Chapter 60

So, although the fan shop owner didn't receive a deposit, he enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Military Advisor's mansion thanks to Wang Yang.

Jiao Zheng's daughter, Jiao Yan, blinked her eyes and asked in a sweet voice:

"Young master, Yan'er has never seen such a fan. It seems to be made of paper? Isn't it afraid of breaking? What is the special use of this opening and closing? Can you lend it to Yan'er to see?"

Wang Yang said: "It's just made for fun. If you like it, I'll give you one later."

Although he said so, he didn't let Jiao Yan see the paper fan in his hand.

Seeing that Wang Yang wouldn't give it to her, Jiao Yan didn't dare to pester him further.

Jiao Zheng, on the other hand, was even more convinced that Wang Yang was a playboy who liked novel and exotic things, and he secretly pondered how to please Wang Yang in the future.

Cups were pushed, and toasts were exchanged.

The Jiao family flattered him diligently, urging him to drink and eat. Wang Yang was cold and aloof at first, but after several rounds of drinks, he began to laugh and talk freely, and the atmosphere gradually improved.

Before long, another person asked to see Wang Yang, this time bringing a small note for him.

Wang Yang looked at the note, his expression changed, and he asked Jiao Zheng: "Old Jiao, what did you say your position was again?"

"Your subordinate is currently the Military Advisor of the External Troops," Jiao Zheng hurriedly replied.

"Oh right, then the personnel arrangements and transfers of the garrison soldiers outside the city are under your management."

"Yes, your subordinate is in charge of the affairs of the External Troops Office. The transfer of garrison soldiers is indeed one of your subordinate's duties."

"Alright, then I'll entrust you with a matter—"

Jiao Zheng immediately said: "Young master, please give your orders. As long as your subordinate can do it, I will definitely do my best!"

Wang Yang pretended to look at the note again, then looked at Jiao Zheng, observing his facial changes as he spoke:

"In the Qu Garrison, Huang Kui Battalion, 12th Squad, there is a soldier named Blackie. He is to be transferred to Tianmen Commandery tomorrow. Cancel this transfer order."

Jiao Zheng's expression stiffened immediately. Wang Yang could arrange for any garrison soldier, but why did it have to be this Blackie?

He said in great difficulty: "For a transfer order to an external commandery, the military registration has already been transferred. To cancel it, I have to coordinate with the external commandery. Your subordinate finds it hard to handle."

Wang Yang suspected that Jiao Zheng's words were false.

There were two points of suspicion.

First, Jiao Zheng's expression when Wang Yang mentioned Blackie.

This likely meant he had an impression of Blackie's transfer order.

How could a Military Advisor of the External Troops have an impression of a small garrison soldier's transfer order?

Unless this transfer order was unusual.

Second, Jiao Zheng's words were evasive. If he really couldn't do it, he should have said he "could not do it," not that it was "hard to handle."

"Hard to handle" might mean "unwilling to handle."

Of course, it's also possible that Wang Yang was overthinking it, and the reality might be that it was indeed hard to handle, or Jiao Zheng was deliberately exaggerating the difficulty to make Wang Yang owe him a favor.

Wang Yang drank a cup of wine calmly, the wine cup landing on the table:

"Military Advisor Jiao, are you trying to deceive me because you think I don't understand military affairs?"

Changing from "Old Jiao" to "Military Advisor Jiao," Jiao Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he said hurriedly:

"How would your subordinate dare to deceive you?! It's just that this matter involves transfers to external commanderies, and the procedures are very complicated. Your subordinate really has no way!"

This was, of course, an evasion.

Jiao Zheng could cancel the transfer order, but he had taken money from someone else and had to do things for them.

If it were someone else, Jiao Zheng would just return the money.

But for that person, Jiao Zheng really couldn't afford to offend them.

On one side was the Langya Wang clan he had finally connected with, and on the other was that person he couldn't offend.

Sigh! Being a person is hard!

He hesitated slightly and asked: "Your subordinate dares to ask what connection this garrison soldier has with you? You want to cancel his transfer order, you want to..."

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't. I'm using this person. How about this, I won't force you. Delay the transfer order for six days. After six days, I won't care where he is transferred."

This is good!

Delaying doesn't mean not doing it, just doing it later. It neither offends that person nor fails to help the young master.

The best of both worlds!

"Young master, rest assured. If it's just a six-day delay, leave it to me!"

Wang Yang smiled faintly: "Then thank you, Military Advisor Jiao."

"I dare not, I dare not. It is your subordinate's honor to do things for you! Your subordinate, and my daughter, have always admired the style of the Langya Wang clan. Seeing a top-tier figure like you today, I can't tell you how happy I am... Yan'er! Why are you still standing there like a fool? The young master's cup is empty, why don't you hurry and fill it for him?"

The banquet lasted until midnight (around 12:00 AM). During this time, Wang Yang wanted to take the opportunity to find out the hidden story behind Blackie's transfer order, but he didn't succeed.

Jiao Zheng also intentionally or unintentionally probed Wang Yang's family background, but naturally, he gained nothing.

Both pretended to be drunk, talking enthusiastically, but in reality, they were clear-headed and guarded against each other.

After the banquet, Wang Yang prepared to return to the Commandery School and sent someone back to call for a carriage.

Jiao Zheng smiled apologetically:

"The night road is uneven, why should you suffer the hardship of bumping around? Why not stay at your subordinate's home for the night and let your subordinate send you back tomorrow morning?"

Wang Yang thought: Staying here for a night is fine. It's so late, no need to bother the Commandery School's carriage to come over. Besides, he still needed Jiao Zheng to handle Blackie's matter, so it wouldn't be good to lose his face too much, so he agreed.

The main room of the Jiao family had long been prepared, with green-latticed carved windows supported by bamboo poles, a red-lacquered long desk with the Four Treasures of the Study, and a pair of candles lit on the desk.

The quilt was scented, the gauze curtains were wide, the incense was white sandalwood bought just before the banquet, and the gauze curtains were borrowed from Jiao Zheng's good friend, Zhao the Merit Officer.

In short, they had exhausted their efforts to imitate the furnishings in an aristocratic home.

Regardless of whether the imitation was accurate, in terms of the spaciousness of the room and the exquisiteness of the furniture, it was better than the dormitory Wang Yang lived in at the Commandery School.

After Wang Yang finished washing and changed into the sleeping clothes prepared by the Jiao family, he was observing the room's furnishings when Jiao Zheng's daughter, Jiao Yan, came to serve tea.

She was wearing a light white silk skirt, with a purple bodice underneath faintly visible. Her cheeks were slightly red, and her long hair was draped down wet, looking like she had just finished bathing.

It must be said that this white skirt is really not something an ordinary person can hold up. If any aspect of temperament, appearance, or figure is lacking, it is easy to fall into dullness. A little beauty like Xie Xinghan looks like a little fairy in a white skirt. If she played Little Dragon Maiden or Huang Rong, she would definitely be popular all over the country.

But she has no acting skills, and her personality is quite arrogant. If she went to some "Infinite Transcendence Class," she would definitely confront all the mentors, hahaha.

Wang Yang's train of thought drifted, and he didn't notice Jiao Yan coming in to pour tea, tidy the candlestick, and make the bed.

But the bed had already been made by the servants, and she had nothing to make, so she could only grind and linger by the bed to smooth the bedding.

Wang Yang came back to his senses and said: "Miss Jiao, it's late, go back to sleep."

"Yan'er... is not sleepy," Jiao Yan whispered.

"You're not sleepy, but I am."

Jiao Yan lowered her head, her voice like a mosquito: "Yan'er wants to stay and serve you."