Chapter 75 I Was Not Angry
That's it?
The expected anger did not materialize. Yan Dibai remained silent for a brief moment, then instead of being angry, she scoffed.
Qingqing was surprised, but Yan Dibai had already walked towards the lantern stall. "Take two lanterns."
Qingqing: "..." She really doesn't look angry.
It wasn't a case of smiling while hiding a knife in front of Lu Xi and the others.
But he said two lamps?
That's three ounces!
Qingqing gasped and hurriedly felt her purse through her clothes—there was less than an ounce left!
Today I spent a fortune on the food for the shop assistant, hoping to make up for it with my monthly salary of 900 coins from working at Xichuntang. I bought the lamps because they were only a few coins in price, just for fun and to provide light, but little did I expect Yan Dibai to order two high-quality fakes right off the bat.
Does Yan Dibai have enough money? No, where would he get the money to buy things? This veil alone costs several copper coins!
The stall owner was surprised to see the ordinary-looking young man so straightforward. He hurriedly and enthusiastically handed over the lamp, ignoring the complicated expression on Qingqing's face, and began joking with Yan Dibai as if they were old friends:
"I wondered why the young lady ran away halfway, it turns out she went to find her lover! The young master didn't want to be discovered while wearing a veil, could it be that he eloped with the young lady? I'm closing up shop now, even if you're only two and a half ounces, come back next time."
Yan Di chuckled, took the lamp, and, under Qingqing's momentary tense gaze, slowly and deliberately placed a large silver coin on the table.
The disbelief in Qingqing's eyes almost jumped out.
With a questioning look in his eyes, Yan Dibai expertly collected the change from the ground and flipped his wrist.
Qingqing took the lantern with suspicion; it was a heavy string of coins, worth about twenty.
…We found so many pieces; there weren't many pieces this big among the pieces of silver she had cut up.
Could it be from her bag...? Her eyes immediately widened in horror.
Qingqing was unaware that the seemingly calm and collected Yan Di was actually doing something she was terrified of.
I initially thought that given Yang Liuqing's personality, she would definitely keep her money on her person at all times. But then I thought, her constant movement outside would only make it easier for her to lose it. Yang Liuqing is most afraid of losing money, so she should carry some for emergencies and keep some as a backup.
Yan Dibai searched everywhere and indeed found a bundle under Qingqing's bed.
As soon as the reed mat was lifted, a cloud of old cattail shavings hit the ground, causing people to cough repeatedly. It was unclear how she managed to endure it. When the bundle was opened, the first thing she touched was a pair of underpants wrapped together with the chest cloth.
Rao Yandi grew up surrounded by women, so he hesitated for a moment when faced with such intimate clothing. It took him quite a while to manage to untie a corner, pour out a few silver coins and a pearl, and take them away to spend.
Thinking about this, Yan Dibai felt uneasy. As if he hadn't noticed the gaze, he casually answered the stall owner who kept trying to sell him lanterns, while looking up as if he were examining the hanging lanterns.
"Your lamp is of acceptable design, but judging from its workmanship and surface, it is just an ordinary palace lamp, worth at most fifty taels. If you want a hundred taels, it must be something from the palace of an emperor's favorite concubine. I am willing to buy it, but unfortunately, you are not sincere."
The stall owner, whose eyes had been filled with anticipation, suddenly fell silent: "Young man, your clothes are simple, yet your speech is refined. I treated you with courtesy, but it turns out you're just putting on an act. The intricate patterns on this lamp are exquisite, and the three layers of gauze are all made of diamond-patterned gauze from the Imperial Weaving Bureau. Who in the world, except for the Imperial Palace, would dare to use such a thing? Who else could possess it? Young man, you must lack the knowledge to recognize the real thing!"
Yan Dibai refused to back down: "The rhombus-patterned gauze has been circulating outside the palace for several years, and no fewer than ten thousand people in the capital use it. Even the branch patterns are not a unique technique; any craftsman could carve them with enough time." Before the stall owner could argue, he changed the subject, "I just don't understand, if it really is from the palace, how did it end up in Jiangzuo in such good condition? The capital has only recently fallen, and the palace was engulfed in flames. How many people could have fled with their treasures? How could this lamp be the only one to survive? Moreover, Wang Du, the governor of Jiangzuo, was appointed here by the Yan-Jin imperial family. You are openly selling imitation palace lanterns, and the authorities are not investigating?"
The stall owner clicked his tongue, a meaningful smile appearing on his face: "There are many ships on the river, transporting goods is no easy task. Since you know the market, I won't beat around the bush. For ten taels of silver, I will tell you about the source of the goods."
Buying a piece of information that traces the origins of something for ten taels of silver is nothing.
Yan Dibai was used to this and momentarily forgot about her current predicament. She nodded and was about to agree when her left arm, which was reaching into her sleeve pocket, was suddenly grabbed and her elbow pressed against a soft, barely perceptible area.
He was taken aback. Qingqing, who had been standing quietly to the side, had lowered her hand. Her stiff little face stared straight at the stall owner. She took a deep breath and deliberately raised her voice a few decibels:
"Ten taels? Are you trying to take advantage of us because we're not locals and raise the price on the spot? We don't even know if this news is true or false, how can you ask for ten taels just by talking nonsense?"
Yan Dibai was taken aback. Turning her head, she saw Qingqing's fingers, gripping the lantern tightly, turning white with tension, betraying her nervousness. Her clear eyes swept over the stall owner, then quickly glanced at Yan Dibai, whose face was slightly veiled, and her inner turmoil roared once more.
Ten taels!
Has Yan Dibai forgotten that the emperor has fallen ill and they're still refugees living hand to mouth?! If she doesn't risk everything to stop him, she'll be burdened with debt!
The girl pretended to hold the small silver ingot in her palm, but instead of handing it over, she took it back. This action angered the stall owner, who glared at her and said, "What do you mean by this, young lady? It was the young master who agreed to it!"
Qingqing's heart pounded like a drum, but she forced herself to remain calm and took a small step forward, speaking quickly and urgently with an undeniable air of authority:
“My lord trusts you, but I’m not! If you truly had a reliable way, why would you need to sell counterfeit goods on this street corner to deceive people? How do I know this isn’t just a fabrication? Money is so precious, how could you easily give away so much? Unless—”
Her gaze swept over the stall owner's astonished face, and suddenly she held up five fingers:
Five taels.
"What?!"
The stall owner's tone was a bit fierce. Qingqing, bluffing, steeled her resolve and decided to throw away all her remaining pride: "We've spent a lot of money on our journey and we don't have any extra cash on us. We just bought two lamps from you to show our appreciation, so you should at least give us a 50% discount."
“We’ll sign this agreement, and it’ll be worth one lantern. If the deal is successful within a month, we’ll pay the remaining five taels. My husband and I will stay at the inn ahead. The innkeepers are a husband and wife; you’ve probably heard of their formidable wife. If you don’t believe me, you can come and verify it. Otherwise, we’ll leave right now.” With that, she reached out and tugged at Yan Di’s white sleeve.
Yan Dibai, who had been standing still, gently looked at Qingqing's tense profile, then swept over her hand that was tightly clutching the silver ingot, and suddenly understood something.
The boy's composure vanished, and he did not utter a word to stop him.
Unexpectedly, the stall owner was outmaneuvered by these two naive teenagers. He laughed angrily, "What a sharp tongue! You're the ones who want to buy information, yet you suspect me? I'm not selling anymore!"
"Anyway, I don't have ten taels! Five taels, I'll sign a contract and you can take it or leave it! We can leave now!" With that, he pretended to pull Yan Dibai away.
"Fine, fine!" The stall owner was annoyed by her persistence, and seeing Yan Dibai standing there calmly without moving, seemingly in agreement, he could only wave his hand impatiently. "Five taels it is! Let's draw up a contract now, and write an IOU! If it's not paid in full within a month, I will definitely come to collect it!"
Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief. Yan Dibai stepped forward on his own, a golden light flashing on the red cloth at his waist. The stall owner, who was waiting with a sour face, suddenly pushed back the lantern and pointed at the sash at Yan Dibai's waist, saying, "I don't need that lantern as collateral. You leave this cloth with me. If you don't pay later, this cloth is mine!"
"That won't do!"
The horse-shaped ornament was something brought from the ancestral graves; it might be useful in the future. Qingqing refused without even thinking.
"Nothing works, nothing works? Do you think you're the Queen Mother of the West?"
Qingqing was startled by the shout, and her vision went dark. It was Yan Dibai who separated her from the stall owner, throwing down his horse saddlecloth.
“You have a good eye. This is a family heirloom. It is a piece of gold-embroidered brocade, which was once worth more than a hundred taels of silver. It is not worth much money now that it is old, but it is enough to keep as a memento. You can use it as collateral, but if it is damaged in any way, don’t blame me for not taking responsibility.”
The boy's voice was clear and slightly hoarse, carrying a cold and solemn air as he spoke, unlike Gang Tou's calm demeanor.
Seeing that there were quite a few people, the stall owner had his own way of judging people. Considering that the young man's signature was "Fang Bai," an unusual surname, and that he had such a refined demeanor, he couldn't help but back down. Muttering, "I've really opened my eyes today," he reluctantly accepted the horse turban and the receipt.
The market was half the size of the place when he arrived, and the crowds had thinned considerably. Yan Dibai had no intention of turning back; instead, he continued forward.
It's truly pathetic that the little emperor raised in Jinyu Township would one day have to pawn his clothes and write an IOU. It's hard to say who caused this, but to be on the safe side, Qingqing remains silent.
Yan Dibai turned into a street-facing eatery and chose a spot where he could enjoy the night breeze to sit cross-legged. Qingqing sat down opposite him, her mind still replaying the image of him forcefully writing the IOU through the paper.
"Aren't we going to find that merchant?" she cleared her throat.
According to the stall owner, the other party's whereabouts are unpredictable, and he only occasionally appears in Jinkou at night for an hour and a half. Once you miss him, you will hardly see him again.
Yan Dibai glanced at the bustling street: "No rush tonight."
He ordered two bowls of mutton soup and vegetables, saying, "I'm not hungry, I'll eat first."
The bustling restaurant made their quiet table seem strangely silent. Qingqing finally couldn't hold back and said in a low voice, "Ten taels is no small amount. I only resorted to this in desperation. Although I made you sign the IOU, this predicament wasn't my fault. Since we're in the same boat, next time... could you discuss it with me first?" She lowered her eyes, waiting for a reaction. Yan Dibai simply accepted this minor complaint and replied calmly, "Let's eat."
The waiter brought over a steaming bowl of mutton soup. He wiped his chopsticks clean, lifted a white veil from the side, and quietly began to eat his late dinner.
Qingqing was indeed hungry. Seeing that he wasn't planning to reply right now, she sighed softly and focused on eating. The rich aroma of meat and the warm soup dispelled her fatigue. When her bowl was almost empty, she wiped her mouth and looked up, meeting a pair of extremely dark eyes hidden behind the veil.
Qingqing blinked her eyes.
Yan Dibai lowered the gauze curtain, her fingers slightly curling on the dining table: "I was not angry."
Seeing her stunned, he continued, "I saw that palace lantern and guessed that it could be used to track down the hidden noble family behind it. Due to years of habit, I assumed that you would have enough money on hand... I forgot that things are different now."
Not to mention that the palace lanterns on the stalls were all modeled after the imperial style, just look at the main hall lanterns, which were able to be preserved in the chaos and sold far and wide in Jiangzuo. The transportation capacity required behind this was extraordinary.
The downfall of the Yan-Jin Dynasty, aside from his laissez-faire attitude, may have been orchestrated by forces hidden in the shadows of those magnificent palace lanterns.
Qingqing was taken aback by his calm attitude.
Putting herself in his shoes, Qingqing lowered her head and sincerely apologized: "I was wrong not to go back and report. Next time, I will definitely tell you before I act so that you won't worry."
Perhaps feeling embarrassed, the girl's voice was soft. It mingled with the warm evening breeze, seeping into his ear. Yan Dibai's breath hitched; the sensation of her tightly embracing his left arm resurfaced, quickly spreading throughout his body. His knuckles curled, his heart filled with restlessness. He abruptly stood up, almost hastily flung his sleeves and left. Only when he stood in the shadow cast by the restaurant sign did he seem to come to his senses, silently waiting for the figure who had paid the bill and hurriedly chased after him.
The two walked back under the faint starlight, remaining silent for a while. As they passed the alley entrance, a wagon covered with tarpaulins bearing the official logo rumbled past, and a sudden gust of extremely pungent odor wafted on the night wind—like saltpeter, mixed with some unidentifiable medicinal herbs—dissipating in an instant. Qingqing instinctively covered her nose. "What's that smell? It seems to be coming from behind us?"
Yan Dibai paused slightly, turning back to look at the convoy, which had already disappeared into the night. In the end, he said nothing, only saying, "Let's rest first."
Once the conversation started, the awkwardness of not finishing the sentence naturally disappeared. Qingqing stopped worrying and, without thinking, helped Yan Dibai up, "Let me help you? You've walked so much today."
Her ten fingers gently kneaded his arm, the pressure seemingly lighter than usual. Yan Dibai inexplicably straightened his back, without refusing.
When they returned to the inn, only two lights were on in the lobby. The clerk behind the counter jumped up in alarm and immediately made an excuse to get some water and ran off. He was the same clerk who had taken hush money from the two men that morning.
She didn't have time to find fault. After a hasty wash, Qingqing, still drowsy, wanted to check his injuries. Yan Dibai, however, turned over and silently refused.
It's not the first or second time they've banned people from watching.
Qingqing didn't think much of it and lay back down on the small couch. Her even breathing quickly filled the entire room.
Not all of today's events have faded into the night. Yan Di opened her eyes in the cold. She pinched her arm under the splint, then her two thighs, which were as stiff as firewood.
The area touched by the fingertip feels painful, sore, or swollen.
After a day of continuous hiking and training, the areas where muscles should have been present have already begun to bulge out subtly.
Not just here. He stared intently at his crotch until he was completely calm.
-
The next morning, Qingqing went to Xichun Hall early. Yuheng was not there; only Yuchuan, who was stroking her nails, and Yueniang, who was gently wiping the furniture, were in the hall.
Seeing that Qingqing was unharmed and even gave her a subtle smile, Yue Niang was overjoyed and slowed down her movements.
Qingqing blamed her absence from work yesterday entirely on her "violent and easily angered" husband, and then tearfully complained that the innkeeper's wife had forced her to work illegally. Yuchuan, who had been holding back her anger and waiting for Qingqing to confess, was instead drawn in by this dramatic "family affair" and even felt a sense of shared indignation. She let her off this time.
“Men are always worthless, unlike my daughter who is so capable! Get up.”
Yu Chuan glanced at the girl who was hanging her head and remaining silent, and snorted, "It's a big mistake that you, as a servant, deceived us while we were working under his control. And that old scoundrel, I hate it when she compares everything to what we at Xi Chun Tang do. Since you're still under her control, I don't feel comfortable using you. Xi Chun Tang doesn't usually have much work, and we have Yue Niang, who is punctual and meticulous, which is enough. Whether we need you later or not will be decided after my lady returns home."
Aside from cleaning the medicine boxes and shelves, Xichuntang didn't have much extra work for them. The work they'd worked so hard to get was gone just like that; it would be a lie to say they didn't care.
However, Xi Chuntang was very generous, giving her fifty coins after only half a day's work, which was extremely lavish. Yue Niang needed the job much more than she did. Although it was more tiring to have one less person to help, it would provide some stability for a while.
Qingqing glanced at Yueniang one last time, then thanked her while clutching the money. Yuchuan appreciated her humble demeanor, and since she was preoccupied with the matter of Xiangdong Garden, she didn't make things difficult for her.
After everyone left, the ripples in Yu Chuan's heart caused by hearing about the "family affairs" quickly subsided, and another, more melancholic mood overwhelmed her. Her delicate fingertips unconsciously fiddled with the table.
Fortunately, the important shipment arrived at Jinkou on schedule last night. The medicinal herbs that Xiangdongyuan didn't select will be transferred to Xichuntang tonight. This shipment has always been personally supervised and checked by Yuheng. Yuchuan is restless every day if he doesn't return to report.
But this wasn't the only thing troubling her.
The young woman's trip to Jianye was ostensibly to visit a friend on behalf of her uncle from Xiangdong Garden, but in reality, it was to discuss marriage. If she could secure a marriage alliance with the prestigious Wang family, it would be the best possible outcome for both her and those of them in the lower classes. But if not…
Yu Chuan's mood grew increasingly irritable. Her daughter, Cui Shenxiu, was renowned throughout Jiangzuo for her talent and beauty. Was she really destined to become an old maid, the subject of gossip among aristocratic circles, because of her humble, collateral lineage, which made her neither high-achieving nor low-achieving?
Thinking of this, she almost felt indignant. How could those noble ladies of higher social standing compare to her young lady in terms of talent, beauty, and character? And that young lady Wang Shu, who was a close friend of her young lady and the daughter of the governor, hadn't offered any help at this crucial moment. All the care her young lady had given her, even personally preparing soup and medicine to care for her ailing body, had been wasted!
As expected, aristocratic families are the most heartless!
"Why did the young lady leave and then return?"
As soon as she stepped inside, the proprietress, who hadn't been there yesterday, leaned against the counter and said in a low voice, "Young lady, you don't believe in superstitions, have you hit a brick wall?" Qingqing smiled faintly and took the medicine upstairs.
The proprietress downstairs suddenly cursed a few times, calling him a "dead bastard," but Qingqing ran away quickly and pretended not to hear.
The doctor performed the diagnosis as scheduled when she left, and when he opened the door, he saw her carrying the medicine, her expression somewhat kind.
"Young master's pulse has improved today, which means the three doses of medicine yesterday must have worked. Please continue to use them."
Qingqing: "Haha..."
The two lamps I bought last night were hanging on either side of the window. Yan Dibai glanced at them with half-closed eyes, her clothes still loose. Hearing me come in and shift my gaze, she said coolly:
"What does Xichuntang say?"
Does this person have a third eye?
"...Thanks to you, I can't go."
"Oh," Yan Dibai raised an eyebrow at her melancholy face, "Since you know it's a blessing, why don't you thank me?"
Qingqing pursed her lips and slammed the bowl down on the table.
Yan Dibai picked up the bowl in a good mood, "Hiss!" It was still hot.
He also put on a stern face, and with a flick of his hand, the medicine dripped all over the window.
It was raining outside, and the juice was washed away in no time.
Seeing Qingqing's slightly furrowed brow out of the corner of his eye, Yan Dibai snorted:
"I only asked you to fry it, I never said I wanted to drink it."
The only reason I decocted the medicine was so that I would always have a medicinal smell on my body and not arouse their suspicion.
He picked up the loquats from the bag, roughly peeled off a few, and casually asked, "Yang Liuqing, would you like to stay at an inn or in your own private residence?"
What's so interesting about asking that? Qingqing propped her chin on her hand: "Who in the world doesn't want their own house?"
Yan Dibai made another "Oh".
"Is a big one better or a small one?"
"...The best size is neither too big nor too small. Why do you ask that?"
"We'll be moving out soon, so get ready and pack your things in advance." His gaze swept over the small couch, and he turned his face to the right.
Qingqing paused, her pupils contracting. She stiffly glanced at her small couch, then stared incredulously at the composed young man.
So he really did go through her panties and bra wrap?
The money he spent yesterday was indeed—? ??
A chill ran down Qingqing's spine.
"..." Since Yan Di didn't explain, she was too embarrassed to expose him. She could only mumble a deathly "hmm" and vowed in her heart never to learn the money-hiding techniques taught by those older sisters in the inner palace again!
"Um, a private residence?" Qingqing swallowed hard.
Yan Dibai's gaze skipped over her slightly open front and focused intently on the lantern, letting out a third "Oh."
"Everything is inconvenient here, so of course we should move out. If we find clues about the hanging lantern, we'll probably be caught by the innkeeper, which will only cause more trouble."
This struck a chord with Qingqing; the proprietress was far too shrewd. "Aren't you worried about Lu Xi?"
Mentioning him, Yan Dibai rubbed the splint on his arm with a mocking expression, "He has to make merits and defend against enemies, so he can't take care of you and me these days."
Before Lu Xiteng intervened, they were actually quite content with their leisure. They didn't have to do anything; they could simply stay in their secluded corner and quietly enjoy their lives.
Conserving energy...that's not bad. Infected by Yan Dibai's lazy demeanor, Qingqing no longer stood up straight, her back slumping down a few inches.
Raindrops danced and sang outside the window, creating a noisy cacophony. Though the room was small, the downpour made it feel exceptionally warm and cozy. Suddenly, both of them fell silent, silently gazing out the window, sharing the view of the curtain of rain.
Ah, that feels so good.
"When the rain is heavy, the dike will collapse; when desires are excessive, the force will break down." The young man, observing the rain, suddenly recited this sentence softly and slowly.
Qingqing rested her face on her hands and looked up at the sky, understanding perfectly.
The dam belonging to Lu Xi is likely to break.
More than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and Jiangzuo is embarking on the journey into autumn, with the drizzle still carrying the lingering drizzle of late summer.
Against a backdrop of azure sky, two figures emerged from the Lu residence. They were none other than Lu Xi, the rising star of the Lu family, and his younger brother, Lu Xing. The two exchanged a dismissive sneer, then boarded their carriages and departed in opposite directions.
Lu Xi headed towards the pond he was overseeing as usual, while Lu Xing went only to an old pond that had been abandoned for many years.
Who would have thought that Lu Xi, who was relatively unknown just half a month ago, would actually outshine his cousin Lu Xing, who was known for his handsome appearance?
At first, people laughed at the Lu family's incompetence, but later they realized the brilliance of their actions. Lu Sanlang cleverly used the offering of salt and iron to temporarily protect the Lu family while simultaneously developing water conservancy projects, ostensibly repairing dikes and ponds, but secretly controlling the rice supply of Wu County. Once successful, he would hold the lifelines of all the families in his hands—how formidable!
Several aristocratic families realized their mistake too late. Although they jointly petitioned Governor Wang Du to emulate his approach of allocating land for the construction of a canal, they were ultimately too late. The Lu family, having seized the initiative, would not allow others to interfere. With over ten projects firmly in their grasp, the entire Wu County was abuzz with activity for half a month without any sign of abating. Lu Xi, in particular, became famous overnight, attracting numerous aristocratic families to arrange his marriage; he was truly unparalleled in his popularity. Although some laughed at Lu Xi for lacking talent and relying solely on a strategist, he was at the height of his influence, and no one paid him any attention.
In comparison, Lu Xi seemed to be overshadowed by his elder brother's prominence. Not only was his household deserted, but he was often seen alone, drinking wine in the countryside.
Lu Xing, who was drinking alone in the countryside, showed no anger upon hearing Pingwu's report. Instead, he ordered Pingwu to continue distributing wine to the craftsmen on the pond.
"Brothers, come quick! The young master is serving wine!" The round-faced, dark-skinned man rushed over, oblivious to the mud covering him, and loudly thanked him before tearing open the seal and gulping down the wine. The other two burly men who had come with him each punched him in the back. After a round of drinks, everyone loosened up, pushing and shoving each other and playfully fighting.
Lu Xing smiled. Pingwu saw this and felt very pleased.
The man leading the group, drinking heavily, was named Li Si. Pingwu had met him at the labor brokerage when he was tasked with finding craftsmen. He was a burly man with immense strength, but possessed unusually skillful hands that could easily be used to fan himself with palm-leaf fans. He also had a family-inherited construction skill. His two brothers, Zhang San and Wang Wu, were skilled in water conservancy and mechanical engineering, respectively. The three of them had crossed the Yangtze River to make a living, boasting extravagantly about their achievements, even claiming their ancestors were the architects who built the tomb of Emperor Taizu of Yan.
With the idea of trying his luck, Pingwu took the man away after a cursory trial. However, before Lu Xing could explain his purpose, the waterworker Zhang San jumped into the pond to investigate. The problem he pointed out actually coincided with what the young man surnamed Fang had said.
The master and servant suspected something was amiss, but Zhang San clapped his hands and pointed out something the boy hadn't noticed.
There is an underground stream on the east side of the pond. If you want to build a new foundation, you must first plug the leak and pave the way, otherwise it will definitely collapse halfway.
Lu Xing, who had brought the waterworker with him, was initially quite unconvinced, but upon hearing this, he went down into the pond and was immediately taken aback. Lu Xing knew that he had found the right person.
However, the young man was still quite young. While it was true he could diagnose illnesses and prescribe remedies based on ancient texts, he lacked practical experience and had never personally examined patients in the pond. Therefore, only an experienced doctor like Zhang San could make timely adjustments to ensure the treatment was effective.
The fish traps were laid in one day. The abandoned sluice gate on the pond could be restarted in two days. The operation was faster than the boy had planned.
Such skill is like finding a treasure!
Lu Xing pressed on with the construction of the new sluice gate. He secretly recruited fifty laborers and secretly procured stone and timber. Within half a month, one-third of the new sluice gate was completed. Meanwhile, Lu Xi's progress was reportedly even slower.
With the sluice gate completed, all the agricultural waterways in Cangqian were now under its control. No matter how Lu Xi oversaw the construction, there were always waterways that couldn't bypass this Tiaoxi Pond. Seeing that the sluice gate was progressing smoothly, Lu Xing was in a good mood and came to reward him.
Because of their social status, Lu Xing and the others could not possibly overstep their bounds. However, Lu Xing was willing, so he condescended to get out of the carriage and drink a cup with them.
"Thank you all for your hard work. Take a rest for an hour today and drink to your heart's content."
Li Si drank heartily, then smashed the jar, didn't even wipe his mouth, and casually clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lu Xing:
"My lord, please forgive us! A few days ago, when we brothers stayed at an inn, we didn't even ask that old wicked woman for a bowl of wine, let alone a side dish. That shameless woman even falsely accused us of going to the authorities! She made me think that all southerners are wicked!"
Lu Xing laughed loudly: "The craftsman is a true man of character, don't bother with such a commoner."
"Hey, we just can't stand that shrew's face!" Zhang San said, his face flushed with drink. "Your idea of using bamboo from the local area is brilliant! If we do it the same way, the pond embankment will be really sturdy!"
Lu Xing: "Oh?"
Wang Wu, with his long face, slapped his thigh and slurred, "Yes! Don't laugh at us brothers for being ignorant. To be honest, our master's generation mentioned this ancient method of using water to wash sand, but they all said it should only be used as a last resort. Don't think we're being long-winded. We just think this is... brilliant! Truly brilliant! ...We know the method, but we've always felt unappreciated and afraid of taking on responsibility. Young Master, you have such a large family and business, we all thought you would follow the old rules. Who knew you would be so bold, making our efforts worthwhile! Young Master, you are truly intelligent and quick-witted! Wang Wu respects you!"
I also salute!
"Me too!"
The men present were all rough and uncouth, usually quick to anger. After days of intense labor, they drank their fill, and the alcohol made them blurt out everything they had been keeping to themselves.
These men are foul-mouthed and speak bluntly. For them to say something like this, it must be genuine. Lu Xing, receiving this unsolicited and overly enthusiastic praise, chuckled, "You flatter me, everyone."
Even though it was crude, Lu Xing found it very pleasing.
"Hey! Young master, please don't be modest!" Li Si chuckled, pointing to the sluice gate. "Young master, Pingwu, to be honest, all these years when we've been looking for work, the thing we hate most is drilling into sandy water. This thing is a bottomless pit! You throw money in and don't even hear a sound. We had the same problem when we were repairing a pond for a wealthy family surnamed Li in Jizhou. That family was so stubborn, insisting that we use the old method of ramming the bluestone layer by layer. Good heavens, the money spent just on buying the stones was almost enough to fill the pond, and in the end, we still didn't finish it, and they blamed us for not being skilled enough."
As he said this, a genuine sense of relief appeared on his face:
"But working for you this time has been so much fun! You used such a clever and effective method right from the start, saving us so much effort! We always tell them that the person who came up with this idea is no ordinary person! You're a truly knowledgeable employer! Here, let's toast you with another bowl!"
After speaking, he picked up the wine jar and drank it down in one gulp, soon becoming completely drunk.
Lu Xing picked up her cup, smiled faintly, and stood up, instructing someone to prepare a hangover remedy.
"My lord."
Pingwu drove the car with one hand and tried to ask Lu Xing, who had a strange expression, a question.
Others might not notice, but Lu Xing did. Just now, when the rough men offered a toast, their lord only held the cup but did not drink.
He was naturally worried. Recently, the Third Young Master had been enjoying considerable success, and he'd heard that Wang Shu and her close female friends were paying him frequent attention. Cui Shenxiu, the shrewd and capable woman from the Cui family, had also returned from his marriage negotiations; it was unclear whether he would become entangled with Lu Xi… All of this was detrimental to his lord.
“This Fang Bai… is truly incredibly capable; I can no longer afford to ignore him.” Lu Xing suddenly chuckled briefly, startling Pingwu. The person behind him said, “Bring him to see me.”
On a rare sunny day, Qingqing was hanging out the laundry. The distant sound of hooves echoed, and just as she was about to leave, the horse stopped in front of her.
A cold-faced young man in black glanced down at her and asked, "Where have the guests who have been staying at this inn recently gone?"
"Permanent residents? Besides her and Yan Dibai, who else is there?" Qingqing's heart tightened, and she placed her hand, which was drying water, on her hem without moving. "Who is your master referring to?"
Pingwu grew impatient and spurred his horse to leave. After crossing half a street, the commotion in front of the gambling den caught his attention. Pingwu stopped to take a look, and what a coincidence!
The young man standing by, surrounded by a crowd of people sitting around a stall selling koji (a type of Chinese pastry), was exactly the person he was looking for.
Having only been in Jiangzuo for a few days, he has already figured out the gambling venue.
Just as Yan Dibai finished calculating the odds, he sensed someone approaching from behind.
Pingwu gestured for him to enter, "Young master, my master has something to say to you."
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