Chapter 102 He's simply a genius!
"Ahhhhhh"
"Click-clack, bang-bang-bang"
...
On the second floor of Linglong Pavilion, Song Jin leaned against the window, propped up on one hand, idly eating the local specialty cold chicken salad. She watched the two little brats across from her, their heads practically buried in their bowls, and tsk tsk.
"Be careful not to choke to death, you two starving brats!"
She was bold as a child, but that was because she possessed internal strength, had memories of her past life, and trained methodically to ensure her safety.
These two little brats are just reckless!
Yang Xiaohua was definitely the ringleader, but Ningning wasn't much better.
The journey from the capital to here took seven days. They ate dry rations and drank water and wine the entire time inside that large wine jar. When they couldn't hold it in any longer, they would urinate in the empty wine jar and then throw it out at night.
You can really hold it in!
It's just that the weather is cold now; if it were summer, they would suffocate.
Xiaohua and Ningning couldn't think of that much; they were simply starving.
For the past seven days, the two of them have survived on two large sesame seed cakes and some snacks. When they got unbearably hungry, they would drink some alcohol and get dizzy for the whole day.
Right now, I can't be afraid; all I can think about is food.
The couple ate and drank their porridge heartily, and in no time the food in their bowls was gone. Only then did they have time to talk.
Little Flower wiped her mouth with her sleeve and let out a long sigh: "Ah, I'm alive again!"
Song Jin, disgusted, tossed a handkerchief at him: "Wipe yourself properly, you're filthy, you two brats. I'll take you to buy some clothes to change into later."
If they had just left the city, they could have sent the person back, but now that they're so far away, they have no choice but to keep them with them.
Fortunately, both of them are very independent and don't need much care, so they won't cause any trouble.
But the cost will definitely be considerable.
Boss Cao glared at Xiaohua: "The cost of the clothes will be deducted from your wages."
Little Flower's eyes widened, her face covered in graffiti: "I don't want it! I'll wear this! I don't mind!"
Song Jin's lips twitched: "I'm disgusted, fine, we're already here, we can clean up when we get back, Boss Cao."
Boss Cao gave Xiao Hua a sharp shove, then looked at Ning Ning, who was slowly munching on fruit next to her after she had finished eating, and said earnestly, "Ning Ning, why are you playing around with her? It's dangerous. What if she suffocates in there if you're not careful?"
Ningning said sweetly, "We didn't do it on purpose! Huahua and I were playing hide-and-seek. We crawled into a jar, got dizzy, and fell asleep. When we woke up, we were in the car."
Mr. Cao touched her flushed face and asked worriedly, "Why didn't you say anything?"
Ningning lowered her head and shrank back slightly: "Ugh, I'm scared."
"Afraid of being sent back and not being able to come out and play, huh?" Song Jin chuckled, showing no mercy. "Neither of you little brats is well-behaved; you both deserve a beating."
Ningning pouted: "Ningning will be a good girl, Sister Jinjin."
Xiao Hua quickly added, "This time it really wasn't intentional. I thought we were going back to the village."
Song Jin chuckled and flicked one of them hard on the head. "Don't let this happen again. You were lucky this time, but it might be different next time."
The two little girls quickly started giggling.
This is their first time traveling so far.
Niu Tielan watched the two reckless young girls from the side, recalling when she and her daughters had first arrived in Linxi Town. Song Jin, a little younger than them, dared to run to Mayor Lin's house with a kitchen knife and tear it down.
Later, when her illness became terminal, it was Song Jin who went to the city to find Old Liu, who saved her life and has kept her alive little by little over the years.
If she had died from that cold back then, Niu Tielan felt that Song Jin definitely wouldn't have stayed obediently in the town; she probably would have ended up like those two little girls, wandering the world with dirty little faces.
Freedom and unrestrained spirit are etched into her very being.
She wouldn't go far from town before heading into the mountains to deal with bandits and thieves. What was a perilous situation for others was just routine for her.
She was a tomboy since she was a child.
Niu Tielan reached out and poked her head: "You're just leading people astray."
Song Jin protested, "How can you blame me for this? Mother, that's just prejudice!"
As she spoke, she made a face, her eyebrows raised in smug satisfaction, and then served some food to Xiaohua Ningning, her eyes full of contentment.
Kids should be this brave!
Niu Tielan shook his head helplessly.
See? If she hadn't been backing them up, how could those two brats have been so bold?
Niu Tielan looked at Xiaohua and Ningning over there, observing their cleverness and boldness, which were different from ordinary girls, and couldn't say whether this was a good thing or a bad thing for them.
But ultimately, life is short, so enjoy every day you can.
She lowered her eyes, picked up the teacup beside her, took a small sip, and her expression changed instantly, her face scrunching up.
"So sour"
She glared at the man beside her: "What have you done now?"
Qu Maoze smiled, took the cup from her hand, and took a small sip: "What's wrong?"
As he spoke, he put down his cup.
Niu Tielan stared at the empty bottom of the glass, her teeth clenching with irritation. She glared at him, then poured herself another glass and carefully touched it to her lips.
It was rich and mellow, without any unpleasant tastes, which reassured her before she drank it.
Compared to his inexplicable melancholy just now, his current wary and angry demeanor is much more pleasing to the eye.
Qu Maoze smiled slightly, poured himself another cup of tea, and drank a couple more cups.
It really is sour
The meal didn't last long.
Because the two little ones smelled so bad.
The group of people were all hard-working individuals, but they weren't the type to suffer without hardship. Having left the capital and distanced themselves from those who came to visit, they were unrecognizable to outsiders.
Normally yes.
However, it's normal to have one or two exceptions, since Song Jin and Song Shang look so alike.
Fortunately, the problem wasn't serious; they were almost at their destination and wouldn't be delayed in any way.
The group had been traveling a long way and now they finally had a chance to rest. They went straight to Linglong Pavilion and stayed in the best rooms available.
We can't let those two brats ruin it.
After dinner, the group went straight out to take them shopping for clothes.
Song Jin held two ropes in her hands, the other ends of which were tied around Xiao Hua and Ning Ning's waists, just like walking dogs.
Ningning is gentle and greedy, happily munching on a sweet persimmon, not wanting to stop for even a moment.
Little Flower, with her head drooping, walked heavily, full of reluctance: "I'm not a dog."
Song Jin raised an eyebrow: "Let me think... how much did that meal cost again?"
Qi Zheng remembered it very clearly, his face expressionless: "Seven taels, three mace, and eighty-six coins."
Xiaohua exclaimed, "What? It's just chicken, duck, and fish! Why is it so expensive when the portions are so small?"
Song Jin clicked her tongue: "Let me calculate again. There are seven of us. If we split the cost equally among ourselves..."
Just moments ago, Xiaohua was reluctant, but her expression immediately changed. She pulled on the rope around her waist, spun around, and tied herself up tightly.
She barked, "There are so many people outside, it's a good idea to tie her up. Sister Jin Jin was so prescient!"
Song Jin clicked her tongue twice, bent down and beckoned with her finger. Ningning, who had just been eating, quickly turned around, preemptively resting her chin on Song Jin's hand, and said in a childish voice...
"Ningning, be good."
Xiao Hua rolled her eyes, looking disgusted.
good-for-nothing kid
Song Jin smiled and teased the two little ones as they arrived at a nearby embroidery workshop.
Linglong Pavilion is located in the best area of Guangning Prefecture, and there aren't many cheap goods nearby. The fabrics inside don't look cheap at all.
Little Flower clung tightly to the doorframe: "I can't afford it! Even if I sold myself, I still couldn't afford it. Let's go find something cheaper."
People were coming and going around, and they all looked over when they saw the commotion.
Song Jin's lips twitched, and she kicked the woman in the butt, shoving her away: "If you keep making trouble, I'll really sell you off. Behave yourself and go inside."
In the past, she would never have come to a place like this; it's not like she had too much money to burn.
She really is now
The dowry her mother prepared for her included not only real gold and silver, jewelry, and calligraphy and paintings, but also shops and land; the annual income alone would be more than she could ever spend.
She's a typical nouveau riche now.
Tens or hundreds of taels are nothing to me.
"Two sets for each of them, according to their body shape. I'll take the green ones, the same pattern," Song Jin pointed to the green children's clothes with peony patterns on the other side.
The fabrics in the store are great, but the ready-made clothes are just so-so.
These days, wealthy families prefer to buy fabric and then have it custom-made by embroiderers.
The shop assistant hesitated.
Song Jin raised an eyebrow: "What, do I look like I'm broke?"
The sales clerk quickly shook her head: "No way, it's just that those two young ladies look better in that outfit."
She pointed to the pinkish-red peach-patterned jackets beside her. These two garments, unlike the opulent peony-patterned ones, were delicate and refined, perfectly complementing Xiaohua and Ningning's气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament). The two girls had delicate, understated beauty, not suited to bold colors, and clearly favored pink hues; once you looked at them, you couldn't take your eyes off them.
but
Song Jin crossed her arms and said without hesitation, "I like the green one. I'll pay for it, listen to me."
Xiaohua and Ningning looked dejected, their eyes still glued to the pink clothes.
Song Jin pretended not to see it, waved her hand, and urged, "That's it, hurry up."
The embroiderer looked at this and that, still somewhat hesitant.
Niu Tielan couldn't bear to watch any longer. She stepped forward and slapped Song Jin on the forehead to subdue her. Then, she spoke gently to the embroiderer, "Just those two pink peach blossom dresses, and that rabbit-patterned jacket over there. The shoes should be soft, thick-soled, and durable..."
Compared to Song Jin's casual approach, Niu Tielan clearly has the expertise; she knows how to match various fabrics.
She spoke softly and gently, possessed a graceful and elegant appearance, and had a slender figure, making it easy for people to develop a liking for her.
The embroiderer smiled, listening to her words as she selected items, much more relaxed than before.
Qu Maoze followed beside her, occasionally chiming in with a comment that always hit the nail on the head.
The two women, one elegant and the other gentle and refined, looked every bit the part of a wealthy family's young master and mistress—knowledgeable, well-mannered, and quite pleasing to the eye.
Song Jin leaned against the wall, rubbing her head in frustration, and muttered, "What the hell? Didn't we agree to just buy a little something?"
The two of them were so meticulous that Song Jin, who had led the group, was unhappy.
Do you still remember which one your daughter is?
She stared wide-eyed at their retreating figures until her eyes ached, but neither of them turned around.
I'm so angry!
Qi Zheng stood quietly to the side the whole time, rarely saying a word, and found her appearance amusing.
This man was usually arrogant and unruly, fearless of anything, but when he was with Niu Tielan, he acted like a complete child.
He said, "Shall we go upstairs and take a look?"
Song Jin pouted, glared at the two people in front of her, and seeing that they still didn't react, stormed upstairs.
Compared to the first floor, the items on the second floor are much more valuable. Many pieces of fabric are hung there, and the embroidery craftsmanship is astonishing. There are also many gold and jade jewelry pieces on display.
Song Jin stormed up, then rushed away, arriving at the innermost room, her eyes gleaming as she stared at the woman in gold and red before her.
The garment is made of red fabric with gold thread, and adorned with gold sequins, resembling armor—magnificent and awe-inspiring, combining both strength and flexibility.
Song Jin's eyes lit up
She's just an ordinary person; gold is something you can't help but like.
Qi Zheng walked over and asked, "You like it?"
Song Jin nodded, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
Qi Zheng's lips twitched, and he cautiously probed, "Then, shall I buy it?"
Song Jin nodded decisively, without any hesitation.
A million in assets is a lot, but a little more wouldn't hurt.
The gold sequins on this garment are visibly heavy. Combined with the craftsmanship and the matching jewelry, it's definitely worth at least a hundred taels of gold, if not ten thousand.
Qi Zheng, who happened to have access to a gold mine: "...Okay."
This garment was expensive and the embroidery shop's prized possession. The shop manager quickly arrived, carefully greeted them, and after confirming the details and agreeing on the price, he sent people to carefully install and escort it downstairs little by little.
Niu Tielan hadn't expected that Song Jin could cause such a huge mess in the short time she turned around. Looking at the glittering gold in the box, her vision blurred: "Give me a refund!"
Song Jin objected, protecting the box: "No, it's not like you have to pay for it."
Although the set is quite expensive, the gold and gemstones are genuine, and it's a good find to keep at home as a treasure.
She rarely sets her sights on something she likes, so she won't back down.
Niu Tielan, seeing her stubborn and defiant look, felt a pang of anger in her chest and stomped on the person next to her, saying angrily, "Look at this spendthrift!"
Qu Maoze looked at the glittering gold clothes without any particular thought. It was just gold and silver; as long as his daughter liked it, that was all that mattered.
He has plenty of gold over there.
But he couldn't say it like that, so he smiled and gently reassured the child, "It's real gold and silver. If they don't like it when they get back, they can melt it down and make something else. They won't lose out. Returning it now would be embarrassing for the child."
Niu Tielan glared at him: "Does she still care about saving face?"
When did her daughter ever have any sense of shame? How come she didn't know?
Song Jin scoffed, "Why don't I want it anymore?"
Niu Tielan still insisted: "You've retired, and you still think you're not high-profile enough?"
Song Jin raised her chin: "I've done nothing wrong, what's there to be afraid of? Mother, you're too timid. We've already left the capital, how could those people possibly find us? Let's spend some money and put on a show."
His demeanor was that of an extremely spoiled and dissolute young man.
Niu Tielan felt a pang of pain in her heart, but she knew it was useless to talk to her. Didn't she know her own daughter well? Where would she have gotten so much money? It was obviously Qi Zheng who paid for it. She glared at the woman, turned angrily, and said to the embroiderer, "Wrap up everything from earlier, except for that fabric."
After saying that, she stormed out of the embroidery workshop. Qu Maoze glanced at Song Jin and Qi Zheng, then followed her at a leisurely pace.
Song Jin swaggered to the counter, glanced at the green peony-patterned fabric her mother had specifically returned, and grinned, "No refund, no refund, just pay the bill, pack it all up."
The embroiderer struggled to conceal her shock and carefully began to calculate the accounts.
Song Jin stood to the side, arms crossed, looking smug and triumphant, winking at Qi Zheng.
Just wait and see.
Qi Zheng sighed inwardly; he knew this person wouldn't settle down.
However, it might be a viable method.
He glanced at the golden trunk slowly closing, his gaze sweeping over the many flickering eyes in the surrounding crowd. He sighed softly, stepped forward, and addressed the people carrying the goods.
"Be gentle, don't break my young lady's things."
"Pfft"
Song Jin couldn't help but laugh. Meeting Qi Zheng's accusing gaze, she cleared her throat and shouted, "That's right, all of you better watch out! If you really break anything belonging to Dai Yuanjin, none of you would be able to pay for it with ten lives!"
She's really something; in such a short time, she's already given herself a new identity.
Dai Yuanjin, Dai Yuanjin, you've just given Jin Yu Ge another little miss, haven't you? Now that Jin Yu Ge is in trouble, and the various families have all gone their separate ways, some time has passed, and surely some merchants here will have news of it, and then...
Qi Zheng could already imagine the troublesome people that would follow.
He sincerely said, "...Miss, please keep a low profile."
He just wanted to find out the details here, ask around, and see for himself; he could figure out a lot of things. He wasn't stupid enough to really believe Qi Ye had sent him here because he didn't know the situation.
With Qi Ye's personal guards, if he were to send just a few down, wouldn't they be aware of the situation here?
Hearing and seeing are completely different; the same thing looks different from different angles.
Qi Zheng used to come here as a wandering knight, observing people and cities; now, as a prince, he observes the common people, officials, and aristocratic landowners.
I didn't come here to steal credit from the soldiers here.
Song Jin didn't care about anything else; she just loved watching the drama unfold. Staying quiet for a while after leaving the capital was already her limit. Now that they were almost at Andong County, she wanted to stretch her legs and make a name for herself.
To avoid her mother suffering further grievances when the time comes.
Song Jin raised her chin and said arrogantly, "Mind your manners. Do you think it's any of your business to me?"
Qi Zheng's dark eyes looked over, observing her upturned eyebrows and her charmingly willful demeanor. A sense of helplessness welled up within him, which then transformed into a smile, hidden in his eyes.
They could actually communicate secretly through telepathy, but they both tacitly gave up on that option, and in the exchange of glances, they constructed a new identity.
She was a spoiled young lady who ran away with the money, while he was just an ordinary, tall bodyguard.
Qi Zheng, seeing the smug look on her face, slowly withdrew his gaze and said softly, "Understood, Miss."
He stood there, tall and broad-shouldered, his muscles bulging even through his loose clothing. Despite his physique, he wore only the most ordinary gray clothes, and with years of experience in the escort business, he could easily disguise himself.
No one would believe he wasn't a guard.
After leaving the capital, Qi Zheng still habitually kept a stern face and expressionless expression, but the usual chilling and murderous aura around him gradually dissipated, and his imposing presence transformed into the aloof indifference of an ordinary person.
Song Jin looked at his slightly hunched back, his dark eyes darting around, and a smile gradually brightened on her face.
This guy is simply a genius! Being a bodyguard is just too amazing!
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