He took out a bag of silver from his pocket and placed it on the table with swift movements. The bag made a crisp sound when it hit the table.
"Miss Li, thank you for the important information you gave me earlier. I didn't expect you, a cautious person like Lu Jin, to still notice something was wrong."
He bowed slightly, with a hint of gratitude in his eyes, and looked at Li Ruolan sincerely, trying to make her feel his gratitude.
Li Ruolan put down the chess piece in her hand, and the chess piece fell on the chessboard with a light "pop" sound.
She slowly stretched out her hand, her fingers slender but slightly rough, and calmly picked up the silver and money on the table and stuffed it into her sleeve.
She raised her chin slightly, a hint of pride flashed in her eyes, and the temperament of the lady from a noble family was fully revealed at this moment.
"I've studied painting for so many years, and I'm incredibly sensitive to changes in people's appearance. If Lu Jin can get away with it by simply messing up his hair, then all these years of studying have been for nothing."
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, with a hint of sarcasm, as if she was disdainful of Lu Jin's little tricks.
She looked at Wei Che with a more probing look in her eyes and asked, "After you bring down the Lu family, what are you going to do?"
Wei Che narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly moved the black chess piece forward. The piece landed steadily on the chessboard with a dull "thump" sound.
His eyes were deep, like a bottomless cold pool, full of calculations.
"If you want to make a name for yourself, you naturally have to make an example of someone to scare the monkeys. However, I can't reveal the specific plans yet."
The corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a mysterious smile. The smile was unpredictable, as if it hid countless secrets.
When Li Ruolan saw Wei Che's expression, she couldn't help but pursed her lips, and the image of Wei Che's glorious appearance in the capital city involuntarily emerged in her mind.
At that time, the Wei family had the privilege of traveling on horseback in the capital, and every time Wei Che traveled, he was like the moon surrounded by stars.
The streets are always lined with girls welcoming guests. They either shyly lower their heads and smile, or boldly offer their handkerchiefs.
Wei Che was still a young man with a childish look. Facing the girls' enthusiasm, he would blush and scratch his head shyly, his eyes full of innocence and ignorance.
But now, the Wei Che in front of him was completely different.
Time and hardships have left deep marks on him. His youthfulness has long faded, replaced by calmness and restraint.
Every movement and every look of his reveals the maturity and determination that comes from having experienced many vicissitudes of life.
Li Ruolan looked at Wei Che and couldn't help but sigh in her heart about the world today, where people can change into a completely different person in just ten days.
"I didn't expect that Master Wei would have changed so much in such a short period of time."
Li Ruolan shook her head slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, a mixture of emotion and envy. "Back in the capital, the Wei family was incredibly prosperous, and you, Young Master Wei, were the dream of all the young ladies there. Who could have imagined that we'd end up like this now?"
There was a hint of sadness in her tone, as if she had returned to that prosperous time.
After hearing what Li Ruolan said, Wei Che was slightly startled, and a faint smile appeared on his face. That smile was mixed with nostalgia for the past and helplessness about his current situation.
"Miss Li, the world is unpredictable and we are all helpless. But the Wei family will not continue to sink into decline. I will definitely restore the Wei family to its former glory."
His eyes were firm and his tone was full of determination, as if he was making a solemn promise to Li Ruolan and himself.
Li Ruolan looked at Wei Che and secretly admired his persistence and courage.
"Master Wei's determination is truly impressive. However, Youzhou is not like the capital. It's not easy to gain a foothold here. Moreover, you still have..."
Her eyes unconsciously fell on Wei Che's legs, and she swallowed the words back when they came to her lips.
Wei Che noticed Li Ruolan's gaze, but didn't care at all. He smiled gently and said, "Don't worry, Miss Li, my leg won't affect anything. I've been used to it for a long time. As long as I have faith in my heart, nothing can stop me."
His voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to strike Li Ruolan's heart, making her feel the powerful force deep in Wei Che's heart.
At this time, Chen Fugui came back from setting up his stall.
His face was tired, his forehead was covered with sweat, and a few strands of hair were soaked with sweat and stuck to his cheeks. He looked a little disheveled.
Seeing Wei Che in the yard, his eyes lit up first, and then he showed an honest smile. While wiping the sweat from his head with the towel draped over his shoulder, he greeted Wei Che warmly: "Master Wei, we meet again. Speaking of which, I still can't believe it. When I left the capital, the most glorious family in the imperial city was the Wei family. Back then, wherever you went, you were invited to have tea by wealthy women. It was so glorious!"
He smiled and moved closer to the chessboard, his eyes scanning the board, but he obviously knew nothing about the game. He could only laugh dryly and nod from time to time, trying to join in their conversation.
Chen Fugui kept muttering as he looked at the chessboard, "Ah, Master Wei, I don't understand your chess moves, but I know you're a master. Back in the day, you were so proficient in everything in the capital that nothing could faze you."
But as the conversation continued, he looked at Wei Che talking freely and calmly, and a hint of jealousy gradually arose in his heart.
Everyone used to live in the capital, and he had his good times, but now he could only sell snacks on the street. Even though Wei Che had fallen to this point, he could still maintain such composure, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
"But now..."
Chen Fugui's eyes unconsciously fell on Wei Che's lame leg. The smile on his face froze for a moment, and he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
But a hint of jealousy still made him unable to help but sneer: "Now, although it's not very convenient for Master Wei to walk, his aura hasn't changed at all. There are still so many people around him, right?"
There was a hint of unnatural ridicule in his tone, but a barely perceptible resentment flashed in his eyes.
When Li Ruolan heard this, her expression changed immediately and she scolded him, "Chen Fugui, why are you saying such hurtful things?"
Chen Fugui then realized that he had said the wrong thing. He scratched his head awkwardly, a look of discomfort on his face, and muttered, "I...I just said it casually. I didn't mean anything else."
Wei Che was not angry, he just smiled and waved his hand, his expression calm, his tone still gentle: "Brother Chen, what you said is true, don't mind it. It's normal for people to have ups and downs in their lives. I came here today just to catch up with an old friend, I hope you don't think too much."
There was no trace of anger in his eyes, but instead they were full of understanding and tolerance, as if he really didn't take Chen Fugui's words to heart.
After saying that, Wei Che bowed slightly, said goodbye politely and left.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com