Chapter 24: An Old Friend, the Tomb of Master Zhang
Zhang Yang felt puzzled and stepped forward.
As he drew closer, the scene became clearer.
There were two people, one elderly and one young.
The older man had white hair and beard, his posture bent with age.
The younger, in his twenties, had dark skin.
Amid the crackling of burning firewood, Zhang Yang could catch their conversation.
“Father, you’re already so old, yet you insist on coming here yourself.”
“Sigh, I’ve already told you, I’ll do this for you—there’s no need for you to come in person.”
“You stubborn boy, your words sound fine, but last year you said you’d come and pay respects to Master Zhang on my behalf—so where were you in the end?”
“You scoundrel, spending the money your father gave you on food and fun—do you even remember Master Zhang?”
“I did burn the straw-made ox and horse for Master Zhang.”
“Anyway, Master Zhang can’t really eat or drink. It’d be better to spend that money on your father, me.”
“You, you scoundrel, if you dare be disrespectful to Master Zhang again, I’ll break your legs.”
“If it weren’t for Master Zhang back then, your grandfather wouldn’t have survived the battlefield, and the Tian Family wouldn’t be here.”
“A man must never forget his roots or the kindness he’s received.”
“Father, what you’re saying is true. Ever since everyone from the Zhang Family left, over all these decades, when have we ever missed offering incense and sacrifices to Master Zhang?”
“If it weren’t for us coming year after year to pay respects, Master Zhang’s tomb might have vanished long ago.”
“We owe Master Zhang nothing less.”
As they spoke, Zhang Yang approached and noticed the movement behind them.They fell silent, looking back with suspicion.
The Tian Clan noticed Zhang Yang’s richly adorned and costly attire, and then the guards beside him—instantly realising his status was no ordinary one.
He reacted swiftly, immediately dropping to his knees and kowtowing, saying, “I am a humble member of the Tian Clan, paying my respects, my lord.”
As he spoke, he spotted that his son had yet to bow. Hastily, he tugged at the boy’s trouser leg.
Only then did the son realise, promptly collapsing to the ground in a kneel.
Zhang Yang approached the two.
He studied Tian Clan carefully, then mused, “You are the manager of the Tian Family Tavern in Yuan City.”
The man looked up, stunned.
The Tian Family Tavern had closed a full ten years ago.
By now, few could still recall the Tian Family Tavern.The Tian Clan asked in puzzlement, “Who are you?”
Zhang Yang replied casually, “I once bought wine from the Tian Family Tavern.”
“The taste was quite decent.”
Hearing this, the Tian Clan thought to himself, ‘So that’s how it is.’
He cautiously said, “I’m glad it was to your liking, sir.”
Zhang Yang then looked towards the tombstone, already harbouring a suspicion, but still asked, “Whose grave is this?”
The Tian Clan explained, “This is Master Zhang’s tomb.”
“He was the one who single-handedly founded present-day Tu Town.”
“Such a shame, alas, forty years ago Master Zhang took part in the Northern Expedition and was ambushed on the way.”
“Though Master Zhang was valiant, he was advanced in years and outnumbered by enemies, so he ultimately fell victim to being overwhelmed.”“My father was once a mere foot soldier under Master Zhang.”
“It was Master Zhang who fought his way out to save him.”
“Since the Zhang Family left, we have come here every year to honour Master Zhang.”
“Time flies—it’s already been more than thirty years.”
Listening to the Tian Clan’s reflection, Zhang Yang’s gaze grew even more complex.
He stared at his own tomb and asked, “Thirty years on, have any of the Zhang Family returned?”
The Tian Clan shook his head. “No. Since the Zhang Family departed, there has been no news.”
He then explained, “Back then, all the bronze craftsmen of Tu Town were taken away, including those from the Zhang Family.”
“I imagine the Zhang Family were no more than pawns and unable to return to pay respects to Master Zhang.”
“Otherwise, they would surely have come back to honour him.”Zhang Yang nodded slightly. He believed it was indeed so. If Xiang'er and the others had not met with misfortune, why else would they have abandoned their own tomb here? Yet— Zhang Yang sighed, his gaze falling on the dishes placed before the stone stele. A roast chicken, a pot of— A faint smile tugged at the corner of Zhang Yang’s eyes as he stepped forward. He lifted the wine placed before the tombstone. “This is Osmanthus Wine,” Zhang Yang said with a smile, confirming it. Mr Tian laughed, “You are quite right, sir.”
“This is Osmanthus Wine.”
“Master Zhang loved Osmanthus Wine more than anything.”
“It is said that in his later years, Master Zhang had to have a glass of Osmanthus Wine with every meal; his favourite pairing was roast chicken with Osmanthus Wine.”
“A few years ago, when Jing Kingdom faced a food shortage, the ruler imposed a ban on alcohol.”
“So, I taught myself to make some specifically to offer to Master Zhang.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yang picked up the wine vessel and took a sip.
He praised it, “It tastes quite good.”
But—
The son of the Tian Clan was instantly dissatisfied.
He snapped, “Who do you think you are, interfering with our offerings like this?”
“This was especially made by my father—”
Before the son could finish speaking, Mr Tian, furious to the point of bristling with rage, gave his son a sharp kick that sent him crashing to the ground.
Then he hurriedly said, “The child is inexperienced; please forgive his indiscretion, sir.”
Having spoken, he cast a wary glance at the guards advancing slowly with cold eyes and right hands resting on their sword hilts.
Though dressed in civilian clothes, Mr Tian immediately recognised them as soldiers — and not just any soldiers.
They were battle-hardened warriors who had killed before.
Elite troops.
Only someone extraordinary could afford to roam about with such guards.
Zhang Yang glanced at the guards, who promptly halted and then slowly stepped back.
“Hmm, it was indeed my fault to meddle with other people’s belongings.”
As he considered this, Zhang Yang removed the jade pendant at his waist and smiled, saying, “Consider this as compensation.”
Mr Tian looked at the jade pendant in Zhang Yang's hand, somewhat taken aback and a little tense.
Although he did not know much about jade, he could tell that Zhang Yang’s pendant was extraordinary.
It gleamed with a glossy sheen and had a fine, delicate texture.
Quickly, Mr Tian said, “No, no, you can’t do this.”
“Sir, this jade pendant must be quite valuable, and this jar of wine—”
Before Mr Tian could finish, Zhang Yang shoved the pendant firmly into his hand.
“I own nothing of value; today this is the only thing I have that’s worth anything.”
“Consider this a gesture of apology.”
With that, Zhang Yang gave no chance for refusal and strode towards the edge of the woods.
Heitu and the others followed closely behind.
Mr Tian watched Zhang Yang’s departing figure, then looked down at the jade pendant in his hand, his gaze hazy and uncertain.The jade pendant was finely crafted, bearing a complex pattern.
Master Tian couldn’t quite place it, but he had a faint sense of familiarity—as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Tian’s Son climbed to his feet from the ground.
He examined the jade pendant with a teasing smile. "This jade looks quite valuable, doesn’t it?"
“Not really apparent. That man seems rather generous, though. I wonder who he is.”
“Hey, Father, look at the pattern on the jade pendant—doesn’t it resemble the one on Master Zhang’s tombstone?”
Upon hearing this, Master Tian shuddered slightly.
He turned to glance at Master Zhang’s tombstone and then back at the jade pendant in his hand.
Sure enough, there was a similar pattern carved into the tombstone.Almost identical.
In fact, this was the family crest designed by Zhang Yang himself.
The pattern was simply two circles with an artistic rendering of the character "Zhang" in the centre!
Master Tian asked in confusion, "Could he be connected to the Zhang Family?"
Tian’s Son replied, "Hmm, it’s possible. Otherwise, how could this pattern be the same as the Zhang Family’s?"
Master Tian shook his head slightly, giving it little thought.
To him, this chance encounter was nothing more than an ordinary meeting.
That was all.
But!
A month and a half later.Snowflakes blanketed the earth, turning the world a vast expanse of white.
On this bitterly cold day, the clanging of gongs and drums shattered the peaceful quiet of the Tian family home.
The Tian family stepped outside, staring in puzzlement at the festive procession outside their door.
Amidst his confusion, an official dressed in fine robes hurried forward and respectfully said, “I am the humble Tu Town Magistrate, here to pay my respects to Doctor Tian.”
The Tian family’s lips parted wide in astonishment. “What doctor? You must have the wrong person,” he stammered.
The official bowed humbly. “There is no mistake.”
“Doctor Tian, this is a letter from Minister Zhang for you.”
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