Chapter 301: I rewarded you with a mouthful of rice

Luo Hongli bent at the waist, her whole body stiffened; the expression on her face shifted from bashful to shocked, then from shocked to bewildered, finally freezing into a strange look of sudden realization.

She slowly straightened up, her gaze toward Xiao Ran completely changed.

That gaze held shock, sympathy, understanding, and a hint of regret.

Xiao Ran's pupils quaked; seated in the chair, his whole body turned to stone, his face flushed and pale, his mouth open but no sound came out.

After speaking, Tuan Tuan also patted Luo Hongli's hand, giving a thoughtful "I already told you" expression.

After a long while, Luo Hongli rose and walked over to Xiao Ran, solemnly patting his shoulder.

Her tone was full of understanding and tolerance: "I misunderstood, sorry!"

Xiao Ran: "I..."

"It's fine, really fine!" Luo Hongli shook her head firmly, her gaze sincere enough to tug at the heart, "This... this isn't a big deal either!"

"Our Bridgehead Gang also has several brothers like this— they're especially righteous and skilled!"

She even began to enthusiastically suggest: "If you... well, if you want to get acquainted, I can help introduce you! Really, they're all good people!"

Xiao Ran's face had turned completely green.

He trembled his lips, trying to explain: "No, Miss Luo, hear me out— this girl she..."

"No need to say more!" Luo Hongli waved her hand, cutting him off: "I understand, I understand completely! Rest assured, I won't tell a soul about this! From now on, you are my sworn brother, Luo Hongli!"

After speaking, she also pounded her chest firmly to show sincerity.

Xiao Ran despairingly closed his eyes.

On the stairs, Xiao Ningxun's expression twisted, his whole body trembling slightly.

Xiao Er had already turned his back, facing the wall, his shoulders shaking like leaves in the wind.

Lu Qi looked up at the beam, hiding his embarrassment, muttering: "This beam's mortise-and-tenon structure is quite exquisite..."

Luo Hongli felt completely at ease, and she patted Xiao Ran's shoulder again: "From now on, if anything happens in River Prefecture, just come find me! My Bridgehead Gang may lack other things, but brotherly loyalty is more than enough!"

Having said that, she winked at Tuan Tuan: "Little one, thanks!"

Tuan Tuan puffed out her little chest proudly: "You're welcome!"

Luo Hongli cupped her fists at everyone in a carefree gesture, then turned and strode out of the inn.

After she walked away, Xiao Ran slowly opened his eyes, looking at Tuan Tuan, his teeth grinding: "Tuan Tuan!"

Tuan Tuan blinked her innocent big eyes: "Ninth Brother, I've convinced Sister Luo for you!"

"Little one," Xiao Ran murmured, "Ninth Brother thanks you."

Tuan Tuan smiled, eyes crinkling: "No need to thank!"

Xiao Ran staggered upstairs.

That night, Xiao Ran had a nightmare all night long.

In the dream, it was all Luo Hongli patting his shoulder, enthusiastically introducing him to the "good brothers of the Bridgehead Gang," each more muscular than the last, each with a more ambiguous gaze.

When he woke, the sky was just beginning to lighten; he sat on the bed, dazed for a long while.

And the culprit of all this was asleep, her little face flushed, murmuring sleep-talk:

"Sister Luo... Ninth Brother... boys..."

Xiao Ningxun listened to his sister's sleep-talk, recalling Xiao Ran from earlier that day, and couldn't help but laugh again.

This little ancestor... really, nobody can do anything about her.

A few days later, at night, in the Shen family study.

Shen Wanjin sat behind the desk, with three items lined up in a row before him:

A plain white porcelain cup.

A blue stone inkstone.

A folding fan that's still rather delicate.

The most ordinary of objects— if thrown on the street, nobody would necessarily bother to pick it up.

But at this moment, in Shen Wanjin's eyes, these three things were more nauseating than any evil spirit.

The cup had appeared on the shop counter the morning before yesterday.

The inkstone had been leaning against the stone steps at the shop entrance yesterday evening.

The fan had appeared this afternoon on the well platform in his backyard.

Three days, three items.

Coincidentally, these are exactly the things he's stolen these past few days!

"Hah..." Shen Wanjin squeezed a cold laugh from his throat, his fingertips icy.

Not a coincidence.

Absolutely not.

Who? Who is using this method to tell him, "I know what you stole. I also know where you hid it!"

This person actually managed to place these items in his shop and his home!

Shen Wanjin clenched his fists tightly,

What about tomorrow? What will tomorrow bring?

If these can be found out, what about the rest?

Who? Who exactly is this mysterious person?!

"Bang!"

Shen Wanjin slammed his fist on the table, making the porcelain cup jump from the shock.

The candlelight shook violently, light and shadow scattering wildly across the room.

We can't wait any longer; we absolutely cannot sit and wait for death!

Come here.

From outside the door came the steward's cautious reply: "Master."

"Summon him." He paused, then: "At once! Hurry!"

"Yes."

After a moment, the study's door was pushed open silently.

A slender figure drifted in, wrapped in the night wind.

It was Qixiazi.

He entered the room without performing any rites, simply found a chair and sat down, his whole body exuding a rotten medicinal odor.

Shen Wanjin instinctively covered his nose with his sleeve, brows furrowed, his gaze toward him full of disgust.

"How has progress been these past few days?"

Qixiazi twitched the corner of his mouth: "Shen Boss, so prosperous, you have no idea what it's like for me to stay underground all day."

Shen Wanjin's face darkened further.

He knew Qixiazi was speaking the truth.

The place where the poison is brewed is underground, with extremely poor ventilation; the mixed smell of toxic herbs and medicines makes staying there for long indeed a torment.

He glanced at Qixiazi: "Who let you lose Xibei? You're a defeated general; you deserve this punishment."

Shen Wanjin said coldly: "The higher-ups are urging delivery again."

Qixiazi didn't even lift his eyelids: "How much? When do you need it?"

"Produce as much as needed; within seven days, transport all that is ready."

"Seven days?" Qixiazi shot up his head: "Shen Boss, there are barely enough people who can still breathe in my place—including me, less than ten. You want me to brew all the medicine in seven days? Finish it all? How is that possible!"

"That's your problem." Shen Wanjin remained unmoved: "If there aren't enough hands, add more; if there isn't enough time, work through the night."

Qixiazi looked at him and laughed: "Shen Boss, we're now grasshoppers on the same rope."

Again, those words.

Shen Wanjin's inner malicious fire surged up.

He abruptly rose, walked around the desk, and step by step approached Qixiazi.

The two were extremely close; the rotten odor assailed him, and Shen Wanjin suppressed the urge to vomit, speaking each word with a pause:

"Taoist Priest, don't forget either. The reason you can still stand here and breathe is because I gave you a mouthful of food."

"Isn't the lesson from Qingyunguan enough yet?"

Qixiazi's face twitched.

Shen Wanjin stepped back a few steps, shook off his sleeves, as if what he had just approached was something dirty.

"In five days." He repeated, "Otherwise you just stay down there underground, no need to come out."

Qixiazi's Adam's apple rolled; he squeezed out two words from between his teeth: "Understood."

"Go." Shen Wanjin turned and sat back in his chair, no longer looking at him.

Qixiazi gave him a deep look, then vanished silently outside the door.