Chapter 302: Just in Time

The next morning, the inn was leisurely.

Xiao Ningxun flipped through the Jiangzhou local chronicles, occasionally making notes.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi whispered, discussing where each could further refine their martial skills.

Tuan Tuan and Xiao Ran perched by the window together, their small fingers pointing at pedestrians on the street.

"This uncle is round, like a pumpkin!"

"That sister looks beautiful, like a flower butterfly."

Xiao Ran listened to her childish words and chuckled.

Zhou Ping and Zhou An, the brothers, sat on low stools by the door, fiddling with those lock‑picking gadgets.

Now things are different; these items are truly useful for the benefactor, must be well maintained, and must not fail at the crucial moment.

The room door was gently knocked.

"Sir, a gentleman surnamed Kong wishes to see you, saying he's here to deliver something to the miss," the attendant said outside the door.

Xiao Ningxun looked up: "Surname Kong?"

Tuan Tuan had already leapt from the window side: "Kong An is here! Come in quickly!"

The door was pushed open.

Kong An, dressed in clean, crisp clothes, carried a bamboo basket, and entered the room with a bright smile.

Upon entering, his first sight was Tuan Tuan; he hurried forward and gave a deep bow:

"Miss! I've come to see you!"

Zhou Ping and Zhou An looked up, both startled, then suddenly sprang to their feet.

"It's you!"

Kong An, hearing that, turned his head and also saw them.

Three pairs of eyes, one pair.

"You?" Kong An pointed at Zhou Ping and Zhou An, "How did you two little thieves end up here?"

Zhou Ping, unwilling to be outdone, "Who do you think I am! So it's you, the money‑scamming stinky Taoist!"

Zhou An, hands on hips, added, "Exactly! The one who swindled our three copper coins last time was you!"

"I was acting for Heaven!" Kong An's face flushed with anger, "You stole my divination banner!"

"A piece of rags!"

"You think stealing gives you any right?"

"You first swindled our money!"

The three of them volleyed remarks back and forth, arguing so fiercely that old debts were tossed about with a pili‑pala clatter.

Tuan Tuan blinked her big eyes, looking here and there, her little mouth unable to close.

She tugged at Xiao Ningxun's sleeve: "Third Brother, they seem to know each other, don't they?"

Xiao Ningxun watched the chaotic scene before him, his face also full of surprise.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat.

The quarrel abruptly stopped.

Zhou Ping and Zhou An immediately shut their mouths and lowered their heads.

Kong An also realized his misstep, hushed, and glared fiercely at the brothers.

"Enough," Xiao Ningxun said calmly, "Since we're old acquaintances, each now has his own path; there's no need to bring up the past."

"Yes, Third Young Master," Zhou An obediently replied.

Third Young Master?

Kong An's eyes flickered, he put on a smile, turned to Xiao Er and Lu Qi, and greeted familiarly:

"Second Brother! Seventh Brother! Long time no see, you both look even healthier!"

The way he called "Second Brother" and "Seventh Brother" sounded warm and natural, like longtime friends.

Zhou Ping and Zhou An widened their eyes, looking at Kong An, then at Xiao Er and Lu Qi, their faces showing dissent: "Who are you? How dare you call them so familiarly?"

Xiao Er suppressed a laugh and nodded, while Lu Qi raised an eyebrow, giving Kong An a half‑smile, half‑scoff look.

Seeing they didn't deny it, Kong An grew more confident, puffed his chest, cast a sideways glance at the brothers, meaning clearly: I'm far more familiar with them than you two!

Only then did he remember the basket in his hand, hurriedly handing it to Tuan Tuan: "Miss, this is the jujube cake I just steamed this morning, made with premium glutinous rice and golden‑thread jujubes, soft, fragrant, and sweet, specially brought for you and everyone to taste."

When the bamboo basket was lifted, a warm jujube aroma drifted out; the cake was fluffy, speckled with dark‑red jujube flesh, truly enticing.

Tuan Tuan's eyes brightened: "So fragrant!"

Xiao Er took the basket, lifted out the jujube cake, and Tuan Tuan happily grabbed a piece and put it in her mouth: "Delicious!"

Kong An rubbed his hands, smiling broadly, "As long as the miss likes it."

Xiao Er asked, "Kong An, what are you doing now?"

Kong An beamed with pride, "I rented a small shop at the entrance of West City Grain Warehouse Street, selling jujube cake, candied sweets, soy milk, and also some sundries. The capital was given by the miss; I can't waste it, so I started this modest business."

"Grain Warehouse Street entrance?" Lu Qi thought, "That spot has a lot of foot traffic, business should be good, right? Another day when we're free, we'll come support you."

"That's wonderful!" Kong An was overjoyed, but then seemed to recall something, furrowing his brows, waving his hand, "If you come, it's best not to come too early; later is better."

Xiao Er casually asked, "Oh? Why?"

"Alas, never mind," Kong An sighed, "Next to my shop is a big grain warehouse, right? It was fine, but these past two days, I don't know what's happening to that warehouse; a strange odor keeps drifting out."

"It's sweet‑cloying and a bit acrid; whether you call it fragrant or foul, after a while it makes you dizzy. It's milder in daytime, but especially at night the smell intensifies, wafting outward in waves, only dispersing at daybreak."

"At first I thought they were simmering anti‑pest herbs for the grain, but who would smoke the grain in the middle of the night?"

Kong An wore a troubled expression, sighing, "That smell is really odd; customers these mornings keep asking about it. I'm pondering whether to pick a day and talk to the warehouse manager…"

Xiao Ningxun sat up straight.

Xiao Ran, who was wiping Tuan Tuan's mouth, put down the handkerchief he was holding.

Lu Qi and Xiao Er exchanged a glance.

Even Zhou Ping and Zhou An, who were sulking, also pricked up their ears.

"Kong An." Xiao Ningxun suddenly spoke, cutting off his nonstop complaints.

Kong An was startled: "Third Young Master?"

Xiao Ningxun looked at him: "You just said that the strange smell was sweet, cloying, and pungent, and stronger at night?"

"Yes, yes." Kong An, feeling a bit nervous under his gaze, said, "Third Young Master, is something wrong?"

Xiao Er asked, "Do you know whose granary that is?"

"I know! It's the granary of Jiang Kuo Business Hall."

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ran exchanged a glance; indeed, it was so!

Xiao Ningxun rose to his feet and said, "Kong An, could you conveniently take us to your shop today?"

Kong An, though not understanding why, saw how much they valued it and immediately puffed out his chest: "Convenient! Always convenient!"

He vaguely realized that he might have unintentionally said something remarkable.

This trip, it seemed, had come at just the right time.

The party set off at once, following Kong An to his shop.