Chapter 163: Chaos in Xiaocheng (Part 3) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
The four traveled light and walked at a moderate pace. After walking for more than an hour, they came across a simple roadside eatery.
These eateries cater to travelers and merchants. However, times are tough, and they rarely see any customers throughout the day.
Whether it was due to the four's opportune timing or something else, several carriages and horses were parked outside the restaurant, while a dozen or so diners dressed in different styles sat inside. Shen Tang secretly observed Qi Shan, whose face had inexplicably turned pale, and suggested, "I'm a little thirsty, shall we stop and rest for a bit?"
Chu Yao naturally wouldn't refuse.
Although Shen Tang could transform his literary talent into wine, he was a complete succumb to alcohol. Their water pouches were empty, so it would be good to stop and replenish their rations after traveling for so long.
"Shopkeeper, are there four seats left inside?"
Shen Tang jumped off the motorcycle and yelled at the top of her lungs towards the eatery. The shopkeeper peeked out, his impatience quickly vanishing – all to avoid detection, the four of them, along with the motorcycle, had been re-disguised. She maintained her fierce appearance, projecting an image that would make passersby want to hand over their wallets. If there were a murder nearby, nine out of ten constables would arrest her.
Yeah, he doesn't look like a good person at all.
The other three transformed into a steward, an accountant, and a guard, respectively.
Adhering to the principle of "the less trouble, the better," the shopkeeper offered with a fawning smile: "Yes, yes, yes, please come in, sir."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang secretly rejoiced.
The innkeeper's words made her want to reply with, "Bring me three catties of beef and three catties of wine," displaying the heroic spirit of a wandering swordsman. But what came out of her mouth was: "Bring four seats, three pots of tea, one pot of wine, and four servings of cakes, as soon as possible."
The shopkeeper's smile faltered.
It seems they didn't expect Shen Tang to be so stingy.
However, given the group's physique, he dared not voice his complaints. He turned and ushered the four into the restaurant, ordering a servant to sweep up a clean low table. A short while later, the kitchen brought out what Shen Tang had ordered; the only item—a pot of wine—was for Gong Shuwu.
Gong Shuwu looked at the only pot of wine. Although he was surprised by Shen Tang's "differential treatment," he didn't ask. He wasn't a big drinker, but having wine was better than drinking tea. Qi Shan and the other man remained calm, as if neither of them had noticed this small detail.
Shen Tang would be even less likely to bring it up herself.
How should I put it?
It is said that a strong man like Gong Shuwu should drink wine and eat meat in a hearty manner to fit his personal image.
Two scholars drinking tea elegantly is more in line with sophistication and avoids being out of character.
Emmm...
Therefore, stereotypes are harmful.
Shen Tang wasn't just there to eat. When a servant passed by, she called him over and asked, "Is your business so good here?"
Just as the four of them started eating, another group of people arrived outside the restaurant.
The procession consisted of three carriages and horses, and was quite large, with ten people including the host family of five. Even though the hostess was wearing a veil, one could still see that her face behind the veil was unadorned and blurry. An elderly woman with gray hair held an infant in her arms and whispered words of comfort to the hostess. The other two young children hunched their shoulders and lowered their heads, their brows showing lingering fear.
Shen Tang initially thought they had encountered bandits on the way.
But upon closer listening, it became clear that this wasn't the case.
The other diners in the restaurant also wore expressions of deep worry, clearly indicating that something big had happened outside. However, since the others practically had "keep away" written all over their faces, Shen Tang didn't want to make a fool of herself by going up to them, so she chose to start with the servants.
To get him to talk, the servant even pulled out a small piece of silver with a smile. He seemed to have learned the art of face-changing, switching from impatience to enthusiasm in a second, and speaking freely and without reservation.
He bluntly said, "Don't you know, sir? Sigh, another war has started! If you want to survive, you have to run. Once you pass this inn, it won't be easy to replenish your food and water supplies on the road."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of Qi Shan and the other three changed drastically.
At the same time, I thought of the smoke signals that appeared in the middle of the night yesterday.
Shen Tang: "..."
Which step was fast-forwarded?
She's only been isolated from the world for a few days, not years, right?
Shen Tang asked again, "A war? Who's fighting whom?"
The servant asked, "How would we know that?"
Suddenly a fight broke out.
He only learned of the news when many of his customers, who were fleeing the disaster, came to the restaurant. However, it didn't matter who fought whom; in the end, it was always ordinary people like them who suffered, and they were used to it.
The big shots can fight however they want, but ordinary people like us have to run shops and make a living.
Shen Tang: "You should at least know where to hit, right?"
Qi Shan and the other two were also eager to get an answer.
The servant replied, "I don't know, but most of the guests come from the direction of the prefecture. There must be a war going on there."
Shen Tang: "...Prefectural government?"
Isn't the prefecture capital of Sibao County...?
Filial piety city!
Shen Tang almost jumped up on the spot.
Qi Shan and Chu Yao reached out and pressed down on her left and right shoulders respectively, signaling her to calm down: "Don't rush, let's find out the details first..."
Chu Yao glanced at the new customers outside the restaurant, stood up, straightened his sleeves, and went up to ask the male head of the household, "Sir, please wait a moment. Did you run a private school in Xiaocheng?"
The male homeowner looked at Chu Yao warily.
This person looked young, only in his thirties, but dressed like a scholar in his forties or fifties, with a long face that made one think of the words "lifeless" and "rigid".
He seemed to habitually look people in the eye with the whites of his eyes, and was unfriendly to Chu Yao's attempt to get closer, but when he caught a glimpse of the latter's monogram on his waist, his expression immediately changed 180 degrees.
"Who are you?"
"It really is you, sir. You probably don't remember, but there was a junior in the clan who studied at your private school for two years. I went back to pick up my child and saw him once from afar."
Chu Yao spoke off the cuff, his words a mixture of truth and falsehood.
He had indeed met the male owner a few times, but he disdained to speak to the kitchen staff of a brothel, so this was the first time.
The male homeowner's expression softened somewhat.
"I see."
Chu Yao asked naturally, "Mr. Yao, you seem to be in a hurry, and you've brought your wife and children with you. Are you going on a long journey to visit relatives?"
The male homeowner sighed, "It's not that I'm visiting relatives or going on a long trip; it's that I'm moving."
Chu Yao feigned surprise: "Moving? This... then your private school and those students... I've also been involved in some business over the years. If you have any difficulties, I might be able to help."
The male homeowner was deeply moved after hearing this.
She wished she could immediately make Chu Yao her lifelong confidant, her eyes glistening with tears: "The private school has already closed, and all the students have left."
Although Chu Yao was somewhat prepared, he was still taken aback by the information behind the male homeowner's answer—
Is Xiaocheng that dangerous?
It should be noted that there are few private schools in Xiaocheng, and even fewer with decent teaching quality. The male head of the household's private school was one of them.
Therefore, many families are willing to send their children there. Even if this person likes to make things difficult for students regarding tuition fees—if a student comes from a wealthy family and receives less tuition, he will teach them more; if a student comes from a poor family, he will not only receive more tuition but also scold them at any time and turn his back on them at will.
This means that he did not face the competitive pressure of survival in Xiaocheng and lived a more comfortable and respectable life than most people.
|(∧｀)
Hehe, I got a new manicure. After getting used to the mechanical keyboard, I found that my nails can indeed grow long.
(End of this chapter)
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