It was so sore, the flesh on her buttocks was so sore it made her teeth ache. Huo Xiaolong had never ridden in such a grueling carriage before. When they got back, she would definitely install shock absorbers on the carriage!
The little dumpling started covering its little bottom as soon as it got out of bed early in the morning, making He Yi laugh so hard she couldn't stand up straight.
"Mother, you're still laughing."
"This is how it is the first time you ride in a carriage; it'll be better next time."
It won't be any better next time! We need to install shock absorbers! Under her mother's care, Huo Xiaolong has transformed back into a bright and beautiful little girl.
"We're going out to look at houses in a bit, do you want to come with us?"
"go!"
The house the group is currently staying in was bought by Cen's mother. Knowing it's her mother's property, the little dumpling has been playing happily in the yard these past two days. This house is no smaller than the prefect's mansion, with several courtyards, complete with artificial hills and ponds.
I tried to fish like the people by the lake that time, but unfortunately I didn't catch anything, mainly because there were no fish there.
Beining seemed warmer than Pingyang County. Huo Xiaolong sniffed, enjoying the aroma wafting from the street. They were supposed to be looking at houses, but considering the three men following behind, including one in a wheelchair, it seemed this trip was destined to turn into a day of eating, drinking, and having fun.
"I'll go help Miss He choose a place. You all stay here and wander around. We'll go to a restaurant for dinner tonight," Cen Ang said, turning to the group.
"I'll go too. Let Brother Wen take the kids to play."
He Yi came here on business, so we can't let her play around and make Cen's mother and He Xiao Niangzi work hard.
I'll go with you.
Master Huo isn't bringing the kids; he's here to keep his wife company. Seeing He Yi wink at him, the man instinctively looked away. He couldn't see it, he didn't understand it, and he wasn't bringing them anyway.
"Don't worry, Auntie, we'll take good care of Long'er. As long as she's here, we'll be here," Chunying said to He Yi.
He Yi was worried about Huo Xiaolong; the trauma of losing the child once was too great. If it happened again, the Huo couple would completely collapse.
"Alright, then you guys be careful."
"Young Master, those people are from Hua Xue Tang. They just arrived in Beining a couple of days ago."
The man wore a dark brocade robe embroidered with intricate cloud patterns in gold thread. His scarf was made of white fox fur, and he wore a pair of silver bracelets on his wrists. He set down his wine glass, stood up, and followed the butler's pointing finger.
"Oh ho, didn't you say Hua Xuetang was from Pingyang County?"
"Yes, young master."
Are all the girls in Pingyang County this beautiful?
The housekeepers were all in their forties or fifties, and some had presbyopia, so they couldn't make out the faces of the group from this distance. The man watched the group part ways downstairs, admiring the slender young woman and the beautiful young lady, and he clicked his tongue in amazement.
How am I supposed to negotiate this deal? He's terrible at talking to pretty women.
"They should be going to the real estate agency to look at houses now."
Hua Xuetang's business is very good in Beining. Although the shop is small, the reputation of plum blossom ointment is well-known in the upper-class circles. The ladies and young ladies do not buy just a few bottles, but pre-order at least twenty or thirty bottles.
The man nodded, intending to take another look at the beauty, before following them to the brokerage firm. Beauty is one thing, but business is another; who wouldn't want to get involved in something as lucrative as this?
Chunying and the others were all skilled in martial arts and had already noticed that someone was watching them. Their eyes simultaneously turned towards the restaurant window, and the man slammed it shut with a 'whoosh'.
How terrifying! That look in his eyes... it's like he's about to devour him.
"Hurry up, hurry up!" the man waved to the butler.
"Brother, someone up there is giving us the cold shoulder."
"It's alright, taking a few glances won't hurt you."
"oh"
Huo Xiaocheng didn't want to cause any trouble in Beining, after all, he was unfamiliar with the place and his masters weren't there. Mantuo and Chunying had already gone ahead together. It was rare for the two courtesans to have a moment without arguing, and now they were taking out exquisite hairpins sold at roadside stalls and putting them on their heads.
"Is this pretty?" Chunying asked.
"nice!"
Huo Xiaocheng thought everything looked good, and then he took out his money. In contrast, Manto...
"Does this look good?"
"This color doesn't suit you, this one looks better."
The man reached out and took a black tasseled wooden hairpin from the stall. Black suited Mandarin ducks well; this dark color only made her appear more mysterious and alluring.
"Then I'll take this one."
Before Mando's hand even touched the purse, the young boy from the Mo family had already paid the money.
"Brother, you lost~" the little dumpling whispered in the boy's ear.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, your brother is great," Chunying said from the side.
Hearing his beloved speak up for him, Huo Xiaocheng's ears turned red instantly. The little dumpling rolled her eyes in his arms. Really, if it weren't for Xiaotong wanting to push the wheelchair, she would have let Xiaotong carry her no matter what.
This light bulb is just too bright.
Today's happiness belongs to Mantuo Chunying and Huo Xiaolong, as the group explored every shop, big and small, in Beining.
"May I ask who owns Huaxuetang?"
The man who had been drinking by the window walked up to the women and bowed to them.
"I am," He Qingzhu stepped forward and answered.
This was only the second shop, and people were already getting restless. The young lady knew that if Hua Xue Tang expanded, it would definitely incur the dissatisfaction of the neighboring rouge shops in Beining.
Someone will eventually come looking for her.
"And who are these people?" the man asked.
These individuals hold shares in Huaxuetang.
"I am Wang Buyou from the Wang family of Beining, and I have come to discuss business with you."
He Qingzhu and Cen Ang exchanged glances. The Wang family of Beining was famous throughout the entire Great Yan, involved in all kinds of businesses. Last year, when they participated in the selection of imperial merchants, their family ranked second.
"I wonder how Young Master Wang wishes to discuss this with us?"
He Yi did not tie her hair up today. The young lady was dressed in plain clothes, and her long hair reached her waist, which made the young master Wang, who was used to seeing beautiful women, a little stunned.
"The girl can choose the location."
She got married.
Huo Shuwen felt a little itchy as he looked at Wang Buyou.
"Ah? I'm so sorry, Madam, I have been rude."
No, if you just stand there looking like her brother, who would guess you're her man? It's not that Cen Ang and He Qingzhu aren't pretty, it's just that the traditional innocent and pure type is more attractive to men.
"I have reserved a private room at the restaurant across the street. Would you gentlemen do me the honor of joining me?"
"please"
Since you're already a lady, don't bother with the young lady choosing the place. He's already booked all the private rooms. If you can't talk about romance, let's talk about money.
"He doesn't look like a good person at all," Huo Shuwen whispered in He Yi's ear.
"Shh," the woman in plain clothes put her index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture.
When you're on someone else's turf, you have to be more discreet. Even a powerful dragon can't outmaneuver a local snake, let alone a group of lone wolves like them.
"Let's get straight to the point. What business does the Wang family of Beining want to discuss with our humble Huaxuetang?"
He Qingzhu is a straightforward person; when it comes to business, let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point.
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