20demayo Chapter 18 Additional Rewards
Chapter 18 Additional Rewards
As the carriage drove further and further away, the dust it kicked up gradually dissipated in the evening light.
Wang Zhi stood at the gate of the courtyard, looking at the empty dirt road. He felt a moment of emptiness in his heart, which was then filled with a calm feeling of "what was bound to happen has finally happened".
From the moment the composed Lady Li and the lively and carefree Si stepped into the courtyard, he knew and was prepared.
His own little world was destined to intersect with the powerful and influential figures in Chang'an.
Today, the couple who called themselves "Master Li" and "Madam Li" came to visit. Although they were dressed casually and traveled light, their demeanor and the knowledge they conveyed in their conversation were quite remarkable.
In particular, the composure and dignity that could not be concealed even when deliberately restrained, which confirmed his judgment—this was by no means an ordinary wealthy family.
As for his specific illustrious status, he had no intention of delving into it, nor did he need to; he would find out when the time was right.
When the other party came to express their gratitude as a friend or elder, he treated them with the courtesy due to an elder.
Brew a bowl of soothing tea, say a few honest words, and show off the thriving crops in the field—that's all.
The best approach is to remain humble yet assertive, calm and composed, and simply do your duty.
As for what this will bring, whether it will be a blessing or a curse, whether it will lead to a deeper intersection or a gradual drifting apart, those are not things he needs to worry about right now.
He returned to the stone bench in the courtyard and sat down. At that moment, a notification from the merit system appeared in his mind:
"[System Prompt]: The host's words and actions are appropriate, and the strategies and knowledge presented have been highly recognized by the current dignitaries. The benefits will extend beyond just one village or region, and the merits are profound. Today's total merit points will be increased by an additional 9300."
"[System Prompt]: The system has detected that the host's path has entered a broader field of vision. The Merit System has unlocked a new permission: [Physical Enhancement - Stage 2] can be redeemed."
With so many extras, it seems his status is not low, just as I guessed. However, instead of wasting my brainpower, I'd rather look at this generous harvest.
A slight smile appeared on Wang Zhihuan's lips. Everything that should be there will be there. That's good.
He got up and, as usual, tidied the yard, checked the wormholes, and prepared for tomorrow's farm work.
The slight ripple in my heart caused by the visit of the "important person" quickly subsided in the steady work of day after day.
He should farm when he's supposed to, and practice medicine when he's supposed to. No matter how turbulent the outside world is, he will still live his life step by step.
…………
Cheng Chumo saw the carriage when he was blocking people in the East Market.
They said they were blocking people, but actually they just took two brothers and squatted in front of the flatbread stall eating flatbread.
The freshly baked sesame seed cakes are sprinkled with sesame seeds, and they crumble when you bite into them.
He was squatting by the roadside, chewing heartily, when his brother next to him suddenly nudged his arm.
"Young Master, look over there."
Cheng Chumo looked up.
An inconspicuous carriage was traveling west from the intersection of East Market Street. The curtains were drawn low, and it was moving slowly.
It was as ordinary as it could be. Hundreds of these carriages passed through Chang'an every day.
But the person rushing to catch the train was no ordinary person.
"Isn't that Chen Laosan?" Cheng Chumo tucked the flatbread into his pocket and squinted to look at it again. It was indeed Chen Laosan, Chen Laosan of the Thousand Bull Guard.
He served as a guard in the palace and had seen him several times when he entered the palace with his father; he recognized his square face.
The guards drove an ordinary horse-drawn carriage away. Who could be sitting inside?
Cheng Chumo didn't chase after him. He took out the flatbread and took another bite, chewing as his mind raced.
Chen Laosan was driving the carriage, so the passengers must be people from the palace. Palace people traveling incognito, without fanfare or attracting attention, do this to avoid being recognized.
He didn't tell anyone and continued to wander around the East Market with his two brothers. But he kept the matter on his mind for the next few days.
Cheng Chumo may look rough, but he's not rough around the edges.
His father had told him this countless times: In Chang'an, a sharp mind is worse than a strong fist.
When you see something, don't shout; first, figure out what happened.
The next day, around the same time, he went to the East Market again.
It was the same flatbread stall, and he was still squatting there eating his flatbread. He'd barely taken a couple of bites when the carriage reappeared.
Chen Laosan drove the carriage, the curtain still lowered, heading west out of the city.
I watched for three days in a row. The carriage left the city every day, heading west towards Chang'an.
Cheng Chumo followed them twice, but not too closely. He dared not get too close; the Qianniu Guards' ears were sharper than wolves'.
But he sent a nimble servant to scout from a distance, who returned and said that the carriage had finally entered a farm. The farm was small but well-maintained, and a young man was talking to someone getting out of the carriage under a jujube tree.
The servant added, "Two young ladies have come down."
"Young lady? What does she look like?"
"There's one big one and one small one. The big one is wearing a moon-white dress, and the small one is wearing a pale yellow one. The small one ran as soon as it got out of the car, calling out 'Guoguo' as it ran."
The lackey scratched his head: "Young Master, what's 'guoguo'?"
Cheng Chumo ignored him. He had already started piecing together the puzzle in his mind.
A pale white dress. A light yellow dress. The younger one. How many princesses of that age were there in Chang'an?
She wasn't calling him "brother," but "Guoguo," her pronunciation unclear, which was appropriate for her age. Isn't this Princess Sizi?
Princess Sizi. She is His Majesty's darling, Empress Zhangsun's most beloved daughter.
He had heard his father, Cheng Yaojin, mention the story of how this girl ran out of the palace to chase butterflies, driving half of the Imperial Guards crazy.
Her father chuckled as he spoke, saying that the little girl was interesting.
According to this logic, the woman in the moon-white dress next to her must be Princess Chang Le. The eldest princess, disguised as a commoner, would leave the palace and travel outside the city every day.
They ran towards a farm. There was a young man on the farm.
Cheng Chumo finished chewing the last bite of the flatbread, stood up, and dusted off his clothes.
He didn't bother asking anyone about the farm, nor did he send anyone to investigate who the young man was. He went straight back to his residence to find his father.
In the courtyard of the Duke of Lu's mansion, Cheng Yaojin, shirtless, was lifting a stone weight under a jujube tree.
Unlike the old jujube tree in the Wang family's house, this jujube tree in his family was older than him, and its trunk was so thick that two people couldn't wrap their arms around it.
The stone lock was specially made by a blacksmith and weighs twenty pounds more than a regular stone lock.
He lifted the stone lock from the ground, bent his arm and raised it to his shoulder, the veins bulging from his wrist all the way to his neck, and the muscles of his entire upper body were clearly defined.
A series of cracking sounds came from the neighboring yard. Several grandchildren were slashing at each other with wooden swords and knives, rolling around on the ground in frustration.
One of the brats was slashed in the stomach, clutching his waist and staggering back three steps before crashing into a tree. Another one pounced on him and finished him off with a stab, yelling, "You think you're so tough?"
The wet nurse sat on the porch, watching the little ones make a fuss, but did nothing about it.
Cheng Yaojin switched the stone lock to his left hand, raised it three times, and exhaled a breath of stale air.