Duke of Zhenguan

The day after the rumor appeared, without any warning, Lin's Noodle Shop's business suddenly improved, and it got better day by day.

In the morning, when there were many people, a long queue formed at the entrance.

Lin Chuan, Li Shi, and Er Ya were simply too busy to handle everything.

Therefore, Li invited Lin Jiu's wife, Tian, ​​his son, Lin Shan, and Lin Shier's wife, Liu, to help.

With the help of his two aunts and cousin, Lin Chuan finally had some free time and began to resemble a shopkeeper, only needing to sit behind the counter and collect money.

The rumors spread like wildfire, and by the time Lin Chuan heard them from the diners, they had become the story that the young lady of the Duke of Su's mansion had hanged herself because she was unhappy with her father's interference in their marriage.

Lin Chuan then realized that the burly man who had come to the shop with his armored soldiers a few days ago was the famous Cheng Yaojin.

During these days, Lin Chuan was on tenterhooks, fearing that Cheng Yaojin would come looking for trouble because of the rumors.

If he offends Cheng Yaojin, this won't just be a disastrous start for him, it will be a hellish start.

Another day passed, and Lin Chuan didn't see Cheng Yaojin, but instead saw the old man who had come once before.

"Young master, a bowl of noodles, please!"

It was midday when the old man arrived, and there wasn't a single customer in the shop. Lin Chuan was dozing behind the counter when he saw the old man and quickly got up to greet him.

"Sir, please have a seat, the noodles will be ready in a little while!"

"I haven't been eating anything good these past few days, I've been craving the noodles from this young master's place!" the old man said with a smile.

"Don't you crave alcohol?" Lin Chuan joked with a smile.

"Haha, you understand me best, young man!" the old man laughed heartily.

There was no wine, of course; the wine we gave to the old man last time was the last jar.

Li bought several more bushels of rice and made dozens of kilograms of mash, which he put in the cellar to ferment, preparing to brew some wine for his own consumption, but it still needed time to ferment.

The noodles were still cooking. After guiding the old man to a seat, Lin Chuan didn't leave but sat down next to him and chatted.

"I've heard some rumors these past few days, saying that the young master and the young lady from the Duke of Su's mansion are having an affair..." the old man said with a smile.

"Oh dear, old man, you don't believe these rumors, do you?" Lin Chuan said with a wry smile.

"Of course I don't believe it, but public opinion can be deceiving. Such rumors are clearly being fueled by someone. Young man, you must not be careless!" the old man sighed softly.

"I'm just an ordinary citizen. Even if someone is stirring things up, there's nothing I can do..." Lin Chuan said with a wry smile.

"Young master, don't worry too much. If you can't do it, Duke Su can!" the old man comforted him.

Lin Chuan nodded and sighed softly:

"I'm afraid of being caught in the crossfire!"

"The Duke of Su is not that kind of person, but if the Duke of Su really causes trouble for the young master, the young master can show this to the Duke of Su, and it will surely turn hostility into friendship," the old man said softly.

After saying that, he took out a white jade pendant with auspicious cloud patterns from his pocket and handed it to Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan was taken aback for a moment, then accepted the jade pendant with both hands and bowed to the old man in gratitude:

"Thank you so much, sir!"

"Haha, don't be shy!"

The old man waved his hand, then suddenly smiled and asked:

"Young master, have you been to school?"

"I've read some of it!" Lin Chuan put away the jade pendant and nodded with a smile.

"Have you read all the Four Books and Five Classics?" the old man asked.

Lin Chuan shook his head awkwardly.

He's a modern person, and he's only read a few classical Chinese texts in his Chinese class. Even if he's thick-skinned, he'd be too embarrassed to say he's read them all.

The old man paused, then, considering Lin Chuan's identity, asked uncertainly:

"Could it be that the young master is reading miscellaneous books?"

"I guess so!" Lin Chuan nodded with a smile.

"That's a real pity. Since you're able to open a shop here, you must have some wealth. You shouldn't have neglected your studies. If you're interested, I can find you a teacher!" the old man said with a smile.

Could this be my benefactor?

Lin Chuan was somewhat tempted. It was already a blessing that Cheng Yaojin wasn't causing him trouble, and he probably wouldn't have a chance to curry favor with the powerful figure. This old man was giving him a jade pendant and finding him a teacher, so he must be someone of some status.

But after hesitating for a moment, he gave up. He had befriended the old man because they were kindred spirits, and it would be unpleasant if other things were mixed in.

Moreover, if I pursued the path of studying, how long would it take before I could stand before Li Shimin?

"Thank you for your kind words, sir, but I have other things to do and really don't have time to study!" Lin Chuan stood up and bowed to his father-in-law in apology.

The old man wasn't annoyed; he simply waved his hand dismissively.

"Haha, it's alright!"

"Young man Lin Chuan, may I ask your esteemed name, sir?" Lin Chuan asked, bowing respectfully.

"My surname is Yan, and my given name is Xiangshi!" the old man replied, bowing.

Lin Chuan stared blankly at the old man, wishing he could take out a pill to undo his mistake.

Although he didn't know who Yan Xiangshi was, the surname Yan itself was a kind of identity.

Moreover, in Chang'an today, besides the Yan family, who else can produce a jade pendant and claim that Cheng Yaojin can turn hostility into friendship?

Seeing Lin Chuan's stunned expression, Yan Xiangshi knew that Lin Chuan had probably guessed his identity, and jokingly said with a smile:

"Young master, what is the matter?"

"I regret it!" Lin Chuan sighed softly.

"Haha, young man, you should have asked sooner!"

"Alas, it's too late for regrets!"

At this moment, Lin Chuan's cousin, Lin Shan, brought over a bowl of noodles, interrupting the two men's banter.

Yan Xiangshi picked up his chopsticks, took two bites, and asked Lin Chuan with a smile:

"What did you learn?"

"I've only learned a little bit about astronomy, geography, physics, and mathematics!" Lin Chuan thought for a moment, then decided to be modest and said with a smile.

Yan Xiangshi took Lin Chuan's words as a joke, chuckled twice, and continued eating his noodles.

Just then, another guest entered, and Lin Chuan quickly got up to greet him.

After a while, Yan Xiangshi finished his noodles and went to the counter to pay. Looking at Lin Chuan sitting behind the counter, he suddenly asked:

"There is a circular field, with a circumference of 39 steps and a diameter of 13 steps. How many steps is the field?"

Lin Chuan was stunned for a moment, then calculated the answer in the blink of an eye:

"One hundred and thirteen steps?"

Yan Xiangshi was also taken aback, pondered for a moment, and then asked:

"There are pheasants and rabbits in the same cage. There are seventeen heads and fifty feet. How many pheasants and rabbits are there?"

Lin Chuan immediately gave another answer:

"Pheasant nine, rabbit eight!"

Upon seeing the countenance, he wanted to ask more questions, but instead smiled and said:

"Master Yan, although I've only learned a little bit about mathematics, such a difficult problem is no challenge for me!"

Yan Xiangshi was not particularly skilled in mathematics, but seeing Lin Chuan's confidence, he smiled and said:

"It seems I underestimated you. Very well, I'll come back another day to learn from you!"

As Lin Chuan returned to the counter after seeing Yan Xiang off, Li Shi pulled him into the stove area.

"Brother, how could you be so foolish? That old gentleman clearly promised to find you a teacher, why didn't you agree?"

Aunt Tian, ​​who was standing nearby, also said softly:

"Brother, this is a great opportunity! You should say yes!"

"Mother, I know what I'm doing!" Lin Chuan said with a wry smile.

"Next time the old gentleman comes, don't act recklessly again! Apologize to him properly."

"I think the old man is a kind-hearted person. If you just admit your mistake, he might forgive you! Remember that?" Madam Li said in a deep voice.

"Got it!"