CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: SEEKING A SON-IN-LAW

Last time Li Mu told him he would leave before spring; he didn’t expect him to leave so soon. At least for now, both Impatiens and Nanyang haven’t fallen yet.

Chen Mo also noticed that the city is no longer defended by those governmental officials from the government office, but by soldiers in armor holding weapons. There are also more constables patrolling the city.

Chen Mo sold all the Tiger Whip, Tiger Gall, and Tiger Heart to the Yi Family’s pharmacy.

Although the price wasn’t entirely satisfactory, it was still higher than what other pharmacies offered.

The smaller the pharmacy, the more they undercut the price. At this time, it was actually these drugstores opened by Noble Clans that offered normal prices.

Especially the Tiger Whip, which sold for a price Chen Mo never expected: ten taels of silver.

However, just as Chen Mo was about to leave, the shopkeeper of the pharmacy kept him there.

Chen Mo frowned, thinking the other party might have recognized him, and instinctively moved his hand toward the handle of the Tang Blade strapped to his back.

"Young friend, don’t misunderstand, I have no ill intentions." The shopkeeper realized Chen Mo misunderstood and quickly explained with a smile: "My master loves to make friends with heroes and outstanding figures, and young heroes like you who can slay fierce beasts are especially favored by my master."

Chen Mo’s face inexplicably darkened, as he felt the words sounded strange. Could it be that their master had a fondness for Longyang?

He was about to decline when he saw a middle-aged man, surrounded by a group of servants, walk in from the back courtyard.

The middle-aged man wore a brocade robe and a jade ring. At a glance, Chen Mo noticed a red number 38 on the man’s forehead.

"Master." The pharmacy shopkeeper cupped his fists toward the middle-aged man and then pointed at Chen Mo, saying, "This is the young hero I asked someone to tell you about, my lord."

"Young friend, this is my master, the current patriarch of the Yi Family."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, just about to take a closer look at the middle-aged man when the man suddenly made a move, his steps as fast as the wind, and his five fingers turned into a claw reaching for Chen Mo’s shoulder.

The pharmacy shopkeeper was somewhat startled by this sudden event.

And upon seeing the young man not dodge or evade, he couldn’t help but close his eyes, unable to bear watching further.

Master’s claw technique is formidable enough to leave grooves on the millstone in the courtyard.

"Ah..."

A miserable scream.

"As expected... no, why does this sound like Master’s voice..."

The shopkeeper opened his eyes and saw that Master’s outstretched claw was tightly grasped by the young man. It was likely too tight, causing Master to cry out in pain.

Seeing this, the servants rushed forward but were stopped by the middle-aged man: "Stand down, all of you."

Then he turned his gaze to Chen Mo, praising him: "A true young hero indeed."

Chen Mo’s brows tightened, understanding that the other was testing him. He released him but knowingly asked,

"What does Landlord Yi mean by this?"

"To see if the young gentleman is a martial artist." Yi Qianchi rubbed his slightly reddened wrist and directly explained, then said, "I didn’t expect the young gentleman’s strength to be beyond my expectations. Let me introduce myself, Yi Qianchi, the patriarch of the Yi Family. May I know how to address the young gentleman?"

"Chen Mo." Chen Mo registered and obtained a pass when he entered the city. With a clan like the Yi Family, it would be easy for them to discover his identity, so he did not hide his name.

Hearing this, Yi Qianchi’s expression slightly condensed, then he clapped his hands, "Someone, bring tea."

His gaze fell on Chen Mo: "Mr. Chen, please come inside. There is a delightful matter I wish to discuss with you."

Under the guidance of Yi Qianchi, the two of them arrived at the rear courtyard of the pharmacy, passing through pavilions and waterside pavilions to a quiet room.

When Chen Mo sat down, the Yi Family’s maidservants brought tea and snacks to the table.

Taking advantage of the moment the maid was pouring tea for Chen Mo, Yi Qianchi smiled and asked, "Does the young gentleman have a family?"

Chen Mo had vaguely guessed something, and replied calmly, "No, I do not."

Hearing this, Yi Qianchi’s eyebrows slightly raised, and he continued, "Is Mr. Chen a local of this county?"

"Indeed."

"Where is your home located?"

Chen Mo frowned, "Landlord Yi, please speak frankly."

Yi Qianchi’s eyes shone slightly, and he smiled and said, "I have a little daughter who has already come of age and greatly admires young heroes like Mr. Chen."

Previously, from Wu Mountain, Chen Mo learned that the Yi Family has two direct lineages.

Among them, the lineage of the old patriarch had always inherited the position of head of the Yi Family. However, the old patriarch’s son was killed by a bear, leaving only a daughter.

The position of the next patriarch was originally supposed to go to Yi Qianchi’s father, who was the old patriarch’s younger brother.

However, the old patriarch married Yang Wei as a son-in-law, and later Yang Wei established the Qinghe Gang. After the old patriarch died, Yang Wei became powerful and took control of the Yi Family.

Now that Yang Wei is dead, the position of the Yi Family patriarch naturally falls to Yi Qianchi.

And Yi Qianchi has no sons, only a daughter.

"Landlord Yi, you wouldn’t be thinking of taking me as a son-in-law, would you?"

Chen Mo frowned. In the Great Song Dynasty, a son-in-law had no status, unable to take part in imperial examinations, and any children born could not bear his surname.

Being a man of traditional masculinity, he naturally couldn’t accept this.

"Indeed." Yi Qianchi also knew that the status of a son-in-law was low, but the Yi Family was considered a high-ranking family in the local area. Taking a martial artist as a son-in-law was nothing significant. He earnestly said:

"Mr. Chen, though the Yi Family may not compare to the Wang and Li Families now, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. If Mr. Chen agrees, not a single item of the bride price would be lacking. I would even invite Lord Chang to attend the wedding banquet. Moreover, when I’m gone, the Qinghe Gang can also be managed by Mr. Chen."

"Isn’t Landlord Yi underestimating me too much? The saying from the book goes that a so-called son-in-law is an unnecessary attachment within the wife’s family, like a wart on the body, not meant to be. Besides, martial artists naturally have pride. The Chen Family still requires me to carry on its legacy. If this is all Landlord Yi has to say, I’m afraid I cannot agree." Chen Mo stood up, intending to leave.

Yi Qianchi was somewhat surprised by how well Chen Mo articulated himself, and said, "Mr. Chen is also a scholar, it seems?"

"Last year’s Child Student." Chen Mo said.

Yi Qianchi took a sip of tea and pondered for a while before saying, "Mr. Chen, do you intend to pursue the imperial examinations?"

"Naturally." Chen Mo replied.

"How old is Mr. Chen?"

"Just turned seventeen at the beginning of the month."

"Then you’re only a year older than my daughter." Yi Qianchi lightly tapped the table, weighing the pros and cons in his mind before finally sighing, stood up, and cupped his hands to Chen Mo: "I offended Mr. Chen earlier, I apologize and hope for your understanding."

Chen Mo also felt a sense of loss; if he agreed, the Yi Family would undoubtedly be able to assist him a lot.

Darn self-respect.

As the saying goes online, the quickest way to cross social strata is through marriage.

In the Great Song Dynasty, where the barriers to upward mobility were monopolized by the noble families, it was even more so.

If he could marry, Chen Mo would certainly agree promptly to Yi Qianchi.

As he was leaving, Chen Mo suddenly remembered the original reason for coming to the county: "May I ask Landlord Yi something?"

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