Chapter 949 Setting up a trap
Standing by the courtyard wall, Li Wan turned around and asked:
"Ah Liang, how come you suddenly have time to eat? Don't you usually sleep during the day and then have to work the night shift in the evening? I heard that you switched from daytime to nighttime shifts at the canteen."
She had just gotten up and was still a little sleepy from leaving early in the morning, but upon hearing Ouyang Rong's words, her expression turned curious.
Ouyang Rong's face remained perfectly calm as he said:
"I'm off these two days, and I happen to have some free time in the evenings."
"I see."
Li Wan nodded, a gentle smile on her face.
"It's time to rest. You've had a tough time doing this, staying up all night every day. You need to take care of your health. After all, you're not a Qi cultivator like Jinghong and Liu Qing. You and I need to take it easy and not stay up all night like them to cultivate."
"Yes, I understand, Madam Li."
Ouyang Rong nodded and continued, "May I ask when Young Master Lu will return?"
Li Wan shook her head and complained:
"That brat, he hasn't come home lately even when he has free time. When I ask him what he's doing at Zhutang, he won't say. I can't say for sure when he'll be back. What, does A-Liang have something to ask him? Why did he suddenly say he wanted to have a meal together?"
She asked jokingly, with a hint of testing in her voice.
Under the discreet gaze of the noblewoman, the taciturn young man calmly said:
"Madam Li can go and ask. It's nothing much, it's just that we haven't seen each other for a long time, and now that we finally have some time, we naturally want to see everyone."
"Is that so..."
Li Wan looked hesitant.
Ouyang Rong did not urge him, but calmly said:
"I'm planning to cook some of my signature dishes. Besides Young Master Lu, I'll also invite Miss Song, Miss Yu, and Sha Ergou..."
Upon hearing the words "Miss Song," Li Wan glanced sideways, and her previously hesitant expression faded considerably.
This scene was witnessed by Ouyang Rong, who was standing to the side.
She hesitated for a moment and asked:
"How about this, I'll go and mention it to him. If Jinghong can't come because of something, I hope A Liang won't be angry. I was worried about this before. You know his temperament. He's a bit impatient with me. I don't want to provoke him. It's fine if he blames me, but I'm afraid he'll spoil your fun."
Ouyang Rong shook his head: "No, Young Master Lu is very reasonable in this kind of matter."
"Hmm, I hope so."
Li Wan casually replied, then glanced at him again to confirm:
"Ah Liang, you also invited Miss Song, right?"
"Yes, they will call out," Ouyang Rong nodded, "but I don't know if they will come."
He said, seemingly somewhat nonchalantly:
"I wonder if he'll be too busy to come, like Young Master Lu. Madam Li, if Young Master Lu is really busy, it's alright, we can get together another time."
Upon hearing this, Li Wan's expression became much more serious, and she said earnestly:
"Ah Liang, you're so understanding. If that brat had half your steady nature, I'd be laughing in my sleep. Alright, I'll go ask him then. If he's really busy, I'll try to persuade him to postpone what he's doing... By the way, when were you planning to eat?"
Ouyang Rong replied:
"It'll be either tonight or tomorrow night, depending on everyone's schedule. Because after these two days, I'll have other things to attend to..."
The two roughly agreed on a time.
Madam Chen's shopping room will be down the mountain the day after tomorrow. So, Ouyang Rong only has two days to prepare for the trip down the mountain. It's a race against time.
He glanced at Li Wan, who remained completely oblivious, without making a sound.
Ouyang Rong certainly hoped that Lu Jinghong could come; in fact, he made dumplings just for this plate of vinegar.
However, Ouyang Rong did not show it at all throughout the entire process.
Li Wan and her son are both the type to act only after seeing a clear benefit, and they are both clever people. Clever people are the most troublesome... Naturally, we can't let them know what Ouyang Rong did to their Lu family's ancestral graves.
We mustn't let them know about the blood-red bronze door in the tomb... it might turn them into enemies.
"Alright, then I'll trouble Madam Li to pass on a message."
After thanking him, Ouyang turned and went back into the house.
Li Wan was left standing there, her gaze fixed on his retreating figure...
Back inside, Ouyang Rong quickly washed up and went straight to sleep.
I slept soundly until evening that day, without having a single dream, and it was very peaceful.
Ouyang Rong glanced at the twilight scenery outside the window, stretched, went to open the door, and leisurely began tidying up the yard.
About half an hour later, the miscellaneous tasks were completed.
He also left a letter on the table in case Aqing returned to the courtyard midway and found him gone, worrying about his safety.
He doesn't need to work the night shift tonight; Chen Jiaxin has already arranged for someone to cover for him.
Ouyang Rong strode out the door to look for someone.
First, he went to Qiutang to invite Song Zhian.
Unable to enter the Autumn Hall, he could only ask the gatekeeper, a Yue maid, to deliver a message for him.
Since someone had delivered the message, Ouyang Rong didn't wait long at the entrance of Qiutang. He went straight to the next stop: Taotang to find Yu Mili, and then Zhutang...
A whole day has passed.
There was no clear reply from Li Wan and her son, but Ouyang Rong was not going to wait any longer.
I still need to gather people for the dinner party I promised to host.
He got up late today and probably won't be able to eat, so we'll have to do it tomorrow night. I'll go call people first and arrange a dinner gathering for tomorrow night.
Just in case Lu Jinghong doesn't come tomorrow night either, then forget it. We can wait until before the next trip down the mountain and try again...
Because this time he decided to go down the mountain on short notice, he left in a hurry and was not well prepared.
However, this time he didn't just wander around aimlessly when he came down the mountain. He also had to deal with the informant sent by Yan Liulang, which was one of the things Ouyang Rong valued most.
As for the bronze gate in Lu Changgeng's tomb, it was more of an unexpected encounter, an extra bonus, and can wait. We need to focus on the important matters first; haste makes waste...
However, based on Ouyang Rong's deep understanding of Lu Jinghong, he would most likely be present whenever Song Zhian was there; this is what is called precise fishing.
Ouyang Rong nodded.
...
Dusk falls.
Wisps of smoke rose from the courtyard.
In the kitchen, Ouyang Rong had been busy all afternoon, but the dinner was still not ready.
The heat from the firewood made him a little sleepy. He hadn't been working night shifts lately, so he had adjusted his schedule and was feeling drowsy during the day.
He simply walked out of the kitchen and went to the well.
In the setting sun, I drew a basin of golden well water and washed my face.
Ouyang Rong wiped the water droplets from his face, let out a long breath, and glanced at the setting sun.
Judging by the time, they should be arriving soon.
Song Zhian and Yu Mili both replied that they would come.
Sha Ergou goes without saying.
Only Lu Jinghong's side remained ambiguous. Li Wan said that Lu Jinghong needed to see how things went and told them to eat first.
After resting for a while in the basking of the setting sun, Ouyang Rong turned and went back to the kitchen.
In the southeast corner of the kitchen, there was a window that was usually closed, but he opened it today.
Ouyang Rong and Li Wan's two courtyards, side by side, were already in a secluded location, in a corner of this small island, and beyond that, there was a lush forest of red leaves.
Through this kitchen window, you can see the lush red maple trees outside.
Ouyang Rong usually kept it closed to prevent mosquitoes from getting in.
As he passed by, he pursed his lips and glanced at it.
In the afternoon, he actually cooked two meals.
The first meal was specially prepared for the female immortal.
After eating and drinking to his heart's content, Miao Si rode the bronze scroll out of the kitchen window and disappeared without a trace.
The bamboo tube that Ouyang Rong always wore had been taken off; it was empty and had been left aside.
Ouyang Rong stared out the window for a moment, then returned to the stove to continue preparing the second dinner.
That is, the dinner served to friends.
He deliberately slowed down the process.
About fifteen minutes later, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Ouyang Rong, who was in the kitchen, called out.
The courtyard gate was pushed open.
Two sets of footsteps approached, and at the same time, the young woman's voice rang out.
"Brother Liu, your yard is so clean."
Yu Mili praised:
"Oh, you're still cooking?"
Ouyang Rong turned around and saw Yu Mili already standing at the door, curiously peering into the kitchen.
Ouyang Rong shifted his gaze to what was behind her, and saw that Song Zhian was standing behind Yu Mili.
Song Zhian, being taller, was looking silently into the kitchen, past Yu Mili.
Ouyang Rong walked over with a smile and greeted him:
"You guys rest first. There are still two dishes left. Er Gou is coming, so I made a little extra food... But once everyone is here, we can start eating soon."
"Okay, okay." Yu Mili certainly wouldn't rush him. Instead, she nodded like a chick pecking at rice, encouraging him, "Brother Liu, take your time, no rush. The most important thing is that it tastes good."
Ouyang Rong smiled and turned to look at the tall young woman behind her.
"Miss Song, how have you been lately?"
"Not bad, Brother Liu."
After greeting her, Song Zhian remained silent.
Ouyang Rong noticed that after spending a long time in Qiutang, and perhaps having experienced something, Song Zhian's demeanor had become more reserved and profound, and she spoke less, becoming somewhat silent and quiet.
Or rather, the two sides have fewer things to talk about, and they are no longer like newcomers starting from scratch, as they used to be.
Right now, she is the promising Qiutang Yue Nu, and her cultivation is almost at the eighth rank.
He distanced himself from his openly known friends like Ouyang Rong.
There is a subtle sense of an ever-growing, increasingly distant chasm.
Just like the snow-white Wu dress she's wearing.
Song Zhian stopped at the greasy, dirty kitchen doorway. Her white dress contrasted sharply with the kitchen, and even if she stepped inside, she would look completely out of place.
After a long separation, Song Zhian's timely arrival for dinner tonight was already a great consideration for their old friendship. Perhaps it was also because Ouyang Rong personally went to invite her yesterday evening. However, she did not treat Ouyang Rong as an ordinary cook, but as an old friend.
Although Ouyang Rong has a younger sister named A Qing and is favored by Li Xiaoxianzi, he is certainly not an ordinary cook.
However, it was his younger sister, Aqing, who was successful, not Ouyang Rong himself.
The rules of Yunmeng Sword Marsh are that the Yue women should abandon the burdens of family ties down the mountain, focus on cultivation, and serve the Yuanjun.
Not to mention the direct disciples of the Queen's Palace like A Qing, even the noble hidden queen is no exception and is treated equally.
Moreover, Song Zhian was chosen from among hundreds of outstanding individuals to enter Qiutang.
That girl Liu Qing is indeed very capable, far surpassing others, but Song Zhian is no less so, and in terms of ambition, she doesn't need to intentionally consider herself inferior.
Just like Song Zhian's attitude towards Chen Jiaxin, who had repeatedly extended olive branches to her.
The carefree and naive Yu Mili was oblivious to the growing awkwardness and silence that was slowly distancing them from each other, muttering to herself.
But Ouyang Rong and Song Zhian were both very perceptive and understood each other without saying a word.
Ouyang Rong didn't think there was anything wrong with Song Zhian's quiet and indifferent attitude in front of her old friend. He let things take their course.
Besides, her presence today has already secretly helped him a great deal...
Ouyang Rong greeted them with a smile and led them inside to rest, while they waited for the food and Sha Ergou and the others.
Along the way, Song Zhian glanced at Brother Liu, who seemed to be smiling and talking more.
Before long, the courtyard gate was pushed open again.
"Brother Liu!"
Sha Ergou swaggered in and immediately went into the kitchen... but soon, he was chased out by Ouyang Rong for trying to steal some food.
With Sha Ergou's arrival, the house became lively again.
He and Yu Mili talk a lot and get along well; the two of them can liven up the atmosphere on stage.
Ouyang Rong was cooking rather slowly today, but Yu Mili, Sha Ergou, and the others didn't urge him on.
Until Lu Jinghong arrived.
"Brother Liu, you've worked hard."
As soon as he entered, Lu Jinghong called out to the kitchen and then glanced at the main house.
"I thought Young Master Lu wasn't coming."
Ouyang Rong greeted him.
"Brother Liu is so kind with his wine and food, how could I not come?"
As the two were talking, Yu Mili, Song Zhian, and others also came out of the house.
Everyone gathered in the courtyard.
Lu Jinghong looked around, as if only just noticing, and laughed:
"Miss Song has come too?"
Li Wan also arrived late and followed us through the door.
She glanced at her son's somewhat speechless expression, then looked at Song Zhian.
They immediately greeted him familiarly.
"It's been a long time, Miss Song..."
Lu Jinghong followed behind her eloquent mother.
Li Wan turned around and said:
"Jinghong, go to the kitchen and help Aliang."
"good."
Just like the last time they ate together, Li Wan gave Lu Jinghong the same instructions.
Ouyang Rong glanced at the backs of the mother and son without showing any emotion.
The group split into two teams.
Lu Jinghong followed Ouyang Rong into the kitchen.
The others went to the main house.
In the kitchen, Lu Jinghong was somewhat distracted while helping out.
Ouyang Rong naturally noticed this, but ignored it and continued preparing the two dishes that had been ordered long overdue.
Lu Jinghong was a bit lazy. After Ouyang Rong called him to get the bowls and chopsticks from the cupboard by the window, he lingered by the window.
Suddenly, a noise came from the cabinet.
"What's wrong?"
Ouyang Rong turned his head and saw that Lu Jinghong had dropped a bowl into the cabinet, which was why there was a sound.
"No...it's nothing."
Lu Jinghong forced a smile and waved to Ouyang Rong.
The young man in brocade robes was standing with his back to the windowsill, subtly blocking the view outside.
"oh."
Ouyang Rong nodded, seemingly unaware of anything, and continued busy cooking.
Seeing the taciturn young man turn away and stop paying attention to them, Lu Jinghong breathed a slight sigh of relief.
A moment later, he turned back and glanced at the unusual movement outside the window...
(End of this chapter)
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