Chapter 76: Travel Preparations

  The Yang family became busy, and Chen Xing also felt it.

  He asked Yang's family: "Is there something wrong?"

  Someone then told him: "A banquet is going to be set up..."

  "Who is it for?" Chen Jiong asked again.

  "Welcome, honored guest..."

  After asking for half a day, there was no conclusion. Chen Jiong happened to have nothing to do, so he went to find Yang Zhi Zhou and asked him when he could get up and return to Wang County, and also asked him who the Yang family would entertain.

  Yang Zhi Zhou was in the outer study of the Yang family residence, discussing matters with Yang Xiu and his son.

  "Go and tell the owner of Dongcheng Inn to clear out guests for the next two days, we'll compensate them for any losses. Let's take over the inn and book it for ten days. Choose eight reliable servants from our household and send them to Dongcheng Inn." Yang Zhi Zhou said to Yang Yun.

  Dongcheng Inn is the best inn in Mingzhou.

  The Yang family in Mingzhou is considered one of the most powerful, and this matter can be handled.

  Yang Yun was perplexed.

  "He ventured a guess: 'Uncle, are those officials coming to attend the banquet and stay overnight?'"

  Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and said, "They don't have that much good fortune. I have my own plans, just go and instruct them."

  Yang Yun nodded and left.

  Chen Jiong happened to come in at this time.

  Yang Zhi Zhou smiled at Chen Jing, gesturing for him to sit down, then continued speaking to the Yang family children: "...... instruct the servants in the house. Tomorrow if outsiders ask about Young Master Chen, just say he is my honored guest, do not permit them to say anything else."

  Chen Jiong was taken aback slightly.

  Yang Shaoze and his brothers were also slightly surprised.

  Yang Zhi Zhou was explaining things to the younger generation, Chen Jing didn't dare interrupt randomly. If it concerned him, he could turn around and ask privately later, so he picked up the tea cup handed over by the servant and took a light sip.

  "Is it just for honored guests?" Yang Shaoze retorted.

  "Just say it's a noble guest. If the guest asks again, just say you don't know and don't mention another half word." Yang Zhi Zhou said. When he said the last sentence, his tone was not to be trifled with, and he added three points of seriousness.

  Yang Shaoze said yes.

  Some people couldn't help but steal glances at Chen Jiong.

  Yang Zhi Zhou asked about the wine and dishes for tomorrow's banquet: "...... are all prepared?"

  Yang Shaoze's younger brother Yang Shaomin stepped forward and answered one by one.

  It's almost done, and they've all asked clearly, so Yang Zhi Zhou let them go busy.

  Yang Shaoze and his brothers bid farewell, leaving only Chen Jiong and Yang Zhi Zhou in the study.

  "Tomorrow's banquet, does it have anything to do with me?" Chen Jiong asked Yang Zhi Zhou directly. "Not mentioning me much, just saying I'm a noble guest, is this a trick to give me a high position?"

  Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and said, "Don't worry. Tomorrow you follow me to drink wine, no need to say more."

  Chen Jiong's heart understood three points.

  "Old master, there's no need to go through so much trouble for me," said Chen Jing. "It's still your kindness..."

  He almost broke through Yang Zongbao's position.

  Yang Zhi Zhou hastily stopped him, feigning anger: "You're just a roughneck, and at the time when you should be muddle-headed, you have to be clever instead - it's not likable! This matter doesn't need further discussion, I've already made up my mind!"

  Chen Jie saw that he had already made arrangements and was determined, smiled and said: "Then I won't say anything else, just thank you!"

  "This is more like it, you're finally showing some youthful energy!" Yang Zhi Zhou said with a satisfied smile.

  Chen Jiong also smiled.

  *****

  The invitations sent out by the Yang family yesterday have been responded to one after another today. The invitees all replied that they would arrive on time tomorrow, and some even rushed to Mingzhou City today to find an inn to rest in.

  The Dongcheng Inn originally also housed two county magistrates.

  But Yang's family had to save face, and the host of Dongcheng Inn also had to give face. Those two county magistrates also needed to be given face.

  "Is he a guest of the Yang family?" one of them wondered.

  Another one who was quicker-witted said: "If they are just guests of the Yang family, then it's natural that they can stay at the Yang residence. The Yangs have a spacious place, don't they have any place to rest?"

  "The Yang family can't afford to entertain guests, insisting on staying in a guest house? That's a noble guest..."

  Yang Zhi Zhou returned to his hometown. His status was high, the guests received by the Yang family could only be noble guests. He was also arranged to stay alone in the guest house, and even asked the guest house to clear out other guests, with a rather large attitude.

  "Could it be someone from the capital?" The officials, being sensitive to the slightest movements of those in power, naturally thought of the guest's background with just this one move by the Yang family.

  "It's possible..." Another conservative response.

  The two of them looked at the Dongcheng Inn and thought it was a pity. If there hadn't been a clearance, they might have had a chance encounter with a noble guest from the capital, which would have been a wonderful opportunity.

  Everyone's mind is turning over, but it's not good to go into the East City Inn again.

  It was the second day, which was the formal banquet at the Yang's house.

  Cars and horses thronged the entrance, an endless stream.

  The banquet was set in the boat hall of Xihua Garden, and thirty-four people had arrived one after another. The boat hall was bustling with people. Most of them were familiar faces, chatting with each other.

  The play was staged, the actors were invited to perform a big show, and the guests laughed with joy.

  The boat hall is very lively.

  Yang's family sent a set of travel clothes to Chen Jing early in the morning.

  The dark grey cheongsam, trimmed with dull gold thread, exudes a luxurious elegance. Fortunately, it had rained just the day before, so it wasn't hot. Chen Jing, with her long limbs, wore a dignified and elegant outfit that brought out her refined bearing.

  An ordinary young man suddenly transformed into a handsome and elegant noble gentleman.

  Chen Jiong smiled first.

  Yang Zhi Zhou reminded him, "Don't smile. You pretend to be serious and dignified, just like before. When we eat, just eat normally. I'll get Shao Ze to replace the wine in your flask with plain water. If I toast you, drink it, but if others offer you a toast, ignore them."

  Chen Jiong smiled again.

  Then he shook his head helplessly and said, "Old man, you're cheating!"

  "Nonsense!" Yang Zhi Zhou scolded Chen Jing with a smile, "This is called strategy!"

  "What scheme?" Chen Jiong rolled his eyes.

  "A desperate move." Yang Zhi said, "You're still young and inexperienced, you'll have a lot to learn later on."

  "You think you're so great, but you're not as impressive as you think. Chen Jiong sneered, "In the end, it's still because of your former power and status in the capital, nothing to do with your actual abilities. How childish, old man."

  Yang Zhi Zhou laughed and didn't mind Chen Jing teasing him at all.

  From Chen Jing's teasing, Yang Zhi Zhou understood that Chen Jing had already guessed everything.

  This way, Yang Zhiyou didn't have to hold his hand through it, and it saved a lot of trouble.

  This made Yang Zhiyou extremely satisfied.

  They sat in the study for a while, waiting for all the guests to arrive before going to the banquet. With some free time, Yang Zhi and Chen Jing played chess. Anyway, Chen Jing's chess skills were far superior to Yang Zhi's, so there was no need to make any fancy moves, and Yang Zhi made his moves at will, not even bothering to set up the board properly.

  Chen Xuan had already figured out how to proceed, when it would end, and who would win or lose.

  Yang Zhi Zhou carelessly went down and chatted with Chen Jing.

  "We'll return to Wangxian on the first day of August." Yang Zhi Zhou said to Chen Jing, "I also sent someone to inform your sister-in-law, don't worry, everything is fine at home."

  The next day Chen Jiong arrived in Mingzhou, he asked Yang's family to send someone to tell his sister-in-law that he might be delayed for about a month, and let her rest assured.

  "Thank you." Chen Jiong said.

  Yang Zhi Zhou is very meticulous in this regard.

  "Outside, it won't be long before the name 'Chen Shen Yi' spreads. Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and said, "In another half a year, it will spread throughout the two Zhejiang roads. In the future of the medical world, you will also be considered a figure."

  Chen Jiong was taken aback slightly.

  His hand paused in mid-air as he played chess and asked Yang Zhiou: "Did you send someone to spread the word?"

  "Indeed, I sent a few people to spread the word, so that others would know. Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and said, "We are not doctors, what we say doesn't carry much weight. But that Tang old doctor, he highly praises you!"

  Chen Jiong suddenly thought of that old gentleman.

  That old gentleman's medical skills are very high, and he is also quite interesting as a person, not at all stuffy.

  "I heard that Tang Lao from the Two Zhe Roads' Apricot Forest Boundary is the leader?" Chen Jiong asked, "Next time we meet, I'll have to thank him."

  "This is your fate with him." Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and said, "I heard that Mr. Tang has a very eccentric personality and isn't easy to get along with. He's particular about his herbs, and those eight liang of raw Astragalus you have are extremely rare, just to his liking, so he especially appreciates you. Being able to win Mr. Tang's appreciation is naturally going to cause a stir. Within half a year, you'll be famous."

  Chen Jiong hesitated again.

  He thought of those cases he had seen in Wangxian County, which were not particularly brilliant, and the medical skills were not bad, but there was no fame at all.

  And this time, if it weren't for running into Mr. Tang, I'm afraid it would be hard to make a name for myself.

  Still need someone influential to help you out.

  This time in Michigan, I met a noble person!

  "It's best if I can make a name for myself." Chen Jiong smiled and said, "In the past, I didn't dare to show off, because I was afraid my sister-in-law wouldn't be willing. Now that she listens to me, of course, I hope to become famous soon. With fame, more people will come to see me as a doctor, and my medical skills will also have value..."

  "If I have the chance to see Mr. Tang again next time, I must thank him." Chen Jing said, "Where is he from?"

  "He was from Xiao County in Yue State." Yang Zhi Zhou.

  Yuezhou is actually Shaoxing in later times; as for Xiaoxian, Chen Jinnan didn't know where it was. It's possible that it's like Wangxian, a name unique to this time and space, and doesn't exist in history.

  "A bit far......" Chen Jiong thought that crossing the state was equivalent to crossing cities in later generations, and the distance was not short. Taking a horse-drawn carriage, it might take a day's time.

  A day's journey by horse-drawn carriage is quite a torment.

  Chen Jie shook his head and said, "Forget it, it's too far away. If we have fate to meet him again, just thank him then."

  "Lazy!" Yang Zhi Zhou scolded with a smile.

  Chen Jiong smiled and dropped one son.

  They were talking when Yang Yun came in and said, "Uncle, it's time to start the banquet. Would you like to move over now?"

  Yang Zhi Zhou put down his chess piece and said, "It's gone."

  He took Chen Jing and went towards the boat hall.

  Yang Yun followed behind them.

  As they approached the boat cabin, Yang Zhi Zhou whispered to Chen Jing: "You go ahead a few steps."

  Yang Yun listened and was shocked.

  Where is there a junior walking in front of a senior? Chen Jiong was only sixteen or seventeen years old, and he was considered to be of the same generation as Yang Zhihou's grandson.

  Yang Yun didn't quite understand Yang Zhi Zhou's intention.

  Chen Jing didn't bat an eyelid and slightly nodded his head, saying "Then I've been rude." Then he really walked to the front of Yang Zhi Zhou.

  Yang Yun was shocked.

  This child is really so disobedient?

  However, this was Yang Zhi's order, and Yang Yun did not dare to question it, so he hurriedly caught up.

  Chen Jiong stepped into the boat hall with steady footsteps, his head held high and his chest out. His face was calm and expressionless, without a smile, yet he didn't feel aloof, but rather warm and elegant.

  Everyone's eyes were on him.

  Then Yang Zhi Zhou also stepped in, closely following Chen Jing.

  The boat hall suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere was a bit strange.