Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

On that day, at the insistence of the Li family patriarch, Li Qing brought Li Linzhi back to the Li family.

The next day, the Li family held a grand banquet!

The Li family was one of the four wealthiest merchants in Chang'an, namely Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li. Even though they ranked last among the four, no one dared to underestimate them in the business world!

More than ten years ago, the only son of the Li family went on a journey; the Li family encountered a shocking change!

Li Cheng, the only son of the Li family, was ambushed and killed by ruthless bandits, along with more than ten servants! Only the newborn child disappeared without a trace...

At the same time, the Li family's business suffered unprecedented suppression. In the end, thanks to the efforts of the then head of the Li family, they managed to preserve their ancestral foundation. However, the family's power plummeted!

It was only after investigation that it was discovered that those who knew about the incident back then were either dead or had fled, and no trace could be found!

In her despair, only the thought of her missing grandson offered her a sliver of comfort and hope.

Unfortunately, after more than ten years of intensive searching, he still couldn't find a single clue. In despair, he left Chang'an and came to Luoyang, intending to live out the rest of his life in peace. He entrusted all the money and food affairs of his family to the old steward who had always been by his side...

Finally, it was as if heaven had opened its eyes! In the old man's final days, the grandson he had been searching for so long was returned to him.

The Li family had fallen on hard times, and most of their former friends had left and scattered. Moreover, since they were in Luoyang, even such a joyous occasion was nothing more than a small family gathering for a meal.

A true recognition of one's ancestral roots requires many preparations and will have to be done at another time.

As the sun rises, a corner of Kangyufang in the south of the city, a courtyard that had been lifeless for years, suddenly bursts with vitality! Weeds and wild trees are pulled up and cut down, and strands of sunlight stream down, illuminating the entire courtyard.

The servants, who used to be lazy, all changed into new clothes and walked in the long corridors and courtyards that had been cleaned overnight, their faces beaming with smiles; outside, magpies were chirping and withered branches were blooming with spring, a scene of prosperity and peace!

At this moment, Li Qing appeared as usual, dressed in a blue robe, except that several hanging pouches and a piece of jade were now visible under the hem of his robe, highlighting his extraordinary demeanor. This caused the young maids beside him to feel their eyes and ears burning, while several older women were also chuckling and whispering among themselves, their words unknown.

"Li Qing, Li Qing!"

At this moment, a young woman in red, looking dashing and spirited, rushed over from outside. Upon seeing Li Qing, she quickly grabbed him, as if afraid he would escape.

"Ahem, little Zhi'er, with so many people watching, aren't you ashamed?" Li Qing teased.

"You must call me Zhi'er, and don't use the 'little' part!" she said, giving Li Qing a threatening look before turning to the colorful maids and girls beside her, gripping their hands even tighter as if declaring territorial sovereignty.

With his other hand touching the long whip at his waist, he snorted and said, "Let's see who dares to laugh at me!" After saying that, he glanced at Li Qing, and suddenly glared at him, saying, "Hong Niang was right, no man is any good!"

Li Qing wiped away imaginary sweat from his forehead, feeling somewhat embarrassed—what was going on here? —That matchmaker was definitely not a good person; it seems it's best for Ren Zhi'er to stay away from her!

Li Qing lamented inwardly: My dream of having three wives and four concubines is over!

A horse-drawn carriage came from the east and slowly approached the gate of the Li family. The Li family, which had been somewhat deserted, suddenly became lively.

"Master, you need to hurry to the front courtyard! We have important guests!" A servant came running up, panting, and said urgently.

"What distinguished guest is it?"

"I don't know either, Master ordered you to go and greet him quickly!"

Li Qing felt somewhat helpless and asked the person who came to report to lead the way, but the person looked at Li Qing's side with a troubled expression.

Li Qing glanced to the side and realized what the newcomer was trying to do. However, seeing the girl glaring at him with her pouting lips and threatening expression, he changed his mind.

"Let's go!" Li Qing said to the servant in front of him.

The servant was in a difficult position, feeling it was against etiquette, but dared not say anything more. He didn't know the temperament of his new young master, and if he offended him badly, there would be big trouble.

Li Qing led the girl to the front courtyard, where a number of people were already standing. The two in the middle were his adoptive grandfather and the eldest son of the Wang family.

Old Master Li, seeing the young woman who had followed him, didn't dare to give his precious grandson a meaningful look, but he glared at the servant who had come to fetch her. He was about to go up and explain to the eldest son of the Wang family when, unexpectedly, the eldest son spoke first, "Brother Li, you've done something wrong; you're actually going to acknowledge your ancestors and return to the clan, but you didn't even tell me. Do you look down on me and don't want to befriend me?"

Li Qing looked embarrassed. He had left in a hurry yesterday and hadn't handled things very well.

The old patriarch of the Li family looked even more embarrassed. It was one thing for the young Li Qing to be so ignorant, but how could he, the old man, have made such a huge blunder?

"I admit my mistake and accept the punishment today!"

"What about Linzhi?" Young Master Wang asked with a smile, looking at the girl beside him.

"Punish me if you want, do you think I'm afraid of you?!" The young woman looked at the somewhat thin young master Wang's body, a hint of disdain flashing across her face. She thought to herself: Humph, no man is any good. Looking at the young master Wang, he must be just like Sister Hong said, his body has been hollowed out by wine and women. He can't even walk as well as a woman like me.

Heaven knows, the girl practiced martial arts since childhood, then had a fortuitous encounter, got angry again, and then drank the celestial elixir, greatly improving her skills. Now, in a fair fight, aside from lacking experience, there are very few who can defeat her.

Li Qing watched as the eldest son of the Wang family suffered a setback, secretly amused.

These past few days, the girl has been acting strangely, her breath has been very pungent! Only the young master Wang, unaware of the reason, has been getting close to her.

The old patriarch of the Li family was happy to see his beloved grandson getting along so well with the eldest son of the Wang family, but he was also somewhat worried.

The powerful and influential families were all ruthless monsters who would devour people without spitting out the bones. The old patriarch, who had lived most of his life, knew all about their dirty deeds. He thought to himself, "When is the right time to give my grandson a little pointers?"

"Master, a strange fat monk and a peculiar man dressed in a long Taoist robe have come outside!"

Young Master Wang, standing nearby, looked at Li Qing with a strange expression and said, "Shall we go and greet them?"

Old Master Li was also unsure of what to do—the Wang family was here, and if he went to greet them, he would be leaving them behind; but if he didn't, these days, monks, nuns, and Taoist priests were the people he least wanted to offend.

Upon hearing this, the old man quickly said, "Let's go, let's go greet them!"

"Oh, no need for a welcome! Li Dalang, congratulations on finding your loved ones! This monk is here again to beg for a meal!" A big monk, touching a wine gourd, spoke so loudly that dust rose from the roof beams.

Li Qing didn't give him a friendly look.

This monk was one thing, but he was also incredibly picky about food, refusing to eat anything that Li Qing had personally prepared! If it weren't for the half-empty gourd of wine, Li Qing would have thrown the monk out long ago. And that Taoist priest, always bare-chested and never uttering a word, if he didn't at least eat, Li Qing would have thought he was a dead puppet!

Of course, if he knew that the half-gourd of wine was something the monk owed him, I wonder what he would think.

Little did he know, the head monk was thinking of a way to avoid worrying about his many debts. Moreover, Li Qing was someone he absolutely needed to obtain; once that happened, with the master as the supreme authority, would he still fear not being able to repay his debts and karmic debts?