The distance from Youranju to the Jiang family's residence isn't far; it only takes the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to get there by carriage.
He Rui tied the carriage to the wooden stake and knocked on the door knocker three times.
Soon, the Jiang family's gatekeeper poked his head out and asked in a low voice, "Who are you? Who are you looking for?"
“I’m from Youranju. I’m looking for Mr. Jiang… I’m looking for Old Madam Jiang.” He Rui swallowed the words “Old Madam Jiang” that were about to come out of his mouth. “There’s an emergency at the restaurant.”
If it were truly a search for their own daughter, the mother should be more anxious than the grandmother, but it was always the old lady who kept an eye on the news, and Madam Jiang had never shown up. He Rui couldn't help but wonder.
Just to be on the safe side, he still chose to look for Old Madam Jiang.
The doorman opened the door halfway and invited him inside to wait.
Another gatekeeper rushed to Madam Jiang's courtyard and reported the news.
Before long, the gatekeeper led over a head maid, who was none other than Tan Yue, the maid who served Old Madam Jiang, whom she had seen a few times before.
He Rui went up and bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Miss Tan Yue. I am He Rui, and I work at Youran Residence."
“I remember you.” Tan Yue nodded. “The old lady is already waiting. Come with me.”
Even the maids in wealthy families walked with grace and poise, their movements incredibly beautiful and captivating.
He Rui's eyes felt as if they were being burned. He quickly lowered his head and stared at the smooth blue brick path. After several twists and turns, he entered a simple and grand courtyard and finally followed the main courtyard.
Madam Jiang, sitting in the main seat, saw him and recalled his swift actions of seeing off guests and closing the door. Her expression softened. "Oh, it's you. It shouldn't be anything urgent at Youran Residence. Please speak slowly."
If it were an urgent matter, a waiter wouldn't have come to report it.
If there were no other reason, the young master would not have dared to barge into the Jiang residence.
He Rui admired Madam Jiang's shrewdness and knelt down on the ground. "I saw a girl at Youran Residence... but I'm not sure what it is. I just wanted to report to Madam Jiang that the girl's big eyes are somewhat similar to those of the eldest young master."
A cup of tea, its leaves and buds floating on the surface, fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Just moments ago, the composed and nonchalant Old Madam Jiang suddenly stood up. Her face, hidden beneath her silver hair, shifted from shock to delight before quickly regaining its composure. Truly befitting a member of a prominent family.
"He Rui, right? Tell me slowly, don't rush. What is that girl's age, identity, and past?" Old Madam Jiang said slowly. "I need to know all of this."
He Rui was lost in his memories. "She's eleven years old this year. She has a round face and round eyes, a bit too round... cough cough. I asked the head manager and all I know is that she's from Anshui County. She has five older brothers, but they're not related by blood. They're all orphans with no one to rely on. They've been doing business with our Youranju for many years."
"Oh, by the way, the eldest young master met her when he was in Xiyang County. He often mentioned her, and twice he even made the third young lady angry. Right now, the two young ladies are in Youran Residence, and they seem to be arguing."
As He Rui spoke, he bent down.
He would never have believed it if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes; wealthy families are always causing trouble.
The key question is how to find them in such a vast sea of people, and even if they are found, what methods are available to determine their authenticity?
Blood test for kinship?
Even his younger brother knew it wasn't reliable.
Or perhaps the girl has a birthmark, a mole, or a wart on her body.
As He Rui was lost in thought, he heard Old Madam Jiang's trembling voice, "Someone, drive the carriage to Youran Residence."
The Jiang family acted swiftly, and soon a three-horse carriage arrived.
Madam Jiang frowned and glanced at Tan Yue.
Tan Yue immediately stepped forward and said, "Change to a more ordinary one, something inconspicuous, but with a comfortable and soft interior."
Soon, the carriage set off, carrying Old Madam Jiang, Tan Yue, and He Rui, who had come to deliver the news, towards Youran Residence.
The carriage was very large.
The old lady sat in the main seat, Tan Yue sat in the second seat, and He Rui huddled in the corner, unable to believe that even an ordinary carriage in a wealthy family was so spacious and comfortable, and even more unable to believe that he could actually ride in the same carriage as Miss Tan Yue.
After quite some time, when they were almost at Youran Residence, he suddenly remembered his carriage. "My, my carriage."
Tan Yue pointed to the old lady Jiang with her eyes closed and whispered, "Someone will come for you, don't worry."
He Rui quickly shut his mouth, his hands tucked into his sleeves, sweat slowly seeping out.
The carriage quickly came to a stop.
The coachman whispered through the curtain, "We've arrived at Youranju."
Madam Jiang, who had been resting with her eyes closed, finally opened them, lifted the side curtains on both sides, and took in her surroundings.
After a brief period of back and forth, Jiang Sheng and Jiang Chenghuan had long since disappeared.
He Rui nimbly jumped down and casually grabbed a waiter to ask, "Where did that chubby little girl and our Third Miss go?"
The waiter's face was full of "it's unspeakable" as he pointed to the private room on the third floor.
He Rui rushed up in a few steps and stopped at the door of the private room that Jiang Chenghuan often used. He then poked a hole in the window paper with his index finger, and saw two girls of the same age through the hole.
And a fat shopkeeper standing in the middle, frowning and looking miserable, nodding and bowing, looking helpless and resigned.
I never imagined that the head manager would have this day.
He Rui suppressed a laugh and arranged for the old lady to move into the private room next door, overhearing all their conversation.
...
Jiang Sheng never expected that she would actually be able to step into the third floor of Youran Residence.
She clearly remembered how the head manager proudly introduced, "Our first floor is for ordinary people to eat, the second floor is reserved for the powerful and wealthy, and every room on the third floor has its own owner, and we don't accept reservations from outsiders no matter how much money is involved."
This must be the private room where the Jiang siblings often come from.
She looked around and felt that the room was elegantly furnished and had several books on it, somewhat like her older brother's study, but much more luxurious.
"What are you looking at?" A furious voice came from beside him. It was Jiang Chenghuan. "I didn't argue with you at the door because I didn't want to ruin the reputation of Youranju and attract attention unnecessarily. I didn't bring you to admire the private room."
Jiang Sheng looked away and glanced innocently at the third young lady of the Jiang family. "You're the one who sent me here, and you won't let me see? Then just blindfold me."
Jiang Chenghuan, "..."
She took a deep breath and pointed at the head manager, "You Ran Ju is a Jiang family business. Your brother publicly humiliated me, so we can no longer cooperate. I didn't make it clear last time, but this time I want the manager to say it in person. Surely you'll give up now."
The chubby shopkeeper wiped his sweat, reluctant to part with the cured meat and sausages, but since the eldest daughter of the family had given the order, he could only stammer, "Yes, yes, we can't do business anymore."
"Not only Fengjing, but also Anshui County and Xieyang County will not be done."
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