The warm spring sun shines on the earth, the canal sparkles, and the inns along the banks are bustling with activity.
Old Deng stood before the counter like a wooden sculpture, his face filled with terror and his eyes revealing endless confusion.
His thoughts seemed shrouded in a fog, and he couldn't understand why Master Kongsang had disappeared overnight.
Kong Sang, who always had a calm expression, has now disappeared without a trace, which makes Lao Deng feel a strange unease.
He kept guessing at various possibilities in his mind, but he could never find a reasonable answer.
Ma Hehua looked at Lao Deng, whose eyes were glazed over, with disdain in them.
Her sharp gaze seemed to pierce through Old Deng's soul, sending a chill down his spine.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and cook!"
Ma Hehua's sharp and piercing voice broke Lao Deng's reverie.
Old Deng slowly moved his feet and walked towards the kitchen.
His heart was heavy, as if a huge boulder was pressing down on him. As he walked, he kept thinking about where Master Kongsang had gone.
In the kitchen, he worked mechanically, preparing the food absentmindedly.
His cooking skills were already mediocre, and now he had no interest in preparing anything elaborate.
The food produced was dull in color and lacked aroma.
Ma Hehua frowned as she looked at the food served on the table. She took a bite with disgust and immediately spat it out.
"What kind of crap is this? It's not even as good as what Fa Gui casually makes!"
Her complaints echoed in the inn, making Old Deng shudder.
Old Deng stood silently to the side, head down, not daring to look Ma Hehua in the eye.
He thinks his cooking skills are pretty good!
But at this moment, his mind was not on cooking at all. His heart was filled with worry and doubt about Master Kongsang. He didn't know where that mysterious bald monk had gone, or what had happened to Master Kongsang.
Ma Hehua's disdain only made his already heavy mood worse.
Old Deng stood in the kitchen, his mind churning with thoughts.
As spring arrived, business gradually improved, and he realized he had to get back to work; he still had to sell the hides.
A hint of determination shone in his eyes, as if telling himself that he could not be defeated by the predicament before him.
"Go and call Wolf over."
Old Deng said to Old Niu.
Old Niu scratched his head and replied with a puzzled look, "Didn't you tell the prodigal son to go to town to buy medicine?"
Upon hearing this, Old Deng suddenly stood up, his expression instantly freezing.
His brain worked at lightning speed, and soon, the clever boy immediately understood what was going on.
His face darkened, and anger flashed in his eyes.
"You son of a bitch, I've been feeding and treating you well, and you dare to betray me."
Old Deng's chilling voice echoed in the kitchen, sending shivers down Old Niu's spine.
Old Deng clenched his fists tightly, his body trembled slightly, and the anger in his heart was like a volcano about to erupt.
He never imagined that the person he had always trusted would betray him.
This feeling of betrayal enraged him; he wished he could find the traitor immediately and tear him to pieces.
However, after a moment, Lao Deng gradually calmed down. He took a deep breath and tried to suppress the anger in his heart.
He knew that anger wouldn't solve the problem; the most important thing now was to figure out how to deal with the situation.
"Hmph! Let him run away! There are plenty of people to take his place anyway."
Although Lao Deng's voice was still cold, it had gained a new composure.
He began to think about his next steps: how to find a suitable person to replace the traitor, and how to ensure that his business would not be affected.
Old Deng's eyes deepened. He knew that in this world full of interests and competition, betrayal was inevitable.
But he will not be defeated by these setbacks; he will be more careful in running his business and protecting his interests.
He believed that as long as he was strong enough, no one could easily betray him.
And there was more exciting news for him: those three thieving women were gone, after a full three months!
He's finally made it through, but he lost a lot of money on Master Kongsang's deal.
The dock was bustling with activity and filled with people.
Looking around, there were crowds of people, shoulder to shoulder.
People flocked to Beijing, making the already busy port even more congested.
Boats come and go, more than ever, densely packed on the water.
However, the price was quite high. The three members of the Ma family gritted their teeth and spent two silver dollars just to get a good spot.
The ship they boarded was large and magnificent, its rustic appearance suggesting it had been around for a long time.
The ship swayed slightly, as if telling a story of its past glory and vicissitudes.
Today, times are changing, and the people on the ship are also showing different characteristics.
Most of the men had cut off their braids and sported neat short hair, making them look energetic.
They were either busy carrying luggage or chatting with their companions, their eyes filled with anticipation for the future.
And some of the young girls, having freed their feet from binding, bravely took new steps.
Although they are still somewhat timid, that is a mark left on them by the old era. I believe that as time goes by, they will become more confident and courageous.
There were also young ladies and gentlemen from wealthy families on the ship. They were dressed in gorgeous clothes, had an extraordinary temperament, and exuded a sense of superiority in their every move.
There were also some people of higher status, whose expressions were solemn, as if they were thinking about important matters.
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