Dozens of miles to the west of Daomakan, there is a plain land covering an area of nearly a thousand hectares. There is a huge pasture where countless livestock are raised, including thousands of high-quality horses. The sunset racecourse that shook the northwest.
Everyone in the northwest knows that Sunset Racecourse’s surname is Yan.
There is a not too high mountain near the Sunset Racecourse. At the foot of the mountain is a large stretch of magnificent manor houses. That is where Yan Shooyang, the owner of the Sunset Racecourse, lives today.
Yan Shouyang stood in the study. He looked out the window at the flying snow and frowned slightly.
Even if you live in the north all year round, it is quite rare to see such heavy snow in this season. Especially when it was his birthday today, he had never seen wind and snow in previous years.
Yan Shouyang turns sixty today. Because of his years of martial arts practice, Yan Shouyang is still tall and strong. Although his beard and hair are frosty, he is still full of energy and his majestic face is undiminished.
Looking at the windy and snowy scene outside, Yan Shouyang couldn't help but fall into memories. He recalled his life experience. Even if it couldn't be said to be magnificent, it could be regarded as twists and turns, hardships and hardships. For a moment, his expression was a little dazed, and he felt even more emotional in his heart. Thousands.
Yan Shouyang began to take charge of the huge family business of the famous Sunset Racecourse in the northwest at the age of seventeen. The hardships involved are self-evident. Sunset Racecourse is a piece of fat. Whether it is one's own relatives or other overt and covert forces in the northwest arena, many people are coveting this piece of fat. Yan Shouyang was young and promising. Soon after he took over the family business, he eliminated a group of relatives who wanted to seize the opportunity to seize control of the Sunset Racecourse. Then he relied on his resourcefulness and courage to deal with all the political forces in the northwest, and finally united with many forces to eradicate a gangster force that had been invading the Sunset Racecourse in the northwest for many years, making the northwest rivers and lakes have a long period of peace. Since then, he has not only become famous in the northwest, but has also firmly established himself as the leader of Sunset Racecourse. Yan Shouyang had an extremely far-sighted vision, so he actively cooperated with the government, bringing the racecourse business to unprecedented prosperity. After years of operation, the name Sunset Racecourse has become unique in the northwest, becoming the number one brand in the business community and the world.
Now Yan Shouyang has become extremely wealthy and has become the envy of countless people. But Yan Shouyang knew in his heart that although his life experience was wonderful, neither business nor wealth were the things he was most proud of and most emotional about.
Yan Shouyang is a businessman, but he is also a martial arts person, so the most unforgettable thing for him is in the world.
His story is about the world more than 20 years ago.
In that year, there was a battle between good and evil. Its scale was huge and its process was bloody. It was a shocking battle that had not been seen in the Jianghu in Middle-earth for a hundred years. After that battle, the evil path collapsed, but the righteous path also paid an unprecedented and terrible price, which made the once glorious Central Plains martial arts slump and fell into a period of decline that lasted for more than 20 years.
And in that unprecedented battle that shocked the gods and ghosts, Yan Shouyang was one of the members of the righteous path. He is also one of the few survivors of the righteous path.
Although many years have passed, this incident has never been forgotten by Yan Shouyang. He often feels sad for those old friends and comrades who died in the war, and also feels helpless for the current world.
Today's rivers and lakes are dark and lifeless, lifeless and without character. Therefore, Yan Shouyang laments that the people in this world are not as old as before, and even laments that the few remaining major sects in the martial arts world are still hiding. This is why this already dead world has no improvement, and there is no hope of revival.
Yan Shouyang participated in the bloody battle that year, so he understands cruelty and despair better than anyone else, so he is more eager than anyone else to hope that this world can regain its new life from the shadow of that year. But now that he is old, the years have long worn away the vigor and courage of his youth, and there is nothing he can do. What makes him helpless is that the current generation of young people in the world seems to have no character at all like their generation back then.
But Yan Shooyang never mentioned these thoughts to others. He would just sigh alone from time to time, then pour a glass of wine to pay homage to his old friend from a distance.
There was a sound of footsteps outside the door, interrupting Yan Shouyang's thoughts.
He suddenly came back to his senses, was stunned for a moment, and then smiled wryly at himself.
Hearing the footsteps, Yan Shouyang knew without guessing that it was Qi Cheng, the old butler of the Yan family's Sunset Racecourse.
The door was not closed, footsteps stopped at the door, and someone whispered: "Master."
Yan Shouyang turned around, looked at the old man in plain clothes at the door who was more than ten years younger than him, and said with a smile: "Lao Qi, come in and sit down."
The old man is the housekeeper Qi Cheng. At this moment, he is standing respectfully outside the door, holding a square wooden box in both hands. He responded, then walked slowly into the study.
This kind-faced old man in plain clothes, Qi Cheng, has been following Yan Shouyang since he was a boy. When he got older, he was promoted by Yan Shouyang to be the housekeeper of Sunset Racecourse. Qi Cheng was shrewd and capable, cautious and decent in dealing with things. He dedicated his best years to the Yan family, and was even more loyal to Yan Shouyang, so he won the trust of his master's family.
When Qi Cheng came to the study, he did not sit down immediately. Instead, he placed the box on the desk and poured a cup of tea for Yan Shouyang.
Yan Shouyang smiled. After decades of getting along with each other, his feelings for Qi Cheng were no longer an ordinary master-servant relationship, but regarded him as a family member.
"Master, the weather is bad, why don't you put on two more clothes?" Qi Cheng frowned when he saw Yan Shuyang's clothes were a little thin, "Master, you are already sixty today, you are no longer young. Yes, but don’t bear the cold."
This old man who was loyal and diligent to the Yan family showed genuine concern in his eyes.
Yan Shouyang laughed, walked up and patted Qi Cheng's shoulder gently, and said: "Lao Qi, you are good at everything in your life, except that your mouth is a bit verbose, an old problem that you haven't changed after decades. .”
The old housekeeper gave a wry smile and said: "I have been with you for decades, and you know best what's wrong with me. So you should also know that once some problems develop on your body, you can never change them." .”
Yan Shouyang picked up the tea cup and took a sip of hot tea, and said with a hearty smile: "That's right, you have this old problem with you for decades. If it suddenly disappears one day, then I'm really not used to it."
Qi Cheng smiled and said nothing. He walked to the desk, opened the box gently, and said, "Master, this is a birthday gift specially made for you by the young master. It's cold today, so you can give it a try."
After finishing speaking, he took out a neatly folded mink fur coat from the box.
As the rich owner of Sunset Racecourse, Yan Shouyang had naturally seen a lot of precious objects, so when he saw the silver mink tail on the collar of the mink fur clothes, he knew that this clothes was not worth much. Fei.
"Hey, when did that kid have this idea?" Although Yan Shouyang's tone was calm, the smile had already faded from his eyes.
"The eldest young master is interested." Qi Cheng observed the words, opened the clothes with a smile, and said: "The eldest young master asked the eldest young mistress to make this dress with her own hands several months in advance, just to give it to the master today. Very good, I just hope you can take care of yourself."
Yan Shouyang stepped forward and touched the mink's tail, feeling warm when he touched it. He couldn't help but feel happy in his heart, and said with a smile: "Compared to the son who didn't make me worry less, that daughter-in-law is a good woman who manages the household and makes a living, so that boy is lucky."
"The eldest young master is just still young and his spirit is not stable enough. In two years, he will definitely grow up." Qi Cheng said with a smile: "Everyone knows that the master has high expectations for the eldest young master. After all, the Yan family is In the end, he has to take charge of the business. But now I am still very healthy, and many things have not yet come to that time, so the focus of the eldest young master’s play does not matter.”
When Yan Shouyang heard this, he shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile: "That being said, who doesn't want to be free and at ease as soon as possible? If that kid has that ability, I would be happy to dump this mess into his hands as soon as possible. Until then. When the time comes, I will take you out for a walk, just like back then..."
When he said this, he seemed to touch on some distant memories, so he sighed softly and said no more.
Qi Cheng was silent for a moment, and his eyes couldn't help but show a look of yearning, but soon he smiled slightly and said: "Although the master is old now, his body can still hold on. I can't do it anymore, I will be old." I’m afraid my bones can’t withstand the wind and rain outside.”
Yan Shouyang also sighed: "Lao Qi, you have worked hard for me and the Yan family these years and you have made great contributions. The whole Yan family will always be grateful to you. Don't worry, if I still have the chance to go out again, I will definitely take you with me, but if I don't It will make you suffer.”
His words were sincere, and Qi Cheng's eyes became hot when he heard the words. He murmured: "Master, Qi Cheng has been with you since he was a teenager. You have never treated me as a master or a servant. You treat me like a brother and a brother. I will always bear this feeling in my heart. So I am very grateful to the master and the Yan family." , I will naturally try my best to repay the master for his kindness."
"Lao Qi, it's time to see things outside." Yan Shouyang felt hot and sour in his heart. He chuckled and said, "You and I are both old. We can't stand sensational words. You and I can just know many things. If we talk too much, we will get into trouble." ”
Qi Cheng nodded solemnly. Then he put the mink fur on Yan Shouyang's body with his own hands, looked at it up and down, nodded with satisfaction and said, "My eldest mistress is really good at needlework. This dress is very suitable."
Yan Shouyang put on his clothes and looked up and down. The old saying that a man relies on his clothes and his horse relies on his saddle is indeed true. Moreover, wearing this mink fur coat on Yan Shouyang's burly body immediately made him feel extra energetic, and he seemed to be a few years younger. Yan Shouyang was very satisfied and nodded: "She is clever and virtuous in running the house. It is a blessing for my son to have her as his wife. In the future, my son will take over the family business and I will have her help, so I can feel relieved in the future."
Qi Cheng nodded in agreement.
Yan Shouyang suddenly wrinkled his nose and asked, "Why do these clothes smell so good?"
Hearing this, Qi Cheng frowned slightly. He stepped forward and stretched out his neck to smell it, and then smiled and said, "It smells like rouge. This dress was sewn by the eldest mistress herself. Women always have rouge and gouache on their bodies, so it is inevitable that they will smell like rouge." Just put some on your clothes, it won't hurt."
After hearing Qi Cheng's explanation, Yan Shouyang thought it was reasonable and didn't say anything more. He sat down behind the desk and asked, "Where is my son now?"
Qi Cheng replied: "Today is my sixtieth birthday. The young master has been helping me after breakfast. He said he wanted to make me happy. He is probably still helping to greet the guests now."
"It's rare that he has such a heart." Yan Shouyang said while drinking tea: "But I have already released the news early in the morning. Even if I turn sixty this year, I don't want to be too public, so the people who come to Sunset Racecourse today should not Is that much?"
Qi Cheng hesitated for a moment, and then said: "I know that the master likes to be quiet in recent years, so I understand your intention. But today is your big day, so it should be lively. But it is inconvenient for you to let it go so early in the morning. News, I am afraid that someone will gossip outside in the future..."
Yan Shouyang raised his hand to interrupt him and said with a smile: "Lao Qi, haven't you understood these years? No matter how many people are friendly with me outside, how many of them are real friends? But they are all just benefits. It’s just a way to save face. I’m getting old, but I’m not too old to be dim-sighted. I’m too lazy to do those troublesome face-saving tasks. Today is indeed a day worthy of a few more drinks, so I only invited a few old friends. . People like to miss old times when they get old. When you go out and see them later, it’s enough to have a few drinks with them in peace and quiet.”
"Yes. I understand what the master is thinking." Qi Cheng nodded and said: "So there are really not many people coming to the family now, but there are still some old acquaintances who have sent birthday gifts. After today is over, I will take care of them. As a return gift, let someone send it to them."
Yan Shouyang was very satisfied with the housekeeper's thoughtfulness, and nodded: "That's good, you make the decision on everything yourself. Although I didn't invite them, since they are here with courtesy, we can't lack the courtesy."
Qi Cheng nodded, and then suddenly remembered something, he took out a small wooden box from his arms, handed it to Yan Shouyang respectfully, and said: "This was sent by a person at noon today. He said it was sent by a friend of the master's. The congratulatory gift must be delivered to the master personally by me."
Yan Shouyang didn't pay attention at first, he just opened the box and saw three brown pills inside.
Next to the pills, there was another thing.
A feather, a silver feather.
Yan Shouyang's originally calm expression suddenly changed. He raised his brows with a very surprised expression on his face.
Qi Cheng saw it clearly from the side. His heart moved slightly and he couldn't help but look at the box. When he saw the feather, he had the same inexplicable expression.
Because he didn't understand why someone would send Yan Shouyang a feather as a birthday gift on his sixtieth birthday.
But Yan Shouyang reached out and took out the silver feather, holding it in his hand and looking at it carefully. The unexpected expression on his face gradually disappeared and was replaced by a smile.
Qi Cheng didn't understand why and couldn't help but ask: "Master, why would someone give you a feather? Is it your friend?"
Yan Shouyang smiled and said nothing. He took out another pill from the box and said, "He is indeed a friend of mine. I haven't seen him for many years, but he still remembers my birthday."
Qi Cheng frowned and said: "This is strange. This is the first time I have seen someone give feathers as a birthday gift. It seems that this friend of the master must be very strange."
Yan Shouyang chuckled, "Not only is he weird, but he's also very smart. If you knew him, you wouldn't think this feather is weird."
Qi Cheng shook his head and said: "I know most of the master's friends, but this is the first time I heard that the master has such a friend."
"Of course you don't know him, because you have never seen him." Yan Shouyang gently touched the feather with his fingers, and said with a hint of nostalgia in his tone: "I only have a relationship with him once. We met by chance, but although he and I are very different in age, we hit it off immediately, so even though we have known each other for a short time, we have become close friends."
He suddenly picked up the pill and said to Qi Cheng: "Lao Qi, you know that I have an old disease that has been causing me headaches for so many years. Even the famous doctors in the northwest have not been able to eradicate it. But in recent years, have you ever Have you ever seen me suffer from an old illness again?"
When Qi Cheng heard this, he immediately recalled it carefully, then nodded suddenly and said: "Yes, the frequency of attacks of my old illness has suddenly decreased in the past few years, and there has been no attack this year. What's going on?"
"That's the credit of this pill." Yan Shouyang looked at the pill in his hand with a smile, "When I met him, it was when I suddenly became ill. The attack was so severe that it almost killed me. But it was also Fortunately, I met him at that time, so I had a chance to relieve my pain."
"So that's it." Qi Cheng already understood. He looked at the pills and said, "So these three pills are his birthday gift to the master. It seems that this friend of the master is a master of medical skills?"
"He knows more than just medical skills." Yan Shouyang smiled: "So he is a very strange person. Even I don't know what he knows."
"It seems that the master values this strange friend very much." Qi Cheng said thoughtfully: "If I have the chance, I would also like to get to know him."
"In life, the most important thing in making friends is to be heart-to-heart. He has me as a friend in his heart, so he remembers what I need most." Yan Shouyang murmured, "Thanks to his care, my old illness can be cured." Opportunity. Now with these three pills, within half a year, my old disease should be completely eradicated."
He suddenly smiled and said: "Speaking of which, I haven't seen him for several years. He said that he likes to wander with the wind, just like this feather, with no fixed abode and contentment with the situation. If I have a chance to see him again in the future, I will definitely be there for him. Lao Qi, please introduce me."
He regarded Qi Cheng as a relative, so he didn't hide much in his words.
Qi Cheng suddenly smiled and said: "I can see that when the master talks about that friend, he must also be recalling what happened when you were young."
Yan Shouyang put the feathers and pills back into the box and put the box away carefully. Then he smiled and said: "You and I were both young once, so who doesn't have some stories about his youth?"
Qi Cheng nodded and smiled without saying a word.
Once people get old, they like to be nostalgic. When you are nostalgic, it is best to have a few old friends together, and then reminisce over a drink. That is the most comfortable thing in life.
