Chapter 164

Xie Xinghan's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She thought intently for a moment and asked, "Have you told anyone else about this?"

The man immediately replied, "No, no, this lowly one only told the Young Lady; I haven't spoken to any irrelevant people."

If he had told others, he might not be the only one reporting it. Such an opportunity to show loyalty and demonstrate his keen eye was, of course, not something he would share.

Xie Xinghan's tone turned cold: "You must let this matter rot in your stomach. The affairs of the Langya Wang family are not something others can meddle in. If you speculate wildly or wag your tongue, and it causes any trouble, don't say the Wang family won't tolerate you—I won't spare you either."

The man nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, this lowly one wouldn't dare to guess wildly, let alone speak of it!"

"Good. You've worked hard today. Xiao Ning, take two strings of coins and give them to him."

The man's face instantly beamed with joy: "Thank you, Young Lady! Thank you, Young Lady!"

"Receiving money is a happy event, but some happy events are best not flaunted. Otherwise, if others ask why you received the money, you might inevitably let something slip, and that happy event might just turn into a funeral."

A chill ran through the man's heart, and he hurriedly wiped away his smile: "The Young Lady's lesson is correct; this lowly one would absolutely not dare to flaunt it."

After he exited the room, Xie Xinghan instructed Xiao Ning: "Tell Shi Er to transfer this person to his boat. They will set sail in a while; take him along."

Xiao Ning was stunned for a moment, hesitating: "Is that really necessary..."

"How is it not necessary? This is called nipping trouble in the bud. Since he knows about this, it's hard to guarantee he won't let something slip..."

Xiao Ning was somewhat speechless that her mistress was so worried about Wang Yang's affairs, and she blurted out: "Then I know about this too..."

Xie Xinghan looked at Xiao Ning: Hmm...

Seeing her mistress looking at her with a thoughtful expression, Xiao Ning was startled and hurriedly begged tearfully: "Xiao Ning has the tightest lips! Mistress, please don't send Xiao Ning back to Jiankang!!!!"

On the riverbank, two riders stood side by side.

Wang Yang said: "Qingshan, you must be tired today. How about we go back and rest first?"

Chen Qingshan shook her head.

"Are you hungry? I'll have someone make something to eat. How about a late-night snack in a while?"

Chen Qingshan shook her head again.

"How about we go back to the warehouse and take another look at that horse lance?"

The horse lance was too long, and taking it out tonight would attract attention, so Chen Qingshan hadn't brought it out and it was still in the warehouse.

Xiao Shan's phoenix eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.

Just as the two were about to return to the freight station, they saw a steward from the Xie family coming over with a lantern, his face full of smiles. He bowed to Wang Yang: "Young Master Wang, my master invites you to board the boat."

"Your master? Has Xie Niangzi arrived?"

In this pitch-black night, Xie Xinghan actually left the city? How did she know I was here?

"Yes, the master is waiting for you on the boat."

"Alright, let's go."

Seeing Chen Qingshan also pulling the reins to follow Wang Yang, the steward stopped and said: "This young lady doesn't need to come along."

"Why?" Wang Yang asked.

"The master only invited the Young Master."

Wang Yang grew suspicious: "What about Xiao Ning? If she invited me, why not let Xiao Ning come?"

"This lowly one does not know."

Wang Yang reined in his horse and said: "That won't do. It's so dark, and we're boarding a boat; my guard cannot leave my side."

"Then should this lowly one go back and report this?"

"Go ahead. Xie Niangzi won't stop me from bringing a guard."

Wang Yang watched as the steward boarded the third boat. Before long, he returned, bringing Xiao Ning with him.

Xiao Ning bowed respectfully to Wang Yang, then bowed to Chen Qingshan, smiling: "I heard the Young Master was worried because he didn't see Xiao Ning, so now Xiao Ning has come to invite the Young Master!"

Wang Yang had seen that steward before; he was indeed from the Xie Fu. That boat was docked with the first two, so it should also be a Xie family boat. It was just that when Xie Xinghan suggested a small gathering today, Wang Yang had already refused.

Furthermore, Wang Yang had told Xie Xinghan to let the Strong Man be responsible for this matter. Logically, Xie Xinghan shouldn't know he would appear at the Linjiang freight station tonight. That was why Wang Yang was a bit suspicious about whether Xie Xinghan was really on the boat.

Seeing Xiao Ning now, he could basically confirm the steward wasn't deceiving him, but Wang Yang preferred stability and didn't like the word "basically," so he said: "Xiao Ning, you've met Qingshan before. It's fine if I bring her on board, right?"

Xiao Ning said apologetically: "Young Master, the Mistress did indeed say to invite only the Young Master. Xiao Ning dare not make the decision."

Not letting me bring my guard?

What does this mean?

Wang Yang originally wanted to refuse and not go, but on second thought, what if it really was Xie Xinghan? She had just helped him, she had left the city in the middle of the night, and besides, today was the day the boats were setting sail; it wouldn't be good to slight her.

He whispered to Chen Qingshan: "If you hear me shouting in a while, or if you don't see me come off the boat in half an hour, tell the Strong Man, then board the boat to find me. Tell the Strong Man that if you don't come off either, have him execute the backup plan."

Chen Qingshan nodded.

The so-called backup plan was the guards Wang Yang had borrowed from Yu Yi after he had persuaded Yu Yi about the water transport strategy on the night of the Dragon Boat Festival. There were twelve of them in total, and it was said they were all skilled fighters.

In fact, based on Wang Yang's judgment, after Wang Tai heard his report, there was really no need to make a big fuss; he should have just sent the Poker Face to follow him and confirm it. Because the Poker Face was Wang Tai's trusted aide, his martial arts were good, and he had been present during his several conversations with Wang Tai, understanding the cause and effect, so sending the Poker Face was most appropriate.

But nothing is absolute.

What if Wang Tai had a whim and called a few more people? Or because of some other reason, Chen Qingshan couldn't take down the Poker Face alone, so Wang Yang had borrowed people from Yu Yi under the pretext of "worrying about people hijacking the cargo."

This backup plan was just in case; if not forced to, Wang Yang wouldn't use it.

Wang Yang followed Xiao Ning onto the boat, walked to the second floor, and entered a room.

The room was elegantly decorated with carved portholes and fine sandalwood incense. A table was set by the window, with a pot and two cups, a set of dishes and chopsticks, and four exquisite red-lacquered food boxes. The boxes had lids painted with colorful lotus patterns.

A young lady sat by the table in a moon-white dress with gold-trimmed edges. Her jade fingers were slightly curved, supporting her cheek, and she smiled at Wang Yang.

"Xie Niangzi." Wang Yang cupped his hands in greeting, feeling relieved.

Xie Xinghan glanced at Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning exited the room reluctantly and closed the door.

"Young Master, please sit." Xie Xinghan supported her sleeve with her left hand, while her right hand gracefully traced an arc in the air, palm facing upward, as if holding a piece of soft cloud.

Wang Yang sat down, looked at the food boxes, and asked suspiciously: "This is?"

Xie Xinghan said with a smile: "These are four small dishes I made. Please give me your guidance, Young Master."

"Whoa! You have this skill too!"

Wang Yang was somewhat surprised; he had always thought Xie Xinghan didn't touch the kitchen.

"I have always eaten the dishes you made, Young Master. Today is a return invitation."

Wang Yang feigned a frown: "The Young Master has invited you so many times; one return invitation is not enough!"

Xie Xinghan smiled, and like a gentle maid, she said: "If the Young Master can compose a poem for each dish he tastes, then this young woman will continue to cook and serve the Young Master in the future."

Wang Yang enjoyed the role-play. He sat up straight, tapped the table as if he were really being served by Xie Xinghan, and put on airs: "Pour the wine."

Xie Xinghan smiled and uncovered the first food box: "No rush. Young Master, taste the first dish. After the poem is composed, this young woman will pour the wine for you."

Wang Yang saw a porcelain plate in the box with golden rice and emerald green scallions. He couldn't believe it: "This is... egg fried rice?"

"Diancui Suijin Rice."

"Isn't this still egg fried rice..."

"It is Diancui Suijin Rice!"

"The first time you invite me, you serve egg fried rice..."

"It is Diancui... What, you want to eat an Eight Treasure Feast!" Xie Xinghan said angrily. The ingredients for this rice cost ten times more than egg fried rice; this guy actually didn't know his stuff!

"Alright, alright, I'll taste it... Hmm? This really isn't the taste of egg fried rice. It's so fresh! How did you do it!" Wang Yang was pleasantly surprised.

"I told you it wasn't egg fried rice... Where is the poem?" Xie Xinghan reached out, as if demanding an object.

"Hmm... Got it! Pine fire and cloud-boiled, fragrant cooked jade grains round. Why value the Eight Treasures? None are as fresh as this bowl of rice."

"You are mocking me!"

"Speaking the truth, how is it mocking? Be confident! The poem is finished, pour the wine quickly!"

Xie Xinghan poured a cup for Wang Yang in a huff.

Wang Yang drank the wine and uncovered the second food box, seeing a plate of sea snails, each the size of a nail. There were bamboo picks on the side.

He used a bamboo pick to pick out a snail, put it in his mouth, and praised: "These stir-fried sea snails are really good. They were marinated in sauce beforehand, right? Delicious! Does it also have some elegant name?"

"This dish is called 'Drunken Dancing Spring Breeze Snails.' It is stir-fried to be fragrant and smooth, and every piece is flavorful. Eating it is like touching the spring breeze, hence the name 'Spring Breeze.' Because it is marinated in honey wine before being put in the pot, it is also called 'Drunken Dancing'."

"Good name! It's just a bit troublesome to eat." Wang Yang picked out snail meat while listening to Xie Xinghan, and only managed to eat two in this time.

Xie Xinghan's eyes curved: "If the Young Master composes a poem, this young woman will pick the snail meat for you."

"Easy!" Wang Yang had defeated the Poker Face and was in high spirits, feeling like he was invincible! He poured a cup of wine, drank it in one gulp, and smiled as he recited: "The plate of snails is freshly made, the spring breeze enters the drunken eyes. The slender scallion fingers are delicate, how can they be soiled by grease?"

The corners of Xie Xinghan's mouth lifted slightly: "I suppose you have a bit of a conscience."

"Start picking."

Xie Xinghan:???

"Didn't you just say 'The slender scallion fingers are delicate, how can they be soiled by grease'???"

Wang Yang placed the bamboo pick in front of Xie Xinghan: "It's for the sake of the rhyme, it's not to be taken seriously... Wash your hands before picking the meat!"

Xie Xinghan: (╬▔＾▔)

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Note: Noble women in the Northern and Southern Dynasties were not incapable of cooking; on the contrary, culinary skill was part of "women's work." Although daily meals were mostly handled by servants, there were occasions where they had to "take the field themselves." For example, Cui Hao of the Qinghe Cui family, a top-tier family in the Northern Dynasties, said in the "Classic of Food": "From my youth to adulthood, what I have heard and seen, the women's work practiced by my mothers and aunts, there is nothing they are not well-versed in regarding wine and food. Morning and evening, they serve their parents-in-law, and during the four seasons, they perform sacrifices. Even though there are servants, they do not drive them, but always do it themselves."

Cui Hao meant that their family never lacked kitchen workers, but the elders like his mother, aunts, and aunts often cooked themselves and did not drive the servants.