"When Miss Hong brought me back last night and made me soak in cold water, did she seem unusual or anything amiss?" Lin Ansheng continued to ask.
At that moment, he had a suspicion: was it possible that when she helped him, he had done something to her while he was not fully conscious, and she, in a fit of anger, made him soak in an icy bathtub in the dead of winter? Was she taking revenge? Punishing him?
Upon hearing the general's detailed question, the waiter quickly and earnestly recalled the scene at the time; "No, Miss Hong's expression was pretty much the same as usual."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ansheng didn't know what else to ask: "Thank you for your hard work. Go and take care of your own business."
The waiter pointed to the wet robes and boots on the ground and said, "Put these small ones away and have the laundry lady take them to wash after dawn."
"No need, I'll take it back and do it myself after dawn," Lin Ansheng said.
Even though he was a general, he was not the kind of person who abused his position to act arrogantly and domineeringly.
The waiter agreed, said "General, please rest," and walked towards the door.
"Wait a minute," Lin Ansheng said, as if remembering something.
The waiter thought the general was going to ask him something again, so he quickly stopped. But when he turned around, he saw the general lean out halfway and rummage through the pile of robes on the ground to find a purse. He then pulled out a handful of loose silver coins from it: "You've worked hard tonight. Take this and have some tea or wine."
The waiter quickly waved his hand and said no, but Lin Ansheng put on a stern face, which startled the waiter, who quickly stepped forward to take it, thanked her repeatedly, and left the room.
After daybreak, Hong Xiaoduo was still asleep when Quan Jinghuai led his disciples in practicing boxing and horse stance.
Looking at his seven young disciples, he saw how well they were learning.
But what's wrong with their 'mother'? Why does she always get up so late in the morning?
Shouldn't mothers set an example by going to bed early and waking up early?
She did go to bed late last night because of General Lin's matter, but she should have gotten up by now, even if it was late.
Oh well, let her sleep. That way, I can have all the mornings to myself and lead my disciples in rigorous kung fu training.
Otherwise, it'll just be practicing calligraphy and teaching some strange and unusual things.
Perhaps Heaven saw his sincerity towards his disciples, for their "mother" slept until noon, almost lunchtime, before she finally appeared, snoring and stretching.
The two adults and seven children went outside the inn for lunch. While waiting for the food, Quan Jinghuai saw that she didn't ask him anything about General Lin's matter last night, so he really believed that she had simply run into him and was helping him out.
"Aren't you curious about how the one you painstakingly rescued last night is doing?" Quan Jinghuai couldn't help but ask.
Hong Xiaoduo asked, puzzled, "Why are you curious about him?"
Seeing her attitude and tone, Quan Jinghuai realized that he shouldn't have been so curious.
Hong Xiaoduo wasn't curious, and that didn't stop her from learning about things.
After a good lunch, Hong Xiaoduo returned to the inn. The waiter who had been on duty the night before had just woken up and was in the lobby. Upon seeing Hong Xiaoduo, he immediately told her everything that General Lin had asked and said after waking up.
It was true, she couldn't help but listen. Later, she was so excited to receive a handful of loose silver from General Lin.
That handful of loose silver was worth half a year's wages for him!
Such a good thing is all because of this young lady in front of us; she's the one who carried General Lin back.
So, when he sees Hong Xiaoduo now, he sees her as a goddess of wealth!
With this unexpected windfall, we can not only buy new clothes for our parents, younger brother, and younger sister this Lunar New Year, but also pay off the six qian of silver we owe our second uncle. Then the family will be debt-free and can have a comfortable New Year.
Hong Xiaoduo then realized that General Lin had left the inn early that morning to return to his military camp.
"Young Lady Hong, General Lin also asked who brought him back and who put him in the cold water. I... I didn't tell the truth," the waiter said somewhat guiltily.
If I hadn't taken General Lin's loose change, I wouldn't feel guilty right now.
He also told Hong Xiaoduo that General Lin had given him some loose silver. After saying this, he secretly glanced at her expression, but she wasn't displeased that he had embezzled the silver. He cursed himself inwardly for being so petty.
"So what if you said it? It's alright." Hong Xiaoduo's words completely put the waiter at ease.
Upon returning to the military camp, Lin Ansheng had hot water prepared and took a hot bath before changing into his own robes. His good brother, Peng Xian, then arrived.
"General, what happened at Prefect Wu's residence last night? Did you sneak away because you couldn't hold your liquor? You're really something, aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?" Peng Xian asked, puzzled.
Upon hearing his good friend mention Prefect Wu, Lin Ansheng's face visibly darkened.
He waved for the others to leave, keeping only Peng Xian behind, and told his good brother Peng Xian what had happened at the banquet the night before.
"What? He, a dignified prefect, would actually do such a despicable thing? I originally thought he had some brains, but now it seems I overestimated him!"
How could he be so sure that, after this matter is accomplished, you, General, will take full responsibility for his wife, Yao Niangzi?
Doesn't he think about what would happen if he failed and things went wrong? How would he face you, General, afterward?
"How could you not know your temperament, General?" Peng Xian was truly disgusted and furious.
“Now look what happened. It didn’t work out. I reckon that anyone in their family who knew about it has been nervously waiting for your revenge since last night,” Peng Xian added.
"Hey? I have to say, General, you're quite something. Even after going through that, you still managed to escape unscathed? You didn't lose your virginity in a muddled way?"
"Impressive, I admire you." Peng Xian was extremely excited, having never expected to stumble upon such a juicy piece of gossip.
Upon hearing his words, Lin Ansheng hesitated for a moment before not responding immediately.
I'd better not tell anyone that I was taken back to the inn by that young lady.
Because once it's mentioned, he'll definitely start speculating.
Considering the relationship between his good brother and that Miss Hong, Lin Ansheng decided it was best not to go into too much detail.
So that his good brother wouldn't remind him later that he had to take responsibility for that young lady.
If I don't agree, then in my good brother's eyes, I'll become an irresponsible and irresponsible scumbag!
"By the way, General, what are your plans to do with that Wu fellow? You're not just going to pretend nothing happened because he didn't succeed, are you?" Peng Xian asked again.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ansheng sneered, "Do you think I'm the kind of person who would sacrifice myself for the greater good? You dare to use such despicable means to plot against me? I'll make you regret this for the rest of your life."
What Lin Ansheng was actually worried about was something else entirely: how to face that Miss Hong...
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