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

Chapter 402 Nephew

Xiao Yankai could sense his brother-in-law's love for talent, but he also knew that his brother-in-law was already over 70 years old and his energy was limited. After thinking for a moment, he came up with an idea.

"Brother-in-law, I think Wulang is quite intelligent. He is only eleven or twelve years old, but he is already preparing to take the examination for the Tongsheng. Although it is better to let go of one sheep than two, after all, you are old and your energy is definitely not as good as when you first recruited Mu Bai and Yun Ting. If a good seedling like Wulang can be accepted by a good teacher and receive careful guidance, there is no need to worry that he will not become a talent in the future."

Xiao Yankai's words immediately aroused everyone's interest. Although Xiao Yankai's words were straightforward, they were indeed true.

Zhu Yuchun and his fellow apprentices saw that the master had been recuperating in Yujing Palace for half a year. Although his spirit and energy were completely renewed, he was still an old man in his seventies. The fellow apprentices were actually grateful to Ye Changyan, their junior apprentice, from the bottom of their hearts. If it weren't for the junior apprentice, it would have been impossible for them to enter Yujing Palace for recuperation.

You must know that since the founding emperor of the Wu Dynasty opened the palace gates and received royal members when he visited the mountain, royal descendants in later generations have never had such an opportunity, even if you are a nobleman.

Although Zhu Yuchun and his brothers have all started their own families, they always keep in mind the kindness of the master. They all hope that the master can recuperate in Yujing Palace for two more years, and hope that the master, who has worked hard all his life, can be healthy and spend his later years without worries.

Xiao Yankai saw that everyone in the private room was looking at him, especially Wulang's clear eyes. When he looked at him, Xiao Yankai, who came from a military family, could feel the desire for knowledge in his eyes.

"Wu Lang, the way you look at your uncle makes me wish I were a weak scholar who is good at writing and can take you in as my disciple right away. Unfortunately, my father and son in the Xiao family only managed to get a position by wielding swords and guns."

Xiao Yankai's words made everyone at the scene laugh. When Ye Xiaozheng and Lian heard that a great general like Xiao Yankai actually took the initiative to call himself Wulang's uncle, they felt inexplicably excited and their hearts were filled with ups and downs.

However, Ye Changyan knew that Xiao Yankai took the initiative to acknowledge Wulang as his nephew in order to raise Wulang's status. Given the current situation of the Ye family, with only one elder brother who was a scholar, he was like an ant in Shengjing City where everyone was rich or noble.

Of course Xiao Yankai knew that his son and daughter-in-law had made money with Zhong Yunfeng in Yunfeng Building, and now they had built a greenhouse and a kimchi processing workshop with Master Ye Changyan and his apprentice. Perhaps Xiao Yankai intended to improve the relationship between the two sides, but Ye Changyan felt that there was nothing wrong with this. However, Ye Changyan's intuition told him that Xiao Yankai did not have such thoughts, but purely wanted to help Wulang and his own family.

Hearing Xiao Yankai calling himself uncle in front of Wulang, everyone's face was full of smiles, but Ye Changyan pulled Wulang's thick clothes and said with a smug smile on his face.

"Wulang, why don't you stand up and salute your uncle? Your uncle is a great general of our dynasty with great military achievements. Call him so that he can help you find a teacher."

When Wu Lang heard his brother's reminder, he thought quickly, pushed away the stool, came to Xiao Yankai, and knelt down with a plop. Even though Xiao Yankai was conscious of Ye Changyan's reminder, he still couldn't stop Wu Lang's actions. Wu Lang just knocked his head down and shouted loudly.

"uncle!"

"Hahaha..., kid, why do you have to be so polite? Your brother and I get along well, and seeing you today I especially want to get close to you. I have accepted you as my nephew, but I didn't make any preparations beforehand. When your brother recognized me as his uncle, I gave him a dagger captured from the battlefield. Today I will give you this ring that I have worn for half my life. You may not be able to wear this spotted ring yet, but you can hang it on your chest. This is a trophy that your uncle captured from the leader of a large tribe in Mobei when he was young and fought in the battle. If you wear it on your body, everything will go well for you, and you will be blessed and safe!"

As he said that, Xiao Yankai took off the spotted ring on his left hand, then reached out to help Wu Lang, who was still kneeling in front of him, up, and was about to place the spotted ring in Wu Lang's palm.

Wu Lang looked at his brother hesitantly and inquiringly. Seeing Ye Changyan nodded, Wu Lang accepted the ring.

"Thank you, uncle."

Everyone in the private room had a warm smile on their face, but Xiao Yankai turned his gaze towards the three brothers Zhu Yuchun, Zhao Mubai and Ji Yunting.

"Speaking of becoming a disciple, I think there are several suitable candidates right before my eyes."

When fellow apprentices Zhu Yuchun, Zhao Mubai and Ji Yunting saw that everyone was looking at them, they belatedly stopped smiling and looked at each other.

"Wulang, look, this one is the Minister of Personnel, who has a higher rank than your brother, and is a new noble in the court. And this one, at a young age, has the same rank as your brother, and is now the Chief Censor of the Supervisory Council. And your brother's third senior brother, who has just turned thirty, is already a Langzhong of the Ministry of War, a fifth-rank official. Even though he has the lowest rank among the three, he has the final say over the assessment, rewards and punishments of your uncle and your cousin."

Hearing Xiao Yankai bringing up the topic of Zhu Yuchun and his fellow apprentices, even though the three of them now held high positions, they all felt a little nervous, and Zhu Yuchun hurriedly waved his hand towards Xiao Yankai.

"General, this is absolutely not allowed. My fellow disciples are only in their thirties and have no experience in accepting disciples. Moreover, we are of the same generation as Wu Lang and his brother. If any of us three accepts Wu Lang as a disciple, wouldn't that be a generation gap? This is absolutely not allowed, absolutely not allowed!"

"When my brother-in-law brought you back from Zhangzhou, he was only forty years old! You brothers are all better than your teachers, especially you. You are only thirty-five years old at the beginning of the year, but you have already become the adjutant of the Ministry of Personnel, and you have been selected by His Majesty to participate in the small court meeting. Your future is really limitless! As for the matter of seniority, as long as my brother-in-law and the eldest brother of the Ye family nod, it will not be a problem. Aren't there also seniority differences between Wang Xinkuan and his fiancée? I think there is no need to focus on these red tapes. You must know that a good seedling like Wu Lang, who is praised by my brother-in-law for his talent and intelligence, will never come back again. You three brothers must seize this opportunity!"