Chapter 51: Official... Yamen Runner!!!

Lu Yuan whipped his horse all the way and arrived at Wang Ping's home.

It's not late now—just past seven p. m. —and the lights in Wang Ping's house are on.

Lu Yuan walked to the window and peered inside; Wang Ping was drinking alone.

He was still drinking that bottle of liquor that Lu Yuan had given him last time.

After knocking on the door, Lu Yuan went inside.

Sure enough, Wang Ping's wife wasn't home—good thing, otherwise the two of us drinking would have disturbed his wife and kids from sleeping.

……

It was getting close to ten at night when Lu Yuan felt he should head back to sleep, but just as he was about to say he'd leave, another idea struck him:

"Uncle, are you short-handed on yamen runners or not?"

At this point, Wang Ping's face was flushed from drinking, but he was a heavy drinker—just a red face, not actually drunk.

After all, he used to be in the military, so a little drink definitely wouldn't get him drunk.

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Wang Ping blinked, then chuckled and said:

"Not short-handed, what's up? You, a Heaven-Supporting Guard, still want to come be our little yamen runner?"

Wang Ping really hadn't expected that this nondescript kid from half a month ago had now become a Heaven-Supporting Guard.

Quite the fellow—if Lu Yuan were to go to the government office, the magistrate would have to hurry out to greet him respectfully.

Yet now he keeps calling me 'uncle' and drinking with me, making Wang Ping feel like he's dreaming.

Lu Yuan then shook his head and said:

"I won't go; I have a stomach ailment. But I have a younger brother-in-law who's grown up in the village and doesn't have a proper livelihood—I thought, if you're short-staffed, you could take him in."

Wang Ping blinked, then raised his eyebrows and said:

"Hey!! Just that—big nephew, you should have said earlier! Come on, let your brother-in-law come; I'll arrange it, place him in my unit, and I'll look after him."

"Huh?"

Seeing Wang Ping like that, Lu Yuan blinked and said:

"You said you weren't short-staffed, right?"

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Wang Ping grinned and said:

"We're not short-staffed, but we can make room—you're my elder nephew; uncle can certainly fix this for you."

"Sure thing—bring him straight to the government office tomorrow to find me, and I'll get him processed that day. Don't think poorly of me, your uncle; I'm just a low-ranking yamen runner squad leader, but after so many years I know everyone in there."

"Even the magistrate listens to what I have to say!"

Hearing Wang Ping's words, Lu Yuan couldn't help but grin and say:

"Fine, that's all I need—but tomorrow won't work; he's still in the village. Let's wait a few days; I'll have someone write a letter back, and when he arrives I'll bring him to see you."

The weather kept getting colder, and Lu Yuan didn't really want to go to the village himself.

Earlier, Su Liyan had said that holding her while going would be quite comfortable, so having Lu Yuan go fetch her himself was something he didn't feel like doing.

Besides, there's only one horse—how would two grown men ride back on a single mount?

Wang Ping, meanwhile, grinned and said:

"Fine, no problem. Anyway, if they come within three days, just come straight to my house after six p. m.; if it's after three days, I'll be on night duty, so you can come to my place during the day."

Hearing that, Lu Yuan nodded with a smile, then picked up his cup and said:

"Come on, uncle—I'll drink a toast to you."

Wang Ping, meanwhile, laughed and said:

"Forget it—you're practically my superior, so I should be the one toasting you."

Lu Yuan laughed and waved his hands, saying:

"Uncle, you're just joking—come on, uncle."

……

Around eleven p. m., Lu Yuan finished drinking at Wang Ping's place and headed out.

He hadn't felt anything while drinking inside, but once outside he felt a bit unsteady on his feet.

As the saying goes, don't drive after drinking, and don't drink before driving.

Lu Yuan didn't ride either; he just led the horse back for a leisurely walk.

Mainly because he'd had a bit too much, he was afraid that even a little jolt on the horse would knock him over.

When Lu Yuan finally got home, he noticed that the Spirit Power Lamp in his backyard was still lit.

"Huh?"

"Has my wife not gone to sleep yet?"

Lu Yuan pushed the door open and saw Su Liyan slumped over the table in the main hall.

The sound of Lu Yuan pushing the door also roused the drowsy Su Liyan, who had been dozing on the table.

Upon seeing her husband return, Su Liyan immediately broke into a smile and said:

"Brother~"

Seeing Su Liyan's dazed expression, Lu Yuan took off his earmuffs and hat, looking bewildered, and said:

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Su Liyan hurried over to Lu Yuan, took his hat and earmuffs, placed them on a nearby rack, and, smiling, said:

"I had planned to wait for you to come back so we could sleep together, but I accidentally dozed off while taking them."

Seeing Su Liyan like that, Lu Yuan felt a warm glow in his chest—this wife of his was truly perfect.

Watching Su Liyan head to the stove to heat water for washing his feet, Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

"All right, no need to tidy up—just hurry to bed and sleep."

Goodness, it's already almost 1 a. m. for the good folks, you know Su Liyan hasn't slept all day, she even went to work, unlike Lu Yuan who slept an afternoon.

Although it's only natural for Su Liyan to serve me, Lu Yuan doesn't want to be a Zhou Piba.

Su Liyan wanted to say something, but Lu Yuan directly said:

「Hurry up and go. 」

Su Liyan showed a sweet smile and said:

「Eh~」

Lu Yuan washed his face and feet, then came to the bedside to take off his clothes. Seeing Su Liyan fall asleep as soon as she got into bed, Lu Yuan also shook his head.

Su Liyan was really tired; she fell asleep in less than half a minute after getting into bed, right after taking off her clothes.

Lu Yuan turned off the light and also crawled into the bed.

Lu Yuan didn't do anything this time, after all, a man who drinks usually faces two situations.

One is being unable to get up, the other is being unable to come out.

But no matter which situation, seeing his wife so exhausted, Lu Yuan couldn't continue to toss her around.

After all, she's his wife, Lu Yuan also feels heartache.

Holding the soft Su Liyan, Lu Yuan soon fell asleep as well.

Generally, Lu Yuan doesn't wake up in the morning, but last night he drank a bit too much and woke up from holding his urine.

Su Liyan had already woken up and was busy preparing breakfast.

Seeing Lu Yuan wake up, she immediately came over with a smile to help him get dressed.

「What did you make this morning? 」

Lu Yuan sat on the bed, yawned, and let Su Liyan dress him.

Su Liyan smiled, pursing her lips, and said:

「I made braised cabbage with meat, and also white flour steamed buns. 」

「Brother, will you eat with me this morning? 」

Lu Yuan nodded, saying he'd sleep again after eating, how nice.

After Lu Yuan finished using the toilet, washed his hands in the courtyard and came back, he saw Su Liyan had already laid out the dishes.

After Lu Yuan sat down, Su Liyan immediately handed him the bowl, chopsticks, and steamed bun.

Lu Yuan's life is really good now—this is truly having clothes brought to stretch out your hands and food brought to open your mouth; even a god wouldn't trade for it.

While eating, Lu Yuan also recalled yesterday's events, looking at Su Liyan beside him and said:

「Right, after you finish eating later, write a letter; I'll find someone to send it back to the village—I've found a job for your brother. 」

Su Liyan, who had just given Lu Yuan a chopstickful of meat, couldn't help but stare.

Immediately, Su Liyan asked curiously:

「That fast? 」

Lu Yuan nodded, stuffed a bun into his mouth, then nodded and said:

「Mm, I already talked with Uncle Wang yesterday and arranged for your brother to become a government runner. 」

「Gov... government runner!! 」

Su Liyan felt something wrong with her ears.

Could someone from our family really become a government runner in Huangcheng??!

(End of Chapter)