Chapter 877: We Can Finally Celebrate

Xiao Ningyuan looked at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Mr. Mei Er's concerns are not without reason; if it were me, I'd also worry."

Mei Er's eyes lit up, he nodded repeatedly, his face full of grateful smile: "Exactly! Boss Xiao is truly understanding, we practically hit it off!"

"Hit it off?"

Xiao Ningyuan rolled his eyes: "Hit it off? I feel like giving you a beating!"

He couldn't be bothered to correct himself, waved his hand: "Fine, we'll stay here and let the cargo ship go back to report."

He paused, then asked: "You don't want the cargo on that ship?"

Mei Er shook his head, a hint of disdain appearing on his face: "With these top-tier treasures, what are those things?"

"We don't need them; Boss Xiao, it's more urgent to have the cargo ship return tomorrow to deliver the news."

"Good!" Xiao Ningyuan stood up, "Both of you, I've been here half a day and haven't eaten a bite; shouldn't we go downstairs?"

Mei Er laughed heartily, quickly rose: "Of course, of course! Please, Boss Xiao."

Kui Yi also stood up, Mei Er smiled at him.

Kui Yi understood, his face instantly breaking into a smile, he gestured with his hand: "Xiao, please."

The three walked down the stairs to the first floor.

Only to see the hall filled with harmony.

The two groups had long since lost the awkwardness of their first meeting.

Boerte's face was flushed red, one arm slung over Luo Zhenjiang's shoulder, the other hand holding a wine cup, babbling in Dutch.

Luo Zhenjiang didn't care whether he understood, slapped his back and laughed loudly: "Your drinking capacity is no good!"

"Your liquor is no good either! Something as weak as sweet water dares to be called alcohol? Another day I'll take you back to Jiangzhou to show you what real strong liquor is!"

Haideng and Lu Qi sat facing each other, gesturing with their hands to mimic the pose from their earlier contest, Lu Qi gave Haideng a thumbs-up.

Feng Zhou sat at the table, a row of empty cups before him, pulling the sleeve of a young officer, speaking and gesturing about something.

That officer was left bewildered by his words, just repeating a single phrase over and over; Feng Zhou followed along, the two talking past each other yet both enthusiastic.

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ze leaned against the chair backs, one with arms crossed over his chest, the other wearing a faint smile, observing the crowd.

Xiao Er held Tuan Tuan by the window, together with Xiao Ningxun, the two pointing at the stars in the sky as they chatted casually with Tuan Tuan.

Xiao Ningyuan froze for a moment, then turned his head to look at Mei Er and Kui Yi.

The two exchanged a glance, also looking surprised.

Cai Tong set down his cup, quickly stepped forward, and briefly explained the earlier arm-wrestling match.

Xiao Ningyuan laughed: "This really is a case of no fight, no acquaintance."

Mei Er and Kui Yi also laughed.

"Big brother!" Tuan Tuan turned her head, saw Xiao Ningyuan, slipped from Xiao Er's arms onto the ground, and ran over.

She flung herself into his arms, lifted her little face to look at him: "Where have you been? I wanted to find you, but they wouldn't let me go upstairs!"

Xiao Ningyuan bent down, picked her up, pinched her little nose: "Big brother's been discussing business, little Tuan Tuan."

Tuan Tuan pouted, pointed at the two soldiers by the stairway: "It's them who won't let me go up!"

Mei Er's face instantly darkened: "Who dares to prevent Boss Xiao's sister from going upstairs? I'll definitely punish them later."

Tuan Tuan wrapped one little arm around Xiao Ningyuan's neck, rubbed her eyes with the other hand, voice soft and sleepy: "Big brother, I'm tired, when are we going home?"

Xiao Ningyuan patted her little back: "Tired? Then let's leave now."

Mei Er hurried to detain him, Xiao Ningyuan smiled and waved his hand: "My sister is tired; I'll come visit again in three days."

Mei Er felt a bit embarrassed: "Boss Xiao, you're leaving without having dinner, really neglectful."

"Big brother, you haven't eaten yet?" Tuan Tuan raised her little hand, pointed at the table: "Big brother, try that thing called bread, it's especially delicious."

Upon hearing that, Mei Er hastily waved to summon a soldier, giving him a few orders.

The soldier walked to the table, packed the remaining bread into a paper box, and held it out to Xiao Ningyuan.

Xiao Ningyuan took it: "Thank you for the trouble, Mr. Mei Er."

Mei Er saw everyone to the Governor's Mansion gate: "Cai Tong, they've all drunk quite a bit; you must make sure to send them all safely back to the inn."

"Yes!" Cai Tong responded, clasped his fists: "Please, Boss Xiao."

Everyone mounted their horses and headed toward the inn.

Mei Er watched them disappear into the distance, then turned and walked back into the hall.

He scanned the crowd: "Have they been in the hall all evening?"

Haideng nodded: "Except for that kid who kept trying to run upstairs, got stopped a few times, then ran outside to play for a while."

Boerte interjected: "That child is terribly mischievous, always running back and forth, a dark-faced man constantly following her, while nobody else ever left the hall."

Mei Er nodded, picked up two cups from the table, handed one to Kui Yi: "Governor, we can finally celebrate a little."

Kui Yi took the cup and lightly clinked it against his.

The two smiled at each other, then tilted their heads back and drained the cups.

Everyone returned to the inn, closed the room door, and all sat down.

Only then did Cai Tong relax: "At least we made it back unscathed; did we get the Ancestral Spirit Mask?"

Xiao Er gave a faint smile, pulled the mask from his bosom.

Cai Tong's face lit up with delight: "Great! I wonder how happy Malian will be when he sees this."

Immediately his expression darkened: "Uh-oh! If they discover the mask is missing tomorrow morning, won't we be in trouble?"

"No way, Uncle Cai!" Tuan Tuan looped her arms around Luo Zhenjiang's neck, gave a little yawn: "I'm so sleepy."

Cai Tong hastily stood up: "After a night of tossing and turning, it's time to rest; I'll take my leave first."

Xiao Ningxun clasped his fists: "Mr. Cai, tomorrow we'd like to first go to the dock, then to the hunting grounds of Hemp Bean Society; please arrange that for us."

"Okay."