"Miss, there’s a guest at the house." Fuquan reported.
Xin He asked in surprise, "Who is it?"
"It’s a young master, saying his surname is Duan."
Xin He smiled, "Show him in."
"Yes."
It didn’t take long for Fuquan to bring Duan Lan in.
Xin He poured some tea for him and said with a smile, "The servant downstairs told me I had a guest, and I found it strange. I don’t know many people in the capital city and wondered who would come to visit. I didn’t expect it to be you. Why are you here? Is everything in order at your house?"
Duan Lan twitched the corners of his mouth, "There are no major issues at home. I found the capital to be rather dull, so I thought I would come and see you. These past few days..." Did you think about looking for me?
He changed his words before they left his lips, "What have you been busy with?"
He wasn’t a fool, and he had some self-awareness. In Xin He’s eyes, they were probably just ordinary friends, and friends didn’t need to think about each other all day long. Moreover, she had so many things to do in the capital that she probably forgot about him.
Why ask about something so obvious?
Xin He took a sip of tea and pushed a small box in front of him, "Look, I went to the dental line the other day to buy a dozen long-term bonded laborers to help with the work. I’m planning to set up my workshop as soon as possible so that Qinghe Shop can open for business soon."
"I see, it sounds like you have a lot to do." Duan Lan looked at the stack of servitude contracts and knew how meticulous she was. As a business person, who wouldn’t be diligent?
In the past, he did not like business people, mostly because of his distaste for the Wang family’s pretentious acts. Additionally, business people were always calculating, which was contrary to his preferred quiet life studying at the remote Jishan Academy.
However, seeing her now, he couldn’t help but appreciate her uniqueness. She was craftier than other business people yet purer and kinder too.
Xin He sighed lightly, "Indeed. Today, I still have to visit several fruit shops, looking for a supplier to provide me with fruits and other raw materials."
Duan Lan’s eyes lit up, "If you want to find a fruit shop, why not go directly to a farm? My family happens to have a vacant farm with all kinds of fruit trees, including a special vineyard. It was originally intended for the fresh fruit supply for our family home, but due to the large output, we couldn’t eat them all. In the past, we either gave them away, or our servants sold them at the fruit shops. It’s better to sell them directly to you."
It wasn’t surprising that aristocratic families often had their own manors and industries.
Xin He asked excitedly, "Really?"
"Of course. What kind of fruits do you need? I can help you ask later."
"Grapes, oranges, and preferably peaches. As for the rest, not at the moment. Does your farm plant vegetables like cucumbers, Chinese cabbage, and radish?"
"We have all those fruits, and as for vegetables, we have another farm specifically for that. When the time comes, we can supply directly to you. Our family farm would rather cooperate with you than other businesses, and the price will be much cheaper than buying directly from the shops."
Xin He’s eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "That would be perfect. Brother Duan, can you take me to your family’s farm?"
"Of course, are you free today? If you are, we can go now." Duan Lan was eager to please.
He hadn’t seen her in a few days, and it made him feel unsettled. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a good reason to visit her and was afraid that any obvious intentions would lead to her distancing herself from him.
"Okay, let’s go now." Xin He happily agreed.
The two of them left the house, and Duan Lan said, "There is the busiest street in the capital up ahead. A horse carriage might get stuck in traffic, so why don’t we walk there, then rent a horse carriage and stroll around at the same time?"
"Alright, that’s a good idea. I’ve been in the capital for a few days and have been so busy with various errands that I haven’t had a chance to explore properly." Perhaps it was because a matter had been settled that Xin He’s mood had become lighter.
Duan Lan smiled softly and thought that even the occasional walk with her was satisfactory.
As they walked side by side on the bustling street, surrounded by lively merchants and the surging crowd, they even ran into performers and entertainers from time to time.
Xin He couldn’t help but say, "The prosperity of the capital is indeed well-deserved. Compared to it, Lian’an Town really is just a humble gem."
Duan Lan chuckled, "Actually, it is even quieter now. A little over a month ago, Gongsun Yi staged a rebellion and attacked the capital city. It suffered greatly. I heard the Jade River that runs through the entire city was dyed red with blood. Fortunately, the recovery was quick, so visiting now you can see such a lively scene. Nonetheless, that incident caused some damage, and it was even more bustling in the past."
When the conversation turned to the incident from over a month ago, Xin He’s expression stiffened and she quickly changed the subject, "I noticed that there seem to be sounds of reciting poetry and verse coming from the bamboo building over there. Is that where the scholars study?"
Duan Lan looked up and laughed, "No, that’s Ruifu Building, a famous restaurant in the capital city. Those who dine in there are usually top-ranked nobles in the capital, and sometimes members of the royal family come too."
"To recite poems and verses here?" Xin He found it hard to believe.
Duan Lan laughed aloud, "Those who recite poems and verses here are not usually people of high status, but scholars. Ruifu Building has a rule that nobles can enter, as can knowledgeable scholars with a certain status. The main purpose is to give scholars a chance to show off."
"I see." Xin He nodded, suddenly finding it very interesting.
Seeing her curiosity, Duan Lan suggested, "If you’re interested, let’s go in and take a look. The farm isn’t far, and we can visit later."
Xin He smiled and nodded, "Alright."
They entered the restaurant, and a clever waiter promptly led them inside, "Would the two of you like a private room or the main hall? There’s a poetry gathering in the main hall today."
Xin He replied, "Let’s go to the main hall, it’s a good opportunity to see what’s going on."
"Alright!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
The main hall of Ruifu Building was exceptionally large, with elegant furnishings and decorations. The center of the hall was completely empty, and there were many small private spaces separated by a row of beaded curtains surrounding the hall.
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