Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 135 The Obsession Disappears (Seeking Monthly Tickets at the Beginning of the Month)

"Shopkeeper! Shopkeeper!" A hoarse shout slammed against the door.

Li Youcai shoved aside the servant who was helping him up. The door panel was only half installed, leaving a gap less than two feet wide.

Ignoring everything else, he shoved his stomach against the door and forced his way in, the jade belt buckle at his waist scraping against the wooden edge with a creaking sound.

"I... I... hiccup..."

Li Youcai squinted and scanned the room, his eyes darting around aimlessly: "Looking for my brother Yang Can for drinks, quick, take me there!"

The servant squeezed in and grabbed his arm.

When the shopkeeper heard the servant announce his master's name, his heart tightened. This drunken winter melon in front of him was actually Madam Pan's man!

Shopkeeper Pi was immediately relieved; it was good that Young Master Chen had come!
Otherwise, if our master and Madam Pan, a man and a woman, were to be alone in a room, and Master Li were to become suspicious, it could easily lead to disaster.

The shopkeeper's mind raced, and his hands didn't stop moving as he quickly stepped forward to support Li Youcai's other arm.

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Oh, Mr. Li, you've finally arrived! Our boss has been waiting for you in the private room at the back."

The owner specifically instructed that if Master Li arrived, there was no need to announce his arrival; he should be invited over immediately.

"Come on, Mr. Li, you've gone a bit too far. Let me help you, but be careful where you step."

Li Youcai, supported by the shopkeeper and servants on either side, stumbled towards the backyard, the jade pendant at his waist jingling.

The door to the private room creaked open, and the laughter inside stopped as all three of them turned to look at the doorway.

Li Youcai had a blissful smile on his face, like that of Maitreya Buddha, and his two hook-shaped mustaches twitched with his heavy breathing.

Yang Can stood up in surprise and said, "Brother Youcai?"

“Brother Xian, hahaha…” Li Youcai pointed at Yang Can, but his fingertip veered half a foot to the side.

Pan Xiaowan got up and went to greet him, grabbing his arm and pinching his soft flesh under his ribs hard with her fingertips.

"Why are you drinking so much again? Look at you, all tangled up like this, what if you fall down?"

"Hey, what do you know, you woman?" In public, Li Youcai's authority as a husband was very prominent.

"How can I not drink the wine that's due? Wouldn't that chill the hearts of the merchants of Tianshui? I'm in a position where I have no choice but to do so!"

As he spoke, Pan Xiaowan helped him walk inside, and he kept glancing around.

He glanced at the simple table and chairs and frowned: "Brother, if you want to drink, why don't you come to my house? This place... is much more modest than my home."

Pan Xiaowan said softly, "I invited your brother, but when he heard you weren't home, he refused to come no matter what."

Li Youcai slumped down in the seat Pan Xiaowan had just sat in and said to Yang Can, "Brother, this is your fault!"

Yang Can smiled ingratiatingly: "Yes, yes, brother is right. It was my oversight."

"Hey Can!" Li Youcai said, emboldened by the alcohol, "What kind of relationship do we have? Why are you being so discreet?"
Tell me, should I distrust you, or should I distrust my wife?

Yang Can and Pan Xiaowan exchanged a quick glance, and Yang Can continued to nod and bow: "Yes, yes, I was just being paranoid."

Li Youcai snorted and said with satisfaction, "You, remember this: my house is your house! When you get to my house, you're home. After you finish drinking tonight, you'll come home with me."

Taking advantage of the moment, Pan Xiaowan quickly gave a wink to the door.

The eloquent man guarding the door immediately brought in a small stool and placed it next to Li Youcai.

Pan Xiaowan sat down, which brought her to the corner of the table, making her much closer to Chen Yinjie. Her sleeve occasionally brushed against Chen Yinjie's arm.

From the moment Li Youcai entered, Chen Yinjie stood up with a polite smile.

But Li Youcai seemed to ignore everyone else, chatting and laughing with Yang Can as soon as he came in, without even glancing in his direction, as if he were just a decorative vase placed in the corner, unimportant.

Chen Yinjie stood there with a stiff smile, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his cuffs, but his gaze involuntarily fell on Pan Xiaowan, who had just sat down.

When she sat against the corner of the table, the fabric of her dress was stretched taut, and the full curves almost touched the corner of the table.

Chen Yinjie's gaze froze for a moment, he glared at her fiercely, and then forced his eyes back to Li Youcai, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

At this moment, Li Youcai turned his head in a daze, his eyes unfocused as if veiled by a layer of mist. He paused when he glanced at Chen Yinjie and said, "Eh? Who is this...?"

Chen Yinjie immediately composed himself, put on a perfectly timed smile, and bowed respectfully: "Master Li, I am Chen Yinjie from the Chen family of Tianshui."

"The Chen family of Tianshui?"

Li Youcai patted his head, the pat seemingly dispelling some of the effects of the alcohol.

He squinted and thought for a moment, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table with a "bang" and laughed, "I remember now! What a coincidence, I just saw your father tonight!"
Your father's alcohol tolerance is truly impressive; compared to me, he's only slightly... slightly... hiccup, a cut below, haha!

"Have some tea to calm yourself down!"

Before he could finish speaking, Pan Xiaowan shoved her teacup towards his lips in an annoyed manner.

"Look at you, even your burp reeks of alcohol. Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you!"

Li Youcai laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying his wife's tender scolding, completely unaware that Chen Yinjie's expression had changed.

Tonight, all the prominent merchants in Tianshui City went to a banquet to entertain Li Youcai, the steward of the Yu clan. Where did he see my father?

Wait, what did Master Yang call him just now? Brother Youcai…

Chen Yinjie's heart skipped a beat. His feelings for Pan Xiaowan were instantly chilled, as if a bucket of ice had been poured over them.

It turns out that Madam Pan's husband was none other than Li Youcai, the foreign affairs officer of the Yu clan! How could he possibly even dream of marrying the wife of such a person?

Chen Yinjie was momentarily distraught and subconsciously moved his stool closer to Yang Can.

Finally, he simply sat down opposite Li Youcai, keeping more than half a foot's distance from Pan Xiaowan, as if that would draw a clear line between them.

Li Youcai, completely unaware of his strange behavior, raised his hand and called out to the door, instructing the servant who had come with him to bring up the wine jars he had brought.

The wine jar was as big as a human head and was wrapped in a layer of dark red silk.

Li Youcai rolled up his sleeves, raised his hand, and slapped open the mud seal with a "smack." A rich and lingering aroma of wine instantly filled the entire room.

"Good wine!" Yang Can and Chen Yinjie exclaimed in unison.

Li Youcai laughed triumphantly, "Come on, come on, let's drink until we're drunk today!"

……

In the study of the villa north of the city, sandalwood incense wafted like silk threads, entwining the shelves full of books.

The candlelight flickered on the bronze lampstand, casting long shadows of the books and weapon illustrations on the bookshelf onto the bluestone floor, overlapping with the Guanzhong-Tianshui map hanging on the screen.

Yu Huanhu stood with his hands behind his back in front of the map, his fingertips lightly tracing the various symbols marked on the map.

Those densely packed symbols, some representing post stations and others checkpoints, are like the tentacles of the Suo family, gradually winding along the westward trade route through the Yu family's territory.

"The Suo family wants to use my Yu family's territory to completely control the westward trade route."

Yu Huanhu's voice was cold and stern. His gaze swept over the "Suo Family Merchant Inn" marked on the map, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"The eldest brother is really foolish! In order to deal with me, he actually let this wolf from the Suo family in."

"Hmph, doesn't he know that it's easy to invite a god in, but hard to send him away?"

Yu Huanhu turned to look at the two advisors standing in front of his desk, his tone suddenly becoming more serious: "Pass down the order, send several groups of men disguised as bandits, and attack the Suo family's caravan to the death!"

I will make it impossible for them to walk an inch on my territory.

In addition, prepare some weapons and mix them into the goods of the Su family's caravan, deliberately looking for an opportunity to expose them.

The strategist on the left stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Second Master, this method of framing is far too crude; I fear it will hardly convince the public..."

"Winning over the masses?"

Yu Huanhu chuckled: "That's not important. What I want is to leave my elder brother with a handle to turn against the Suo family."

Besides, ever since He Youzhen's affair came to light, my elder brother is now extremely paranoid. Even the simplest methods might be believed by him.

The two advisors exchanged a glance, then bowed and replied, "We understand."

Yu Huanhu waved his hand, his gaze returning to the map, and said in an unquestionable tone, "Go, get these things done quickly."

I'll make the Suo family suffer terribly, and I'll make my eldest brother ride on a tiger's back, unable to get off!

"Yes!" The two advisors bowed and withdrew, their footsteps fading into the distance.

The servant standing nearby stepped forward, knelt down, and whispered a few words in his ear.

Yu Huanhu raised his hand and waved: "Let him in."

A moment later, the study door was gently pushed open, and Yu Rui walked in excitedly, his robe catching a gust of wind.

His face beamed with barely suppressed joy, and he bowed deeply as soon as he entered the room, saying, "Father!"

"Rui'er, it's so late, what's the matter that makes you so eager to see me?"

Yu Huanhu turned around, looked at the joy in his son's eyes, and smiled.

Yu Rui straightened up, his voice filled with joy: "Father, the people I sent to the Central Plains to investigate Yang Can's background have returned!"

Just as his son had predicted, this person's identity was indeed a forgery!

"Oh?" Yu Huanhu's gaze suddenly sharpened, a glint of sharp light flashing in his eyes: "Continue."

"Judging from this, Yang Can is most likely a member of the Mo Clan!"

Yu Rui took two steps forward, his tone becoming increasingly certain: "His improved plows and waterwheels, as well as his methods of training soldiers, all bear the shadow of the Mohist school. How could an ordinary person have such abilities?"

Yu Huanhu frowned slightly, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist.

Does a false identity necessarily mean someone is a member of the Mo Clan? Not necessarily.

But he always trusted his son's judgment.

Moreover, the qualities Yu Rui mentioned—being skilled in craftsmanship, adept at training troops, and acting with a low profile yet methodical approach—do indeed subtly align with the legendary disciples of the Mohist school.

In this era, education was not widespread, and ordinary people could not possibly have access to such methods.

If they were spies from other forces, they wouldn't use things like improved plows and waterwheels, which could rapidly strengthen the Yu family, as a "pledge of allegiance."

As for those bizarre claims about "time travelers," those are just wild imaginations; people in this era simply don't have that kind of idea.

Therefore, the most reasonable explanation is that Yang Can is a Mohist.

Yu Huanhu pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "If this person's identity is indeed as described, we should try to win him over."

"If we can bring the Mo Clan over through him, it will be a tremendous benefit to our Dailai City."

Yu Rui's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "That's why I'm thinking, my younger sister is almost of marriageable age. If we could tie Yang Can down with us through marriage, wouldn't that be wonderful..."

"inappropriate."

Yu Huanhu shook his head, interrupting him: "Unless he is the Grand Master of the Mohist School, an ordinary Mohist disciple is not qualified to be my son-in-law."

Furthermore…

He glanced at Yu Rui helplessly: "Yang Can is now staying by your uncle's side as the chief steward of the eldest branch. This position is most beneficial to us in Dailai City."

If you arrange for him to marry your older sister, his true intentions will be immediately exposed. After that, will he still be able to stay by your uncle's side?

Yu Rui was taken aback, and the joy on his face instantly faded.

Yes, unless Yang Can is willing to give up his current status, the path of marriage is simply not viable.

Yu Huanhu continued, "Moreover, the Mohists have their own principles, and they cannot be won over by marriage."

What we should do is strengthen our connection with Yang Can and first find out which faction of the Mohist school he belongs to.

If he is Qin Mo, we promise that once Dailai City becomes the master of the Yu clan, all workshops and crafts will be managed by the Mo family to satisfy their advocacy of promoting industry.

If he were Chu Mo, we would set up more charitable granaries, implement more benevolent policies, and establish more virtuous laws, and let them take charge of these affairs.

If he is Qi Mo, then let them be in charge of our external relations with the Yu clan and other clans, as well as the Northern Mu and Southern Chen clans, and let them display their eloquence.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over his son, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity: "This kind of catering to their preferences is far more likely to win over these righteous Mohists than a marriage alliance."

Upon hearing this, Yu Rui suddenly understood and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "Father is absolutely right!"

However, Yang Can has now been promoted to the position of chief steward and has returned to Phoenix Mountain, so it will probably not be easy to get in touch with him.

The son will arrange for a reliable person to go to his side and act as an intermediary.

On the other hand, it would also be good to secretly investigate and find out his true background, and to see which branch of the Mohist school he belonged to.

Yu Huanhu nodded and said nothing more.

His gaze returned to the map, his fingertips once again tracing the newly drawn trade routes, and the calculation in his eyes grew even deeper.

……

At the same time, in Liu Bo's study in Dailai City, the lamps were also lit. The dim light of the oil lamp flickered, casting Liu Bo's shadow on the wall, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

He sat at his desk, holding an ink stick in his hand, carefully grinding ink in the inkstone, lost in thought as he did so.

As the ink thickened and emitted a faint scent of pine smoke, his thoughts finally matured.

He picked up his brush, saturated it with ink, and wrote on the paper: "Your disciple Liu Bo respectfully reports to Your Excellency:"

Recently, I have noticed that some of my fellow disciples may have joined the sect of the clan leader, and I suspect that they are the vanguard of the Mohists in Qin.

This person, using the alias Yang Can, is currently the chief steward of the Yu clan's main branch.

Liu Bo took a breath and continued writing: "The Mohists of Qin and the Mohists of Qi have vastly different ideas about governing the world, and there are even many conflicts between them."

The tiger from the second generation of the Yu clan is now plotting to win this person over.

If this person is given an important position and then colludes with the Qin Mohists, it may be very detrimental to the Mohist movement in Qi and Guanzhong.

"This disciple's abilities are limited, and I have no solution. I humbly request Your Excellency to make the final decision."

After finishing writing, he put down his pen, carefully folded the letter, and handed it to a trusted confidant waiting beside him: "Send it out tonight, and make sure to deliver it to the Grand Master personally."

(End of this chapter)