After lunch, Xu Hengyan accompanied Xie Jiang in the carriage.
Xu Hengyan also took the opportunity to catch up on some sleep, as a pile of matters awaited him at the county office.
When the carriage stopped at the entrance of the county office, Xu Hengyan, who had just woken up, found his right leg immobile.
Xie Jiang, still groggy, sat up, her sleepy eyes barely open.
"Are we here?"
"Yes."
Xie Jiang noticed him struggling to move his leg. "What's wrong? Is it numb? You let me use your leg as a pillow the whole way?"
It wasn't that she had used his leg as a pillow the whole way.
He had moved her head onto a soft pillow several times while she was asleep.
But before long, she would crawl back like a puppy, accurately resting her head on his leg. She genuinely found his leg more comfortable than the soft pillow!
What could he do?
Later, he had even fallen asleep himself.
"Then let me rub it for you." Xie Jiang stretched happily, her hand reaching for his leg.
Xu Hengyan didn't even have time to refuse.
She started from his calf, moving upwards bit by bit.
Although her technique seemed quite good.
His numb leg, with her movements, gradually began to regain sensation.
But her hands felt like they carried an electric current, causing his scalp to tingle, as if every strand of his hair was about to stand on end.
"Is it better?"
"It's fine, it's enough." No more rubbing needed!
Xu Hengyan sat with his back straight, his body held rigidly.
"Just a moment longer, it will be fine soon. I'm the one who made it numb, so I have to take responsibility."
Such a sense of responsibility!
Wasn't he touched?
Xu Hengyan felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy, daring not to move.
He suddenly stared at her hands, lost in thought.
Her skin was incredibly fair, the kind that seemed to glow.
At first glance, it was as if a mass of milk had spilled out from beneath her sleeves.
Her fingers were slender and very beautiful.
Just a bit too thin and small.
However, she herself was slender and delicate.
Perhaps it was because she was still young and hadn't fully grown yet.
It wasn't strange for her hands to be smaller than an ordinary man's.
After a while, he suddenly realized what nonsense was filling his mind, and how long he expected her to keep rubbing!
Xu Hengyan immediately pulled his leg back and jumped out of the carriage.
Xie Jiang looked at her empty hands and regretfully flexed her fingers.
His firm and well-proportioned long legs had such a good feel!
Xu Hengyan vaguely felt something was amiss, a hard-to-describe heat rising within him, and he strode directly towards the county office.
Suddenly, he remembered Xie Jiang was still in the carriage, and since he had invited her, it wouldn't be right to just leave her behind. He stopped and turned to wait.
He saw Xie Jiang first poke her somewhat disheveled head out from the carriage door, offering him a smile, and then curiously looking around the street in front of the county office.
Xu Hengyan now also felt that sleeping in the carriage was not a good choice.
No wonder she always fell asleep in the carriage and complained about aches and pains.
Xu Hengyan now felt a headache, his mind a chaotic mess.
Xie Jiang, without looking where she was going, jumped out of the carriage. She didn't notice a missing brick on the ground, her foot slipped, and she stumbled forward.
Xu Hengyan, startled, rushed over and pulled her into his arms, then cast a cold glance at Aunt He.
How could this be!
The young master was getting out of the carriage, and no one came to help! They were all standing there like wooden stakes!
Aunt He silently lowered her head.
Young Master Xu was a bit too naive in some aspects. He was clearly from a strict upbringing and hadn't had the experience of being "baptized" by a pure and innocent maiden.
If she had gone to help, it would have been meddling.
...
Xu Hengyan glanced at Guang Bai again, telling him to have the paving brick replaced later.
Guang Bai could only agree.
Otherwise, if Young Master Xie was displeased, he would have to live a wonderful life of being confined to the heated brick bed, sowing and bearing children.
But was it really necessary?
There were many missing paving bricks on the ground inside and outside the yamen. They had been coming and going for so long, and it hadn't bothered anyone.
Young Master Xie had just stumbled once, and now he had to specifically replace all the paving bricks?
Wouldn't it be more fitting to replace them with gold bricks to match Young Master Xie's status?
Xu Hengyan helped her stand properly and looked at her foot. "Are you alright?"
Xie Jiang shook her head and asked, "If you usually work here, where do you live?"
Xu Hengyan replied, "I live in the county office. Would you like to come in and take a look?"
Xie Jiang was quite interested. "Okay."
Xu Hengyan then led her into the county office, slowly touring from the front hall to the various offices, and briefly explaining the county office's structure.
Further inside was Xu Hengyan's usual office and living quarters.
"You live so simply here in Ninghe."
The small courtyard hadn't been renovated in who knows how many years, and he probably hadn't bothered to tidy it up after moving in.
Xu Hengyan felt it was actually alright. "I didn't come to Ninghe to enjoy myself."
Xie Jiang looked at him with admiration. "I believe your choice will yield great rewards."
"I heard that after Qiu Gang and the others learned you were coming, they bought a house on the street behind the county office. Will you be staying with me at the county office, or..."
"Of course, I want to stay with you, but your courtyard is too small..." Xie Jiang seemed somewhat reluctant.
Xu Hengyan also felt it would be better for her to stay in the house on the back street. Qiu Gang and the others had probably finished preparing it by now, and it should definitely be more comfortable than staying with him in this small courtyard.
She was such a delicate person. It wasn't that she couldn't endure hardship, but there was no need for it. Since she was here to visit Ninghe, she should naturally live comfortably.
Xu Hengyan led her out through the back door and saw Qiu Gang and the others waiting outside with smiles. Aunt He was already directing people to move luggage.
"Young Master."
"Young Master Xu said you all performed well." Xie Jiang nodded, acknowledging their work.
Qiu Gang and the others were overjoyed, their eyes beaming, and they quickly invited Xie Jiang to see the house.
The three-courtyard house was quite spacious and had been tidied up meticulously. The courtyard where Xie Jiang would stay was especially comfortable.
Xu Hengyan nodded upon seeing it.
"Would you like to have dinner at my place tonight?"
"I have some matters to attend to and might not be back tonight. Let's do it another day. When I have time, I'll come over for a meal. Don't find me a nuisance."
Xu Hengyan stayed for a while, drank a cup of water, and then left in a hurry.
The next day, he was busy and nowhere to be seen, but he sent Guang Bai to act as a guide.
Xie Jiang directly told Da Chui to throw Guang Bai out.
Then, with a swagger that acknowledged no one, she, along with Qiu Gang and the others, walked past Guang Bai, who had just gotten up, and leisurely went out to explore.
Guang Bai didn't want to follow and annoy them, so he could only silently return to the county office to await orders.
If Xie Jiang, unfamiliar with Ninghe, encountered any trouble, it would be easier for her to find someone. If she were to complain to the young master, he would be unjustly blamed.
He had initially thought they would be done exploring by morning. After all, Ninghe was a small county town, far less prosperous or lively than the capital, and there wasn't much that would make her linger.
Who would have thought that by the time the sun was setting, and Xu Hengyan had already returned to the county office, Xie Jiang and her party were still nowhere to be seen.
"Young Master Xie left this morning and hasn't returned yet?"