Chapter 372: Chapter 372. Mysterious Man
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Yan Shikuan ordered his men to monitor Chu Jingfeng, only to discover that Su Qing had also sent men to follow Chu Jingfeng. He was a little more suspicious of her.
Su Qing and Ji Shuisheng went back to Mo City. Su Qing was worried about Xiaoying staying at Qiu Yongkang’s place, so she went to see her.
Xiaoying was very happy and did not expect Big Brother and Sister Su Qing to be back. She had been staying with the Qiu family for the past few days. Although Aunt Qiu and Big Brother Qiu treated her well, Xiaoying felt it was not her home. She missed Big Brother, Sister Su Qing, and even her godmother.
“Sister Su Qing, take me with you.”
Xiaoying held Su Qing’s hand and begged. Previously, she was reluctant to leave because of her godmother. She wanted to let her have her seventh birthday before leaving. However, living in the Qiu family was uncomfortable. Xiaoying still liked to be with Sister Su Qing.
“Alright.”
Su Qing had always been reluctant to reject Xiaoying, especially when she saw Xiaoying’s thin face.
At the last minute, she decided to take Xiaoying along. She would stay for a few days and needed to prepare some girls’ supplies. There was no place to buy them in the mountains.
Xiaoying packed Shuisheng’s clothes, and Aunt Qiu reluctantly let her go.
“Xiaoying, don’t leave. 1 can’t bear to part with you.”
“Auntie Qiu, 1 will come back to see you.”
Xiaoying was reluctant to leave Auntie Qiu but still wanted to go with Sister Su Qing.
Ji Shuisheng went to the government office to look for Xing Ruhai and Qiu Yongkang. He instructed them to manage the refugees in the city well and distribute some food appropriately so they would not starve to death.
Then, he went to look for Cheng Yu and told him to hurry up and recruit soldiers. He felt that there was not much time left for them to prepare.
After Ji Shuisheng finished dealing with the military affairs in Mo City, he prepared to go to Pearl Mountain with Su Qing. Qiu Yongkang knew he was leaving, so he followed him to see him off. Ultimately, he saw Xiaoying packing her things and getting into the carriage with Su Qing.
Qiu Yongkang quickly stopped Xiao Ying.
Xiaoying said goodbye to him.
“Big Brother Qiu, I’m leaving with Sister Su Qing. Thank you and Auntie Qiu for taking care of me.”
“You… When are you coming back?”
Qiu Yongkang’s gentle face was filled with anxiety. He looked at Xiaoying and asked, afraid that she would never return.
“I’ll come back after Godmother burns the thirty-seventh.”
Xiaoying thought about it. Big Brother and Sister Su Qing would return so that she could return with them.
Qiu Yongkang was a little reluctant to part with her.
“Do we have to walk for so long?”
“Yes, after that, I will move to Jingshi Dao to live with Sister Su Qing.”
Xiao Ying nodded. She still preferred to be with Su Qing. Qiu Yongkang looked at Xiaoying dejectedly, “You want to move out?”
“Yes.”
Xiaoying hummed in agreement. In the past, Mo City felt like home with her godmother around. Now that her godmother was dead, she felt all alone.
“Your grandfather is still here. You can stay at his place!”
Qiu Yongkang tried his best to keep Xiaoying. Even if she didn’t live in his house, he would be happy to see her once a day in Mo City.
“Grandpa?”
Xiaoying looked at her eldest brother. Her grandfather had been staying at the government office. She wasn’t sure if her grandfather would go with them, but she still hoped that her grandfather would go to Jingshi Dao with her. That way, the family wouldn’t be separated.
“This time, 1 went to Jingshi Dao to find Grandpa’s butler, Li Wu. He has already bought a house there and has been waiting for Grandpa. When 1 return from Pearl Mountain, I will take Grandpa to live there.”
Ji Shuisheng took over his sister’s words and told Qiu Yongkang that he had asked Li Wu to go to Jingshi Dao first when he saved his grandfather. He didn’t find Li Wu the last time, but he happened to bump into him this time. He discovered Li Wu had already bought a house and had a maid. He was waiting for his grandfather to enjoy his life!
“You’ve all decided.”
Qiu Yongkang’s eyes were filled with sadness as he looked at Ji Shuisheng. At that moment, he felt like he was not trusted by Shuisheng and was abandoned.
“Yes, I’ll stay in Mo City, but it’s safer for Grandpa and Xiaoying to go to Jingshi Dao.”
Ji Shuisheng did not notice the change in Qiu Yongkang’s heart and nodded at him. Mo City was going to be in great danger. Not only did he want his grandfather and Xiaoying to leave, but he also wanted the villagers of Peach Blossom Cove to move to Jingshi Dao.
“Why don’t we all go to Jingshi Dao? The Imperial Court sends people to Mo City every two or three days.”
Qiu Yongkang heard Ji Shuisheng’s words and suggested that they all move over.
“It’s inconvenient to be frozen in the cold. When we settle down in Jingshi Dao, and the flowers bloom next spring, the villagers can go if they want.”
Ji Shuisheng did not object. He had wanted everyone to move there, but he did not agree to do so now. There was knee-high snow everywhere in the world of ice and snow. It was inconvenient to travel with children. Moreover, everyone had just settled down, so they might not be willing to suffer from a long journey.
Moreover, Jingshi Dao differed from Mo City, which had many empty houses. He wanted to wait until he earned more money to buy a house there before letting the elders and villagers of Jingshi Dao move there. It could also be considered fulfilling his foster father’s request and bringing them safely to Jingshi Dao.
“What about next spring?”
Qiu Yongkang felt that the time was too long. He looked at Xiaoying with reluctance. Zhong Yong had just passed the seventh day, and now was not the time to propose marriage. He could only bear the pain and watch her leave.
“Xiaoying, take more thick clothes. It’s cold in the mountains.”
Qiu Yongkang took out the new cotton-padded jacket that his mother had just made and gave it to Xiaoying, showing her his utmost concern.
“Thank you, Big Brother Qiu.”
Xiaoying looked at the loose man’s cotton robe and shook her head. She couldn’t wear it. The cotton jacket that Godmother had made for her was also very warm. There was also a thick cloak, so she wasn’t cold.
“Take it. If you can’t wear it, you can cover yourself.”
Qiu Yongkang insisted on giving the clothes to Xiaoying, but Su Qing stopped him,
“Yongkang, men and women are different. You don’t have any other thoughts, but if outsiders see Xiaoying wearing a man’s cotton robe, they will criticize her.”
Su Qing felt that Qiu Yongkang had crossed the line with Xiaoying. He did not care about Xiaoying’s reputation at all. It was as if he wanted people to know he had a special relationship with Xiaoying.
Qiu Yongkang saw the dissatisfaction in Su Qing’s eyes, but he quickly hid it and agreed helplessly, “Alright then!”
He carried the cotton robe to the city gate and said to Ji Shuisheng, “Shuisheng, don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on Mo City.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Ji Shuisheng patted his good brother’s shoulder. With him around, he could rest assured.
After Ji Shuisheng left, he watched as the carriage disappeared before he turned his eyes away. He hugged his cotton robe and walked home. Just as he was about to reach home, he was stopped by a man.
The man was in his thirties, tall and strong, and his eyes were cunning. He looked at Qiu Yongkang and smiled maliciously,
“Young Master, can we talk in private?”
“I don’t know you.”
Qiu Yongkang frowned and glanced at him. He was too lazy to talk to him after confirming that he didn’t know this man. He wanted to go home but was stopped by him.
“Young Master Qiu, don’t be in a hurry to leave. You will be willing to listen to me.”
The man’s figure flashed and stopped Qiu Yongkang again. He whispered something to him, and Qiu Yongkang’s expression changed. The man had been watching Qiu Yongkang’s face the entire time, and when he saw the change in his expression, he smiled smugly,
“Let’s go.. Can you talk to me this time?”
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