Has connections in the family
Tang Feng had been leaning against Zhou Ziliang for a short while when he heard the sound of horses' hooves. He craned his neck to look back and saw a carriage stop beside them. "Young Master... Young... Young Madam?" The servant stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting to Zhou Ziliang and Tang Feng. He addressed Zhou Ziliang with crisp, clear words, but when he reached Tang Feng, his words became somewhat mumbled.
"Young Madam?" Tang Feng nearly choked on his own saliva, unable to catch his breath. "Who told him this! Zhou Ziliang, was it you?!" Tang Feng turned and pinched the soft flesh on Zhou Ziliang's waist.
"How could this be? How could this be?" Zhou Ziliang laughed awkwardly. Tang Feng was usually weak and couldn't lift a finger, but he could grab someone with a surprisingly strong grip. "Young Master, should I send this back to the Marquis's mansion or..."
"Why send them back to the Marquis's residence? Send them to the Tang residence instead."
"The Tang family? For me?" Tang Feng jumped down and lifted the curtain of the carriage, revealing it overflowing with Liufuji pastries. "This..."
"Young master... uh, young master, all of these were bought for you by my young master. You are so lucky. My young master has never been so kind to anyone before. He was just urging me to buy all the pastries from Liufuji. The old manager even joked that you two must be getting married soon, buying so many pastries."
Seeing Tang Feng blush, Zhou Ziliang quickly waved for the servant to leave, then said to Tang Feng, "That boy is usually very quick-witted and always by my mother's side. My mother spoils him rotten. Don't take what he says to heart."
Tang Feng shook his head. "It's nothing, kids are all like that. He doesn't look much older than Liu Liu, it's just... I didn't expect you to remember this. Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
"That doesn't sound like something a young master like you would say!" Zhou Ziliang saw Tang Feng with his head down, so he bent down and teased Tang Feng, "I'm a go-with-the-flow kind of person, I've never really cared about anyone, but you're different. I naturally remember everything I promised you." Tang Feng pushed Zhou Ziliang back, "I don't need you to explain to me. Come on, let's go home. I've invited Little Crazy to dinner at home tonight, you should come too!"
"I... I think I'll pass! Your sister treats me like I'm her enemy; the atmosphere there will be really awkward." Tang Feng rolled his eyes at Zhou Ziliang. "Then why are you blaming your sister!" He turned and walked away. Zhou Ziliang tossed his whip to the coachman and quickly chased after him. "It's all your fault! You knew you were engaged, yet you still ran off. Anyone would be angry. Let me tell you, only I could barely accept it."
"I did run away to the border, but I can tell that Xiaofeng is also very resistant to this marriage!"
"Nonsense, if I left you alone at home, wouldn't you resent it? Only a fool wouldn't. Besides..." Tang Feng's voice trailed off, "Besides, how was I supposed to know I'd like men later?"
In the end, Zhou Ziliang still followed Tang Feng back to the Tang residence. As soon as he entered, Qin Jiujiu stared intently at him. "Little brother, Sister Jiujiu doesn't look well!" Zhang Mobai sat next to Tang Feng, while Qin Jiujiu sat between Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang. "I can tell even if you don't say it," Tang Feng said, sidling up to Zhang Mobai. "Little madman, move over there a bit. The atmosphere over there is too tense." Zhang Mobai shrank back to the side. "Miss Jiujiu hasn't let Brother Ziliang off the hook yet!"
"I think we might not be able to let it go," Tang Feng frowned. Zhou Ziliang stood up, added another eggplant slice, and handed it to Qin Jiujiu. Qin Jiujiu gave him a long face, glanced at it, and said, "I don't eat eggplant."
"Then I'll eat," Tang Feng said, reaching for the food, but Qin Jiujiu slapped his hand with her chopsticks. "You're not allowed to eat either." After saying that, Qin Jiujiu grabbed Tang Feng's hand, which had just been bruised, and whispered, "Xiao Feng, marriage is a big deal. If he can abandon you to the border once, he can do it again. I'm here to help you choose. Father is usually very careless about these things. If I don't keep an eye on things for you, what if he bullies you again in the future? Who will you complain to then?"
"It's not that serious..." Tang Feng frowned. Where did these two men get all this fuss about?
"What do you mean it's not that serious? I'm the one who has to make the decision, you hear me!"
Zhang Mobai placed a piece of stir-fried beef on Tang Feng's plate, and whispered in Tang Feng's ear, "Why is Sister Jiu acting like a wicked mother-in-law?" Tang Feng sighed, resting his chin on his hand. He'd seen this kind of scenario in melodramas before, but he never thought it would happen to him. Tang Feng shook his head. Oh well, let Qin Jiujiu do whatever she wants! There's plenty of time, and with an all-around boyfriend like Zhou Ziliang, it's hard for her to find fault with him! "Sister Jiu..." Tang Feng started to change the subject, but he hadn't thought of what to say. His mouth was faster than his brain, and he called out to Qin Jiujiu. Qin Jiujiu turned to look at him. Tang Feng glanced across at her. "Sister, Liu Liu... Liu Liu, where did you say he was working last time?"
"Oh, you're asking about Liu Liu! Sigh, where else could she have gone? She went to a pawnshop, to work as a pawnshop clerk."
“A pawnshop clerk? No, no,” Tang Feng shook his head. “How can my brother go there? Liu Liu, come here.” Tang Feng beckoned to Qin Liu Liu, who put down her chopsticks and moved closer to Tang Feng.
Qin Liuliu had been with Tang Feng since childhood, and Tang Feng doted on him. So, whenever Tang Feng asked, Qin Liuliu would do it without considering right or wrong. Standing in front of Tang Feng, Tang Feng rubbed his head and asked, "Liuliu, brother... brother has a great job for you, do you want to go?"
"Your business? No, no, Liu Liu isn't a bright kid at all, she's stubborn. Doing things for you will only cause problems," Qin Jiujiu shook her head. She had heard about the pawnshop from Old Master Tang and knew it was a place that handled government affairs. Although her family had fallen on hard times, Qin Jiujiu was still from a scholarly family and knew what was important.
"Don't be afraid, sister. I know what I'm doing."
"Young man, don't exaggerate. A pawnshop isn't something you can just come and go as you please," Zhang Mobai tugged at Tang Feng's sleeve, worried that Tang Feng had gotten a little tipsy and wasn't watching what he was saying.
Tang Feng, however, remained unusually clear-headed. He simply looked into Qin Liuliu's eyes, and Qin Liuliu nodded. "As long as I can be with my brother, I'll go anywhere."
"Liu Liu, don't cause trouble for your brother!" Qin Jiujiu frowned and slammed her chopsticks heavily onto the table.
"Sister... Sister, don't be angry. It's a sinecure there. I just need someone to serve me tea and water. It's better to keep the benefits within the family. If it works out, I'll let Liu Liu in. If not, I certainly won't take the risk. I can just let Liu Liu come back later."
Seeing that Qin Jiujiu did not agree, Zhou Ziliang said, "If all else fails, come and see my military camp. They still pay soldiers regularly."
"That's even more unacceptable! It's our family matter, what business is it of yours?"
"Sister, that's my sister-in-law, my brother's wife who hasn't even married into the family yet! How can we not be family?" Qin Liuliu said, sounding aggrieved. Zhou Ziliang had treated Qin Liuliu well, and she had always remembered it. Back at Lishan Academy, Zhou Ziliang had taken good care of her, and coupled with how well he had taken care of Tang Feng, Qin Liuliu naturally felt that Zhou Ziliang was a kind-hearted person who was good to Tang Feng and to her.
"Shut up!" Qin Jiujiu tapped Qin Liuliu's head. "Xiaofeng, I don't approve of this. I know you mean well for Liuliu, but it's inappropriate."
Ultimately, the topic fizzled out. Lying in bed that night, Tang Feng pondered a solution. Acting first and informing later wasn't out of the question, but he feared angering Qin Jiujiu. Qin Jiujiu appeared gentle and weak on the surface, but was actually strong-willed beneath her soft exterior; otherwise, she wouldn't have managed the Tang household so well. Tang Feng got up and secretly knocked on Qin Liuliu's door. "Liuliu..."
Qin Liuliu looked at Tang Feng sleepily, "Brother... why are you looking for me so late at night!" Ever since Qin Jiujiu arranged for Qin Liuliu to live in a separate courtyard after she turned twelve, she said, "Brother, are you scared to sleep alone at night?"
"Don't be scared! I have important business to discuss with you! You're coming to the pawnshop with me first thing tomorrow morning."
"My sister..."
"Don't worry about that, I have my own way," Tang Feng said, giving a few more instructions before going back to his room to sleep. The next morning, just as dawn broke, Qin Liuliu went to Tang Feng's room. "Brother... wake up! Weren't we supposed to go to the pawnshop today?"
Tang Feng squinted at Qin Liuliu, "Why are you even more eager than Liu Yiwan?" After saying that, Tang Feng got up and started dressing. The two of them slipped out through the back door, Tang Feng afraid Liu Yiwan would see and tell Qin Jiujiu. The back door led to the carriage Tang Feng had prepared the night before. Sitting inside, Tang Feng looked at Qin Liuliu's excited face and smiled indulgently. In his previous life, Tang Feng was an only child, living with his grandmother in an old neighborhood. He didn't have many friends or relatives' children to play with. His best friend was Uncle Li's son. In this world, Qin Liuliu was a relatively simple-minded child. Everyone at Lishan Academy, whether Zhang Mobai or Zhou Ziliang, had their own ulterior motives. Although not specifically targeting Tang Feng, Tang Feng still disliked the atmosphere. Perhaps his experience in the factory, where deception and treachery were commonplace, made him inexplicably averse to this kind of underhanded dealing. However, Qin Liuliu was different. Qin Liuliu had grown up with Tang Feng and had been well-protected by the Tang family for many years. He was simple-minded, and Qin Liuliu had always been very attached to Tang Feng, who had long regarded him as his younger brother. "You seem quite happy, even enjoying serving tea and water."
Qin Liuliu said seriously, "As long as I can be with my brother, I don't mind serving him tea and water."
Upon entering the oil shop, the old shopkeeper stopped Qin Liuliu at the outside, saying, "Sir, you can only go in alone."
"I'm taking him in. From now on, he'll be one of my men." Tang Feng slammed his waist token on the table. The old shopkeeper picked it up, recorded it in the ledger, and returned it to Tang Feng. "Sir, I understand what you mean, but this isn't a decision either you or I can make." Tang Feng stared at the old shopkeeper for a long time before taking the token from him. "Hmm..." Tang Feng scratched his head. "Alright! Can I not go in today?"
"Of course, no problem. The Protectorate is not a troublesome place to begin with, so please feel free to do as you please."
Upon hearing this, Tang Feng turned and left. He boarded the carriage and told the driver, "To Prince Duan's residence."
"You're being a scoundrel!" Li Yunrui sighed, looking at Tang Feng lying in his study, then closed the book he was holding and threw it on the table. "Speak! What do you want?"
"I don't want anything," Tang Feng chuckled, propping himself up as he sat up. "I just want to ask you for another imperial edict."
"An imperial edict?" Li Yunrui raised an eyebrow at Tang Feng. "You really don't come here unless you need something! Tell me! I'm listening."
"I have a younger brother; could he work with me at the pawnshop?"
After listening to Tang Feng's words, Li Yunrui's face was unreadable, and after a long while, she slowly spoke, "If I remember correctly, we made a deal, didn't we? What can you offer me now that you're negotiating with me?"
"I can't offer much, but I'm tight-lipped," Tang Feng said, waving his teacup in front of Li Yunrui. "Your Highness, could you spare me a drink? I just want my brother to go and serve me some tea and water. You know, if I don't say anything, no one will dare to criticize you, right? But if I don't keep my mouth shut, then everyone will know about Your Highness bribing officials and forming cliques."
"Whether your mouth is sealed or not depends on whether your brother can be with you or not?" Li Yunrui squinted, leaning down to look at Tang Feng.
"No, it's not that. I just want someone to serve me. You know I'll be very busy at Lishan Academy. If you transfer Zhou Ziliang to the pawnshop, I wouldn't mind," Tang Feng smiled.
"Zhou Ziliang? Don't you think I'm causing enough trouble? Take it!" Li Yunrui took out a small bronze token. "Go! Tell Uncle Yuan at the pawnshop that it's my order for the tea-serving servant to have his salary deducted from yours. Openly or secretly, don't hold the pawnshop responsible for his debts. Don't try to negotiate with me again, or I might send you back to Lishan Academy without considering Zhou Ziliang's feelings."
Tang Feng curled his lip. "You're so stingy! All I asked you to do was use your connections! With your straightforward nature, you'll easily suffer in the struggle for the throne."
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