#96 - Lu Jingyao's "Old Friend"

Chapter 96: Lu Jingyao's "Old Friend"

The next morning, the group left Anyi County and continued south.

Last night, adhering to the principle that "money shouldn't be wasted," Wei Changtian finally sent someone to bring Miss Yu Meng to the inn.

The specific process is not worth mentioning, but the experience was acceptable.

When they left this morning, they conveniently sent Su Yu and Yu Meng back to the embroidery building, during which they also heard two things.

First, Peng Benzhi had his leg broken by his father after returning home, and second, Song Zhengming, half-dead with anger, was immediately taken away by the government after finally waking up last night.

Scholars without official positions are of no concern to anyone.

The carriage stirred up dust, and the group finally disappeared into the horizon under the relieved gaze of the plump county magistrate, leaving behind the "twists and turns" story of last night, and a saying: "Why don't men carry Wu hooks, wielding their swords and standing tall in twelve states."

Wei Changtian didn't take any of this to heart too much. After getting in the carriage, he slept on Yang Liushi's lap for a while, then got up and started playing cards.

Liang Zhen was in a cheerful mood, humming tunes that sounded like songs or calls while galloping on his horse, as if he had regained the feeling of bravely fighting enemies on the battlefield.

Liang Qin puffed out her cheeks and poked her head out of the carriage curtain, sometimes looking at her proud and elated father, and sometimes looking at the black carriage not far away, seemingly hesitating whether to talk to Wei Changtian...

The wheels rolled on, and the morning sun had not yet risen.

The pale white dawn and the faint morning mist blended together, embellishing the mountains and rivers on both sides of the official road.

And at this very moment, Xiao Feng, who was still in the capital, was guarding a breakfast stall outside the Chun Shen Bookstore, his eyes fixed on the end of the road shrouded in the morning light.

He and the man beside him were both carrying luggage, looking like they were about to leave on a long journey.

The destination need not be said.

The man held a sesame cake in his hand, but he didn't eat it. He just kept looking around.

Xiao Feng was much calmer than him. Although he didn't eat anything either, his expression was obviously not as nervous.

"Brother Ren, there is no need to worry. I have disguised you. The Wei family will not recognize us so easily."

"Yes..."

The man nodded helplessly.

He took a bite of the sesame cake, and after hesitating for a long time, he finally couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Hall Master, you are taking such a risk... Who are you waiting for?"

"..."

The breakfast stall was bustling with noise, and the waiters with long towels were shuttling back and forth in the hall.

Xiao Feng was silent for a while, and just as he was about to answer, a carriage suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

"Da da, da da..."

A jujube-red horse-drawn carriage drove past the door from far to near, bringing a gust of wind that gently stirred the brown banner of the shop.

Xiao Feng watched the carriage drive into the courtyard of the Chun Shen Bookstore, and then said softly:

"Brother Ren, go to the old place outside the city and wait for me."

"Hall Master, has the person you are waiting for arrived?"

The man was stunned and immediately put down the sesame cake: "I'll go with you! It's good to have someone to take care of me in case of danger!"

"No need..."

Xiao Feng shook his head, his eyes a little melancholy: "There will be no danger."

"..."

"Then Hall Master, please be careful."

Although the big man was a little worried, he was not the kind of person to be pretentious. After thinking for a moment, he picked up his package, lowered his head, and left the breakfast stall.

After watching him leave, Xiao Feng sat in place for a while, and waited until the Chun Shen Bookstore across the street hung out the banner with the word "Book" written on it, before slowly standing up and shouting to the waiter next to him:

"Waiter, check out!"

"Coming!"

The waiter seemed to be very familiar with Xiao Feng, and immediately ran over while tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, and said with a smile: "Young master, there are two of you today, a total of fifty coins."

"Here."

Xiao Feng casually threw a small piece of broken silver on the table: "Keep the rest as a tip."

"Ah?"

The waiter was both surprised and delighted, and quickly held the broken silver in his hand, thanking him repeatedly: "Thank you, young master, thank you, young master!"

"It's okay."

Xiao Feng reached out and picked up the package placed next to him, and said with a smile: "The taste of your porridge is really good. I will come back to drink it again if I have the opportunity in the future."

"Young master."

The waiter was stunned and asked subconsciously: "Are you going on a long trip?"

"Yes."

Facing the rising sun, Xiao Feng strode towards the Chun Shen Bookstore, leaving behind a somewhat inexplicable sentence.

"After this trip, I'm afraid only one of us will be able to return..."

...

...

"Young Master Li, I told you yesterday that only by buying the Collector's Edition of 'Journey to the West' can you get the silver swallow. The paperback version does not have it."

"Miss, are you here to buy books?"

"Playing cards are not sold separately, but as long as you buy any book in our store, we will give you a deck."

"Master Guo, the middle part of 'Journey to the West' will be printed and sold in ten days. Please be patient for a few more days..."

"..."

Although it had only been open for a short time, there were already many customers in the Chun Shen Bookstore.

Several shop assistants were busy inside, and if it was too busy, a girl who looked like a maid from a wealthy family would come out to help.

This person is of course Qiu Yun, as for Lu Jingyao... she is currently showing Li Yang mahjong in the back hall.

"...In this situation, you can get a 'pong'... A pair is a 'jiang'... This is how you win..."

"...Young Master Li, the rules of mahjong are roughly like this, do you understand?"

"I understand almost..."

Li Yang frowned and nodded, muttering thoughtfully: "It takes longer than a game of cards, and it tests the card skills of the players more..."

"But it's not as convenient as playing cards. You need four people to form a game..."

"I don't know how Brother Wei came up with such a game..."

He muttered to himself while pondering the mysteries, and after about an incense stick, he remembered that there was still Lu Jingyao next to him.

"Ah! Little Sister-in-law, I'm sorry, I was just thinking about this mahjong!"

"It's okay."

Lu Jingyao smiled and said: "Before the husband left, he told me to just give this mahjong to the young master, saying that you will definitely carry it forward."

"Brother Wei thinks too highly of me."

Li Yang showed a little gratitude and carefully put away the mahjong: "Little Sister-in-law, I will go back and ponder the mahjong first, and I will ask you for advice if I don't understand something."

"Yes, Young Master Li, please don't be polite."

Lu Jingyao gently took a sip of tea, and began to discuss "Journey to the West" and other matters of the bookstore with Li Yang.

Chun Shen Bookstore was originally owned by Li Yang with 20% of the shares and Wei Changtian with 80%.

However, before Wei Changtian left, considering that he would not be able to manage the bookstore for a long time in the future, he simply gave Li Yang another 20%, and the remaining 60% was temporarily transferred to Lu Jingyao's name.

Therefore, the "major shareholder" of Chun Shen Bookstore on paper is actually Lu Jingyao.

And if she goes to Shu Prefecture in the future, these dry shares will be transferred to Wang Er again.

Wei Changtian can do this, which is considered quite trusting of Lu Jingyao.

Li Yang and Lu Jingyao drank tea and held a "shareholders' meeting" until Qiu Yun suddenly pushed the door and walked in.

"Young Master Li, Madam."

She looked at Lu Jingyao and said softly:

"There is a man outside looking for you, saying that he is an old friend of yours."