Encountering Rain at West Lake

Concerning martial arts, the matter wasn't so urgent. Since the family members who'd seen that small martial arts gym didn't approve, it could be shelved for the time being. If anything, he could always spar with Geng, the head guard, and the others later.

Back in Jiangning, he'd actually considered sparring with the head guard and others at home for a while. As far as he was concerned, his earlier fights had relied on calmness, calculation, and that ruthless determination to go all out. What he lacked was the conditioned reflexes developed through long-term sparring, something that couldn't be achieved through tricks.

He knew that formally seeking a master outside was unrealistic. For example, there was Chief Cheng of the Hundred Blades Alliance, or he could find some truly skilled martial artists through Kang Xian. Even Lu Agui, who followed Kang Xian, was probably no simpleton. He had connections with these people, and it wouldn't be a problem to formally become their student. However, the concept was different. To him, it was just a game mentality, so it wouldn't be appropriate to trouble these people very formally. Since there was already a gap in social status between scholars and martial artists, it would be too frivolous to show them that he didn't really care about this. He couldn't do this unless it was a friendship between sworn brothers.

Finding someone at home was simpler, of course. He taught Geng, the head guard's son, to read. Geng respected him and wouldn't really want to fight him. That wasn't a big problem. He could talk it over. But the key was that everyone in the Su family in Jiangning basically had the same view as Su Tan'er and the three maids. Even those who were hostile to him fundamentally felt in their hearts that he shouldn't really touch martial arts.

That time, he convinced Geng, the head guard, and basically resolved the views of Su Tan'er and the others. On a whim, he practiced at home for a few days. On the first day, Geng couldn't hold back and punched him in the face, then refused to fight Ning Yi again. It took a lot of effort to persuade him again. On the second day, they fought fiercely. Ning Yi took a few punches, and one hit him in the eye, giving him a black eye to show off to the family at dinner.

For him, he was prepared for injuries in a sparring match. In essence, his martial arts skills weren't high. The extreme exertion method after practicing internal force wasn't suitable for use with Geng. Although Geng wasn't a famous master in the martial arts world, he had seen many real battles in the Su family over the years. It was said that when the Su family transported goods, Geng accompanied and commanded, and even took down several gangs of bandits head-on. He was quite skilled.

Ning Yi getting such a result in a fair sparring match with him meant that he had forced Geng to sometimes not hold back, which was already quite good. He planned to fight like this for half a year, combined with the effects of internal energy, and he would be considered half a martial arts expert. Behind his back, he caused Geng a lot of trouble. When he got home, his son would say, "Daddy, how could you beat the teacher like that?"

On the third day, Geng could hardly fight back. Ning Yi gave him another pep talk and fought again. As a result, he took another punch on the bridge of his nose, and blood flowed freely. His injuries weren't serious, but when the Old Master saw them at home, he got very angry and called everyone else to scold them, "Do you think I'm dead?" Later, when he found out about Geng, he called Geng in and scolded him again.

At the time, Ning Yi learned about the situation and went to smooth things over. He was eloquent and had a natural air about him, but on this matter, everyone at home thought it was strange for him to do such things. They knew that Ning Yi usually liked to tell some Jianghu legends, but young people were passionate and might train to imitate the heroic style of the Jianghu. However, who would be like Ning Yi, a well-known scholar, getting beaten black and blue every day? The Old Master could only laugh and cry, "Really… playing around…"

Then he said to Geng, the head guard: "Master Ning likes to fool around, you are an elder in the family, how can you be so senseless..."

After that, Ning Yi knew that it was not good to do these things at home in Jiangning. However, this time he came to Hangzhou, only Su Tan'er and others were by his side. When things settled down, he could naturally force Geng to fight him again. If Wen Ding and Wen Fang had anything to say, he could naturally scold them and then call them over to exercise together.

Having decided on this matter, the next morning, he went to find the old man Qian that Qin Lao had mentioned to him, according to the plan. In Qin Lao's words, this man was named Qian Jingru, styled Xiwén, and was his old friend. He loved books very much, so he entrusted Ning Yi to deliver several of his collections. He didn't say much else.

However, after arriving in Hangzhou, Ning Yi inquired about it and roughly knew that the Qian family should be a quite famous and prominent family in Hangzhou. At least the fact that Qian Xiwén gave lectures could be heard from ordinary people, which explained this point. Ning Yi also knew that Qin Si'yuan's act of asking him to deliver the letter was not simple. It was somewhat like introducing him to a powerful figure. However, his dealings with Qin Lao and Kang Xian were purely coincidental. Ning Yi didn't think that he could always talk to the old man. This time, he didn't have such thoughts. He simply delivered the letter.

This morning, he took Xiao Chan out and asked a few more questions about the Qian family. He learned that the Qian family was not only a prominent family in Hangzhou, but also a famous landlord in the surrounding area. It was said that they were immensely wealthy. Since his surname was Qian, Xiao Chan immediately imagined a golden and glittering scene in her mind and joked with Ning Yi on the road.

However, upon arriving at the Qian residence, they found that the Qian family was somewhat different from the glittering image. Although the surrounding houses and courtyards looked like a grand estate, this area of courtyards on the east side of Hangzhou seemed to be quite old. What had accumulated was not an outward display of wealth, but a strict and frugal family style.

Ning Yi reported his name, handed over the letter and books. The elderly gatekeeper took them inside and asked the master and servant to wait in the gatehouse. After a short while, an old butler came out to greet them. He did not lead them to the living room, but took them to "the master's study." Along the way, Chan'er looked around curiously. The surrounding walls, buildings, and roads did not seem large, and seemed inferior to the Su residence in Jiangning, but they all had a just right feeling. In some places, they could see neat repair marks, but they were not shabby. Many places were decorated with a scholarly atmosphere. Perhaps it was because generations of people had lived there for a long time, and many small places showed a lively atmosphere.

"The atmosphere of a prominent family is like this." Seeing Xiao Chan looking around, Ning Yi said softly. The old butler leading the way in front obviously heard him and showed a proud smile. Xiao Chan tiptoed and said softly, "I've been to the Pu Yang family and the Wang mansion with the Miss, those places are very beautiful, but they don't have this kind of feeling."

The old butler in front nodded, his smile became even more comfortable, and he turned his head and said: "The master just returned from giving lectures in the countryside yesterday, and he is in a good mood. It is rare for someone like Young Master Ning to be invited to the study for a conversation upon their first visit. Young Master Ning, please feel free in front of the master later."

He probably thought that Ning Yi was a junior from elsewhere who had come to visit with letters and books. At this time, he had a good impression of the two of them, so he gave them a tip to avoid Ning Yi being cautious and losing favor when he saw his master. Ning Yi nodded and smiled, and thanked him.

The road from the gate to Qian Xiwén's study was not far, but after saying these few words, as they passed a corner of a corridor in front, a voice suddenly came: "Qian Weiliang! You still dare to run..." It sounded like the playful scolding of young people chasing each other. Then a figure suddenly rushed over, almost colliding with Ning Yi. This was a man wearing a scholar's robe, about the same age as Ning Yi, probably only in his early twenties. He was being chased, glanced back, and ran away quickly.

Then another person rushed out, also a man of similar age, stunned for a moment, cupped his hands, and then continued to chase. However, he looked back several times while running, not knowing whether he was looking at Ning Yi or Xiao Chan, and almost fell before looking at the road and chasing after him.

"These are the two young masters from the second branch, please forgive them Young Master Ning, this way please."

The old man passed the corner, Ning Yi raised his foot to leave, but saw something red fell in the grass next to him. He picked it up and looked at it, it was a red coral pen holder, probably dropped by the two young people just now. Fortunately, it fell on the grass and was not broken. At this time, the two had already run far away. Ning Yi took it and followed the old man over. When he was about to arrive, he took out the pen holder, said the process of picking it up, and asked the old butler to hand it over to the two. The old butler looked at the pen holder and seemed a little dumbfounded, and did not reach out to take it.

"It's actually the two young masters Weiliang and Weiqing, ha... This pen holder does not belong to the two young masters of the second branch, but is the master's favorite thing. It was lost a few days ago. I didn't expect to be picked up by Young Master Ning. It's better for Young Master Ning to return it to the master himself later."

Ning Yi frowned: "This is not appropriate, right?" If it were someone else, they would feel that this was a good opportunity to build a relationship with Qian Xiwén and add impression points. But in Ning Yi's case, if the matter was related to something like an internal thief in the Qian family, then he, an outsider, should never get involved in this kind of thing.

"It's okay, it's okay."

The old butler smiled sincerely. After a while, they arrived outside the courtyard where Qian Xiwén lived. Xiao Chan was arranged to wait in the room where the servants were waiting. Ning Yi frowned and put the pen holder in his sleeve. Led in by the old butler, the old man named Qian Xiwén was already waiting in the room. This man had half a hundred hairs and was neatly combed. He was dressed in a gray robe that was clean and simple. Although there was no patch, it could be seen that it had been washed many times. He had probably read Qin Si'yuan's letter and was turning over the books Ning Yi brought. When Ning Yi came in, he greeted him kindly and asked him to sit down.

"It has been eight years since I parted with Qin Gong in the capital. Liheng, you came from Jiangning, is Qin Gong's body still well?"

After roughly exchanging names, Qian Xiwén asked Ning Yi about Qin Si'yuan. He probably regarded Ning Yi as a junior related to Qin Si'yuan, and asked about many things about Qin Si'yuan's family, such as the two brothers Qin Shao and Qin Shaoqian, which were also the focus of his mention, and occasionally expressed some emotions. Ning Yi answered all the things he knew. After a while, Qian Xiwén changed the subject.

"At the beginning of summer this year, the Northern Territory military forces started again. The Jin and Liao dynasties started a war. When Liheng left Jiangning, did you ever hear Qin Gong mention anything about this?"

"Qin Gong went to the capital, and may have already arrived in the capital by now."

"Oh."

Qian Xiwén nodded, thoughtfully while looking at Ning Yi as if examining him. His words just now were asked with great skill. He originally probably thought that Ning Yi was Qin Si'yuan's junior, and he wouldn't know too much about the things he was really interested in, but Ning Yi could naturally hear what he was referring to and answered straightforwardly. At this time, the news of Qin Si'yuan's re-emergence had not been announced, and Ning Yi's answer represented that he at least knew the inside story eight years ago.

Qian Xiwén thought about Qin Si'yuan's matter, and then asked about Ning Yi's own situation.

How was his family situation, whether he was married, and how was his learning. The elders asked the juniors, nothing more than these. This old man was well-read, and the few poems Ning Yi wrote in Jiangning had been passed over, and he had already read them, remembering the name Ning Liheng. He must have had doubts in his mind just now, but he waited until this time, after finishing talking about Qin Si'yuan, before asking, and after confirming, he didn't say how the poems were, but asked what books Ning Yi usually liked to read, and how he did his studies. Ning Yi answered that he liked to read some legendary stories and market legends. As for doing his studies, he only answered with the arguments he had heard when joking with Qin Lao and Kang Lao, but he was mediocre and did not show himself, nor did he offend anyone.

At this time, he also roughly guessed the content about him in Qin Lao's letter. The old man knew his character, and would never exaggerate in the letter how so-and-so young man was. He must have been reminiscing with this old man Qian, and mentioned a sentence or two at the end, or "A little friend came to Hangzhou, please take care of him." Qin Lao always hoped that he would write, and this old man Qian naturally regarded him as a junior who came to seek refuge and study, so he had such an attitude.

If ordinary people heard the titles of his poems, they would inevitably praise him with empty words. He didn't perfunctorily praise him, which was actually an attitude of accepting the responsibility of taking care of him. Since he regarded him as his own disciple, he must first be strict and not praise him indiscriminately. He was also well-cultivated, and did not show any displeasure towards Ning Yi's attitude of liking idle books such as strange novels. Then Ning Yi answered plainly, and he only frowned and thought carefully, then took a few books from a nearby bookshelf.

"Like Liheng's age, he is energetic and lively, and it is not inappropriate to like to read some strange little essays. Looking at Liheng's writing, he is not a person who is constrained by trivialities. However, there are also some tips and principles for reading books. I think, some books, read one is one. If you can see the great path from the trivialities and get some insights, reading one book is like reading two or three books, ha ha, it is often because of its tricks that you get a little secret joy. Since Liheng is interested, you may wish to take these legendary stories back and read them. I have also read them, and the stories are wonderful and the writing is good. If you find it interesting, there are two more books here, I have annotated them, you may wish to read them together."

Ning Yi took the book and looked at it. On one side were a few popular ghost novels, one of which he had even bought and read before. The other two books that could be "read together" were *Zuo Zhuan* and *Spring and Autumn Annals*. There were three words "supplement", "research" after *Spring and Autumn Annals*. These were all well-known books, and the focus should be on the annotations.

After taking these books, Ning Yi thanked him. He felt a bit of wry smile in his heart. This old man was not bad. After a conversation just now, he also had a good impression of the other party. In fact, with Qin Lao's vision for people, since he introduced him, he also knew that the other party would not be an unreliable person.

If he was really focused on learning, eager to improve in this area, or keen on the imperial examinations, he should probably kneel down and become a teacher at this time. But he was not, and it was not good to really say these things, so he would have to live up to the other party's good intentions in the future. He thought that Qin Si'yuan might have guessed his state of mind at this time, and must have been a little unkind when writing the letter, and he laughed and cursed a few times in his heart.

The old man was good, but if there was nothing that needed help in the future, the only interaction between them would probably be this time. After making up his mind, he chatted with the other party for a few more words, and Ning Yi got up to say goodbye. Qian Xiwén nodded: "You can go now." When he turned to leave, Ning Yi remembered something, turned around and took out the coral pen holder and returned it to the other party.

With Ning Yi's state of mind, if he really had something to ask of others, in order to avoid touching the Qian family's "family scandal", this pen holder would never be handed over in person, but since he didn't have this intention, it didn't matter. But when he returned it, he realized that things might be different from what he thought. Qian Xiwén frowned, with a somewhat ironic smile on his face, and looked at Ning Yi: "Did you pick it up when you came in?" For some reason, he seemed not to believe it, but he didn't have any malice.

"Well, I picked it up on the grass when I came in just now."

"Ha... What a coincidence..." Qian Xiwén thought for a while, then shook his head and laughed, "Alright, alright, it's really fate, Qian Yu, come here!"

He shouted, and Qian Yu was obviously the old butler just now, who responded and came in at this time. Qian Xiwén smiled and said: "Liheng picked up my coral pen holder. According to what is written on that announcement, go and get ten thousand coins."

Ten thousand coins are ten strings, which is not much for Ning Yi, but it is not a small amount for ordinary people. He was a little surprised at this time. Qian Yu went out, Qian Xiwén took the pen holder and wiped it, and smiled: "At home, I like this pen holder the most. It is often lost, so I issued a reward. Whoever can find it back will be rewarded with ten thousand coins. Since Liheng found it, the reward must naturally be fulfilled."

"Often lost?"

"Ha, I don't know how, it's gone."

"Can you often find it back?"

"Well, isn't it found back?"

"..."

Ning Yi was speechless for a moment. After a while, Qian Yu led the servants to bring the money over, ten strings of money, not banknotes, strung together with ropes, and brought over in a large box. Ning Yi's face twitched as he watched. At this time, a copper coin was about three grams, and a thousand coins were nearly four kilograms, and ten thousand coins were nearly forty kilograms. The servant was burly, holding it with both hands, and put it on the ground with a bang. The money steward had a dull expression, probably preparing to stay out of it. Qian Xiwén blinked his eyes a little awkwardly, he touched his chin, but until the end he did not say to exchange it for banknotes, and just gave the ten strings of money to Ning Yi like this.

Seeing everyone's attitude, Ning Yi thought it was interesting even though he didn't know what the Qian family was doing. He didn't need the servant to help, reached out and picked up the box, smiled and said goodbye and went out.

Xiao Chan saw them coming outside the door and quickly went over to help, wanting to pick up the box in Ning Yi's arms. Ning Yi smiled and said: "Don't rush, don't rush, it's very heavy." Xiao Chan naturally thought about the responsibility of the maid, and said: "Xiao Chan is used to doing things, and is also very strong." Ning Yi pretended to put the box down, and Xiao Chan almost fell to the ground because the box dragged her down, but fortunately Ning Yi immediately caught the box and laughed.

When she heard that there were ten strings of money in the box, Xiao Chan's face rounded, presumably thinking that the Qian family was a bit bullying.

The money steward was also a bit embarrassed. When they were about to reach the hall, he whispered the reason for this. It turned out that although the Qian family was a well-known family in the surrounding area, Qian Xiwén was very strict in managing the family, striving for simplicity. The children in the family usually had very little pocket money, and the money would never be issued in advance until the time came. Once, a child in the family encountered some things and urgently needed money, so he took Qian Xiwén's favorite coral pen holder. After Qian Xiwén understood, he issued a notice at home, whoever could help find it back would be rewarded with ten thousand coins. Later, the child returned the pen holder, and he did indeed fulfill his promise and rewarded ten thousand coins.

After this incident, the pen holder would often be lost seven or eight times a year. Each time, Qian Xiwén still posted the notice, and after a day or two, someone would bring it back, saying that it was finally found. Qian Xiwén always gave the money, but...

"The master said that ten thousand coins, if exchanged for banknotes, is just a small piece of paper. Since everyone wants a reward, using copper coins as a reward always seems like more, so the young masters in the family have to work hard to carry it back every time..."

The old butler said about this matter, smiling interestingly. Ning Yi and Xiao Chan also understood that they were lost every time, and they could be found back every time, and they were still lost every time. How could Qian Xiwén not know what was going on? He was just pretending to be confused, giving people a chance to show mercy outside the law. Whoever took it back each time was naturally the one who took it away. These people would expose their identities every time, and naturally did not dare to mess around. They always had to dare to take the pen holder when they really wanted to spend money. Ten strings of copper coins were probably just a joke to these children.

It seemed that this was the case. That was why the other party's expression was so strange when Ning Yi took out the pen holder. This pen holder was only taken away by the children at home. How could it really be lost and picked up by someone...

Taking the box of money and the books Qian Xiwén gave, the master and servant drove back all the way. When they returned home, Su Tan'er was also slightly surprised to see ten strings of money. Ning Yi told her about what he saw at the Qian family today, and Su Tan'er was also moved with emotion.

"That old man Qian, he is really nice, and he is also very good at managing the family."

"He is an interesting person, but... I probably won't have many opportunities to deal with him in the future..."

"Yes." Su Tan'er nodded, then turned to look at this free and easy husband, her eyes a little complicated.

Two days later, according to the plan with his wife, Ning Yi began to visit many merchants related to the cloth business in Hangzhou with her as the Su family's live-in son-in-law. He kept to his duty as a foil and a flower protector, and did not do anything extra. Once the greetings were over, he completely restrained his presence, allowing his wife to express her skills in a subtle and gentle way.

In Hangzhou, the Su family had no foundation. To develop here could almost be considered starting from scratch. Only in such a situation could he see his wife's ability and skills more clearly. From his twisted point of view, watching these various encounters was one of the things he found most pleasing.

He was already tired of these things, but it was always interesting to watch them occasionally without any responsibility.

A standard, simple, and dutiful son-in-law, this was the first impression he gave to the entire Hangzhou in the following summer...