Chapter 629: Tales of the Past

The man pouring wine in the tavern was curious about his customer's identity.

As he poured the wine, he asked, "Are you from Qiuyue Fang, sir?"

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "You could say I'm half a local."

"Do you know my adoptive mother, sir?"

"I do."

"I was taken in by my adoptive mother rather late, so unfortunately I never had the chance to meet you. Where do you live, sir? I would like to pay you a visit someday."

"I don't live around here anymore. I was just passing through and thought I would come take a look."

"I see..."

Realizing his lapse in manners, he said, "My name is Changchuan. I haven't asked your name, sir."

"Chen Changsheng."

"You look a bit older than me, sir, so I will call you Brother. Earlier, Brother Chen asked if I had entered the ancestral hall. My adoptive mother did want me to go in and pay my respects, but she has a biological son. He should still be alive, though he hasn't returned in many years. If an adopted son like me entered the ancestral hall, it would break the rules, so I never did."

"Is that so..."

Chen Changsheng murmured the name to himself. "Changchuan..."

"My adoptive mother gave me the name."

Changchuan continued, "My adoptive mother brought me in from a temple. I was originally going to take the surname Zhang, but she wouldn't allow it at the time. I took half the character instead, so my surname is Chang."

"It is a good name," Chen Changsheng said.

Changchuan smiled and handed the wine pot to Chen Changsheng. "Here is the wine you asked for, Brother."

Chen Changsheng asked, "How much is it?"

"Don't mention money."

"I couldn't do that."

Seeing him reach for his money, Changchuan quickly waved his hands. "Put it away, Brother. I really can't accept it. If my adoptive mother found out, she would have whipped me with a bamboo switch."

Chen Changsheng tried to persuade him, but Changchuan stubbornly refused to accept the money.

He would rather die than take it.

He understood manners and knew the rules. Back when he was begging in the temple, he hadn't known anything. His adoptive mother had taught him all of this, and he didn't dare forget a single word.

Left with no choice, Chen Changsheng put the silver away.

He looked at Changchuan and couldn't help but smile. "Did you only pay respects to your adoptive mother, or did you bow to your adoptive father as well?"

"I paid my respects to both of them."

"When your adoptive father was your age, he also understood the rules and manners very clearly. And just like you, your adoptive father was adopted."

Changchuan paused in surprise. "My adoptive mother never mentioned any of this."

Besides, by the time his adoptive mother took him in, his adoptive father had long since passed away.

"That is ancient history now."

Chen Changsheng said, "Perhaps even your adoptive mother didn't know your adoptive father was adopted."

Looking at Changchuan now, he couldn't help but think of Zhang Xiaoliu.

The two shared so many similarities that a wave of emotion washed over him.

Hearing this, Changchuan quickly said, "Brother, please come in and take a seat."

Chen Changsheng smiled. "Then This Chen will have a good chat with you about these tales of the past."

Changchuan brought over the wine and set it on the table.

It was Autumn Moon Brew.

Chen Changsheng began the story from the very beginning.

He spoke of Zhang Wudi.

"Zhang Wudi... that's my adoptive grandfather, right?"

"That's right."

"When your adoptive grandfather was born, the elders in his family hoped for a flourishing lineage, so they named him Wudi, meaning 'fifth brother'..."

"Then my adoptive father being named Zhang Xiaoliu..."

"He followed after your adoptive grandfather, and your adoptive grandfather gave him that name. Back then, he didn't even have it as good as you; he only went by Xiao Liu and had no surname. It was only later, after paying respects in the ancestral hall, that he took the surname Zhang."

"So there was such a story..."

Changchuan was extremely curious about the history between his adoptive mother and father.

He had often heard his adoptive mother speak of it before, but it was always in passing fragments that never formed a complete tale.

"I heard my adoptive mother say that my adoptive father fought in a war up north?"

"Yes. Back then, North Xiang marched south to attack Great Jing. Your adoptive father was forcibly conscripted and sent north. Fortunately, he managed to survive and eventually returned to Qiuyue Fang."

"Your adoptive mother was already pregnant at the time. When the child was born, he never saw his father. Your adoptive mother raised the boy all by herself by selling steamed cake on the street."

"That doesn't sound right. I remember my adoptive mother saying my adoptive father sold his tavern back then and left behind a considerable amount of money."

"Ah, about that..."

Chen Changsheng continued the tale bit by bit, explaining how the Zhang family's money had been stolen all those years ago.

"How hateful!" Changchuan slammed his hand on the table in anger.

Chen Changsheng said, "It was recovered later on."

Even so, Changchuan still felt a tightness in his chest.

Just as they were speaking, someone walked into the tavern.

Mo Yuan entered and saw the Mister casually chatting and drinking with someone.

Seeing the newcomer, Changchuan stood up and said, "Please wait a moment, sir..."

Mo Yuan waved a hand. "I'm here looking for someone."

Chen Changsheng turned to Changchuan. "This is Mo Yuan. Speaking of which, according to seniority, you ought to call him Uncle."

"Un... Uncle?"

This time, it was Changchuan's turn to be stunned.

Chen Changsheng chuckled. "Don't be fooled by his youthful looks; he's quite old."

Mo Yuan asked, "And this is..."

Chen Changsheng said, "Zhang Xiaoliu's adopted son."

"No wonder."

No wonder the Mister was sitting here casually drinking and chatting.

He was the son of an old acquaintance.

Though startled, Changchuan quickly recovered his wits and said, "Please take a seat, Uncle."

Mo Yuan grinned. "Good nephew."

Only he would have the thick skin to answer to that.

He sat down, and Changchuan promptly poured him some wine.

Mo Yuan asked, "What were you and Mister Chen talking about just now?"

"Oh, my Brother and I were talking about my adoptive father."

"Brother?"

Mo Yuan looked at the Mister beside him.

Chen Changsheng nodded at him.

Mo Yuan froze for a moment, then hastily let out a cough and said, "Well..."

"You had better not call me Uncle anymore."

Changchuan was taken aback. "W-Why is that?"

"Ahem..."

Mo Yuan lowered his head and muttered, "I really can't accept it."

Chen Changsheng laughed. "You already answered to it, what is there to be embarrassed about?"

Mo Yuan scratched his head and chuckled. "Let's keep our terms of address separate."

Changchuan was somewhat confused, not quite understanding the situation.

Mo Yuan simply slapped the table, changing the subject. "Speaking of your adoptive father!"

Changchuan jumped in surprise.

Mo Yuan chuckled slyly and asked, "Has the Mister told you about Zhao Zhen and Shang Lu from back then?"

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "Not yet."

Changchuan asked, "Were Zhao Zhen and Shang Lu also old acquaintances of my adoptive father?"

"You could say that."

Mo Yuan asked, "Do you know who those two are?"

Changchuan blinked, his eyes full of confusion.

Mo Yuan said, "Many years ago, the world was divided in two between West Xiao and Great Xiang. There were two emperors. One was named Shang Lu, the emperor of West Xiao, who came from a Daoist cultivation background. The other was named Zhao Zhen, the former Prince of Beixiang, who later destroyed Great Jing and declared himself emperor."

"Your adoptive father was truly impressive. Not only did he see both of these men with his own eyes, but he also formed an indissoluble bond with one of them."

Changchuan was completely dumbfounded by the grand tale, but soon he recovered and said, "Uncle, you're..."

"Don't doubt it, it is absolutely true!"

Changchuan looked to his Brother.

Chen Changsheng took a sip of wine and said, "He exaggerates a bit, but he isn't wrong. Your father did indeed meet both of those emperors. You might not have heard the name Zhao Zhen, but you should know of the Grand Ancestor of Xiang."

Changchuan froze, his arm trembling. "The... the Grand Ancestor of Xiang! The Grand Ancestor of Xiang who unified the realm?!"

"That's right. Your adoptive father even gave him plums to eat back then, and he remembered it fondly for a very long time."