Yinshan Record

Chapter 285 The Chang Family of Licheng, Living in Seclusion in the City (Part 2)

A shout silenced the noisy deck instantly.

He commands respect without anger, and his orders are obeyed with a single command. Needless to say, this man must be the true leader of the Chang family of Licheng on this ship.

Su Che turned his head and saw a middle-aged man who looked unremarkable.

This man was of average appearance, with a flat nose and narrow eyes, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that he had cultivated over a long period of arrogance and self-importance.

Beside him stood a guard with jet-black skin, red hair, and bulging eyes, clearly of some exotic bloodline. The guard carried a beautifully decorated ebony box.

"I am Chang Kai, the lord of the Chang family of Licheng. I have the honor of meeting Young Master Ouyang. May I ask where Young Master Ouyang's immortal abode is?"

The Chang family of Licheng would be considered a standard poor family within the current system of Daliang.

If one introduces himself by titles such as Xie of Chenjun, King of Langya, King of Taiyuan, or Yu of Yingchuan, it is certainly enough to inspire respect.

These are all behemoths within the territory of Daliang, firmly grasping the pinnacle of power.

It's rather laughable that a poor family like the Chang family of Licheng would refer to themselves in this way.

Of course, despite being called a "Han Clan," the Chang family of Licheng was still a powerful clan in the area, capable of exploiting and oppressing ordinary people.

However, Chang Kai in front of us is indeed a bit too arrogant.

"I dare not, for my family has lived in Kuaiji for generations."

Su Che smiled awkwardly and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Chang Kai fell silent for a moment.

According to the "Origins and Development of Surnames in Ancient and Modern Times" from Bailudong, the Ouyang surname originated from the descendants of ancient sage kings, and their ancestral home was in two places: one in Bohai Commandery in the north and the other in Kuaiji Commandery in the south.

"Oh, could you be a member of the Ouyang family of Kuaiji? May I ask which branch you belong to?"

Even though the Chang family of Licheng was a powerful clan in its own right, their numbers were small, with only a handful of core members. Naturally, they were all considered one family, led by Chang Kai.

However, many wealthy and powerful families that have been rooted in the local area for a long time have branches and branches that have been passed down for countless generations. Coupled with the complex relationships between them, one family can no longer contain so many people.

Just like the Su family today, although the number of people is small, if the eldest son of the Su family becomes the Prince of Qinghe and the military commander of Jiangnan and Jiangbei, the second son becomes the Grand Secretary and the Grand Secretary, and the third son attains immortality and lives far away in the heavens.

The third son's situation is relatively straightforward, but who should listen to the descendants of the eldest and second sons?
You say you're from the eldest branch of the family, but my family is still headed by the prime minister.

You say you are the prime minister, but my family has a prince.

Rather than causing a huge fight, it's better to separate and live separately sooner rather than later.

Even though the family has separated, everyone should still help each other, since they are still considered "one family".

Therefore, the clans were divided into halls under the surname, and each surname had its own hall name.

If Su Che were to unravel the intricate relationships involved, he could talk about it for a whole day.

However, Chang Kai's meaning was quite simple.

To put it another way, what he meant was, "Does Ouyang Ke have something like the White Camel Mountain Villa backing him up?"

"I am ashamed to say that although my surname is Ouyang, I am not inferior to those other famous halls."

Su Che's meaning was very clear: I am just an ordinary person, with nothing extraordinary behind me.

Chang Kai nodded without saying anything more, simply extending his hand.

"The river breeze is damp and cold, let's go inside and sit down first."

After he finished speaking, he turned to the white-robed young man beside him and said...

"Shouzhi, go to the kitchen and tell them to heat up some soup and rice and bring it inside."

The head of the family was usually very dignified. Although the second young master usually didn't take that "seventh brother" seriously, he could only nod and agree when his father spoke directly.

“Aqi, since you are my adopted son, you should be treated like my own child. You should call me Father, just like Shouzhi. Why do you keep calling me Master?”

"Yes, Father." Su Che then understood that this "Seventh Brother" was not the seventh in his family, but rather named Qi.

However, the phrase "as if they were my own children" made Su Che understand a deeper meaning.

If they are like one's own children, then they are not.

It's likely that the conflict between the second young master and the seventh brother stems from this.

The Chang family of Licheng is quite interesting.

"please."

Although this Chang Kai, the head of the Chang family, was the head of the family, he had a chivalrous air about him as he led Su Che inside.

The interior of this ship was naturally quite impressive, with three wooden floors rising one after another on the deck, and the windows and furnishings inside were just like those of a mansion.

Upon entering the building, a servant brought out a copper basin filled with hot water, along with towels.

Chang Kai washed his hands with that Ah Qi.

Only then did the head of the Chang family turn his head to look at Su Che.

His clothes were torn open by the gray-clad swordsman's sword energy, making them look extremely tattered, and his shoes and socks had long been washed away by the river.

"Bring a few of the Second Young Master's clothes for my nephew Ouyang to change into."

He frowned and gave an order to the servant beside him.

After giving his instructions, he led Su Che to sit down at the table inside the door.

"How did you, my nephew Ouyang, end up in this predicament?"

"Oh, my nephew heard that Cizhou was hit by a disaster and thought it was a business opportunity, so he bought grain from Jiangzhou to sell in Cizhou. But he was unlucky and encountered refugees who were robbing people on the river. He delivered the grain and the boat to them, which can be considered a form of disaster relief."

Su Che had said this line once before, and now he was quite adept at it.

"Refugees? They don't have that kind of ability. They must be local powerful families in disguise. You've lived in Yangzhou for a long time, so you probably don't know. Cizhou is full of notorious bandits who kill and rob."

Your comment is indeed insightful. Su Che recalled that their ancestor from the Chang family of Licheng, wasn't he the one who encountered a notorious murderer and robber in Cizhou while carrying a family treasure, and was subsequently apprehended?
"Uncle Shi saw the big picture from small details."

The fact that a lie could be analyzed so thoroughly prompted Su Che to fabricate a story: "It was only after Uncle Shi reminded me that I realized they were indeed well-organized and unlike ordinary refugees."

"I don't know what everyone in Cizhou is doing."

Chang Kai snorted coldly: "Nephew, rest assured, now that you're on the ship, you're a guest of the Chang family of Licheng. When we reach the next stop, we'll naturally provide you with travel expenses to go home."

The head of the Chang family had an air of great pride and magnanimity.

However, Ah Qi next to him had a furrowed brow.

Soon, servants brought over clothes and food, and Su Che quickly thanked them.

The head of the Chang family had a room cleared out for Su Che to use as his bedroom, so that he could change his clothes first and then come back for a meal.

Su Che had just turned to leave.

Chang Qi then spoke to Chang Kai.

"Godfather, this man's words are not entirely truthful, we should still be careful."

"I've been wandering the world for so many years, do I need you to teach me?"

Chang Kai glanced at Chang Qi, and the dark-skinned man could only nod repeatedly.

"Yes, when my godfather was traversing the Canglang River, I was still fishing in the river."

"Good to know. I have my own arrangements for this person. Go and tell Shouzhi to keep a low profile."

A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the head of the Chang family of Licheng.

(End of this chapter)