When Jian Ning and his companions returned to the county government office, Mei Niang and the maids had already prepared a rather sumptuous meal. Seeing Jian Ning and Ding Youtian, Mei Niang approached them with an apologetic look on her face. "I've kept you both so busy. My original intention was to invite you over for a good reunion with our two families, but in the end... I really feel bad for you."
"Sister, come here. I'll take your pulse. I'm free right now." Jian Ning pulled Mei Niang aside and asked her quietly while taking her pulse, "Do you have any of Yuechan's personal belongings? Please quietly give me one."
Mei Niang never asked about Qin Yifan's official business, but she was smart and clever. Seeing Jian Ning asking her quietly behind others' backs, she immediately understood. She nodded slightly and lowered her voice as well: "Okay, I'll go to his room and get it myself. As long as it's something he usually carries with him, it will be fine, right?"
Jian Ning said "hmm" and then smiled, "Congratulations, sister. Your pulse is stable and strong. Just rest assured and take care of the baby."
"Let's go eat first. Don't starve." Mei Niang saw that she took the initiative to hold her hand. Thinking that physical contact would not be contagious, she smiled and patted her shoulder, and then quietly pressed her shoulder, meaning that she would go and take care of the things she asked her to do, so she could rest assured.
Jian Ning was indeed hungry. Qiaofeng, Dabao and others were already standing by the table. They would not sit down until the adults were seated.
"Eat, there's no need to be polite at Uncle Qin and Aunt Mei's place. After dinner, Mom and Dad will go out for a walk, and you guys can just play here. If Uncle Qin is in a good mood, you can chat with him and tell him the stories Mom told you."
After Jian Ning finished speaking, he served a bowl of rice to himself and Ding Youtian, and then asked Ding Youtian to come over and eat first, because he couldn't do anything well on an empty stomach.
The family gathered around the table to eat. Mei Niang's maid came forward with a smile and said, "The food on this table is prepared for your family. It is made with the water in the bag that Madam gave you. Just use it with confidence."
"What about you?" Jane Ning asked.
The maid said, "Don't worry, my lady. The kitchen is still stocked. We're using the bag of water you gave us. We haven't cooked any dishes that would require water or washing. If the food doesn't suit the young masters and young ladies, please make do with it for now. Tomorrow, when the water is disinfected, my lady will have the chef from Zuixianju come over and make a delicious meal just for them. I guarantee they'll enjoy it."
"They are not picky about food. Thank you for your trouble." Jane Ning saw that the maid was dressed differently from ordinary people. Her words and deeds, including the way she stood, showed that she had been trained by a wealthy family. She knew that she was most likely Mei Niang's mother who came with her as a dowry.
"Mom, go eat by yourself and don't worry about us. We are not a wealthy family, so we don't have so many formalities. We don't need anyone to wait on us."
Upon hearing this, the maid bowed to Jian Ning. If Jian Ning had not been half a meter away from Mei Niang's sedan chair when she arrived, and she was afraid that Jian Ning still had some taboos in her heart, she would have stepped forward and served her the rice when Jian Ning was serving her.
"Thank you for your understanding, ma'am. Enjoy your meal." She left with a smile on her face, and her favorable impression of Jane Ning and her family soared.
Jian Ning and Ding Youtian ate only a little before getting up. As they left the table, the county magistrate returned home and ate a bowl of rice.
The county magistrate and the legal advisor both lived in the county government office. Earlier, he had seen Jian Ning and Ding Youtian having dinner, and the legal advisor guarding Qin Yifan, so he simply went back. Now, seeing the legal advisor still there, he paused for a moment, then looked at Qin Yifan and said, "Sir, I heard Yuechan went to Huajian Lane. If he had nothing to do, he would have returned long ago. I'm afraid something has happened. I've left someone watching Huajian Lane. Please give your instructions. If a search is necessary, I'll rush over with your warrant."
"Who would harm him?" Legal advisor Fan Zhaoxue glanced at the county magistrate. "Right now, the Gu disease in the city has caused panic among the people. There are hardly any people on the streets. Who would dare to wander around outside at this time? Places like Huajian Alley are even less popular. Your ostentatious actions will only make people more uneasy."
The county magistrate retorted, "This good man has disappeared. According to your opinion, we should not care about him and whether he lives or dies."
The master scoffed, "He's skilled in martial arts, how can anyone get close to him? In my opinion, he probably went out to find a cure for the Gu disease that the master has contracted. Is it any wonder that he won't be back for a while?"
The county magistrate wanted to say something, but Qin Yifan stopped him with a gesture, "Stop arguing, I have my own ideas." He waved his hand for the legal advisor to come forward and help him up.
"Sir, you are..."
"No need to say anything, just help me to the front yard."
Ding Youtian also took a few steps forward, and he and Fan Zhaoxue held his arms on the left and right, helping him to the front yard. The county magistrate also followed quickly.
Jian Ning wanted to follow, but he saw Mei Niang swaying behind the screen out of the corner of his eye, so he stopped and turned towards the screen.
"This is his padded jacket that he has worn and hasn't been washed yet. Is it okay?" Mei Niang saw her coming and pulled her aside. She untied a bundle, took out a fluffy short jacket vest, and asked Jian Ning if she wanted it.
"Yes, that's great." Jian Ning tied the bundle tightly again. "Sister, please take care of the children for me. My husband and I will go find Yuechan."
Mei Niang didn't know Jian Ning's other abilities yet, so she grabbed her and said, "This is their man's business. You've come all this way and worked so hard for so long. Why don't you take a good rest? You still have a lot to do tomorrow. Alas, I had good intentions to invite your family over, but in the end..."
"Stop talking about this. Thankfully, my sister invited us here. It's not that I'm being arrogant or looking down on the local doctors. When I was young, we also had a Gu disease in our area. My master taught me the secret recipe to cure it. I'm here for the sake of honor."
Jian Ning patted Mei Niang's hand and said with a smile, "There's a saying that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. This is my good fortune, and it also brings blessings to my children. Why not do it?"
Mei Niang also smiled. "I feel relieved that you think so. It is my good fortune to have the honor of meeting you in this life."
She glanced at her belly as she spoke, "This is a blessing for us mother and son. Don't worry, sister, just go with them. The children have me, and I will definitely not let them lose a single hair."
"Then I'll go." Jian Ning rushed to the front yard with his bag. Qin Yifan had already written the warrant and handed it to the county magistrate.
The master wanted to go with him, but Qin Yifan put his hand on his shoulder and said, "I'm just a personal attendant. There's no need to bring so many people. You stay. I have something to tell you."
"Let's go." Ding Youtian called Jian Ning, "I saw some people carrying lanterns going up the mountain to collect herbs. We should also go up the mountain to collect some for future use."
Jian Ning met his gaze and guessed that he said this on purpose, so she smiled and said, "Okay, children have weak resistance, so it would be safer to pick some for Dabao and the others to take."
After they left the county government office, Ding Youtian asked her what was in her bundle. "I took some medicine. Doctor Gan asked me for it earlier."
The situation is unclear at the moment, so the county magistrate had better be on guard. She gave Ding Youtian a look, indicating that he should shield her, and then quietly took out the drone.
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