Chapter 113: Chu Feitian of the Central Capital

Over the past few days, seeing the snow in Wuzhou City pile up thicker and thicker without showing any signs of melting, Yang Cheng felt an irrepressible itch to make use of the massive slope behind the mountain. He had the craftsmen at his furniture factory construct three or four hundred simple snowboards according to his design.

He then sent word to the students of Yuhua Academy, inviting everyone who was in town to join him today. Early in the morning, seeing three or four hundred children gathered in the East Courtyard, he found himself, for once, a true "king of the kids."

Back at the academy, he often looked at their innocent faces and felt a twinge of heartache. For the children of the lower classes in this world, there was far too little entertainment. From a young age, they were conditioned to believe in a hierarchy of status, and most grew up to accept their destiny with a numb resignation, lacking the vibrant, spirited vitality of childhood.

Yang Cheng had been wanting to revisit the amusements of his own youth, and he hoped to bring a bit of joy to these children as well.

Looking at three or four hundred pairs of expectant eyes, a sudden surge of grand spirit took hold of Yang Cheng. With a wave of his hand, he led the children, pulling their snowboards along as they trekked huffing and puffing up to the mountaintop.

Li Tianxing and his companions were equally excited. Brother Cheng had personally asked their master for a day off. The master hadn't been pleased at first, but after Brother Cheng lectured him on the importance of balancing work and rest to improve training efficiency, the master—perhaps not fully grasping the logic but clearly annoyed—finally waved them off for the day.

Liu Changqing, on the other hand, was easygoing. Upon hearing about the sledding, he found the idea novel. Without needing to grant his two disciples leave, he had headed to the back mountain early in the morning himself. Though he couldn't fly, his cultivation was high enough that he reached the summit in a few agile leaps. He sat on the snow, sipping wine, thoroughly amused as he watched the children struggle up the slope. Every now and then, when one would trip and tumble into the snow, he would burst into hearty laughter.

Lu Baichuan and Bai Muyun, seeing the spectacle of children scattered across the mountain, could not suppress their curiosity either. The two of them set up in a small pavilion on the back mountain, warming a pot of wine and enjoying the snowy scenery while they watched the games.

Hua Mingzhu, Mei Yuchen, and Li Tianxing were older and possessed cultivation, so Yang Cheng not only brought them to play but also tasked them with looking after the younger children to ensure their safety. There were also over fifty students from the academy who were training under Zhong Qiang and the others, who assisted in watching over the rest.

Bai Zhulu had grown up with many children around her in her clan, but given the strict hierarchies of status, she had never seen them play together in such a manner. She found this Master of the Yang family quite interesting and remarkably different from other house heads.

Once they finally reached the summit, Yang Cheng gave a demonstration. Sitting on a snowboard, he gripped the handles, slid a short distance, and then used the handles as a brake to come to a stop. The onlookers were amazed and eager to try it themselves. Throughout the entire morning, the mountainside echoed with the joyous cheers of children.

The flat slopes were soon crisscrossed with hundreds of long tracks. Occasionally, a child would lose control and dive headfirst into a snowbank, unable to climb out, only for the patrolling guards to quickly dash over and rescue them. The child would then stand there, covered in snow, grinning foolishly.

Below, Zhong Qiang and the others, who had initially worried about safety, soon retreated into the house to call their friends together for a hot pot.

Mei Yuchen and his friends, being more daring, found the wooden boards insufficient and brought out the sleds Yang Cheng had also crafted. Pushing off with long poles in their hands, they zipped away like arrows. After a few attempts, they were able to maneuver with extreme agility, darting around the other children with graceful ease.

This left Liu Changqing itching to join in; he requested a pair of his own and began playing without a care for his dignity. Down below, Bai Muyun observed that the contraption held great value, noting its high maneuverability for pursuit and evasion in snowy conditions.

Yang Cheng was equally exhilarated. In any world, only children could play so uninhibitedly, and the sight brought him a long-lost sense of familiarity.

They played until the afternoon, at which point Yang Cheng had the kitchen prepare a meal to host everyone before the children headed home.

In the afternoon, Yang Cheng was in the main hall of the back courtyard, discussing end-of-year activities with Su Yingxue, Old Yang, and Li Tianjun. The entire Yang household had worked hard for several months, and Yang Cheng had accumulated a significant amount of spirit coins. He wanted to reward everyone at year's end and use the occasion to boost morale for the coming year's business.

Just as they were discussing the plans, Liu Dong arrived to report a matter.

It turned out that a team of guards sent to deliver goods to Baixi Village had returned. With the year-end approaching, they didn't plan on making any more deliveries before the new year. Liu Dong had been on duty, leading the escort team.

Upon their return, they brought with them a man who requested an audience with the head of the family. Not wanting to overstep, Liu Dong had treated him with courtesy throughout the journey and had come to ask for instructions first.

Curious, Yang Cheng had Liu Dong bring the man in. When the man entered, Yang Cheng recognized him immediately as the elder from Baixi Village known as Mr. Chu.

Upon entering the hall, Mr. Chu saw the young man in the center who matched the clan leader's description and knew he must be the master of the house. Without waiting for Liu Dong to introduce him, he bowed slightly and said, "I am Chu Feitian. Greetings, Master Yang. Over the past few months, thanks to your care, my life has become much more comfortable. Taking advantage of your transport team's trip, I decided to accompany them to see you in person and express my gratitude."

Seeing that Mr. Chu was neither servile nor overbearing, and that his every movement was refined and well-mannered, Yang Cheng thought to himself that this man possessed the bearing of a true gentleman. He suspected that Mr. Chu’s visit at the end of the year was not merely to express gratitude, but perhaps because he had grown weary of his seclusion. Nevertheless, respecting such a recluse, Yang Cheng stood up and returned the bow. "Mr. Chu, you are too polite. It was a small matter, not worth mentioning. I am deeply honored that you would brave the arduous journey to visit me."

Yang Cheng invited Mr. Chu to sit and had Xiao Lan serve fine tea. "My transport team will not return to Baixi Village until after the new year. Given the dangers of the road, why not stay at my residence for a while? I would be honored to host you. Having lived in seclusion for so long, you are likely unfamiliar with the current state of Wuzhou City; I would be happy to have someone show you around."

Chu Feitian had spent six or seven years in Baixi Village without leaving. He had been feeling restless lately, and his original plan was simply to thank Master Yang and perhaps spend a few days at a tavern in Wuzhou City to clear his mind. Finding the Master of the Yang family to be humble, polite, and as approachable as rumored, he felt a sense of affinity and replied, "Thank you, Master Yang. To be honest, I have spent over seven years in Baixi Village, detached from the world, and have never stepped foot in Wuzhou City. I would indeed like to take this opportunity to look around."

Yang Cheng, curious, noted that Mr. Chu’s demeanor was certainly not that of a countryman. Since he was not from Wuzhou, he might be from another city-state. "May I ask where you are from, Mr. Chu?"

Chu Feitian, a man who had seen many in his life, could tell at a glance that Yang Cheng was a man of no hidden malice. Besides, he figured that in this region of Wuzhou, no one would know his true identity. "Master Yang, since you have been so kind to me, I shall not hide it. I am originally from the Central Capital. It was because I offended someone that I was exiled to Baixi Village."

Yang Cheng thought to himself that although Mr. Chu did not elaborate, the fact that he was exiled millions of miles away from the capital rather than simply executed suggested a political cause. In the struggles of political factions, exiling or placing under house arrest a rival who had lost power but remained renowned was a common way to maintain one’s reputation or balance various forces.

In any world, this was a tacitly understood political tool.