Zhu Tian: A journey of spiritual practice starting from Joy of Life

Chapter 152 Befriending Li Chengru and a Group of Visitors

"Okay!"

Li Chengru said happily, "Let me see what kind of fine wine you brought. Come on, serve the food!"

At a command, several burly men carried tables and chairs into the house and set them up.

After a while, seven or eight servants came into the house carrying dishes and carefully placed them on the table.

I have to say that although the attire at Li Chengru's house is a bit simple, the food is not bad. The various beautifully presented dim sum and side dishes as well as the crispy roast pork as the main dish all exude a fragrant aroma.

Leng Feibai was a foodie, and looking at the dishes in front of him, he couldn't help but feel hungry.

But after all, I am a guest in someone else's home, so it is better for me to be solemn first.

In just a quarter of an hour, Li Chengru, who had changed into a new set of clothes, hurried back. Seeing Leng Feibai standing by waiting for him, he said apologetically, "Sorry, Brother Leng. I just worked up a sweat while sparring with a few brothers, so I'm late."

After saying that, Li Chengru invited Leng Feibai to sit down, and at the same time, he used a knife to cut two large pieces of roast suckling pig meat, stuffed one of them to Leng Feibai, and began to eat it with relish.

Leng Feibai looked at Li Chengru's bold appearance, a smile appeared on his face, and he held the pork in both hands and took a bite.

The two of them enjoyed the wine and meat, chatting from time to time.

“Brother Leng!”

Li Chengru chewed on the roast pork and said, "Come to think of it, our first meeting was in Father's bedroom. However, we didn't talk much that time!"

“There was no way last time either!”

Thinking back to that time, Leng Feibai couldn't help but complain to Li Chengru, "Fan Xian was too reckless that time. He ran to His Majesty and made up stories without any evidence. He really thought he was the hero of some silly storybook and everything would go his way."

Li Chengru looked at Leng Feibai and heard the worry in his voice. He asked curiously, "Brother Leng, do you care about your sworn brother Fan Xian?"

"He and I are more than just sworn brothers!"

Leng Feibai recalled the past and said, "When that brat was sent to my grandmother, he was still a little ball. My grandmother was already old. At that time, that little Fan Xian was making a lot of noise, and the servants and maids in the house were simply unable to control him. So most of the time, I was the one who took care of that brat. To be frank, it's no exaggeration to say that I raised that brat with my own hands."

Looking at Leng Feibai, Li Chengru was full of envy. When he was a child, he was not very popular in the palace because of his mother.

Although he had no worries about food and clothing, he could not feel any love from his other relatives except his mother.

This is also the reason why he chose to join the army when he grew up, riding his horse and waving the whip on the battlefield, and was unwilling to return to Kyoto.

After the two chatted for a few more words, the servants brought up the two jars of wine that Leng Feibai had brought.

Leng Feibai pointed at the wine jar and said, "Try this. This wine is first-rate strong liquor. The first time I drank it, I was also drunk for a long time."

"Oh!"

After hearing this, Li Chengru also became interested and stood up to remove the mud seal on the wine jar.

The rich aroma of wine immediately spread throughout the room. Li Chengru was also a wine connoisseur. As soon as he smelled the aroma, he immediately knew that the wine in the jar was good wine.

Li Chengru, who was very greedy, quickly picked up the wine jar and poured two bowls of wine. As the wine took a sip, the sweet and spicy taste filled his mouth.

Li Chengru said happily, "This is a great wine. It's top-notch even in Kyoto. Brother Leng, what's the name of this wine?"

"Heroic blood!"

After Leng Feibai finished speaking, he picked up his wine bowl and clinked it with Li Chengru's. "Brother Li, I toast you. Since coming to Kyoto, outside of the Fan Mansion, this is the first time I've felt so comfortable interacting with someone."

"Then I'm honored!"

The two of them drank happily, getting along like old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years.

During this time, Li Chengru was very curious and asked Leng Feibai how he got Haitang Duoduo. After hearing this, Leng Feibai did not hide anything and told Li Chengru about his travels with Haitang Duoduo in Lanzhou. However, just in case, Leng Feibai hid the part about Shura Palace.

After listening to this, Li Chengru's eyes became blurred.

Leng Feibai knew that he was drunk, so he stood up and said goodbye to Li Chengru.

Li Chengru, who was drunk, did not try to force Leng Feibai to stay, but made an appointment with Leng Feibai to drink together another day.

After leaving Li Chengru's residence, Leng Feibai bit his tongue and secretly circulated the true energy in his body to remove all the alcohol smell of the hero's blood from his body.

"During our conversation just now, Li Chengru's tone was quite sincere."

Leng Feibai muttered to himself, "Neither the Emperor's Qi-gazing Technique nor the Five Mind-stopping Contemplations detected anything unusual. It seems he had no complicated motives for inviting me to drink. Besides, Li Chengru is one of the few normal people in the Li family, so there's no need to be overly wary of him."

When Leng Feibai returned home, he found that the house was crowded with people. Many people who came to give gifts gathered outside the Fan Mansion, and they all gave gifts to Fan Xian in a flattering tone.

"In order to recommend their own descendants, these people really do everything they can!"

Leng Feibai stretched, climbed over the wall back into the Fan family before the group of people discovered him, and headed straight for Fan Xian's yard.

As soon as I entered, I heard a burst of breaking noises coming from the yard.

"Humph!"

Leng Feibai had already sensed Li Chengqian's presence and walked over a few steps.

As soon as he entered, Leng Feibai saw Li Chengqian clumsily fiddling with Fan Xian's humidifier in the sink.

"Busy, Prince!"

Leng Feibai's joking voice sounded, and Li Chengqian was so scared that he knelt down in the pool.

Seeing this, Leng Feibai was stunned and hurried forward to help the person out.

Li Chengqian said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I saw this thing and got interested, so I went over to play with it, and ended up breaking it."

"It's just a few pieces of broken wood, no big deal!"

Fan Xian also walked out of the house at this time. Looking at Li Chengqian's expression, he hurriedly asked, "Why is Your Highness here?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian quickly said, "Of course I came here to talk to you about something!"

Li Chengqian took out a list from his pocket and said, "These are a few of my students. Although they are quite talented, I still hope that Master Fan can help them in this Spring Examination!"

Fan Xian took the list, glanced at it, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Your Highness. If it were anything else, I would definitely help. But when His Majesty asked me to be in charge of the Spring Examination yesterday, he specifically instructed me to ensure fairness and to avoid any impersonation. So, there's nothing I can do!"

"Really!"

Li Chengqian took back the list and said with a silly smile, "Then there's nothing we can do. It's up to them!"

"Your Highness believes me?"

"You wouldn't deceive the king just to appease me, would you?"

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Then I'll go back first. You can keep the things. Consider them my gifts to celebrate your upcoming wedding!"

After saying that, Li Chengqian quickly left the yard.

After watching Li Chengqian leave, Leng Feibai turned to look at Fan Xian and asked, "How was your visit to the Ministry of Rites Examination Hall this morning?"

(End of this chapter)