88 I still want to go
Huo Yan: I want to go
Life in Pingyang County was so peaceful, so peaceful that Huo Yan sometimes thought he'd just time-traveled to an ordinary farmhouse, waking up at the crack of dawn and sleeping at night, day after day, living a simple yet fulfilling life. In fact, he sometimes wondered if they would be like this now, the whole family crammed into a small courtyard. When he grew up, he would move nearby, living with his brother, becoming neighbors with his uncles, and visiting each other. His mother and aunts would gather together to sew, and his mother would hand-sew his clothes, while his uncles would compare him with his brother and encourage him to eat more.
He said these words to Huo Qubing, and then received a puzzled look from Huo Qubing. The Marquis of Guanjun was quite casual in front of him. His hair was half loose and the ends were wet, which he quickly wiped with a cloth.
"But Ah Yan, it's the same in Chang'an."
"I live with Ah Yan. My uncles live very close to us and always invite us to dinner. My mother and aunt still like to make clothes for Ah Yan and me! And Ah Yan has many friends in Chang'an City."
Huo Yan raised his head, as if suddenly realizing something. He held his chin up, imitating Huo Qubing's expression. "Yes, everyone loves me just as much as before, so why do I feel more comfortable in Pingyang?"
"You're right. I also feel more comfortable in the Xiongnu, Ah Yan." Huo Qubing paused, then smiled. "If I have the chance, I will definitely take you to the Xiongnu royal court, which we missed last time."
Huo Yan smiled back at him, "No need. Take me with you next year."
His expression didn't seem fake.
Summer rain comes quickly, and it comes in an instant as soon as the sky gets dark.
Now, a long wind howled through the room, and the windows were flung open with great force, making a creaking sound. It seemed the rain would soon arrive. Huo Yan was about to close the window, but Huo Qubing got there first. His expression was unusually serious, and he remained silent, earning a glare from Huo Yan.
"What's wrong? What's wrong with me? Do you dislike me?!"
Huo Qubing touched his nose in frustration and changed the subject abruptly, "I like the Xiongnu land because it allows me to realize all my ideas. What about you?"
His change of subject was too direct, but Huo Yan didn't want to say anything more. He just wanted to give Huo Qubing a heads-up, so he could prepare himself mentally. So he skillfully continued, "Indeed, Chang'an has an uncle who is too fussy and extravagant. It's really a cause for concern."
He said some complaining words, and then he couldn't help laughing.
Because the sound of the emperor's envoy and the Hedong County governor knocking on the door could be heard again outside.
"General! A letter from His Majesty!"
Wei Qing opened the door for them and asked them to come in to take shelter from the rain. Huo Yan and Huo Qubing came out together, and the four of them sat around and made tea.
The emperor's envoys were embarrassed, and the governor of Hedong County was also embarrassed by being invited to dinner every day. It was only halfway through the month, and this was his twelfth time.
Wei Qing invited him to have tea and to have dinner later.
Huo Yan knelt beside them and made tea. He scooped out the green tea soup and placed it in front of them, pretending it didn't exist.
The emperor's usurper knew his status and dared not ask him to serve tea. He knelt forward, wanting to take the spoon and scoop soup for them, but Huo Yan smiled and refused. "You are a guest from afar. Angel, please sit down and relax. I will go see if the meal is ready."
The usher took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to him, but before he could read it, Huo Qubing took it away.
"When will Your Majesty pay me back?"
If the champion doesn't speak, it's fine, but when he speaks, it's a decisive move.
Huo Yan smiled, his temper was unusually good.
The usher also felt embarrassed, "My dear young man, you have made great contributions to the wine industry. His Majesty said that he would promote you and confer a title on you."
Huo Qubing didn't buy it. "The money Ah Yan gave my uncle could have earned him a title of Marquis of Wan Hu long ago."
Huo Yan looked well-protected and smiled quietly, "Want some more?"
He asked the usher.
The usher felt that he had returned in vain and no longer insisted. He just persuaded Wei Qing together with the county magistrate.
Huo Yan stretched out his hand, and Huo Qubing handed him the letter and asked him to read it himself. After reading two lines, Huo Yan felt very upset, thinking that the gold paper he had sprinkled on it was wasted.
Liu Che sent an average of one envoy a day, and wrote a letter to his general every day, and the sarcastic words were never the same.
Except for Huo Qubing, everyone received a letter. Huo Yan also received several. His uncle didn't know how many he had written. Anyway, the messenger delivered them every few days. His uncle's literary and pretentious preface was never the same, and it always filled a whole page. The main text at the end was even more difficult to understand.
There are those who express their true feelings and play the emotional card. What is this? I ask Ah Yan, you left during the spring blossom season and have been traveling for many days. Now the flowers are withered. Why are you so reluctant to leave? I am in Weiyang Palace, always thinking of you, longing for you, pacing like a trapped animal, unable to taste food, and unable to sleep at night! How can you bear to keep me in such torment?
To those who have questions, I have been in a trance recently and have been unable to sleep or eat, because your rebellious son has not returned from his outing!
There are also people who ask Huo Yan if he wants an official position. I will give the position of Si Su Du Wei to you, so you should return quickly.
Huo Yan looked through the ink and knew that they were written on the same day. He couldn't help but click his tongue. She wrote so many letters in one day, and her emotions fluctuated so much. Damn girl, she had so many emotions.
He didn't even dare to think about the content of Liu Che's letter to Wei Qing. His uncle must have said more sour words.
On the contrary, Wei Qing's letter was full of his exaggeration of state affairs, and his pleading that I would take the initiative to attack the Huns and Zhongqing should come back quickly to help me.
However, Huo Qubing received the letter, and Wei Qing still doesn't know what Liu Che wrote.
[My uncle is really generous and can cure any disease.]
[Qi Bing burned it immediately after he said it. Ah Yan also burned it after he read it.]
[Did anyone notice Juer bullying A Guang in the background?]
[Hahaha, what Erer said to A Guang is, if you don't come with me, I will ask the emperor to give your father a promotion. Then everyone will scold me!]
[This move seems like Ah Yan.]
[A Guang nodded. He was being manipulated.]
Huo Yan was inexplicably attacked. He snorted, "Guang'er, don't just listen to him. He's a misguided person."
Liu Ju refused to accept this. He'd been out in the countryside with Huo Yan lately, and had been going hunting with Huo Qubing and Wei Qing. He'd even dared to wade into the mud with Wei Kang. Now he'd become a complete wild boy, his porcelain-white skin tanned to a tan. He'd been eating and sleeping a lot, and while he hadn't gained any knowledge, he'd actually grown a lot taller. "No way! Ah Guang has to listen to me. Wherever I go, he goes!"
Huo Guang stood up obediently, his eyes clear, and called out "Brother Zhong" which softened Huo Yan's heart. He looked at the dirty Liu Ju with disdain, and suddenly didn't want Huo Guang to play with him anymore.
His son Xiaoguang is talented, good-looking, and outstanding as he can be. But his son Liu Ju has nothing and can be as naughty as he can be.
Liu Ju also sensed Huo Yan's disdain. The brat pulled Huo Guang over and said with a shamefaced expression, "Brother Ayan, I heard my family wants to send someone to the palace to be my study companion. What do you think about sending Aguang to the palace? I will definitely treat him well!"
Huo Guang hadn't expected him to be so aggressive and vying for the position, and he was momentarily at a loss, fearing Huo Yan would think he was asking Liu Ju to go to Chang'an. Huo Yan silently touched his head, and Huo Guang felt relieved, and he gave Huo Yan another shy smile.
Huo Yan tilted his head to sip tea, using the tea bowl to cover his smiling eyes.
A Guang, cute.
Seeing that he would not give in, Liu Ju went to look for Huo Qubing. As soon as Huo Qubing looked up at him, he ran into Wei Qing's arms again. "Uncle, can A Guang come with us?"
Huo Yan snorted coldly. Huo Qubing watched him snort a dozen times in a row, and laughed inwardly, "Ah Yan, this is your wish."
This is your purpose, why are you still angry?
Huo Yan glared at him. "If Ah Guang agrees to go back to Chang'an with me, I will teach Ah Guang myself. Ah Guang will live at home. In a few days, I will go find Old Man Dong and ask him to go to the Imperial Academy for classes."
Huo Guang blushed.
His second brother, whom he had always admired, seemed to really like him.
Huo Qubing chuckled.
"You are the boss at home."
Wei Qing, who was about to agree, also glanced at Huo Yan, then said to Liu Ju, "Your brother Yan is reluctant to let go. If he doesn't agree, who else in the family will dare to agree?"
Liu Ju groaned, twisting his body like a snake, "Uncle, uncle."
Just as he was about to say something, he heard a violent knock on the door.
The sound was like beating a drum, as if to kick open and smash the wooden boards.
The broken door couldn't withstand three knocks, and the doorman immediately got up and opened it.
"Here I come."
In the flash of a flash as the door was pushed open, Liu Che's face appeared in front of the doorman. The emperor was soaked and heavy rain was pouring down. His black carriage and the attendants behind him were all drenched.
"Go and pass the message."
His voice was hoarse and gritted.
The doorman's pupils suddenly dilated, and even the oil-paper umbrella fell to the ground.
Liu Che picked up the oil-paper umbrella, examined it for a moment, and smiled sinisterly. Things like Huo Yan's were only circulated in Chang'an. It seemed he had made the right choice.
The eunuch beside him immediately covered the doorman's mouth and dragged him away without making a sound.
Liu Che opened his oil-paper umbrella and stepped into the rain.
The clatter of footsteps was muffled in the rain, which was also humid. Huo Qubing's ears twitched, and he could only see the oil-paper umbrella. He put down his teacup and looked over with Wei Qing. The prefect, puzzled, also peeked in. The green tea accidentally spilled over Huo Yan's unopened copy of "The Art of Brewing Oil" on the table. Huo Yan was still there, holding Huo Guang'er, dealing with Liu Ju'er and Wei Kang'er, playing a game of grass fighting, laughing happily.
The fence of the Huo family courtyard trembled in the strong wind, and Liu Che pushed open the door.
In response, a bolt of blue lightning struck the sky, illuminating his face with a snow-white glow.
"You all are making tea and having fun, why don't you call me?" The emperor stepped barefoot into the doorway. Liu Che's long gown was smudged with mud, and the pearls on his hair crown swayed with his heavy breathing. "My Si Su Du Wei is fighting with the crown prince over grass, and my Guanjun Hou is teaching him how to fight with grass... What's so fun about grass!" He pointed at Liu Ju, who was huddled in a corner. "My crown prince has become a child in the fields!"
He looked around, fixed his gaze on Wei Qing with a forced smile, and spoke in a very loud voice.
"My general is making tea. Is he waiting for me?"
The room was very quiet.
A guilty look flashed across Wei Qing's face. He stepped forward to find clothes for Liu Che and asked him to change.
"Your Majesty is a guest now."
Liu Che stared at him and sneered.
"I'm a guest, I'm not cold!"
Wei Qing insisted, so he roared, "I've been waiting in Chang'an until my heart is cold, and I haven't seen you return to Chang'an! What's cold about it? It's not cold!"
The tail end of his voice made the rapeseeds taking shelter from the rain in the house rustle.
The words "Your Majesty" that the Hedong County Magistrate said were immediately stuck in his throat, and he fell to the ground.
Liu Ju was frightened and quickly protected Huo Guang and Wei Kang behind him, and ran to hide behind Huo Yan. Huo Yan coughed awkwardly and pulled Huo Qubing in front of him.
Huo Qubing puffed out his chest like a mother hen, but the emperor glared at him fiercely, "Get out of my way! I want to see Ah Yan."
The emperor took a step forward and flicked his sleeves full of water towards Huo Qubing's face. Huo Qubing's face was immediately covered with muddy water. "No."
Huo Qubing said as he wiped his face.
Liu Che was so angry that he wanted to slap him in the face, but in the end he couldn't bear it and said, "You have become more capable!"
He grabbed the broom next to him and hit Huo Qubing. Everyone was busy trying to separate them. Huo Qubing was thick-skinned and acted like nothing happened even after being beaten. Huo Yan felt sorry for his brother and went to help pull Liu Che away. As a result, he stepped on the hem of Liu Che's clothes. Not only did he fall flat on his face, but he also tore Liu Che's clothes into half sleeves, revealing his white arms.
Everyone was busy trying to support Huo Yan, leaving Liu Che standing there awkwardly, unsure whether to hit him or not. He couldn't bring himself to do it, but he couldn't bear not to. After a moment's silence, he and Huo Qubing fell into an eerie silence.
After a long moment, Huo Qubing blinked at him and said, "Uncle, why don't you put it down? You're old and your hands are shaking."
The broom finally fell.
Wei Qing brought the clothes back.
"Your Majesty, please change your clothes."
Liu Che's teeth were swollen from biting his teeth, and he was so angry that he almost died. He threw down the broom and said viciously, "If you don't leave tomorrow, I will hang you from a tree and beat you."
Huo Qubing didn't even blink.
Huo Yan smiled and went to help him, and took out the needle bag, "Uncle, the cold has entered your body, give me two injections."
Liu Che nodded, feeling comforted. Then Huo Yan acupuncture forced him to stay in bed for five days before the cold was cleared away.
He was furious, about to explode. Finally getting up, he saw something massive. Dust billowed from the yard as ten young men, shouting slogans, erected the base of an oil press. The five-foot-tall camphorwood support gleamed in the spring sun. Huo Qubing leaned against the grain-carrying oxcart, his arms folded, watching the housekeeper direct the laborers as they lifted the bronze gears onto their mortises.
Wei Deng was still young and wanted to touch the gear, but Huo Yan was so scared that he grabbed his hand tightly and threatened, "This thing bites people, Uncle Ma doesn't want it."
The wood pressing structure gradually took shape under Huo Yan's command. Huo Yan's fingertips ran across the wedge groove that was modified to imitate the gate of a well, and he smiled as he asked Liu Ju and the other children to grab the rapeseed and sprinkle it into the groove of the millstone. Liu Ju excitedly threw in a handful of dried seeds.
"Brother Ayan, this is what we collected. When the oil comes, it will belong to us."
Huo Yan scolded him for being greedy. As he spoke, the millstone began to turn with a roar. The sound of the bronze teeth clacking startled all the sparrows in the room. In an instant, the first basket of rapeseed was pressed into the press. Huo Qubing slowly stepped on the pedal waterwheel, which turned the large gear, which in turn turned the small gear through the transmission belt, causing the millstone to turn.
In an instant, golden oil suddenly seeped out from between the straw cakes bound by bamboo strips, flowing along the bluestone grooves into a stream, emitting amber ripples in the morning light.
Liu Ju, along with the three young marquises and Huo Guang, squeezed in at the front and reached out to grab the first bottle. He didn't care that his linen robe was stained with oil. "Brother Yan, this looks like real oil. You're not lying."
Huo Yan chuckled and handed him the first barrel of oil. "Go ahead! You've been working for so long just to benefit the world today!"
Liu Ju touched his head, picked up a stick, and he and Huo Guang each carried one on their shoulder and walked away.
"Oil distribution!"
They both shouted.
Wei Kang and the other two also shouted.
Since these children heard that rapeseed could be used to extract oil, they went to the countryside to pick rapeseed pods every day, and brought them home when they had enough. Some kind-hearted people thought Huo Guang was collecting firewood, and because they looked chubby, they always gave them some of the rapeseed they didn't want.
They said that they could return the oil to the owner today, and several people in the crowd were very happy.
Huo Guang scooped oil for people, and Liu Ju and others praised Huo Yan for his ability to turn waste into treasure. The oil was squeezed out of rapeseed by a large machine.
At that time, animal oils were more valuable than vegetable oils, and obtaining them from livestock was relatively stable and easy. Pigs, cattle, sheep, and other livestock were common farm animals, and people could simultaneously extract animal oils from them while slaughtering them for meat. However, the cultivation and harvesting of vegetable oils, such as perilla seeds, were significantly affected by seasonal and climatic factors, and the oil extraction process was relatively complex.
In the social concept of the time, animal oil was regarded as a nutritious food that could provide energy, especially among the nobility and wealthy classes, where it was widely used. Vegetable oil was more regarded as a supplementary edible oil, used for some simple cooking or seasoning.
This means that the emergence of rapeseed oil will be more beneficial to the people, after all, the nobles like strong flavors.
Huo Yan chuckled. As long as he gave the blueprints to his craftsmen and used the Wine Industry Department as a tentacles, it wouldn't be difficult to add a business of brewing oil and harvesting rapeseed.
He could also promote stir-fried dishes at the theater later. In order to create value with the extra rapeseed oil, he decided to use the money that the major liquor companies had paid him to order floating oil to expand the theater's food menu to further areas.
Speaking of which, he hasn't seen Zhang Qian since the last quick meeting at his uncle's house. He doesn't know if Zhang Qian has any other seeds. He will have to go and check when he returns to Chang'an.
After thinking about the next step, he was in a good mood and decided to use the newly made iron pan to stir-fry two dishes with rapeseed oil.
Huo Qubing never refused the food he gave him.
"By the way, Lord Father Yan has been taking care of his health recently, so leave him a pot." Huo Yan said, putting down a bottle of oil. "Lord Father Yan has it, so my adoptive father should have it too."
Mother, uncles, aunt, Aunt Wenjun, Sima Qian, the Zhang family...
He and Huo Qubing thought about all the people they knew in Chang'an, put bottle after bottle, and finally only two bottles were left. After thinking about it, he decided to give the two bottles to Dong Zhongshu and Zhang Qian based on the suggestion of the barrage.
One was for seeds, and the other was for Huo Guang to go to the Imperial College.
Liu Che listened for a long time from behind. From the moment he started mumbling about dividing the oil, he began waiting for his name to be called. Unexpectedly, the two of them had already thought of everyone, even Dong Zhongshu, but his was not among them.
He might as well just lie back down! Out of sight, out of mind!
At dinner time, Liu Ju and his companions came back and saw a table full of new dishes and Liu Che who was eating happily.
Fried crab, Dongpo spring pigeon sashimi, fried lamb with wine, fried tofu with sugar, and fried bean sprouts.
There is also Bo Xia Gong, which Huo Yan reproduced based on the recipe provided by the barrage. This Bo Xia Gong is a rabbit meat hotpot. Because the color of the meat slices is like clouds when it is shabu-shabu, it is named "Bo Xia Gong". There is a poem that says "Waves surge like snow on the clear river, and the wind turns the sunset glow." The rabbit meat is cut into thin slices, marinated with wine, sauce, and pepper, and then put into boiling water to shabu-shabu and dipped in sauce for consumption.
Liu Che enjoyed the meal very much. He was no longer so angry with his eldest son Ah Yan. He kept calling him Ah Yan and Huo Yan also called him Uncle. The two of them were very affectionate and looked like a real father and son.
After they had eaten and drunk enough, Huo Yan asked, "Do you think it tastes good?"
Liu Che thought he was sending him oil, so he nodded seriously and praised him.
"Is that worth a reward from you?"
His words made Liu Che cry out in despair, "Ayan, just tell me, your uncle will agree to whatever you say."
A bad thought flashed through Huo Qubing's mind. He wanted to stop Liu Che from speaking, but he failed. He could only listen to his younger brother say scary words.
"I also want to go to the battlefield. If there is a chance, please let me follow General Li Guang."
Liu Che's eyelids twitched, "He's unlucky, why bother with him!"
His golden-haired sheep is very delicate, and Li Guang must not lose his little darling A Yan.
I get lost every day, I get captured every day, I don’t know what to do for a living!
"My dear, your uncle knows that you want to achieve great things and become a marquis. I will give it to you. When you grow up and move to the center of power, I will give you the title of Marquis of Wan Hu, just like your uncle and brother!"
Huo Yan refused.
"But I want to be rewarded with a title for my military achievements!"
These words softened Liu Che's heart, "Okay, then you follow your uncle."
Huo Qubing was also looking forward to it.
Huo Yan shook his head.
"Forget it, I just want to be a marquis if I follow General Li Guang."
Before anyone else could say anything, Liu Che was the first to believe it. He had been convinced of Huo Yan's psychic abilities ever since he had given him his son. Now, whenever he recruited people to become immortals, he had to first see if there was anyone more powerful than Ah Yan. His Ah Yan hadn't learned anything yet, so those who had learned must be better than Ah Yan. Anyone who wasn't was a liar. It was impossible to be born psychic.
"Okay, I'll give you a token," Liu Che agreed. "If Li Guang becomes a burden to you, kill him."
Huo Yan nodded and took the token.
The battle of Hexi is imminent.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
