Chapter 722 We Are the Same

Shen Hechi watched outside without saying a word, then he opened the paper deed in his hand, smoothed out the wrinkles and placed it on the table. He picked up a cup to press down the paper deed and followed him out.

"Hechi, why are you so late to come out? Come here and sit here." Zhang Jinlan waved at him. She wanted to arrange him at Meng Bujiu's table, but there was no seat left, so she had to turn her attention to the table next to them.

Sitting at this table are the younger generations of the Jiang family and the Jiang family’s relatives.

"No, grandma. I have something urgent to do. I have to leave for the imperial city soon. Just consider this meal as already finished. I'm leaving first. I'm really sorry. I was rude." Shen Hechi said apologetically.

He turned his head to look at Jiang Fubao, but Jiang Fubao was talking to Jiang Ruyi, apparently discussing the bracelet on his hand, and did not look at him.

There was a gloomy look in Shen Hechi's eyes. He clenched his fists tightly again and then quickly released them.

"What? Why are you leaving so soon? What's the matter that makes you so anxious? Don't you have time to eat a meal? How can you rush on an empty stomach, kid?" Zhang Jinlan was stunned.

Although she knew what was going on, she really felt sorry for this poor child. His mother was killed when he was a child, his father didn't love him, and now everyone in his family has died. He is the only one living in such a big house.

Thinking that he was in a hurry to leave, Zhang Jinlan prepared to bring him something.

"Well, I have to go now, grandma. If I have time in the future, I will come back to see you often. I'm leaving now. Bye." Tears welled up in Shen Hechi's eyes. He clasped his fists and said this, then turned around and left.

Zhang Jinlan quickly ordered her servants to pack a meal and followed him out to deliver it.

Shen Hechi got on the carriage and the food was brought with him.

"The old lady said that you should be careful on the road, take good care of yourself, don't tire yourself out, and don't offend anyone in the imperial city, because there are officials everywhere. If you are bullied, just come back. After all, being a leisurely county magistrate is good. Remember to eat these meals while they are hot. If they are cold, they will upset your stomach..."

The servant repeated Zhang Jinlan's words to Shen Hechi verbatim.

Shen Hechi felt really upset.

He hasn't been cared for so much in a long time.

He never knew what family affection was or what love was.

I only remember that before his mother passed away, there were always people who were concerned about his health, worrying that he was hungry, not having enough to eat or wearing warm clothes. But after his mother passed away, no one spoke to him like this anymore.

"I will be back, wait for me." Looking at the plaque with the words "Jiang's House" written on it, Shen Hechi said silently, then got into the carriage, with the food box placed on his legs.

As soon as he opened it, the rich aroma of rice filled his nose.

The Jiang family’s food is the best in the world. Even if he has eaten in countless restaurants and hotels in Jiangnan, none of them can compare to it.

Except for the Changshou Restaurant that Fubao opened in partnership with others and sells medicinal food.

He had been there before, but only ate there once and never went back again.

The Fang family knew him and refused to take any money from him.

When did he start to like Fubao? It was probably after he experienced the death of his mother, the neglect of his father and the bullying of his aunt. He found that there was a girl who was willing to tell him the truth. He knew that those words were not said unintentionally.

Fubao is smart, from the first time I saw her.

Shen Hechi knew it soon.

They are the same kind of people.

Shen Hechi knew all the characters when he was three years old, but his grandfather told him to learn to hide his shortcomings. Children who become famous at a young age rarely grow up to be adults, especially when there is a concubine in the family.

Shen Hechi kept these words in mind until his grandfather passed away. The last person who loved him was gone.

When Jiang Fubao left him, he smelled the same scent.

They were the same kind of people, they were meant to be together. He would become a high official, and he would return in glory. By then, Fubao would definitely look up to him, and he would win an imperial decree for Fubao. Maybe when he returned, it would be the time for him and Fubao to get married.

With this thought in mind, Shen Hechi left Lianshan Town.

It was only after the banquet that Jiang Fubao found out that Shen He had left without even eating.

She couldn't tell how she felt about Shen Hechi. She didn't hate him but she didn't like him either. The first time they met she just felt sorry for him and told him the truth, even at the risk of being suspected by her grandmother.

Nothing else.

There was unpleasantness during their second meeting, but she didn't take it to heart. She just felt that Shen Hechi's feelings for her were a little inexplicable.

It was obvious that she and Shen Hechi had not had many contacts, and besides, Shen Hechi was not her type.

Upon learning that he had already set out for the imperial city, Jiang Fubao just hummed.

I hope he can be promoted step by step and become a high-ranking official soon.

"Miss, look what this is. I saw it when I went to the main room to get you a cup. It was pressed by your teacup.

The guests left, even Meng Bujiu left.

Jiang Fubao was standing in the yard. Just as he was about to go back to the second courtyard, he saw Xue Huan coming out with a cup and a piece of paper. She looked so anxious that Jiang Fubao stopped.

"The paper deed of the shop? This..." Jiang Fubao took it and was stunned at the first sight.

Isn't this the gift that Shen Hechi wanted to give her?

He didn't take it?

This guy, really.

Jiang Fubao was speechless. How could she return such an expensive gift?

"What's wrong, young lady?" Xue Huan didn't see it, so she didn't understand.

She just felt that the young lady would be unhappy to see the paper.

"It's okay. I'll return it to him when we go to the imperial city later. Put this paper deed in a box by itself and lock it together with the other boxes." Jiang Fubao returned the paper deed to Xue Huan and went to the second courtyard.

At this time, Shen Hechi, who was about to leave Qixi County, frowned because the road was too bumpy and did not close his eyes to rest.

The empty lunch box at my feet fell to the ground.

A small black-painted wooden box rolled out.

It was very small, only the size of a palm, and he didn't notice it while eating.

Shen Hechi picked it up and opened it. It turned out to be banknotes, each with a denomination of one hundred taels, a total of thirteen.

"Grandma..." He called Zhang Jinlan silently, thinking that Zhang Jinlan had given him the banknote out of fear that he would not have a good life in the imperial city.

However, the one who actually stuffed the banknote was Meng Bujiu. He had been paying attention since Shen Hechi talked to Zhang Jinlan. When the servant passed by him while delivering the food box, he asked Lingshan to put the small wooden box at the bottom of the food box, where there was a compartment.

Thirteen banknotes were all the money he had.

He knew that Shen Hechi would definitely keep this paper deed, but he couldn't come up with more money. Who would carry ten thousand taels of silver on them? He just kept this in case of emergency.

He knew better than anyone how expensive the shops in the imperial city were.

Shen Hechi did not engage in business, so the money he spent was naturally all earned by his father.