Congfuwei
Tang Feng, carrying the wooden box, bid farewell to Fu Chenchen. It was already late at night; the ground was littered with red firecracker casings, and the sky was hazy, even more so than before. The streets were even more crowded than before. Tang Feng weaved through the throngs of lanterns adorned with playful fish motifs, a growing anxiety in his heart, worried that Qin Liuliu might be displeased. When Tang Feng hurried back to the house, he saw Qin Liuliu downstairs, happily lighting firecrackers. Liu Yiwan stood beside her, holding a lantern, and upon seeing Tang Feng return, quickly approached, "Young Master, you're back quite late! I've never seen you so dedicated to business before!"
Tang Feng tossed the wooden box to Liu Yiwan, who instinctively caught it. "Young Master, what's this?" Liu Yiwan fiddled with the box, trying to open it. "You're not going home this late at night, and you're bringing back this piece of junk?" Tang Feng joked, arms crossed. "Be careful, if this were in Yan Yun, you'd lose your head." "Huh? Can't possibly lose my head over something like this?" Liu Yiwan looked at the roughly made wooden box and then at Tang Feng's malicious face, a chill running down his spine. But... what kind of background could this box have? He'd been wandering the martial world for so many years, and he really hadn't figured out anything. "What are you afraid of? I have you, Young Master... At worst, you'll get the young marquis to help me... right?"
"Hey? Don't get involved with me, or your whole family might be executed. That's His Majesty's stuff!" Liu Yiwan was so frightened upon hearing this that she almost threw the wooden box away. She quickly pulled Tang Feng aside and said, "My little ancestor, what are you doing? Who gave you the guts to dig up His Majesty's things?" Tang Feng was somewhat nonchalant. "What are you afraid of? This was left to His Majesty by an old acquaintance. There was just a little mishap in the middle. The contents of the box returned to Yanyun, but the outer box ended up in Shanghan by some twist of fate." After hearing this, Liu Yiwan forced a smile and slowly took Tang Feng's hand, handing him the wooden box. "Young Master, such an important thing should be kept by you... I have no relatives or friends in Xiling. I can't bear the responsibility if something happens to me."
Tang Feng rolled his eyes at Liu Yiwan. "Look at you, acting like this. I never said I was going to give it to you!" Tang Feng tucked the wooden box into his pocket, then instructed, "Pack your things! I think we might have to go back." Liu Yiwan was taken aback. "Young Master, you really need to think this through. The shop has just started up; it's not really appropriate for us to just close it down like that! What about Old Bu...?"
Tang Feng didn't reply immediately. Instead, he called over Qin Liuliu, who was setting off firecrackers nearby. "Liuliu, come here. Did Liu Yiwan take you to buy fireworks today?" Qin Liuliu ran over as soon as Tang Feng returned. "Brother! You're finally here! It's so boring setting off firecrackers alone. Liu Yiwan bought a lot of fireworks and has been waiting for you to come back so we can set them off together." Tang Feng patted Qin Liuliu's head. This child was already sixteen years old without him realizing it. When he brought her home, she was still a little baby. Now she's grown so much. "Then go upstairs and get the fireworks down. I'll go with you." Qin Liuliu grinned and rushed upstairs. Tang Feng continued Liu Yiwan's words after Qin Liuliu had gone far away. "It's not that I've made up my mind, it's that I have no reason to stay any longer. In a couple of days, go to the shop and call Lao Bu over. I have something to tell him." Tang Feng stood downstairs looking at the somewhat hazy sky. He thought that after being away for more than a year, it was about time to go back. But he hadn't found Su Zili yet, and he didn't know what the future held for him. Returning home would mean facing Zhou Ziliang, who had been waiting anxiously for him. The thought gave Tang Feng a headache. He couldn't bear to keep Zhou Ziliang waiting, but reality was staring him in the face. If he truly woke up in that other world, Tang Feng would cease to exist. What would happen to Zhou Ziliang then? Tang Feng sighed. Oh well, let it be. He'd let things take their course. At least he was safe for now. He could simply never go to the pawnshop to see that damned bell again. Speaking of love, Tang Feng felt less affection and more guilt compared to Zhou Ziliang. He had witnessed Zhou Ziliang's doting and indulgence towards him since the time at Lishan Academy, and while he felt their current relationship was acceptable, their previous agreement to marry still weighed heavily on his mind. In short, he only wanted to date, not marry. Tang Feng hadn't expected that Zhou Ziliang's marriage scam would suddenly turn into his own. "Brother, what are you thinking about! Let's go! It'll get even later if we don't leave now!" Seeing Qin Liuliu urging him on, Tang Feng followed. Looking at the fireworks filling the city, Tang Feng couldn't help but silently murmur, "May things remain as they were at the beginning, year after year."
Before the first month of the lunar calendar was even over, Fu Chenchen arrived uninvited. Standing at Tang Feng's door, he shouted, "Tang boy! Get up! Didn't we agree to register today? Don't renege on your promise!" Ever since Tang Feng gave Fu Chenchen that five hundred taels of silver, Fu Chenchen had been thinking about Tang Feng and came before the New Year was even over. Hearing the commotion, Liu Yiwan had no idea that Fu Chenchen and Tang Feng knew each other. She grabbed a broom and rushed out to shoo them away, yelling, "Go away! Who are you?! Shouting so early in the morning! If you disturb our young master's sweet dreams again, he'll definitely scold you if he hasn't slept well!" "Hey? Me and him..." Before Fu Chenchen could finish speaking, they heard the upstairs window open. Liu Yiwan looked up and saw Tang Feng, still sleepy, leaning against the window. She was about to complain, but Tang Feng waved his hand, "Let him in. Uncle Fu, I woke up late, please forgive my rudeness." Fu Chenchen chuckled, fanning himself and humming a tune as he went inside, leaving... Completely bewildered, Liu Yiwan muttered, "So I'm the only one who can't disturb him getting up! It's all just me getting in the way!" She glanced sideways at Tang Feng's open window, then threw the broom out the window and tried to leave, but Tang Feng called after her from upstairs, "Liu Yiwan! What are you muttering about! I heard you! Pick up the broom! Didn't your teacher teach you to cherish public property?" Just as Tang Feng finished scolding Liu Yiwan, Fu Chenchen entered the room. "Oh, you've got quite the clout, kid. Let's go! Today we'll go to the Cong Mansion to register your caravan's name, and tomorrow I can go pick caravans."
"It's probably not for me to choose. I'm planning to go back to Xiling," Tang Feng said apologetically to Fu Chenchen. "But don't worry, you came to visit before the end of the first month, so I naturally won't stand you up. I plan to give the Shanghan shop to Bugu, but for now, I'm still in charge of the shop. I'll pay for it, so don't worry, I certainly won't let you lose money." Fu Chenchen breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. "I thought it was something important. As long as I pay, I don't care who's the manager. Just choose whoever you think is best. Do we still need to get the stamp today?" With Tang Feng's words, Fu Chenchen felt reassured and took out his pipe from his pocket to smoke. "Of course I will, but I might have to trouble you to wait for me. I'll go call someone." Then Tang Feng turned and left the house. Tang Feng wanted to call Qin Liuliu this time, as she would be seventeen years old after the New Year. In Tang Feng's view, it was time to broaden his horizons. Tang Feng didn't plan for Qin Liuliu to become an official, but business was a good path—more money with less fighting. If he could establish connections in Shanghan, he wouldn't have to start from scratch later.
"Liu Liu, come on, don't just stand there. I'll take you to see the world today!" Upon hearing that she could go out with Tang Feng, Qin Liu Liu forgot all about her work, putting down her book and tugging at Tang Feng's sleeve. "Brother, you always take Liu Yiwan with you but not me, right? What's wrong? Is it because Liu Yiwan isn't here today that you came to find me?" Seeing Qin Liu Liu's feigned anger, Tang Feng pinched her ear and said, "Hey? I wanted to take you out to gain some experience, and you've learned to be cunning?" Although Qin Liu Liu covered her ear and cried out for mercy, Tang Feng hadn't really used much force. Looking at Qin Liu Liu's exaggerated appearance, he found it somewhat amusing; the child had really grown up and was hard to control. Although Qin Liu Liu was playful, she knew what was important and wouldn't dare keep Tang Feng waiting. Having calmed down, he grabbed the cloak hanging by the door and said, "Brother, don't be angry. I'm all ready." Qin Liuliu was truly Tang Feng's most precious treasure. Not only had his wet nurse saved him years ago, but more importantly, Tang Feng had practically raised Qin Liuliu himself. Now, he was going to teach her skills, and Tang Feng had already achieved some success.
The Cong residence wasn't far from Tang Feng's place, only a ten-minute walk away. Looking at the gray-black gate with its plaque, Tang Feng frowned. "Uncle Fu... this is the Cong residence?" Fu Chenchen looked up at the plaque, then tapped his cigarette ash on a pillar. "Just like me, genuine. What's wrong? Afraid to go in?"
"It's not that I'm afraid to go in..." Looking at the dilapidated plaque and the peeling gray-black gate, Tang Feng felt a chill run down his spine. "It's just that this place looks a bit like a human trafficking den..." "Oh, you mean this? This is the old site. Enter through the side gate; there's a whole new world behind it." Fu Chenchen pointed to the red-lacquered wooden door on the side with his pipe, then added, "Shanghan wasn't always as prosperous as it is now. The Cong family mansion was vacant for many years, untouched. It was only after Princess Linghua married into Yanyun that Shanghan's commerce gradually improved. Once its strength was great and its treasury was full, it was able to reopen..." After entering through the side gate, there wasn't anything particularly strange or unusual inside, but the place was bustling with people registering. It was Qin Liuliu's first time in such a place, and she turned to Tang Feng, asking, "Brother, what are we doing here today? There are so many camels inside!" Before Tang Feng could reply, Fu Chenchen spoke first, "Your brother is going to do business, so naturally he needs his own caravan to transport goods. This is where the caravan's seal is stamped. Once it's stamped, if I run off with the money or your brother owes me money, this is where you'll be taken to the authorities for questioning."
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