Chapter 1561: The Couple from the Past

  Xiao Shi had no issues, and Lu Tong and the others were already accustomed to hiding and following in the shadows. Previously, at Dongqing Temple, only Lu Tong disguised herself as Xiao Shi's personal maid while others remained unseen.

  Seeing that they all agreed, Shu Yu asked Xiao Shi to pack her belongings and get ready to leave.

  The farmhouse outside the city that Shu Yu mentioned was the background prepared for her by Meng Yunzheng when she was exiled.

  At the time of her exile, when Shu Yu passed by the farmhouse, the middle-aged couple living there came over and sent her off. They even gave some silver to the officials escorting her to put up a show, ensuring she wouldn't arouse suspicion.

  The couple were not locals and had no relatives around. They were childless and had both fallen ill in their earlier years, rumors spreading that their diseases were incurable and contagious.

  Thus, the main family assigned them to work at the farmhouse, saying they were "working," but in reality, they were left to fend for themselves.

  The farmhouse wasn't very large, and the main family nearly forgot about this property.

  Later, the couple encountered old Doctor Zhao passing by and asked for some water to drink and a place to rest, and he cured their illnesses.

  The couple was very grateful to old Doctor Zhao, and when he decided to rest in Dong'an Prefecture at the time, they let him stay at their farmhouse. The few of them got along well and gradually became friends.

  After old Doctor Zhao left, the couple felt reluctant and hoped to meet him again.

  However, old Doctor Zhao traveled all around, and he never returned.

  Two years ago, Zhao Xi came to Dong'an Prefecture with Meng Yunzheng, and they sought help from the couple.

  Without hesitation, the couple agreed. Although the case they helped with was presided over by Judge Jing from Shu's family, they had no idea about that. Helping with such a big case posed great risks for them.

  But the couple didn't mind. They had almost experienced death, and it was old Doctor Zhao who brought them back from the brink, allowing them to live for many more years.

  Being able to help Shu Yu was more than enough satisfaction for them.

  Later, when Shu Yu returned from exile and became the village lord, she confessed everything to the late emperor.

  With everything settled, she visited the couple, intending to see if she could repay their kindness. Unexpectedly, Meng Yunzheng had already made arrangements.

  Meng Yunzheng bought the farmhouse, including the couple.

  Then, he gave them the sale contract and the property deed for the farmhouse.

  So now, the farmhouse belonged to the couple, and they were no longer servants. Though they had no children of their own, the couple lived together and led a fulfilling life.

  Last year, when old Doctor Zhao came to Dong'an Prefecture, he visited them too. Whenever he visited the prefecture, he would drop by.

  This time, when Shu Yu had to find a new place for Xiao Shi, old Doctor Zhao suggested the farmhouse.

  Shu Yu consulted the couple, and they were very willing.

  Both parties had already agreed on the cover story, so they could take Xiao Shi there directly.

  The carriage stopped about a mile away from the farmhouse, and Shu Yu didn't proceed any further.

  Since they were seeking refuge, they had to appear like refugees.

 Chapter 1560: Re-arranging Xiao Shi's Lodging

  Upon seeing Shu Yu, Xiao Shi let out a long sigh and eagerly grabbed her hand. "Ah Yu, you finally came."

  "Sorry, I arrived late."

  Xiao Shi shook her head. "I know you did it to avoid drawing attention."

  They sat down on the side, and Xiao Shi said, "These past few days, I had people keeping an eye on the surroundings but didn't find anyone suspicious. It seems you were right; Hao Dingshan indeed didn't come for me. That's good; otherwise, I'd be worried if something happened in the capital."

  Pausing for a moment, she hesitated and asked, "Is there still no news from the capital?"

  Shu Yu shook her head, "None."

  But she knew that Meng Yunzheng had sent another letter to the capital.

  Originally, Meng Yunzheng had a separate way of contacting the new emperor when he was still the Fifth Prince. After Gong Qiu's execution, their cooperation stopped, and there was no need for further contact. Until Gong Qi arrived in Jiangyuan County, Shu Yu began doing business with the palace.

  Since then, they contacted the capital through Gong Qi.

  Who would have thought that when they discovered something wrong with Changjin Prefecture last time and sent a letter to Gong Qi, they never received a response. Not only that, the "greeting letter" Meng Yunzheng sent to Xiang Weinan also received no reply.

  They could only speculate that these two contacts might not be convenient or something had happened.

  So, Meng Yunzheng resumed using the previous contact channels, directly contacting the emperor.

  Xiao Shi seemed somewhat disappointed. "Ah Yu, if there's any news from the capital, please let me know as soon as possible."

  "Alright." Shu Yu nodded, "I know you're worried about your parents and Xiang Weinan. If there's a reply, I won't hide it from you."

  "Thank you."

  Shu Yu took a sip of water, "Let's wait a bit more for news from the capital. I came today for something else. I've arranged a new place for you to stay, but it might not be as free as Dongqing Temple."

  Xiao Shi smiled, "I don't have many requirements now. Avoiding exposure is all that matters. No matter where it is, I'm fine."

  She thought that Shu Yu had found a place inside the city, but Shu Yu said, "This place is still outside the city, but it's a bit far from Dongqing Temple. It's a farmhouse."

  "A farmhouse?"

  Shu Yu explained, "There's an old couple living in the farmhouse, they're our people. The farmhouse is now theirs, but you have to pretend to be their distant niece who's going through a hard time after losing all her family and has come to seek refuge with them. So, you might need to make some changes to your appearance."

  After all, someone seeking refuge after going through hardships with no money and nowhere to go couldn't dress like someone living in Dongqing Temple with a hat.

  Shu Yu examined Xiao Shi's features, "I'll teach you some concealment methods later. It doesn't need to be too complicated—thicken your eyebrows a bit, darken your skin tone, add a couple of moles, wear coarse linen clothing, tie a cloth around your head, and change your hairstyle. That should be enough. Since you just arrived here to seek refuge with your aunt and uncle, you'll be unfamiliar with the place and have psychological trauma, so you might prefer to stay in the room and not have many chances to meet others. But you can't completely hide yourself; occasionally, walk a few steps at the farmhouse's entrance while looking like that."

  Don't make it too mysterious; others are busy, and they'll stop caring after a day or two. Moreover, there aren't many people near the farmhouse.

  Xiao Shi's people can only stay in the shadows.

 Chapter 1559: Looking for the Xiao shi Again

Shu Yu saw that he understood the situation, so there was nothing more to say. She let them continue their work.

Just as she was about to leave, it seemed like something crossed her mind. She said to An LeTian, "By the way, our shop provides two sets of clothes every season. Shopkeeper Wei has already confirmed your measurements. They are currently being made and should be delivered before the opening."

Although he had been recruited the day before yesterday, Wei Ronghua wasted no time and sent An LeTian's measurements to the Yiren Pavilion in Jiangyuan County. Fu Xiangdi had already started making the clothes.

Upon hearing this, An LeTian's eyes lit up. If there was something he was troubled about the most, it would be clothing.

While he quickly learned other things, he had no talent for making clothes.

His parents used to make his clothes. Later, when his father fell ill, An LeTian had to figure things out on his own. Thankfully, the clothes didn't worn out easily after hunting in the mountains, so he could wear them for a long time.

However, even so, it was still laborious. Sometimes, when his father felt a bit better, he would sit on the bed and help sew.

As a result, his clothes were full of patches.

There were ready-made clothes shops in the city, but they were quite expensive. An LeTian had used up most of their savings to treat his father's illness, so he couldn't afford to buy clothes from those shops. He had to buy fabric, ask the neighbor for help in sewing, and pay her some wages.

But it was still troublesome and inconvenient.

Now that the shop provided clothes, it was like a blessing from the heavens for him. When he saw this clause written in the contract, he thought he might be hallucinating.

Upon hearing Shu Yu's confirmation, An LeTian couldn't help but smile.

Seeing his smile, Shu Yu raised an eyebrow. Surprisingly, he did look good when he smiled.

He had a cheerful and open personality, and his smile while serving customers in the shop would surely make people feel comfortable and friendly.

Shu Yu thought Wei Ronghua had indeed made a good choice.

Unable to hold back her own amusement, she laughed and then went to the backyard with Wei Ronghua.

The storeroom was filled with sunflower seeds and sunflower oil. After checking, Shu Yu said to Wei Ronghua, "Regarding the prizes for the lucky draw, I'll make a list later, and you can go buy them. I have something to do and need to go out."

Originally, she was supposed to buy the prizes a few days ago, but she got busy with Xiao Shi and then with the matters concerning Hao Dingshan, so it got postponed.

Fortunately, it wasn't urgent. They still had seven to eight days left, which was enough time.

Wei Rong Hua took the list and said, "Rest assured, boss. I'll take care of this."

With Wei Ronghua around, Shu Yu could truly relax. She could entrust all the matters in the shop to him.

She felt fortunate that the effort she put into traveling to Donggu County had resulted in such peace of mind.

With the shop is in capable hands, Shu Yu left the shop and headed straight for the inn where the Xiao Family was staying.

Xiao Shi had been staying there for about four to five days and needed to find a new place. The inn had a constant flow of people, and while staying there for a few days was fine, staying for longer would raise suspicions.

Especially since Xiao Shi's members hadn't been seen outside. They claimed they weren't feeling well and needed a few days of rest. If they stayed hidden for too long, the innkeeper would start suspecting something was amiss.

When Shu Yu arrived, it was the afternoon. The inn's lobby was relatively empty at this time.

They went directly to the second floor. It was Lu Tong who opened the door for them.

This time, there were no other guards inside the room

 Chapter 1558: Welcome to Join Lu's Shop

  "Let's go, let's meet this helper, and get the contract signed."

  Shu Yu neatly kept the information Wei Ronghua gave her about An Le Tian and led the way to the front of the shop.

  At this moment, An Le Tian and Ren Yiping were cleaning and organizing the shop. Over the past two days, they had already put the goods on the shelves, and the two of them were busy.

  When Shu Yu arrived, it was Ren Yiping who first noticed her, and he straightened his posture, saying, "Boss, shopkeeper."

  Hearing the voice, An Le Tian turned around suddenly. Although it was the second time he had seen Shu Yu, they hadn't spoken before. Now, meeting again, he felt a bit restrained and even... somewhat nervous.

  Originally, his mindset was quite steady, but when he was really chosen by Lu's shop, he was so excited that he couldn't sleep half the night. Now, he had become somewhat anxious.

  Facing Shu Yu, he thought about his first impression, which wasn't very good. He was afraid that she might be dissatisfied and send him away.

  An Le Tian took a deep breath secretly, standing next to Ren Yiping and said, "Boss, shopkeeper."

  Wei Ronghua said, "Don't be nervous. The boss is here today to sign the contract with you and give a few instructions."

  An Le Tian felt relieved upon hearing this and smiled brightly. His voice became more clear, "Alright, boss, please instruct me."

  Shu Yu smiled, "I heard you can read?"

  "A few characters, not many." He hadn't studied before, but after coming to the city, he realized that knowing how to read was very important. When fetching medicine or reading prescriptions, if he couldn't read, he would be easily deceived.

  So, he seized every opportunity to learn characters. Whether it was a fellow worker, the neighbors around his residence, or even the pharmacy apprentices, he would ask whenever they had time. After these two years, he had accumulated some knowledge.

  Shu Yu nodded, "Okay, take a look at this contract. If you don't recognize or understand something, you can ask the shopkeeper. Take your time."

  "Understood." An Le Tian took the contract and walked to the side, carefully examining it.

  Shu Yu was satisfied to see that he didn't rush to sign the contract without reading it thoroughly. A cautious person like him would make fewer mistakes in the future.

  It took An Le Tian a quarter of an hour to finish reading the contract. He could be said to have read all the regulations very carefully and even asked Wei Ronghua a few questions. There were some parts that he found to be incredible.

  He had also seen contracts from other shops, and the requirements for the helpers were almost harsh. That was to be expected since many landlords exploited their workers. Despite that, there were still many people willing to do labor for such little pay.

  However, Lu's shop's contract was simply... a conscientious one?

  It seemed that he had seen too little of the world.

  An Le Tian firmly signed his name on the contract, although the handwriting was somewhat crooked, it was resolute.

  After glancing at it, Shu Yu took the contract back and said to An Le Tian, "Welcome to join Lu's Shop."

  "Thank you, thank you." With everything settled, An Le Tian's heart finally calmed down.

  Shu Yu put away the contract and raised her head with a smile, "I heard you were renting a house before. There's an empty room in the backyard of our shop. If you think it's feasible, you can stay here. Ren Yiping is living in the backyard as well."

  An Le Tian nodded repeatedly, "shopkeeper Wei has already mentioned it to me, but my current rental will expire in half a month. The landlord said that if I find the next tenant, he will refund me for the remaining half month. I am currently looking for a tenant, and once I find one, I will move in here."

 Chapter 1557: The Hired Helper is An Le Tian

  It had been four days since returning to the city.

  In another week, it would be the opening day of the shop, and Shu Yu planned to stay in the city during this time. Therefore, she brought quite a few things with her on this trip.

  She carefully packed the promotional painting in a scroll, fearing it would get dirty or damaged.

  As for the hiring of a helper for Lu's shop, it had already been settled.

  What surprised Shu Yu was that the person hired was actually An Le Tian.

  Shu Yu thought of what Ren Yiping had said. She was curious about why Wei Ronghua would choose him.

  But before she could ask, Wei Ronghua came to her first and reported the situation of the past few days, including the reason for hiring An Le Tian as a helper.

  "An Le Tian is a capable person, hardworking, looks decent, and can read. Honestly, when I inquired about his conditions, I was very satisfied with him."

  However, just like what Ren Yiping said, An Le Tian was not a local person, and his background was unclear.

  But nothing is absolute. For capable and suitable people, Wei Ronghua didn't mind spending some time to get to know them better.

  He actually had several candidates in mind. However, after the interviews were over that day, he didn't reveal any information and let everyone go back.

  During this time, he learned about the situation of these candidates.

  An Le Tian came to the city two years ago because his father was being treated at Ren Xin Medical Clinic, the one where An Ning often went, and there was a doctor named Xie. This information wasn't difficult to find out, as the treatment had been going on for a long time.

  An Le Tian's father passed away two months ago.

  After burying his father, An Le Tian returned to the city a month ago.

  He actually wanted to find stable work, but he couldn't do it earlier because he had to take care of his sick father. Now that he was searching again, he found that labor was cheap these days, and any slightly better long-term job was quickly taken.

  An Le Tian was doing odd jobs everywhere. He was hardworking and efficient, so he never lacked short-term work. Those who hired him felt that he was a cost-effective choice.

  Wei Ronghua found this situation interesting. "Actually, before the final decision was made, there were quite a few people who approached me, some even came to Fangfang, and Yiping also encountered many. Not to mention, some of them were sent by other merchants."

  Seeing how anxious these people were, it seemed as if not being employed by Lu's shop was a huge loss for them.

  On the other hand, An Le Tian, after the interview, just continued with his own affairs. His attitude was very calm regarding whether he would get a job at Lu's shop or not.

  "Boss, I want to hire this person. If he does well, he will definitely not stop here," Wei Ronghua said.

  Shu Yu asked him, "Have you talked to him?"

  "Yes, we had a conversation. He was articulate, had clear goals, and had a straightforward yet cheerful personality." Despite growing up in the mountains since he was a child, after spending these two years in the city, he had surpassed many others in terms of insight and overall view.

  A person like him wouldn't have such a narrow vision that he could be bought and used by others to betray Lu's shop.

  Shu Yu smiled and said, "Alright, if you think he's suitable, then he is. Besides, you will be the one managing him in the future."

  She realized that Wei Ronghua was very satisfied with both Ren Yiping and An Le Tian. He intended to cultivate their ability to take charge independently.

 Chapter 1556: Lin Family and Zhou Family

  However, Dazhuang was busy and rarely went home.

  His parents, being soft and gentle in nature, allowed the two brothers to make their own decisions regarding their marriage.

  So, without Dazhuang's consent, the Lin family wouldn't agree to his marriage. On the contrary, his younger brother, Daqiang, received more marriage proposals.

  Unfortunately, Daqiang had just experienced the profits brought by the sunflower fields and was eager to develop and become the leading household in the village. He was currently devoting himself entirely to taking care of these precious sunflower plants, and he had no interest in getting married.

  Whenever their parents advised Daqiang, he would use Dazhuang as a shield, saying that if the older brother hadn't gotten married yet, how could the younger brother go and get a wife?

  Thus, Lin's parents had no choice but to nag Dazhuang about getting married whenever he rarely visited home.

  However, Dazhuang wasn't opposed to the idea of getting married later. He was thinking that he could work hard and save some money during these two years. With a substantial dowry, the wedding would be more lively. If they had some extra money at home, they wouldn't have to live such a difficult life.

  After all, Zhou Ermei's elder sister was married to Da Niu, and now Da Niu's family was well-off. As his future brother-in-law, Dazhuang felt some pressure.

  Since Dazhuang had no objections, Lin's parents didn't insist on anything further.

  Anyway, it's good as long as the engagement is confirmed. The eldest son is already engaged, and the second son will soon follow.

  So, this morning, Zhou Qiao accompanied her father to visit Lin's family in Shishi Village to see their situation.

  Zhou Qiao's father was mentally prepared and understood that Lin's family currently didn't have much money, so it was normal for their house to be in poor condition. The main thing was to see the character of Lin's parents, whether the siblings got along well, and, most importantly, to assess Dazhuang's character.

  The two families got along harmoniously and had a pleasant conversation, and they decided on the engagement.

  In the next few days, Lin's family would pick an auspicious day and go to Zhou's family to propose the marriage.

  Zhou Qiao sighed in relief and then vented her anger, "After confirming with Lin's family, I found out that on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, my second aunt brought a man home and called my younger sister to her house to meet him. If my sister hadn't felt something was wrong and found an excuse to come back home, who knows what my second aunt would have done."

  Grandma Lu comforted her, "Now that your sister's marriage is settled, your second aunt won't be able to interfere. Don't be angry anymore."

  Zhou Qiao nodded and then asked about Shu Yu's shop opening.

  Shu Yu opened the scroll with the promotional painting, showing it to them, "This was drawn by Brother Yun. How is it? Do you like it?"

  Zhou Qiao and Grandma Lu eyes lit up, "These two children are so cute."

  As they were talking, Zhou Qiao glanced at the little Zaozao in her arms. The little girl opened her big round eyes and reached out, making sounds as if she wanted to touch the painting, as if there was a real child there.

  Zhou Qiao quickly stepped back, holding the little girl, so as not to damage the painting.

  "Young Master Meng is really talented. The painting is so vivid and lifelike."

  Shu Yu was content with all the praise, as if she had painted the picture herself. "Tomorrow, I'll ask Father to set up the base and support for the painting. On the day of the opening, we'll place it at the shop's entrance, and it will definitely attract many people to come in and see."

  Not only on the opening day, but during these few days, whenever anyone from the Lu family saw the painting, they couldn't help but look at it over and over again. It was only when Shu Yu brought the base and painting back to the city that it stopped.

 Chapter 1555: Mutual Attraction

  This year's Mid-Autumn Festival was a rare occasion for Dazhuang to reunite with his family.

  Currently, he was working at Shu Yu's workshop, but the tasks he did didn't require him to stay there all the time. Especially in the past few days, he had been busy helping Da Niu prepare for the grand opening of their new shop in the city, and his contribution to the catchy rhymes that spread all over the place within a short period couldn't be ignored.

  Due to his hard work, Dazhuang was given some time off.

  He had returned yesterday afternoon and spent the night at home. That Day, before noon, he was ready to go back to the workshop to continue his work.

  Unexpectedly, he met Zhou Qiao and her younger sister at the village entrance. Zhou Qiao was Da Niu's wife, and seeing her, Dazhuang would naturally greet her.

  Little did he know that within those few steps at the village entrance, he and Zhou Ermei had taken an interest in each other.

  At first, Zhou Ermei didn't say much, but when they arrived at the village entrance, Dazhuang took a step ahead and she curiously asked about his situation.

  Zhou Qiao, being experienced, could tell what was going on, so she asked about her sister's thoughts.

  Zhou Ermei naturally had no need to hide anything from her own elder sister and stuttered that Dazhuang had a straightforward personality and was quite interesting to talk to.

  Zhou Qiao had originally thought that Ruan Dalai was a better match. But after hearing Zhou Ermei's description, she began to consider asking Dazhuang about his intentions, as the two had unknowingly met each other that day.

  To her surprise, Da Niu had returned early morning.

  He had come back to check on the growth of the sunflower fields in the village, but he was accompanied by Dazhuang, who had left only the day before.

  Zhou Qiao found out that Dazhuang was also interested in Zhou Ermei. However, his family situation wasn't that good, and he was also concerned that the other side might not be interested due to his age. So he went to ask Da Niu for help and put in a good word for him.

  Zhou Qiao found it amusing how things turned out. Both sides were interested, so she quickly started discussing the matter.

  However, as Zhou Qiao had mentioned before, Dazhuang was not young anymore, and Zhou Ermei planned to get engaged first and stay at home for a couple of years before marrying. If the two families couldn't reach an agreement on this matter, it would be problematic.

  As for the Zhou family, Zhou Qiao had the authority to make decisions. So she decided to go to the Lin family and ask about their thoughts.

  Lin's parents also hoped that Dazhuang would marry sooner, but Dazhuang himself wasn't in a hurry.

  He didn't have much money at the moment. While Lin's family had a lot of land, it was all low-quality land with poor harvests every year, leading to a difficult life. Because of this, Dazhuang had to find work outside.

  However, the work he found wasn't stable, and when it was busy in the village, he had to come back and help with the work at home. So, sometimes he had work, and sometimes he didn't, and the wages were not high.

  With many expenses at home, he had very limited savings.

  Until this year, when their sunflower fields yielded good results. They had cultivated all ten mu of land with sunflowers, and a few months ago, they had already harvested one crop. Shu Yu paid them generously and the prices were not low.

  While other families had only one or two mu of sunflowers, their family planted sunflowers on all the land they had, and the harvest was incredible.

  This was the first time the Lin family had earned so much money. Not only were they happy, but the others in the village also turned green with envy.

  As a result, when it came to the second planting, the number of people coming to sign contracts with Da Niu suddenly increased.

  Not only did Dazuang's family land generate money, but he also found a suitable job at the workshop, and his basic salary combined with commissions were much higher than before.

  Even when he went out to work, his meals and accommodation could be reimbursed.

  Dazhuang's life was no longer as tight as before, and the number of people coming to propose to him and Dazhuang's younger brother, Daqiang, had increased.

 Chapter 1554: Zhou Ermei's Marriage Proposal

  Shu Yu responded with a sound of agreement, "Prefect Magistrate Fei has already sent people to secretly keep an eye on them. What do we do now?"

  Allowing them to continue staying in Dong'an Prefecture would be like having a time bomb ticking.

  However, if they were to kill or capture them, the Xiao family in the capital would know that something happened to Hao Dingshan. That would not only affect Dong'an Prefecture and Dongqing Temple but might also raise suspicions about Meng Yunzheng.

  "We definitely have to send them back," Meng Yunzheng pondered, "but we shouldn't let them leave empty-handed."

  "What do you mean?"

  "How about we turn the tables on them?"

  Shu Yu smiled, "How do we turn the tables on them?"

  "Since the main goal is to keep them from finding out that the Dongqing Temple's master has gone to the capital, we'll maintain the status quo there. As for the reason why Hao Dingshan came here, there's still one more thing. That is me. We can create some commotion, make him think he has discovered something significant, and quickly send him back to the capital. Who knows... it might even cause some trouble for the Xiao family there."

  Shu Yu frowned, "But won't that make them focus all their attention on you?"

  "That's why we have to plan this carefully. Don't worry, leave Hao Dingshan's problem to me. Your shop is about to open in a few days, and you'll be busy with that. Leave everything else to me."

  "But..."

  "If I need help, I'll come to you, alright?"

  After thinking about it, Shu Yu could only sigh and nod, "Okay, just be careful."

  "Got it." With the main matter settled, the drawing was almost dry. Meng Yun Zheng rolled it up and handed it to her, "For the base and pole at the bottom, we'll have to trouble Uncle Lu."

  Shu Yu took the drawing, "Alright, then I'll go."

  Since it wasn't early, she didn't stay long and hurriedly left with Ying Xi, returning to Fenghuai Street.

  As soon as they entered the house, they saw Grandma and Zhou Qiao talking with radiant smiles on their faces, seeming to be in a good mood.

  Shu Yu placed the drawing on the table and curiously asked, "Did something good happen?"

  Grandma glanced at Zhou Qiao and said, "You tell her."

  "My sister and Dazhuang are planning to get engaged," Zhou Qiao couldn't help but laugh. She was obviously very satisfied with this marriage proposal.

  Shu Yu was stunned, Dazhuang??

  "Didn't you say that you were more fond of Ruan Dalai before? How did it become Dazhuang?"

  Zhou Qiao quickly shushed her, "Shu Yu, it's better if only a few of us know about this matter. Don't let it slip out."

  Seeing how nervous Zhou Qiao was, Shu Yu couldn't help but laugh, "Of course. It's only natural that you wouldn't reveal anything concerning your younger sister's reputation and future life outside."

  Zhou Qiao continued, "Actually, it's a coincidence. Just two days ago, I went back to Shishi Village."

  Two days ago was the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Shu Yu went to the county office to testify as a witness for Chen Ji's case.

  "I returned home not long ago, and my second sister came to find me. She said that on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, our family bought some things I used to like and had them delivered to me. She came to sit with me for a while and told me something. She was about to leave when she met Dazhuang, who was also preparing to leave the village."

  Dazhuang had returned to the village the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival. He had been working as a casual laborer outside for the past few years and rarely came back for festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival.

 Chapter 1553: Pull-Up Banner

  Shu Yu went straight to Liufang Lane and didn't even return home. She went to see Meng Yunzheng first.

  Meng Yunzheng was at home helping Shu Yu draw a promotional poster. It was a large pull-up banner designed by Meng Yunzheng based on Shu Yu's description.

  By now, it was almost finished, and he was doing the final touches.

  Unexpectedly, Shu Yu came at this moment. Meng Yun Zheng didn't even look up as he said, "Wait for me a moment, I just need to write a few more words."

  The poster was filled with numerous pictures and promotional slogans, making it clear at a glance what the shop was about.

  Hearing this, Shu Yu closed her mouth before saying anything. Looking at the prominent drawings and the somewhat messy study, she didn't need to guess to know that Meng Yunzheng had put a lot of effort into it.

  Shu Yu touched her face, feeling somewhat guilty. Meng Yun Zheng was a talented painter. One of his paintings could be worth a fortune, but now he was drawing a promotional poster for her for free. It seemed like she was underestimating his abilities.

  But there was no other way. They didn't have photocopiers or printers back then, so they had to do it by hand.

  "Done." Shu Yu wanted to say something, but Meng Yunzheng had already finished.

  He called out to her, "Come over and take a look. Is it okay?"

  Shu Yu walked over to take a look. What wasn't okay about it? It looked even more atmospheric and appealing than what she described, perfectly capturing the characteristics of this era.

  She couldn't help but feel her eyes light up, "It looks great, more imposing than I described, and the layout is perfect. And there are two little figures in the center?"

  The little figures were in a cartoonish style, the only thing that didn't fit the characteristics of this era on the pull-up banner, but they were exceptionally eye-catching and cute, making people unable to take their eyes off them.

  Meng Yun Zheng smiled, "Isn't that what you said? Can we add two figures with big heads and small bodies to make it fun and eye-catching? These two little characters are looking at the golden sunflower oil on the ground, which should match the description you gave."

  "Exactly." Shu Yu nodded repeatedly and couldn't help but hold it in her hands lovingly.

  What was even more amazing was that the little characters were wearing clothes with sunflower seed patterns. They were sitting on top of sunflowers, as if the sunflowers had given birth to two sunflower seed characters.

  One of them was holding a jar of sunflower oil, and some had accidentally spilled on the ground. The pitiful little figure was looking at the golden sunflower oil on the ground, especially endearing. The other one had a troubled expression on his face and was pointing in the direction of the shop, as if he wanted to go in and buy another jar.

  Shu Yu couldn't help but smile as she looked at it. It was so adorable.

  For the customers entering the shop, who could resist such a cute doll?

  Seeing that she couldn't bear to put it down, Meng Yunzheng shook his head, washed his hands outside, and then came over to take the drawing from her hands.

  "Hey..." Shu Yu hadn't finished looking yet.

  Meng Yunzheng leaned against the table behind him, "Alright, let's get down to business. Didn't you say you'd be preparing for the opening in the city these days? Why did you suddenly come back and hurry to my house? What's the matter?"

  Shu Yu slapped her forehead, "I almost forgot."

  Ah, the charm of Mountain Hermit's paintings was too strong.

  How could this man be so talented?

  With her gaze back from the painting, Shu Yu sat up straight and told him about the matter with Hao Dingshan.

  As she spoke, Meng Yun Zheng nodded, "So, the person we are looking for, who's been inquiring about my whereabouts, is him?"

 Chapter 1552: Two Main Purposes

  "Please go ahead," Shu Yu said.

  The middle-aged scholar raised two fingers. "Their journey mainly has two purposes. One is to find the master of Dongqing Temple, and the other..."

  He looked at Shu Yu, "It's for Young Master Meng."

  Shu Yu pursed her lips, her expression tense. "Please tell me more specifically."

  The middle-aged scholar no longer beat around the bush. "The main purpose is to find the leader of Dongqing Temple. In fact, the Xiao family has never given up searching for the master, not only in Dong'an Prefecture, but anywhere they hear news about the Dongqing Temple, they will send people to investigate."

  "Why?" Shu Yu furrowed her brows and asked. However, as soon as she asked, she instantly understood.

  What kind of person the leader of Dongqing Temple was, ordinary commoners might not have a clear concept, but as a member of the royal family, she knew it very well.

  The late emperor valued her, and even the current emperor, before ascending the throne, specially sent Meng Yunzheng to search for the leader here.

  Now, the Xiao family had not given up yet. They were even willing to cooperate with the Second Prince and were still contemplating that position. It wasn't strange that they continued to search for the leader of Dongqing Temple.

  Sure enough, the middle-aged scholar continued, "The Xiao family learned about the late emperor's secret search for the leader before ascending the throne. They suspect that the current emperor's accession to the throne might be related to this, so..."

  Shu Yu felt that the Xiao family and the Third Prince were panicking and resorting to desperate measures. Her master indeed had the ability to do physiognomy and fortune-telling, but this matter involved the fate of the country. To rely on her was really overestimating her abilities, wasn't it?

  Shu Yu shook her head, "It seems that Hao Dingshan will probably stay in Dong'an Prefecture for a long time until he finds my master."

  The middle-aged scholar nodded, "Also, about Young Master Meng, they are keeping an eye on him to find out what he has been up to lately, any movements. But this should be just an incidental matter, they haven't invested much energy in Young Master Meng."

  Shu Yu knew about this. Meng Yunzheng's current identity was probably only slightly more concerning to the Second Prince.

  The Xiao family didn't care much about a scholar who only had the title but didn't have much influence, always staying in a small county, unable to have a significant impact on the situation.

  Otherwise, Hao Dingshan wouldn't have personally gone to Jiangyuan County and used such means to keep an eye on him.

  "They didn't bring many people this time, right?" Shu Yu asked.

  The middle-aged scholar replied, "Not many, just three in total."

  Shu Yu understood why Hao Dingshan had personally gone to Jiang Yuan County then.

  "By the way, the person who caused a disturbance at Dongqing Temple today was actually someone from Dong'an Prefecture. He is helping the Xiao family, obviously one of their people. This is good for us as well, as it helps us get rid of an eyesore."

  Shu Yu smiled, "It seems that this trip was quite fruitful for you. Did Prefect Magistrate Fei know about this?"

  The middle-aged scholar nodded, "I have already sent someone to report this to master Fei. Lu Xiangjun, now that you know the purpose of Hao Ding Shan's visit, do you have any ideas?"

  "I don't have any for the moment. Since half of his purpose is aimed at Ah Yun, I'll return to the county in the afternoon and discuss with him," Shu Yu replied.

  "Alright, if you and Young Master Meng need any help, just let me know." He stood up, "I still have matters at the government office, so I'll take my leave."

  Shu Yu stood up to see him off. "Thank you for your hard work, sir. Have a safe journey."

  The middle-aged scholar nodded in acknowledgment and quietly left Lu Ji's shop through the back door.

  Shu Yu let out a sigh of relief and called for Ying Xi. "Let's go, we'll head back."

  After informing Wei Ronghua and leaving everything to him, she took Ying Xi and returned to the county.

 Chapter 1551: There's a Result

  In the mountains, apart from wild goods, even people are scarce.

  Of course, An Le Tian had good looks and great strength. He was skilled in hunting.

  With his conditions, finding a wife wouldn't be a problem.

  But what about the future? If they had children, would they all have to grow up like him, knowing nothing? When something happened at home, they would have to come down from the mountains to this unfamiliar town, experiencing the same bullying he went through and gradually growing up. Would there be enough time for that?

  So after burying his father in the mountains, An Le Tian returned to the city to continue looking for odd jobs.

  However, doing odd jobs like this couldn't earn as much as hunting. But other aspects of life in the mountains couldn't compare to life in the city.

  Today, he was outside the city delivering goods. On his way back to the city, he heard about this shop hiring workers. Afraid of missing the opportunity, he hurried over without even changing his clothes and shoes.

  An Le Tian was somewhat worried that Shu Yu wouldn't find him suitable.

  However, he wasn't overly concerned. After all, he was just trying his luck. If he wasn't hired, he would find other things to do. He wouldn't starve to death anyway.

  After hearing about An Le Tian's experiences, Ren Yiping couldn't help but marvel.

  He was such a perfect fit—experienced, with goals, and strong. Besides, he was a good person to get along with. If it weren't for the difficult-to-investigate background, he would be the best candidate.

  Thinking about this, Ren Yiping sighed again. Well, he couldn't make the decision. In any case, An Le Tian would come for the formal job recruitment day after tomorrow. He would leave the choice to Master Wei.

  After eating half of the roast duck, Ren Yiping put away the rest and cleaned up before going to bed.

  The next day was another bustling day. Shu Yu woke up early and went out. When she arrived at the shop, it was already open, and Wei Ronghua was there. Ren Yiping had set up the table, and even the applicants were waiting at the door.

  Seeing Shu Yu, Wei Ronghua stood up and gave her a summary of yesterday's situation.

  In just one day, there were already fifty to sixty applicants. Today, there would likely be even more.

  And that was with the restrictions of age and gender from the selected candidates' postings. If there were no restrictions, then anyone and everyone would want to try their luck.

  Shu Yu listened while looking at the paper in his hand. The paper contained information on An Le Tian's background. It seemed that Ren Yiping had reported his origin to Wei Ronghua.

  "Alright, you continue with your work."

  Shu Yu went out to have breakfast and bought some things nearby before returning to the shop early.

  She was waiting for the intelligence from the middle-aged scholar. He had said he would have results by the afternoon, but who knew if it might come earlier?

  It turned out to be a stroke of luck. Around noon, the middle-aged scholar returned. He was back earlier than he had estimated, indicating that things had probably gone smoothly.

  He entered the yard from the back door. Shu Yu asked Ying Xi to wait at the entrance, and she talked to the middle-aged scholar alone in the room.

  "Sir, have you found out the result? Please tell me."

  She poured him a cup of tea and sat across from him, asking anxiously.

  "Yes, we have found out the main reason for Hao Dingshan visit to Dong'an Prefecture." The middle-aged scholar had two cups of water, and he was still panting slightly, probably in a hurry to get back. However, his demeanor seemed a bit relaxed, which slightly reassured Shu Yu.

  Chapter 700: The Father of the Girl Found a Son-in-Law (1)

The two official messengers were indeed here to bring good news. After dismounting and bowing to the county Princess Mo Yan first, they then saluted Mo Qingze, addressing him as "Mo Scholar," and respectfully handed him the congratulatory letter.

Mo Qingze opened the letter with an indifferent expression. Upon seeing the ranking listed, a flicker of obscurity appeared in his eyes.

Mo Yan, not noticing her father's strange demeanor, hurried over to see. She immediately saw her father's name at the top, followed by the examination result—101st place in the provincial exams!

The autumn examinations are held every three years, with usually the top 200 out of thousands of scholars in the capital being selected as "juren" (graduates). Being in the 101st position is neither too good nor too bad; however, this ranking does not provide an advantage in the following spring exams.

The spring exams are open to all juren from the entire Great Chu, which has 15 provinces, each selecting more than 200. To be a juren, one must be quite capable. Except for a few who may not feel confident and choose to wait another three years for the spring exams, there will still be 2,500 juren competing for 103 spots as "jinshi" (scholars). The competition will be intense.

Mo Yan couldn’t judge her father’s performance compared to other scholars, so she couldn’t tell if his result was typical or not. However, making it into the top 200 out of 3,000 scholars was already a significant achievement, fulfilling her father's wish.

As for the spring exams, even if he doesn’t succeed next year, he can try again in three years. It’s not too critical.

Mo Yan politely invited the two messengers inside to rest and offered them some refreshments before they left. The messengers, fearful of seeming greedy, declined, saying they had to deliver good news to other households. Mo Yan didn’t insist but gave each messenger a red envelope.

The messengers were overjoyed, and when they opened the envelopes halfway, finding five taels of silver inside, their smiles widened. They thought the new county Princess was indeed generous, and even if they didn’t get extra rewards from other households, this errand was worth it.

Soon, Mo’s home was bustling with visitors coming to offer congratulations. Some families, eager to send their children to school, even brought them along to bask in the newly minted juren’s good fortune, hoping it might bring some of the luck to their own children.

By evening, the house finally quieted down after a lively afternoon. Mo Yan decided to celebrate with her family that night and prepared several of her signature dishes.

When the dishes were ready, Mo Yan handed over the task of cooking the rice to Li Xiu, then went to the study to discuss the banquet with Mo Qingze.

Upon hearing his eldest daughter’s suggestion, Mo Qingze agreed without much hesitation, smiling faintly, “Earlier, when you were granted the title of county Princess, I had planned to hold a banquet once the fuss died down. But since you were worried about attracting unwanted attention, we didn’t have it. Now that we have these two happy events together, it won’t seem excessive, and it will save the villagers from having to give two gifts.”

Mo Qingze did not realize that his daughter was unwilling to celebrate grandly because she felt the title of county Princess was obtained through scheming, and she was already feeling uncomfortable about not returning it. Celebrating with a banquet was the last thing on her mind!

This time, Mo Yan didn’t refuse. She nodded and said enthusiastically, “Yes, let’s do it as you say. We’ll celebrate both events together! We’ll have a buffet-style banquet. Anyone from the village who wants to come for the feast is welcome. We’re not short of provisions!”

(The End of this Chapter)

  Chapter 699: Slapping Mo Qingze's Face at High School (4)

Being struck and reprimanded in front of servants, the Lin family’s eldest son was furious. However, facing Lin Taishi's rage and his cane, he dared not show any dissatisfaction. He impatiently waved his hand, dismissing the annoying steward, and, once the old servant of Lin Taishi had left, he couldn't help but complain to Lin Taishi, “Father, it's bad enough that people have always looked down on our Lin family. Now, even a lowly girl dares to climb over us and act arrogantly. You might endure this, but I cannot!”

Lin Taishi, hearing this, struck his eldest son again with his cane, his face filled with disappointment. “If you know she is the Emperor’s tool to deal with our Lin family, you should keep your distance and avoid provoking her!”

The eldest son, stubbornly retorting, said, “I was just trying to send her some gifts as a courtesy. I had no intention of causing trouble. It’s that girl who was too arrogant, throwing the gifts and people out. She was the one who slapped the Lin family in the face. Why should I not retaliate?”

Lin Taishi, seeing his son’s lack of repentance, became even more disappointed. He coldly said, “Have you forgotten what you did to that girl not long ago? Remember, she is an appointed County Princess  3by the Emperor, has saved the Crown Prince’s life, is closely connected with the Yan family, and has the admiration of the Xiao family. Do you really think she is just a naive country girl? Did you not realize that the Lin family and Aye were behind the recent incidents?”

The eldest son’s face changed dramatically, and he was about to retort but found he had no words. The bandits sent out did not return, and even the spies sent to investigate disappeared. Even he, despite his ignorance, could see the problem.

Lin Taishi sighed heavily, his wrinkles deepening. “I advised you against rash actions, but you listened to Aye and moved against Marquis Hejia. Now, those people are probably in the Crown Prince’s hands. The Crown Prince has not made a move yet, but he is likely preparing for something bigger. Instead of reflecting on your actions, you are causing more trouble. Do you really think the Emperor and the Crown Prince will not act against the Lin family?”

Hearing this, the eldest son’s eyes turned as he recalled another matter. With a burning gaze, he asked, “Father, what is the Emperor’s weakness that you hold? If you tell me, I can use it to protect the Lin family in case of any mishap.”

The eldest son’s reckless behavior was fueled by his knowledge that his father held leverage over Emperor Huian. Otherwise, he and Lin Guifei would never have dared to conspire to poison Empress Chunyi. However, Lin Taishi had never revealed what this leverage was, which only made the eldest son more eager to know, having asked multiple times.

Lin Taishi’s face darkened, and he sternly said, “This matter is something I will take to my grave. Do not waste your time on it! Also, do not take any more actions against Marquis Hejia. Otherwise, I will have no qualms about disowning you and driving you out of the family!”

With that, Lin Taishi ignored his eldest son’s reaction, called in the old servant waiting at the door, and slowly walked out of the main courtyard.

The eldest son watched his father’s aging back, his eyes flashing with uncertainty and calculation.

Unbeknownst to him, Lin Taishi’s refusal to disclose the leverage was actually for his sake. Given the eldest son’s impulsive nature, if he knew the leverage, he might cause irreparable damage to the family. This was the last thing Lin Taishi wanted.

Unfortunately, with such a reckless and incapable son, Lin Taishi’s good intentions might end up wasted.

---

Mo Yan, having slapped the Lin family’s face, was prepared for retaliation. However, after several days, nothing happened, and the household remained calm.

Despite this, Mo Yan did not let her guard down. Each night, she let the five beasts out, and even during the day, two beasts took turns guarding the house.

As October 20 approached, the day of the Autumn Examination results, people awaited the announcement. If one passed the exam, officials would come to deliver the good news. Since it took days for all the results to be delivered, some families would go to the government office early to find out their results.

Mo Yan also wanted to go to the office but was stopped by Mo Qingze, who remained calm, playing chess and reading, showing no sign of worry about the results.

The calmest in the family was Mo Qingze, while the others were restless, running to the door repeatedly, straining their necks to see, only to return disappointed. By noon, when no news had come, Mo Yan could no longer stay still and decided to go to the city to check, fearing a sleepless night for the whole family.

Just as Mo Yan was ready to leave with Dahuzao, Li Yan rushed in excitedly, shouting, “The messenger has arrived! The messenger has arrived…”

Mo Yan was thrilled. Listening carefully, she heard the sound of a gong outside the yard. She patted Dahuzao and told it to go back, then went out to find two messengers on horseback approaching the Mo residence.

Others, hearing the commotion, also ran to the door to wait. Xin’er, at the back, excitedly pulled her helpless father, urging, “Dad, hurry up, walk faster!”

The two messengers soon reached the Mo family’s doorstep. The loud sound of the gong drew the attention of the villagers, who guessed it was a celebratory announcement and were delighted for the Mo family.

 Chapter 1550: Profound Benefits

  Seeing him looking bitter, Shu Yu couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's the matter?"

  "It's a pity. Although he did a lot of work to raise money for his father's treatment and has some experience, his background is unclear. I suspect it might not be good to keep him here."

  "Why do you say that?"

  Ren Yiping explained, "Master Wei said that in business, apart from having good merchandise, we also need to be wary of rivals sabotaging us. People with unclear backgrounds, who can't be easily inquired about, are likely to be deliberately planted by others."

  Shu Yu raised an eyebrow, "It seems that you've learned quite a bit from Master Wei in the short time you've spent with him."

  Ren Yiping touched his head and grinned, "Master Wei is indeed great. I was a bit worried at first, after all, you personally invited him here, so he must be impressive. I was afraid he would be difficult to talk to and demanding. But when he came to the shop for the first time yesterday afternoon, I was especially nervous."

  However, Wei Ronghua turned out to be much more amiable than he had imagined. He was skilled but easygoing.

  When Wei Ronghua arrived, he first cautiously showed the token given by Shu Yu and the shop's key to confirm his identity. Then, without asking about the shop's situation, he chatted about their families, saying that he also had a daughter who was around the same age as Ren Yiping's sister. They could play together in the future.

  Wei Ronghua also mentioned that he wouldn't be living in the shop; he would entrust the backyard of the shop to Ren Yiping to take care of.

  Ren Yiping gradually relaxed and, being quite eloquent himself, quickly became familiar with Wei Ronghua. Whenever he spoke, Wei Ronghua would listen quietly, giving Ren Yiping a sense of similarity to Shu Yu.

  In the morning during the registration of new workers, Wei Ronghua taught Ren Yiping some precautions while working.

  Although it had only been a day and a half, Ren Yiping felt that he had gained profound benefits from the experience.

  Shu Yu smiled, "That's good. Shopkeeper Wei is experienced; you can learn a lot from him, which will benefit you."

  Ren Yiping nodded firmly, "Mm."

  He felt particularly fortunate that he chose to work in the city. Although the shopkeeper in the county was also good, his style of work was completely different from Wei Ronghua. It was like... one was suited for defending the city, and the other for expanding territory.

  After chatting with Ren Yiping for a while, Shu Yu went back to her room to wash up. She was exhausted from running around all day and went to bed early.

  Ren Yiping, on the other hand, sat in his room, eating the roast duck purchased by Shu Yu, and reviewing the knowledge taught by the Wei Ronghua. He analyzed An Le Tian's situation.

  An Le Tian said he had done labor work, carried heavy loads, and worked as an assistant, serving tea and water. He came from the mountains and knew nothing at first. He had encountered obstacles everywhere, being bullied and deceived, going through despair and suffering.

  But fortunately, the young men from his village were tenacious and not afraid of hardship. While taking care of his seriously ill father, An Le Tian worked and earned money. At night, he even eavesdropped on the poor scholar living next door, wanting to learn more skills.

  After his father's illness couldn't be cured and he passed away, An Le Tian had no other relatives in the mountains, so he decided to stay in the city.

  After experiencing the world, he realized that staying hidden in the mountains was not a long-term solution.

 Chapter 1549: That Person is Named An Le Tian

  Entering the shop with pen and paper, Ren Yiping turned around and called out to the young man at the door, "Come in."

  The man took his eyes off Shu Yu's figure and hesitated at the entrance. He carefully walked in and asked in a low voice, "Is the young lady earlier the owner of the shop?"

  "Yes."

  The man immediately covered his face, "With my appearance just now, have I left a bad impression on her? Will she refuse to hire me because of that?"

  Ren Yiping chuckled; this person seemed to be quite anxious. So many people had come to apply, each with their unique characteristics. A simple hole in his shoes was nothing to worry about.

  He spread out the paper, dipped the pen in ink, and said, "You don't need to worry; our boss doesn't judge people by their appearance. As long as you have the ability, she will hire you."

  Moreover, hiring people was entirely handled by Wei Ronghua, the store's shopkeeper. Shu Yu didn't involve herself much in the recruitment process.

  Ren Yiping didn't say much more, just asking, "Name?"

  "An Le Tian."

  "Age?"

  "Eighteen."

  Ren Yiping had recently learned to write, so his handwriting was still a bit shaky, but he carefully recorded the information according to the format given by Wei Ronghua.

  Meanwhile, Shu Yu met with Xiao Shi again.

  She explained the situation in general, but she couldn't be sure whether Hao Dingshan came to Dongqing Temple to find the master or if he had some doubts about Xiao Shi. It wasn't appropriate for Xiao Shi to return to the temple now. In fact, she might not be able to show up at the temple for some time. No one knew when Hao Dingshan would leave, and if he would leave someone to watch over after he left.

  Fortunately, Xiao Shi had packed her belongings before leaving, taking everything she needed with her.

  Shu Yu told her to rest in the inn for a few nights and then find a quiet house in the city to settle down.

  After discussing the matter, Shu Yu didn't stay longer and returned to the shop with Ying Xi.

  The shop was already closed, and Ren Yiping was boiling water in the kitchen. Seeing Shu Yu return, he stood up and said, "Boss, you're back? The hot water is ready; shall I bring it over?"

  Shu Yu waved her hand, "No need, we'll handle it ourselves. Here's a roast duck for you. You've worked hard today."

  She placed a paper bag she was holding on the stove. Ren Yiping sniffed the aroma and grinned, "Thank you, Boss. Is this the roast duck from the Pan family's shop? Every time I pass by their shop, I smell the delicious aroma, but it's a bit expensive, so I haven't been able to afford it. Thanks to you today, I finally get to taste it."

  Ren Yiping had a way with words and could make even a simple roast duck sound poetic.

  Shu Yu smiled as she watched him take out a plate and transfer the roast duck onto it, "Boss, you eat."

  "No, we just had dinner and are still full." Shu Yu poured herself a glass of water and casually asked, "Did the person who came in the evening finish the registration?"

  Ren Yiping nodded, "Yes, the registration is complete. His name is An Le Tian. He's actually a nice person, and I felt comfortable talking to him. Plus, he looks quite handsome after washing his face."

  Shu Yu smiled, "You seem to have a good impression of him."

  "Yeah, he's quite nice. His family lives far from the county, up in the mountains. Two years ago, his father fell seriously ill, so he brought him down to get treatment. After his father passed away, he stayed here and never left. What a pity..."