Zhao Xiang listened to Feng Qishi's impolite greeting, then glanced at the door, which remained as silent as ever. He asked, "What do you mean by 'I know the person inside'?" Feng Qishi's words had piqued his curiosity.
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi deliberately patted the door once, then turned to look at the curious Zhao Xiang and said faintly, "You'll know soon enough." After speaking, he turned back and began to kick the door repeatedly.
Zhao Xiang was startled and deliberately took a step back.
Immediately, at the very moment Feng Qishi was about to forcefully kick the door open, it was opened by a young man. "What's the matter? Still as impetuous as ever," he said, looking at Feng Qishi with a helpless expression.
"You know I'm impetuous, yet you're still so slow," Feng Qishi said coldly, tidying his clothes with a casual gesture.
However, Zhao Xiang had always assumed that the elder the uncle mentioned must be as old as his own father. He never expected it to be such a young man. Not only that, but this young man turned out to be Song Xu, a good brother with whom they had fought on the battlefield. What puzzled him, though, was that Song Xu at the time had clearly said he was just a penniless boy, and the two phrases Song Xu often repeated were, 'It would be great to have just one steamed bun,' and 'What will I do after I leave you all?'
Thinking of those memories, Zhao Xiang looked at Song Xu, who was now completely different from his past self, and his expression froze.
"I was just about to get dressed," Song Xu said, and his gaze inadvertently fell upon Zhao Xiang's face, freezing him.
Zhao Xiang, too, stared at Song Xu before him, remaining silent.
Feng Qishi, unaccustomed to the atmosphere, exchanged glances with them and said, "You two are quite good at hiding yourselves. I'm already used to it." With that, he sidestepped Song Xu, crossed the threshold, and as soon as he stepped inside, a woman's scream rang out.
Upon hearing this, Song Xu hurriedly shifted his gaze away from Zhao Xiang's face, turned, and ran inside quickly to see. Feng Qishi had already sat down without any fuss, while the screaming woman stood frozen in place, wrapped in a large coat, looking at Song Xu with a wronged expression and saying, "Young Master, why did you let him in?"
Hearing this, Song Xu glanced at the woman, then at Feng Qishi, who was already sitting at the table and drinking tea, and said, "Brother Shen, you're too considerate."
The woman took a step back.
"How am I considerate? I'm just glad she didn't startle me," Feng Qishi said without even looking at the woman.
The woman said indignantly, "Is this your room to barge into? You..."
"Be quiet," Song Xu interrupted, walking behind Feng Qishi. "At least let her get dressed properly first, Brother Shen." After speaking, he smiled at Feng Qishi.
Zhao Xiang, hearing the voices from inside, felt too embarrassed to enter.
Feng Qishi took a sip of his tea and said faintly, "See no evil, hear no evil. I haven't looked at her at all. Moreover," he put down his teacup, "if I remember correctly, you don't have a wife."
"I don't have a wife, but she..."
"A few days ago, a madam said one of her girls went missing. For half a day," Feng Qishi snorted lightly, "she was hidden here with you."
"I already paid for it. That madam is truly something," Song Xu said, his thoughts led astray by Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi chuckled lightly, then lowered his head to stare at the teacup in front of him and said, "Ask her to leave first. I didn't come here to chat with you; I have important matters to ask you about." After speaking, he lightly touched the rim of the cup.
Song Xu knew he couldn't win an argument with Feng Qishi. With a sigh of helplessness, he turned to the woman and said, "Go to the guest room."
"Alright, Young Master," the woman replied, hugging a bundle of clothes, glaring at Feng Qishi, and then leaving.
Zhao Xiang, hearing the sounds from inside, deliberately turned his back.
After the woman had completely departed, Song Xu walked over and sat beside Feng Qishi. At the same time, Zhao Xiang entered.
"Song Xu, didn't you say your family had no money?" he asked directly.
Upon hearing this, Song Xu turned to look at Zhao Xiang and said, "We're in the same boat." As he spoke, he picked up the teapot, poured tea for Feng Qishi, and asked, "What do you need me for?"
"How's the tea business going?" Feng Qishi asked casually.
When Zhao Xiang heard this, he immediately moved to sit opposite them.
Song Xu chuckled, "You don't even like drinking tea, so why ask? Could it be that some girl wants..."
"It's not some girl; it's his father," Feng Qishi interrupted, pointing at Zhao Xiang.
Song Xu heard this and turned to look at Zhao Xiang. "What's wrong with your father?" he asked, looking confused.
Zhao Xiang said, "My parents came here, and I can't find them, so..."
"You can't find your father, so why are you looking for me? Do you want to acknowledge me as your father?" Song Xu said jokingly.
Zhao Xiang heard this, his expression turned stern, and he looked at Feng Qishi, asking, "Mo Yun, why are you looking for him? How can someone like him help?"
"Believe it or not, he actually can help," Feng Qishi said, turning his head slightly to look at Song Xu. "Your father seems to have handed over all his business to you."
"I suppose so. My parents have gone to another city," Song Xu said, starting to laugh. "Brother Shen, I know you don't like beating around the bush. Just say what you have to say, so we don't all get tired."
"The inns in Jin Cheng all serve tea from your family, don't they?"
"Why are you asking about this? Are you perhaps going to resign as a general and sell tea with me?" Song Xu jested at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi replied, "Not at all. Just tell me which inns use your family's superior quality tea."
"That's not right. Aren't you supposed to be helping him find his father? Why are you... inquiring about my family's tea? Could it be," Song Xu's nerves tensed, "that you're investigating me?"
"Save it. His father only likes good tea, so naturally, the inns he stays at would only have good tea. And in Jin Cheng, you're the only one who knows about tea. Naturally, I've come to you. Of course," Feng Qishi said calmly, "if you don't want to tell me, then forget it. At most, I'll spend time looking myself. However, that madam said if I don't give her an explanation, she'll come looking for you. Just imagine, a madam knocking on your door, that would affect your reputation. And if your parents find out, how long do you think your life as a young master will last?"
Song Xu froze upon hearing Feng Qishi's words.
Zhao Xiang had never seen Feng Qishi threaten anyone before. Seeing him like this, Zhao Xiang was truly startled.
Feng Qishi said, "Think it over carefully." With that, he picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea.
Song Xu curled his lips, "I didn't say I wouldn't help you. You threatening me like this really hurts my feelings." As he spoke, he picked up his teacup and drained it in one gulp.