Xu Lanyin opened the curtain again, letting Qin Shi look at the guards outside who were riding on horses and carrying swords. Then she whispered in her ear, "There are five guards here, plus Ho Tung and Ho Si, and two coachmen, a total of nine men. No one dares to touch us."

Qin murmured again, "Ever since I married your father and settled down in Xiaozao Village, I thought I would live out my life in this small mountain village and never leave. That's what your father promised me. But after your father died, you became successful and actually bought a house in the provincial capital and expanded your business there... I don't like towns. They're too crowded and chaotic."

Xu Lanyin knew that her reference to the crowds being too large was just an excuse; she was probably afraid of running into someone she knew. She said, "The security in the provincial capital is very good, and our location is also good, a quiet place amidst the hustle and bustle. Mother never goes out unless she has something important to do. She takes a car and brings two servants with her, so there's nothing to worry about. The provincial capital is far from my grandfather, so Mother's life is quiet."

The thought of Old Man Xu Lanyin made her liver ache. In ancient times, it was forbidden to openly quarrel with elders. She had previously avoided him because of Xu Lanzhou, and now, for the sake of the Qin family, she should stay away from him even more.

Qin sighed. If it weren't for avoiding the old man, she would rather stay alone in her hometown...

Xu Lanting didn't know what Qin was thinking, so he said, "Eldest sister also said that she wants to live in the capital in the future."

Qin's face turned even paler. She said, "Don't go to the capital. There are so many talented people there. We country folk can't compete with them. It's better to live a comfortable life in Hebei." She squeezed Xu Lanyin's hand tightly and said, "Did you hear me? Remember what mother said."

It was not convenient to say more in the car, so Xu Lanyin could only nod. Qin was particularly resistant to the capital, so she would try to get her to say something later.

They arrived at Feng County before dark and stayed at the Chengnan Inn where they had stayed before.

Because of the Longxing Inn case, neither Qin nor Xu Lanting wanted to spend the night in Fengxian County. However, Fengxian County was the shortest route, and if they didn't stay in Fengxian County, staying in the town would be even less safe than staying in the county.

As soon as he entered the inn, the smiling Zhao Xingchen began to feel nervous. He held Xu Lanyin's hand tightly with his little hand and hid his little face in Xu Lanyin's skirt, fearing that someone would recognize him and run away.

Xu Lanyin picked him up and said softly, "Don't be afraid, this is the South City Inn, there are no bad people. Even if there are, we have so many people protecting us, and others won't dare to mess with us."

Zhao Xingchen buried his head in Xu Lanyin's shoulder again and choked up, "Why hasn't Dad come back yet? He's the best. With him around, those bad guys won't dare to come and catch Xingxing."

The innkeeper already knew Xu Lanyin and came forward and asked with a smile, "Why didn't that young master come with you?"

Of course, that young master refers to Zhao Wu.

Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "He couldn't come because of something urgent."

Seven rooms were requested. The guards and Li's handymen occupied four, Qin and Xu Lanting shared one, and Xu Lanyin, Zhao Xingchen, Li, and the chess master shared another. For safety reasons, Ho Sai and Ho Tung inspected every corner of the house. The food was brought in, and Xu Lanyin only dared to eat after checking that nothing was amiss.

In order to comfort Zhao Xingchen, Xu Lanyin and Zhangqi blocked the door with a table and barricaded the window.

Zhao Xingchen saw that it was indeed much safer, so he went to sleep with peace of mind.

At night, it started to rain again, and the sound of drops of rain hitting the tiles was annoying.

Xu Lanyin couldn't sleep well to begin with, and the sound of rain made it even harder. If the rain didn't stop tomorrow, she'd be stuck at the inn for another day. If it didn't stop the day after tomorrow, she'd be stuck even longer.

When I woke up the next day, the rain was still falling and the weather was even colder.

Xu Lanyin put on a thin jacket for herself and Zhao Xingchen, and went to Qin's room together.

Qin was wearing a cotton jacket and skirt, looking out the window and sighing.

Xu Lanting, also wearing a long cotton-padded jacket, was practicing boxing in the middle of the room. Ever since his health improved, he would practice martial arts every morning with Xu Lanzhou or Zhao Wu.

Zhangqi went downstairs to ask the waiter to bring up water for washing, and then went to buy breakfast and brought it to the room.

After dinner, Xu Lanyin felt uncomfortable staying in the room, so she took Li, Zhangqi, He Dong and He Xi, holding oil-paper umbrellas, to Wang Erniang's embroidery workshop to buy things.

Wang Erniang Embroidery Workshop is just across from the South City Inn. The small embroidery pieces and accessories it sells are very unique, and many people from other places come here to buy them.

The path in the middle was narrow and paved with stones. Xu Lanyin walked along on tiptoe without even getting her embroidered shoes wet.

Xu Lanyin bought a lot of small things, such as small purses, handkerchiefs, sachets, flowers, and bracelets made of silk, some for herself and some for others. Just as she was about to leave, she ran into Qin Ru and Zhu Zhuang at the door again.

"What a coincidence."

"What a coincidence."

"What a coincidence."

Xu Lanyin, Qin Ru and Zhu Zhuang said in unison and then laughed.

Qin Ru asked with a smile, "Miss Xu, are you going to Ningzhou Prefecture?" Seeing Xu Lanyin nod, he asked again, "Are you staying at the Chengnan Inn across the street?"

Xu Lanyin nodded and said with a smile, "Could it be that the two young masters also live there?"

Zhu Zhuang smiled and said, "That's exactly where we live."

Qin Ru continued, "I'm here to buy some small things for my family. I don't know what the little girl likes. Miss Xu, can you help me take a look?"

After he made this request, Xu Lanyin accompanied them for a walk and made some suggestions based on her own preferences.

Qin Ru bought more for his sister and wife, and a few more for his mother and son. From what he said, he learned that his sister's maiden name was Hongyu and his son's was Xiangge'er.

They didn't talk much, but Xu Lanyin could tell that Qin Ru was a family man with the delicacy of a southern man. She asked, "From the way he spoke, did you say Young Master Qin have experience in the south?"

Qin Ru smiled and said, "I grew up in Wucheng. My father is an official here. My family and I only came to Ningzhou Prefecture three years ago."

A few people returned to the inn, and their rooms were actually next to those of several guards from the Min Mansion.

The rain stopped in the afternoon, and many guests left the inn. But Xu Lanyin and the others stayed. It would surely be dark by the time the mule cart reached Ningzhou Prefecture, making it unsafe to continue on. They would also have to stay in an inn outside the city, so it was better to stay here and leave tomorrow.

After Xu Lanyin and the others had dinner in Qin's room, Zhangqi cleared the dishes and went downstairs. Xu Lanyin took Zhao Xingchen back to her own room to rest. At the door, they ran into Qin Ru and Zhu Zhuang, who were passing by, along with their two servants.

Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "Young Master Qin and Young Master Zhu are leaving?"

Qin Ru smiled and said, "We can ride faster on horseback and reach Ningzhou in less than two hours. Miss Xu, are you going to leave tomorrow?"

Xu Lanyin nodded and said with a smile, "Take care, gentlemen."

Zhu Zhuang even clasped his fists and said, "See you later."

Why did that voice sound so familiar? Qin, who had already gone to bed, quickly got up, put on her shoes, and hurried out. She held onto the railing and watched Qin Ru and the others walk down the stairs and out of the inn. That walking posture was so similar.

Qin's eyes were fixed on Qin Ru's back until he walked out of the inn.

Qin Ru walked out the door, turned back and glanced upstairs, smiled and waved to Xu Lanyin behind the railing on the second floor, then turned and left. However, he only had eyes for Xu Lanyin and didn't see the person next to her.