Luo Shou was also very surprised. His brother wanted him to follow Young Master Xie?
Luo Lu looked back at Luo Shou with a deep gaze. "One day, they will all leave. Following Young Master Xie can also be a form of tempering."
Xie Jiang nodded. "I have no problem here, as long as you are willing."
Luo Lu cupped his fists and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Young Master."
Luo Shou was still a bit slow to react, staring blankly at Luo Lu, not knowing what to say. "Brother..."
Luo Lu said to him gently, "From today onwards, you will stay by the Young Master's side. Do whatever the Young Master tells you to do. Outside is not like the village. You need to curb your temper and not act recklessly."
Being able to venture into the outside world and see a broader horizon, Luo Shou was naturally willing, but no one had discussed it with him beforehand.
Suddenly being pushed out like this, he felt unprepared.
Despite his excitement, Luo Shou was a bit flustered.
"There are still so many things in the village, and I want to help Brother..."
A middle-aged man following Luo Lu said, "Brother Shou, you can go with peace of mind. We will help the Village Chief with the village matters."
Luo Lu nodded at Luo Shou.
Thus, it was decided that Luo Shou would leave Yongfeng Village and follow Xie Jiang.
Dong Zi weakly piped up, "Then, can I also follow Young Master Xie?"
Xie Jiang said, "It makes no difference to me whether there's one more or one less. You can also call Xiao Hu."
Dong Zi's face turned red with excitement, but when he heard Xie Jiang mention Xiao Hu, he shook his head without thinking. "Xiao Hu probably won't go with us. Xiao Hu's grandmother is not well, and Xiao Hu has to take care of her."
Xie Jiang praised, "A filial child, that's good."
Dong Zi's face was full of smiles. "When I learn to cook well, I'll make delicious food for Xiao Hu!"
Xie Jiang was surprised. "You are following me to learn cooking?"
Dong Zi asked nervously, "Is that okay?"
Xie Jiang replied, "I have many chefs in my mansion. You can learn for as long as you want."
Dong Zi nodded vigorously with joy, then went to find Uncle Da Long, the middle-aged man following Luo Lu, to inform his family.
He had several brothers, and his grandparents were in good health, so he had no worries about venturing out.
Meanwhile, Guang Bai stepped forward and bowed. "Young Master, are you injured?"
Xu Hengyan signaled his guards to rise. "I was quite at leisure in Yongfeng Village."
"Jiang Jiang!"
Da Chui finally waited until Xie Jiang was free, broke free from Nie Tong's hand, and ran over.
Before Da Chui could reach him, Xie Jiang raised his hand and placed it on his shoulder. He then leaped into the air and landed nimbly on Da Chui's shoulders.
Da Chui grinned happily.
Xie Jiang stretched and patted Da Chui's head. "Let's go."
Everyone watching was stunned.
Only Nie Tong felt that these people were making a fuss over nothing. With them around, would their Young Master have to walk the mountain path himself?
Guang Bai looked at Da Chui's towering physique, then down at his own, and dismissed the idea of carrying his Young Master.
Luo Lu had many matters to attend to in the village, so he did not escort them down the mountain. He only instructed Luo Shou and Dong Zi to lead the way, as no one was more familiar with the mountain terrain than they were.
They found lodging in a village at the foot of the mountain and set off early the next morning.
It was already past noon the next day when they returned to Ninghe.
As soon as they entered the county town, Xu Hengyi and Ruan Zijie rushed over.
"Second Brother! Xie Jiang!"
"Young Master Xie!"
Xu Hengyi lunged towards Xie Jiang's legs, but Nie Tong grabbed him by the collar and tossed him aside. As he tried to lunge again, Da Chui's fists clenched with a cracking sound.
Xu Hengyi dared not lunge anymore.
Being pushed aside by Nie Tong was one thing, but if Da Chui landed a punch, he didn't know if he would survive.
Ruan Zijie was annoyed with Xu Hengyi. Why was he lunging at Young Master Xie instead of his own brother! With Da Chui blocking the way, he couldn't even get close!
Xu Hengyi also wanted to lunge at his own brother, but he didn't dare. At most, he dared to look at him from a close distance.
"Second Brother, you're finally back! You and Xie Jiang are finally back! Second Brother, are you alright? Second Brother, are you injured?"
Xu Hengyi started wailing in the street, crying with a runny nose and tears streaming down his face.
Guang Bai said, "Third Young Master, the Young Master is not injured."
Xu Hengyi wiped his snot and tears and carefully examined his second brother. He found that his second brother's complexion was actually quite good. Apart from his clothes being a bit wrinkled, his condition was even better than before he was abducted.
"Second Brother, have you gained weight?"
Guang Bai quickly examined the Young Master. He had been wondering what looked different about the Young Master after he left Yongfeng Village; it turned out he had gained a little weight!
After being injured last time, the Young Master had become much thinner. Although his injuries were not serious, his body had not yet had time to recover.
Unexpectedly, this abduction had turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Guang Bai was filled with gratitude towards Young Master Xie.
Without Young Master Xie, they wouldn't have these few pounds on their Young Master.
Xu Hengyan was taken aback. Had he gained weight?
Xu Hengyan turned to look at Xie Jiang, who was walking beside him.
Young Master Xie had said he would be responsible for fattening him up...
Xie Jiang smiled at Xu Hengyi. "I told you I would take good care of Xu Hengyan. I kept my word, didn't I?"
Xu Hengyi nodded!
Young Master Xie truly kept his word!
His second brother was abducted as a hostage. Did he not know what kind of treatment hostages received? To have gained weight under such circumstances, Young Master Xie was definitely instrumental.
Young Master Xie's image in his mind was incredibly glorious and tall!
In a flash, Xu Hengyi angrily pointed at Guang Bai, "They secretly went to pick up Second Brother and Young Master Xie without telling me! Why didn't they let me go with them!"
Xie Jiang said, "They thought you would be a hindrance. You're useless at everything and only slow things down. Why would they bring you? Did they fear the trip would be too smooth?"
Xu Hengyi's glass heart was shattered by Xie Jiang's sharp tongue.
"Alright, stop blocking the way and hurry up."
Seeing that Xie Jiang finally looked at him, Ruan Zijie excitedly shouted, "Young Master Xie!"
He was different from Xu Hengyi, that ignorant fool who was more of a hindrance than a help.
He had secretly followed the people of Young Master Xie and Young Master Xu, and they were almost at the mountain. However, after being discovered by accident, he was knocked out by Young Master Xie's men and thrown into the river.
After Young Master Xie was rescued, he didn't see him immediately, which was a great regret!
Ruan Zijie felt that all his days of suffering were worth it for this one glance.
To his surprise, Xie Jiang merely waved his hand, telling him to get out of the way.
Ruan Zijie's heart was broken.
But in the next moment, he mended it himself.
There would be plenty of opportunities for Young Master Xie to notice him in the future!
~
Xu Hengyan went straight back to the county office.
As soon as he returned, he automatically switched to work mode.
Xu Hengyi wanted to ask about his well-being, but he was too embarrassed to waste his time.
So he could only follow Xie Jiang, hoping to get some information from him about what happened after Lu Baohong took them away.
Xu Hengyi and Ruan Zijie followed them all the way to the Xie residence.
Xie Jiang paid them no mind, even handing over Luo Shou and Dong Zi to Nie Tong for arrangements.
Xie Jiang returned to his own courtyard, washed up, and then went to the study to busy himself.
~
Xu Hengyan worked until late at night before returning to his room to rest.
He took off his clothes and walked to the bedside. Just as he was about to lie down, he discovered someone on the bed.