Chapter 948 Miss, they're all on our side
In the afternoon, sunlight streamed onto the eaves.
Ouyang Rong pushed open the door, stretched, and stood in the sun for a while.
After a moment of distraction, he turned and went to wash up and change.
He only got back this morning.
I've been working the night shift in the dining hall lately, preparing vegetarian meals for the Jade Hall in Qingliang Valley.
I would work until dawn every day before I could return home, and once inside, I would almost immediately fall asleep.
I slept until the afternoon before getting up to pack my things.
The night shift cooking in the dining hall severely disrupted his sleep schedule, leaving him no time for cultivation. Although Qi cultivators are energetic and can stay up for several nights in a row, this is depleting their physical strength, not only consuming their Yang energy but also easily causing mental fatigue. It is not advisable to stay up late for extended periods.
Last night, like the previous few nights, nothing changed, and we didn't get the chance to deliver food to Qingliang Valley.
Ouyang Rong remained expressionless. After washing up, he returned to his room, glanced at the almanac, and paused.
Almost a month has passed since he returned to Jianze after completing his arrangements in Taoyuan Town.
The month flew by; Ouyang Rong barely felt the passage of time. He felt there were so many things to do, one after another, and it was over in the blink of an eye.
I stood in front of the old almanac and pondered for a moment.
Ouyang Rong packed up the bamboo tube, turned around and went out.
At this time of day, he would usually go directly to the dining hall to relieve his colleagues who were off duty in the evening.
But today, when he arrived at the intersection, he didn't take the road leading to Qingliang Valley Restaurant. Instead, he turned and went to the purchasing room.
The house purchase was the same as always; when a clerk saw Ouyang Rong, he greeted him familiarly.
"Madam Chen? Brother Liang is looking for her?"
"Um."
"She should have gone to the warehouse. We'll be going down the mountain again in a few days. Madam Chen has been busy taking inventory of the warehouse lately."
"Understood, thank you."
Upon hearing his colleague say the word "going down the mountain," Ouyang Rong remained calm and clasped his hands in farewell.
Before long, he arrived at the warehouse with practiced ease and, sure enough, saw Madam Chen's back.
The woman was standing at the warehouse door, directing several workers to do their jobs and move boxes.
Out of the corner of her eye, Madam Chen caught sight of the taciturn Ouyang Rong approaching. Her expression showed surprise, and she asked:
"Liu Aliang? What brings you here?"
Ouyang Rong did not answer, but looked around.
Upon seeing this, Madam Chen understood almost instantly. Her expression turned serious, and she gave a few instructions to her subordinates before leading Ouyang Rong to a deserted open space.
She got straight to the point:
"What is it? Please speak."
Ouyang Rong first asked:
"Is it almost time for your purchasing department to send someone down the mountain every month?"
Madam Chen nodded subconsciously: "Yes, that's right."
Ouyang Rong spoke casually, but his words startled Madam Chen:
"I'm going down the mountain too, please make some arrangements for me."
Madam Chen couldn't help but ask:
"You're going down the mountain too? What would you do if you were going down the mountain for no reason?"
Ouyang Rong first answered:
"Two things. First, I need to buy some ingredients and seasonings for the pickled radishes that go with my vegetarian meal so that they will pickle well. I'm going down the mountain to the market in Taoyuan Town to pick some out. Second, I want to send a letter home."
The more Madam Chen listened, the more her brows furrowed. She quickly pulled him aside, further away from the storeroom, and said in a low voice:
“I’m about to lead a team down the mountain. Just tell me what you need to make pickled radishes, and I’ll find it for you.”
She paused, then continued:
"As for the letter, just give it to me. I'll go to Taoyuan Town and deliver it for you. I promise I'll get it done and I won't look at your things."
Ouyang Rong hesitated for a moment, then shook his head:
"I need to go down there myself."
Madam Chen looked troubled and asked again:
"Why go down there yourself?"
Ouyang Rong seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking in a low voice:
“I have a family member visiting. I sent her a letter before I went up the mountain and we agreed on a date to meet in town. She must be here. I have to go see her. I can’t break my promise. She’ll worry if she doesn’t see me.”
Madam Chen was taken aback. Looking at the young man's worried yet resolute face, she realized she had forced out the truth from his heart, and her brows gradually relaxed.
"I see, family... is it your sister?"
She vaguely knew something about Ouyang Rong's family situation.
The taciturn young man seemed unwilling to say more, and nodded somewhat perfunctorily.
"Uh-huh."
Madam Chen had no doubts. She paced back and forth for a moment, her face showing some hesitation, muttering to herself:
“It’s understandable that you’re worried about your younger sister coming all this way, since we don’t know if she’s had any trouble on the way. It’s normal to go and check on her, but… but why did it have to come at this crucial moment? The matter that Miss asked us to do hasn’t been completed yet…”
She turned her head and cautiously tried to ask;
"How about this, you stay here and work the night shift at the Qingliang Valley canteen. After I go down the mountain, I'll go to town myself and help you see her. Don't worry, I know the town well, and I can go without anyone noticing. I'll make sure you're settled in properly. If you and your brother need anything, just tell me."
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
"No, I have to go there myself. You make the arrangements for me."
Madam Chen hesitated, looking at the stubborn and inflexible young man in front of her, unsure of what to say.
The two looked at each other in silence.
Ouyang Rong didn't leave; he kept watching Madam Chen.
At one point, the latter gritted his teeth and began to hesitate and become vague:
"I can't make that decision, and I can't give you an answer... Besides, you agreed to what Miss asked you to do first, so how can you leave halfway through before it's finished..."
Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:
"Miss said she would arrange for me to enter Qingliang Valley. I've been waiting for so long, how is the progress there?"
Chen Da Niangzi's attempt to shift the blame immediately backfired.
After hesitating for a long time, he said somewhat embarrassedly:
"This is a bit tricky, but don't worry, Miss will definitely keep her promise. It just will take some time. When we met last night, Miss asked me to pass on a message to you when I had time, saying that you should wait patiently. She has some small matters to resolve on her end, and she wants to clear any obstacles for you. Just stay in the dining hall and be patient..."
Ouyang Rong interrupted him woodenly, speaking in a measured tone:
"That means it's not done yet and it will take more time. That's perfect. I haven't been down the mountain for long. I came down with you last time and only stayed for two days. It won't cause any problems."
Madam Chen blurted out instinctively, "But, what if..."
He had only spoken halfway when Ouyang Rong interrupted him again:
"You can go and tell the young lady what I said, and let her decide."
Madam Chen was speechless for a moment, staring wide-eyed at the dull and impolite young man in front of her.
She didn't know what to say for a moment.
They had gotten along quite well before. This Brother Liu seemed easy to get along with; he was honest, reliable, and a man of few words, making things very convenient for him… But who knew he was such a stubborn mule, once he made up his mind, he wouldn't turn back…
Madam Chen suddenly realized that this kind of person is the most difficult to get along with, because he is very good at making things difficult for you and will leave you speechless at some point.
The two stared at each other for a while.
After a short while, under Ouyang Rong's unwavering gaze, Madam Chen reluctantly nodded.
"Alright, I'll go and inform Miss first, and let her decide. You wait for my message..."
"Yes, thank you for your hard work."
...
"You want to go down the mountain with the house purchaser?"
"Um."
"I also need to make a private trip to Taoyuan Town."
"Yes, miss."
Moonlit night, in the Cool Valley.
Beside a mountain spring, in a familiar pavilion, two figures can be seen through the curtains, a woman and a man, one sitting and one standing.
Ouyang Rong arrived earlier and waited for half an hour.
Chen Jiaxin must have rushed over in a hurry after receiving the news.
Upon entering the pavilion, she didn't even have time to take off the sword from her waist before bombarding Ouyang Rong with a few questions.
At this moment, this unexpected turn of events caused Chen Jiaxin's face to show some impatience, and her tone became somewhat harsh:
"reason."
Ouyang Rong looked directly into her eyes and calmly said:
"I spoke with Madam Chen, and she should inform Miss."
Chen Jiaxin remained silent, her eyes fixed on the somewhat audacious and taciturn young man in front of her.
After a moment of silence, she finally spoke:
"The two things you need to do are both trivial matters. You know my family's status in the town. As long as it's within Taoyuan Town, I will definitely arrange everything for you. I can even take care of things you can't think of. You can just stay on the mountain and continue working the night shift in the dining hall."
With a wave of her hand, Chen Jiaxin made the decision in an unquestionable tone:
"It's settled then. You can go back now..."
Ouyang Rong's voice suddenly came:
"No, Miss."
He interrupted Chen Jiaxin directly, their eyes met, and he said with a resolute expression:
"It's better to be safe than sorry. I called my family because I promised to pick them up, and I can't go back on my word. I hope you can understand, Miss. I'll listen to you on everything else, except this one."
Chen Jiaxin took a few steps forward and came to Ouyang Rong's side. She was only slightly shorter than him, and they were about eye to eye.
Chen Jiaxin stared at his blank face and said, word by word, without any emotion:
"Do you know that I really, really hate it when people try to negotiate with me or disobey my orders, especially when they are one of my own?"
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"It is precisely because we are family that I dare to speak this directly to Miss, instead of being two-faced and throwing a tantrum."
Chen Jiaxin's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and the anger in her eyes seemed to dissipate a little.
But then, she frowned, gritted her teeth, and emphasized again:
"I'm not buying it."
The young lady snorted coldly.
Ouyang Rong glanced at her without showing any emotion.
Sure enough, Chen Jiaxin was most receptive to the phrase "one of our own."
Perhaps it's due to her family background and strong sense of collectivism, or perhaps it's something her grandfather taught her, but Ouyang Rong recently observed that Chen Jiaxin emphasizes unity the most and values "her own people"... to put it bluntly, she likes to form cliques in new environments.
However, this does not mean that we should be infinitely lenient with our own people.
If it comes to matters of principle that affect the interests of a small group, Chen Jiaxin will not be lenient.
The incident where Ouyang Rong was reported by her subordinate after the assessment is a vivid example.
Ouyang Rong understood this point, which is why he dared to make today's request.
Because the scope of his private matter was just right, and there were sufficient reasons for it.
If Chen Jiaxin were to firmly disagree, it would be somewhat unreasonable.
While Chen Jiaxin remained silent, Ouyang Rong lowered his head slightly and said:
"I'm sorry to have put you in such a difficult position, Miss."
Chen Jiaxin suddenly waved her hand:
“Since there’s no progress at the dining hall for the time being, you go and finish this personal matter first. I will instruct Chen to arrange for someone to temporarily take over your night shift. You go down the mountain with the purchasing department to Taoyuan Town, and have Chen accompany you.”
"Thank you, Miss."
Ouyang Rong shook his head: "No need to trouble Madam Chen to send her. She can go about her business. I can handle these private matters myself in two days."
Chen Jiaxin stared at him for a while, then suddenly said:
"Liu Aliang, you're not thinking of running away, are you?"
Ouyang Rong's eyes showed some doubt:
"Why are you worried about this, Miss? If I wanted to run away, why would I choose to stay in the Sword Sect after failing the Bamboo Hall assessment? Why didn't I go down the mountain sooner?"
Chen Jiaxin's cold expression softened slightly, and she slowly nodded:
"I believe you."
She turned around, without lingering, and walked out of the pavilion, leaving behind a remark:
"When you arrive in Taoyuan Town, if you encounter any difficulties, you can mention the name of the Chen family and say that you know me."
Ouyang Rong suddenly said, "Miss, wait a moment."
"What's up?"
Chen Jiaxin frowned and looked back.
"Say it all clearly next time, don't just say half of it and beat around the bush..."
Chen Jiaxin suddenly stopped speaking.
Because she saw Ouyang Rong carry a food box to the table and arrange the hot food one by one.
Chen Jiaxin was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening.
The taciturn young man, busy arranging the hot dishes, said without looking up:
"Miss, are you hungry? Have something to eat."
Chen Jiaxin was quiet for a moment, then walked over.
She circled the table once, placed her palm on the food box, and said sternly:
"Stop trying to be clever. It's okay if you brought it this time, but don't bring it next time."
Ouyang Rong stood by, his face expressionless, watching Chen Jiaxin sit down again and begin eating.
He remained silent.
Bring it next time too.
...
The next morning.
Ouyang Rong returned to the courtyard after finishing his night shift in the dining hall.
According to Chen Jiaxin's arrangement, Ouyang Rong will no longer need to go to the dining hall from today onwards; tonight will be his last night in the short term.
In a couple of days, when the purchasing house is down the mountain, he can go with Madam Chen. Madam Chen will arrange the specifics, so Ouyang Rong doesn't need to worry about it.
Back in the courtyard, Ouyang Rong didn't immediately fall asleep as he usually did.
Instead, he deliberately lingered in the courtyard, walked to the wall, and waited silently for a while.
Not long after, Li Wan pushed open the door, as usual, to go out.
He glanced around the yard out of the corner of his eye, his expression showing surprise:
"Ah Liang? Did you just get back?"
"Um."
Ouyang Rong nodded.
Li Wan walked over, exchanged a few pleasantries with him across the wall, and prepared to leave.
Ouyang Rong, who was behind the wall, suddenly shouted:
"Mrs. Li."
"What is it?"
"Is Young Master Lu coming back soon? We could have dinner together these next couple of nights and get together."
Li Wan was stunned for a moment.
(End of this chapter)
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