About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 53 The Nine Sons of Dragon Gate Are All Different

What is a "sell the first item" (or "insert bid")?

A straw marker, in olden times, was a sales identifier made by sticking straw into the object or person.

"Selling one's head by inserting a straw marker" originally referred to inserting a straw marker next to a head to indicate that one's life was for sale.

Later, it was often used as a metaphor for a humble attitude of belittling oneself and regarding one's life as something that can be traded.

It also contains the satirical meaning of people being treated like commodities, at the mercy of others, and having a precarious fate.

……

The night wind stirred the wild grass at Wen Chou's temples, and Liu Fang's voice drifted away with it:

"Before Your Majesty ascended the throne, Duke Wen offended the Dou family by questioning the death of Emperor Huan, resulting in the entire family being unjustly slaughtered, leaving only one son to wander among the common people. Is that right?"

Wen Chou's wild, braided hair swayed violently as he knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed firmly against the blue brick:

"Yes! I am deeply grateful for your kindness in taking me in, but I have no way to repay you."

"Would you be willing to become my disciple?"

Wen Chou suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment:

"My ugly, worthless life wouldn't even fetch a few coins, I dare not..."

"I only ask you, are you willing?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Fang's robe sleeve brushed over Wen Chou's head, and Qiao Lan followed closely behind with a lantern.

Wen Chou stared at that retreating figure, his throat tightened, and he kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead pounding against the stone steps with a thud.

"Ugly, I thank you, sir!"

Liu Fang stopped in front of Gao Lan.

Gao Lan swung his twin swords and knelt on one knee.

“Gao Lan, a posthumous son of a collateral branch of the Gao family of Chenliu, pays his respects to Your Excellency.”

Liu Fang lowered his eyes and gazed at her, speaking softly:
"Your father died at the hands of bandits, and your mother took the orphan to seek refuge with relatives, but was labeled as a jinx. She suffered cold treatment from childhood, which made her hard-hearted."

Seeing Gao Lan's eyelashes tremble slightly, he squatted down and looked into the fierceness in those eyes:

“You are different from them. You kowtowed before Zi Lie’s gate for seven days before you were able to enter the Tiger Guard Camp.”

"Whenever I see you, I am reminded of Zi Lie's appearance when he was young. He was ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to himself."

“During the fight just now, you were always protecting Zi Lie, and I saw it clearly.”

"Since you want to prove yourself, I'll give you that chance..."

Gao Lan suddenly looked up, a turbulent glint flashing in his cold eyes.

"I will accept you as a disciple in name only, but in reality, you will be formally accepted as a student of Zi Lie. I will treat you with the same courtesy you would show me. What do you say?"

Before he could finish speaking, Gao Lan had already prostrated himself on the ground, the blade striking the blue bricks with a dull thud.
"To see it is to seek it but not to obtain it."

Upon hearing this, Jian Shuo hurriedly staggered forward and knelt down to the side:
"grown ups……"

"Zilie has done so much for me..."

Liu Fang gently patted Jian Shuo's shoulder:

"Now you are a lonely minister with no relatives. If you have a son to serve you in your old age, I will be more at ease."

Jian Shuo, his eyes bloodshot, kowtowed again:

"large……"

"This child resembles you; it is truly a matter of fate. There is no need to say more."

"Thank you, sir!"

When Liu Fang turned his gaze, Shi A threw his sword to the ground, turned around and kowtowed to Xu Feng.

"Master Xu!"

A hoarse voice emanated from beneath a head of disheveled hair:

"A beggar boy from Luoyang, who had roamed the streets since childhood, committed all sorts of evil deeds, fighting with rats for food and dogs for their dens..."

"I only did one good deed in my life: I protected the old man who sold pancakes, and I was beaten half to death by the officials and soldiers..."

He suddenly grinned, revealing a missing front tooth:
"I was thinking it would be fine to just die like this, but who would have thought that Master Xu would run into me."

“I was born unwanted. If Master Xu does not mind, I am willing to serve Master Xu until the end of my life.”

Seeing Xu Feng's furrowed brows, Liu Fang naturally knew what Xu Feng was thinking.

Xu Feng, well, he just didn't know how to start the conversation...

So Liu Fang took half a step forward:
“Shi’a, in this chaotic world, your so-called wickedness is nothing more than being forced to protect yourself with a bad reputation.”

"I heard Ziyuan say that when he first saw this beggar, he was covered in blood... but he was still clinging to the old man's stall."

"Why are you protecting that old man? Isn't it because he often gives you scraps of bread and wheat?"

“You throw away the stolen goods outside the soup kitchen every night, thinking no one will know?” “Although Ziyuan is clumsy with words, he is astute as a fool. If you were truly that worthless son, why would you have saved him?”

One question after another, Shi A buried his head in his knees, tears falling in droves onto the blue bricks.

"He always praises you as a promising swordsman, though I am not an expert in this field..."

Liu Fang smiled and turned to Xu Feng:

"But I also know that without a pure heart and chivalrous spirit, one can hardly achieve great things in swordsmanship."

“However, I believe that you, this so-called beggar, will one day become a great swordsman.”

"I have agreed on behalf of Ziyuan. From this day forward, you will also be my nominal disciple, but in reality, you will be formally accepted as my student. Is that acceptable?"

Shi A suddenly looked up and, through her teary eyes, saw Liu Fang smiling.

"Thank you... thank you... thank you, Your Excellency!"

"Though I am a beggar, I know that a teacher is like a father. Please rest assured, sir..."

"If I have failed you and Master Xu, I will commit suicide to atone for my sins."

Liu Fang smiled and ruffled Xu Feng's hair:
"What are you standing there for? You're a master now, hurry up and help Shi A up."

Xu Feng said "Oh," and grabbed Shi A's shoulder forcefully:

"Since you have spoken, I will acknowledge you. But remember what you said today..."

He suddenly drew his sword:
"If you betray me, all ties of gratitude will be severed. If you dare to betray your master..."

"No need to commit suicide. My sword will take your head."

The sword flashed past Shi A's nose, and the beggar smiled instead.
"Let Master Xu take it."

Just as everyone was drawn to Xu Feng and Shi A.

Liu Dai, who was in the corner, shoved Liu Yao hard.

Liu Yao felt a weight on his shoulder and staggered forward several steps.

When he looked up, he found himself standing in front of Liu Fang:

“That… Father…”

Liu Dai sighed, quickly stepped forward, and knelt down.

"These two brothers, though sons of their father, have never been able to fulfill their filial duties at his knees..."

The wind ruffled Liu Yao's disheveled hair. He looked at his elder brother, then belatedly kowtowed to the ground:

“Brother is right. We are ashamed to be called young masters.”

Liu Dai glanced at Liu Yao with satisfaction and then continued the conversation:

“Today, Father has already taken seven sons under his wing. If I, as a brother, were to remain uninvolved, I would become an exception…”

"Moreover, we also wish to compete fairly with you all."

Liu Yao's face turned bright red:

“Exactly! Although I am not talented, I still hope to gain your favor, Father…”

"I don't want outsiders to talk about it in the future, saying that the son of Yuanyi Gong is nothing special."

After speaking, Liu Dai and Liu Yao exchanged a glance and then kowtowed again in unison:
"Today, I request that you accept these two as your apprentices. If their skills are not up to par in the future, I am willing to accept punishment!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Fang couldn't help but glance sideways, realizing he had truly underestimated these two young men...

Whether it's true or false, Liu Fang can tell for himself. Let alone two children, even an old official would have some room to hide in front of him.

King of Pingyuan, you are truly willing to sacrifice...

Since that's the case, why shouldn't I truly acknowledge these two sons as my own flesh and blood?

Whether it was Liu Dai or Liu Yao.

Little did they know that this act of kindness would completely rewrite their destiny...

Liu Fanglang chuckled and bent down to help the two brothers up:

"What a fair competition! I agree!"

"But let me make this clear from the start..."

Liu Fang's gaze swept over the two brothers:

"Now that you've entered this gate, there is no longer any distinction between father and son. In the future, we will treat each other equally."

"I can give you two another chance to make a new choice..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Dai looked up, remained silent, and kowtowed deeply once more.

Liu Yao then slammed his sword into the ground:
"If there is even the slightest fear, I am like this sword; please discard it, sir!"

(End of this chapter)