Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 775 Meeting a Benefactor

Under the scorching midday sun, the North Gate of Mo City was as bustling as ever, with countless carriages and horses shuttling between Mo City and the academy. Even better were sedan chairs, which offered a more comfortable ride without having to share a vehicle with others, but also cost more.

Most of the students who can study at Liuyu Academy are not short of money. With such a choice, they naturally want to enjoy it to the fullest. It is no exaggeration to say that Liuyu Academy supports one-fifth of the entire population of Mo City.

Chen Xuan, who was almost driven to despair by their back-and-forth banter, was enjoying himself as he rested his head on Du Juan's ample thighs. His originally lazy expression faltered slightly as he sensed two familiar auras, but for a moment he couldn't quite place them.

Noticing his change, Du Juan, whose relatives had already left, leaned forward slightly, her gaze passing over his large, full breasts, and asked softly, "Master, what's wrong?"

If she hadn't moved, it would have been fine, but the moment she did, a truly wicked glint appeared on Chen Xuan's face. Seeing the amused expressions on the faces of the little princesses, her ears turned red, and she quickly straightened up.

"Sister Juan, you'll have to wait until tonight to reward me, it's kind of embarrassing," Chen Xuan teased, pretending to be innocent after getting the benefit. To be honest, the face wash really felt good, especially since I wasn't wearing much on such a hot day. There weren't any thick pads to block the view in this era.

Du Juan was so embarrassed that she lowered her head and was too ashamed to face anyone. She hadn't been able to be intimate with Chen Xuan for a while due to some inconvenience. She was also sensitive and eager to have a child with Chen Xuan. Even a single sentence made her body feel weak.

Is she that sensitive? Chen Xuan, who knows her inside and out, knew when to stop. He got off her lap, glanced out the window, and his eyes lit up immediately: "I didn't expect to run into two acquaintances after so many years. Let's go say hello. You two continue, don't worry about me."

As he spoke, he put on his shoes and got out of the car, not afraid of getting lost. With his current cultivation level, he could accurately locate anyone within Mo City.

"Let him be. After all, my husband has been in Mo City for so long, it's normal for him to know some people," the little princess said with a smile. Since her husband didn't seem to have any intention of introducing her, it seemed that their relationship hadn't reached the point of being completely open with each other. After all, no matter what era it was, if someone was willing to introduce their acquaintances to their female relatives, they were at least close friends.

Du Juan's gaze followed Chen Xuan's direction, then turned to Mo Cheng, which was nearby. A hint of reminiscence and relief flashed in her eyes. She had also spent many years in Mo Cheng, where she met her current husband. Although she had never known of her husband's existence during those years, without those years of 'spending time together,' how could she have been so fortunate to meet such a good man? After more than a year, she had returned here. It would be a lie to say that she was not moved.

Guo Qingxue looked at the city gate ahead with a hint of resentment: "Sisters, you know I've been looking for Brother Chen for many years. I remember seeing him and Young Master Gao on the street the day they graduated and went home. I was in a restaurant, and they were on the road. But at that time, I didn't know that Brother Chen was the Yang Guo I was looking for. It was a case of meeting but not recognizing each other, and that's how I missed him. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have had to search for another year or two. Fortunately, I've finally found him now, and he's in the prime of his life."

"Is that so?" the little girl exclaimed in surprise.

Yunlan and Yunxin smiled and said, "Just as Madam said, Master has been here for so many years, so naturally many interesting things have happened."

The little princess also remembered that it was only after her husband came to Mo City that they gradually began corresponding, establishing a spiritual connection, getting to know each other, and eventually getting married. Therefore, she was also full of curiosity about Mo City. After thinking for a moment, she suggested, "How about this, let's go for a walk and take a closer look at the places my husband once lived, walking the paths he once walked. Perhaps there are still many places where he left traces unintentionally."

“Great! I even feel like I’ve ridden in quite a few of those horse-drawn carriages,” the little girl said happily.

The little princess's suggestion was unanimously approved, and a group of beautiful women got off the car with smiles on their faces. They were all so beautiful, each one a national treasure, and instantly became the focus of everyone's attention.

However, they didn't seem to care about the stares. Instead, the aloof Du Juan took the initiative and said, "I've been here longer than the master. I wouldn't dare say I know every blade of grass and tree in Mo City, but there's not a single street I don't know. Let me introduce you. I'm familiar with all sorts of people. You know my situation back then, so information is definitely the priority. Let's start with the North Gate, which leads directly to Liuyu Academy..."

After getting off the carriage, Chen Xuan walked straight toward the two or three figures in front of him. The two adults were a man and a woman. The man was burly, and the woman was not much different. They were holding the hands of a three or four-year-old boy with a frizzy head.

The little boy, with his chubby face, looked around curiously, while the two adults walked slowly, glancing around from time to time, seemingly reminiscing about the past.

Upon approaching, Chen Xuan patted the burly man on the shoulder and greeted him, "Isn't this Brother Zhuo and Sister Wu? I didn't expect to run into you here; I almost didn't recognize you. Hello, both of you!"

The two people Chen Xuan greeted were none other than Zhuo Erniu and Wu Sanniang, whom he had known back then. It was through Zhuo Erniu's introduction that Wu Sanniang had crafted the Ink Feather Longbow. However, not long after the delivery, the two of them somehow ended up together and even moved to Camel Bell Town. As a result, Chen Xuan didn't see them for several years in Mo City afterward.

Zhuo Erniu, who was introducing the surroundings to the little boy, was suddenly patted on the shoulder. He was startled. He had a background in martial arts, and it was only when someone approached and patted his shoulder so easily that he realized that the person was not to be underestimated. He became vigilant and looked at Chen Xuan suspiciously. He subconsciously protected Wu Sanniang and the little boy and hesitated, saying, "Does this young master know my wife and me? Forgive my poor eyesight, but I can't remember where I've seen you before."

Several years later, they had just returned to Mo City. They knew that the students of the academy often frequented Mo City, and since the people of the academy were mostly from the lower class and could not afford to offend them, they kept a very low profile.

Several years have passed since they parted ways, and Chen Xuan has changed so much that I haven't even thought about that young man from back then. Therefore, I don't recognize the current Chen Xuan at all.

Seeing the wariness mixed with doubt in his eyes, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Brother Zhuo, it's me, Chen Xuan from back then. You even introduced me to Sister Wu to make a strong bow. By the way, I'm practically your matchmaker, don't you recognize me?"

His thoughts raced, and Zhuo Erniu quickly remembered, exclaiming in surprise, "It's you, Brother Chen! I'm so sorry, you've changed so much, I didn't recognize you just now, please forgive me!"

"It's alright," Chen Xuan waved his hand dismissively, then looked at Wu San Niang, nodded and smiled, "Sister Wu, hello there! Do you still remember me? The bow you made for you back then was very useful; it's still at home, being carefully maintained."

"It's you, kid! You've changed so much in the last few years. Tsk tsk, this handsome face is a real heartbreaker. I wonder how many girls you'll seduce. Speaking of that bow from back then, it was my proudest creation. As long as it works, that's all that matters. When you first recognized me, I thought you were in trouble and wanted to settle scores with me," Wu San Niang teased half-jokingly. That's just her personality—carefree and outspoken. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten along with Zhuo Er Niu, this rough and tough guy.

As people from the lower class, not even considered members of the martial arts world, and having lived in seclusion in that remote corner of Camel Bell Town for several years, they knew very little about the outside world. Even though they knew back then that Chen Xuan was Gao Jingming's pageboy, they didn't know the specific situation now. Therefore, there was no pressure when they recognized each other and started communicating.

To put it bluntly, although they were from the lower class, their status as pageboys wasn't much better.

Zhuo Erniu looked at Chen Xuan, who had changed drastically but was easy and pleasant to be around, and asked curiously, "By the way, Brother Chen, it's been so many years, are you still studying hard with your young master at the academy?"

"I've already graduated. I was just passing by on my way out to run some errands and thought I'd drop by. I didn't expect to run into you guys," Chen Xuan said casually. He knew that since they had already returned to Mo City, they would soon find out about him and Gao Jingming's current situation even without him making a fuss. After all, Gao Jingming's reputation as the top scholar was too great, and he was a graduate of Liuyu Academy, so he was still talked about with great interest. Once they found out about his current situation, they wouldn't be able to talk to him so normally the next time they met. He should cherish what he had while he could.

After the brief exchange, Chen Xuan felt a fleeting, almost imperceptible embarrassment at what Wu San Niang had just said. Feeling inexplicably guilty, he quickly changed the subject, looking curiously at the little boy they were holding hands with, and asked, "And who is this young gentleman...?" "Young gentleman? You flatter me, Brother Chen. This is my and Er Niu's child, almost four years old this year. We named him Zhuo Xiao An, hoping he will have a peaceful and safe life," Wu San Niang said, patting the little boy's head affectionately and happily. Then she patted the back of the boy's head, indicating, "Xiao An, quickly call him Uncle Chen. He used to study at the academy and is very capable. You should be like him when you grow up, not like your parents who are useless."

"Hello, Uncle Chen," the little boy said in a sweet, childish voice, while hiding half of his body behind Wu San Niang and curiously looking at Chen Xuan.

"So I'm being called 'uncle' already? Am I that old?" Chen Xuan chuckled inwardly and said sincerely, "So you're the young master. Congratulations, Brother Zhuo and Sister Wu! You've both called me 'uncle.' I can't leave without a gift since it's our first meeting. Here's a peace lock for you. May you live a peaceful and safe life, just like your parents hope."

As he spoke, Chen Xuan took out a silver peace lock from his sleeve and put it around the little boy's neck before Zhuo Erniu and Wu Sanniang could refuse. Of course, he hadn't prepared it beforehand; it was just something he had made on the spot. It was silver, weighed three ounces, and wasn't particularly valuable. If it had been made of gold, the gesture would have been meaningful, but it might not have been a good thing.

"Oh, Brother Chen, I can't accept this. It's too valuable. Please take it back," Zhuo Erniu said hastily. The peace lock was finely crafted and looked quite heavy. In his mind, someone who worked as a page couldn't be wealthy, so how could he accept it?

Chen Xuan said dismissively, "There's no reason to take back something that's been given away. The bow that Sister Wu made back then helped me a lot. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Wu San Niang wasn't one to be pretentious. After a moment's hesitation, she said apologetically, "Since Brother Chen has put it that way, then we'll accept it without being impolite, otherwise we'd be ungrateful."

It wasn't anything too valuable, not enough to incur a favor.

Actually, it was Chen Xuan's words of wishing Zhuo Xiao'an a safe and peaceful life that touched her. You should know that it wasn't easy for the two of them to have this child. When she was young, Wu San Niang injured her body, and the doctor said that she could not have children. But after she got together with Zhuo Er Niu, she was unwilling to give up. She heard that there was a reclusive doctor living in Tuoling Town, so she went there. For the past two years, she had been humbly pleading and taking meticulous care of him. That's how she moved him to help her recuperate, and that's how she gave birth to Zhuo Xiao'an.

They had even prepared for the worst from the beginning; if they were unable to have children, they would adopt one. Fortunately, they were blessed by God.

Without dwelling on it too much, Chen Xuan casually asked, "By the way, Brother Zhuo, Sister Wu, judging from the direction you're heading, are you planning to go into the city?"

“Yes, we just came back from Camel Bell Town. Xiao An is growing up quickly and is preparing to return to Mo City to resume his old profession. That incident from back then is in the past. I hope he can learn something here and not grow up to be a rough man like me,” Zhuo Erniu said with a smile.

The incident he was referring to was when someone forcibly hired a blacksmith and Wu San Niang to go into hiding in Camel Bell Town, partly to avoid trouble.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan nodded slightly apologetically and said, "I see. I suppose you haven't settled in yet. I was being a bit presumptuous."

"No, no, it's still early, it won't delay us," Zhuo Erniu waved his hand. At home, Wu Sanniang was a bit more assertive, but in public, she gave her husband a lot of face.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "In that case, I won't bother you any longer. You should go and settle in first. If you have time later, we can have a couple of drinks together."

“Alright, then I’ll be waiting for Brother Chen anytime,” Zhuo Erniu nodded after a slight hesitation. He understood that it was already rare to meet someone on the road and exchange greetings, and who knew when they would see each other again. Moreover, although it was still early, he and Wu Sanniang had already sold their property from back then, and it would take time to find a new place to live. They might even have to stay in an inn for a few more days.

At this moment, Chen Xuan suddenly thought of something. He pretended to fumble in his sleeve, but in reality, he quickly finished and pulled out a letter. He handed it to Zhuo Erniu with a smile, saying, "Judging by age, Xiao An will be starting elementary school in two years, right? You can take this letter of recommendation to the elementary school affiliated with Liuyu Academy to enroll. I think I still have some influence. Alright, Brother Zhuo and Master Wu, we'll take our leave for now."

With that, Chen Xuan waved his hand and turned away gracefully, not giving them any time to react.

Watching his retreating figure, the couple looked away, bewildered. Scratching their heads, Zhuo Erniu subconsciously asked, "Wait a minute, how come Brother Chen can pull anything out of his sleeve? Is that thing even useful?"

As a woman, Wu San Niang was more perceptive. She looked at Chen Xuan's retreating figure again, took a deep breath, and said, "My lord, put it away properly. Don't you realize that we've met a benefactor? We were just casual acquaintances back then, but looking back, even a small favor from him has been an immense blessing for us. Although I don't know his current situation, it's definitely beyond our imagination. For such a person to still recognize us, such magnanimity deserves to bring him wealth and honor for eternity."

"I don't understand, but I'm inexplicably shocked," Zhuo Erniu scratched his head, looking puzzled. Then, glancing in the direction Chen Xuan had left, his attention was quickly diverted. He asked curiously, "It's so lively over there. I wonder what's attracting so many people?"

Perhaps it was the angle, but Wu San Niang saw a thing or two, shook her head and said, "The appearance of several noble ladies naturally attracts attention. Let's go; that level is beyond our reach."

Zhuo Erniu didn't pay much attention to that and turned around to say, "Oh, let's go, Third Sister, do you think we can buy back the shop from back then..."

The appearance of the little princesses attracted attention, leaving many people stunned. It even caused several accidents, with some people bumping into each other, others hitting walls and trees, and still others falling into ditches.

Everyone loves beauty, especially a group of such beautiful women. Some felt ashamed of their self-harm, while others were self-important. Some were encouraged, while others didn't want to miss this opportunity and wanted to go up and chat. However, before they could take a step, Du Juan and Xia Mei looked at them and made them freeze and feel a chill down their spines, instantly sobering them up.

So much so that when the little princess and her entourage of beautiful women walked toward the city gate, no one dared to approach within a ten-foot radius, and those in front of them automatically made way for them.

When Chen Xuan returned and noticed this situation, he was both amused and exasperated. The "femme fatale" had truly come to life. Weren't his wives afraid of causing a commotion? However, he was also a little smug. Mine, mine, all mine.

Just as he was about to go and meet up with the little princess and the others, a loud roar came from the direction of the city gate. A group of fully armed knights rushed out with murderous intent. The leader coldly reminded them, "We are on the orders of the governor to investigate a case. Please make way for us!"

Upon seeing this, Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow. Good heavens, what's going on? They've actually deployed cavalry to handle this case. There must be over a hundred of them. Could it be a rebellion? Otherwise, why would they need to do this?

He quickly realized that the governor was the highest official in a prefecture. In Huizhou, the governor was none other than Lord Gao. What could have caused such a commotion? Could it be related to Mr. Pei's entry into the city earlier?

Thinking about it, he guessed it was pretty much true. After all, Mr. Pei was such a gentle person, yet he still allowed Mr. Bai to enter the city with such a grand display. He must have been furious, and what happened must have been quite serious.

When you visit, just ask around; if you need any help... (End of Chapter)