Chapter 24 What does it mean to look good but not be useful?

"First, let's take a tour of the county." Xiao Jiuyue started, and the carriage slowly circled Lancang County, passing through three main streets. After the tour was complete, Lianxin continued to ask, "Miss, we're done. Where are we going now?"

"Go..." Xiao Jiuyue's tone stretched out. When he saw a teahouse telling a story, he said, "Let's go here."

Storytelling in a teahouse is a great place for gossip.

Xiao Jiuyue chose a corner to sit down. Lianxin and Luokui blocked her way tightly. She said, "Go and find out which restaurant has the best business and which one is second."

"Miss," said Manager Jin in a low voice, "There are so many people here..."

Xiao Jiuyue waved her hand and said, "With so many people here, who can still bully me? Jin Wu is still here."

"Xiao Wu, protect the young lady well." Manager Jin reminded again and again.

Jin Wu responded and stood next to Xiao Jiuyue, like a door god. The storyteller on the stage was speaking vividly, but Jin Wu didn't hear a word he said. He looked warily at the onlookers around him who were listening attentively.

The storyteller on the stage was the same one she had seen on TV. His story was told with such passion and emotion that it made people feel particularly immersed in it.

After listening to a piece of opera, gossip would start in the teahouse during their free time.

Whose family has taken in a beautiful concubine?

A daughter-in-law gave birth to seven daughters in a row but not a single son.

Whose daughter is the most beautiful.

Which young master is good-looking but useless...

Xiao Jiuyue didn't listen to any of the substantive content, and the storytelling was over, so she led Lianxin and Luokui away. Jin Wuhu stayed behind her, following her closely, fearing that something might happen to her.

"Miss, it turns out that men can be so gossipy." Luo Kui muttered softly.

"Don't listen to the gossip of men at all." Lianxin thought about what they were gossiping about, such as good-looking but useless. Her face turned red. Why don't these men talk about which girl is pretty or which family has a concubine, but gossip about whether some young masters are good-looking or useless?

"It's true that there's nothing nice to hear, but miss, what do you mean by good-looking but useless?" Luo Kui asked doubtfully.

Xiao Jiuyue paused, Lianxin pulled her and whispered something in her ear, Luokui's face flushed.

"In front is the Qingyun Academy in the county, right?" Xiao Jiuyue changed the subject. The two little girls were still unmarried, so it was better not to discuss these things.

"Yes, Steward Jin mentioned earlier that in the entire Lancang County, there are only Qingyun Academy and Huaixian Academy." Lian Xin nodded affirmatively and added, "Staff Jin also said that Qingyun Academy is the best academy in Lancang County."

Xiao Jiuyue took a look and saw that the words "Qingyun Academy" were written in a beautiful and majestic style with a flamboyant style.

In the academy, a student whose clothes were washed white was kicked out.

"Teacher, please give me a few more days. I will go copy books again and I will definitely be able to collect the tuition fee." The student knelt down and begged.

The teacher sighed and said, "How much money can you earn copying books in a day? The academy made an exception and let you clean up to pay off your debt, which is already very generous. Now that you have offended Master Cheng, I can't do anything about it."

"Let's go." The teacher waved at him, the door closed, and the student staggered and fell directly to the ground. He was holding the books in the dark green cloth bag, his face full of despair.

Xiao Jiuyue watched him carefully holding the books. Even in despair, he did not forget to protect these books. Her eyes flickered slightly and she said, "Jin Wu, follow him."

"No, miss, I have to protect you." Jin Wu stood beside Xiao Jiuyue, motionless.

Xiao Jiuyue glanced at the teahouse across the street, which was probably used by students to drink tea. Seeing the elegant atmosphere, she said, "Let's rest here for a while. You can come back here to find me later."

"Miss." Jin Wu looked hesitant. His father had told him to stay with the young lady at all times.

Xiao Jiuyue looked up at Jin Wu. Her words were light but full of authority. She said word by word, "Jin Wu, what I need is an obedient and loyal guard."

Jin Wu's heart trembled, and he immediately said, "Miss, I will go now."

Jin Wu turned around and secretly followed the student who was expelled from the academy. He had a premonition that if he didn't go, the lady might not want him as a bodyguard in the future.

Not long after, Jin Wu returned and said, "Miss, that man's name is Qu Qingli. He has a mother and a younger sister. I heard from the neighbors that he is a very good student and his teacher has praised him several times."

"Have you written down the address?" Xiao Jiuyue asked.

Jin Wu nodded: "I'll make a note of it."

"Let's go." Xiao Jiuyue left Qingyun Academy. Luo Kui asked doubtfully, "Miss, shouldn't we go and ask?"

"No need." Xiao Jiuyue shook her head.

Luo Kui wanted to say something but was stopped by Lian Xin.

As soon as I arrived at the place where I had said goodbye to Manager Jin, I ran into him. As I got into the carriage, Manager Jin said, "Miss, I've found out that the best restaurant in the county is Hongxing Restaurant, and the second most famous one is Fengchun Restaurant. I heard that in the cooking competitions a few years ago, the chefs from Fengchun Restaurant won several times."

"But, when it comes to business, Hongxinglou still has the best." Manager Jin's forehead was sweating, worried that Xiao Jiuyue and the others would get anxious waiting. He added, "I heard that the owner behind Hongxinglou is quite influential."

"Then let's go to Fengchun Tower." Xiao Jiuyue said.

"Yes." Manager Jin got on the carriage and led people directly to Fengchun Tower without asking a single question. Jin Wu looked at his father thoughtfully, as if he understood something.

"Miss, this is Hongxing Tower." Manager Jin said in a low voice, and deliberately asked the carriage to move slower.

Xiao Jiuyue lifted the curtain and took a look. Even though it was not yet dinner time, Hongxing Building was already crowded with people, and there were many carriages tied at the door!

Not long after they started walking, the carriage stopped.

"Miss, we've arrived at Fengchunlou." Manager Jin jumped off the carriage, and Jin Wu had already skillfully moved the horse stool.

Luo Kui got off the carriage first and helped Xiao Jiuyue.

Unlike the magnificent Hongxing Building, Fengchun Building is quiet and elegant, and looks much more refined. There is an antique feel everywhere, whether it is the calligraphy at the corner or the calligraphy works left by many talented people hanging on the walls upstairs.

"The environment is nice." Xiao Jiuyue chose a box by the window and sat down. Perhaps because they arrived early, there were not many people in Fengchunlou.

The waiter came up with tea and asked with a smile, "What would you like to eat, sir?"

"What is the signature dish of your restaurant?" Xiao Jiuyue asked instead of answering.

The waiter was stunned for a moment, then said, "Three cup chicken and steamed pork with rice flour are both our signature dishes."

"Then serve them all, and cool down a few delicious side dishes." Xiao Jiuyue said casually.

"Okay." The waiter bent down and walked out. Even though Xiao Jiuyue was beautiful, the waiter didn't dare to show any expression, for fear of angering the distinguished guest.

The waiter trotted to the kitchen and announced the name of the dish before he heaving a sigh of relief and muttering to himself, "When did such a beautiful lady appear in Lancang County? I wonder who she is from?"