Luo Xin blinked her big eyes and said, "Mother, I want to go with Sister Yun Wan. I can't understand what you're saying. I also want to eat the milk cake sold at the market."
She didn't really want to eat milk cake; what she really thought was that her conversation with Chen Yuancheng was boring. She thought it would be better to go shopping with Zheng Yunwan.
Xiao Yunying thought that the bandit den that kidnapped children had been wiped out, and it was broad daylight now, so if she was careful, nothing should happen.
"Alright, Yunwan, then I'll trouble you to take care of Xin'er. Xin'er, you have to stay with Sister Yunwan and don't run around, okay?"
She then gave Dai Jincai a few more instructions: "You guard the carriage and keep a close eye on the two of them. Try not to let them out of your sight."
Xiao Yunying watched them get into the car and turn into the alley leading to Jinxiu Pavilion before she looked away.
The two went to a private room on the third floor. As soon as Xiao Yunying sat down, Chen Yuancheng asked, "What's going on with that girl?"
Xiao Yunying then briefly explained Zheng Yunwan's background and how she came to seek refuge with her.
"She didn't even have a proper name, which must have meant she wasn't having a good time at home, so I gave her a name and kept it."
"Has the contract of servitude been signed?"
“I made her sign a death contract, but I didn’t send it to the government. It’s already difficult for her to live alone. If she becomes a slave, she will be looked down upon in the future. As long as I can keep her in line, that’s enough.”
Ling Qi brought over some tea, and Chen Yuancheng poured himself a cup and placed it in her place.
“You’ve always been kind-hearted, but you should have been more cautious. You didn’t even investigate her background before letting her stay. Aren’t you afraid of the potential trouble later?”
Xiao Yunying picked up her teacup and blew on the steam: "My intuition is pretty accurate. People I like usually won't turn me down."
"Really? What do you think of my appearance?"
Xiao Yunying smiled and said, "Of course you are the best. Not only are you kind-hearted, but you are also handsome. Otherwise, I would not have become friends with you."
Chen Yuancheng didn't reply, but just smiled faintly, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a small sip.
Remembering what had happened before, Xiao Yunying asked Ling Qi, "Ling Qi, how is your knee? Have you seen a doctor?"
Ling Qi glanced at her young master furtively and said loudly, "Don't worry, Miss. I have practiced martial arts since I was a child and I am very strong. Kneeling for a few hours is no problem. I'm already fine."
Xiao Yunying said, "Kneeling for a few hours is fine, but if it were me, my legs would probably be ruined in less than half an hour."
Ling Qi glanced at her young master's face, and seeing his smile gradually disappear, she hurriedly explained.
“The young lady is a woman, and her body is delicate, so she naturally cannot kneel for so long. Ling Qi is a man, so this punishment is nothing. Besides, the young master has invited a doctor for me, and I have applied medicine properly, so there will be no lasting illness.”
Xiao Yunying said with some guilt, "In the end, you were punished because of me. I came in a hurry this time and didn't prepare anything. Next time I come, I will bring you more fresh food as compensation."
Chen Yuancheng couldn't help but interject, "Is Yun Ying blaming me for making Ling Qi kneel as punishment?"
Xiao Yunying touched the rim of the cup: "No, Ling Qi did disobey your orders after all, so he deserves to be punished, but he also had some extenuating circumstances. The punishment you gave him was a bit too harsh."
She didn't accuse Chen Yuancheng of physically punishing Ling Qi. From Chen Yuancheng's perspective, he had Ling Qi keep an eye on him for his own safety.
As Ling Qi was his personal servant, he disobeyed him and went against his wishes. In this era, kneeling as punishment could be considered the lightest form of corporal punishment.
However, from a friend's perspective, Xiao Yunying still hoped that the punishment could be lighter.
Ling Qi said in a panic, "It's not heavy at all. It's already a blessing that you didn't sell me, young master. Miss, you and the young master should talk about serious matters. I'll go down and see if the pastries are ready."
After saying that, he hurriedly left the private room.
Xiao Yunying naturally saw the reason for his panic. She also knew that Chen Yuancheng was not a petty person and would not take his anger out on Ling Qi and punish him further because of a few words she had said.
Therefore, she only chuckled softly at his hurried departure from the private room.
When she stopped laughing, she realized that Chen Yuancheng was staring at her.
"Cough cough."
Xiao Yunying cleared her throat, feigning seriousness: "By the way, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Chen Yuancheng then said, "The wine-making workshop has been built in a village south of the city. I was wondering when you would be free to come and take a look with me."
"Is it far away? Can you come back that day?"
"It's not too far away. If we set off early and travel quickly, we can return on the same day."
Xiao Yunying thought for a moment and said, "I'll have time tomorrow, I'll come over first thing tomorrow morning."
"Then I'll have someone inform them that two batches of wine have already been shipped over, and we've also invited several experienced brewers and long-term workers. We'll try distilling some tomorrow, and you can go and check if there are any problems."
Xiao Yunying said, "I only have a superficial understanding. We need to discuss any problems together. It's not enough to leave everything to me. I'm afraid I'm not as knowledgeable as those brewing masters."
"No problem, let's discuss it together."
There are no details to discuss here; we'll have to see for ourselves to know the specifics.
After finishing the business, Xiao Yunying asked curiously, "By the way, the two children who went missing in our village have been found. Why did the officials specifically tell them that I helped find them when they brought them back?"
This matter could have been left unmentioned; Xiao Yunying felt that the two officials were being somewhat deliberate.
Besides, she had specifically instructed Chen Yuancheng not to mention her existence in this matter.
"This matter..."
Chen Yuancheng took a sip of tea before saying, "The government originally intended to commend you with great fanfare, but I thought you don't like high profiles, so I declined on your behalf and will just say a few words of praise."
I wanted them to keep a low profile, but they probably misunderstood and went to the villagers to praise you. Fortunately, they only said that you helped them and didn't mention that you went to the bandits' den alone.
Xiao Yunying nodded: "It's really a good thing I didn't say anything, otherwise my parents would have nagged me again."
She suddenly came to her senses: "Is there any silver in return for the government's commendation?"
"No, there's only a plaque."
Xiao Yunying immediately suppressed her expectant expression: "That's useless. We don't need such a reward. It's stingy."
The plaque issued by the government might be seen as an unparalleled honor by others, but to her it was just a piece of wood.
It can't be easily bumped or knocked over, otherwise, if it gets damaged and you end up with some kind of crime, it's not worth the loss.
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