Chapter 159: Pig Teammate
“I asked around in the village about this matter. The Third Young Madam really knows martial arts, and she seems pretty good at it.” Steward Liu spoke dismissively, “Country folk have no experience, so they think everything is impressive. I think the Third Young Madam only knows some flowery fist and embroidered leg.”
“Flowery fist and embroidered leg.” Lu Chengyuan slowly repeated these four words, his fair knuckles gently tapping on the desk. After a moment, he asked, “Has Father’s anger subsided?”
The topic changed abruptly. Steward Liu was stunned for a moment before replying: “Master’s anger has subsided, but he doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.”
“Third Brother is immature.” Lu Chengyuan’s tapping knuckles paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he instructed, “In a couple of days, find an opportunity to mention that matter to Father again. Once it’s done, Mother can feel a bit more at ease.”
Steward Liu quickly agreed.
The study room fell silent again. Lu Chengyuan stared at the tea leaves floating in the tea bowl as if entranced. Just as Steward Liu was about to find an excuse to take his leave, he said: “Go personally and tell Sang Qi that the previous batch of goods is fine, but if this batch has any issues, he doesn’t need to come back.”
Steward Liu acknowledged the order and was about to leave when Lu Chengyuan called him back. “Also, before this batch of goods is sold off, don’t let him cause any more trouble in the separate courtyard.”
“Yes.” Steward Liu asked, “Does Young Master have any other instructions?”
Lu Chengyuan waved him off. Steward Liu tactfully withdrew and gently closed the study room door.
A quarter of an hour later, Lu Chengyuan came out of the study room to see the two children.
Shang Wan firmly remembered the conversation she had just heard. Thinking that she had promised to go home for lunch, she leaped out of the Lu Residence, returned to the inn to check out, and drove the ox cart out of the city.
She had reached the city gate, but Shang Wan felt that leaving just like this wouldn’t do, so she turned the ox cart around and headed to the Qiao Mansion.
The doorkeeper went in to report. Not long after, A Le came running out hurriedly, with two dark circles under his eyes.
“Why are you alone? Where’s your family’s Young Master?” Shang Wan looked behind him but didn’t see Qiao Yu’an.
A Le said with a bitter face: “Young Master was punished by Master last night and is still kneeling in the ancestral hall.”
Shang Wan couldn’t imagine Qiao Yu’an obediently kneeling in the ancestral hall and asked doubtfully: “What did he do to get punished?”
“He fought with a fellow student.” A Le said indignantly, “It was clearly the other side who struck first, but Master didn’t distinguish right from wrong and made Young Master kneel in the ancestral hall, not allowing him to get up until he admits his wrong.”
The young man’s face was full of worry, the dark circles especially obvious. “Young Master hasn’t eaten or drunk since last night. What if he faints from hunger?”
Shang Wan said: “There’s a countermeasure for every policy. Can’t you sneak some food in to him?”
A Le said helplessly: “I did, but Young Master said he’s in a bad mood and won’t eat.”
“He’s quite stubborn. No matter what he’s upset with, he shouldn’t take it out on his own body.” Shang Wan curled her lip. “Since he refuses to eat, then just pray he faints from hunger quickly.”
A Le looked at her discontentedly. “My family’s Young Master and Lu Young Master are good friends. Now that Young Master is like this, how can you stand here saying sarcastic things?”
“I say you’re silly and you get upset.” Shang Wan shrugged. “After all, they are biological father and son. If your family’s Young Master really faints, he can at least get out to call a doctor or something, right? Won’t that get him out?”
A Le had a realization. It could work like that?
Shang Wan’s gaze swept over him. “The father is disciplining the son, but didn’t the mother try to plead for him?”
“Of course she did.” Seeing no one around, A Le muttered softly, “As soon as Madam pleaded, Master got even angrier. It was originally just grounding Young Master at home for half a month, but after Madam spoke up, it directly became kneeling in the ancestral hall.”
Shang Wan: “…”
Pig teammates are really everywhere.
A Le knew that Shang Wan had come to find his family’s Young Master for something. “Young Master can’t come out now. If you have anything, tell me first, and I’ll pass it on to Young Master.”
“Telling you works too.” Shang Wan beckoned him with her finger, signaling him to lean in.
“I want your family’s Young Master to help keep an eye on Long Ling Escort Agency and their Second Boss Sang Qi, see who they associate with, and best to write it down.”
“Escort Agency?” A Le looked at Shang Wan suspiciously, wanting to ask something, but Shang Wan slapped it back. “Just relay exactly what I said to your family’s Young Master without changes. Don’t ask anything else.”
“Oh.” A Le rubbed his forehead, thinking to himself that Shang Wan was fierce.
“There’s one more thing.” Shang Wan’s voice got even quieter as she asked him, “Has the person tracking returned?”
She didn’t specify what was being tracked, but A Le was Qiao Yu’an’s most trusted person and understood immediately what Shang Wan was asking.
He said: “Not yet. When the person returns, I’ll send someone to tell you.”
“Alright, don’t forget.” Shang Wan jumped onto the ox cart and waved to him. “I’m leaving first. Go back quickly to take care of your family’s Young Master. Have him faint soon. Kneeling too long is bad for the knees due to poor blood flow.”
A Le agreed, then suddenly thought of something and quickly called out to her. “Wait.”
Shang Wan turned back to look at him. “What, is there something else?”
“Ointment.” A Le took two steps forward and stood by the yellow ox, looking up at Shang Wan. “Young Master asked my family’s Young Master to help ask how you can be convinced to cooperate with him. You can name any conditions.”
“That’s an ancestral secret recipe. I’m keeping it as a family heirloom. How can I easily cooperate with someone?” Shang Wan casually tapped his forehead with the ox-driving whip. “Relay this sentence exactly as is. Remember it and get out of the way quickly. I’m in a hurry to go home for lunch.”
A Le obediently stepped aside and watched Shang Wan leave.
Shang Wan had just left when two slender figures came out of the Qiao Mansion.
“A Le.”
“Greetings, Second Miss.” A Le bowed to Qiao Weiwei.
Qiao Weiwei glanced in the direction he had been looking and asked curiously: “You’re not staying with Brother, what are you doing here?”
A Le grinned. “Young Master is punished and wants something sweet. He’s tired of the pastries in the mansion and sent me out to buy some.”
He asked: “Is Second Miss going out?”
Qiao Weiwei’s face showed a bit of worry. “Father likes the dragon beard crisps from the small pond shop on East Street. I’m going to buy some to cheer Father up. Once Father’s anger subsides, Brother can come out of the ancestral hall sooner.”
A Le smiled. “Second Miss is really good to Young Master.”
“We are blood siblings, so of course I treat him well.” Qiao Weiwei secretly sized him up, her voice gentle. “Brother is being punished now and can’t be without you by his side. Tell me what pastries he wants, and I’ll buy them together.”
A Le had made it up; Qiao Yu’an hadn’t actually sent him to buy pastries.
However, he knew Qiao Yu’an’s preferences by heart and immediately listed three kinds of pastries according to Qiao Yu’an’s taste.
“Good, I’ve noted it. You go back to the mansion first and persuade Brother well to soften toward Father so he can come out of the ancestral hall as soon as possible.”
A Le agreed.
Just then, the sedan arrived. A Le watched Qiao Weiwei get into the sedan and looked up at the sky, a sudden doubt rising in his heart.
It was almost lunchtime. Why was Second Miss going out at this time? Was buying pastries so urgent?
