Chapter 10, Childhood Playmates

Meng Yan stuffed the official robe and waist badge he had stripped from the hundred households of Lan Dou into his bundle, and then calmly returned to the noodle shop

Is it enough? If not, I will have someone make you another bowl

Who are you?" Meng Yan, who was eating ravenously, looked up and saw a young man of similar age to him. He was not very tall, somewhat plump, and his two eyes were fixed on him, seemingly with a hint of excitement.

Meng Yan, whose childhood nickname is "Stone", is quite similar. If you break down "Yan", it means "mountain rock". Additionally, due to the strict upbringing in Meng Yan's family during his childhood, he developed a demeanor resembling that of a small adult, cold and unyielding, much like a stone

I still do not recognize..." Hu Yuying carefully scrutinized Meng Yan for a few seconds, but still shook her head in confusion

A childhood playmate, unexpectedly encountered today, was almost unrecognizable.

"How much do you pay them every month at this noodle shop?" Meng Yan asked

Stone!" That person suddenly pointed at himself and shouted excitedly

Bun, thank you, and also to uncle

Zhang Bao has loved eating lamb buns since childhood, and with the character "Bao" in his name, he was affectionately nicknamed "Bun"!

"Shitou, this is not a place for conversation, follow me!" Zhang Bao said with red-rimmed eyes

The residence that Uncle Meng originally intended to leave to you has been taken over by a hundred households of the Jinyiwei!" Zhang Bao said with a troubled expression, "The other party is from the patrol of the Qianhu Office at Chaoyangmen, named Lan Dou. Additionally, he has a cousin named Ma An, who is the Qianhu of the Chaoyangmen Qianhu Office, overseeing our area...

He is not afraid of death, thus he is fearless

"Little snot snail, no, I should be calling you sister-in-law now!" Meng Yan felt a surge of emotions; since he had arrived in this era and assumed this current identity, he had to adapt to this identity and integrate into this time.

"By the way, Shitou, my father gave me a box before he passed away, saying that I should personally hand it to you when you return!" Zhang Bao recalled as he spoke

Stone

For the past eight years, during every festival and holiday, it has always been you two, father and son, who have burned paper and offered incense for my father?" Meng Yan asked, his chest rising and falling, suppressing his inner emotions.

Does this person know himself? Meng Yan unconsciously felt a sense of alertness

He, Shitou, the stone we often played with in our childhood, do you remember the time we fell into the well? If it weren't for Shitou, neither of us would have survived!

"Husband, this is ... ..." Hu Yuying clearly did not recognize Meng Yan, after all, she is a girl, and her relationship with Meng Yan is far less familiar than that of Zhang Bao with Meng Yan

In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

Father, I have returned. Although I, Meng Yan, am no longer the same Meng Yan, the fact that you are my father cannot be changed. I will uncover the truth behind your death, and I will reclaim what belongs to our Meng family

How could a person in the prime of life suddenly make arrangements for their funeral? There must be an unusual reason behind it

Thank you, Baozi! Meng Yan solemnly bowed to Zhang Bao.

Ah, good, you all continue your conversation! Hu Yuying quietly wiped the corner of her eye and responded happily

Oh, my father still something happened. Left for me? Meng Yan was very surprised, which made him even more certain that Meng Xian's death was not as simple as drowning from drunkenness

Suddenly, a sour sensation surged from my nostrils

Tuo Tuo Bu Hua must have wanted to end his own life, but he certainly did not have the courage to go to war with the Ming Dynasty, yet he did possess the audacity to consider it first

Little Snotty! Meng Yan was taken aback; he remembered that this was not the Hu family's little girl he used to play with when they were young, running around bare-bottomed, with snot constantly hanging from her mouth. Everyone called her "Little Snotty".

Meng Yan was taken aback, somewhat astonished, and then, as if a clear spring of memory surged into his mind, he exclaimed: "Steamed bun?"

You go back first, I will finish the noodles, and then I will come over

If the enemy stands before me, perhaps at this moment, he has already fallen

Bun, this is my father's spirit tablet, your father...

Haha, it really is you

No need, it is just right to eat now! Meng Yan shook his head and said, after many years of military life, he had long since become indifferent to cold and hot food.

As soon as Meng Yan stepped into the main hall of the Zhang family, he was taken aback. On the altar originally dedicated to the ancestors of the Zhang family, there was unexpectedly the spirit tablet of his father, Meng Xian, and it was placed above the spirit tablet of Zhang Youcai, the father of Zhang Bao!

As usual, I have gotten used to it!" Zhang Bao smiled shyly.

The capital city, this familiar yet unfamiliar place, will it be the endpoint of my second life, or another starting point

"Baozi, Shitou Ge is back. I will go prepare some dishes, you two can enjoy a couple of drinks together." Hu Yuying's eyes also reddened with excitement. When they were young, she and Baozi were often bullied by other children, and it was always Meng Yan who stood up for them.

If not, can we still carry on with our lives?

In front of Zhang Bao's house is a noodle shop, and behind it is his home

Meng Yan nodded. He had just beaten a captain of the Imperial Guard and had also seized the other party's official robe and badge. It was indeed not appropriate to acknowledge Zhang Bao in public, to avoid bringing him unnecessary trouble

"When my father was around, this area did not charge any fees, right?" Meng Yan said

If it were not for Meng Yan being suddenly sent away by his father, it is likely that he would have been the most successful person in Meng Rui Alley

One must fill their stomach before engaging in battle; this is a principle understood by every warrior

"Stone, my father passed away last year and entrusted the noodle shop to me, instructing me to wait for your return. Uncle Meng passed away eight years ago, and you were not here, so my father brought his tablet back!" Zhang Bao explained

The surface still remains, with residual warmth

"Are you Brother Stone?" Hu Yuying recalled that she was a few months younger than Meng Yan and had always called him "Brother Stone".

Stone, over here ... ...

Who says otherwise? The neighbors all care about Uncle Meng. As long as Uncle Meng is here, no one dares to come to our street to collect money. Once Uncle Meng is gone, sigh...

The anger of a common man, blood splattered three feet!

This body brings him not only fragmented memories but also emotions, which continuously influence him.

Alright! Zhang Bao nodded without much thought and turned to leave.

Of course, each of these government offices has its own territory, and they do not easily interfere with one another. The common people spend money to avert disasters, and their lives are still relatively manageable

Meng Yan practiced martial arts from a young age, and his stature was notably taller than theirs, thus he naturally became the leader among those bullied children

The Jinyiwei naturally would not fall behind, as collecting protection fees is merely one source of income; there are also those who secretly invest in operations. Do not think that they would genuinely pay to invest; all of this is acquired through forceful extortion.

Haha ... ...

Stone, come in quickly

"Yuying, you should take out our good wine and heat up a pot!" Zhang Bao instructed excitedly

This time, one-third is given away at once. There are many government offices in the capital, and anyone who feels unappreciated can cause you trouble

Stone, please light a stick of incense for Uncle Meng

Steamed bun

This made him realize that he inherited not only this body and this identity, but also the emotions of this person, the emotional appeals that had been buried in his heart for ten years

"Five taels of silver!" Zhang Bao said

Stone, you are no different, still as foul and hard!

"Esteemed guest, you have returned. This noodle has cooled down. Shall I take it to the kitchen to heat it up for you?" The young waiter approached with a slightly surprised expression.

"He, you know him too, take a guess!" Zhang Bao said with a smile

"Stone, you are not leaving again this time, are you?" Zhang Bao warmly greeted Meng Yan to take a seat and poured him a cup of hot water, "Here, drink some water."

Meng Yan was eating noodles heartily, and the flavors of his childhood mixed with the memories of this body suddenly surged into his mind

Baozi, whose real name is Zhang Bao, shares the same name and surname as the fierce Zhang Fei's son from the Three Kingdoms. However, his father is not named Zhang Fei; his father is named Zhang Youcai, who is the owner of this mutton noodle restaurant

Bun, you and I are brothers, so just say it directly!

"Baozi, you are still the same as you were ten years ago, still so fat and so heavy"

Although the Jinyiwei were the imperial guards directly under the Son of Heaven and were entirely supported by the court, the Ming Dynasty was notorious for its low salaries and benefits. Once the oversight from above was lax, corruption would naturally flourish below

He has been on the run for over a month now. According to his estimates, the Jinyiwei and the court should be aware of some of his movements. He is still uncertain about the court's attitude towards him.

"Stone, you, you have finally returned!" The two big men, disregarding the gaze of the world, embraced each other, weeping with excitement.

"Five taels?" Meng Yan was slightly taken aback. Five taels of silver would amount to sixty taels over the course of a year, which is more than the salary of a county magistrate. Considering the high prices in the capital, this noodle shop is not large, and its annual profit is estimated to be no more than two hundred taels of silver.

Meng Yan is well aware that he is currently just an insignificant individual, yet even insignificant individuals have their own ways of surviving

Zhang Bao is one and a half years older than Meng Yan; however, among this group of children in Meng Rui Hutong, Meng Yan, who is eight years old, is undoubtedly the king of the children under ten.

Proceed to the side door at the back, where Zhang Bao has long been waiting.

Yes, every year during the Qingming Festival and on Uncle Meng's death anniversary, my father and I would go to the grave to pay our respects. However, last year, my father fell seriously ill, so I went alone.

Father said that if it weren't for Uncle Meng back then, our noodle shop would have long been taken over by others. Uncle Meng has done a great favor for our family, and we must not forget his kindness

The wings gradually grow strong | The full Wala Grand Master has long wanted to test whether the claws of the Ming Dynasty are still sharp

"Husband, we have guests at home!" A young woman in a simple dress appeared at the entrance of the main hall.

Given Meng Yan's vigilance, it is impossible for him not to notice that someone suddenly appeared in front of him, yet just a moment ago, he actually lost his focus

"It has been ten years, and your home hasn't changed at all!" Meng Yan walked into Zhang's courtyard, glanced around slightly, and said with a faint smile

Stone, you have been gone for ten years. Uncle Meng unfortunately drowned eight years ago, and you are already aware of the specific circumstances... Zhang Bao sat down, his expression somewhat awkward, hesitating to speak.

In memory, although Meng Xian had a limp in one foot, he was still an excellent swimmer. While many people from the north are not familiar with swimming, Meng Yan knew clearly that Meng Xian was an exception; his skills in the water were indeed passed down from Meng Xian

Come, Shitou, let me introduce you. I have gotten married, this is my wife, Hu Yuying!" Zhang Bao walked over, pulled his wife in, and with a mischievous smile introduced, "You know her...

Hmm, I won't leave!" Meng Yan nodded.

Although that captain of the Jinyiwei does not know me at all, it is still better to be cautious. If he is merely a visitor, then it is not a big deal

Meng Yan nodded and followed Zhang Bao to offer a stick of incense each to Meng Xian and Zhang Youcai