Chapter 5: Encounters
What do you want? Step aside, step aside! Do you know who this sister is? Don't seek your own demise! Help! Someone, please come! Someone, please!
"Old fool, get lost!" A rogue pushed the white-haired old man to the ground and reached out to grab the girl in green, who was so frightened that she kept retreating. He leered and said, "My dear, no need to be afraid. We just noticed you wandering the streets alone and wanted to invite you for a drink, nothing more."
At this moment, the white-haired old man had already returned to Yang Yuer's side. It was unclear what means he had employed, as several constables who entered the alley did not inquire about the circumstances; they simply dragged a few ruffians out in silence. Yang Yuer then bowed to Chen Yingliang and said, "Young Master Chen, it is getting late, and I must return home. I hope we meet again by chance."
After resting for a period of time and thoroughly nurturing his body, as well as completely integrating the memories left by the deceased Chen Yingliang and familiarizing himself with the basic situation of this era, Chen Yingliang immediately began preparing to head to Liaodong to enlist. With the help of Fang Xuanling, he sold the engagement jade pendant that the Chai family had never sent anyone to retrieve for a good price, which provided him with travel and living expenses. Then, Chen Yingliang bought himself a horse and two sets of sturdy clothes for the journey. After that, he went alone to the blacksmith street in Daxing City, preparing to buy a weapon for self-defense.
Chen Yingliang? Yang Yuer's reaction was quite strange; she first displayed a hint of nostalgia, then suddenly asked Chen Yingliang: "Young Master Chen, do you know Miss Chai Qian from the Chai County Duke's residence?"
In ancient times, scholars enjoyed wandering the world with swords. However, Chen Yingliang, who still held the status of a scholar in the household registration, did not favor the ornate and impractical treasures of swords. Instead, he directly purchased a broadsword forged from mixed steel for himself. This weapon was extremely powerful when wielded, far more practical than the swords that the blacksmiths boasted about. At the same time, Chen Yingliang secretly delighted in the fact that, coming from a family of military lineage, he still retained a set of military sword techniques in his memory. Although not particularly remarkable or exquisite, it was sufficient for him to wield a sword competently.
Yang Yuer's expression was unexpectedly one of regret. She glanced at Chen Yingliang and then softly said: "Young Master Chen, since we are fated to meet and you have saved me, I will speak on your behalf to Sister Qian'er. Originally, Duke Chai intended to wait for the situation to calm down before approaching you and discussing matters... However, you can rest assured, I will stop them."
However, the loud shout was enough. Upon hearing Chen Yingliang's voice, the few ruffians who were laughing mischievously immediately turned around. Seeing Chen Yingliang standing in the alley with a sword in hand, the unarmed ruffians couldn't help but change their expressions. The girl in green let out a sigh of relief, while the old man with white hair quickly got up, using his body to shield the girl in green once more, and shouted, "Young man, quickly kill these scoundrels. I will take responsibility for you; if someone dies, I will take the blame!" The girl in green sighed in relief, while the old man with white hair quickly got up, using his body to shield the girl in green once more, and shouted, "Young man, quickly kill these scoundrels. I will take responsibility for you; if someone dies, I will take the blame!"
Yang Yuer's words were not so bad until now; after hearing what she said, Chen Yingliang's anger towards the Chai family immediately flared up. He thought to himself, well, it turns out that you, the Chai father and son, are indeed planning to settle scores after the autumn harvest, waiting for the storm to pass before seeking revenge on me, and even blocking the news to protect your reputation! Fine, let's wait and see whether you come to settle accounts with me or I take revenge for that kick from Chai Shao!
"Unfortunately, I only saved half of the person; I managed to pull out my knife, but it was not I who saved the girl." Chen Yingliang added with a smile, which made Yang Yuer smile in return, and she felt quite fond of Chen Yingliang.
At this moment, the alley entrance was already crowded with onlookers drawn by the sounds of fighting and shouting, among whom were figures dressed in official uniforms. Observing this situation, Yang Yuer exchanged a glance with an old man with white hair beside her. The old man understood and immediately stepped forward to negotiate with the officials, while Yang Yuer's other two attendants guarded the alley entrance, preventing any idle bystanders from entering. Chen Yingliang unexpectedly gained a brief moment to converse privately with Yang Yuer.
Chen Yingliang has little time left. According to the normal course of history, four years later, Li Yuan will raise his banner in Taiyuan, sounding the horn for the downfall of the Sui Dynasty. Five years later, Emperor Yang of Sui will be killed in Jiangdu, officially marking the end of the Sui Dynasty. Wang Shichong, Li Mi, and other formidable figures are about to rise, and some have already begun to do so quietly. If Chen Yingliang still wishes to join this game of world domination, the remaining preparation time is already pitifully short; not a single moment can be wasted.
Having said that, the girl in green raised her head again, bowed gracefully to Chen Yingliang, and said softly: "Thank you, young master, for drawing your sword to save me. I am Yang Yuer, and I express my gratitude for your great kindness."
Several ruffians were severely injured, and the two men immediately knelt before the girl in green, bowing their heads and saying: "We, the undersigned, have arrived late to offer assistance; please forgive us, Miss."
Meanwhile, the old man with white hair leaned closer to Yang Yuer's ear and whispered, "Your Highness, I did not dare to reveal your identity; I only disclosed my own identity, saying that you are a distant relative of mine. Those officials from Daxing County will take care of those ruffians for us"
By the way, may I ask your esteemed name and where you reside
Yang Yuer nodded slightly, pursing her red lips and chuckling, "Sister Qian'er was so furious upon hearing this that she would have come after you with a vengeance. If it weren't for the Duke of Cheshire firmly stopping her and forbidding the matter from being made public, with Qian'er’s temperament, she would have surely arrived at your doorstep with a sword in hand. Later, Sister Qian'er mentioned this to me and even scolded you a few times."
Ha! The old man with white hair laughed out loud, using his hoarse voice to say: "What is a head of a department in the county office? A single little finger of my master can crush his entire family!"
The opportunities provided to Chen Yingliang by Fang Xuanling are limited, yet he must seize them firmly. Daxing later became the city of Chang'an and also served as the western capital of the Sui Dynasty. Within the city, the number of high-ranking officials, powerful nobles, and the sons of gentry is as numerous as the cattle. Even if there were opportunities for significant advancement, they would not be available to Chen Yingliang, a scion of a declining family. Moreover, Chen Yingliang has also made enemies with the influential Chai family, who would certainly not tolerate his rise under their very noses. Therefore, leaving Daxing to develop elsewhere is Chen Yingliang's wisest choice.
Thank you for your kind intentions, Miss Yang, but it is unnecessary. Chen Yingliang shook his head firmly and replied, "There is absolutely no possibility between her and me. Moreover, it was her family who took the initiative to propose the annulment of the engagement. If I were to seek her out again, wouldn't that only make her look down on me even more?"
The old man with a hoarse voice initially intended to intimidate, but the girl in green stopped him and gently said: "Uncle Xie, it's alright. As long as they arrive on time, I'm fine. Don't scold them anymore. You all get up, don't worry. I won't tell mother when we go back."
A voice that was neither masculine nor feminine came from a small alley by the road. Chen Yingliang, curious, walked to the mouth of the alley and saw several ruffians standing side by side. They were blocking an old man with white hair and no beard, along with a young girl in a green dress, and were uttering filthy words. The old man, sweating profusely, shielded the young girl with his body and pointed at the ruffians with a delicate gesture, scolding them in a high-pitched voice, "You little brats, why don't you get lost? If you dare to touch a single hair on this young lady's head, I'll take the lives of your entire family!"
"Miss Yang, how do you know her?" Chen Yingliang was taken aback.
This is the first time I have encountered such a situation in this era. Even Chen Yingliang, who is accustomed to this line of work in modern society, did not think much of it. Instinctively, he shouted, "What are you doing? Let her go!" He also instinctively reached for the gun and handcuffs at his waist, but found neither. Instead, he touched the saber he had just purchased today. Without hesitation, Chen Yingliang immediately drew the sword from its sheath
"You even know about this?" Chen Yingliang was somewhat taken aback
Despite Chen Laosan's repeated objections to Chen Yingliang's enlistment in the army in Liaodong, and even kneeling down to implore him to reconsider and not to risk his life on the front lines, thereby cutting off the Chen family's lineage, Chen Yingliang paid no heed and could not accept Chen Laosan's kind advice.
Attach oneself to high-ranking officials, demonstrate capabilities, establish a reputation, stand out, accumulate strength, and then act according to the situation; advance to compete for supremacy over the world, or retreat to become a guiding party or a loyalist in exchange for wealth and honor. This is Chen Yingliang's newly formulated life plan for himself
Yang Yuer left a very good impression on Chen Yingliang. Not only was she charmingly beautiful, but her words and demeanor were also exceptionally gentle and polite, which was precisely the type of woman Chen Yingliang favored. Marrying such a wife meant that even if he took a mistress and it was exposed, he wouldn't have to worry too much about dangerous consequences. Therefore, Chen Yingliang quickly sheathed his knife, cupped his hands in salute to Yang Yuer, and humbly said: "Miss Yang, there is no need for courtesy. I merely acted out of a sense of justice and came to your aid."
Yang Yuer nodded slightly, feeling quite satisfied with the handling of the white-haired old man. She turned back to glance at Chen Yingliang in the alley, secretly amused: "Hehe, quite handsome, refined and courteous, and possesses a chivalrous heart. Sister Qian'er, you might truly regret it; such a young gentleman is precisely the ideal husband you have always longed for, isn't he"
Kill him
Watching Yang Yuer's departing figure, Chen Yingliang muttered to himself: "Miss Yang, it seems that we can only hope to meet again if fate allows. With an ambiguous old man by your side, two highly skilled attendants, and a background that even the public officials dare not challenge, you even directly mentioned your surname Yang. Do you think I really couldn't guess your identity? However, we are too far apart. A girl like you is someone I truly do not dare to pursue at this moment. Whether there is fate between us, we shall discuss that later."
"We shall meet again if fate allows." Chen Yingliang cupped his hands in salute, voluntarily stepping aside to let Yang Yuer lead the white-haired old man and his two attendants out of the alley
"I do not dare to claim such a distinguished name," replied Chen Yingliang. "My name is Chen Yingliang, and I am from Daxing."
The scoundrels deserve to die a thousand deaths! A man kowtowed and explained, "After the scoundrels got separated from the young lady, we exerted great effort to find our way here. The scoundrels failed to protect the young lady properly; please punish us, young lady."
After finally walking through the bustling commercial street, Chen Yingliang learned his lesson and did not dare to wander through overly prosperous streets again. Instead, he chose a relatively quiet street to stroll along, intending to buy some meat and wine to take home as a return invitation to Fang Xuanling. Having gotten to know Fang Xuanling over the past few days, Fang Xuanling had already treated Chen Yingliang to drinks several times. Chen Yingliang felt quite grateful, and now that he had a bit more financial flexibility, he naturally developed the intention to return the favor to Fang Xuanling.
"Kid, if you have any sense, get lost quickly and don't seek your own death!" a leader-like ruffian threatened fiercely, "The head of the Daxing County yamen, that's my brother-in-law!"
A few ruffians, clearly accustomed to their dominance in this area, rushed over without a word. Chen Yingliang quickly drew his knife, preparing to fight back. However, at that moment, he suddenly heard a whistling sound in both ears. Two men, one on the left and one on the right, charged in without hesitation and engaged the ruffians in a fight, swiftly knocking them to the ground. This completely ruined Chen Yingliang's rare opportunity to be a hero and save the damsel in distress. Yet, the two men were not willing to stop; they continued to punch and kick the ruffians who were already on the ground, striking particularly hard and targeting vital areas. Their moves were designed to inflict serious injury. One of the ruffians was even kicked in the groin, letting out a scream akin to that of a slaughtered pig, and fainted immediately.
Chen Yingliang does not care about the rank of his position. Zhao Da had to eat, and Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty also had to eat, having spent several years as a monk. Ye Zhupi served as a slave to Li Chengliang, and Luo Li worked as a physician. Great figures have also worked as librarians. Compared to them, Chen Yingliang stepping into the officialdom can take on the role of secretary to a senior general of the Sui army, starting from a much stronger position! Therefore, Chen Yingliang absolutely cannot miss this opportunity! This may be Chen Yingliang's only chance for rapid rise!
"You two bastards, why did you only arrive now?" The old man with white hair became arrogant again, pointing at the two men and cursing, "Do you have any idea that the young lady was almost in danger? If she lost even a single hair, you would be torn to pieces by the master when you return!"
Seven years after the establishment of the Great Sui, the world gradually fell into chaos; however, the Guanzhong region experienced little conflict. As the western capital of the Great Sui, Daxing remained as prosperous as ever, with bustling streets filled with people and a constant flow of vehicles. Particularly on several notably busy streets, the crowds were often so dense that movement was nearly impossible. Chen Yingliang found himself on one such street, drenched in sweat, struggling to navigate through this less than two-mile stretch.
Chen Yingliang gave a wry smile, remaining silent and unwilling to continue the discussion with Yang Yuer. Unexpectedly, Yang Yuer, being a warm-hearted person, smiled and asked, "Young Master Chen, actually, Sister Qian'er is also a good girl. What do you think? Would you like me to say a few good words for you and help you and Sister Qian'er get together, so that your relationship can continue?"
Having bought a knife and slung it over his shoulder, with time still on his side, Chen Yingliang reflected on the fact that he would soon be leaving Daxing City in a day or two. Taking advantage of the little time he had, he wandered the streets of Daxing City with the knife, appreciating the street scenes and local customs of this era, while also bidding farewell to the city. As he departed, Chen Yingliang truly had no idea how long it would be before he returned.
Yang Yuer smiled, her laughter causing the flowers to tremble, both mysterious and enchanting. She said: "Sister Qian'er and I are friends, very good friends, and I also know that not long ago, you ended your engagement with Sister Qian'er, whom you were betrothed to since childhood."
"Damn it!" The ruffian shouted in anger, picking up stones from the ground as he yelled, "Brothers, let’s go and beat this meddlesome brat to death!"
In the eastern market, buy fine horses; in the western market, buy saddles; in the southern market, buy reins; in the northern market, buy long whips
"I don't care who your brother-in-law is." Chen Yingliang ignored the words of the white-haired old man and shouted at the few ruffians, "To harass respectable women in broad daylight, you better apologize and bow your heads immediately, or get lost! Otherwise, I will kill you in self-defense!"