Pick up a princess to be your wife

She lowered her voice and said in a deep voice.

"On the auspicious day of the month, you will start to add Yuanfu. Abandon your young aspirations, follow you and become virtuous. The test of longevity is only Qi, and you will be blessed."

Li Xin paused for a moment, then continued, "The first time a black cloth cap was worn, it meant that the person wearing the cap possessed the ability to provide for their family. They were capable of managing a household and could also enter officialdom."

Li Tian and his wife cast grateful glances at Li Xin.

Li Xin nodded solemnly and said in a deep voice, "Remove your hat and change your clothes."

Wang Xiulian added a leather cap and tied the rope around her waist.

"On this auspicious month and day, you shall wear your finery. Respect your dignity and cultivate your virtue. May you live a long and healthy life, and forever enjoy blessings from the gods."

Li Xin paused for a moment, then continued, "The addition of the leather cap signifies that every citizen has a responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation. This allows one to serve in the military and protect the country."

"Remove your hat and change your clothes."

Li Mutou's leather cap was removed, and a white robe was put on him.

"In the year's zenith, in the month's order, we offer our respects, with all brothers present. May they attain perfect virtue, and live to a ripe old age without end. May they receive Heaven's blessings, with abundant and sweet offerings. We respectfully present these fine and fragrant offerings, and bow in reverence to receive them."

“The addition of a cap and hat signifies that the person wearing the cap is permitted to enter the ancestral temple for sacrifices.”

“Those who use the character ‘冠’ (guān)”.

Li Tian stood in front of Li Mu and straightened Li Mu's clothes.

"I should have written you a letter, but you cannot write, so I will dictate it to you. The character is Xingzhou."

Li Mu, courtesy name Xingzhou.

"It's done."

As Li Xin finished speaking, the simple coming-of-age ceremony came to an end.

Li Mu bowed solemnly to his elder brother and sister-in-law, and then bowed to Li Xin.

This was his first time attending such an ancient ceremony. Although it was simple, everyone present was exceptionally solemn.

"Erlang, from now on, you are an adult," Li Tian said with a smile.

Li Mu nodded.

"Thank you, Miss Li Xin," Li Tian said, bowing to Li Xin.

"No need to be so polite. It's my honor to witness Xingzhou's crowning." Li Xin said with a smile.

"I'll go prepare dinner; we should celebrate tonight," Wang Xiulian said.

At the dinner table, the family was as warm and loving as ever.

“Erlang, I originally planned to spend some money to ask a schoolteacher in the city to give you a courtesy name. But your brother said that such an important matter must be done by himself. These past few days, he has been going to ask people for advice quite a bit,” Wang Xiulian said with a smile.

"Brother, you're very kind," Li Mu said.

"I'm afraid I won't do well since I haven't studied much," Li Tian said with a shy smile.

There are certain considerations when choosing words; you can't just randomly pick one that sounds nice.

The given name should be chosen in addition to the given name, and should represent virtue or the meaning of the given name. It should be related to one's own name, or to one's birth order in the family, or it can be an extension of the given name.

Li Tian chose the character "行舟" (Xingzhou) for Li Mu, which is an extension of the character "木" (Mu).

"There will be times when the wind and waves will be strong, and one can set sail straight to the vast ocean. This is the way of sailing. The words you chose, elder brother, have a very good meaning," Li Mu said in a deep voice.

As soon as she said that, Li Xin, who was eating, choked.

"what happened?"

"Ahem, who wrote this poem?" Li Xin asked.

"It's just something I felt compelled to say," Li Mu said.

No matter how Li Xin thought about it, it didn't seem like a heartfelt expression.

These two lines of poetry are magnificent and grand, perfectly expressing lofty aspirations. They are the most accomplished poems Li Xin has ever heard.

"I didn't think that much about it." Li Tian scratched his head a little embarrassedly.

Li Mu liked it, and he felt a great sense of accomplishment.

"Have you ever been to school?" Li Xin asked Li Mu.

“I attended a private school for a few years and can read,” Li Mu replied.

When Li Mu was a child, Li Tian sent him to school. However, after Li Mu left the private school, his family could no longer afford to send him to school.

"Have you ever passed the imperial examinations?" Li Xin asked.

"No, why are you asking this?" Li Mu asked back.

"Nothing, just ask."

She really wanted to say that Li Mu had the talent to be a poet.

He only attended a private school, yet he can spout famous lines off the cuff. If he were to study more and study under a renowned teacher, wouldn't he become a famous poet in the world?

However, Li Mu himself has little interest in being a poet.

Born in a chaotic era, his goal was to achieve great deeds, be granted land and become a king, and rise to the highest position among ministers.

Two days later, a sign was hung outside the gate of Li's Pawnshop announcing that it would be closed for a few days.

Li Mu and his group waited at the dilapidated courtyard on the outskirts of the city. Soon, the carriage procession of Jubaoge arrived.

After loading the supplies onto the wagons, the team prepared to depart.

Li Mu's side has a total of sixty or seventy people.

Besides Li Mu and his fifteen men, there were also the twenty-odd comrades Li Mu had met a few days ago, and the dozens of people Hei Fu had gathered.

He Xianzhi walked up to Li Mu, his face unusually cold.

The new brothers had no idea that Li Mu and He Xianzhi were close.

They were quite surprised to see Li Mu standing with He Xianzhi.

They might not even get to see this beauty on ordinary days.

"Young Master Li, please get into the carriage." He Xianzhi gestured for him to enter.

"Then I won't be polite."

After Li Mu got into the carriage, He Xianzhi also got in, while Xiao Lan sat in front of the carriage and was in charge of driving.

With Li Ertie's call to set off, the group officially embarked on their journey to Yaoguan Town.

Everyone in the group was talking about it.

"Brother Li Mu actually rode in the same carriage as Manager He?"

"Manager He is a fairy descended from heaven. Young Master Li has quite the influence. I am so envious."

"Er Tie, how come even you aren't qualified to get into the carriage?"

"Yeah, you're the boss."

Now that things have come to this, Li Ertie no longer considers himself the boss; Li Mu is the boss.

Whether it's ability, vision, connections, or anything else, Li Ertie believes he is far inferior to Li Mu.

All the dozen or so brothers could see clearly that Li Mu was the second brother, but the second brother was the backbone.

"You know nothing! How can the boss observe the enemy situation while sitting in the carriage? What if someone comes to ambush us? Relying on you bunch of useless trash? By the time the enemy is right in front of you, you might not even be able to react," Li Ertie cursed.

"But Brother Li Mu rode in the same carriage as Manager He."

"We need to discuss the business details properly. We can't have come all this way for nothing, can we? Enough talk, get your act together. There are a lot of refugees outside the city, and we might run into bandits along the way."

"Yes!"

After getting into the carriage, He Xianzhi smiled.

"How are your injuries?" He Xianzhi asked with concern.

Li Mu frowned and moved his shoulders slightly.

"It still hurts a bit. If Miss He were to massage it for me, maybe it would stop hurting." Li Mu grinned mischievously.

He Xianzhi rolled her eyes at Li Mu.

"Dream on," He Xianzhi said irritably.

Li Mu suddenly reached out and grabbed He Xianzhi's small hand, which was soft and delicate, as if it were made of water.

He Xianzhi immediately withdrew his hand.

"What are you doing?" He Xianzhi's face darkened. "All you do is get handsy all day long, what kind of behavior is this?"

Li Mu pursed his lips and muttered, "It's not like we haven't touched it before, what's with the stinginess?"

"Men and women are not allowed to be intimate."

He Xianzhi paused for a moment, then suddenly said in a rapid tone, "If you're so capable, go and propose marriage to my father."