Although the stall owner had prepared himself mentally, he still couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache when Yunling said it herself.
"I bought this glass jar from somewhere else at a high price. In terms of price, it cost a hundred copper coins to buy it once."
With a hundred copper coins, the glass jar naturally ended up in Yunling's pocket. Yunling was satisfied, and since she was also hungry, she wanted to find a place to eat.
However, her idea coincided with Liu Erlang's, but Liu Erlang wasn't hungry; he simply wanted to spend more time with Yunling. So he said:
"Hey, this meeting is fate. There's no time like the present. Why don't we go to the little teahouse up ahead, have some tea, and listen to some opera? There are special song and dance performances on the first day of the Lunar New Year."
Yunling knew that she was able to acquire the glass jar at this price thanks in no small part to this guy's help. Although he didn't speak up for her or anything, his very identity was enough to make people wary and intimidated.
It is said that it is better to have one more friend than one more enemy. Although they had quarreled and even wanted to fight each other with knives before, in Bianjing, where power and interests overlap, she should not take it too seriously.
Although she didn't mind, she didn't feel comfortable dining with this person, so she politely declined.
"We should head back now. If fate allows, we can dine together again next time."
"Are you... afraid of me? Afraid that I'll ambush you with a bunch of assassins in the teahouse?" Liu Erlang chuckled twice. "You guys are too cowardly, as weak as mustard tubers."
"Who's afraid of you? My eldest is just tired from playing and wants to go back and rest."
"Tired from playing? Not hungry? Take a rest... You can sit or lie down anywhere in this teahouse without anyone bothering you. That should be enough for you to rest. Besides, I'll pay for whatever you want to eat or drink. Are you all idiots not to take advantage of such a good deal?"
Yunling pulled Gangzi back. She knew this was Liu Erlang's way of provoking her, but knowing his relentless nature, even if she really went back to the mansion, he would probably follow her around. He might even use his familiarity with Pei Lin as an excuse to stay at the mansion.
She really did invite a wolf into the house, causing Lu Yinghuai unnecessary trouble, which is unacceptable.
Since I can't shake him off, I might as well take advantage of the situation and see what he's really up to.
"Alright, we're not going to be fools. We need to make this clear first: all purchases and transactions at the teahouse will be charged to you, Liu Erlang, and have nothing to do with us."
Upon hearing Yun Ling's agreement, Liu Erlang was even happier than if it were his grandmother's birthday celebration, and he quickly nodded in agreement.
"Of course, I always keep my word and never lie."
The group then squeezed through the crowd and, after a while, finally made it to the Lao Guo'er Teahouse. The teahouse was packed with people listening to the music. Since they didn't want to go inside and waste money on a tea seat, they stood outside the teahouse, craning their necks to try and get a clear look at the performers on stage.
Liu Erlang was naturally very attentive, clearing a path with his own flesh and blood, and even looking at Yun Ling with a smile on his face.
"Please."
Gangzi touched his nose and spoke through his teeth to Yunling:
"Boss, this guy is really strange."
Yunling slightly covered her mouth and replied in a low voice:
"What are you afraid of? If he has any bad intentions, we'll beat him up and teach him a lesson."
Gangzi gets excited when it comes to beating people up, and a smile appears on his face.
Liu Erlang led them to the second floor, where the view was more open. Although it wasn't like the enclosed private rooms in restaurants, the small roller blinds separating the rooms still created a charming atmosphere.
"Hey, what kind of tea would you like?"
"I don't know anything about tea, so please arrange it, Liu Erlang."
"What would you like to eat?"
"This is my first time visiting this teahouse. I don't know what's available. Please make the arrangements, Liu Erlang."
Liu Erlang rarely saw Yunling so "obedient and compliant," letting him make all the decisions. He felt that his relationship with Yunling had grown closer, so he turned his head and asked her:
"Hey, should we send a servant to East Chicken Lane to invite two young ladies over to keep us company?"
“I don’t get involved in these things. If Liu Erlang wants, he can invite the young lady over.”
"Hey, what a coincidence, I don't touch it either."
Liu Erlang's excitement startled Yunling. His eyes were shining, like a hunter eyeing his prey, or perhaps he had found a kindred spirit. She couldn't quite grasp his thoughts; did he see a connection between them, being men who didn't engage in such matters?
Or perhaps he has a special interest in men who don't engage in that kind of thing... Yunling quickly stopped herself from having this unfriendly thought. She was a woman, after all. Could he really be treating her like a man and having inappropriate thoughts about her?
No, no, she can't think about it anymore. The more she thinks, the more outrageous and distorted it becomes.
Yunling quickly shook her head, trying to shake the thought out of her mind. She took the tea handed to her by the servant, took a sip, and finally felt a little calmer, able to focus her attention on the actors performing in the audience.
She didn't understand drama, but the theatrical style always made her unconsciously nod and sway her head along.
"By the way, we've known each other for a long time, but I still don't know where you're from?"
Yunling almost laughed at the phrase "have known each other for a long time." Seeing the pastries being served, she picked up a piece and replied:
"Can't you tell where we're from with our local accent?"
This was quite a challenge for Liu Erlang. His family had lived in Bianjing for generations, and he had always regarded places outside of Bianjing as foreign lands. With so many accents from those places, how could he possibly distinguish them?
However, a sudden thought flashed through his mind: Pei Lin had gone to Pingcheng, and they were acquainted with him, so he might be from Pingcheng.
"Pingcheng, you're from Pingcheng? Hey, where's that refined gentleman we played polo with last time?"
"He's busy."
Liu Erlang gave an "Oh," his eyes somewhat unfocused. After drinking half a cup of tea, he continued:
"You two seem to have a good relationship, but what about your brothers and relatives?"
"Not really...you...have your eye on him?"
Caught off guard by the question, Liu Erlang spat out all his tea with a "pfft," and said with slight annoyance:
What do you mean?
"Oh, it's my catchphrase that's causing this. I'm the kind of person who, if someone asks me a question or two, I feel like there's something fishy going on, and I end up talking for no reason. Sorry."
Yunling secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this man was not a homosexual, and her filthy thoughts could dissipate.
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