Chapter 342 How could Heaven bear to let him die?
With a loud "boom," Lou Yue was so startled that she dropped the bead she had just picked up.
She covered her ears with both hands: "Miss, lie down quickly, it's an earthquake!"
Yao Qingling was also terrified.
No, this isn't an earthquake. Where did that loud noise come from?
She got up jokingly and ran out, grabbing a passing shop assistant and asking what was wrong.
The man was also bewildered: "I don't know, there was just a sudden loud bang."
Most of the customers in the shop suddenly rushed out to watch the excitement.
Only a few indifferent people continued to select goods.
Qingling instructed the waiter to attend to the guests, and then she went outside.
Many people on the street were running towards the west of the city.
"That loud noise just now came from the west. I thought it was an earthquake!" A man running past her exclaimed excitedly. Clearly, the sudden loud noise had snapped these people, who had been living numb lives, out of their daze.
Qingling returned to the shop.
She summoned Xiao Pingfeng: "The reconstruction of Yongning Temple is in the west of the city. Go and take a look."
Xiao Pingfeng went there immediately.
When Qingling returned to her room, Louyue was still picking up the abacus beads. She looked up and asked Qingling, "Miss, what happened outside?"
Qingling shook her head: "I'll know in a bit."
She sat down, glanced at the steaming wontons in front of her, and said, "These wontons are made with knife fish; they're very delicious. Miss, please eat them."
The ribbonfish were transported back by boat from the Shengda River and kept fresh with ice; they were the first batch to sell out.
It's a pity there wasn't enough, otherwise we could have earned more.
“It’s really delicious.” Yao Qingling absentmindedly tried one, which made Lou Yue happy. Lou Yue said, “Miss, I won’t open a restaurant. I’ll just sell these wontons from now on. The cost is low, and as long as there are many different kinds of fillings, I won’t have to worry about not having customers.”
"Besides, we have a lot of people, so we can make more wontons. We can sell them not only in the shop, but also have those people set up stalls on the street. I'm only responsible for the filling, and they carry the raw wontons around the streets and alleys. I've calculated that each wonton only costs eighty coins. Isn't that just a mobile shop?"
Qingling knew that Louyue was sensible, timid, and had no great ambitions; she just liked to stay by her side.
But she never expected that Lou Yue would have such thoughts.
Yes, restaurants can make a lot of money, but you can't open one without at least a thousand taels of silver. She doesn't have that kind of capital right now.
But she has to support so many people, feed them, keep them calm, and keep them busy so they don't have time to think about other things and become increasingly pessimistic and irritable.
Lou Yue's method is a good method.
With just one hundred taels of silver, one can open a small shop. Selling wontons from a shoulder pole is even cheaper, yet everyone can be a boss and go out to make money.
The more expensive fillings, such as rare cuts like knife fish, were sold in the shops for those distinguished nobles to try as an afternoon snack, with the highest bidder getting them.
Other cheaper options can be sold elsewhere, making them affordable for ordinary people. Earning a tael of silver a day is still money.
"Okay, I'll do as you say." Qingling was in a better mood and finished all the wontons in one go.
So, what can relieve worries? Money! And ways to make money!
Xiao Pingfeng returned and saw Lou Yue and Yao Qingling smiling. He paused for a moment, then his expression turned serious.
The smile on Qingling's face vanished instantly.
Xiao Pingfeng's face was grave: "Yongning Temple has collapsed."
Lou Yue gasped, "How could this be... It's only been under repair for a short time..."
She looked at Qingling in alarm and said, "Why is Yongning Temple so unlucky? It was burned down by bandits before, and now it has collapsed again after being rebuilt."
She spoke her mind, and only after she finished did she realize that Xiao Pingfeng's expression had become even more unpleasant.
Lou Yue quickly shut up, then realized it wasn't a good idea and apologized to Xiao Pingfeng in a conciliatory manner: "I wasn't talking about you..."
Xiao Pingfeng frowned and said in a low voice, "What's done is done, you're right."
"Alright, let's not talk about this now, and let's never bring it up again." Qingling glanced at Lou Yue, telling her to keep her mouth shut.
Lou Yue knew she was wrong, biting her lip tightly, determined to remember this incident—no, to completely forget it.
Qingling paced around the room, her mind heavy.
Xiao Pingfeng asked, "Miss, have you thought of something unpleasant?"
Qingling told Lou Yue to go out and guard the door from the outside.
She lowered her voice: "The secret of Prince Xin is hidden beneath Yongning Temple, and it is of great importance. Lin Shiyuan is investigating him."
However, she did not know whether the sudden collapse of Yongning Temple was due to Prince Xin destroying evidence or an accident.
She didn't know if Lin Shiyuan was inside.
That's what really made her panic.
Lin Shiyuan only comes to her Magnolia Courtyard at night, and now she hopes the sun will set soon.
"Has any rescue team arrived?" she asked.
Xiao Pingfeng said, "When I arrived at the scene, there were many people gathered there, and soldiers were guarding it. I heard that there were many workers working on the site."
"The government sent people to dig up the stones, but..."
He shook his head.
Those below are just workers, not powerful officials or ladies. They're just buried there. Who really wants to save them?
The lives of ordinary people are as insignificant as ants.
Qingling opened her lips, wanting to say something, but the tightness in her chest prevented her from making a sound.
Xiao Pingfeng quickly helped her sit down and poured her a glass of water.
“Miss, Young Master Lin is highly skilled in martial arts, brave and resourceful. He will be fine.”
Qingling nodded stiffly.
Yes, Lin Shiyuan had fought countless battles; he once said he had emerged from piles of corpses.
He was blessed with good fortune; the people called him a rising star, while the enemy called him a butcher. He was the only one who killed; how could he have been crushed to death by stones?
How could God bear to let him die?
Qingling comforted herself, telling herself countless times that everything was alright, and prayed in her heart to the Bodhisattva and all the gods to protect Lin Shiyuan and keep him safe.
After returning to the Marquis's residence, she didn't eat much and just waited in the courtyard.
He descended from the sky like an eagle and landed in front of her.
Logically, Nie Yun should have gone to the scene to check long ago, but today Nie Yun stayed by Yao Qingling's side, not leaving her for a moment.
Lin Shiyuan had instructed her that no matter what happened to him, she should stay by Yao Qingling's side and ensure her safety.
He worried that someone might try to interfere with Yao Qingling while he was investigating Yongning Temple.
"Nie Yun, go to the Lin family and see if Lin Shiyuan has returned. I'm worried he's injured and doesn't dare to come see me."
Yao Qingling remained calm, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand.
She had never chanted scriptures or prayed to Buddha before; if she did, it was just for show. But at this moment, she became devout.
Nie Yun looked at Qing Ling and slowly shook her head: "He told me to keep an eye on you and not leave your side no matter what."
Qingling opened her mouth, suppressing her anxiety: "Please, I just want news about him. The Marquis's residence has other guards, so he'll be fine for the time being."
Nie Yun thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you come with me?"
In the past, it was always Lin Shiyuan who would come to see Yao Qingling at night. This time, could it be the other way around?
Qingling turned around and glanced at the Marquis's residence.
At this critical juncture, she cannot leave the Marquis's residence.
Zhao'er is her weakness, as is her aunt; she can't make up her mind if something happens.
Just as Qingling was hesitating, there was a sudden knock on the door.
The shock made people tense up suddenly, and their hair stood on end.
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