"Captain Wen, thank you so much this time. If it weren't for you, this matter probably wouldn't have been resolved so quickly. Although the real mastermind behind it hasn't been caught, with this incident, they should be more cautious." Qi Zhenzhen thanked Wen Cen. "As for Li Shan, he brought it all upon himself. He who does evil will meet his end, that's how people like him are."
Wen Cen nodded in agreement. "You all go back first. I'll come over later when I'm done. This matter will be announced. A notice will be posted at the entrance of the vegetable market, and the yamen will arrange for someone to read it out. Then everyone will know the noodle shop was slandered, and business will surely pick up."
Zhang Erniu also thanked Wen Cen. He hadn't suffered much in the prison these past few days. He slept on a cell floor covered with clean straw, and his meals were provided. The jailers would even chat with him occasionally. Compared to the treatment of other prisoners, it was like heaven and earth. The jailer had also secretly told him that Wen Cen had given the instructions.
Wen Cen nodded slightly. "You've suffered quite a bit here these past two days. Hurry back and rest. We'll talk about anything else later."
Qi Zhenzhen and Zhang Xiaoniu stepped forward, one on each side, to help Zhang Erniu up. Zhang Erniu dodged them.
"I'm fine, why do I need help?" Zhang Erniu said in a gruff voice, secretly glancing at Lin Ruixue.
Qi Zhenzhen remained unfazed, secretly thinking, "He's so foolish, not using such a good opportunity for a dramatic display. When will he ever win the heart of his beloved?" She squeezed Zhang Erniu's soft flesh with all her might, and he yelped out.
"Brother Erniu, stop pretending. I've never heard of anyone coming out of prison so energetic. I know you don't want us to worry, but you can't hide it from us!" While speaking, she winked at Zhang Erniu. Zhang Erniu finally reacted, and a pained expression appeared on his face.
Lin Ruixue looked a little anxious. "You two, take it easy. Let me do it. I'll help Erniu."
Qi Zhenzhen and Zhang Xiaoniu walked side by side in front, with Lin Ruixue supporting Zhang Erniu and walking a bit slower.
"How is it? Do you like this sister-in-law?" Qi Zhenzhen whispered to Zhang Xiaoniu.
Zhang Xiaoniu looked enlightened. "No wonder my second brother was so excited back then, rushing to my sister-in-law's house to deliver the news, and being so good to Hu Zi. So he had intentions! But, I like these intentions."
"So, for Brother Erniu's happiness, let's walk faster," Qi Zhenzhen quickened her pace.
Zhang Xiaoniu followed, asking with a strange expression, "You call my second brother 'Brother Erniu,' so after he becomes your uncle's husband, will you have to call him uncle? Then what should you call me? Should you call me uncle?"
Qi Zhenzhen rolled her eyes at him. "You wish. We'll address each other separately."
The two walked quickly, and the sign of the noodle shop was already visible in the distance.
A person stood in front of the noodle shop, tall and slender, particularly striking amidst the passersby. As they walked a few more steps closer, Qi Zhenzhen felt the figure was somewhat familiar.
Zhang Xiaoniu beside her provided the answer, "Why is the Prince here?"
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed Gu Sinian, with his tall and slender figure.
Why was he here? Had he come looking for them because Xiaoniu hadn't returned?
As they approached, Qi Zhenzhen paid her respects to Gu Sinian and invited him inside.
Although curious as to why Gu Sinian was there, she didn't ask. He was a Prince, free to go wherever he pleased. It would be strange if she did ask.
"Zhenzhen, where are your aunt and Erniu? Why haven't they returned?" Aunt Lu asked anxiously.
"Auntie, please don't worry. They're behind us and will be back soon," Qi Zhenzhen quickly said. "The county magistrate has already pronounced the verdict. We were framed. A notice will be posted at the vegetable market later, and the yamen runners will read it out."
Aunt Lu's face lit up with excitement. "Good, good, good! What a just official! Xiaoniu, I've prepared a charcoal basin in the kitchen. Take it out, and later have your second brother step over the fire to ward off bad luck."
Zhang Xiaoniu responded, hurried into the kitchen, and carried out the charcoal basin, placing it by the entrance.
Lin Ruixue slowly walked over, supporting Zhang Erniu. Aunt Lu arranged for him to step over the fire basin and then prepared hand-pulled noodles for him. Seeing that he seemed weak, she even considered calling a doctor.
If they actually called a doctor, wouldn't it expose their act?
Zhang Erniu waved his hand. "Auntie, I'm fine. I just haven't been eating or sleeping well these past few days. The jailers took a little care of me when I first went in. I'll be fine after a couple of days of rest."
Zhang Xiaoniu chimed in, "Auntie, my second brother is really fine. He'll be okay after a couple of days of rest. Which commoner isn't afraid of prison? He's just a little scared."
Lin Ruixue saw Zhang Erniu back to his room, and Qi Zhenzhen led Gu Sinian to the main house.
Aunt Lu then noticed an unfamiliar face and asked in surprise, "Zhenzhen, who is this handsome young man?"
Handsome young man...
Qi Zhenzhen put her hand to her forehead, unsure how to introduce Gu Sinian's identity.
"Auntie, I work with Xiaoniu. He only has two days of leave, and he hasn't returned. I was worried, so I went to his home to find him. When I found out he had come to the county town, I followed him," Gu Sinian introduced himself.
"You also work in the capital? That's promising, very good." Aunt Lu praised him sincerely. "Are you married?"
Qi Zhenzhen felt a pang of embarrassment. Do older people generally care about this question? Aunt Lu asked casually, but would Gu Sinian be offended? If he was offended, would he blame them?
"I'm not married yet. I'm not interested in the women my family has arranged for me," Gu Sinian said earnestly.
Your Highness, do you have to be so down-to-earth? Chatting about your marital status with an aunt you've just met?
"You're such a handsome young man, it's normal to have high standards. When looking for a partner, you can't settle. You'll be spending your life with them," Aunt Lu said earnestly, as if she were an experienced elder, her demeanor suggesting she was about to take Gu Sinian's hand.
To Qi Zhenzhen's surprise, Gu Sinian actually agreed with Aunt Lu, nodding and saying, "Auntie is right."
"So, Auntie has a good girl here. I don't know if you'll find her agreeable. She's good-looking, has a good temperament, is good at managing a household, and can earn money. She's one in a hundred, no, one in ten thousand." Aunt Lu said with a smile, her expression amiable.
A good girl? Qi Zhenzhen looked around, but no one was there.
She then recalled that Aunt Lu and the others came from Shu, and they didn't have many relatives here. Where did she know a girl from?
"Look, how about our Zhenzhen?" Aunt Lu pulled Qi Zhenzhen over and asked Gu Sinian with a smile, "You won't find such a good girl even with a lantern."