Chapter 268: Versatile in Both Civil and Military Affairs, All-Round Success

Chapter 268: Versatile in Both Civil and Military Affairs, All-Round Success

The old Taoist Master coughed lightly, "Grandfather Liu, if you can be here, why shouldn't I?"

The old Taoist Master had heard from Huai Ge'er and naturally knew that Huai Ge'er's fourth uncle had married the granddaughter of the retired Grand Scholar Liu.

However, the old Taoist Master truly did not expect to encounter an old acquaintance so abruptly in this Taoist temple.

...After all, back in the capital, it was never heard that Grand Scholar Liu, the head of the civil officials, was also a believer in Taoism?

Compared to the old Taoist Master, Grandfather Liu was even more shocked.

Grandfather Liu's eyes widened as he scrutinized the old Taoist Master from head to toe.

He saw the other dressed in a carefree Taoist robe, with his unruly hair loosely tied into a Taoist bun.

He looked every bit the part of a man detached from worldly affairs.

Grandfather Liu said with a complex expression, "Qin Da Gongfeng, I have retired to my hometown, but you are... the foremost Gongfeng..."

After a pause, Grandfather Liu cautiously omitted the word "royal" and only vaguely continued, "...Can our situations really be the same?"

The old Taoist Master scratched his face and laughed it off, "It's not so different, is it?"

Ah Wu blinked, "Grandfather, what are you talking about?"

Grandfather Liu said "oh" and lovingly instructed his granddaughter, "Ah Wu, you stay here and have a good talk with the deities. I need to go out and discuss something with this... Taoist Master."

Ah Wu obediently agreed.

Grandfather Liu left Old Mao to accompany Ah Wu and went out with the old Taoist Master to a secluded corner of the courtyard.

"...Qin Da Gongfeng, if it's inconvenient, you don't have to say anything, nor think of any excuse to deceive me. I'll just act as if I never saw you today," Grandfather Liu said with a complex tone and mood.

For a royal Gongfeng like Qin Da Gongfeng to suddenly appear in the deep mountains, dressed like this, Grandfather Liu absolutely did not believe that he was not carrying some royal secret mission.

Knowing such a thing, could his old bones still end up well?

The old Taoist Master laughed heartily, patted Grandfather Liu's shoulder with ease, "Actually, it's nothing. I trust Grandfather Liu's character... But for your sake, I'll keep it brief. Let's just treat each other as normal old acquaintances."

Grandfather Liu felt a mix of emotions.

So now he and Qin Da Gongfeng were old acquaintances?

Both being wise men, they exchanged a glance and quickly changed the subject.

"...I truly didn't expect that the martial arts master Huai Ge'er is following is actually Qin Da Gongfeng," Grandfather Liu exclaimed.

The old Taoist Master spoke lightly, but his words were full of pride, "Yes, Huai Ge'er has quite a talent for martial arts. Currently, I'm teaching him military strategy, and he's very adept at drawing parallels."

Hearing this, Grandfather Liu perked up, "The Liu Ge'er I'm teaching now is also extremely intelligent. In my opinion, within five years, he will surely be seen at the palace examinations!"

The old Taoist Master "oh-ed" and said indifferently, "Our Huai Ge'er is not bad either, have you heard of the Overlord Bone? A martial arts talent that appears once in a hundred years, and I was lucky enough to find him."

Grandfather Liu retorted, "Who says otherwise! Our Liu Ge'er might just set a new record for the youngest to achieve the top three ranks in the imperial examinations!"

The two locked eyes, each boasting about their own disciples, making Huai Ge'er seem like the reincarnation of the Martial Star and Liu Ge'er as if possessed by the Literary Star.

If Huai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er were present, they would surely be mortified to hear these words.

However, after this round of competition, Grandfather Liu seemed to be in a heated argument with the old Taoist priest, his face flushed and neck taut, but he actually felt quite content inside.

The young Liu Ge'er, who was studying under him, though still young, already showed signs of future greatness.

What Grandfather Liu didn't expect was that Huai Ge'er, the eldest grandson of the Yujia family, was also learning martial arts from the royal chief instructor. In the future, he would surely be no ordinary person.

The Yujia family... excelling in both scholarly and martial arts, ensuring prosperity regardless of circumstances?

Grandfather Liu thought happily, it's no wonder, the family he found for Ah Wu is truly reliable!

After leaving the nameless Taoist temple, Ah Wu headed straight back to the Yujia family.

Grandfather Liu knew why his granddaughter always liked to go to the Yujia family. Firstly, Yu Siyang was there, and secondly, the Yujia family had many people, all friendly and easy to get along with, lively. Ah Wu didn't experience much good interaction with relatives at the Liu family, but she made up for it at the Yujia family.

Grandfather Liu chuckled and shook his head, feeling quite pleased as he made his way back to the Liu family villa.

It was currently the cold season, and Bai Xiaofeng rarely let Bang Ge'er out. As soon as Ah Wu got home, she first went to Yu Siyang to share warmly about her day's experience of burning incense, then ran to the second household's courtyard to play with Bang Ge'er.

On the long couch in the main room of the second household, Xingxing, having taken off her shoes, was playing with Bang Ge'er, who couldn't stop laughing at her playful tricks.

The second household's maid, Shuangqing, sat on the edge of the couch, smiling as she watched over Xingxing and Bang Ge'er.

Bai Xiaofeng sat in a chair opposite, chatting and laughing with Li Chunhua and Su Rouer while doing needlework.

With maids at home, Li Chunhua and the others had much less to do, hardly needing to handle any household chores themselves.

They gathered daily to chat and laugh, talk about the children at home, and tease Bang Ge'er, living a very comfortable life.

As Ah Wu lifted the curtain and stepped in, Xingxing spotted her immediately and greeted her with a cheerful smile, "Auntie!"

Ah Wu also responded with a smile, not at all restrained. She first took off her cloak and handed it to Moliu to hang, then sat in a chair closest to Li Chunhua and the others, "... why haven't I seen Ju Ge'er?"

Su Rouer then smiled: "Ju Ge'er is always off playing wildly with a bunch of village boys; who knows where he's dashed off to now."

She couldn't help but complain with a smile, "He's like a little monkey, set free in the woods, and in no time, he's vanished without a trace."

Li Chunhua and Bai Xiaofeng also laughed, saying that Huai Ge'er and the others were the same when they were young.

Ah Wu listened with a heart full of longing, her hand resting on her belly, dreaming of the day she too would have a lively little one scampering about, be it a boy or a girl.

The sisters-in-law were happily chatting when the maid Shuanglian from the third household hurriedly lifted the curtain and came in, her face somewhat pale: "... the fifth young master, the fifth young master is injured..."

Su Rouer suddenly stood up, her expression changed, somewhat anxiously saying: "How could he be injured out of the blue?"

Bai Xiaofeng quickly stood up too, supporting Su Rouer, "Oh dear," she said: "I say sister-in-law, you're still pregnant, you can't be so hasty."

Li Chunhua also stood up, helping Su Rouer by patting her back to calm her down, agreeing: "Yes, yes, boys, it's common for them to stumble and get hurt? Don't be too anxious."