Chapter 239 Overlord Silk

As we all know, Chang'an is the capital city and is located under the feet of the emperor. People in this city also have their own pride.

Just like the people in the capital of any dynasty, they all have their own tunnels.

In fact, this is a common problem among people in the capital.

The athletes from Guannei Road also waved eagerly to the audience in the stands, looking very passionate.

No one would remain indifferent to being welcomed so warmly by fellow villagers.

Following closely behind were the athletes from Henan Province.

At the sports meeting held in Guannei Road, athletes from Henan Road received cheers no less than those from Guannei Road.

There was no other reason, as there were quite a few people from Dengzhou who came to Chang'an to participate in the sports games.

As for Dengzhou, it still belonged to Henan Province during that period.

As an emerging region and a special economic zone brought up by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the people of Dengzhou naturally have a lot of spare money in their pockets, and are not much worse than the people of Chang'an.

People with money in their pockets will naturally feel more confident.

Facing the people in Chang'an who are under the emperor's feet, he is not at all afraid.

In Chang'an, people from Dengzhou have a polarized reputation. On the one hand, people in Chang'an like their generosity, but on the other hand, they don't like their nouveau riche temperament.

But the people of Dengzhou don't think so. After all, Dengzhou is the "place where the dragon rises" of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and we have also struggled together with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so no one is worse than anyone else.

Fortunately, this is Guannei Dao's home ground, so the people of Dengzhou are not too ostentatious and just cheer for the athletes from their hometown.

After all the athletes from the ten regions of the Tang Dynasty and the newly-designated Liaodong region entered the venue, it was the turn of other ethnic groups, such as the Huihe and Khitan tribes.

Then came the vassal states such as Persia, Tibet, Silla, and Japan.

It must be said that these foreigners had gained weight visibly within just a few days of arriving in Chang'an.

The people in the stadium were also very supportive. In addition to the home team Guannei Road, the voices of most of the home team Henan Road were particularly loud. As for other regions, the audience did not hesitate to show their enthusiasm. Even for those foreign ethnic groups, they responded with warm cheers.

After the athletes' entrance ceremony, Li Xiang gave another series of brief speeches and then announced the official start of the competition.

The first event to be held was naturally horseback archery.

This time, Xue Rengui represented Hedong Province and Pei Xingjian was with him.

The representatives of Guanzhong Road were Qibi Heli and Ashina She'er, two great Turkic generals.

It was somewhat contrary to Tiangang's nature. Li Xiang naturally did not expect it to be so ridiculous.

But there is no problem. After all, the Qibi tribe was also arranged to be in Guannei Road. Rounding it off, Qibi Heli is also a member of Guannei Road now.

Not to mention Ashina She'er, his family was also in Chang'an City. Theoretically speaking, there was nothing wrong with him being a Chang'an native.

"This sports meet is really interesting." Li Chengqian said with emotion as he sat in the box.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ashina She'er's five ten-ring scores were announced.

After all, he is a man who grew up on horseback. If Ashina She'er can't even practice riding and archery well, he might as well go home and take care of his children.

"What on earth is wrong with Xiang'er's head?" Li Tai also sighed, but there was a hint of sourness in his words.

Alas, such a good child was actually born to that bastard brother.

You are quite capable!
Li Zhi's mind was not on the sports meeting at all. He was eating pistachios with shining eyes, like a hamster storing food for the winter.

Just as Li Xiang walked to the side of the box, he heard someone shouting from above.

"Grape candied fruit dessert, come on, move your legs——"

He looked up in the direction of the sound and saw someone pushing a cart and shouting out goods in the second row.

The people sitting in the second row were either rich or noble. At the very least, they had to be a count, so they could not afford this little money.

Besides, it was boring to just watch it. I was thirsty from shouting just now, so naturally I wanted to buy some grape wine to moisten my throat.

Since they had bought wine, they had to have some snacks, dried fruits, etc., so after such generous donation, the seller had not walked far when all the goods were sold out, and had to carry the cart back to restock.

Those who didn’t buy anything were naturally unhappy and urged him to hurry up.

The sales assistants smiled and hurried back.

These salespeople were basically arranged by the restaurants, and the snacks, dried fruits and the like were also sold in the major markets in Chang'an.

Li Xiang did not completely monopolize the business, but at least when it came to purchasing goods, he could still give all the major merchants some lip service.

He basically only sells in the second and third rows, and has his own people to supply the first row.

As for the civilians in the fourth row and the foreigners in the fifth row, let the Chang'an people who want to make a little money go and get some goods to sell on their own.

As Li Xiang's good brothers, Li Jingren and others were naturally arranged in the box near the royal palace.

However, out of tune with the laughter of others was the slightly emo Li Jingren. No one knew what was going on and he refused to say anything when asked.

"Niu'er, Ba Wangsi." Yuchi Xunyu shouted at Cheng Chubi.

Ba Wang Si is a new snack recently launched by the restaurant. It is made with air-dried mutton shreds and is a bit like the mutton version of Dengying Beef.

Because wild chili peppers from Yunnan are added during the production process, it has a strong spicy taste and is the king of all flavors, so it was named "Ba Wang Si" by Luo Binwang.

Because the name was so vivid, it quickly spread throughout Chang'an City.

Nowadays, people's tolerance for chili peppers is far less than that of later generations.

For a while, eating "Ba Wang Si" became a fashionable behavior in Chang'an City and was regarded as a challenge by people.

Think about it, if others find it too spicy to eat, but you can eat it, how much attention will you attract? How much praise will you receive?

Like his grandfather Yuchi Gong, Yuchi Xunyu has an extraordinary tolerance for chili peppers.

Especially the old guy Yuchi Gong, when he was eating Changte'an, he even asked someone to put more chili on it so that he could slurp it to his heart's content.

Cheng Chubi has been idle recently, so Li Jingren assigned him a task to be responsible for the food supply in the first row of boxes.

Just now, Cheng Chubi, who had just returned from outside, was stopped by Yuchi Xunyu.

Cheng Chubi smiled, opened the cart, and scooped out a large spoonful of Ba Wang silk from it.

"Go inside!" Yuchi Xunyu knocked on the lunch box in his hand.

"I'll kill you with this spicy food sooner or later." Cheng Chubi rolled his eyes at Yuchi Xunyu. As soon as he finished saying this, Li Xiang walked in from outside the box.

"Brother!" All the playboys greeted him loudly.

"What's the matter? As soon as I arrived, I heard Niu talking about Xun Yu." Li Xiang walked over with a smile and stretched out his hand to grab two pistachios from in front of Li Jingren.

"This kid, when he wants to eat, he doesn't get it himself, but has to bother me." Cheng Chubi said with a grin.

"Those who are capable should do more work." Li Xiang patted Cheng Chubi on the shoulder.

"Brother, you are finally here." Wei Daijia said quickly, "Please go and take a look at Brother Jingren. He has been depressed for the whole morning. I haven't seen him smile since the beginning. What's going on?"

Hearing his top general suddenly become angry, Li Xiang couldn't help but ask with concern: "Jingren, what's wrong with you?"

Li Jingren forced a smile and said, "I'm fine. I'm sorry to have made you worried."

Seeing his look, Li Xiang got a bowl of special version of shredded beef from Cheng Chubi and placed it on Li Jingren's desk.

"Tell me what's going on. Your business is my business. Just tell me what's going on."

Then, he suddenly remembered Ashina Yun whom Li Jingren had mentioned before.

"Oh, I see." Li Xiang said with a smile, "It's your sweetheart Ashina Yun who has come to the capital, right?"

"Yes." Li Jingren nodded.

"Didn't we say before that men must fight?" Li Xiang said with a smile, "You were very open-minded at that time, why are you being shy now?"

"It's not that I'm shy, I just made up my mind this morning." Li Jingren scratched his neck: "When I made up my mind, I was full of enthusiasm, but in the end..."

"I thought it was something else. Didn't you go out for an outing with Ashina Yun the past few days?" Cheng Chubi said with a gloating smile, "Looking at how close you two were, I thought there was a chance. But today you told me that you turned into a woman at the critical moment?"

"I understand. This is human nature." Li Xiang smiled. "The first time you make a great effort, the second time you make a great effort, and the third time you make a great effort."

"Brother, how did you overcome this feeling?" Wei Daijia asked behind him, "I remember that when you faced your sister-in-law, you didn't feel awkward at all, but rather handled it with ease..."

Li Xiang smiled, pulled over a stool and sat next to everyone.

"Do you want to know why?" Li Xiang asked with a smile.

Everyone nodded and joked, who wouldn't want to learn this unique skill to pick up girls?
"Daijia, tell me, how did you feel when you faced Li Xueyi?" Li Xiang asked.

"How do you feel?" Wei Daijia thought for a moment and said, "Ah, a little nervous."

"What if I ask you to confess your love to her?" Li Xiang asked with a smile, "For example, Xue Yi, please marry me."

"Then...then don't..." Wei Daijia shook his hands rapidly.

Li Xiang didn't say anything either. He took the Sanle juice from the side and poured a bowl.

"Drink it." Li Xiang said.

Upon hearing this, Wei Daijia drank the whole bottle in one gulp without saying a word.

"How do you feel now?" Li Xiang asked with a smile.

"I... I feel pretty good." Wei Daijia burped, "I feel full of confidence and strength..."

"That's right." Li Xiang pointed with his finger.

"This... is this your secret?" Not only Wei Daijia, but the young men around him all stepped back in awe.

"That's because you are my brothers. I won't tell anyone else." Li Xiang picked up the wine glass beside him and poured himself a glass of wine.

"You are worthy of being my brother!" Wei Daijia's face flushed, and he looked very confident.

"So, Brother Jingren." Wei Daijia turned to Li Jingren and said, "I think what you said is very right. In fact, there is nothing to worry about. Just do your best."

Cheng Chubi whistled and teased mischievously, "Look, you are indeed a waiter who drank the secret recipe. You are so tough when you speak - but even though you call me 'Brother Jingren', you are actually thinking 'Uncle Jingren', right?"

Everyone laughed when they heard his words.

If Wei Daijia and Li Xueyi really got together, wouldn't Li Jingren be Wei Daijia's second uncle?

Cheng Chubi is really mischievous. He attacks with a deadly move as soon as he opens his mouth.

Li Jingren glared at Wei Daijia fiercely, and then said to Li Xiang: "Brother, I have made up my mind. I will ask Miss Yun to go outing together tonight!"

"That's it." Li Xiang nodded slightly, and then asked Wei Daijia: "Daijia, what about you? When are you going to launch a general attack on Li Xueyi?"

"I, I'm not in a hurry." Wei Daijia shook his hand and said, "I'm only thirteen this year..."

"That's indeed a little early." Li Xiang reached out and rubbed his dog's head.

As soon as he finished speaking, cheers were heard outside.

Xiao Shoudao stretched his neck and looked for a long time before he understood what was happening.

"Brother!" he shouted excitedly, "Old Xue actually shot five arrows in a row! Every arrow hit the bull's eye!"

"It seems that the horse riding and archery championship this time will go to Old Xue again." Li Jingren also stood up, crossed his feet and looked around.

To be honest, even though we are all from Guannei Dao, if we had to say who we hope will win the championship, it would still be Xue Rengui.

Even if the other party is from Hedong Road, after all, they are together day and night, and the flesh on the palm of the hand is always thicker than that on the back of the hand.

After a while, Li Jingren said again: "Brother, I have talked a lot with Ashina Yun these days..."

Seeing his tangled look, Li Xiang thought he was still trapped in love, so he said: "But what are you undecided about? Why don't you tell me."

Unexpectedly, Li Jingren shook his head and said, "Not really, I just talked to her about some things on the grassland."

"You kid, you don't talk about romance with women, but instead talk about things that spoil the mood?" Li Xiang laughed and said, "No wonder you haven't succeeded yet..."

"As the saying goes, how can we have a family if the Xiongnu is not yet destroyed?" Li Jingren said sternly, "The biggest threat to the Central Plains is the grassland. This has been a major problem that has troubled the Central Plains for thousands of years. No matter how much I like Miss Yun, I will never put my love for my children above the country."

"Great!" Wei Daijia was the first to praise his future brother-in-law: "What Brother Jingren said is really what I want!"

"Brother Jingren, you are truly a role model for our generation!" Everyone praised and gave Li Jingren a thumbs up.

"Thank you for your praise, brothers." Li Jingren said with emotion: "I have been doing business on the grassland for more than a year, and I have a basic understanding of grassland affairs. I have had in-depth exchanges with Miss Yun in the past few days, and I have verified my own experiences with them, and I have some immature ideas."

After hearing what Li Jingren said, Li Xiang became interested.

"In that case, why not tell me about it?"

(End of this chapter)