Nan Shiying pulled the cook away from Lin Long Temple.
As they walked past Spine Ridge Street, crossed Bridge Tail, and turned into a narrow alley, Nan Shiying and the cook caught a sweet fragrance. In the last second of memory, Nan Shiying and the cook saw two pairs of feet clad in black boots.
The carriage jolted and swayed, making one's head spin.
Nan Shiying’s eyelids fluttered, and the next moment she slowly opened them. She and the cook had been thrown onto a prison carriage filled with ‘goods’.
Hmph, no surprises at all!
Yu Dabou was an idiot, and Cheng Chongyu, who could be controlled and threatened by Yu Dabou, was an idiot among idiots!
The cook suddenly opened her eyes. Her situation beneath made her instinctively want to leap up, but while her mind realized it, her body had no strength at all. Her struggles were like a squirming giant meat worm. Forget leaping up, she couldn’t even sit up.
With no strength, the cook surrendered. She rolled over to face the carriage ceiling, intending to catch up on sleep. A sharp gaze caught her peripheral vision, startling her into widening her eyes and whimpering. “Wuwu, wuwu, wuwu…”
With tape sealing her mouth, she couldn’t speak, only whimper and struggle in vain.
“Bang bang bang!”
Someone outside forcefully pounded on the prison carriage. A fierce voice penetrated the burlap wrapped around the carriage and into the interior, “All of you, behave yourselves. Anyone who makes a sound, I’ll cut out their tongue.”
The cook whimpered, tears streaming down her face. She struggled to raise her head and look at Nan Shiying, "Young Master, you didn't say this would happen!!"
Her face was filled with fear, but her tear-obscured eyes conveyed a question from the depths of her soul to Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying: Good acting, keep it up!
She completely ignored the cook’s accusations and questions. The act had gone on too long, so Nan Shiying slowly closed her eyes, guessing what method Yu Dabou would use to transport them this time.
And no matter what he chose, no matter what he used, just this once, she could capture all the rats lurking and hidden in Wucheng in one fell swoop.
…
Jinmen City was a good place.
Returning to a familiar place, though it had only been half a month, Situ Kong felt as if everything had changed. Their inn was now just ruins. A gust of wind blew, scattering dust. Ergou stood beside the innkeeper, then paused and squatted down.
Situ Kong’s mouth twitched slightly.
Can you please not do such an ungraceful action with that face???
Yes, Ergou had given up the pretense, he had confessed!
After Xiao Man took Qing Yuan and Qing Zhu to Ju De Village to recuperate, Ergou had let himself go. Because after Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan left, only the innkeeper was left in the dark.
Ergou was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see his friend bow and greet him daily.
Situ Kong: “…”
Perhaps only you in this world truly believe you are acting convincingly!
In fact, Situ Kong had noticed long ago that while a person's skin could be faked, their temperament was impossible to replicate, especially when the gap between the two was so vast.
Situ Kong didn’t know if Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan had noticed, but he knew he couldn’t stand to see this idiot wearing the Young Master’s face for another day.
He reached out and tore it off violently.
Ergou yelped in pain a couple of times but didn’t resist.
Ergou was currently wondering if the innkeeper’s expression of being in control would completely collapse if he knew that the Young Master he recognized was not the real Feng Luan.
However, without the Young Master’s instructions, Ergou dared not speak further.
After removing the mask, Situ Kong felt as if the air around him had become more breathable. Ergou reached into his怀 and took out a brocade pouch, handing it to Situ Kong. "Take a look!"
Situ Kong opened the brocade pouch. Inside, there was only a piece of cloth.
Situ Kong looked at Ergou, and Ergou looked back at him. Ergou’s gaze was clear and pure, with a hint of foolishness. Indeed, in this world, there are no wrongly named surnames, only wrongly chosen names. Ergou was truly like a dog. The way he squatted and looked up at Situ Kong was exactly like a little dog that had done something foolish but couldn't help but wag its tail, looking at its owner.
Situ Kong held the cloth and asked Ergou, "What does this mean?"
Ergou blinked and retorted, "You really think I would know?"
Situ Kong: “…”
That made perfect sense.
He ignored Ergou and examined the cloth in his hand. The fabric was smooth and translucent… Situ Kong suddenly remembered. This was the fabric from the cargo ships of the Hengyuan Merchant Association.
Hengyuan Merchant Association?
Hengyuan Merchant Association’s ships?
Hengyuan Merchant Association’s goods?
The person behind the Hengyuan Merchant Association?
Wasn't it Yu Dabou?
Damn it!
When did the Young Master become a riddler?
Situ Kong racked his brains but still couldn't fully comprehend the Young Master’s intentions.
He looked at Ergou, feeling that in this vast world, why was he only able to meet Ergou’s gaze? It would be so much better if someone else could help him think!
…
The sun was low in the sky, about to set. The two sisters from the Luan family had still not returned at this hour.
Granny Bian stood guard outside the door, unwavering. Aunt Wang was also extremely worried. If it weren't for her leading the Luan girls to Spine Ridge Street, they wouldn't have gone to Lin Long Temple. If they hadn't gone to Lin Long Temple, the Luan sisters wouldn't have gone to burn incense and pray today. If something had truly happened to them, how could she live with herself?
“Granny Bian, don't worry. Your two nieces are clever. Perhaps they were delayed by something and will be back soon.”
After dinner, Aunt Wang could no longer sit still. She went to Granny Bian’s house and stood with her by the door, speaking words of comfort while looking towards the end of the street.
Instead of the Luan sisters, they saw the eldest son of the Song family from the end of the street. “Oh, Wen, you’re done with work? That’s early today!”
Aunt Wang greeted him.
The eldest son of the Song family smiled at Aunt Wang, his gaze falling on Granny Bian. He slightly averted his eyes.
The Song family had some past grievances with Granny Bian. When Granny Bian’s husband was still alive, the two families had fought, and their relationship had been strained over the years. However, since her husband died and her child went missing, the Song family had changed their attitude. The eldest son of the Song family had previously smiled at Granny Bian, so why had his attitude changed again?
Granny Bian looked at the eldest son of the Song family. She remembered that last night, the girl named Jiu’er who had returned had asked her a question: “Why is it that among so many children in Ji Jia Alley, only your child went missing?”
She asked: “Is there anyone in Ji Jia Alley who is at odds with your family?”
Yes, yes!
The Song family, their Song family!
Granny Bian suddenly rushed forward and grabbed the eldest son of the Song family by his collar. The eldest son of Liu Lanzi’s family from the other end of the street saw this and quickly rushed over, blocking between Granny Bian and the eldest son of the Song family. He lowered his head and looked at Granny Bian. Granny Bian was slightly stunned, then slowly let go.
The eldest son of Liu Lanzi’s family turned and gave the eldest son of the Song family a look, signaling him to leave quickly and not to argue with a poor person who was not mentally stable.
The eldest son of the Song family, his face looking grim, hurried home and slammed the door shut with a “clang”!
Granny Bian and the eldest son of Liu Lanzi’s family turned their heads in unison, looking towards the Song family!