Chapter 56: Became a grandfather at 55 Chapter 56: Became a grandfather at 55 Yang Zhenshan gave a slight nod, his eyes sweeping over the hundred soldiers in front of him.
“How have you been during this time?”
He stepped forward, his voice ringing out with authority.
“You, speak!” He pointed at a lean young man.
“Sir is kind. We have been well-fed and well-rested during this time!” The man responded with a full and loud voice.
Indeed, well-fed and well-rested.
With sufficient food provided, how could they be hungry?
After a whole day of strenuous labor, they fell onto their pillows and slept like logs—how could their sleep be anything but sound?
Compared to half a month ago, although these men still wore ragged clothes, their spirits and physical conditions had seen a complete turnaround.
Their originally sallow complexions had become rosy, their previously listless demeanor now filled with vitality and vigor.
Even though their bodies remained thin, they no longer appeared frail and weak, skin and bones as before.
“Do you wish to continue being well-fed and well-rested in the future?” Yang Zhenshan asked again.
“Yes!”
Yang Zhenshan’s lips curved slightly, “Then train hard for me!”
“Starting today, a one-month foundational training officially begins!”
“I have only one requirement of you: obey the orders!”
“When I say lie down, you must not stand; when I say run, you must not stop!”
“When I say move forward, even if it’s through a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, you must wade through for me!”
“Obeying orders is a bottom line you absolutely cannot cross!”
“Do you understand?”
“Understood!” The group roared with all their might.
In truth, they didn’t understand why they had to follow orders. They shouted ‘understood’ simply as a habit formed over recent times because Yang Chengze and others would always ask if they understood after explaining something, and they always had to answer loudly; if not loud enough, Yang Chengze would ask several times.
Yang Zhenshan nodded with satisfaction, then walked back to the front of the government office and said to Yang Mingzhi and Yang Mingwu, “Start the training.”
These soldiers were different from the able-bodied men of Yang Family Village at the beginning.
Back then, Yang Family Village had faced the threat of Northern barbarian cavalries, and Yang Zhenshan inspired their martial spirit with the conviction of protecting parents, wives, and children.
But these soldiers, for the time being, did not need to face any threats, and they had little sense of belonging to Linguan Castle.
Therefore, Yang Zhenshan had to force-feed them the idea of obedience.
To engrave obedience deep in their bones, so that upon hearing an order, they would have no second thoughts, no hesitation, and would instinctively carry out the task.
Training began, with Yang Mingzhi and Yang Mingwu leading them in units marked by small flags.
Yang Zhenshan had laid out a rigorous training schedule for them.
Every day had a clear timetable.
From dawn till dusk, keeping them busy through and through, with even plans for night training set by Yang Zhenshan, though this was to be started later on.
Of course, the day’s activities weren’t all physical training; every day, they would carve out two hours for literacy and half that time for household chores.
Yes, household chores.
Students in military training had to sort out their internal affairs. This wasn’t a school, and the trainees were not students. They had families here, so Yang Zhenshan mandated them to manage household chores.
He wanted the entire Linguan Castle to be neat and tidy, not permitting even a bit of disorder in these military households.
By May, the weather had gotten hot, especially around noon, when the blazing sun hung in the sky, wielding heatwaves indiscriminately and dousing all soldiers in sweat.
But they stood still, unmoving, like wooden stakes.
Around the training grounds, many elderly, women, and children watched, puzzled and discontented with this sort of training.
Perhaps, in their eyes, this training was nothing but torture.
But intimidated by Yang Zhenshan’s authority, they did not dare voice their dissatisfaction.
Yang Zhenshan didn’t bother explaining. They might not understand now, but given some time, he believed they would see his point.
Moreover, he had ensured they had plenty to eat. Just on this point alone, he believed they would not dare to object.
Yang Zhenshan seemingly casually approached the place where the soldiers drank water and poured a bowl of Spiritual Spring Water into the bucket.
Then he slowly walked back to the study.
With the sun so fierce, he didn’t need to be out roasting in the sun.
Fishing time calls for fishing; after all, he’s the garrison commander.
Hidden in the study, sipping tea, Yang Zhenshan picked up a travelogue to read.
But before he finished a pot of tea, Yang Minghao rushed in, flustered.
“Dad, Dad~~”
The shrill voice startled Yang Zhenshan, causing him to spill tea all over his pants.
Luckily, the tea wasn’t hot enough to scald anywhere too sensitive.
“What’s with the shouting!”
Yang Zhenshan scolded irritably.
The intruding Yang Minghao stiffened upon seeing his father’s angry expression.
“Dad, there’s great news!”
“What great news?” Yang Zhenshan wiped the tea off his pants and asked.
“You’re going to be a grandfather!”
“A grandfather?” Yang Zhenshan didn’t react at first.
“Your eldest daughter has given birth!” Yang Minghao reminded him again.
Yang Zhenshan came back to his senses, “When did she give birth?”
“Five days ago!”
Yang Minghao grinned, handing over the letter in his hands to Yang Zhenshan.
Yang Zhenshan began to read the letter.
It was written by Yang Mingcheng, brought over by the Lu family’s merchant caravan.
The letter mainly spoke of four matters.
First, everything at home is fine, so there’s no need for Yang Zhenshan to worry.
Second, Yang Yunyan has given birth to a big fat boy; Yang Zhenshan is officially a grandfather now.
Third, Yang Mingcheng will accompany Lu Wenquan to Jing’an Prefecture to participate in this year’s prefectural examination.
Fourth, the Li family is pregnant again, already more than two months along; the Yang family is set to welcome another new member.
Yang Zhenshan, reading the content of the letter, found his mind couldn’t quite keep up.
Not only had he become a grandfather, but he was also about to be a granddad once more?
The Li family is pregnant again?
Since Yang Chengmao is nearly two years old, it was quite normal for the Li family to be expecting once more.
But at this rate, he feared it wouldn’t take many years before he’d have a full set of seven Calabash Brothers.
By then, he’d have a crowd of little radishes calling him grandpa.
Seven Calabash Brothers might be too few, it seemed like assembling a football team wasn’t too difficult either.
Thinking about having a group of little ones surrounding him calling him grandpa, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but shiver.
Should he consider family planning?
It seemed somewhat difficult to handle.
This world didn’t have condoms!
However, it seemed there were contraceptives, but those pills seemed to harm one’s health.
He certainly couldn’t, for the sake of family planning, harm his daughter-in-law’s health, could he?
Yang Zhenshan stroked his inch-long beard, feeling this was somewhat troublesome.
There’s a saying that goes, “Give me a woman, and I can create a race.”
But he didn’t have a woman, and it seemed he could still create a race!
This feeling was truly amazing!
“Write a letter to your eldest brother, send him your well-wishes, and tell your eldest sister-in-law to take good care of your second sister-in-law!”
“Right, go tell your second brother that he’s going to be a father again!”
Yang Zhenshan threw aside these messy thoughts and said to Yang Minghao.
“Got it!” Yang Minghao responded cheerily.
Writing a letter!
Hmm, and perhaps write one to his future wife as well!
He now also counted as a man with a wife, even though she hasn’t been brought home yet, but considering himself half a husband shouldn’t be too much, right?
Isn’t having a wife great?
Yang Minghao felt delightfully happy inside.
He sneakily glanced at Yang Zhenshan, “Could Dad also want a wife? If the old man gets younger, what if he brings me a stepmother?”
“To accept or not to accept?”
“If I don’t accept, Dad will probably be angry.”
“This needs to be discussed with the eldest brother!”
With that thought, Yang Minghao dashed out of the study room, off to write a letter to Yang Mingcheng.
Yang Zhenshan, of course, was unaware of Yang Minghao’s thoughts about a stepmother. He was considering whether or not to send a gift to his great-grandson.
But then he thought against it, as he didn’t have any suitable gifts for a great-grandson, plus he wasn’t adept at choosing baby items.
With the great-grandson’s birth, his eldest son and daughter-in-law should probably tend to it; it likely wasn’t something for him to worry about.
As for Yang Mingcheng accompanying Lu Wenquan to the city for the examination, Yang Zhenshan had agreed to this with Lu Zhaoqi last year, and he had already explained everything to Yang Mingcheng before heading to Chongshan Pass.
Judging by the timing, they should be departing these days.
He wondered if Lu Wenquan could pass and become a Scholar.
If so, he’d be able to participate in the provincial examination the year after next.
Yang Zhenshan wanted to bask in the glory of his successful nephew, but for the short term, he definitely wouldn’t be able to.
As for someone from the Yang family being able to pass the imperial examinations and become an official, it was certain that the Yang Zhenshan’s three brothers weren’t up to the task; perhaps Lin Zhan could be cultivated.
As for Yang Chengye’s generation, it was still too early to tell if they had any talent for scholarship.