Chapter 187 There are always people more capable than you, and heavens beyond heavens.
In the latter half of the night, the rain became finer, slanting against the window paper and making a soft, dense sound.
Xiao Ran had just dozed off for a while when she was suddenly startled awake.
Listening to Xiaoyi's steady breathing beside me, I still can't fall asleep.
So many things have happened in just one day since I arrived in the capital.
The scene on the Xishan platform during the day once again appeared clearly before my eyes.
When that Miss Liu openly mocked Sister Jiang as a "country bumpkin" in front of everyone, he felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head, and without thinking, he was about to stand up and refute her.
All notions of being cautious in speech and actions, and of swallowing one's anger, were thrown to the back of one's mind at that moment.
Before he could even speak, Sister Jiang gently pressed his wrist with her warm hand, pulling him back to his seat.
He was puzzled and even felt a little wronged at the time, until he saw that even someone of Brother Liancheng's status could only issue a verbal warning when faced with Liu Wan'er's aggressive behavior, without actually breaking off relations.
Even the guards beside him seemed not to hear, standing there dumbfounded, not daring to step forward to stop him.
It was only then that he belatedly realized that this Miss Liu's background must be extraordinary.
He looked around at the group of people waiting to watch the show; they were all dressed in fine silks and satins, exuding an air of elegance.
His eyes held a look that reflected a profound understanding of the fickle nature of human relationships.
It turns out that this group of people were all either rich or powerful.
He had thought that people in the capital were tired of seeing maple leaves, which was why so few people came to the Western Hills. Now he realized that not everyone was qualified to appreciate the maple leaves of the Western Hills.
If Sister Jiang hadn't stopped me in time, what I said would have definitely offended Miss Liu.
If Liu Wan'er got angry, dealing with a country bumpkin like him would be easier than stepping on an ant.
This might even cause Sister Jiang even more trouble.
In an instant, the fire in his heart seemed to be extinguished by cold water, yet it still carried the lingering warmth of the fire, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
Before coming to Beijing, he specifically sought out Mr. Fu and Grandpa Zhao.
They were all well-informed people in the village, and they had even been to the capital.
He had only asked them for information about the scenery and food in the capital, but they only gave him a few brief words and mostly advised him to be careful with his words and actions when he arrived in the capital.
Mr. Fu said, "The capital city is not like the village. There are countless high-ranking officials and dignitaries. One careless word can bring trouble."
Grandpa Zhao said, "When you encounter someone unreasonable, you should be patient and never stand up for yourself. You never know who you might offend. People like them can easily deal with a country bumpkin."
At the time, he thought it was just an elder's caution and didn't take it entirely seriously.
The laws of the Great Yu Dynasty are strict. The emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people. Bullying the weak is strictly prohibited and will result in imprisonment if discovered.
He thought that if such a thing really happened, he would just report it to the authorities.
Under the emperor's nose, would the government really refuse to handle such a case?
He has been working as a shop assistant in Sister Jiang's grocery store for the past few months. He has a respectable job and can study and write under Mr. Fu's guidance. His family's life is getting better and better, and even his parents can hold their heads higher in the village.
The villagers respected him more and more, and his friends always looked at him with envy. Unconsciously, he also developed a sense of superiority.
Even today, he has personally witnessed that a high-ranking figure like the young Marquis of the Cheng family is cautious and timid in the capital, and only issues a stern warning when faced with Liu Wan'er's arrogance.
Only then did he realize how insignificant he was. Only then did he realize how ridiculous his thoughts were.
Thinking back to what happened to Zhao Shiying's brother, who only offended a wealthy merchant in a county town, he ended up with his family ruined and dead...
Someone like Master Qian probably wouldn't even be able to get through the door of an important person in the capital...
The sound of rain outside the window seemed to tap on his heart, bringing a chill.
He had secretly vowed that once he came to the capital, he would protect Sister Jiang and be at the forefront no matter what danger they encountered.
But the reality is that when Sister Jiang was being harassed, he could do nothing but feel useless anger.
In the end, it was Sister Jiang who calmly resolved the situation with her wisdom.
An unprecedented sense of powerlessness and frustration enveloped him.
The sense of superiority he had secretly cultivated inside him shattered instantly.
He secretly vowed that he must grow up, grow up to be strong enough to deal with those bad guys, and be strong enough to protect Sister Jiang!
The next day, the sky cleared up, and the autumn rain of the previous night washed the capital city exceptionally clean, with the air filled with the moist fragrance of grass and trees.
As expected, Cheng Jiaojiao kept her promise and arrived early in the morning with great enthusiasm.
Today it is Cheng Fang's turn to go outside the city to handle the affairs of the disaster victims, accompanied by Zhao Jingxing and Jiang Ling.
Zhao Jingxing's original plan was to go boating on the lake in the west of the city and enjoy the scenery, but Cheng Jiaojiao rejected it outright.
"Brother Zhao, what season is this? Why are you going boating on the lake in the dead of winter? It's so cold!"
Cheng Jiaojiao held Jiang Ling's hand and chattered, "The temple fair in the south of the city is the most lively today. There are dragon and lion dances, and lots of fun little things. Sister Jiang, shall we go to the temple fair and take a look?"
Jiang Ling had never seen a temple fair in this dynasty before, but seeing that Cheng Jiaojiao really wanted to go, she agreed.
“Great! I’ve been wanting to see what temple fairs in the capital are like.”
Seeing that the two girls were of one mind, Zhao Jingxing readily agreed and changed the itinerary.
The group boarded the carriage and headed south of the city.
Cheng Jiaojiao still rode in the same carriage as Jiang Ling. After getting into the carriage, she curiously swayed it a couple of times.
She felt something different when she rode in Jiang Ling's carriage yesterday. Although it looked simple, it was very stable and not bumpy at all, even when traveling on mountain roads.
I sat for a whole day without feeling any discomfort.
My own carriage was specially modified at a high price, and it was considered stable and comfortable among many carriages, but it still couldn't compare to Jiang Ling's carriage.
As soon as you approach the street corner where the temple fair is located, the noise hits you like a heat wave.
The crowd surged and thronged, a cacophony of shouts, drums, and laughter.
"Sugar paintings and sugar figurines, made to order and sold on the spot!"
"Ring toss game! Win whatever you ring!"
"Come and see...come and look..."
Looking around, acrobatic troupes tumbled and leaped in the field, dragon and lion dance teams meandered forward, there were puppet shows, ring toss stalls, lottery games, and even a simple archery range—a diverse array of activities.
Xiao Yi's eyes lit up as she was immediately captivated by the lively atmosphere: "Sister, it's so lively here!"
Xiao Ran's eyes couldn't help but wander.
He had been to temple fairs in the county town and in the village, but none of them had such a large scale.
"Sister Jiang, there's a ring toss game over there, let's go play!"
Cheng Jiaojiao pulled Jiang Ling and ran towards the ring toss stall, with Xiao Yi and Xiao Ran following behind.
There were too many people, and Zhao Jingxing was a little worried. He followed closely behind them and signaled the guards behind him to be alert.
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