Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

It was almost noon and there was still no sign of Wang Xinkuan. I didn't know if he would be able to make it back in time for lunch.

The maids had already started to file out of the kitchen, and steaming dishes were being served on the table.

Just then, I heard the doorman's urgent report.

"Master, my uncle and cousin are here."

As soon as the doorman finished speaking, an old man with gray hair and the gait of a dragon and a tiger, and a young man with extraordinary bearing walked into the yard.

Two people were heard walking towards the front hall with smiling faces. The followers behind them handed the gift boxes they brought to the butler Dai Xing who came to greet them.

"Uncle, cousin, please come in quickly."

It turned out that the visitors were Mr. Cai's brother-in-law Xiao Yankai and nephew Xiao Jingxing. Ye Changyan's master's wife was the youngest daughter of the Xiao family. Her three older brothers had all passed away, and she was the only half-brother left in the family.

"Brother-in-law."

"Uncle! I wish you good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as great as the Southern Mountains!"

"You two are really thoughtful. I didn't mean to disturb you. Come on, we're just about to start eating. But you two are in for a treat today."

Old Cai welcomed the father and son into the house with a smile, and heard Zhu Yuchun and his fellow apprentices politely greeting Xiao Yankai and Xiao Jingxing, father and son.

The father and son were quite familiar with all of Mr. Cai's students. After a brief greeting, Mr. Cai introduced Zhong Yunfeng to the father and son. Zhong Yunfeng quickly bowed and greeted them politely.

"General Xiao, Master Xiao."

After Xiao Yankai and his son politely greeted Zhong Yunfeng, Xiao Yankai said with a smile.

"I am an idle general, and I am bored at home. Today is a good day, so we decided to come over and have a meal."

Everyone burst into laughter when they heard Xiao Yankai's light-hearted and humorous words.

"Oh, no, brother-in-law, you just said that my father and I are in for a treat today. What rare thing did you get?"

When Mr. Cai heard his brother-in-law ask this, he burst into laughter at first, but he didn't intend to keep him in suspense. He waved and pointed to the dishes that were already on the table.

"During my year in Yuzhou Prefecture, I have accepted a young disciple. He is the chef for today's meal. I dare say that you have tasted no more than three of the dishes on the table."

It was rare for Xiao Yankai to hear his brother-in-law praising someone, but today he actually made such a big boast in front of him, which made Xiao Yankai and his son very curious. They took two steps forward and looked at the dishes on the table.

The father and son looked at the dishes on the table, looked at each other, and shook their heads.

"This dish does look fresh, but you can't tell how it tastes just by looking at it with your naked eyes."

"I think you don't know the value of gold and jade, so don't eat too ugly later."

Mr. Cai joked with his brother-in-law and then greeted everyone with a smile.

"Come on, everyone, please take your seats. The dishes are almost ready. It's cold now, so we have to eat them while they're hot."

I saw a few maids bringing a few dishes, and the table was filled to the brim.

Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng brought Xing Wang to the flower hall, introduced him to the sisters-in-law, and then let him sit with Zhu Shan and the others.

After settling Xingwang down, Ye Changyan followed Liang Jingcheng towards the main hall.

"Hurry, hurry, come over and eat."

As soon as the two stepped into the main hall, they heard Mr. Cai greeting them.

"General Xiao, my cousin."

When Liang Jingcheng saw his master's brother sitting next to Mr. Cai, he hurried forward to greet him.

Ye Changyan looked at Xiao Yankai and his son with some confusion. Didn't they say that there would only be a family dinner for fellow brothers today? Then who are these two?

When Mr. Cai saw Ye Changyan looking at Xiao Yankai and his son in confusion, he called Ye Changyan to come over and introduced himself to him.

"Chang Yan, this is your master's wife's brother, an idle general, and this is your master's wife's nephew Xiao Jingxing."

"Uncle, cousin."

After listening to Mr. Cai's introduction, Ye Changyan bowed to Xiao Yankai without thinking, but blurted out "uncle and cousin".

Everyone at the scene was stunned for a moment, and then they heard Xiao Yan burst into laughter.

"Ahahahaha..., you are such a sweet-talker, calling me uncle really touches my heart."

Ye Changyan seemed to realize at this moment that the name he blurted out seemed a little too intimate, and his face turned red with embarrassment for a moment.

"Brother-in-law, is this your new disciple Ye Changyan?"

Seeing Mr. Cai nod, Xiao Yankai took out an exquisite dagger inlaid with gems from his waist and handed it to Ye Changyan.

"This is the dagger that the leader of the Baoyin tribe carried with him when I led my troops to defeat the Baoyin tribe in the northern desert. I found that this dagger was not only exquisite, but also extremely sharp, even though it could not cut iron like mud. I have been carrying it with me all these years. Since you called me uncle, I will give this dagger to you as a gift."

Mr. Cai and Xiao Jingxing knew that Xiao Yankai liked this dagger, and they were a little surprised that Xiao Yankai wanted to give this dagger to Ye Changyan.

When Zhu Yuchun and the others saw this exquisite dagger, their eyes lit up and they looked at Ye Changyan with envy.

Ye Changyan didn't know what to do for a moment. He looked at his fellow brothers who were full of envy, and then cast a questioning look at Mr. Cai, who nodded at him firmly.

Ye Changyan then took two steps forward respectfully, stretched out his hands respectfully, and took the exquisite dagger from Xiao Yankai's hands.

"Thank you for the generous gift, uncle!"

Just when Xiao Yankai was smiling with joy, he heard Wang Xinkuan's voice coming from the yard.

"General Xiao, I also call you uncle. Do you have a dagger like this to give me?"

Xiao Yankai looked in the direction of the voice and saw Wang Xinkuan walking into the main hall from outside the courtyard with a smile on his face, so he burst into laughter.

"You are a kid who hangs around His Majesty every day. You have seen all kinds of good things. With your status and position in the Wang family, are you jealous of your junior brother just for a dagger? What's more, if you really call me uncle, your uncle, that old scoundrel, will probably stay in my house and won't leave."

Wang Xinkuan bowed to Xiao Yankai and continued speaking.

"My uncle treats the general as a brother. He knows that you like to secretly hide good wine."

"Please don't say that. Last time at the full moon party for Jingxing's son, your uncle, that old scoundrel, came to my house and ate and took things. The small gift he gave was not enough to buy the two jars of wine he took away."

Everyone was laughing when they heard Xiao Yankai and Wang Xinkuan joking, except Ye Changyan and Zhong Yunfeng who were totally unaware of the situation. They looked at Xiao Yankai and then at Wang Xinkuan.

"However, the dagger you gave me today is definitely worth it. Not to mention that you have gained a nephew, the general will definitely make his money back just from the meal he has given us today."