Chapter One, The Sound of Autumn (Volume Three)

I, didn't I just tell you earlier?" Yu Wenzhi looked around and realized that today, indeed, no one could save him, so he could only explain dejectedly, "Our Changle Workshop is having a streak of bad luck today, the general in charge of the venue...

Those people who need to show off for three or four days just because they ate a piece of rock candy, what is there to engage with! Wang Xun smiled and mocked, not wanting Aunt Yun to take all the responsibility upon herself.

Note 3: The term "San Ding Jia" refers to the top three candidates in the Jinshi examination. The term "Tan Hua" also originated in the Tang Dynasty. Historical records state, "At the initial banquet of the Jinshi candidates in the apricot garden, it was called the Tan Hua banquet. Two distinguished individuals were appointed as Tan Hua envoys, tasked with visiting famous gardens. If anyone else picked flowers first, the two envoys would be punished."

I had no idea his gaze was so piercing. Moreover, while he was winning our money, he kept mumbling that this was merely a trivial skill, yet it has captivated too many people, causing endless harm. I found him too arrogant, which is why I wanted to teach him a proper lesson

The ancestral home of the Wang family consists of five courtyards, which is not particularly large in the Chongrenfang area, but it boasts a long history and favorable feng shui. It is said that this residence was built in the early Northern Zhou dynasty. It later experienced the transitions between the Zhou and Sui dynasties, and then the continuation from the Sui to the Tang dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu in the Wude era, it was purchased by Wang Qiang, the great-grandfather of Wang Xun, and has been passed down to the present day

Isn't that so? This summer, the rain has been excessive, causing the Wei River to rise and wash away many houses. You know me, I have always been soft-hearted and cannot bear to see the farmers without a place to shelter, so..." Yu Wenzhi said with a pained expression, climbing up the pole.

Fortunately, at this moment, the world has enjoyed a long period of peace. Many of the old rules established by the founding ancestors at the beginning of the nation have been executed by the government with one eye open and the other closed. Therefore, although Wang Xun is left with only the title of viscount, the family estate has expanded to several times the size it was during his great-grandfather's lifetime. Leveraging the good connections his father established during his lifetime, he partnered with the descendants of Duke Hu, Qin Shubao, namely Qin Guozhen, the two brothers of the Qin state, the descendants of Duke Ying, Yuwen Shiji, namely Yuwen Zhi, and the descendants of Duke Gao Tang, Ma Zhou, namely Ma Fang, to jointly open Chang Le Fang and Bai Sheng Guan, two renowned fighting chicken arenas in the capital. Additionally, the thriving restaurants such as Lin Feng Lou, Jin Xiu Xuan, and Bao Chang Yuan in the East Market, along with several prosperous silk shops and pawnshops, are also under the ownership of the Wang family.

Having said this, he no longer paid attention to Yu Wenzhi's pleas, mounted his steed, and set off for home

You may, but you are currently just a viscount. If you do not achieve some tangible merits, the next generation will merely be a county gentleman. If the court suddenly conducts a land investigation one day...

Wang Xun was already in a bad mood today. At first, he could still muster the energy to listen to Aunt Yun recount the history of the Chen family. However, after he had painstakingly reviewed the entire history of the Wang family, Aunt Yun was not willing to let him off the hook. The topic shifted, and she began to talk about the eldest son of the Niu family next door, who had passed the imperial examination and was now serving as a governor, enjoying great prestige. Under such circumstances, Wang Xun could no longer contain his impatience. He yawned and said with a smile, "Is it really that easy to hold an official position in the court? I remember that the Niu family's residence was originally owned by the Cheng family, right? Uncle Cheng, as a great general, held significant military power, yet even he was executed by a decree from the Empress Dowager. The Cheng family members either went to prison or fled, and such a large family was quickly reduced to chaos. Had he known this would happen, why would he have worked so hard for the royal family back then?"

"Your grandfather repeatedly urged me back then to ensure that I would cultivate you into a talent..." Wang Xun merely said, but Aunt Yun once again resorted to her trump card. Mentioning Wang Xun's father, who had passed away many years ago, she could not help but feel a pang of sorrow in her heart, her eyes reddening as a few tears fell.

"No, isn't it just a coincidence? When people lose money, they become desperate; who still cares about a little reputation!" Yu Wenzhi stammered, continuing to argue. Suddenly noticing Wang Xun's smile beginning to fade, he immediately raised his hand and shouted loudly, "I admit it, I admit it! It was my lack of discernment; seeing that they were all country bumpkins from out of town, I ordered the staff to find a way to swindle them. Who would have thought that the staff would be so careless..."

Your home is by the Weishui River, and you have about 400 acres of land, right? Don't tell me that this year the crops have suffered another disaster and you have nothing to harvest! Wang Xun curled his lip and bluntly exposed the truth.

The residents of Chongrenfang are quite well-informed. Aunt Yun usually socializes with a group of women, and inevitably hears some anecdotes from the officialdom. The Chief Minister Li Linfu has monopolized his position for over ten years, forcing all his political rivals into a state of despair. Due to his old age and failing eyesight, he needs to hold a crystal-polished mirror to see things, earning him the nickname "Three-Eyed Hornet." However, the women only dare to privately use this nickname in whispers among very familiar acquaintances to vent their frustrations, as no one would dare to speak it aloud. They fear that it might reach Li Linfu's ears, which could lead to their husbands' instant disgrace.

The Cheng and Wang families were originally close friends. The first head of the Cheng family, Lord Zhen, and the first head of the Wang family, Lord Xiangru, were sworn brothers. They shared both fortunes and misfortunes. However, in the next generation, the sons of the two families grew distant due to one family thriving while the other remained stagnant. Ultimately, the stagnant Wang family continued to reside in Chongrenfang, living in luxury and comfort. In contrast, the Cheng family, led by General Cheng Wuting, fell into ruin because he chose the wrong side during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian. Yet, in the end, the stagnant Wang family still lived in Chongrenfang, enjoying a life of luxury and comfort, while the Cheng family vanished into obscurity due to their son's misalignment during the same period.

Wang Xun exerted great strength, and Yu Wen struggled a few times in vain before giving up resistance. He anxiously shouted, "Stop, stop it. It's too tight! Hurry and let go. If you don't let go soon, I will really get angry!"

This bloody fact, although it is somewhat distant in time, Aunt Yun cannot deny. After a moment of hesitation, she forced a smile and argued, "How could it be that dangerous? The current emperor is not the same as the Empress Dowager of those days; he has always harbored compassion in his heart. Since his ascension to the throne, the country has been prosperous and the people have been at peace, with harmony prevailing across the four seas..."

When the sky falls, there will be a tall person to hold it up; when will it be my turn? Haven't you seen that even the late Mr. Ma, who strongly advocated for the investigation of real estate back in the day, now has land exceeding a thousand acres? When he gets serious, Wang Xun's arguments are far more effective than Aunt Yun's. He draws on a wide range of references, leaving the other party speechless.

Perhaps due to the excessive killings at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the Wang family has always had a sparse population. Therefore, no one has ever proposed a division of the family to Wang Xun's grandfather and father. Both Wang Xun's grandfather and father have been content and easygoing by nature, and over the years, their noble rank has only declined without any opportunity for elevation. This has prevented them from expanding their family prestige. However, this has also allowed the Wang family to avoid the intricate factional alignments during the "Yongchang," "Tianshou," and "Jingyun" eras, thus ensuring their safety. Unlike the Cheng, Xu, and Gao families in Chongrenfang, which have changed hands numerous times, only the swallows on the beams remain the same year after year. This has allowed the Wang family to avoid the intricate factional alignments during the "Yongchang," "Tianshou," and "Jingyun" eras, thus ensuring their safety. Unlike the Cheng, Xu, and Gao families in Chongrenfang, which have changed hands numerous times, only the swallows on the beams remain the same year after year.

I believe the one who should be taught a lesson is you! Despite having some doubts about Yu Wenzhi's words, Wang Xun still decided to put an end to today's events. After all, it did not cause any significant trouble, and although Li Bai is a well-known figure, he does not hold much sway in the official circles of Chang'an. Offending him is just offending him; it is not worth jeopardizing a good friendship over such a trivial matter.

"Although this is the reasoning, where is the way forward?" Seeing that Wang Xun no longer argued with her, Aunt Yun gradually stopped her tears. "This is all my fault. When your grandfather was alive, he never looked down on my humble origins and always took me with him wherever he went, allowing me to meet many noble ladies. However, I always felt that I couldn't connect with them and was unwilling to take the initiative to get close. After such a long time without contact, when I finally need to ask them for help, the relationship has already grown distant!" I always felt that I couldn't connect with them and was unwilling to take the initiative to get close. After such a long time without contact, when I finally need to ask them for help, the relationship has already grown distant!

He has just arrived. He originally intended to visit and express his gratitude for your guidance back in the day, but seeing that he was truly exhausted from his journey, I politely declined. To avoid making him feel uneasy, I arranged to host him for a welcome gathering at Lingfeng Tower the day after tomorrow. I also invited Li Bai and Gao Shi to accompany us. In the afternoon, I still thought Li Bai was of little significance, but at this moment, in order to please the elder, Wang Xun eagerly brought up the two newly acquainted talents.

Little Zhang has returned to the capital? Just as Wang Xun expected, Aunt Yun's expression immediately shifted from cloudy to clear. "He has returned to the capital? Why hasn't he come home? Speaking of those years, although you were still quite young at that time and I was merely a woman, I did not help him much. However, I did point him towards a clear path. Otherwise, he might have been carrying a pig's head and still wouldn't have found the temple door to offer his gifts"

That is to say, all those who deserved to be killed have been eliminated. If the Emperor were soft-hearted, he would have been chopped up by Princess Taiping long ago! Moreover, although the Emperor himself is not fond of killing, the current Minister Li is famously known as the "Three-Eyed Hornet." People say he speaks sweetly while hiding a needle in his belly. Anyone who offends him can expect to meet an immediate death, which is considered a favorable outcome!

"One may not necessarily have money, but the power in hand can be exchanged for money at any time!" Aunt Yun sighed and said softly. "Our family indeed has plenty of money, but finding a few influential people to talk to..."

Although he had spoken openly, being deceived by a close friend into becoming a thug still left him feeling quite uncomfortable. Therefore, he had no desire to provoke Bai Xingzhi any further and, accompanied by several personal bodyguards, headed straight home.

At this time of year, it has already reached mid-autumn, and the sky darkens quickly. When the group arrives at the ancestral home in Chongrenfang, lanterns have already been hung in front of each household. Brightly shining, one after another, in various colors, they outshine the brilliance of the stars in the sky.

I, my family has over forty members, are just waiting for that little bit of dividend to celebrate the New Year!" Upon hearing this, Yu Wen immediately became anxious and protested, jumping up and down.

Note 2: Yongchang and Tianshou are the reign titles of Empress Wu Zetian. Jingyun is the reign title during the second ascension of Emperor Ruizong.

"You sharp-tongued one!" Aunt Yun said with a smile, "I know you are getting impatient again. Alright, I won't nag you any longer. It's getting late, so you should rest early!"

"No rush, no rush, it will come slowly!" Wang Xun smiled, pretending to be full of confidence about the future. "Can you guess who I met today? This person is definitely going to have a bright future!"

Although the other party is not his biological mother, she has fulfilled the role of a mother by raising him. Wang Xun could not bear to see Aunt Yun upset, so he could only smile and softly concede, "Am I not only seventeen this year? Even if I go out to work, who would truly regard me as an adult? Moreover, in the capital, there are at least two or three thousand noble youths like me. If one does not possess genuine skills, how could one possibly stand out? I have the desire to join the military, but I am reluctant to leave this home. As for taking the imperial examination, I am not skilled in literary pursuits. Furthermore, in the capital, there are at least two or three thousand noble youths like me. If one does not possess genuine skills, how could one possibly stand out? I have the desire to join the military, but I am reluctant to leave this home. As for taking the imperial examination, I am not skilled in literary pursuits. Therefore, I can only take it step by step, first under your guidance, to expand the family business. Then, I will spend a considerable amount of money to seek a connection near the emperor, even if it means becoming a palace guard, lingering under the emperor's nose every day, it would still be faster than climbing up from the bottom step by step!"

After speaking, he stood up with a smile and walked out, genuinely pleased in his heart that Wang Xun understood the concept of "self-improvement," and his steps were surprisingly much more agile than before having a meal

Today, Wang Xun returned home earlier than usual. Aunt Yun seized the rare opportunity and, of course, was not willing to let it slip away easily. She casually found a reason and hurried over to have dinner with Wang Xun. Before he could swallow a few grains of rice, her mouth opened and did not stop. She talked about how Wang Xun's father, during his lifetime, hoped for his son to achieve great success, all the way to how Wang Xun's great-grandfather, Xiangru, faced difficulties in starting his business. Fortunately, Wang Xun's great-grandfather, Wang Qiang, came from a very humble background, with his lineage traceable only to his father, Wang Sanzhu, a laborer, and his grandfather, Wang Wujin, a farmer. Otherwise, the topic of family history could go on until the late hours of the night.

If one were to speak of the entirety of Chang'an at this moment, perhaps some might not know who the Jingzhaoyin is. However, it would indeed be difficult to find someone who does not know Li Bai. Upon hearing that Wang Xun has finally decided to befriend a few renowned talents of the age, rather than merely indulging in cockfighting and dog racing for amusement, Aunt Yun's heart immediately blossomed with joy. She gently rubbed her eyes and smiled, saying: "That is certainly good. It is beneficial to get to know a few ambitious individuals, as it will be helpful for mutual support in the future. We do not seek for them to assist us with anything significant, but who does not have some urgent matters, big or small, that need handling? When that time comes, you will understand that my usual nagging has been based on sound reasoning."

"Now that everyone has left, it is time for you, Young Master Yuwen, to give me an explanation." After dismissing the strong servants from both families, Wang Xun released Yu Wen Zhi, but maintained a distance that kept the latter within reach, leaving him no opportunity to escape

Note 1: The term "five-entry" refers to a vertical arrangement of five courtyards

"Get lost, you soft-hearted Young Master Yuwen!" Wang Xun slapped him away, sending Yuwen Zhi flying a considerable distance. "If you are soft-hearted, there would be no bullies in this world. Get lost, and don't let me see you again today!"

"Everyone is here, Second Brother, could you please spare me some face?" Yu Wen Zhi, feeling helpless, lowered his head and pleaded.

"Pah!" Wang Xun spat fiercely on the ground with a smile, "Although Li Bai cannot be considered a prominent figure, his name is certainly well-known. As the saying goes, precious stones do not voluntarily collide with tiles. For a few petty coins, would he ruin your occasion? With such words, who in all of Chang'an, besides me, could be deceived?"

"You deserve it!" Wang Xun expressed his frustration, "Who told you to lack integrity? You failed to set a trap and ended up getting caught red-handed! All the losses incurred by Chang Le Fang today will be deducted from your year-end bonus. If that person surnamed Gao encounters any mishap in the future, you will bear all the medical expenses on your own! Don't even think about making me share the burden with you; I have no brothers who talk too much!"

"Aside from that useless member of the Yuwen family, who else can you recognize!" Whenever Aunt Yun mentioned the dubious friends around Wang Xun, she felt a strong irritation in her teeth

By the end of the Kaiyuan era, Wang Xun's father, Zi Zhi Gong, finally realized that the court had returned to normal. If his family did not produce a qilin soon, it was likely that by the time of his great-grandson, they would revert to commoners. Thus, he offered high salaries to renowned scholars to guide his son towards success. However, Wang Zi Zhi himself was a person who did not adhere to conventions, and the friends he associated with were even more unruly. Consequently, when it came to educating Wang Xun, the standards were low and the expectations lenient. As a result, despite Wang Xun having read extensively and having studied under many esteemed teachers, he emerged without any literary or martial accomplishments. He could only join a group of noble youths to dominate the markets of the East and West, yet he possessed no skills to offer to the imperial family.

"Get lost, can't you see that I am discussing important matters with Young Master Yuwen? If word gets out, just wait and see what happens to you!" Wang Xun's eyes widened as he half-jokingly ordered the stunned servants nearby. The servants of the Yuwen family and the Wang family were well acquainted, knowing that the two family heads had been close friends since childhood and would not easily fall out. Therefore, they did not dare to doubt Wang Xun's words, and after acknowledging him, they quickly dispersed.

I understand! Wang Xun elongated his voice in response. I know you all mean well for me. Tomorrow I will go to the West Market to buy books, starting from the beginning to read, striving to also achieve the title of the top scholar, isn't that possible?

With these estates and shops that could be squandered over several lifetimes, Wang Xun lived a life of considerable comfort. He sold a favor to local officials, never personally inspecting the shops; instead, the managers would come to report on the recent operational status at regular intervals. His father's concubine, Aunt Yun, was the eldest daughter of a merchant family, naturally possessing a keen eye for detail. As a result, although Wang Xun's father had passed away four or five years ago, the Wang family's business continued to thrive.

This time you have truly guessed wrong. I know a serious and reputable San Ding Jia! In order to please Aunt Yun, Wang Xun had no choice but to bring up Zhang Xun as a shield. "Little Zhang, the top scholar, do you still remember? The one who visited our home before being assigned to an official position?" (Note 3)

I have already been taught a lesson, look at how he hit me. From Wang Xun's tone, Yu Wenzhi knew that he had once again escaped unscathed, pointing to the dark circles under his eyes and quietly lamenting.

Then you were caught red-handed? And then you refused to admit your mistakes, preparing to beat the other party down to settle the matter!" Wang Xun angrily grabbed Yu Wenzhi by the collar, exasperatedly scolding, "You've really grown bold. To win a few measly coffin funds, you've thrown away all semblance of dignity. No wonder that person surnamed Li said I set a trap to cheat in gambling; I thought he was just talking nonsense, but it turns out you were caught in the act!

"Having known you for so many years, I have truly never seen what you look like when you are angry?" Wang Xun exerted a bit more strength in his arm, pulling Yu Wenzhi closer to himself, coldly smiling as he released his grip, then casually draping his arm over the other, tightly holding him under his armpit

Every year, a large amount of copper coins is earned by Aunt Yun, only to be swiftly dispersed by Wang Xun. Wang Xun and Wang Mingyun are thriving in the city of Chang'an. The only drawback is that he has always been unable to enter the officialdom. While Aunt Yun managed the family business, she utilized the connections left by her father to arrange many idle tasks for him. He squandered these opportunities with a lackadaisical attitude, fishing for three days and sunbathing for two. Now that he is personally in charge, he is even less ambitious and has no desire to pursue a career in the officialdom. This has caused Aunt Yun to constantly follow him around, lamenting that she has not fulfilled the wishes of Wang Xun's father and feels guilty towards the ancestors of the Wang family.