Chapter 004: The Giant Kite

Then, a massive ship gradually emerged from the vast misty waves, its bow adorned with eight large dragons vividly coiling at the sides, gazing down imperiously as it parted the clouds and approached.

After finishing the meal, Mr. Shen, still feeling unsatisfied, began to tidy up the plates and bowls. He said to Chang Geng: "Today I need to finish cleaning these few pieces of armor; they haven't been maintained for a long time, and some of the joints have even rusted. I might have to go out this afternoon to gather some herbs, as Ge Pangxiao and the others have taken leave to have some fun. What are your plans?"

Shen Sixteen: "What? Speak up."

Shen Shiliu only acted lewdly towards Shen Yi; when he encountered a woman, he immediately transformed into a graceful gentleman. He slightly turned to the side, avoiding direct eye contact with Xiuniang's face, and politely greeted her: "Madam Xu, I am taking Chang Geng out for a stroll."

In just a mere span of twenty years, the Great Liang first launched the Northern Expedition, followed by the Western Campaign. As a great nation, the Celestial Empire received envoys from all directions, showcasing an extraordinary majesty

Countless fiery wings soared towards the sky, and all the white steam erupted together, forming layers upon layers of clouds, with the steam resembling a ball of cotton descending from the nine heavens.

It is said that the difficulties of life are due to the wars, with the tax burden becoming heavier year by year. However, in the past, there were also wars, and after each conflict, there would always be a period of recovery. Yet, in recent years, it seems that people are perpetually unable to catch their breath

A woman like this, even if she is a widow, truly should not be wronged by a small hundred households in a remote town.

Chang Geng : `` ... ... ''

The word "sword" had not yet left his mouth when he turned around to find Shen Sixteen already hanging his iron sword on the wall, declaring: "Son, let’s go, the giant kite might be coming into the city, let’s go join the excitement"

"When flowers bloom, there are heavy days, but one cannot be young again." Shen Shiliu did not turn back, he picked up a bean, raised it, and aimed it towards the direction of the sun. His hands were truly beautiful, long and fair, resembling the hands of a young master from a noble family, which seemed utterly incongruous with the roasted beans stained with black ash.

As time dragged on, he felt utterly bored and could not help but yawn, eagerly hoping that Shen Sixteen, this curious country bumpkin who found everything fascinating, would soon be satisfied and let him go back. He would rather assist Mr. Shen.

The young man was trapped in the remote and narrow corner of Yanhuai Town, a situation he could hardly even imagine.

The wild geese return, opening the dark river

Chang Geng : `` ... ... ''

At that moment, the two individuals happened to pass by the main entrance of the Chang Geng residence, when the door suddenly creaked open with a "squeak" sound

A group of officials and soldiers jogged out in formation, with the messenger standing ready behind the three-zhang tall "Bronze Roar".

Chang Geng was pushed by him as they jogged along, asking: "When exactly did you become deaf?"

A woman in a solid-colored long dress stepped out, and upon seeing her, Chang Geng's face instantly froze in a mix of helplessness and irritation.

At that moment, the people near the city gate suddenly erupted in a chorus of cheers

Shen Shiliu said in a rather old-fashioned manner: "When you grow up, you will understand that a person's youth is just a tiny dot, and it disappears in the blink of an eye. You can never return to it in your lifetime, and by then you will realize how much time you have wasted."

Whoever tries to argue with Shen Shiliu is sure to make him explode with anger

When the giant swans return, children waiting to pick up the food for the geese gather at the city gate, along with people from nearby villages who come to watch the excitement. As the crowd grows, some clever individuals start selling food, gradually forming a sizable market in the area, which the locals call "Goose Market"

Chang Geng, feeling powerless, said: "Adoptive father, I just spoke with Mr. Shen..."

He seemed to have been doused from head to toe with a bucket of cold water, and the gaze that had just been suppressing his anger suddenly became hollow, as both his anger and frustration quietly dissipated.

Shen Shiliu bought a bag of roasted, pitch-black coarse salt beans, eating them by pinching them with his hand as he walked. With an eye appearing at the back of his head, he extended one hand and accurately stuffed a salt bean into Chang Geng's mouth

However, the surroundings were filled with the deafening roar of giant kites and the clamorous shouts of the crowd, and his whisper, which resembled a sigh, quickly vanished without a trace, even Long Geng, who was right beside him, did not hear it

No one responded, and he grasped at empty air. When Chang Geng turned around, he discovered that his troublesome adoptive father had vanished without him noticing.

He simply cannot understand how Shen Sixteen can have the audacity to brazenly accuse others of "wasting time"

The first handful of "wild goose food" fell like celestial maidens scattering flowers, and the little ones below went wild, all reaching out their hands to snatch it.

If the giant eagle of the Northern Expedition is like this, what kind of grandeur can be expected from the three great camps of the country's prized weapon, the mysterious iron?

Alright, here I am again

Chang Geng: "Then I will go to General Slope to practice..."

Mr. Shen reminded from behind: "Sixteen, come back early and split the firewood!"

Chang Geng shook off the hand of the thug who was about to place it on his shoulder and took the lead in walking out

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's, a single breath could blow it away, but before Chang Geng had the chance to respond, Shen Longzi had already answered first: "Ah, madam, rest assured"

He seemed completely unaware of his godson's gloomy mood, bustling about on the crowded geese, showing great interest in everything he saw

The herald sounded a deep and prolonged horn, its copper resonance emanating forth, penetrating everything as it lingered in the air.

The children began to hold their small bamboo baskets, jostling each other for position, waiting to receive the wild goose food

Chang Geng watched the giant kite approach through the throngs of people, and although he claimed not to want to come, he had indeed witnessed the giant kite's return many times. Yet, when faced with it directly, he was still awed by the sheer size of the colossal object

The fiery wings of the giant kite extinguished in response, and a scent reminiscent of burnt firecrackers wafted through the air. The giant kite glided along the water, its surrounding dragons seemingly frozen in a certain totem of time, exuding an aura of malevolent divinity

Chang Geng, burdened with a multitude of legal troubles, still had to closely follow him, always vigilant to ensure that he would not be lost in the crowd.

The messenger took a deep breath, aimed at one end of the bronze bell, and opened his mouth wide. The sound emanated from the enormous "bronze bell," amplified dozens of times, resonating like a great bell.

The Shen family does not adhere to the principle of "no talking while eating or sleeping." While eating, Mr. Shen gave Chang Geng a lesson on the "Great Learning." As he spoke, he lost focus and veered off into the topic of "how to maintain steel armor in winter." He is inherently a polymath, saying whatever comes to mind. On one occasion, for reasons unknown, he enthusiastically lectured Chang Geng on how to prevent and treat equine influenza, to the point that even the deaf Sixteenth Master could not bear it and forcibly silenced him.

"Thank you for your concern," Xiuniang said with a smile that did not reveal her teeth, then turned to Chang Geng and gently reminded him, "Your father is coming back today. If you go out, remember to bring back a box of rouge for your mother."

Shen Shiliu applied oil under his feet and shamelessly said: "I can't hear you, see you later"

The earth has裂开, revealing a深 dark river beneath, which runs through the entire Yanhuai Town

The giant swan slowly glided along the dark river into the city, the sound of water splashing loudly, and the messenger let out a long call.

The hull was imposing, glimmering with a cold metallic light that exuded an indescribable aura of slaughter. The mournful sound emanating from the ship was inexplicably grand, echoing endlessly, resonating throughout the entire Yanhuizhen, as if the thousand-year-old souls of the battlefield had awakened in unison, responding and singing.

Sixteen smiled and teased, "Is someone thinking of you? Is it the round-faced little girl from Old Wang's family?"

Shen Shiliu was momentarily taken aback, suddenly tilting his ear as if a red light flashed on the cinnabar mole on his earlobe. He furrowed his brow and murmured, "Why is this ship so light this year?"

Unfortunately, the stretch of road where the wild geese feed is not long. Soon, the giant kite sank into the dark river, coming to a steady stop on the water's surface, appearing before the people.

It is indeed strange that the common people are becoming increasingly impoverished

Chang Geng was caught off guard and accidentally licked his finger. In a moment of panic, he bit down on the soft flesh inside his own mouth, instantly drawing blood and letting out a hiss of pain, glaring angrily at Shen Sixteen, the source of his misfortune

Two rows of soldiers responded by grasping the enormous wooden wheel handle atop the city tower, simultaneously shouting loudly. Each of them was bare-chested, muscles and bones exposed, and they exerted their strength together. The towering wooden wheel creaked as it turned downwards, splitting the large bluestone road below the city tower into two. Countless interlocking gears began to twist, and the stone brick soldiers on both sides divided into two paths, moving away from each other.

Though she is no longer young, her beauty remains undiminished; standing in the morning light, she resembles a serene and ethereal portrait of a beautiful woman

At this moment, he had just begun to grasp a little of the pattern of his adoptive father's deafness—he could not hear anything that Shen Yi said to him, while he selectively chose to hear or not hear what others said to him, depending on whether he liked it or not. As for those young women, even the faintest buzz of a female mosquito, he could hear every word clearly.

Extinguish the lamp

Chang Geng could no longer contain his displeasure and said stiffly: "Is it appropriate for a foster father to make such jokes with his junior?"

The heat of late summer has not yet dissipated, and the clothes on people's bodies are thin. Sixteen is completely pressed against Chang Geng's back, and the faint scent of medicine in her arms suddenly envelops Chang Geng, just as he dreamed.

Shen Shiliu never pays attention to others' expressions—he sees them but pretends not to.

The giant eagle let out a long cry, and then countless fiery wings exerted their strength simultaneously, causing the surrounding misty clouds and steam to surge wildly— it was preparing to land

Even with partial blindness, one can still see the "giant kite" descending from the distant horizon.

The giant kite approached, and the residual warmth of the extinguished fiery wings struck his face. Chang Geng instinctively reached out to grab the person beside him, advising, "The giant kite is coming. There are too many people here; let us move back a bit."

Indulging in laziness is one thing, but being a lecher is another

Chang Geng inexplicably felt uneasy, subtly lowering his head to avoid the gaze of his little guardian, covering his nose, turning his head away, and pretending to sneeze

In recent years, the world has been in a poor state, and the common people are impoverished. Most of the goods traded in the market are small items produced by farmers themselves, with nothing good to eat or drink, making it exceedingly dull.

The woman is indeed Xiuniang, the nominal mother of Chang Geng

The phrase "gold and jade on the outside, rotten on the inside" seems tailor-made for him

Xiu Niang nodded, adjusted her garment, and gracefully bowed, offering a blessing to Shen Sixteen, and said in a cordial manner: "Master Sixteen."

The giant kite came and went, year after year the same, Chang Geng could not think of anything new or interesting, but before he could voice his protest, Sixteen had already unceremoniously grabbed him, half-dragging and half-pulling him out.

The "copper horn" lies like an overturned large trumpet, stretched across the city wall, surrounded by a ring of verdant copper rust, which is unevenly distributed, resembling intricate carvings

Shen Shiliu merely smiled without speaking, wearing an expression of profound mystery

Shen Shiliu did not take it to heart, smiling playfully as he said: "Not suitable? Oh, I have never been a father before, so I don't know the measure. I will definitely pay attention next time"