Chapter 320: Noodles, Eaten on the Road

Qiu Zhiheng led Lu Chunying, Ma Wu, and others off the train, bypassing Xiaoyao Wud and Lu Chunying's residence, heading straight for the He family mansion.

They were ambushed at Heishipo; Qiu Zhiheng was wounded and should have rested longer, but he received word that He Haiqin's funeral was today—he had to bring Lu Chunying to pay respects; such occasions demanded proper etiquette.

Duan Shaoxia also brought Zhang Huaiyi; at the funeral, Qiu Zhiheng stood behind Lu Chunying, while Duan Shaoxia kept staring at him, her eyes filled with fury and sorrow.

After the funeral ended, Tan Fu had business and left first.

He Yuxiu found Qiu Zhiheng: "Monkey, come have a drink with me."

"Where do you want to go, sister?"

"Let's go to Xiaoyao Wud—support Ma Wu's business."

With He Yuxiu now in charge of the He family, and she extending goodwill, Qiu Zhiheng naturally agreed.

At Xiaoyao Wud, Ma Wu arranged a private room; He Yuxiu said: "Junyang, I want to drink alone with Monkey."

Ma Wu understood and stepped out, instructing his men not to disturb them.

Qiu Zhiheng poured He Yuxiu a cup of wine; she drank it in one gulp.

He poured another; she drank it too.

After five cups, He Yuxiu began to cry: "Haiqin is gone… gone…"

Qiu Zhiheng said nothing; he knew silence was best—letting He Yuxiu cry freely was more effective than any words.

After crying, He Yuxiu looked at Qiu Zhiheng: "How do you think I look?"

"Beautiful," Qiu Zhiheng answered seriously.

"At my age, I'm not much worse than those young girls, am I?"

"Far better than them."

"Then why didn't you ever want me? I'm a few years older, but back then I was top-tier beautiful—I practically threw myself at you, and you still wouldn't marry me?"

Qiu Zhiheng held his cup, silent for a long while: "Sister, you know I couldn't. Our statuses are different."

"Did I ever care about status? Back then, if you'd just said one word, I'd have taken your surname!"

Qiu Zhiheng remained silent; He Yuxiu wiped her tears: "Haiqin is gone, Haisheng doesn't care for me—I've lost everyone close to me in this life."

"Monkey, I called you here for one thing: Haiqin left the He family to me. I know my limits."

"I can't outmaneuver you—if we fight, the He family will be swallowed by the Lu family."

"If you still remember our past, come work with me. I'll follow your lead—be the chief steward of the He family."

"The He family…" Qiu Zhiheng shook his head.

He Yuxiu sighed: "I know you're Lu family—wherever you go, you're Lu family."

"Lu family…" Qiu Zhiheng gave a bitter smile, saying nothing.

He Yuxiu said: "If you won't come, then spare me. I won't compete with you—don't lay a hand on the He family. Will you agree?"

Qiu Zhiheng sighed: "Sister, I'm a servant of the Lu family. Servants don't make decisions."

He Yuxiu nodded: "I understand—you want me to look after Lu Chunying."

"That girl is good—I like her. Lu Dongliang is gone, Duan Shaoxia is confused."

"Lu Chunying isn't her child, but she bears the Lu surname; no matter who fathered Zhang Huaiyi, he bears the Zhang name."

"I promise you—I recognize Lu Chunying as the head of the Lu family."

Qiu Zhiheng raised his cup: "With those words, I, Qiu Zhiheng, swear never to oppose you in this life."

"It's settled!"

They drank a few more cups; He Yuxiu gazed at Qiu Zhiheng, her eyes growing hazy: "Monkey, after all these years, how are you still so handsome?"

Qiu Zhiheng smiled: "You're still just as beautiful."

He Yuxiu leaned close to his face and hinted gently: "Shall we sleep together?"

"Sister, I'm not feeling well today."

"Nonsense—what sect are you from, saying you can't? If we went back twenty years, and you could choose again, would you pick me or your wife?"

"We can't go back—no one can say for sure."

He Yuxiu poked him with a finger: "You never know how to say something sweet."

As they drank merrily, sudden noise erupted outside.

He Yuxiu frowned: "Who is it? What a nuisance!"

Qiu Zhiheng stepped out and saw chaos in the corridor; he grabbed a waiter and learned Ma Wu was in trouble.

Could Ma Wu really be in trouble here, at Xiaoyao Wud?

They hurried to the dance floor and saw a black-clad figure, face covered, pressing a short blade to Ma Wu's forehead, barking: "Where is Li Qi?"

The voice was low and muffled—a man's, but unidentifiable.

Zuo Wugang stood beside Ma Wu, torn over whether to charge—the black-clad man's blade could kill Ma Wu at any moment.

He Yuxiu didn't hesitate; she burped, grinned, and walked forward: "Go ahead, stab him! If you don't stab him today, you're a son of a bitch."

The black-clad man flexed his wrist, aiming to slash Ma Wu's face.

Qiu Zhiheng's gaze darkened; the man's heartbeat quickened, his wrist trembling involuntarily.

He Yuxiu flicked her hand and snatched the blade from his grip.

No one present—not even Qiu Zhiheng—saw how she took it.

The black-clad man tore his robe; hundreds of darts shot toward them.

The darts flew fast and true; Ma Wu couldn't dodge, nor could Zuo Wugang.

Zuo Wugang stepped in front of Ma Wu, trying to block the darts.

He Yuxiu kicked the fruit platter off the table; it flew through the air and caught every single dart—none escaped.

Anything in her hands became a weapon—and an excellent one.

He Yuxiu slipped her hands into her pockets and strolled forward: "Show me more. Let me see what else you've got."

The black-clad man tapped his toe and retreated swiftly; He Yuxiu stepped forward, calmly pursuing.

Was this man a Lv Xiu? His speed was impressive.

As he neared the dance floor entrance, he suddenly felt searing heat behind him.

Huo Ling appeared suddenly outside, spewing fire onto the black-clad man.

The man was engulfed in flames; He Yuxiu stepped back: "Where did this madwoman come from? Almost burned me!"

Trapped between two foes, the black-clad man had no escape—Huo Ling was about to burn him to ash when the flames vanished and he disappeared.

"Where did he hide?" Huo Ling gritted her teeth; her long hair turned into fire snakes, whipping through the air.

Ma Wu hurriedly pleaded: "Ling'er, don't burn down Xiaoyao Wud!"

Xiaoyao Wud descended into chaos; all guests fled.

He Yuxiu laughed: "Junyang, your guards are useless—how did he sneak in? Wearing that outfit, no one noticed?"

Zuo Wugang's face flushed red.

Qiu Zhiheng said: "That man was a high-level Gong Xiu—he had a concealment artifact."

…

Outside Xiaoyao Wud, across the street, He Jiaqing set the black-clad figure down.

"That woman's fire is fierce," He Jiaqing waved his hand, flames rising from his palm. "Not bad—useful enough."

The black-clad figure eyed He Jiaqing warily: "Who are you?"

He Jiaqing said: "I'm a friend of Ling Miaoying. Let's talk somewhere else."

The black-clad figure stepped back: "I don't know you."

He Jiaqing smiled: "I know you—Tu Yinghong."

…

Late at night, Li Banfeng returned to Xiaoyao Wud and found the business closed, the dance floor in ruins.

"Old Wu, what happened?"

"Someone came here causing trouble, looking for you."

"Looking for me? What did he look like?"

"Cloaked tightly, face covered. Voice sounded male, but the person was definitely female."

Li Banfeng trusted Ma Wu's judgment—if it was a woman, Ma Wu could tell.

"A woman came here looking for me—who could it be?"

As he pondered, Qiu Zhiheng stepped out of the private room.

He Yuxiu was drunk and fast asleep.

Lu Chunying was nodding off; seeing Qiu Zhiheng, she roused herself: "Brother Qiu, I still have some business matters to discuss with you."

Qiu Zhiheng smiled: "Talk business with Junyang—I've taught you everything I can. He's better at business than I am."

He glanced at Ma Wu.

Ma Wu grinned: "Brother Qiu, this is the Lu family's young mistress—you can't just hand her off to me!"

"Lu family…" Qiu Zhiheng murmured.

Lu Chunying asked cautiously: "Brother Qiu, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I should go back." Qiu Zhiheng draped his coat over one arm, glanced at Li Banfeng, gave a faint smile, and left Xiaoyao Wud.

Thunder rumbled; rain began to fall.

Ma Wu stared out the window and sighed: "He's torn. As chief steward of the Lu family, he can't handle Duan Shaoxia. Our ambush at Heishipo was likely ordered by her."

Li Banfeng fell silent for a moment, then said to Ma Wu: "Old Wu, go see the Border Warden."

……

The Lu family mansion, Duan Shaoxia stood in the hall, face grim.

Seeing Qiu Zhiheng return, Duan Shaoxia dismissed the servants and asked: "Little Qiu, do you still have this family in your heart? Do you still have me? Are you still a Lu?"

Qiu Zhiheng fell silent for a moment, then raised his head: "I am not anymore."

Duan Shaoxia froze: "Little Qiu, what do you mean? Are you angry with your sister-in-law?"

"I'm not," Qiu Zhiheng said calmly, shaking his head. "I'm leaving."

"Zhiheng, you can't leave!" Duan Shaoxia's voice trembled. "Do you know who that child is? Your sister-in-law isn't trying to make things hard for you—Huaiyi is actually..."

Qiu Zhiheng spoke calmly: "I know, Lady. I watched Yuanhai grow up from childhood. I know he is Yuanhai."

Duan Shaoxia was stunned into silence.

Qiu Zhiheng sighed deeply: "Lady, if you hadn't done this, things could still be fixed. No matter what method I used, I would have healed Yuanhai."

"But now the one lying there cannot be healed—he isn't Yuanhai. The one standing here, I cannot lift up—he isn't a Lu. Lady, I am powerless. I'm leaving. My wife and child are already at the station. It's time for me to go."

Lady, I can't do anything more. I'm leaving—my wife and child are already at the station, and it's time for me to go.

When did this happen?

Duan Shaoxia blocked Qiu Zhiheng's path: "Zhiheng, don't go. I did all this for the Lu family."

"I did it all for the Lu family too," Qiu Zhiheng smiled. "All my life, every action I took was for the Lu family. I've done everything I could."

"When Master took me in as a boy, I had nothing. Today, as I leave, I take nothing with me."

"All my savings over the years have been returned to the ledger. The train ticket and travel expenses were borrowed. This suit was bought with borrowed money. Everything the Lu family gave me, I have returned."

Over these years, I've repaid all my savings to the accounting office; the money for the ticket and travel expenses I borrowed, and this clothing too I bought with borrowed money. Everything the Lu family gave me, I've returned to them.

Qiu Zhiheng turned and walked out of the hall.

Duan Shaoxia gritted her teeth: "Don't go!"

A blood vessel in her eye burst.

It was the emotional root she had planted in Qiu Zhiheng.

Under normal circumstances, Qiu Zhiheng would have turned back now.

But Qiu Zhiheng did not turn. The emotional root had long been pulled out.

He strode out of the Lu family mansion.

The rain was heavy. Qiu Zhiheng stood at the gate.

He straightened his chest, braved the downpour, and walked steadily toward the station.

His wife and child waited for him in the ticket hall; Tan Fu stood beside them.

At the funeral, Tan Fu had left first, just to escort Qiu Zhiheng's wife and child to the station.

"Head Qiu, be careful on the road," Tan Fu worried Duan Shaoxia might strike en route, but then thought: Qiu Zhiheng should be prepared.

"Brother Tan, you too," Qiu Zhiheng thanked Tan Fu, then led his wife and child through the ticket gate.

"Brother Tan, take care as well." Qiu Zhiheng thanked Tan Fu, then passed through the ticket checkpoint with his wife and child.

The train whistle blew. The train arrived.

Qiu Zhiheng let his wife and child board first. He saw someone on the platform watching him.

The man wore a black suit and a hat, its brim pulled low.

Qiu Zhiheng stepped forward and smiled: "Come to see me off? I'm no longer the Lu family's steward. I won't be able to help you anymore."

Li Banfeng handed him a large cloth sack: "Noodles. Eat on the way."

Li Banfeng handed Qiu Zhiheng a large cloth sack: "Noodles. Eat them on the road."

Li Banfeng said: "There's no instant noodles here. Dried noodles are fine too. These will last you half a month."

The rain poured heavily. Qiu Zhiheng wiped the rain from his face and took the sack.

Li Banfeng pulled out a land deed: "Ma Wu found your ticket. I learned you're going to Yaowang Gou. I have a favor to ask."

"I've always wanted to open a pharmacy there, but I don't understand herbs and fear losing money. So I want to give you this pharmacy."

Qiu Zhiheng lowered his head: "You want me to manage your business? I won't do that anymore."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Not to manage. To partner. I provide the money, you provide the labor. Fifty-fifty split. Your reputation commands respect. The pharmacy will be called Qiu's."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I'm not asking you to manage it—I'm asking you to partner with me. I provide the money, you provide the labor, fifty-fifty split. You've got the reputation—you can hold the ground. The pharmacy will be called Qiu's."

The rain fell hard. The deed grew wet.

Qiu Zhiheng took the deed. He looked at Li Banfeng, saying nothing.

The train whistle blew again.

The train was about to depart.

"Take care," Li Banfeng lowered his hat further and turned away.

"Take care, brother," Qiu Zhiheng watched Li Banfeng until his figure vanished. Then he boarded the train and sat beside his wife.

His wife pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the rain from Monkey Qiu's face.

His face was soaked.

He handed the land deed to his wife.

She glanced at it and asked: "What's this?"

"A business," Qiu Zhiheng wiped his face again—the rain never stopped. "It's the Qiu family's business."

PS: From today on, Qiu Zhiheng no longer needs to stand behind others.

(End of Chapter)

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