After the banquet, Yuan Zuzhi saw the guests to the door.
Several people said goodbye in front of the door. Xu Jiang and Du Hui said goodbye, but Du Hui snorted coldly, turned his sleeves and got on the carriage.
"Did you offend him?" Lou Jing appeared from behind her.
"No." Xu Jiang shook her head. Turning around, she saw that he looked a little dazed, so she called his followers and helped him into the carriage. "Goodbye, sir."
Lou Jing was waving goodbye to her when he saw a man and a horse walking towards him from afar on the street - who else could it be but his debt collector?
The attendant also saw Lou Yunchun and said, "Master, the young master is here to pick you up."
Lou Jing snorted, "Whether he's here to pick me up or not is hard to say."
Up ahead, Du Hui lifted the carriage curtain. Lou Yunchun bowed to him, only to be met with repeated glares from him, leaving him feeling somewhat bewildered. After glaring at him, Du Hui then glared at Xu Jiang, who was staring at Lou Yunchun, oblivious. His face livid, he ordered the servants to drive back to the mansion, then angrily lowered the curtain again.
When Lou Yunchun passed by Li Tongxue, Li Tongxue was smiling. He glanced at him and Xu Jiang, and then told his family to leave.
Hu Xu was the last to leave. He looked up and saw him coming. He was startled at first, then smiled at him and said, "Mr. Lou is here." He then glanced at Xu Jiang and Lou Jing and asked, "Are you here to pick up Mr. Lou?"
Lou Jing's nose was almost crooked with anger. This young man looked gentle and refined before, so how come he was exposed by the old fellow Yuan Zuzhi?
Xu Jiang looked back at Hu Xu, and seeing his innocent face, she felt a little amused. After hanging out with several gentlemen, he had learned quite a few mischievous ways.
Before Lou Yunchun could reply, Lou Jing spoke first, "Why are you here to pick me up? You have horses, carriages, and attendants, are you afraid I'll get lost?" He then pointed at Xu Jiang and ordered, "Take Madam Xu home. I'm worried about her being all alone."
After saying that, he glanced at Hu Xu provocatively, but Hu Xu smiled and said, "I'm on the same page with the boss, so why don't I take her back?"
Lou Yunchun dismounted and walked to Xu Jiang's side. He looked at Hu Xu gravely and said, "There's no need to trouble you, Master Hu."
When two people stood together, no one else could squeeze in next to them.
He is worthy of being his son.
Lou Jing smiled, then said to Hu Xu: "Young man, get in the car, I'll take you home."
Hu Xu didn't hesitate to say anything, but bowed and said, "I'm sorry to bother you, sir." Then he said goodbye to Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun, "Master, Master Lou, I'll be leaving first."
"Goodbye." Xu Jiang waved at him, watched him get on the carriage, and said goodbye to Lou Jing, "Sir, take care."
Lou Jing looked at the two children, nodded with a smile, and then lowered the curtain of the car.
After everyone had left, Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun, one pulling the donkey and the other leading the horse, slowly headed towards Yonghefang.
The sun is setting, and there are wisps of smoke from cooking fires. Every time I pass a house, I feel the world.
Smelling the aroma of food from each family, Xu Jiang felt a little greedy. Just now at the banquet, she was so busy explaining to Du Hui that she didn't eat much of the food. Now, stimulated by the aroma, her internal organs began to stir.
She looked at Lou Yunchun, thinking that he had come in such a hurry and probably hadn't eaten yet, so she asked, "Are you hungry?"
Lou Yunchun nodded, "I'm hungry."
"I heard from Hong Chu that there's an inn in Daixianfang that makes great food. I'm passing by on my way back, so why not go and try it?"
Lou Yunchun's eyes curved, "Okay."
"It's just a meal, what's there to be happy about?"
"I am not happy to eat, but I am happy to be with you."
Xu Jiang also narrowed her eyes, "She must be happy to eat, and happy to be with you."
The two smiled at each other.
The evening drums beat relentlessly, but because Lou Yunchun was with them, there was no need to rush back home, allowing them to stroll leisurely. They didn't ride horses, but on donkeys, walking slowly until the sunset faded, finally arriving at the posthouse in Daixianfang.
Xu Jiang looked at the name and smiled.
"Bai Shi Yi, Bai Shi, Bai Shi, Bai Shi, with this name, how many free eaters will it attract?"
Lou Yunchun coughed lightly, a trace of discomfort flashing across his face.
Xu Jiang blinked, then suddenly realized, "Oh——"
Lou Yunchun looked at her helplessly.
The two men tied the horse and donkey under an oak tree in front of the inn, and then entered the lobby. There were four or five tables of guests sitting in the lobby, and the waiters were busy greeting them.
"Please come in, gentlemen." The waiter was originally smiling, but when he saw Lou Yunchun, his face froze for a moment.
Xu Jiang stepped forward and asked, "Little Second Brother, what good wine and food do you have?"
The waiter met her and, seeing that she was amiable again, smiled and said, "We have willow seeds, roasted venison, and pig's trotter soup. As for wine, we have the newly acquired osmanthus wine and Sansheng wine."
After Xu Jiang heard him name the dish, she asked curiously, "What is Xi Liuzi?"
"The wild fish in the river at this time of year are shaped like willow leaves, so they are called Xiliuzi."
"How do you eat it?"
"Because the willow bark dies when out of water, it takes on a fishy smell, so it's difficult to stew. It's usually pan-fried dry, or coated in tapioca flour and egg and deep-fried. It's most delicious served with wine."
Just then, a burst of delicious aroma came from the kitchen. The waiter hurriedly said, "Madam, please smell it. This is the dry-fried willow seeds. Isn't it fragrant?"
"Fragrant." It makes people salivate at the mere smell of it.
The waiter quickly led her to a seat, and then reluctantly greeted Lou Yunchun and asked him to sit down as well.
"Little brother, give me one portion each of fried and pan-fried willow seeds." After ordering, Xu Jiang asked, "What's the story behind this Sansheng wine?"
"This Sansheng wine is made by steeping mulberries from April and May in sake for 180 days, hence the name. It's also a southern method. I just opened it a few days ago. It's sweet and mellow, and the color is beautiful too. Would you like to try it, my lady?"
"What's so special about drinking it?"
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