Duke of Zhenguan

Chapter 120 Intimacy

Some people, once you truly understand them, will make you subconsciously feel ashamed of yourself.

Being addressed as "Master" by his disciples and gaining recognition from the literati was a characteristic of Wenzhongzi Wang Tong.

After hearing Wang Tong's legendary deeds from Yan Xiangshi, Lin Chuan curiously inquired about him with Kong Yingda and others when he went to the East Palace to teach Li Chengqian mathematics. He then felt somewhat ashamed of himself.

Unfortunately, fate is cruel to talented people. Wang Tong died young at the age of thirty, which is truly regrettable.

As Wang Tong's own brother, Wang Ji was also quite famous in the literary circles, but his fame was half due to his scholarship and half due to his love of alcohol.

Since they were old friends and he had fine wine at home, it wouldn't be too presumptuous for Lin Chuan to visit him. So, after finishing his shift, Lin Chuan took two jars of wine to Wang Ji's residence.

Before setting off, Lin Chuan had found out the address. Wang Ji's family of five lived in a narrow alley in Guiyifang, but it still took quite a bit of effort to find the Wang family after arriving at the place.

This place was even more dilapidated than Tiechi Alley. Hundreds of families lived in the narrow alley, making it look very chaotic. Lin Chuan had to ask around several times before he finally found the place.

Looking at the dilapidated courtyard in front of him, Lin Chuan frowned. The Wang family was not some poor commoners, but a branch of the Taiyuan Wang clan. According to Li, they were a prominent family in Longmen County. Wang Ji also held a position in the imperial court. How could their place be so run-down?

But the location should be correct, Lin Chuan reached out and knocked on the dilapidated courtyard gate.

A moment later, a woman dressed in simple clothes but with an elegant demeanor opened the courtyard gate. Looking at Lin Chuan, who was wearing a brocade robe, she asked nervously, "May I ask what brings you here, young master?"

"My name is Lin Chuan. May I ask if Mr. Wang Wugong lives here?" Lin Chuan asked, bowing slightly.

"Lin Chuan?"

The woman paused, looked Lin Chuan and his companion up and down, and then a delighted smile appeared on her face. "Lin Dalang? It really is you! Come in quickly! Master hasn't finished his shift yet, but he should be back soon!"

As she spoke, she opened the door and let Lin Chuan in.

The woman welcomed Lin Chuan into the main room, greeting him warmly, "Lin Dalang, please sit down! Master was just mentioning you last night!"

After saying that, he called out towards the door, "Yunniang, quickly go and brew some tea!"

After calling out, she went to the next room and brought over some snacks. She placed the snacks on the table next to Lin Chuan and asked with a smile, "How is your mother's health?"

"It's alright!" Lin Chuan replied with a smile.

The woman looked Lin Chuan up and down, then sighed softly, "Oh my, when you left Longmen, you were only this short. It's amazing how much you've grown! I heard from the master that you're now an earl and a senior official in the Ministry of War. You've really made something of yourself!"

Lin Chuan smiled awkwardly.

The woman's friendly and warm attitude was unmistakable, and Lin Chuan was now completely certain that his family and the Wang family were indeed old acquaintances.

The woman then asked, "Has the marriage been arranged?"

"It's settled!" Lin Chuan nodded, explaining, "It was just settled recently!"

"Whose daughter is this?" the woman asked curiously.

"The eldest daughter-in-law of Lord Cheng's family," Lin Chuan replied.

Just then, a quiet and elegant young woman entered carrying a tray of tea. She placed the tea on the table in front of Lin Chuan and said softly, "Please have some tea!"

The woman pulled the girl aside, pointed at Lin Chuan, and asked, "Lin family's eldest son, do you remember him?"

Yunniang glanced at Lin Chuan, nodded, gave a slight curtsy, and said, "I remember! Greetings, Brother Lin!"

Lin Chuan had no recollection of the girl in front of him, and awkwardly cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, young lady!"

"Your father and brother will be back soon, go and cook!" The woman smiled and waved to her daughter.

Yunniang nodded, picked up the tray and went out again, while the woman stayed in the main room to chat with Lin Chuan.

About fifteen minutes later, two young men came in from outside. When they saw Lin Chuan, the young man in front paused for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "Lin Dalang?"

"Greetings, brothers!" Lin Chuan stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to the two of them.

The woman stood up and took the satchel from the young man's shoulder, saying with a smile, "Isn't this Lin Dalang? Dalang, Erlang, you two take care of Lin Dalang, I'll go check on the kitchen!"

After the woman left, Wang Dalang sat down next to Lin Chuan, patted Lin Chuan's shoulder in a very familiar manner, and said with a smile, "I only found out last night from Father that you, Lin Dalang, are also in Chang'an. I was planning to go to see you with Erlang in a couple of days, but you came to find me first!"

I heard you're now a senior official in the Ministry of War; truly, you've changed a lot in just a few days!

"Maybe my younger brother is a bit luckier!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Oh----"

Wang Dalang glared at Lin Chuan speechlessly, then said with a smile, "I heard from Father that you are acquainted with Master Yan. Could you take me to meet Master Yan sometime when you have time? Master Yan is skilled in etiquette, and I have long wanted to learn from him, but I have no way to do so."

"No problem, I'll go with you when Lord Yan takes a break!" Lin Chuan nodded with a smile.

"Why isn't Erlang saying anything? Do you still remember when Lin Dalang beat you up when you were little?" Wang Dalang turned his head and teased his brother with a smile.

"What are you saying, elder brother—" Wang Erlang glared at his elder brother and said irritably, "I've fought with Lin Dalang, but you haven't fought with Lin Dalang or Lin Sanlang?"

After asking, she remembered Lin Sanlang, her closest relative in the Lin family, and asked with a smile, "By the way, is Lin Sanlang also in Chang'an?"

The Lin Sanlang mentioned by Wang Erlang is Lin Shier's eldest son, only one month younger than Lin Shan.

"Sanlang fell ill during the escape from famine and didn't make it—" Lin Chuan said softly.

Wang Erlang paused, then sighed softly, "What a cruel twist of fate!"

The three chatted for a while, and Wang Ji, dressed in a blue robe, finally staggered home. He was somewhat surprised to see Lin Chuan: "Lin Dalang, what brings you here?"

"Now that I know you are also in Chang'an, of course I must come and get acquainted with you!" Lin Chuan said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Haha, that makes sense!" Wang Ji nodded with a smile.

After Wang Ji returned, the woman brought him food along with Yunniang.

Dinner consisted of brown rice, a bowl of steaming stewed meat, a bowl of tofu with sauce, and a bowl of vegetable soup made from soaked dried vegetables.

The woman looked somewhat embarrassed and said softly, "The dishes are a bit simple, Lin Dalang, please make do with them!"

"Madam, you're too kind. Last year, my father and I both caught a cold. My father didn't make it, but I survived. However, it was so exhausting that my mother had to sell all the valuables in the house!"

"It was the dead of winter, and we had nothing to eat at home. My mother and Er Ya went hungry and saved their food for me!" Lin Chuan said softly.

"I heard that you suddenly had a breakthrough after your serious illness. Perhaps this was your destiny. There's no need to worry about it!" Wang Ji said softly.

"Eat quickly, eat quickly! Brother, pour some wine for Brother Lin!" the woman hurriedly called out.

The food was simple, and the wine was a bit cloudy and sour, but the closeness between the woman and the Wang brothers made Lin Chuan feel like he was eating at home. Before he knew it, he had eaten two bowls of rice and drunk countless cups of wine.