Chapter 286: 286. Chapter 286: The Dog‑Afraid Sòng Běitíng

286. Chapter 286: The Dog‑Afraid Sòng Běitíng

Sòng Běitíng is seventeen this year, eight years younger than his elder brother, and he became the second proprietor of Bei Lou because he provided enough money.

He is secretly the second proprietor of Bei Lou, while publicly he is the owner of the second‑ranked tavern on their country's sweat list.

He has contacts on both the black and white sides.

Sòng Běitíng is good at everything except that he is afraid of dogs.

While Sòng Běitíng was wandering around, a dog suddenly darted out of an alley, frightening him so much that he forgot to fly and bolted away.

Qiao Lanhua came out to pour water, and by sheer coincidence it spilled onto him.

She had thought the place was empty, but unexpectedly he rushed in like a gust of wind.

Qiao Lanhua was full of remorse, hurried forward and apologized: "Young master, I'm sorry, I—I didn't mean it. How about, I …"

Sòng Běitíng quickly ducked behind Qiao Lanhua.

"Y‑you, hurry and drive it away!"

"Huh?"

Qiao Lanhua's gaze fell on the barking dog, and she instantly understood what was happening; she lifted the basin in her hand a few times, and the big black dog that was barking "woof woof woof" ran away.

She watched the dog run away.

Qiao Lanhua said aloud: "Young master, it's fine now; I've chased it away."

"Really?"

Sòng Běitíng stuck his head out, saw that it had indeed fled, and gratefully thanked Qiao Lanhua: "Miss, thank you, thank you for driving it away for me."

He has a pair of handsome phoenix eyes; although he is not old, his figure is slender and his features are just right, making Qiao Lanhua not dare to stare any longer.

"You don't need to thank me; on the contrary, I owe you an apology. I didn't notice you at first, so I splashed water all over you. Since you're sitting in my shop waiting, I'll go buy you a set of clothes."

Qiao Lanhua didn't wait for Sòng Běitíng to refuse; she bolted toward a ready‑made clothing shop.

She and Qiao Xuehua and the others each have money in hand now, so buying a set of clothes is still affordable.

Sòng Běitíng surveyed the shop in front of him, saw Qiao Hushui and the others busy inside, and without entering he stood outside waiting for Qiao Lanhua.

After a short while.

Qiao Lanhua ran over holding a stack of clothes: "Young master, these clothes aren't as valuable as what you're wearing; you can make do with them. As for the clothes you have, I …"

"It's fine, you don't need to compensate."

Sòng Běitíng didn't put Qiao Lanhua in a difficult spot, because they clearly didn't have much money.

Qiao Lanhua said nothing more, entered the shop and told Qiao Hushui and the others about what had just happened.

Qiao Hushui and the others had been busy earlier and hadn't noticed what happened outside.

After hearing Qiao Lanhua's account.

Qiao Hushui personally took Sòng Běitíng to the back courtyard to change clothes; he put on the sky‑blue fine cotton robe that Qiao Lanhua had bought for him—though not as good as his previous ones, it was still acceptable.

The clothing was fairly comfortable.

Sòng Běitíng was now also hungry; the small dishes on the menu looked decent, so he sat down and ordered a few.

Qiao Lanhua served them to him.

She set down the food and said: "Young master, besides these, is there anything else you'd like to eat? If so, tell me; today these won't cost you a cent."

Sòng Běitíng knew why they weren't charging, and said: "No need, my clothes can be washed and worn again."

"Then I'll wash them for you."

After finishing, Qiao Lanhua realized and her face flushed instantly: "I—I meant …"

Her expression made Sòng Běitíng laugh.

Sòng Běitíng lightly opened his lips and said: "You don't need to explain, I understand; the clothes don't need your washing, I'll find someone myself."

Regardless of what Qiao Lanhua and the others said.

Sòng Běitíng still insisted on paying, and he paid a good amount, leaving with a silver ingot of ten taels.

When Qiao Lanhua chased after him, he had already disappeared. (End of chapter)