C14 river bank
Lu Yang was baffled by the young man's question and said foolishly: "Yes, yes! "What's wrong?"
The youth suddenly laughed out loudly and said, "I recognize your brother. He really resembles me. Back then, someone else also lent me a copper coin. In order to return the copper coin to him, I had to wait on the road for a long time. Because of this matter, my mother insulted me, causing me to no longer dare to lend money to others. "
Lu Yang was puzzled and couldn't help but say, "Then if you lend me the copper coins, Aunt will know. Wouldn't that mean ?"
"I was afraid of her in the past, but I'm not afraid now." The youth patted his chest and revealed an unafraid expression. "I've already left home and am preparing to go out and study. I can't control myself."
"So it's like that!" Lu Yang frowned and said, "Big brother, then where are you going to study? I'll come and find you in the future."
The young man thought for a moment, then said: "Brother Lu Yang, don't call me Big Brother from now on, I'm not used to it. I'm called Little Fatty Li, everyone calls me Little Fatty Li. As for where I'll go to study, I haven't thought it through yet. Perhaps I'll go to the Mortal Life Academy, or perhaps I'll go to the Earth Tiger Academy. In short, I haven't thought it through yet. "
Lu Yang wanted to say something, but Little Fatty Li interrupted him and said: "I know you want to return the copper coin to me, but searching the entire world for a single copper coin is not worth it. How about this! "Just treat it as me giving it to you. If you feel sorry for yourself, and if we meet again due to fate, how about you pay me back my debt with interest?"
Lu Yang thought for a moment. This was the only solution he could come up with, so he cupped his fists and said: "Thank you, little fatty bro. I'll definitely return the interest to you when we meet in the future."
Fatty Li was obviously busy with something. He looked at the sky and said, "It's getting late, I need to find uncle after entering the city. I won't talk to you for now, come sit down and chat later." With that, he waved to Lu Yang and quickly left.
Looking in the direction that Fatty Li left in, Lu Yang watched for a moment before walking forward.
There was a steady stream of traffic in and out of River Rush City. There were many shops on both sides of the road. It was a scene of prosperity.
It was Lu Yang's first time here and he had no idea how the Duan Clan would walk down this path. He found a shop and asked for a detailed address before quickly walking over. After walking for three streets, they arrived in front of a huge mansion. Two guards with long swords at their waists stood outside the gate. They looked solemn as they coldly looked at the passersby.
The Duan Clan Residence was much smaller than the Lu Residence's main entrance. The crimson entrance gate displayed the identity of a noble, and on top of the main entrance, there were two large golden words engraved ? Duan Residence.
Lu Yang glanced at the plaque and walked up to the door, asking, "Excuse me, is this the Duan Clan?"
The two guards were stunned for a moment. Perhaps this was the first time they had seen a child of Lu Yang's age come and question them! However, when they saw Lu Yang's disheveled appearance, disdain appeared on their faces at the same time. One of them even sneered and said, "You need food, this is the Duan Clan, not a place for you to ask for food. Hurry up and f * ck off!"
Hearing this, Lu Yang's expression became a little ugly. In this world, there were too many people that looked down on people. He was only considered as someone who asked for food because his clothes were untidy. Lu Yang knew that if he wanted to enter the Duan Clan, he had to ask the two guards to pass on a message. He didn't bother arguing with them and said, "I want to see your old master. Say that there's a guest seeking an audience."
The moment he said that, the two guards burst into laughter. They looked at Lu Yang like they were looking at an idiot.
Jiang Dong couldn't help but laugh. After a long while, he finally said, "You're asking for food, are you sure you're not mistaken?" You call yourself a guest? "Get back to where you came from. Don't waste your time here."
Lu Yang was a little angry. He had already spoken like that, but the other party still continued to ridicule him. Lu Yang coldly snorted and said, "Please be careful when you speak. I have a big matter to discuss with your old master."
After all, Lu Yang had read a lot of poetry books. Although it was his first time leaving the Lu Manor, he had a good idea of how to deal with them. A guard like that usually bullied the weak and feared the strong. The weaker you were, the more the other party would bully you. If you were to act tough, the other party would not be able to figure out your identity, and would instead be fearful of you.
As expected, upon seeing Lu Yang's forceful attitude and not knowing where he came from, the two guards exchanged a look.
Jiang Dong nodded to the other guard and said in a low voice, "Stay here and watch over him. Don't run away. I'll go find Manager Wu."
"Don't worry, he's just a little kid. Don't tell me I can't watch him?" The guard said confidently.
Jiang Dong glanced at Lu Yang, then turned around and walked into the mansion. About an hour later, a middle-aged man in his forties walked out. From this, it could be seen that he had an extremely high status in the Duan Clan. Although he couldn't compare to the Duan Clan's master, he was still much more superior than the average servant. One could tell with a glance that he had never done heavy work before.
Wu Zhongpu was the first to arrive at the front of the mansion, Jiang Dong followed behind him. He raised his hand and pointed at Lu Yang as he said in a flattering manner, "Manager Wu, it's that little brat. He said he's Master's guest."
"Oh!" Wu Zhongpu obviously did not expect that the person who wanted to see the old master was a half-grown child. He had been a butler for so many years and it was obvious that he had seen many people. This was because from his body, Wu Zhongpu could feel the aura of an aristocrat. This aura was not something that could be nurtured by an ordinary person.
Wu Zhongpu was unable to guess the other's identity, but he didn't dare to be slow either. He strode in front of Lu Yang and said, "Little brother, old servant Wu Zhongpu, may I ask which family's Young Master you are from?"
Lu Yang looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to him before lowering his voice and saying, "Manager Wu, can we talk further?"
Wu Zhongpu was slightly shocked and was even more curious about Lu Yang's identity. He took a few steps forward and said, "Young Master, you can say it now, right?"
Lu Yang's wrist moved and he took out a white jade pendant from his sleeve. He waved it at Wu Zhongpu, "Do you know my identity now?" With that, he kept the jade pendant.
Wu Zhongpu was also a jade. Of course, he could read the words written on the jade. His face was expressionless, but his heart was in turmoil. The word "Lu" was actually written on the jade pendant. It had to be known that River County was a part of Tianyuan County. All the small and middle-sized families in the county were subordinate to one super family, and that family was the Lu family. Coincidentally, there was only one Lu family in Tianyuan County.
Wu Zhongpu would never suspect that the jade pendant was fake. Although he had never touched a jade pendant with the status of a noble family, he was still able to judge it based on its quality. Moreover, that jade pendant was made from fine jade and mutton fat. How could an ordinary person have it? Even if they stole this jade pendant, they wouldn't dare to act rashly in a place like the Duan Clan.
That was right, Wu Zhongpu was sure that even if the child in front of him wasn't a member of the Lu family, the Lu family still had a close relationship with him. For a person from such a large clan to possess an identity jade pendant, the Duan Clan's Patriarch would have to be courteous upon seeing him, let alone a small clan's butler.
Wu Zhongpu quickly bowed and cupped his fist, "Young Master Lu, this way please..."
Lu Yang didn't waste his breath and strode towards the manor's entrance. When he arrived beside Jiang Dong, he gave him a look but didn't say anything.
Wu Zhongpu had been observing Lu Yang's situation. When he saw this scene, he knew what was going on and said coldly: "Jiang Dong, you've offended Young Master Lu, why aren't you apologizing ?"
Jiang Dong was depressed. He had seen many people like this. It looked like he was a poor beggar. How did he suddenly become a young master? And he was a young master from the Lu family? The Lu family's eldest young master? When he thought here, Jiang Dong's face turned extremely ugly. He was scared out of his wits and quickly kneeled on the ground, begging for mercy: "Young Master Lu, I do not know your identity. Please forgive me for offending you."
Lu Yang really didn't dare to do anything to Jiang Dong. Right now, he was submitting himself to the Duan Clan and not representing the Lu Clan. What he did just now was only using Wu Zhongpu's help to vent his anger. Lu Yang waved his hand and laughed self-deprecatingly, "It's nothing, I'm wearing this kind of clothes, it's no different from asking for food. If I were you, I would think so too. " As he spoke, he walked into the manor.
These words didn't sound like much, but in the eyes of those from large families, it was simply insulting words.
Wu Zhongpu did not want to make the Lu Family hate the Duan Clan, so he said angrily: "Jiang Dong, you brat actually said that the Lu Family is poor. I think you must be tired of living. With that, he glared at Jiang Dong and followed closely behind Lu Yang.
Jiang Dong really wanted to cry. If he knew that Lu Yang could take out the Lu family's jade pendant, he wouldn't have dared to speak carelessly, even if he had the guts to do so.
The other guard saw Jiang Dong being dragged into the backyard of the mansion. He wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead and thought to himself, "I was lucky."
The Duan Clan's Patriarch, Duan Zhengyuan, was a Baron after all. The estate was not small either, and was far inferior to the Lu Manor. However, it should have had a complete set of buildings. The garden, the backyard, the long corridor, the rockery, all of the buildings were there except for the rear mountain, which was not there for the Duke. After passing through a few corridors, Lu Yang arrived at a large hall. Beside the hall was a study, which was where Duan Zhengyuan would deal with the daily paperwork.
The door to the study was shut tight. Wu Zhongpu motioned for Lu Yang to wait outside before he went to the door and knocked a few times.
In a moment, an old man's voice came from the study, "Who is it?"
"Master, it's a servant. He has something important to report." Wu Zhongpu replied respectfully.
Footsteps sounded in the study room, followed by Duan Zhengyuan's voice, "Can't you wait for me to settle some important matters before coming back? I'd like to see how important it is. "
With a creaking sound, the door to the study opened. An old man appeared in Lu Yang's midst.
The old man looked to be in his fifties, and because of his good maintenance, there weren't many wrinkles on his forehead. He was much younger than the poor people of his age. He was wearing a silk vest, and on his waist was a jade pendant that was also made from mutton fat jade. On the front of the jade pendant was carved a "Duan" character, and the Duan Clan at most had three jade pendants that symbolized their status.
When Duan Zhengyuan saw Lu Yang, he slightly frowned. It was obvious that he had never seen such a half grown child in his memory. He politely asked, "You are?"