Rumble—
The summer rainstorms always come unexpectedly.
At Jiang'an Wharf, peddlers and porters who had just disembarked from the boats ran back and forth with their hands over their heads. The large and small boats docked along the riverbank rose and fell in the waves.
Pei Xiangjun stepped off the ferry boat. Xiuhe held an umbrella beside her and they boarded the carriage sent by the Pei family to pick them up.
On the ferry boat, Ye Jingtang, dressed in a black robe, held an oil-paper umbrella and looked towards the riverbank, searching for the trace of the small ferry boat.
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. The ferry boat smoothly returned to the eastern suburbs of the capital. The small ferry boat that Lady Luo, the martial artist, was on would make stops along the way, so it was slower. It seemed that it hadn't reached the port yet. Xiao Yunli had kidnapped his little bird. I wonder if it had been fattened up after a few days...
Ye Jingtang looked for a while but didn't see any trace. He was about to follow the carriage. After walking a few steps, he saw Lady Huang Zhu, who had changed boats and was going to Guangji County. She held an umbrella and ran up to him, blocking his way and urging him towards the ferry boat beside them:
"Young Master, the matter of Shuiyun Sword Lake has been settled. Should we go to Baoyuan Sect next?"
Since Ye Jingtang had dealt with the Zhou family, he naturally had to teach the local martial arts sects in Yunzhou some rules. However, he had just returned to the capital and the disturbance caused by the Zhou family hadn't subsided yet. He needed to wait for a few days.
"Don't worry, Aunt Huang. After I deal with the matters in the capital, I'll go to Guangji and take a look."
Lady Huang Zhu said pitifully: "That Li Hunyuan too much to bully others. It's one thing for him to steal the business of my shop, but when I went to discuss it with him, he actually made me... made me..."
"Hmm?"
Ye Jingtang frowned as he looked at Lady Huang Zhu's embarrassed expression:
"What did he make Aunt Huang do?"
"He told me to get lost."
"..."
Ye Jingtang slowly nodded, feeling that the situation was not much different from what he had expected:
"This Li Hunyuan really deserves to be taught a lesson. However, I..."
"If the Young Master doesn't help me settle this matter, I won't be able to pay the incense money for this year's tribute to the hall. The leader will definitely punish me... How about the Young Master waiving my tribute money for this year?"
Ye Jingtang raised his hand helplessly: "I'm just a hired hand. You need to ask Third Aunt for mercy about this matter."
Lady Huang Zhu furrowed her small eyebrows: "How could Third Aunt waive it for me? If I can't pay the incense money, according to the gang rules, my property will have to be transferred to other incense masters. I'm at the end of my rope and can only go to the Li family and fight to the death. When I die, Young Master, please burn more paper money for me..."
Ye Jingtang sighed: "What are you talking about? It's just Li Hunyuan. I'll find some time to go there after I'm done with my business. I'll make him spit out everything he took, including the interest."
Seeing that Ye Jingtang really couldn't spare the time, Lady Huang Zhu had to give up:
"It's a deal~ After the matter is settled, I'll secretly arrange for a few courtesans to reward the Young Master. I won't let the leader know... By the way, does the Young Master want a wife? My daughter is fourteen this year. She's a bit young..."
"Sigh..."
Ye Jingtang was rather helpless. Since it was his duty, how could he accept bribes from the incense masters below? In case Third Aunt and Lady Luo, the martial artist, heard about it, he would definitely be in trouble again. So he quickly sent Lady Huang Zhu away with a pleasant expression.
After watching the boat leave, Ye Jingtang turned around and boarded the Pei family's carriage.
Inside the carriage, Xiuhe was sitting beside him, organizing the account books that would be used.
Pei Xiangjun was wearing a light yellow, thin summer dress. She was sitting on a beauty couch, with her legs bent and stacked, her buttocks resting on her calves. She gently waved a round fan in her hand, and her demeanor was quite like that of a charming and graceful lady of a wealthy family:
"Did Huang Zhu cause trouble for you again?"
"It's not really causing trouble. I received my wages, and this is within my duties. But I won't have the time until a few days later. Third Aunt, you've had a long journey. Go back and rest early. I have to go to Jingwang Manor later to ask about the situation of the Zhou family. I might not have time to come over in the next few days."
Pei Xiangjun looked elsewhere: "Sigh~ I can't help at all with the matter of the Zhou family. I still have to rely on you to take the blame; it's only natural for you to visit the manor more often. How could I stop you?"
Is this not stopping him?
Ye Jingtang was already used to this slightly resentful look. He smiled and said: "I'll definitely come over to help Third Aunt when I have time. By the way, Uncle Song said that Third Aunt should teach me the 'Lei Gong Baji'..."
Pei Xiangjun stopped waving the round fan: "On a merchant ship, there's no room to practice. If you have time, come to the Pei family, and I'll teach you slowly. Li Hunyuan of Baoyuan Sect has good skills in boxing and palm techniques. It will be more interesting to use the opponent's techniques to defeat the opponent."
Ye Jingtang smiled: "Okay."
Pei Xiangjun thought for a while and then said:
"Your beloved has also returned to the capital, right? Do you want me to go and pay her a visit, or do you want her to come to the door and serve me, an elder, with tea?"
Ye Jingtang blinked his eyes: "She doesn't know Third Aunt's identity. Hmm..."
"Are you afraid that I'll bully her with my status as an elder?"
"How could that be..."
"Why not? If she tries to steal from my 'family,' if I meet her, I'll definitely make her serve me tea properly and call me 'Aunt Shi' a few times to establish the rules first..."
Ye Jingtang opened his mouth and could already imagine the cold look on Lady Luo, the martial artist, when she came back and took her anger out on him after being reprimanded by Third Aunt...
After mumbling for a while, Pei Xiangjun raised the round fan again:
"Forget it. I know that in your heart, your beloved is more important than me, an aunt who is barely related. I won't make things difficult for you. We'll talk about it later. By the way, you told Jingwang about your relationship with Honghua Tower. Are you sure Jingwang won't ask me to pay the tribute money?"
Ye Jingtang let out a sigh of relief and shook his head: "Since I came to the Pei family, I haven't taken an extra penny except for my wages. I have a clear conscience about this. I will explain it clearly to Jingwang. However, I'm afraid I can't avoid showing some skills in the spear technique. After all, if I want Jingwang to take care of us, I have to give some kind of token of greeting."
Pei Xiangjun nodded slightly: "Just ask Jingwang not to spread it. Anyway, Jingwang can't fight personally. At most, she'll find some bodyguards at home to have a bit of fun sparring..."
After chatting for a while, the carriage entered the East Gate of the capital and arrived on a bustling street.
Although it was raining, there were many pedestrians holding umbrellas on the main street, and the shops were filled with a wide variety of goods.
Ye Jingtang looked up and had an idea. Since he had been out and come back, he thought he should prepare some small gifts. So he got off the carriage halfway and went to a rather high-end jewelry store on the street. He selected a few pieces of jewelry and even prepared one for Xiuhe to avoid her complaining that the Young Master was biased. He also bought a small ornament for the little bird.
After finishing, Ye Jingtang held an umbrella and returned to Tianshui Bridge. Under the rain curtain, there were few pedestrians on the street, and the neighbors were taking shelter from the rain and chatting under the eaves of the shops.
Seeing Ye Jingtang come back, the familiar shopkeepers and assistants all greeted him:
"Yo~ Young Master Ye is back!"
"You haven't been seen for half a month, and you've become even more handsome..."
"Hehe..."
Ye Jingtang responded along the way. He originally wanted to go directly to the Pei Mansion to give the things to Third Aunt. However, just halfway there, he saw a carriage driving out from the alley. Chen Biao was holding an umbrella and following behind, urgently trying to dissuade:
"Master, don't act on your own. If Third Aunt and Madam find out, you'll definitely lose your pocket money for this month..."
The curtain of the carriage was lifted. Inside was a young man around sixteen or seventeen years old. His demeanor was quite elegant and steady. He was vigorously waving a fan and complaining:
"I'm also contributing to the family. I'm already seventeen or eighteen years old. Why can't I be in charge of things? I just stayed in the academy for about a month. When I came back, I saw that, well, the eldest young master has become the second young master. The maids in the mansion don't even pay attention to me. All day long, they talk about 'Young Master Jingtang, Young Master Ye, so handsome~'. What does that mean? Am I ugly?"
"Er... When compared with Young Master Ye, you two are... hard to tell apart!"
Chen Biao ran beside the carriage with an umbrella, trying to dissuade:
"Third Aunt just came back. If the Master goes out on his own initiative..."
As the eldest young master of the Pei family, Pei Luo studied outside the city. When he came back during the vacation and saw that the Pei family was almost becoming the "Ye" family, even with the best of tempers, he couldn't help but be full of complaints:
"I'm going out just because my Third Aunt is back. Otherwise, how would my Third Aunt know my abilities?"
"The Master is a scholar and should focus on passing the imperial examinations... Eh?! Young Master Ye!"
Halfway through his words, Chen Biao saw Ye Jingtang coming over. He quickly ran over with an umbrella and asked with concern:
"Young Master Ye, you're finally back. Was the journey okay? Here, let me carry your things for you. Don't tire yourself out..."
??
The eldest young master Pei in the carriage was still listening to Chen Biao. When he saw this scene, he waved his folding fan a few times, and his expression was quite complicated.
He looked up again at the young man in the black robe coming over:
He was half a head taller than him, with a heroic and extraordinary figure. He felt that this person could probably kill him with one punch...
As for his appearance...
How could this be called hard to tell apart?
They both have two eyes and one nose. Is it hard to tell the difference in quantity?
The eldest young master Pei directly pulled down the curtain and urged:
"Let's go, let's go."
But when the coachman saw the young master coming, he didn't dare to listen to Pei Luo. He just sat outside the carriage and giggled.
Ye Jingtang recognized who was sitting in the carriage from the conversation. He held an umbrella and walked to the window:
"I'm just the chief manager hired by Third Aunt. Young Master Pei, there's no need to misunderstand."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Pei Luo stuck his head out. His demeanor was quite amiable, like that of an educated young man from a wealthy family:
"You're Brother Jingtang, right? I really didn't see you just now. Hmm... Third Aunt is talking with my mother at home. You can go directly there. I still have some things to deal with. Excuse me."
Chen Biao quickly raised his hand to stop the carriage:
"Ah, Young Master Ye can handle this matter. You..."
Pei Luo waved his fan a few more times: "Chen Biao, how many times have I treated you to drinks? Do you think I can't handle this matter?"
"No, no. This matter is related to Young Master Ye..."
Ye Jingtang didn't understand what it meant and asked:
"What is the matter?"
Chen Biao sighed and explained: "It's not a big deal. The government asked the Pei family to renovate Ranfang Street. Such a big piece of business has caught the attention of many local bullies who want to share it with the Pei family. Of course, the Pei family won't allow it. A few days ago, someone came to discuss this matter. The shopkeeper of the grain store received them, but the other party had a very bad attitude and spoke rudely. Liuzi from the escort agency saw his future father-in-law being bullied and scolded them a few times."
Liuzi was one of Ye Jingtang's old subordinates. When he heard this, he frowned:
"Then what happened?"
"Nothing happened at that time. But the next day, Liuzi and the girl from the grain store went out shopping. On their way back, they were blocked. With the girl there, Liuzi couldn't bring himself to apologize and got into a fight. He was beaten so badly that he still can't get up until now..."
"Who started the fight?"
Pei Luo jumped out of the carriage. Seeing the anger on Ye Jingtang's face, he patted his shoulder:
"Leave this matter to me. I'll get the medical expenses back later... The young master of Sanyuan Tower, Cheng Song, is a wealthy young man from Wutong Street. I've dealt with him before. Leave this matter to me. Cheng Song, if he dares not to pay the medical expenses today..."
Ye Jingtang looked at the eldest young master Pei:
"What's Cheng Song's background?"
Pei Luo thought for a while: "His father is the Second Master Cheng of the Western Market. I don't know much else. Anyway, he has some connections in both the officialdom and the martial arts world, and he's not easy to provoke. Several chief managers suggest letting the matter drop, but I can't stand for this. Brother Jingtang, you just came to the Pei family. If someone under your command is bullied and I, the young master in charge, don't stand up for you, who else will avenge you?... Eh? Jingtang, where are you going?"
"To visit Liuzi."
Ye Jingtang held an umbrella and walked into the back alley of Tianshui Bridge. Chen Biao quickly accompanied him.
The eldest young master Pei stood alone in the rain, feeling a bit left out, but he wasn't angry. He followed and continued:
"I have some influence in Wutong Street. All the shop owners there have to address me as 'Young Master Pei'. Cheng Song dared to hit someone from my family, which means he kicked the iron plate... "
As they were talking, the three of them arrived outside a courtyard in the back alley.
Third Aunt was very kind. She had arranged accommodation for the twelve bodyguards and their families who had moved to the capital. The walls of the alley were clean and tidy, much better than the environment in Shuanggui Alley.
Ye Jingtang pushed the door open and smelled the smell of medicine. Liuzi's mother, Aunt Lin, was cooking medicine in the kitchen; the old bodyguard Yang Chao was scolding and lecturing in the room:
"You have no ability at all. What were you arguing about with others? Do you think you're the young master?"
Seeing Ye Jingtang come in, Yang Chao quickly went out to greet him, and Aunt Lin came up to complain:
"Jingtang, you have to take care of this matter..."
Yang Chao quickly stopped her: "Aunt Lin, you go and do your work. The young master knows what to do."
Ye Jingtang comforted Aunt Lin a few words and went into the main room. He could see that Liuzi was lying on the bed in the side room, with bandages on his body. His face was rather haggard, and he smiled and got up:
"Brother Jingtang, why are you here too? It's such a small matter. It's making it seem like I'm about to be buried..."
Ye Jingtang checked his injuries and asked:
"Be tough only when you can win the fight. What's the hurry? You could have come back and called for help before seeking revenge. What would your mother do if you died outside?"
Liuzi grinned: "Sigh, I only realized I couldn't win after getting beaten. I was in the wrong for this matter. I shouldn't have interrupted my father-in-law's business talk..."
After looking at his injuries for a few moments, Ye Jingtang took out a banknote and handed it to Yang Chao:
"Find a good doctor and make sure he doesn't have any lingering injuries."
"Ah, no need, Brother Jingtang, you..."
Ye Jingtang waved his hand, told Liuzi to lie down properly, greeted Aunt Lin, and then opened the umbrella and left the courtyard.
Pei Luo had been standing outside the courtyard, observing. Only then did he speak:
"Jingtang, don't worry. I'll settle this matter for you. If Cheng Song dares not to pay the medical expenses today..."
Ye Jingtang opened the oil-paper umbrella and looked at the alleys on both sides:
"Where is that Young Master Cheng?"
Pei Luo thought for a while: "He's usually at Sanyuan Tower at this time, playing pai gow with a few young masters from Wendu Bridge. If you want to go and take a look, I'll take you there. But try not to speak and be polite. Leave it to me. The children of official families from Wendu Bridge are not easy to offend..."
Ye Jingtang nodded:
"Okay."