Chapter 53: A Thousand Miles “Very impressive.”
A few days passed, and Xiaowangzhai remained much the same as before. No imperial troops descended to search for them, and no one had discovered Zhao Yan and Yong Shaolan at Wang Dayong's home. They could only wait quietly for a reply from the Nangong Mansion in Jinling, enjoying a rare peaceful life.
Only the octogenarian Wang Jiaoyu came to Wang Dayong's place every day to discuss matters in the city and, by the way, to help Zhao Yan with small favors. Before noon that day, Wang Jiaoyu came again.
Zhao Yan was kissing Yong Shaolan in the room when he heard a noise outside the door. He glanced at the sun outside and realized that it was Teacher Wang who had arrived. "Teacher Wang is here. Let's stop kissing for now. I'm going downstairs."
"..." Yong Shaolan held Zhao Yan's waist and pulled him back, kissing him twice more. "Do you know anything about Hunter Wang's affairs?"
Yong Shaolan could probably guess that Zhao Yan met with Teacher Wang alone every day, mostly to ask him to do things, and that was the only important thing on his mind right now.
"Yeah." Zhao Yan pushed Yong Shaolan, wanting him to get off him, fearing that Teacher Wang would find out. However, Yong Shaolan refused to let go, tightly gripping his lower back. The two of them could only remain in this stalemate. "I know what's going on. Don't worry about it. Just wait a few days and I'll definitely get it done!"
After saying that, Zhao Yan held Yong Shaolan's face and kissed him: "Let me go, my dear."
Yong Shaolan raised his eyes and said, "Yeah."
Then he let go of Zhao Yan's waist and imitated her by saying, "Baby."
They both got out of bed, straightened their clothes, which had been tangled and rubbed by each other, and opened the door to the side room. Just as Wang Jiaoyu was about to knock on the door, he saw the two of them coming out and stepped back. "Your Highness, are you here? I thought you were away..."
"Haha..." Zhao Yan pursed his lips, which were numbed by Yong Shaolan's sucking, feeling a little embarrassed. "I was taking a lunch break just now. Sorry, Teacher Wang, please come in and talk."
Yong Shaolan brewed a pot of tea. Teacher Wang followed Zhao Yan into the room and slowly sat down at the low table. He looked at the man pouring tea for him and felt a little uncomfortable. "Your Highness, you are embarrassing me."
The former King Yong followed Emperor Yuanwu in founding Dayan and made outstanding contributions. Later, he died in the battlefield against foreign invaders. Even his eldest son died with him. The Yong family can be said to be full of loyal heroes. King Yong also guarded the border for more than ten years. Teacher Wang never thought in his life that one day he would be able to drink tea poured for him by such a person.
"No problem." Yong Shaolan's face was full of an expression of being interrupted. However, Teacher Wang couldn't see it, after all, the man always had this cold look.
Zhao Yan glanced at Yong Shaolan and said, "I'm hungry, Brother Lan, can you go cook some noodles for me?"
Yong Shaolan nodded: "Yes,"
After saying that, he left the room.
Teacher Wang looked at the tightly closed door and said worriedly, "The prince and His Highness are really close, even closer than brothers."
"Please stop being so polite," Zhao Yan looked at Teacher Wang eagerly, "How's Miss Liu doing here?"
Teacher Wang knew that the young man was anxious. He had come here today for this matter as well. "Don't worry, Your Highness. Everything has been taken care of."
Just as Zhao Yan guessed, Miss Liu was already nineteen years old this year and had long reached the age to get married. However, because she met Wang Dayong at school, she rejected many marriage proposals.
Zhao Yan: "That's good. Thank you, Master Wang."
When Yong Shaolan brought the noodles back, Zhao Yan had just finished talking to Teacher Wang.
Yong Shaolan walked in with a bowl of steaming noodle soup, and Zhao Yan's stomach started growling. Teacher Wang had finished his work, so he stood up again and said, "Since I have finished my business, I will not disturb Your Highness's rest."
After saying this, Teacher Wang left.
Yong Shaolan put down the bowl and Zhao Yan ate seriously. He hadn't eaten anything in the morning because he couldn't get up. This noodle was bought by Teacher Wang a few days ago. He also bought a lot of fine rice, noodles, chicken, duck, fish and meat. Yong Shaolan's cooking was delicious. He looked less thin these days.
Zhao Yan took a sip of his noodles. Seeing that Yong Shaolan had no intention of asking him a question, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Lan, why don't you ask me what I just said to Teacher Wang?"
Yong Shaolan sat opposite the young man. Hearing this, he raised his eyes and said calmly, "Don't you have an idea?"
Zhao Yan: "I do have an idea, right? But I've been secretly doing it with Teacher Wang for so many days, why aren't you curious?"
"..." Yong Shaolan: "Should I be curious?"
Zhao Yan glanced at Yong Shaolan angrily and said, "Just wait and see how I deal with him!"
…
A few days later, the news of the Liu family girl's upcoming marriage spread throughout Xiaowang Village. Early that morning, Wang Dayong was ready to go hunting in the mountains.
Matchmaker Wang, who was in charge of the matchmaking with the Liu family, brought a few tenant farmers and began handing out wedding candy along the street: "Let's go to the wedding together!"
Xiaowang Village wasn't very big, with only a few hundred households. When one family held a wedding, the entire village would come to help. Matchmaker Wang was a local, and after arranging a good marriage, she would help the newlyweds spread the joy.
Wang Dayong still didn't know anything. He only knew that Miss Liu no longer accepted the things he gave her and hadn't been to school for a few days.
When Matchmaker Wang came over, she gave Wang Dayong a cold look before telling him the news: "Hey, isn't this Dayong? Where are you going? Going up the mountain to hunt?"
Wang Dayong said nothing, carrying his backpack and about to leave. Matchmaker Wang, however, didn't shy away and waved to the Liu family tenants behind him to throw wedding candy at him. "Okay, okay, I won't delay your hunting. I just came here to tell you that the Liu family's daughter is getting married, and the wedding is scheduled for the beginning of next month. You, an orphan, should have been invited to a nice drink, but you know you always harassed her before, so it's better to avoid suspicion."
"So, don't go when that day comes." After saying that, Matchmaker Wang rolled her eyes at Wang Dayong and said, "Remember that?"
Wang Dayong couldn't believe his ears. He took a step forward and grabbed Matchmaker Wang by the collar: "What did you say?"
"Ouch, let me go!" Matchmaker Wang struggled for several times before she finally got Wang Dayong off. "Are you deaf or blind? Which other girl in this small Wangzhai gets married with such a grand ceremony? That's right, it's Miss Liu, who teaches at the school. She's been promised to someone from the next county. You have no chance."
"You don't even know your own worth. You've wasted Miss Liu's time for several years. If you don't think about yourself, think about her too, right?"
"I've already told you what's going on. Just don't bother her anymore!"
Wang Dayong stood there stupidly, watching Matchmaker Wang and her group walk away. It was like a bolt from the blue.
Matchmaker Wang went around Xiaowangzhai and finally did not go to Liu's house. She went to Wang Jiaoyu's house next to the school. Also at Wang Jiaoyu's house was the girl from the Liu family.
Matchmaker Wang went into the yard and sent off a few tenants who had come to help. "Don't worry, old teacher. I've taken care of everything. But I just don't understand. A hunter who makes a living by hunting, what is it that you like about him, young lady?"
Miss Liu frowned but said nothing. Teacher Wang beside her quickly tried to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, why are we asking about the little kid? Go back now. The rice wine and beef have been sent to your home."
After hearing that there were benefits, Wang Wang, the matchmaker, stopped asking questions and said, "Okay, okay, I understand."
…
That evening, Zhao Yan finished his meal as usual and began to clear away the dishes. Wang Dayong's face remained grim throughout the meal, but he didn't say anything.
After dinner, Wang Dayong took an axe to chop firewood. Zhao Yan looked out the door and shouted, "Brother Wang, there's no need to get any firewood. You've chopped so much these days that you can't use it all."
When Wang Dayong heard this, he realized that Miss Liu had not collected his firewood for a long time.
Wang Dayong put down the axe, glanced at Zhao Yan who was washing dishes, said nothing, and walked straight to his room.
Zhao Yan frowned and muttered, "Brother Wang is really patient."
He even asked matchmaker Wang to come to his house to inform him today, but he was still able to sit still. That's amazing.
As soon as Zhao Yan finished speaking, Wang Dayong appeared from nowhere and stood in front of the kitchen door.
In the kitchen, Yong Shaolan had taken the dishes from Zhao Yan and was washing them. Zhao Yan was sitting on a small stool, holding wild fruits in his hand, eating while talking to Yong Shaolan.
Wang Dayong was silent for a moment, remembering the time when he went to deliver firewood and Miss Liu wiped his sweat with a handkerchief.
Zhao Yan thought Wang Dayong would hold it in for a few more days. Looking at the man who suddenly appeared outside the door, he felt a little guilty: "Well, Brother Lan said he would help me wash the dishes and exercise my arms..."
Ever since Yong Shaolan recovered from his fever, he has been trying his best to help Wang Dayong with things, and Zhao Yan followed him. However, there were many things that he only finished halfway before Yong Shaolan took over to help do... This resulted in Zhao Yan doing nothing but eating and sleeping all day long.
I'm a little ashamed of being lazy.
Wang Dayong said nothing, took out a purse from his pocket, and after a moment of silence, as if he had made a great decision, he knelt down in front of Zhao Yan and said, "I would like to ask for your help."
Yong Shaolan drained the bowl of rice, placed it in the cupboard, and walked over to Zhao Yan. "Alright."
Zhao Yan finally realized that his provocation had worked!!!
…
Around midnight, Wang Dayong carried Teacher Wang out of his home. Even though he was half asleep, he still acted out a play: "You rascal, don't think that just because you carried me out of the house in the middle of the night, I, an old man, can help you beg the Liu family! I'm telling you, it's too late!"
Wang Dayong stood in the west wing. On the small table was the silver he had saved over the years, a total of ten taels, which was not enough to buy even ten acres of land. He knew in his heart that this amount of money could not give Miss Liu a good life.
He knew that he had saved two nobles, and with their help he would surely rise to prominence. However, before the fall of the previous dynasty, his father and grandfather also thought that they could live a good life with the help of the nobles. Who knew that it would bring disaster upon themselves. He had always felt that no one would have a good life if they were royal relatives.
But today, Matchmaker Wang's words woke him up.
He has delayed Miss Liu for too long.
Zhao Yan looked at Teacher Wang who was still in the play and said apologetically, "Well, Teacher Wang, I have already told Brother Wang about everything..."
"Brother Wang, just don't be angry. I don't want you and Miss Liu to delay any longer. You can use our money to pay the Liu family first. If you feel guilty, why don't you follow us to Liaodong and join the army? You can rely on military industry to pay off your debts."
Teacher Wang said: "That's right, Dayong, aren't you afraid of having no future in Xiaowang Village? You should go out and see the world, take Miss Liu with you, and follow the noble man!"
Wang Dayong didn't even think about it this time and nodded directly: "Yeah."
Teacher Wang finally put his worries to rest. "That's great! That's great! Tomorrow I'll take you to the Liu family to propose marriage!"
It was already after midnight when Wang Dayong carried Teacher Wang back home.
In the west wing, on the cramped bed for two, Zhao Yan, shirtless after a shower, clung to Yong Shaolan's arms, letting him wipe his hair. "From the sounds, is it Brother Wang who's back?"
"That's great, it really worked."
This is the only happy thing in these days.
Zhao Yan was really happy, "Am I awesome?!"
Yong Shaolan placed the towel on the low table beside the bed, put his arm around Zhao Yan's waist, pressed his hand against the boy's smooth back, and kissed him on the ear: "Mm, very good, baby."
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