Chapter 66: Three Letters and Six Etiquette
It had just rained.
The grass by the roadside was moist.
It was also very green.
There were water droplets on the blades of grass, sparkling in the sunlight.
Just like Jiang Yu’s eyes, sparkling.
Because Meng Shaoxia was about to leave, he had actually brought her a box of snacks.
Meng Shaoxia unbuckled the sword at his waist, held it with both hands, and handed it to Jiang Feng. “This sword is named Zhaoyang. It was bestowed by my grandfather. It has been on the battlefield and has seen blood, but only the blood of those who deserved to die. I hit it off with Brother Jiang the moment we met, and I wish to gift this precious sword to you.”
Meng Shaoxia held the sword out.
Jiang Feng was somewhat moved.
He was used to the ways of the streets; while he looked honest on the outside, he wasn’t actually simple.
His words and actions were mostly due to subconscious survival instincts.
Yet, the square-faced young master from the capital before him was a rare, truly sincere person he had encountered.
“No, no, no, I am not worthy. Such a good sword would be wasted on me,” Jiang Feng hurriedly refused.
In reality, he hadn’t even wanted Brother Meng’s sword.
The most he had ever thought about was the sword on a guard, which he had already thought was impressive.
The sword before him didn’t have complicated patterns on the scabbard, but it was very antique, also in the shape of a flower.
The hilt was very oily and shiny, showing that this was truly a sword used often; at least it was gripped every day, not just for decoration.
The most special thing about the whole sword might be the jade stone at the top of the hilt, which seemed to change from white to red, as if stained by blood.
It was blood-red and gorgeous.
It was named Zhaoyang.
Meng Shaoxia insisted on thrusting the sword into Jiang Feng’s arms.
“You are worthy; a precious sword belongs to a hero. In the days to come, when I am far away in the capital, I will surely hear the name of Jiang Feng of Qingyuan Mountain.”
Young Master He Chen, holding the infant, saw this gesture from Brother Meng and felt his blood boil.
He blurted out, “Why don’t we become sworn brothers?”
Brother Meng ignored him.
Brother Jiang was looking at the precious sword.
The infant in his arms stared at him with wide eyes and drooled again.
After handing over the sword, Meng Shaoxia took off the jade pendant he was wearing.
He handed it to Jiang Yu.
“This jade pendant has accompanied me for many years and has helped me turn danger into safety many times. I give it to you, little Yu’er. Be more careful; don’t lose yourself again.”
Jiang Yu was just thinking about delicious food when she was suddenly stuffed with a jade pendant. She was so scared she didn’t dare to loosen her hand, worried that if she let go, the jade would fall to the ground, shatter, and she would be accused of causing damage.
She had never touched such a valuable item.
“I, I, I don’t want it.” Jiang Yu grabbed the jade pendant tightly and pushed it towards Meng Shaoxia’s face.
“Don’t be nervous. It’s just a gift for our first meeting. Look, we all wear things to give to people when we meet,” Meng Shaoxia said with a smile.
On the carriage behind them, an older veteran covered his eyes.
Since the young master left home, except for his clothes, everything else had been given away.
That jade pendant was an heirloom from the Old Madam, passed down to the young master’s generation—a warm jade heart, extremely rare in the world, known as the Jade Spirit. Even if one searched the whole world, they might not find another one like it.
Jiang Yu curiously looked at Young Master He Chen.
Young Master He Chen looked at Brother Meng and could only nod, “Yes, yes, yes, a meeting gift.”
He held the baby with both hands and shouted to his subordinate, “Come over and help me untie my jade pendant.”
The subordinate took the jade pendant off him.
Although it wasn’t an heirloom, it was also a very good jade pendant, but it wasn’t like what Brother Meng said—they didn’t wear jade pendants just to give them away; he wasn’t a jade pendant dispenser. From now on, he would really have a psychological shadow about wearing jade pendants.
He placed the jade pendant on the infant’s swaddling clothes.
“A meeting gift for little Mianmian. When you grow up to be stunningly beautiful, I will say that I once held you, hahaha.”
Jiang Mianmian glanced at the jade pendant in front of her, truly curious.
She had already reached out to grab it.
It was smooth, cold, and fun; it was a circle with decorations on it, really very pretty.
She liked it.
Her little chubby hand could just pass through it; it must be a jade ring, carved from the center of a bracelet, but it was just right for an infant.
Jiang Mianmian grinned, revealing a big, big, big smile at the young master in front of her.
Young Master He Chen saw the little baby drooling again. She really loved to smile; she had no teeth when she smiled, and she drooled.
It diluted the sorrow of parting.
He had not expected Jiang Feng to refuse.
Even if he didn’t go to Qingzhou with him, he could have gone to the capital with Brother Meng. Brother Meng was truly a very good person with a chivalrous heart, and his elders at home were also very good.
But Jiang Feng said he dared not leave home; his sister was young, his Mother was introverted, and his Father was frail. The young man said he had to take care of his family.
Young Master He Chen and Meng Shaoxia were both children of large families; they truly understood the misery of having no family.
The greatest punishment for a family member doing evil was to be expelled from the family, and those people would all weep bitterly, regretting and begging for mercy.
Because without a family, one was like duckweed, like foam.
Anyone could bully you; adults could hit you, and wild dogs could bite you.
Jiang Feng’s family was just like that.
However, because Jiang Feng refused, Young Master He Chen admired him even more.
He felt that he was worthy of the lines: “Knocking on thin bones, still carrying the sound of copper.”
A young man with iron-like bones; although the refusal was unexpected, it felt as it should be.
Last night, he had written a letter to his uncle in the capital, writing down this poem by Brother Jiang and his own observations. Whenever he felt confused, he was willing to talk to his uncle.
Although his uncle was busy, he was extremely attentive to him and answered every question. With Young Master He Chen’s family being so chaotic, the fact that he could grow up so upright was inseparable from his uncle’s careful teaching.
Perhaps he also had a premonition that Jiang Feng would refuse.
Because he understood Brother Jiang’s poem.
Young Master He Chen had his subordinates prepare the Four Treasures of the Study, as well as a lot of paper and the books he carried with him, all left for Brother Jiang.
Meng Shaoxia had given away his precious sword, his precious jade, and even left his fine horse behind.
Because the fine horse wouldn’t leave on its own…
He had not expected Jiang Feng to refuse.
But he had also prepared many things for Jiang Feng’s family.
Lots of snacks.
Fine grains.
Printed cloth, hair ties.
Yet he didn’t leave much silver money. They dared not send too many valuable gifts, fearing that wealth would attract disaster.
Lingering parting, there is always a time to say goodbye.
Meng Shaoxia looked back several times.
He saw his horse, saw the girl standing by the horse, one hand holding the snack box, the other waving vigorously at him in farewell.
He looked at the young man, holding the infant, wearing the precious sword.
The infant was actually waving her arms in Brother Jiang’s arms, as if bidding them farewell.
He walked forward a few steps, then looked back.
Walked forward a few steps, then looked back.
Perhaps the girl’s hand was tired from waving, as she sat on a stone by the roadside.
Seeing him look back, she waved again.
Young Master He Chen couldn’t help but look back too.
Watching those few figures getting smaller and smaller.
They were walking further and further away.
In the past, carriages and horses were slow.
In the past, the road was very long.
In the past, when people said goodbye, they would always write poems.
In the past, people valued feelings because meeting was not easy, and parting was even harder.
Li Bai said, “The peach blossom pool is a thousand feet deep, not as deep as Wang Lun’s love for me.”
Wang Bo said, “If you have a bosom friend within the four seas, the ends of the earth are like neighbors.”
Wang Wei said, “I urge you to drink one more cup of wine; west of Yangguan Pass, there are no old friends.”
Bai Juyi said, “The grass on the plain spreads and spreads, withering and flourishing year after year.”
Gao Shi said, “Do not worry that there is no bosom friend on the road ahead; who in the world does not know you?”
Young Master He Chen and Meng Shaoxia sat on the swaying backs of their horses.
Each lost in thought.
Seeming to read their own departures.
After walking for a while, they arrived in front of a dense forest. This forest was particularly thick, and it was impossible to see who was in it. It was a good place for robbery.
Meng Shaoxia and Young Master He Chen suddenly looked at each other and smiled.
Then they laughed out loud.
Because here, they had met a few roguish youths beating a Kidnapper, and met a kidnapped girl kicking the Kidnapper—not because the Kidnapper wanted to sell her, but because the Kidnapper didn’t leave money for her parents.
Dense forest, dirt ground, wild cicadas, the most common scenery.
Because there were different people, this also became a different scene.
Young Master He Chen laughed, “This trip is very good!”
Meng Shaoxia also nodded, “Very good.”
“Brother Meng, do you like little sister Jiang? That jade pendant of yours is a Jade Spirit; I’ve heard my grandmother prattle about it,” Young Master He Chen asked with some curiosity.
Meng Shaoxia said, “I like her straightforwardness, I like the way she eats happily, and I like her sincere heart for her family. My heart is very pleased with her, but I do not wish to be abrupt. I will wait until I return to report to my parents, and then I will come with the three letters and six etiquette to propose marriage.”
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