Chapter 73: 073. Picked Up a Child (Second Update)
Translator: 549690339
The originally clear weather turned cloudy with impending wind and rain after the team left Feiyan Town.
Chang’an thought of the last assassination attempt and advised Mai Fei to cancel today’s trip to the mine, fearing another accident.
Nian Jincheng looked up at the sky, “Your Highness, let’s go another day. I will escort you back to town.”
“Yes, Master! If it rains heavily, we won’t be able to see the workers at the mine!” Chang’an said.
“Forget it, let’s go back.” Mai Fei’s voice came from inside the carriage. Nian
Jincheng ordered the team to turn around and head back to the county town.
As soon as they returned to Feiyan Town, raindrops the size of soybeans began to fall. Against the wind, the horses struggled to move forward, and the carriage couldn’t block the rain.
Nian Jincheng ordered a stop outside the Feiyan Restaurant. He escorted Mai Fei inside to take shelter from the rain and wait for it to subside.
The manager respectfully showed them to a private room on the second floor, serving hot water towels, hot tea, and dessert.
The window was closed, and the wind howled outside.
Mai Fei wiped his face and sighed, “This damn weather!”
Approaching noon, Nian Jincheng asked Mai Fei if he would like to have lunch here.
When they called the manager, he highly recommended two signature medicinal dishes, stating that one of the chicken soups tasted best when made with pears from a local ancient pear tree. That pear tree had burned down last month, and Feiyan Restaurant had only two pears left from their original purchase.
This was the manager’s recent marketing strategy, telling many customers that there were only two of the best pears left.
But of course, he wouldn’t dare deceive Mai Fei and Nian Jincheng. The two pears bought from Su Liang were indeed the last ones, well-preserved. They were originally meant for the owner to eat, but since he said he wouldn’t come this year, the manager decided to use them to entertain guests from the government office.
Mai Fei ordered several dishes, including the two medicinal diets.
“Su Liang and Ning Jing probably left the county town early this morning. They couldn’t have gone too far, and they might encounter this rainstorm as well,” Mai Fei said.
“Su Jiujiu…” Mai Fei seemed thoughtful, “Who did Su Liang learn her martial arts from? Where did she send Liu Xiaoyue? And who is this Su Jiujiu?”
Nian Jincheng didn’t respond. All he knew was that Su Liang’s martial arts were taught by Ning Jing but not entirely.
“If it weren’t for her helping me several times, I would have suspected that she was a spy planted by someone under the guise of Su Liang.” Mai Fei scoffed lightly.
Nian Jincheng’s hand holding the tea cup paused slightly.
Objectively speaking, Mai Fei’s guess was not unreasonable, considering his status; he should indeed be cautious about getting close to anyone.
But Nian Jincheng could not be objective because, in his eyes, Su Liang belonged to Ning Jing. He wanted to say that Mai Fei was overthinking things.
Originally, Mai Fei didn’t have high expectations for the food at this restaurant in town, but the dishes were brought in with a tempting aroma. He tasted the Snow Pear Chicken Soup and found that the manager hadn’t exaggerated; it was truly delicious.
The other medicinal dish was also excellent and suited the cold, windy, and rainy weather.
Mai Fei asked Chang’an to find the manager and buy the medicinal diet recipe. He then asked precisely where the ancient pear tree was, intending to send someone to buy the fruit and transport it back to the capital next year. He believed that the manager’s story about the pear tree catching fire was fabricated.
Mai Fei’s mother was an excellent cook, which had always endeared her to the emperor. Whenever Mai Fei encountered delicious food outside, he would bring back the recipes for her.
When Chang’an returned, he didn’t get the medicinal diet recipe. The manager said he couldn’t make the decision and needed to ask the owner. Regarding the pear tree, it indeed caught fire and was located in Su Family Village. They could go see it if they didn’t believe him.
This was because Mai Fei’s current apparent identity was just a county magistrate, and Nian Jincheng’s general status wasn’t explicitly revealed. The owner of Feiyan Restaurant had a connection with Xing Yusheng and was not an ordinary person.
If the manager knew that Mai Fei was the honorable Fourth Prince, he wouldn’t dare refuse. But Chang’an wouldn’t reveal Mai Fei’s identity just for this reason.
“Su Family Village?” Mai Fei was momentarily stunned.
Chang’an smiled and said, “After questioning him several times, the manager admitted that the medicinal diet recipe was bought from a girl in Su Family
Village. It must be the Su girl we know.”
Thus, they could buy the medicinal diet recipe from Su Liang later.
“How come I didn’t know that Su Yuanzhou’s family has a secret medicinal diet recipe?” Mai Fei found it strange, “Where did Su Liang learn it?”
Nian Jincheng’s expression was indifferent, “Miss Su is quite skilled in cooking. It may not necessarily be passed down from previous generations. She might have just tried it herself.”
Mai Fei nodded and laughed, “Indeed. If my mother met Su Liang, she would surely like her very much.”
How could Nian Jincheng not hear Mai Fei’s interest and inquiries about Su Liang? He could only blame someone who had already gone through the wedding ceremony but still acted like siblings, giving other men the impression that they had a chance.
Speaking of Su Liang and Ning Jing, they realized the weather was changing when they were in a place with no nearby village or shop.
If they turned back to the town, they might encounter the frustrating situation of struggling back in a storm only for the rain to stop.
So Ning Jing sped up the carriage, intending to find a place to take shelter from the rain.
‘l’ne vvmcl grew stronger, and raindrops began to tall. From a distance, tney saw a house up ahead.
As they approached with the carriage, they found it was an abandoned and dilapidated temple, and there were people inside.
Ning Jing drove the carriage into the courtyard enclosed by broken walls. Su Liang lifted the carriage curtain, and the four men inside, sitting together by a fire, all looked at her. Although they managed to control their expressions, two of them couldn’t help swallowing saliva…
Su Liang withdrew her gaze, got off the carriage, and joined Ning Jing to cover the carriage with an oilcloth. The books inside were her treasures, and they couldn’t get wet. The horse was tied to a pillar under the eaves.
The rain was getting heavier. Su Liang and Ning Jing walked in, and one of the four men spoke up, “If you two don’t mind, you can join us by the fire to warm up.”
However, Su Liang spotted someone in the corner, or rather, a bald head… “The two benefactors meet again.” The handsome monk Su Liang and Ning Jing had met in town the day before seemed surprised, stood up, and greeted them with palms together.
Not wanting to deal with the four malicious-looking men, Su Liang headed towards the monk, “May I know your name, little master?”
“My dharma name is Cheng Yun.” The monk said, bending down to tidy up the straw on the ground and inviting Ning Jing and Su Liang to sit.
“Thank you.” Su Liang noticed Cheng Yun’s worn-out robe and the broken clothes, a water pouch and a cloth bag beside him, with half of a dried bun sticking out, probably from his alms.
Su Liang sat down, Ning Jing sat next to her, watching their carriage and horses outside.
The other group had their eyes on their carriage and horses too, murmuring from time to time.
“Do you know the name of the person you saved?” Su Liang asked Cheng Yun.
Cheng Yun nodded, “That female benefactor said her name is Yan Jiujiu.”
Anyone familiar with the name Yan Shiba could connect the two names, but the foolish monk obviously had no clue.
“Where did you save her? Without money, how did you send her to the Su Family Village?” Su Liang asked.
Cheng Yun explained that he was originally on his way to Huguo Temple in the capital city to deliver Buddhist scriptures to his master on his master’s orders. He had some money with him, and when he passed by a mountain cliff, he found “Yan Jiujiu” unconscious and severely injured. He intended to take her to a medical hall but she insisted on Cheng Yun taking her to Su Family Village to find her sister, or she would commit suicide…
Su Liang could imagine how Yan Shiba tortured this monk to achieve his goal.
“By the time I arrived at Feiyan Town, I had spent all my money. Fortunately, I got Yan benefactor back home, knowing she would be okay, I felt relieved.” Cheng Yun said softly.
Su Liang really wanted to say: That’s not her home, that’s my home…
The rain showed no sign of stopping, even though it was approaching noon, the sky was as dark as dusk. Ning Jing started a fire, and Su Liang grabbed a book and started reading it by herself.
Seeing that Su Liang was reading a medical book, Cheng Yun learned that she was a doctor, expressing admiration and believing that she must be a great, compassionate person.
However, not long after, Cheng Yun’s preconceptions were shattered…
Unable to restrain themselves any longer, one of the four men politely asked Su Liang and Ning Jing if they could share some food, offering cliche phrases such as “helping each other while traveling” and “meeting equals destiny.”
Ning Jing simply replied that they didn’t have enough food for themselves.
Seemingly finding a reason to cause trouble, two of the men got up and walked towards the carriage, claiming they wanted to see if Ning Jing was lying. Cheng Yun whispered, “If the two of you have any food, please share some with them.”
Having experienced the monk’s disposition first-hand, Su Liang didn’t get angry at his words. Instead, she quietly closed her book and handed it to Cheng Yun, “Hold this for me.” She then stood up and walked outside.
But she was quickly stopped.
“Little Miss, did you elope with that pretty boy? Let me tell you, pretty boys are unreliable. They might just sell you someday. Why not let Big Brother take you home instead?”
“If I don’t want to go home, I can just follow Big Brother!”
Cheng Yun saw the two men teasing Su Liang and frowned, then hurriedly rushed over to intervene.
Su Liang pushed Cheng Yun away, “Watch my book!” Then, she kicked the man who was trying to grab her.
At the same time, Ning Jing blocked the two who intended to steal their carriage, twisting their wrists emotionlessly.
Pig-like screams echoed back and forth in the broken temple.
Cheng Yun, holding the medical book in the corner, was shocked. Recalling the scene where Su Liang pulled a knife on a man in the street yesterday, he realized he had seriously misunderstood her. She might be a doctor, but a brutal one…
Su Liang knocked the two men down and saw a sack behind the spot where they were originally sitting, so she walked over.
Upon opening it, she found many ragged clothes, and a three or four-year-old boy with his eyes tightly closed, stuffed inside.
Su Liang’s expression tightened as she quickly took the child out, checked his breath, relieved that he was still alive.
Ning Jing came back in and saw Su Liang holding a child, looking stunned for a moment.
Su Liang sighed, “What a day, I’ve picked up a kid..”
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