Notes on Longevity

Chapter 230 Wu Yong poses the question, Shouren answers; Uncle and nephew speak their true feelings in the middle of the night.

Zhao Zhai.

Sitting in the main hall, Zhao Wuyong and An Zhilan stared at Zhao Yunchu with worried expressions. Zhao Wuyong's hesitant manner made Zhao Yunchu become awkward. She parted her lips slightly and called out, "Father?"

Zhao Wuyong was at a loss for words when faced with his daughter. When Zhao Yunchu first entered the hall, he intended to give her a slight reprimand, saying: "If you continue to act recklessly like this, I will confine you to your quarters."

But when he thought about how good his precious daughter's martial arts skills were, he knew that even if he told her she wanted to sneak out, no one in the house would dare to stop her.

So he had no choice but to give up, saying, "I know everything. I'll try to avoid getting involved with these江湖客 (jianghu ke, people of the martial arts world) in the future."

At this point, Zhao Wuyong still felt he had to do something: "You'd better stay home these next few days and not go out. You also need to watch your behavior. Tomorrow I've invited some merchants from the Wu Kingdom. Don't cause any more trouble for me."

Zhao Yunchu shrugged and replied dejectedly, "Daughter knows."

Faced with Zhao Yunchu's dejected tone, Zhao Wuyong shook his head helplessly and said, "You child... never mind. Didn't you want to learn martial arts? After tomorrow, I'll have Cheng Han teach you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuyong first looked up in confusion, then her eyes shone brightly, and she quickly asked, "Father, is what you're saying true?"

Not long ago, when she, Pear Blossom, Pea, and others were trapped in Ya Xiang Lou, Yang Chenghan's appearance surprised and delighted her. Although Yang Chenghan only made a few moves, she saw the shadow of Yang Tianqian, the so-called "demon," in his figure. Although she didn't know how powerful Yang Chenghan really was, just the fact that he dared to face countless martial arts masters and protect her group made her feel that Yang Chenghan was definitely not inferior to his father.

However, Zhao Yunchu's reaction really gave Zhao Wuyong a headache. He looked at his wife with a worried expression and said in a trembling voice, "Madam, look at this child. He has more energy for practicing martial arts than for eating."

An Zhilan couldn't fully understand Zhao Wuyong's helplessness, since she had agreed to her daughter learning martial arts. She said, "Master, isn't it a good thing for a girl to learn martial arts? For example, if Yun Chu learns martial arts from Han'er and masters it, would she be afraid of them?"

Zhao Yunchu seized the opportunity to say, "That's right, Father. If I learn unparalleled martial arts from Brother Chenghan, who in the martial world can bully me?"

"Alright, alright," he could only surrender to the mother and son's back-and-forth, saying, "Who told me to only have you as my child? But, as I said before, don't do anything reckless tomorrow. You should rest early and go call Cheng Han in."

However, Zhao Yunchu pouted and raised her head, refusing to agree to Zhao Wuyong's words.

Looking at Zhao Yunchu, who was standing tall and proud, Zhao Wuyong asked, "Is there anything else?"

Zhao Yunchu looked down at Zhao Wuyong, pouted, and asked, "Father, do you mean that if you had two daughters, you would beat me today?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuyong exclaimed, "Hey, what do you mean, kid?"

Faced with her father's questioning, Zhao Yunchu immediately put on a grin, then made a face at Zhao Wuyong and said with a smile, "What I mean is, it's because you only have one daughter, Father."

Before Zhao Wuyong could react, he laughed loudly, turned around, and ran out of the main hall. At the same time, a deafening shout echoed throughout the Zhao residence: "Brother Chenghan, my father is looking for you."

Inside the lobby, Zhao Wuyong stood up and watched Zhao Yunchu run away. He smiled helplessly and said, "Sometimes I wonder what she would be like if she were a boy."

An Zhilan came to Zhao Wuyong's side, took his arm with both hands, and said with a smile, "If she were a boy, she would probably be like Cheng Han. At least she would be much more quiet."

An Zhilan originally wanted to say the word "steady," but Yang Chenghan was still just a child, so saying he was steady would be a bit of an exaggeration.

“Quiet?” Zhao Wuyong laughed loudly, “Where is Cheng Han quiet? He’s only just arrived at our house. Have you forgotten what Brother Yang said in his letter? This boy is unruly!”

An Zhilan didn't think so. "As parents, we are often biased, but we also have prejudices. Just like Yun Chu, don't you also find her annoying at times?"

"I think Brother Yang said he was naughty because he wanted Master to be stricter with Han'er, not because he was really naughty."

Zhao Wuyong poked An Zhilan's forehead with his finger and said, "You really are very loving towards these children."

An Zhilan laughed and retorted, "Of course I'll spoil them, they're all my own children. If they were someone else's children, you'd see what I said to them."

An Zhilan's words struck a chord with Zhao Wuyong. He gently released the hand that was holding his, then pulled An Zhilan into his arms, gently stroking her nose with his other hand, his smile full of doting affection: "Tell me, how pitiful must God have been for me to meet you?"

Upon hearing this, An Zhilan quickly covered his mouth, her eyes filled with heartache. She gently shook her head, even the tears in her eyes glistening like stars, and said, "Master, please don't talk nonsense."

"Although I don't know if what my grandfather and the others did will affect their descendants, I am sure that God is not pitying us, but rather feeling sorry for us who have suffered this misfortune without cause."

After saying that, An Zhilan slowly buried her head in Zhao Wuyong's chest, feeling the sound of his heartbeat and blood flowing.

"Madam." Zhao Wuyong looked at An Zhilan in his arms, stroked her head, and called out softly.

Yang Chenghan, who had been summoned by Zhao Yunchu's roar, stood under a tree outside the hall, quietly watching the two inside, so sweet, loving, and reluctant to part.

The scene before him reminded him of his parents, who used to bicker and argue. In their youth, they would often be in the countryside, silently telling their stories amidst the clash of swords and spears. Now, they preferred to bicker in their own little corner of the world. Although he didn't know the reason behind it, he understood that his parents' playful arguments were strikingly similar to the quiet affection between the two people before him.

Yang Chenghan sighed softly, straightened his clothes again, then stepped out from under the tree and came to the steps. He said to the two people in the hall, "Nephew Chenghan greets Uncle and Aunt."

Upon hearing Yang Chenghan's voice, the two slowly separated. Zhao Wuyong waved to him and said, "Chenghan, come in and sit down."

Zhao Wuyong and An Zhilan returned to their seats and sat down. Yang Chenghan followed behind them and finally sat in the side seat closest to Zhao Wuyong. He asked Zhao Wuyong, "Uncle, what brings you to your nephew?"

After the group returned to the Zhao residence, Zhao Wuyong had already explained the whole story of Yaxiang Tower to them. Yang Chenghan wondered why Zhao Wuyong was looking for him so late when the matter was already over.
Zhao Wuyong coughed once, and then said, "Tomorrow I will be coming from Wu Kingdom to meet the merchants of the Discipline Inspection Commission. I'll invite you to my home for a meal, and I'll give you a few questions. I'll check your answers afterwards. This is a test; right or wrong isn't important. What I mainly want to see is your understanding of the art of commerce."

Upon learning the reason, Yang Chenghan immediately stood up, bowed, and asked, "Please give me a question, Uncle."

Zhao Wuyong laughed and said, "The questions are still being set."

Yang Chenghan was a little confused when he heard this. His eyes darted back and forth between Zhao Wuyong and An Zhilan. At this moment, An Zhilan spoke up: "Master means that those guests will not arrive until tomorrow."

An Zhilan's words were like a wake-up call for Yang Chenghan, but he couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. He stammered, "Chenghan is foolish."

"Sit down." Zhao Wuyong smiled and waved to Yang Chenghan. "As I said before, doing business is not something that can be done easily. The intricacies and practices involved are not as easy as those in the underworld or those in the imperial court. As the saying goes, wealth has no fixed business, and goods have no permanent owners. Or, in the bustling world, everything is driven by profit."

Yang Chenghan replied, "I would appreciate your guidance, Uncle."

Zhao Wuyong stood up, flicked his sleeves, and went straight to the door. He stared at the lights in the house and the crescent moon in the sky. Then he beckoned to Yang Chenghan and said, "Chenghan, come here."

Yang Chenghan was confused, but obediently followed. Zhao Wuyong pointed to the moon in the sky and asked, "Why does the moon wax and wane?"

Yang Chenghan pointed to the moon, thought for a moment, and then replied, "Solar terms and times. For example, a seed falls to the ground according to the season, and grows into grain according to the time."

At this moment, An Zhilan came over with two cups of tea. She first handed one to Zhao Wuyong: "Master, please have some tea."

While Zhao Wuyong was engrossed in drinking his tea, he handed the tea to Yang Chenghan and shook his head at him.

Yang Chenghan took the tea, but frowned as he held the teacup in response to An Zhilan's shaking of her head.

Yang Chenghan's answer disappointed Zhao Wuyong. He shook his head and sighed, holding the empty teacup in his hand, saying, "Seeking wealth through poverty is not the way of business. How can commerce and agriculture be compared? You have read books on commerce, so you should know that agriculture is not as good as industry, and industry is not as good as commerce. I have already told you the answer, how could you not know it?"

Yang Chenghan held his teacup, watching Zhao Wuyong's worried expression and silent. He carefully pondered the conversation they had just had, and finally, he seemed to know the answer: "Goods have no permanent owner?"

Zhao Wuyong sighed and said, "It wasn't all for nothing that I said those words."

"However, what you just said is also right. As the saying goes, 'When others discard, I take; when others take, I discard.' The timing and the solar terms are also within the scope of the 'Shang' (the 'Shang's' philosophy). Just like the book says, 'When something is expensive, it is like dirt; when something is cheap, it is like pearls.' You have to be willing to give up something."

"But this is only one aspect, and it is not entirely correct."

Zhao Wuyong stepped out of the main hall and into the courtyard, walking amidst the lights.

An Zhilan urged Yang Chenghan to take a sip of tea, then took back the cup and said to him, "Give before you take, win before you gain. The book talks about principles, methods, beginnings and results, not processes."

Yang Chenghan understood perfectly. He silently repeated the words to himself, and after a moment, he bowed to An Zhilan and thanked her, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Aunt."

An Zhilan felt reassured by Yang Chenghan's intelligence and said softly, "Go."

Yang Chenghan bowed and retreated to the door, then turned and chased after him.

Zhao Wuyong walked among the lights in the courtyard, while Yang Chenghan followed slowly behind. The two remained silent, but Yang Chenghan was internally battling with himself, asking, "Why study business?"

He replied, "Business can bring profit and wealth."

He then asked, "What is wealth?"

He replied, "Far from the mud and filth."

He then asked, "A modest fortune is enough; why bother with commerce?"

He didn't know how to answer.

In the end, he didn't even realize when Zhao Wuyong had stopped. They ended up bumping into each other, and Yang Chenghan quickly bowed and apologized: "Uncle, I didn't mean it."

Zhao Wuyong turned around and smiled, "Nothing, is something on your mind?"

Yang Chenghan replied, "Yes."

Zhao Wuyong asked, "Is it because Uncle spoke too harshly just now?"

Yang Chenghan shook his head and said, "No."

Zhao Wuyong then asked, "Why is that?"

After thinking for a moment, Yang Chenghan replied, "I was just asking myself why I chose to be a merchant."

Zhao Wuyong found Yang Chenghan's words interesting. He nodded in satisfaction, turned around, and continued walking forward, asking, "Then why do you want to travel as a merchant?"

Yang Chenghan replied, “Before today, I had seen many merchants coming and going in the capital. Some were extremely wealthy, but many more were small merchants struggling to make a profit. I felt that this was more interesting than learning martial arts, and I even thought about bringing my parents to the city after I made some money. However, what you said today seems to have made me confused. If that's all there is to it, then a small fortune is enough. Why bother coming all the way to Huangzhou to learn business from you? Besides, you are extremely wealthy, so the business skills you teach me must be different. That's why I'm confused.”

“It’s good that you have such awareness, but judging from what you’re saying, it seems you don’t want to learn anymore,” Zhao Wuyong asked, stroking his beard.

Yang Chenghan bowed and said, "On the contrary, nephew should study business even more."

Zhao Wuyong turned around in surprise and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Yang Chenghan mimicked Zhao Wuyong pointing to the moon and said, "My aunt just said something to me, and that's the root cause of my dazed state."

"What?"

Yang Chenghan explained, “My aunt said that the book only talks about principles and methods, only about the beginning and the result, but not about the process. My uncle also used the principles and methods from the book to talk to his nephew before. I think my uncle didn’t really want to teach his nephew, or maybe it was for some other reason that my nephew made my uncle hesitant to teach him.”

Yang Chenghan's words made Zhao Wuyong laugh heartily. "Although you're slow to realize things, you're still a promising talent. It's not that I don't want to teach you, but I want you to give up when faced with difficulties."

"Why?"

Yang Chenghan didn't understand why Zhao Wuyong was doing this.

Zhao Wuyong's answer was simple: "Being a merchant is not a simple matter."

"I'd rather you be a rich young master than a merchant. Even if you do nothing, I can still support you."

Yang Chenghan persisted, saying, "But what in this world is simple? Although I don't know why my father retired from the martial world back then, I learned from Young Master Lu and the others today that what my father did back then was not simple or easy. They say that a tiger father will not have a dog son. Although I have no interest in studying or practicing martial arts, I am sincerely interested in learning how to do business."

Faced with Yang Chenghan's resolute tone, Zhao Wuyong smiled with a mixture of helplessness and relief: "Alright, child. We've talked things out. Since you're coming with me on this business trip, I'll have to test you. Tomorrow's questions will still count, but I need to see how you do. If you don't do well, you can either become a rich young master here or go back."

Yang Chenghan's eyes and tone were unusually resolute. He bowed deeply to Zhao Wuyong and said, "Nephew will certainly not let Uncle down."

(End of this chapter)