea and send over some snacks. He also asked if they wanted to stay for lunch, and if so, he would ask Sister He to prepare lunch.
Xu Di's room was a small suite. There was a small hall outside and Xu Di's bedroom inside. In the bedroom, besides a kang (a heated brick bed) by the window, there was a wardrobe and a desk. In the small hall outside, there were tables and chairs for guests.
Ma Ming had gotten to know Xu Di better these past few days and knew that Xu Di was a somewhat unconventional person. Not seeing anyone in the small hall, he glanced into the inner room and saw Xu Di still fast asleep on the kang. Unexpectedly, he felt like playing around and quietly led his men over to pinch Xu Di's nose.
Xu Di was asleep when someone pinched his nose. He opened his eyes and was startled. He immediately grabbed his blanket and hid to the side, which made Ma Ming and the others laugh.
Xu Di then came to his senses and said somewhat unhappily, "You uninvited guests actually cornered me in bed. What kind of guests are you?"
Ma Ming said with a smile, "We asked the doorman to announce our arrival. The doorman said that Madam Xu asked him to bring us to your room. How was we supposed to know that you hadn't gotten up yet? It's getting late, so please get up quickly. I still have many things I want to ask you."
Xu Di looked at the people following behind Ma Ming. They were all the same people who had gone into the mountains with him that day. Xu Di knew that the oldest one was named Chen Tianrui, who was in his twenties. The two next to him were Zhou Mingde and He Ergou, who were both teenagers.
Chen Tianrui is literate, which is very rare. Nowadays, not many people can read. Usually, it takes a whole family to support one person to study. After studying, they slowly start to take the imperial examinations, starting from the first level. Some people never even pass the first level examination in their entire lives. Those who have studied and obtained official titles are not required to perform corvée labor. Therefore, those who can join the army are generally illiterate. Wei Lang specially hired people to teach everyone in his barracks to read. This has been going on for several years, and I heard that the results are quite good.
Xu Di happened to hear Wei Lang mention Chen Tianrui. Chen Tianrui learned all the characters he knew by himself in secret. His family supported the eldest son of Chen Tianrui's uncle's family to study for many years. When Chen Tianrui was pulled into the army, his cousin from his uncle's family had just passed the preliminary examination for the imperial examination.
Xu Di got dressed, and Chen Tianrui had already tidied up Xu Di's bedding. Xu Di quickly thanked him. Qing Miao brought over tea and snacks, and after asking Xu Di, she learned that he was going to treat them to lunch here, so she quickly went to the kitchen to give the instructions.
Hearing Xu Di and Qing Miao's conversation, Ma Ming said somewhat embarrassedly, "Young Master, we just came to ask you a few questions. We'll leave after we're done."
Xu Di waved his hand and said, "I know you all have two days off and don't need to go home, so what could possibly happen? This is your first time visiting my home, so it's only right that I treat you to a meal. Even if we don't eat at home, I'll take you to a restaurant on the street. Eating at a restaurant is never as comfortable as eating at home. Brother Ma, just listen to my arrangements."
The kang (heated brick bed) inside was warm. Xu Di invited everyone to take off their shoes and get on the kang. Everyone was a little embarrassed at first, but Xu Di said, "Since we have trained together, we are brothers who will fight to the death together. I am very grateful that you did not look down on me because I am young."
Upon hearing this, Ma Ming took the lead, took off his shoes, and got onto the kang (heated brick bed). He was now very glad that he had taken a thorough bath after returning from the mountain yesterday, washing his feet clean and changing into new clothes and shoes.
Sitting cross-legged on the kang (heated brick bed), Ma Ming stretched comfortably and said, "Ah, home is the most comfortable place. I haven't sat on this warm kang in so long."
Xu Di poured tea for everyone and said, "Brother Ma, you just like eating, sleeping, and training with everyone. But I know you have a room in the General's Mansion."
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