Liu Bei: My younger brother is a deity.

Chapter 15 The Su Family Gifts a Horse

With such a mishap occurring in the Su family, Zhang Pu's birthday banquet naturally could not proceed.

The guests took their leave and went home one by one. The red cloth in the courtyard had not yet been removed and the leftover dishes on the table had not yet been cleared away when the lively atmosphere came to an end.

Zhang Fei, however, refused to let Liu Bei and Liu Quan go.

He grabbed Liu Bei's sleeve with one hand and Liu Quan's belt with the other, while blocking the door with his body, making it clear that he would not let go until they were allowed to stay.

Liu Bei declined a few times, but seeing his sincerity, he agreed.

In the days that followed, Zhang Fei spent his days training his muscles and bones and honing his martial arts skills with Liu Quan, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Zhang Yue would also visit from time to time, each time changing into different clothes, but no longer wearing men's clothing.

Only then did Liu Bei realize that A Fei's "cousin" was actually his older cousin.

It was also noticed that every time Zhang Yue came over, her gaze always lingered more on A Quan. Occasionally, when A Quan returned her a glance, the corners of her mouth would unconsciously curl up.

Zhang Fei was a rough man and young, so he couldn't see through these tricks.

Liu Bei, however, was a meticulous person. He didn't pay attention the first two times, but by the third and fourth times, he noticed some clues.

Zhang Yue came again that day.

Liu Bei couldn't help but tease Liu Quan, "Quan, Sister Zhang always stares at you whenever she comes. It seems your marriage is about to happen."

Liu Quan shook his head: "She's too young and not yet suitable for 'cooperation' and 'childbearing,' so I'm not interested for now."

Still in a naive stage, A-Bei was completely bewildered. "Huh? What's cooperation? What's childbirth?"

Liu Quan said calmly, "It's just intercourse and having children."

Liu Bei blushed at first, then a surge of curiosity rose within him. He glanced at Zhang Yue, who was talking to A Fei, and whispered, "A Quan, do you... do you know what sexual intercourse is all about?"

Liu Quan replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, didn't you know?"

Liu Bei asked in surprise, "Should I know this?"

Liu Quan then realized that people in this era had relatively primitive ways of accessing information and a low level of education, so it was normal for A Bei not to know these common-sense things.

So Liu Quan briefly explained some "physiological hygiene" knowledge to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei blushed deeply upon hearing this, feeling utterly shocked.

Over there, Zhang Fei couldn't help but complain to Zhang Yue, "Sister, could you please stop coming over here and disturbing our martial arts practice?"

Then, as if realizing something, she looked at Zhang Yue with a suspicious gaze, "Could it be that you, sister, have also taken a liking to Quan...?"

Zhang Yue blushed.

Then I paused, wondering why it was "也" (also)?

Just as he was about to ask, "Who else has taken a fancy to Quan?", Zhang Fei finished his sentence: "Taken a fancy to Quan's skills?"

Zhang Yue pouted and said, "Can you stop talking so dramatically!"

Zhang Fei was taken aback: "I wasn't breathing heavily!"

"Shut up!"

"Okay!"

Zhang Yue suddenly said, "So what if I've taken a liking to A-Quan!"

Zhang Fei was taken aback, then a look of realization dawned on him, and he muttered, "No wonder, no wonder!"

Zhang Yue's tone softened: "Fei-di, was your older sister good to you before?"

Zhang Fei blurted out, "Oh no!"

Zhang Yue was taken aback, then pinched Zhang Fei's ear. "Is it okay?"

Zhang Fei: "Good, very good!"

Zhang Yue: "That's more like it."

He then continued, "Brother Fei, will you help me win over Quan's heart?"

Zhang Fei immediately shook his head: "That won't do, wouldn't that be betraying a friend?"

Zhang Yue's eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean? Is my sister really that unpresentable?!"

Zhang Fei hurriedly replied, "No, it's just that I don't know Quan's feelings, nor do I know if he has rejected the marriage proposal. How could I rashly help you?"

"What kind of brother are you if you don't know anything? If you don't know, go ask someone. Anyway, I don't care, you have to help your sister."

"Okay, okay, I'll ask around for you. Stop twisting it, it's going to fall off, it's going to fall off."

"Hmph, go ask me now."

Zhang Yue released her grip.

"Sister, isn't this too hasty? A woman should be a little more reserved!"

Are you going or not?

"go."

Zhang Fei walked towards Liu Bei and Liu Quan.

Upon approaching, he stammered, "Ah Quan, I have a question for you, you—"

"No," Liu Quan replied before he could finish his sentence.

"What?" Zhang Fei was completely dumbfounded.

"I am not engaged," Liu Quan said.

Zhang Fei's eyes widened. "You...you...how did you know?"

"I guessed."

Liu Bei thought to himself, "My brother is a god! He just repeated everything you two said right here. Wow, this is the legendary 'thousand-mile ear'! Amazing!"

"Then would you like to be with my sister...?" Zhang Fei asked again.

"I'll go and talk to your sister myself," Liu Quan said with a smile.

Zhang Fei breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good."

Meanwhile, Zhang Yue was waiting for news from Zhang Fei when he saw Zhang Fei exchange a few words with Liu Quan, after which Liu Quan walked towards him. His heart pounded in his chest.

"Oh no, oh no, why is Quan here?"

"What did that idiot Ah Fei say to that person?"

"What should I say?"

"Should I just greet you like usual?"

"Or should I just express my feelings directly?"

After a series of thoughts, Zhang Yue chose to... flee in panic.

Just as Liu Quan approached, he heard the girl say in a flustered voice, "Oh dear, I suddenly remembered I have some things to take care of at home. Brother Quan, I... I have to go now."

After saying that, he turned and left, walking faster and faster until he disappeared at the gate of the courtyard in the blink of an eye.

Liu Quan was stunned.

He had just been about to ask the other person if they would be willing to "cooperate" with him in a few years when everyone had grown up.

Zhang Fei's duck-like laughter rang out, "Quack quack quack, Sister is actually so afraid of Quan, it's hilarious!"

Liu Bei couldn't help but smile; the contrast was just too striking.

In the following days, Zhang Yue did not come to visit again.

On this day, as the sun began to set, a cloud of dust rose from the official road east of the village.

However, it was Zhang Pu and Butcher Zhang who returned from the Su family.

The Su family held a funeral for Su Wei, and the Zhang brothers also went and stayed for seven days before returning.

Butcher Zhang didn't return empty-handed; he brought back eight horses.

It includes four adult horses and four foals.

This is a thank-you gift from the Su family to the Liu brothers.

To be precise, it was given to Liu Quan to repay the kindness of saving his son.

Logically, the Su family father and son should have visited in person, but since the funeral was not yet over, they were unable to leave and had to ask Butcher Zhang to express their gratitude on their behalf, promising to visit in person after the funeral.

When Liu Bei and Zhang Fei saw the fine horse, they were both delighted.

Especially Liu Bei, whose family was poor before, and who was from Youzhou, didn't even know how to ride a horse.

Now that we have a horse at home, I must practice my riding skills properly.

Liu Quan wasn't very interested in horses, but he was quite interested in the Su family father and son.

The Su family has been doing business with the grassland tribes for many years, so they can take this opportunity to find out about the situation on the grasslands.

Afterwards, Liu Quan and Liu Bei stayed in Zhangjiazhuang for a few more days before returning home.

On the way back, Liu Bei, riding his horse, was full of vigor. "Ah Quan, do I look like a great general?"

Liu Quan glanced at him and said, "When you have ten thousand elite soldiers by your side, you will be a great general."