Chapter 1: The gate of the minister's residence is tall

Fortunately, Ye Hua's grandfather worked under Li Jitao. Upon seeing the name Guo Wei, he recalled an old acquaintance. After inquiring, he learned that Guo Wei was indeed a descendant of an old friend

The Later Han had only two emperors, whose reign combined lasted less than 4 years, and they were soon replaced by the Later Zhou of Guo Wei

The elderly lady lost her husband in middle age and her child in old age, encountering all sorts of tragic events

Relying solely on these two pieces of information, it is likely that even an average history enthusiast would not be aware of which era it pertains to; however, Ye Hua is fully aware.

It must be said that he discovered a glimmer of hope; it turned out that he had some distant kinship with Guo Wei, the founding emperor of the Later Zhou. This time, he and his grandmother came to the capital to seek refuge with the Guo family, requesting their support.

Let Hua Zi follow; the Guo family, considering the presence of both an elder and a child, will certainly offer assistance

Uncle has limited insight, and he has devoted it all to these matters

With a wealth of knowledge accumulated, Ye Hua would also join various book clubs to discuss and debate with other book enthusiasts. His profound expertise, rich in references and incisive analysis, always left people in awe. It has been proven that reading extensively is beneficial, and Ye Hua quickly determined that this "Han" refers to the fourth dynasty of the Five Dynasties, established by Emperor Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan of the Later Han.

By the following week, perhaps there will be more familiar faces around.

This is frustrating

Guo Wei's father, Guo Jian, once served as a governor under Li Keyong. At that time, Ye Hua's grandfather and Guo Jian were both vassals in the same court and had a very close relationship. Moreover, Ye Hua's grandmother was the daughter of Guo Jian's maternal cousin, and the two often corresponded and looked out for each other.

Old Master Ye found Li Jitao and finally secured Guo Wei's safety

The explanation from the uncle-in-law | The more one tries to cover it up, the more it becomes evident. The old lady gritted her teeth, truly lacking progress. How could she have been so blind back then to marry her daughter to a useless person like you

Hearing about Guo Wei's remarkable success, the elderly lady was filled with hope and, with a bold face, made a request to find a job for her son-in-law. Little did she know that the Guo family would respond with harsh rejection, uttering many unpleasant words, calling him a poor wretch, a sycophant, and so on, showing a complete lack of gratitude. They even drove the two of them out, discarding the entire bundle of local specialties and game that the elderly lady had brought with her.

It is a pity that Chai Rong passed away at a young age, allowing Zhao Kuangyin to take advantage of the situation, don the yellow robe, and establish the Song Dynasty. Ye Hua was sorting through the historical process in his mind; the young emperor Liu Chengyou was merely a fleeting flower, while Guo Laoda was the true path to power.

The elderly lady complained about herself, tightly holding her grandson's hand

The old lady reluctantly believed it and decided to pack her things to head into the city. The uncle's eyes darted around as he said, "Mother-in-law, could you speak to the Guo family about finding a civil service position in the capital? I would rather not go to the front lines... It's not that I'm afraid of death; being close by would make it easier to take care of the family!"

Four years ago, Yelü Deguang stormed into Kaifeng, and Ye Laodie refused to bow and submit to the Khitan, resulting in his death. Ye Hua's mother was heartbroken and passed away within a month. At that time, Ye Hua was not yet seven years old and could only rely on his grandmother for companionship

On the streets of Kaifeng, people hurry by, and whether they are vendors or common folk, there is little smile on their faces. Born into an unfortunate era, it would be strange to be able to smile.

Faced with this situation, Ye was truly trembling with anger, feeling both ashamed and guilty, utterly unable to show her face.

Unable to pay the taxes, the son could only cry as he pulled his father's coffin back home, not knowing what to do. All the way, he cried uncontrollably, and the people around him looked on with pity, yet they did not dare to say a word.

After Liu Zhiyuan ascended the throne, he soon passed away. According to the timeline, the current emperor is Liu Zhiyuan's son, Liu Chengyou, also known as Emperor Yin of Han

"Your Majesty has decreed that the city gates be closed, and no one is permitted to leave!"

Seeing the old lady hesitate, the uncle quickly thought of a plan and brought Ye Hua over

A son was taking his father's coffin out of the city for burial, but was stopped by the gatekeeper, who insisted that he pay a tax before being allowed to leave. Taxing the dead is truly unheard of!

Ye Hua has no other choice; he comes from a single-parent family, and his father does not care about him at all. He dropped out of school at an early age, and if it weren't for the mortuary master taking him in and teaching him the skills of cosmetology and makeup for the deceased, he might have starved to death. Ye Hua is not someone who indulges in self-pity; he believes that with gains come losses. He has been working for many years and has saved some money. The reason he continues to work is entirely out of respect for his master.

The funeral expenses have long been exhausted, and there are still considerable debts outstanding

The autumn wind blows briskly, and the weather turns cooler

Upon inquiring, it became clear that Guo Wei had been leading troops in battle for the past few years. First, he quelled Li Shouzhen in Hezhong, and then he moved northward to resist the Khitan. He was promoted to the position of Chief Minister, remained in charge of Ye City, and served as the military governor of Tianxiong Army, overseeing the troops of Hebei. He can be regarded as second only to the emperor, wielding significant power and commanding a large military force.

... ...

Little did he expect that the heavens would grant his wish ahead of time, and in such a special manner as time travel, bringing him to the ancient times

If only Chai Rong had been given more time, perhaps he could have truly pacified the world, restored Yan and Yun, and established a prosperous era comparable to that of the Han and Tang dynasties

Later, Guo Wei gradually became prosperous and visited the Ye family several times to express his gratitude

The old lady was taken aback; how could the city gates be closed before noon? Could it be that something serious has happened?

Ye Hua felt uneasy in his heart, his throat somewhat hoarse, "Grandma, the Guo family may have their unspoken difficulties, it is not necessarily a matter of disdain for the poor..."

Later, after Guo Jian was killed, Guo Wei was only a few years old. He followed his mother, Wang, through a life of hardship and turmoil, and his mother also passed away. Fortunately, his aunt raised him to adulthood. It can be said that Guo Laoda's childhood was also quite tragic

I am truly confused at my old age, with my wrinkled face, allowing others to humiliate me. I have long known that the gates of the noble residence are high, and I should never have come here. Your grandfather was strong all his life, and I have effectively squandered all his dignity!

Approximately 20 years ago, Ye Lao passed away, and the Ye family began to decline, while Guo Wei's official career continued to flourish, leading to a reversal of fortunes for the two families. Ye Hua's father, possessing a certain pride typical of scholars, was fearful of being accused of currying favor with powerful officials, thus he became increasingly reclusive, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to his official duties.

Opposite the old woman, there is a young boy, at most eleven or twelve years old, tall in stature but exceedingly thin, with hardly any flesh on his body. His cheeks are sunken, and his unusually large eyes appear somewhat comical. However, upon closer inspection, these eyes reveal a depth not typical of a boy his age, reflecting a heavy burden of thoughts.

Guo Wei reigned for three years and passed the throne to his adopted son, Chai Rong. This Emperor Zhuang of the Later Zhou is known for his literary and martial prowess, achieving significant accomplishments, and is acclaimed as the foremost enlightened ruler of the Five Dynasties.

In ancient times, butchers were not ordinary individuals; they had to possess some influence. Guo Wei got himself into trouble. Someone immediately reported to Li Jitao, the acting governor of Luzhou, and at that time, there were even calls to execute Guo Wei

Hua'er, you must strive to be better in the future, learn from your father and your grandfather, do not learn from me! The old lady's tears of grievance flowed out

With the merging of memories, Ye Hua finally realized that the current dynasty is Han, and the era name is Qianyou

Do not be deceived by the old lady's age; however, her strength is considerable. Pulling Ye Hua, she quickly made her way to the east gate, preparing to leave the city and return home. Suddenly, hundreds of imperial guards arrived, blocking the city gate, forcing everyone who wished to exit the city to turn back

At this moment, Ye Hua could only look up to the sky and sigh: "Let me go back, I would rather spend my whole life without finding a wife, spending my entire life in a funeral home, than go to the Five Dynasties!"

An elderly person and a child, both lonely and helpless, had no choice but to seek refuge with Aunt Ye Hua's family. However, Aunt Ye's husband was a good-for-nothing, lazy, and fond of gambling, having squandered all the money in the Ye family. Winter was approaching, and Ye Hua was still wearing thin clothes and straw sandals, leaving the elderly lady with no options left

When he reached the age of seventeen or eighteen, Guo Wei joined the army. Due to his youthful exuberance, he killed a butcher in the street.

Ye Hua's uncle was beaming with joy, secretly thinking that he had been waiting for this moment for a long time

Ye Hua had not finished speaking when the old lady glared and sternly admonished, "Listen here, do not mention their family again, just pretend we do not know them!"

When Master retires in two years, he will go out to do business and completely say goodbye to his experience at the funeral home

Alright!

The old lady gritted her teeth and entered the city, where she also met the Guo family.

"Dear mother-in-law, please rest assured. It is not that I lack ability, but rather that I have not had the opportunity to showcase my talents. This time, I will certainly do my best and will not let down your kind intentions." The uncle pounded his chest with a resounding thud.

Working in a funeral home, it is difficult to have friends. During her free time, Ye Hua's favorite activity is reading. From the initial magazines on martial arts to classic literature and historical texts, and then to online novels, she reads almost every type of book.

This was something Ye Hua had long been planning

At a roadside tea stall, there sits an elderly woman in her seventies, with a bowl of clear water in front of her. Her hair is completely white, and beside her lies a smooth stick. She carries a large, tattered bundle on her back

He has reason to worry, for he does not belong to this era... The boy's name is Ye Hua, and he is a mortuary makeup artist. This is a profession that sounds chilling and makes many people shudder and keep their distance. Especially the girls he meets for blind dates, upon learning this, are as if they have seen a ghost, unwilling to utter another word, and quickly flee in panic

Indeed, Ye Hua arrived at the most chaotic and darkest period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

I am of an age where I no longer care about my reputation. Over the years, the Guo family has prospered, and relying on our past friendship, I went to the Guo family to seek help! Regardless of the circumstances, I will secure a position for you. Work diligently, support your family, can you manage that?