Chapter 81
Tang Jing glanced over indifferently, and Zhang Zixin shuddered, spilling the wine in his hand. Xu Ziyi, who was watching from the side, patted his shoulder comfortingly: "A real man, how can you not handle this little wine?"
Zhang Zixin snorted coldly and drank it in one gulp.
Xu Ziyi gave him a thumbs up: "Good brother!"
Seeing Zhou Li finish her bowl obediently, Tang Jing took the bowl and tried to serve her more, but Zhou Li shook her head and said, "I don't want to drink anymore." Seeing Tang Jing looking at her, Zhou Li touched her stomach and said, "I really can't drink any more."
Tang Jing turned around and asked Zhang Man. Zhang Man didn't like to drink these. Tang Jing asked someone to serve chicken soup to Dapeng and the others. The brothers had been traveling and sleeping in the open air this time, and they were all tired. If they didn't eat well, they would probably not recover for several days.
After eating and drinking, people didn't have to be as cautious in Guanshi County as they were in the capital. They split up into several groups and strolled around the city.
Xu Ziyi pulled Zhang Zixin and followed them, while Zhang Man followed Tang Jing and Zhou Li.
Mainly Zhou Li and Zhang Man were looking around curiously, while Tang Jing paid silently.
Xu Ziyi and Zhang Zixin were just there to make up the numbers. When they reached the antique street, the two men disappeared. Zhang Man wasn't interested in antiques. Tang Jing saw Zhou Li squatting in front of a stall, talking to the owner. She walked over, and the stall owner was talking to Zhou Li in a fluent manner: "Look at this, it's from the Zhengyang period, five hundred years ago! If you want it, I won't charge you. Just give me this amount!"
The stall owner raised a finger.
Zhou Li held a palm-sized wooden object in his hand. The lacquer surface was smooth and the patterns were exquisite. Zhou Li hesitated: "Ten taels?"
The stall owner slapped his thigh and said, "Oh my good sir, this costs one hundred taels!"
"What costs one hundred taels?" Zhang Man came over and stood beside Zhou Li. Zhou Li stood up and said, "Hey, I think the pattern on this thing is pretty. I didn't expect it to be so expensive."
Zhang Man had seen all sorts of fine things in the mansion since she was little. She took it, took a look, and sneered, "It's just a piece of rotten wood, carved a bit and painted over to look old. It's not worth even one ounce, and you're asking for a hundred ounces!"
Zhang Man said in a clear voice: "Hey! You rag trader! You can cheat others, but if you try to cheat me, you'll be in trouble!"
The stall owner saw Tang Jing, the cold-faced woman standing behind Zhou Li, with a bad look on her face. He also saw Zhang Man dressed like a lady from a wealthy family. Even Zhou Li, standing in the middle, was dressed simply, but she looked so beautiful in this chaotic world and was able to protect herself. She must have some ability. He didn't dare to act rashly. He whispered, "Selling things is a give-and-take. I offer a price and you bargain. How can you just reveal my cards?"
Zhang Man wanted to say something, but Zhou Li shook his head at her.
She was not stupid, so she took whatever the stall owner said. She smiled and said, "Then I'll name a price. If you can sell it, I'll take it."
The stall owner looked at Zhou Li, and Zhou Li slowly said, "Twenty cents."
"Okay!" The stall owner was very happy, as if he was afraid that she would run away. He took the things back, packed them and handed them to Zhou Li.
Zhou Li raised his eyebrows, feeling that he had said the price was too expensive, but seeing how impatient the stall owner was, he knew he could bargain it down a bit more. But the words had already been spoken, and when Zhou Li reached into his pocket, Tang Jing paid the money.
Zhang Man came over. Twenty cents was like no money to her. After all, for someone who was used to eating big fish and meat, plain porridge and side dishes were not considered a meal. Zhou Li showed it to her and gave the money to Tang Jing.
"You don't have to pay for mine."
Tang Jing refused to take it, so Zhou Li stubbornly handed the money to Tang Jing. Tang Jing grabbed his hand, and Zhou Li tried to pull his hand back, but Tang Jing didn't let go. The two of them were pulling each other like little children.
Zhang Man had just finished carefully observing the wood carving and was about to return it to Zhou Li when she saw the two of them still pulling each other. Otherwise, she would have thought they were on good terms, but now it looked like they were flirting. Zhang Man blushed again. At her age, she was just longing for love. She had role models like her father and mother around her. She was also curious about love and naturally longed for love. She wanted to be like that in the future.
Tang Jing held Zhou Li's hand and whispered, "Everyone is watching."
Zhou Li looked up, and sure enough, she pulled her hand away: "Let go."
"If you don't give me money, I'll let you go."
"Take the money and I'll leave you alone."
"Then you should continue. I like you pestering me."
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhou Li's face turned red as an apple.
Tang Jing pushed her down, grabbed her wrist, and called out to Zhang Man, "Follow us."
Zhang Man trotted behind her two sisters, looking at Tang Jing and Zhou Li's hands from time to time.
Zhou Li held the money in his hand, but Tang Jing grabbed his wrist. They walked to a sweet shop. Tang Jing raised his chin slightly and said, "You can treat us to this."
Tang Jing ordered a few snacks, which totaled exactly twenty cents.
Zhou Li handed the money to the boss and glanced at Tang Jing. Could this guy be a fox? He was so calculating.
Tang Jing suddenly lowered his head, leaned in front of Zhou Li, and asked, "You just scolded me."
Zhou Li covered her mouth in horror. Did she say it out loud?
"No." Tang Jing smiled leisurely, took Zhou Li's hand and went to sit at the table. Zhang Man had already occupied a table and waved at them again.
Zhou Li's heart was pounding as he looked at Tang Jing's back, puzzled. How did she know that? Could she be a mind reader?
Zhou Li's wild thoughts were running wild. Tang Jing took her to sit down. Zhang Man said happily, "It's so lively here. There weren't so many people last time I came!"
Tang Jing wiped the table and then looked up and said, "It's because of my father's good governance. Many people come here because of his reputation. The city is becoming more and more lively."
Zhang Man held her chin up, her eyes filled with stars, "I wish it could always be like this."
Zhang Man did not always stay in a greenhouse. She followed her family around since she was a child. Zhang Mei had also been defeated in battles. Before every major military activity, the atmosphere at home was very solemn. She had also fled with the people in the city. She also remembered what her mother said before her death. There were only defeated children of the Zhang family, but no surrendered Zhang family members. If they fell into the hands of the enemy, there was no need to save them. The women of the Zhang family would hold a knife in their hands and end their lives, and would never cause trouble for their father.
Her mother has a strong personality, and Zhang Man is naturally the same. As a daughter of the Zhang family, she must be brave.
Tang Jing raised his hand and rubbed Zhang Man's head. She seldom did such intimate actions, because Tang Jing felt that she was an adopted daughter and should know her limits and etiquette.
Zhang Man looked at Tang Jing with bright eyes, and Tang Jing said to her firmly, "Yes."
The sweet soup arrived, and Zhou Li looked at the two sisters with a smile on his face. He felt that the Zhang family was not the kind of people who would favor one over the other.
The sweet syrup melted the distance between people like honey. Xu Ziyi and Zhang Zixin finally came over and sat for a while. Zhang Zixin took Zhang Man to say goodbye, and Xu Ziyi followed them back. Tang Jing said he wanted to send Zhou Li off.
When only the two of them were left, Tang Jing said to Zhou Li, "Let's go. I'll take you home."
Zhou Li followed silently.
Guanshi County has a vitality that other cities do not have. Everywhere you look, every time you meet someone on the street, you see smiling faces, full of enthusiasm for life.
Zhou Li likes this place very much.
Tang Jing walked faster with big strides and noticed Zhou Li lagging behind. She waited for Zhou Li to come over and held her hand. Tang Jing did these movements so naturally that Zhou Li did not resist. Tang Jing asked, "What are you looking at?"
Guanshi County was too familiar to Tang Jing, and everything here was nothing new to her.
Zhou Li smiled and said, "It seems like everyone is very happy."
Tang Jing tilted his head in confusion.
Isn’t it normal to be happy?
Zhou Li said: "I have been to many cities. Years of war have left agriculture in ruins. The fields are overgrown with weeds, and the roads are full of refugees. Seeing people here living and working in peace and contentment makes me really happy. It seems like there is hope for the future."
Tang Jing was stunned for a moment. She knew Zhou Li was a kind person, but she never thought she would think of these things.
Tang Jing held Zhou Li's hand tightly and said to her, "Life will get better and better."
Zhou Li smiled at Tang Jing: "I think so too."
As long as there is hope, life will only get better and better.
Listening to the lively sounds of people dancing on the roadside, Zhou Li said with bright eyes, "It's time for our troupe to open."
Tang Jing raised the corner of his mouth: "I know a place suitable for you to perform."
Their shoulders leaned against each other from time to time and bumped against each other. Zhou Li listened to Tang Jing with bright eyes. Tang Jing had a smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, and silently held Zhou Li's hand tightly.
Time flies, and the troupe is generally set up.
Youxiatang also reached an agreement with Zhang Mei, and the base camp was moved from the northwest to the south. Some people from Keats Hospital also came with them, including Xiaoyuan and Gousheng. When they saw Zhou Li, the two children hugged Zhou Li's long legs on the left and right and cried happily.
Zhou Li tried to coax them left and right, but it didn't work. It was only when Dapeng brought a plate of cakes that the two gluttons were finally persuaded to leave. Xiaoyuan choked up as she ate, "Boss, have you forgotten me? It's been so long, and you haven't even sent me a letter."
Zhou Li pinched Xiao Yuan's face apologetically and said, "I was wrong."
Xiao Yuan finished her snacks with a smack and whispered, "I forgive you, boss. Don't do this again next time." She stretched out her little finger to make a pinky promise with Zhou Li.
"Okay, okay, I won't do this next time." Zhou Li grabbed Xiaoyuan's little finger and shook it.
Tang Jing just came over to see off the people from Zhou Li's opera troupe. When he saw what she and Xiao Yuan were doing, his eyes narrowed.
Gousheng was also coaxed by Dapeng. He sat majestically on Dapeng's shoulders, like a heroic and proud general, commanding Dapeng to sprint. Dapeng carried him and ran back and forth in the yard twice. Only the giggling of the child could be heard.
Xiaoyuan was also envious, but she didn't dare to say it. So Zhou Li called Dapeng and carried Xiaoyuan on his back. Now Xiaoyuan was happy too.
Zhou Li chatted with the old people in the troupe for a while. Everyone seemed to be in good health, just tired from the journey. She quickly arranged for them to stay and rest.
With so many people coming, there is obviously not enough space to accommodate them.
Tang Jing had thought of this a long time ago, and when he saw Zhou Li was free, he came to discuss this matter with her.
Zhou Li also thought of it, but when she looked at the land deed that Tang Jing took out, she couldn't help but look at Tang Jing again.
Wasn't this part of her plan?
It’s no wonder Zhou Li thought so. It was just that Tang Jing took out the things too calmly, as if she had prepared them long ago and was waiting to take them out when needed.
Zhou Li thought for a while, and Tang Jing said, "It's not given to you for free."
"I'm renting it to you. If you don't have enough money now, you can pay it back in installments."
Zhou Li raised his eyebrows, he had even thought of the installment payment plan.
"Aren't you afraid that I'll take the title deed and run away?" Zhou Li snorted and laughed.
"Where are you going?" Tang Jing asked with his head down. Zhou Li was sitting on the stone table.
"Run to a place where you can't find me." Zhou Li smiled.
"So you don't want the people in this yard anymore?" Tang Jing smiled, "Or do you want to take them with you and run away?"
Zhou Li hummed twice, took the deed from Tang Jing and said, "Thank you."
He then joked, "With so many hostages in your hands, I dare not run around."
Tang Jing just smiled, the corners of her mouth curled up, her expression friendly, "I'm glad you know."
Zhou Li rolled her eyes. Tang Jing had actually found something to hold on her.
Zhou Li will not run away now. Her stage has been set up and she has almost traveled all over the country. The people in the troupe are old and young, and it is time for everyone to reunite with their families. Guanshi County is a good place.
Zhou Li thought that her eyes were full of smiles.
Tang Jing lowered her head, and Zhou Li grabbed her hand and invited her, "Will you come to our first performance in Guanshi County?"
"Of course." Tang Jing held Zhou Li's hand back.
The sky was clear and cloudless, and the yard was as lively as if it were New Year's Day.
Looking at Zhou Li's smile, Tang Jing's heart stopped beating. Today she was still fascinated by Zhou Li.
The longer you are together, the more addicted you become, and you can't extricate yourself, so you can only try every possible way to keep this person.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
