Sui and Tang Dynasty Generals

Chapter 30 The Li family has a daughter named Li Qiong
Inside the Li Mansion.

As you enter the gate, you'll see the flower garden. Even though it's November, there are still some plants in bloom.

From the old woman's narration, Fu Zihou finally learned that there were three ways to enter the garden. Going straight would lead to the front yard where the main hall was located, while going to the left would bypass the front yard and go to the back yard. As for the road on the far right, it led to the Li family's attic.

They thought the flower garden was big enough, but when they arrived at the front yard, Fu Zihou and the others from the Fu family had a more intuitive feeling of how big the Li Mansion was.

Looking at the pavilion connected to the corridor in the distance, more than a dozen young men and women were kneeling behind a wooden table, holding bamboo slips and looking over. Fu Zihou's eyes were attracted by one girl.

"Everyone looks at each other in a beautiful way, and the color of the world is like dust."

This was the sentence that instinctively came to Fu Zihou's mind when he saw the girl who was the same age as himself.

Because the girl was just as described in this sentence, looking at her from a distance, looking into her eyes, seemed to make other women lose their color.

If he were to be honest, Fu Zihou was not the kind of person who would be unable to walk when seeing a woman, but in all these years, this was the first time that Fu Zihou had seen such a beautiful girl.

"Go prepare the tea and bring out the master's treasured tea leaves!"

The old woman stopped and saw Fu Lao and her nieces-in-law Zhang and Tao and others. They all looked at the girl not far away, smiled and asked the servants to prepare tea, and then looked at Fu Lao.

"This rebellious son stayed at home with bamboo slips for many years, and then he was made responsible for teaching the children in the mansion. Gradually, some other families also sent their children to the Li Mansion!"

As the old woman spoke, she looked at Li Jingjie and her smile slowly faded.

This should have been something that would have made a mother proud, but thinking about the fact that Li Jingjie and his wife had always been unwilling to marry their daughter to the Fu family, the old woman couldn't be happy about Li Jingjie.

He looked at Fu Lao, then at Fu Zihou and Fu Zhi.

"If Zihou and Zhier don't have a teacher, they can come to the Li Mansion to learn. Although your uncle is not a famous scholar, he is also famous in the area within a hundred miles!"

The old woman spoke to Fu Zihou and Fu Zhi, her purpose was not only to let Fu Zihou and Li Jingjie have more contact, but also for the future of these two brothers.

Although the son was rebellious, he was a good man in terms of family education. Many high-ranking officials and dignitaries came to visit him in order to ask for their children to stay in the Li family and be taught by Erlang.

"That's great!"

Zhang, who was standing with the other women in Li's mansion, saw the old woman's actions. She looked very happy and whispered to her sister-in-law Tao, her eyes full of excitement.

Tao also nodded and looked at the old woman with gratitude.

"Don't worry, mother. I will teach you everything I know in the future! Let the second son of the Fu family become a talented person!"

Li Jingjie saw that his mother rarely praised him, so he looked at Fu Zihou and Fu Zhi and made an assurance to his mother.

Because he didn't know how his wife would be punished by her mother for what she had done before, Li Jingjie hoped that his mother's anger would dissipate a little as long as there was a chance.

At this moment, Li Jingjie felt quite proud when talking about teaching. Not to mention other things, but within a hundred miles radius, countless nobles and dignitaries rushed to the Li family to give gifts, hoping to hand over their children to him. For this reason, there were countless people who visited the Li family during festivals.

Standing next to the old woman, Grandpa naturally noticed the looks of his daughters-in-law and immediately smiled triumphantly. Then he looked at his old sister-in-law and was about to speak when Fu Zihou's voice came from the side.

"Zihou thanks Granny Li! But Zihou has already become a disciple!"

Fu Zihou raised his hand, saluted to the old woman and said.

When other outsiders face the old woman, they should call Li Gang's wife "Old Madam" or "Old Madam Li".

But because of Grandpa, Fu Zihou has to call the old lady "Grandma Li", so as not to seem strange. Just like the old lady's grandchildren, they will also call Grandpa Fu Grandpa, instead of Fu Lao!
"Hmm? You already have a mentor?"

After hearing what Fu Zihou said, not only the old woman, but even Li Jingjie looked surprised.

Zhang, who was a few steps away, became even more anxious when she heard Fu Zihou's words. Looking at Fu Zihou who was bowing, she wished she could take two steps forward and kick her nephew in the butt.

Zhang couldn't help but look at Tao, who was standing aside with a look of surprise. She meant to say, "Why does your son seem to have become stupid after coming to the Li family?"
Other high-ranking officials and dignitaries all rushed to find connections and came to the Li family, hoping that their children could come to study. But your son, at this critical moment, facing the old lady's kindness, actually said that he had a teacher.

What kind of teacher is this! He is just a poor scholar in the village!!!

"Before coming to Qian County, Zihou suddenly wanted to learn elementary education, so he studied with a teacher for more than a month!"

Aong looked at Fu Zihou in confusion. After he realized what was going on, he explained to his sister-in-law awkwardly.

"More than a month!"

The old woman was surprised when she heard what Fu Lao said. She was not surprised that Fu Zihou had already become his disciple, but she was surprised at the young man in front of her, whose eyes were clear and firm.

The old woman could see that the young Fu Zihou wanted to uphold the name of his former mentor rather than being a disciple of the Li family!

"But that famous scholar?"

The old woman looked at Fu Zihou, and then looked at Fu Lao with some confusion, thinking that Fu Lao was asking Fu Zihou to find that great man.

"He's not some great scholar, he's just a ..."

When Aong heard his sister-in-law's question, he looked at her puzzled eyes, smiled a little embarrassedly, paused, and then continued.

"...a poor scholar who fled to the village, his name is Liu Zhiyuan!"

After Aong finished speaking, he looked at Fu Zihou, and the smile on his old face gradually disappeared. It was obvious that he was not satisfied with Fu Zihou's behavior.

"Liu Zhiyuan?"

At first, Li Jingjie thought it was some famous scholar. When he saw Fu Zihou's refusal, he was still angry and prepared to compete with him secretly. When he found out about the other party's background, he would compare himself with him in his mind.

As a result, after hearing what Mr. Fu said, Li Jingjie almost got internal injuries.

It turns out that the mentor that Fu Zihou mentioned was just a down-and-out scholar who was fleeing, and not a great scholar at all.

At this moment, Li Jingjie looked at the young Fu Zihou with a somewhat indignant expression on his face. He felt depressed in his chest and didn't know how to vent it.

Although I don't know who Liu Zhiyuan is, could it be that I, Li Jingjie, the second son of the Li family, am no match for a scholar who came from a wild background?
"Zihou!"

The old woman looked at Fu Zihou, her hands full of slight wrinkles, grabbed Fu Zihou's hand, and looked at Fu Zihou seriously.

"Do you know what benefits there are if you learn from the Li family?"

The old woman asked again patiently. She did not know a man named Liu Zhiyuan, but she was Li Gang's wife and the old lady of the Li family. She knew what benefits the word "Li family" could bring, so she asked Fu Zihou again.

at this time.

Not to mention that Zhang was eager to step forward and agree on Fu Zihou's behalf, even Tai, Fu Zhi, and even Old Liu, all hoped that Fu Zihou would change his words. After all, the Li family was not ordinary people. In his early years, Li was invited by Emperor Wen of Sui to teach the Crown Prince of Sui. If he went out in the future and was asked by others who his master was, if he could say that he learned from the Li family, others would look at Fu Zihou differently and would respect him much more.

However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, just when Li Jingjie was ready for Fu Zihou to change his words, he thought of Fu Zihou's regret and hurriedly changed his words.

Fu Zihou looked at the old lady and nodded, indicating that he knew and understood that his choice meant giving up the name of the Li family. Li Jingjie was stunned, and then he suppressed the anger in his chest, looked a little anxious, and kept panting with his mouth, trying to calm himself down.

And Li Jingjie kept reminding himself.

Can't be angry, can't be angry! This kid knows nothing and has never seen the world. I can't be angry with a short-sighted nephew.

"Hey, this..."

On the side, hearing Fu Zihou's answer, A Weng looked at Fu Zihou with some regret, sighed helplessly, and shook his head.

Instead, the old woman laughed.

"Alright, let's get to the end! This will also be good for Zihou!"

The old woman nodded.

As the old lady of the Li family and the wife of Li Gang, looking at Fu Zihou's appearance at this moment, for some reason, she liked this young man even more in her heart.

Perhaps it was because of her relationship with the Fu family that she did not feel disgusted by any of the boy's actions, or perhaps it was at this moment that she seemed to see the shadow of her husband when he was young in the boy.

Not for fame or fortune, not looking at the future, just pursuing one's heart.

In the front yard.

As everyone was talking, the young man and woman who had been reading scriptures under the pavilion just now, at the notice of the servants, put down their bamboo slips and came to the front of the Fu family.

Seeing this group of young boys and girls, everyone forgot about the little episode about Fu Zihou. Aong, Zhang and others were planning to question Fu Zihou tonight.

At this moment, their eyes were attracted by a girl. They all looked at the girl who was the same age as Fu Zihou but very beautiful.

The girl is not only beautiful, but her pretty face also gives people a sense of grandeur. She is unlike ordinary girls who often give people the feeling of a beautiful girl from a small family.

"Grandma, father!"

As the girl bowed to the old woman and Li Jingjie, Aung, Zhang and others were all surprised.

"This is?"

Aong looked at his sister-in-law in disbelief and asked softly.

The old woman smiled when she saw this, motioned the girl to come forward to her side, and then looked at Fu Lao.

"Li Yang, this is Er Lang's daughter, Li Qiong, who is engaged to your Fu family! She has been learning from her father since she was young, and is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting! She is also good at swordsmanship!"

The old woman introduced her granddaughter to Mr. Fu, and her eyes showed a rare sense of pride as she spoke. It is enough for a girl to be good at one talent, but Qiong'er is more talented and proficient in both literature and martial arts.

The old woman said to Li Qiong, "Qiong'er, come and meet Mr. Fu'a!"

After listening to the old woman's introduction, not only Fu Zihou, but everyone in the Fu family finally confirmed that this beautiful girl was the fourth daughter of the Li family who had an engagement with Fu Zihou from the beginning.

At this time, not to mention Fu Zihou, even Aweng, Zhang, Tao, Fu Zhi, Tai, and even Old Liu, all understood why Li Jingjie was unwilling to marry his daughter to the Fu family.

This woman is so beautiful and outstanding that there will probably be countless admirers who come to her in the future.

"Li Qiong, meet Fu Aong!"

Li Qiong bowed to the old man. Her words and actions were graceful and elegant, and her fair and beautiful face made the old man nod helplessly.

Then, under the introduction of the old woman, Li Qiong bowed to Mr. Liu, Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Tao and others one by one, saying "Aunt", "Uncle" softly...

"Hey! Okay!"

Tao nodded. For some reason, looking at this charming girl, she, who was already old, felt a little uneasy.

Zhang was not much better.

"Qiong'er, this is your fiancé Fu Zihou! When our Li family and the Fu family restore your engagement with Zihou, you will marry Zihou!"

The old woman then took Li Qiong and introduced Fu Zihou to her granddaughter.

Li Jingjie, who had been silent the whole time, looked at his daughter's surprised expression, and then looked at him in confusion. He could only sigh helplessly.

Li Jingjie knew his mother's character. Since his mother had already decided to marry Qiong'er to the Fu family, if he spoke again, his mother might get angry and commit suicide by hitting her head against a wooden beam.

If I really pushed my mother to that point, I would have no face to live in this world even though I have been filial to my mother for half my life.

"Li Qiong, meet Fu Lang!"

Although Li Qiong was not happy with her grandmother asking her to marry into the Fu family, she was well-educated and still looked at Fu Zihou and bowed slowly.

"Zihou, meet Miss Qiong!"

Fu Zihou looked at the beautiful Li Qiong and raised his hand to return the greeting.

After the ceremony, the two people who met for the first time didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, Madam Li was understanding. Seeing that the parties involved in the engagement already knew each other, she smiled and asked everyone from the Fu family to go to the main hall to rest first.

Fu Zihou turned around and looked at the encouraging eyes of his aunt Zhang and the smile in his mother's eyes. He felt a little amused and was about to help his grandfather when he suddenly heard Li Qiong speak.

"Grandma, Qiong'er wants to talk to Fu Lang alone!"

Li Qiong looked at her grandmother and spoke.

When the old woman heard her granddaughter's request, she looked at her and frowned slightly. How could she not see that Li Qiong had something to say to Fu Zihou?

Thinking of her granddaughter's character, the old woman was afraid that she might accidentally say something that would hurt Fu Zihou, so she didn't want to agree.
In the old woman's eyes, it would be better to first discuss the marriage with the Fu family and set a date, then she should talk things over with her granddaughter Li Qiong in private, and then let her granddaughter get in touch with Fu Zihou.

The old woman was about to refuse sternly, but she saw Fu Zihou speaking to Fu Lao.

"Grandfather, mother, follow Granny Li in first. Zihou and Miss Qiong'er are talking outside!"

Fu Zihou looked at his grandfather and mother, signaling them not to worry, and then looked at Mrs. Li.

See this situation.

The old woman looked at Aong and others before nodding. However, the old woman led everyone to the main hall and looked at her granddaughter Li Qiong with a warning look.

Li Qiong couldn't help but lower her head upon seeing this.

(End of this chapter)