Chapter 180: Red Mole
The information broker folded the note satisfactorily and tucked it into his bosom, spreading his hands toward Shang Wan: “Silver.”
Shang Wan took out two taels of silver and gave them to him.
The information broker put the silver into his money bag, a smile appearing on his face, and whispered: “Sang Qi is currently hiding in the small stone alley south of the city, in that house at the end of the alley.”
Shang Wan was somewhat surprised; she had thought Sang Qi had already fled the city.
Had he received the news or not?
She asked: “What is he doing in the house?”
The information broker shrugged to indicate he didn’t know; Sang Qi’s martial arts were not weak, and approaching rashly would get him discovered—he had no interest in getting beaten.
He reminded: “Sang Qi bought a horse yesterday and seems to want to leave the city. If you want to find him, you need to hurry, or don’t blame me later if you can’t find him and say my information is inaccurate.”
Shang Wan nodded, “Okay.”
“I’m leaving.” The information broker turned to slip away, but before he could take a step, a slender jade hand landed on his shoulder.
A pleasant female voice, lazy yet laced with chill, said: “What about the information you sold me? You’re not thinking of reneging, are you?”
The information broker, who had exactly that intention: “…”
“How could I?” The information broker turned his head and gave a dry laugh, “My back was just itchy; I wanted to scratch it against the wall.”
Shang Wan smiled, very happy to help: “Need me to scratch it for you?”
“No, no need!” The information broker swallowed, speaking rapidly: “Yesterday, three out-of-towners entered the city and asked me about you.”
Shang Wan released him and frowned: “What kind of out-of-towners?”
The information broker said: “The leader was fair-skinned and quite handsome, dressed like a scholar, with a red mole on his left earlobe. The two men following him were probably guards, with fierce eyes—they’ve likely seen blood. From their accents, they seemed to be from the capital city.”
From the capital city?
The original host didn’t seem to know anyone in the capital city.
Due to the lack of memories, Shang Wan couldn’t be completely sure. She secretly memorized the information broker’s description of the three; the red mole on the earlobe would be easy to recognize.
She looked at the information broker and asked: “What did they ask you about?”
The information broker said: “The leading man asked about your recent situation and your current residence.”
“And you told them everything?”
“Of course.” The information broker snorted, “They gave silver much more readily than you.”
Shang Wan shrugged, “Who doesn’t want to throw money around when they have it? But I’m poor.”
The information broker kept pursing his lips.
Shang Wan smiled and spread her hand toward him: “You sold my information; isn’t it reasonable to share some silver with me?”
The information broker: “…”
This money-grabbing pose was damn familiar!
·
The shop assistant placed the dishes from the tray one by one on the table and smiled: “The dishes are all here, customer, please enjoy.”
Xiao Huan craned her neck toward the restaurant doorway and muttered softly: “Why hasn’t she come back yet?”
Chu Xu bit into half a piece of dried bitter gourd and also peeked toward the doorway.
Diners came and went, but that familiar figure was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Huan withdrew her gaze, worried about starving the two children, and said gently: “You eat first; I’ll wait a bit longer.”
Chu Xu was indeed hungry, but he wanted to wait for Shang Wan to come back and eat together.
Yuan Yuan hugged her milk bottle, drinking it down while waiting for mother to return.
Shang Wan didn’t delay too long. When she returned, she saw none of the three had touched their chopsticks and smiled: “Waiting for me?”
The one big and two small all nodded together.
“No need to wait next time.” Shang Wan sat down and casually served rice for Chu Xu and Xiao Huan, handing it over.
A small hand held a piece of crispy pork to her mouth; Yuan Yuan’s eyes sparkled: “Mom, eat!”
“Good girl.” Shang Wan took it, eating it while scooping steamed egg custard to feed her.
The steamed egg custard was topped with meat sauce; Yuan Yuan puffed her cheeks, eating seriously, seemingly quite liking the taste of the meat sauce.
Xiao Huan saw it and used her chopsticks to pick some meat sauce into her mouth, savoring it carefully for a moment before nodding to herself—she could make this flavor at home too.
Yuan Yuan thought Aunt Xiao Huan wanted the steamed egg custard and pushed the spoon from Shang Wan toward Xiao Huan, her soft childish voice: “Auntie, eat!”
“Yuan Yuan eat.” Xiao Huan felt warm inside; her own niece was so thoughtful and lovable.
Yuan Yuan blinked her eyes, opened her little mouth, and obediently took the steamed egg custard from the spoon into her mouth.
Shang Wan fed her while eating herself, glanced at the dishes on the table, and moved the roast duck in front of Chu Xu.
When the child first arrived, he wanted eight treasure duck, but the restaurant didn’t have it. Since they were all ducks, he could make do for now.
Chu Xu didn’t know Shang Wan’s thoughts; he only took one bite of the roast duck with his chopsticks and didn’t touch it again, finding it too greasy.
What good things had the young master not eaten? His tastes had long been spoiled.
In the military camp, conditions were poor with no choices. With father and elder brother watching, he didn’t dare be too picky, or he’d really go hungry.
Now out eating, with no one managing him, the young master naturally went by his preferences.
He thought the restaurant’s dishes weren’t as good as what Aunt Xiao Huan made, and compared to home, they were far worse.
After eating only a little over half a bowl of rice, Chu Xu put down his chopsticks.
Xiao Huan looked over concernedly: “Is your stomach uncomfortable?”
The child could eat two small bowls at home; how could he put down his chopsticks after just a little?
Chu Xu sneaked a glance at Shang Wan and muttered: “It’s not tasty; I don’t want to eat.”
Chu Xu had been so well-behaved that Xiao Huan almost forgot he was the young master of Duke Dingguo’s Mansion, worldly and experienced—not like the village kids chasing dogs and catching chickens, happy all day over a bite of meat.
She frowned slightly, glanced at the mostly untouched dishes on the table, wanting to let Chu Xu order more he liked, but worried it would be too wasteful.
Shang Wan looked up at the child across from her: “Not to your taste?”
Chu Xu pursed his lips and nodded.
Shang Wan said: “Then don’t eat it.”
Hearing this, Chu Xu inexplicably felt aggrieved. He lowered his head, his small hand on the bench quietly clenching into a fist, his eyes gradually reddening.
“Didn’t you want mung bean pastry yesterday?” Shang Wan didn’t notice Chu Xu’s change, feeding Yuan Yuan a spoonful of steamed egg custard in her usual tone: “We’ll buy two packs later; you can eat that instead.”
Chu Xu’s head snapped up, his amber cat-like eyes sparkling as he looked at Shang Wan: “You’re not going to scold me?”
“It’s just food not to your taste; why scold you?” Shang Wan didn’t understand what was in the child’s little head: “Everyone has things they don’t like; no need to force it.”
The leftovers could be packed anyway; it wouldn’t be wasted.
“You’re really nice.” Chu Xu stared straight at Shang Wan, his cat-like eyes shining even brighter.
Shang Wan: ?
Nice how?
Chu Xu muttered softly: “If only you were my mom.”
Shang Wan: “…”
Then I might beat to death you, you insolent son for randomly claiming mothers.
“My mom is actually pretty good.” Chu Xu continued on his own: “Except for always managing me; everything else is good.”
The child fantasized: “If only I had two moms. One like now, and one like you.”
Shang Wan: “…”
Child, aren’t you afraid two moms would mean double the discipline?
If she were Chu Xu’s mom and heard this, she’d definitely give him a serving of bamboo shoot stir-fried pork.
“Mine!” Yuan Yuan suddenly hugged Shang Wan’s arm, her big eyes vigilantly staring at Chu Xu: “Mine! Mom!”
Mother is cub’s mother! Even little brother can’t steal her!
