Joy of Life: The Mei Family's Son Grows Up

Chapter 7 Sulish

This was the first New Year since he traveled through time. Mei Cheng'an felt the long-lost festive atmosphere. The whole mansion was filled with joy from top to bottom.

His mood was also infected, and he took his sister to run around and play everywhere, which made the group of servants following behind them very busy.

They were afraid that the two living ancestors would get hurt, and they still wanted to celebrate the New Year alive.

That night, Mei Chengan enjoyed a grand and gorgeous fireworks display on the street. The streets were crowded with people, and the whole of Kyoto seemed to have pressed the pause button. Everyone was staring at the fireworks in the sky.

Mei Chengan first silently said Happy New Year in his heart.

The 63rd year of the Qing Dynasty era passed quietly, and the 64th year followed.

I am one year older now, and I am nine years old now.

Back home, we stayed up quietly until the New Year's Eve, and the family ate, drank and chatted, it was really lively.

But Mei Chengan heard bad news.

After the Lantern Festival, the teacher would come to the mansion to teach him to read and write.

They persisted until midnight, and even he could not help dozing off. His sister had already fallen asleep in their mother's arms.

When Mei Zhili saw that they were the only two people talking, he couldn't help but laugh. He waved his hand and ordered the young master and young lady to be sent back to their respective rooms.

Mei Chengan woke up the next day and was already in his own bed.

After washing, she put on new clothes and new boots under the maid's uniform, re-tied her hair and put on a new headband.

Looking in the mirror, he has red lips and white teeth, what a handsome young man.

Plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum also put on new clothes and new shoes, and their bodies became more curvaceous and feminine.

The four of them greeted each other and said in unison: "Happy New Year, Master!"

New Year's Day is also known as New Year's Day, which is the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Mei Chengan responded with a sweet smile: "Happy New Year, sisters."

After everything was packed up, Mei Cheng'an asked Mei, Lan, Zhu and Ju to go to the main hall with the prepared New Year gifts.

"I wish my father and mother good health, peace and happiness in the new year, and all their wishes come true!"

"Hahaha, get up, An'er."

Mei Cheng'an waved behind him, and Mei, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum each came forward holding a gift tray.

"I had people make some things for my father, mother and sister using the prey we had hunted. I prepared a pair of deerskin boots for my father, which looked like official boots. There was fur inside the boots, which were very warm to wear. I also had a bear skin handcuff, which you can put your hands in to keep warm. We also hunted a few foxes, three of which were pure white without a single color, so I used them to make a scarf and a handcuff for my mother. There was also a unique red fox. I had people make a hat for my sister, and a pair of deerskin boots."

"Okay, okay, An'er is thoughtful!"

After paying New Year's greetings to Mr. and Mrs. Mei Zhili in the main hall, the family had their first meal of the New Year together.

After the meal, the servant brought a plate with a cypress branch, a persimmon and an orange on it.

Mei Cheng'an still had memories of his previous life, so he was not unfamiliar with this thing. This dish was called Baishiji, and the whole family needed to share it, which meant that everything would go smoothly and auspiciously for the whole family in the new year.

Mei Cheng'an didn't like persimmons, so he only took a small bite, but he ate two more orange slices.

After breakfast, Mei Zhili went to the study to play chess with Mr. Chen. Mr. Chen had not yet married and stayed in Mei's house to celebrate the New Year.

Mei Cheng'an took his sister and followed his mother to the temple, saying that they were going to pray for blessings.

The temple is not dedicated to a particular god but to a temple.

Legend has it that when heaven and earth were first separated, giant beasts were rampant. The people in the temple were born with power and virtue, and passed on writing and etiquette to the world, helping people to open up mountains and seas and establish the foundation of the human race.

Therefore, all the sacrifices in the world are made in temples.

The incense vendor at the gate of the temple shook his head as he told the legends of the temple. Even though these legends were already well-known to everyone, many children still listened to them with gusto.

One of the children was Mei Chengan.

The mythological story is not new, but what is new is that the protagonist of the story is not a person but a temple.

The most interesting thing is that a sentence popped up in Mei Chengan’s mind, “Go to the temple to worship”, and then he started laughing.

His sense of humor was indeed strange. If others heard it, they would probably think he was a fool and didn't understand what was so funny about something they had been doing for hundreds or thousands of years.

Mei Cheng'an took his sister's hand and strolled around the Qing Temple. There were no statues in either the main hall or the side hall, only murals showing people capturing giant beasts and passing on texts and rituals. It was really boring, so he took his sister out of the Qing Temple.

Due to the endless stream of people offering sacrifices and praying, many people set up stalls and do business in the open space outside the temple, forming a small business district.

Mei Chengan bought a string of candied haws for himself and his sister, and ate them while walking around.

It must be said that the candied haws are sour and sweet, and they are not prickly.

After walking around for a while, the little girl was tired and refused to move. Mei Cheng'an had no choice but to carry his sister and send her to his carriage. After coaxing her to sleep, he came out. Just as he was about to take a breath, he saw a carriage coming from a distance.

The driver was an acquaintance.

Wang Qinong parked the carriage with familiarity, then jumped off, knelt on one knee and raised his right hand high.

The carriage door curtain was lifted, and a beautiful woman came out. Her eyebrows and eyes were like picturesque pictures, and her facial features were delicate. She was really beautiful.

The beautiful woman held Wang Qinian's right hand and stepped on his knee to get out of the carriage.

The beautiful woman seemed to say something to Wang Qinian, and Wang Qinian nodded humbly with an almost flattering smile on his face, and wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. Then the beautiful woman went to the Qing Temple alone, and Wang Qinian stayed where he was, staring at the beautiful woman's back infatuatedly.

Mei Chengan walked over.

"Pharaoh?"

Wang Qinian turned around when he heard the voice and found it was Mei Chengan. He asked, "Young Master Mei, why are you here?"

Mei Cheng'an said in front of the Chaoqing Temple: "The elders are praying inside. Old Wang, who are you driving for?"

"Well, a friend!"

"Oh, my friend, your friend is quite pretty. She even knelt on one knee to help the other person down. I saw it from behind just now. There is a horse stool behind the car." Wang Qinian blushed and said, "So Master Xiaomei saw it. Hehe! Master Xiaomei, you are still young and don't understand the knowledge involved. I have my own reason for not using the horse stool."

"What's the deep meaning? Isn't it just taking the opportunity to touch my little hand, and you can also use your thigh to touch my jade feet through the sole of your shoe? It has its own deep meaning, ugh!"

Wang Qinian was shocked when he heard this, and covered Mei Chengan's mouth with his hand. Then he looked around like a thief, and only let go after making sure that there was no one around.

"My dear little Mei! Don't you understand the principle of seeing through things but not speaking out? Fortunately, there is no one around. If my future wife heard this, I would be dead!"

"Future wife? Have you decided on her?"

"That's right. Wang has long been deeply in love with her and has a special affection for her. He has decided to marry no one else in this life." Wang Qinian looked in the direction of the Qing Temple and said affectionately.

"So you asked for a kiss? And she agreed?"

"Not yet, but I haven't refused!"

"I will agree. I think you two look like a good couple."

Wang Qinian liked to hear this, and immediately smiled and bowed to Mei Chengan, "Thank you for your good words, Master Xiaomei!"

"I'm looking forward to attending your wedding. Don't forget to send me the invitation!"

"sure!"

"By the way, Lao Wang, you've been in Kyoto for so many years and you've seen a lot. I want to ask you something!"

"I dare not, Master Xiaomei, please ask."

"If I want to find some internal skills suitable for women to practice, where do you think it would be best to look?"

He studied the books on martial arts in his hands and found that the quality was really not that good. He thought about collecting more basic ones and giving them a try.

"How many for plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum?"

Mei Chengan nodded.

"Mr. Xiaomei, you asked the right person. I actually know where I can buy it!"

Mei Chengan's eyes lit up: "I knew you wouldn't let me down, Lao Wang. Tell me where it is and I'll go buy it."

Wang Qinian’s eyes rolled.

"Don't worry, Master Xiaomei. That place is a gathering place for all kinds of people. Master Xiaomei is of noble status. If you go there rashly and something unexpected happens, I won't be able to explain to the prefect. If you trust me, I can do it for you."

After hearing what Wang Qinian said, Mei Cheng'an somehow thought of the shop that Fan Xian and Teng Zijing had visited. The shop was full of all kinds of people from the underworld, doing business of selling intelligence, and the big bosses behind them were even more powerful, they were Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping.

Could it be that the place not only sells information, but also sells internal skills? If you think about it carefully, it is possible, after all, there are so many people in the underworld there.

The location of the shop is mysterious and little known. In addition, if you want to buy things there, you have to wear specific clothes.

Mei Cheng'an felt that the place Wang Qinian was talking about was most likely this, so it was not impossible to hand the matter over to Wang Qinian.

"Okay, I'll leave this to you."

"Wait a minute, An Shao!"

"Old Wang, can you please fix your address? Sometimes you call him Young Master, sometimes you call him Young Master Xiaomei, and sometimes you call him Young Master An. People who don't know would think you have three people!"

"Then Wang will be called Master Mei from now on?"

"Okay, here comes another one. As long as you are happy, tell me what's the matter."

"Master Mei, it costs money to buy the secret book!"

"I know. Just put it on first and I'll give it to you later!"

"Isn't this... inappropriate?"

"Old Wang, don't we have this little bit of trust between us? Well, I'll give you an extra 10% for your errands!"

"In that case, why can't I serve as a vanguard for Master Xiaomei? Just wait for my news."

"As expected of you, Old Wang."

There was no news after waiting for a long time, and the Lantern Festival has even passed!
Mei Cheng'an almost forgot about this because he was busy reading and practicing calligraphy.

The new teacher's surname was Su, his name was Li Shi, and he was thirty-six years old. In his early years, he had participated in the imperial examinations several times but failed to gain fame. After being completely disappointed with the imperial examinations, he devoted himself to mountains and rivers. Later, he traveled around the countries. He was extremely knowledgeable and humorous. He explained knowledge by citing classics, and he could talk about the customs and practices of various places. From time to time, he would tell a joke. The jokes were not advanced, but coupled with his funny expressions, they could always make Mei Cheng'an laugh out loud.

The classroom atmosphere is very cheerful and not dull at all.

Mei Cheng'an realized that it was not that he didn't like studying, but that he didn't like the cramming education with the purpose of exams. He didn't reject the current teaching method at all and liked it very much.

I love learning and learning makes me happy.

This was the first time that Mei Chengan, who had lived two lives, said these words from the bottom of his heart.

Although the classics, histories, and collections of literature in this world were expressed differently, the meanings they expressed were the same as in his previous life. Coupled with Mr. Su's incisive and vivid explanations, Mei Cheng'an understood them extremely quickly.

Mei Chengan's learning progress was so fast that even Su Lishi was surprised.

The most important thing is that his attitude towards learning is very positive and I am extremely respectful to him.

This child always completes the tasks and homework he assigns him meticulously and on the first time, never procrastinating or shirking his responsibilities.

Sulishi asked himself that among all the students he had taught, this child was unique in terms of both talent and perseverance.

Who doesn't like such students? So Su Lishi used all his skills in teaching, wishing to teach everything he had learned immediately.

The two of them were running in both directions.

In front of Mei Zhili, Su Lishi was never stingy with his praise, which made Mei Zhili very happy and smiling.

Mei Zhili not only raised Su Lishi's salary, but also upgraded his pens, ink, paper and inkstone to a higher grade to reward Mei Chengan, and even doubled Mei Chengan's monthly salary.

(End of this chapter)