Chapter 254: You've been poisoned again?

Du Ruo couldn't help but laugh.

"You're truly kind-hearted, old sir; for an ox to meet such a good master as you is truly a blessing of three lifetimes."

"The Jiangs sure know how to talk." Lao Tietou burst out laughing, "When I get back I'll tell my ox this, so it learns gratitude and will be more eager pulling loads—no more laziness and slipperiness like before."

After a few jokes, Lao Tietou looked at Jiang Zhan opposite and said, "Second Son, how have you been lately?"

Jiang Zhan smiled, "Thanks to Uncle Lao Tietou, everything's fine."

Lao Tietou's gaze shifted again to the side, landing on Master Jiang, who nodded back.

Lao Tietou returned a smile, counting it as a greeting.

Jiang Zhan and Master Jiang are both reticent, not fond of talking; to avoid awkwardness, Du Ruo could only make small talk with Lao Tietou now and then.

In less than half an hour they entered Xiushan Town.

Zheng Qinghe pulled the mule cart to a stop at the town's edge, lifted the curtain, and asked, "Uncle Lao Tietou, where would you like to get off?"

Lao Tietou's butt seemed glued to the seat, unmoving, "Wherever the Jiangs get off, that's where I'll get off."

Du Ruo: "???"

What does that mean?

"Uncle Lao Tietou, we're headed to Xiushan Academy." With that they set off straight for Fengyang Prefecture.

Lao Tietou nodded and grunted, "I know."

This…… Du Ruo grew more puzzled, so she gave her cousin a look, signaling him to keep going forward.

Master Jiang and Jiang Zhan also had strange expressions.

Master Jiang furrowed his brows and said in a low voice, "Brother Tie, what do you mean by this?"

Seeing the three of them wary and puzzled, Lao Tietou chuckled, pulled a letter from his bosom and handed it to Du Ruo, "Don't rush; after you read it you'll understand."

Du Ruo took it, full of suspicion, and opened it.

The handwriting looked familiar—it was Jiang Li's.

In the letter Jiang Li mentioned that Jiang Zhan would go to the prefectural city for exams, Du Ruo would accompany him, worried they might face danger on the road; since he himself was tied up with official duties, he entrusted Lao Tietou to make a trip to protect their personal safety along the way.

After reading it, Du Ruo's mouth hung wide open.

She sized up his thin, dark frame from head to toe, while ten thousand grass‑mud horses stampeded through her mind.

High martial arts? One punch, two huge beasts?

Just this??

Du Ruo mechanically passed the letter to Master Jiang, who scanned it ten lines at a glance; his handsome brows likewise showed disbelief.

Then he passed it on to Jiang Zhan.

Jiang Zhan also stared for a moment, then quickly laughed, clasping his hands in a bow toward Lao Tietou, "In that case, I'll have to trouble Uncle Lao Tietou."

He didn't do it because he believed in Lao Tietou's ability.

Rather, he trusted his elder brother, whose actions were always steady; since his brother chose Lao Tietou, that showed the man was trustworthy.

As for martial arts… cough, cough, probably, perhaps, or maybe not bad either?

Although over all these years he hadn't noticed it.

But it didn't matter; the academy would also assign a few guards with some martial background, so there shouldn't be any serious issue.

Du Ruo finally came back to her senses from the shock.

Unwilling to give up, she asked, "Uncle Lao Tietou… do you know martial arts?"

"Of course I do." Lao Tietou puffed out his chest and thumped it twice, "Don't underestimate this old man—back when I was young I roamed south and north, even worked as a bodyguard. If you don't believe me, let me demonstrate a Golden Rooster Stance."

Saying that, he stood up and lifted his left leg.

Just then the mule cart jolted.

"Ah—!"

Lao Tietou cried out, plopping down onto the cart floor.

Jiang Zhan hurriedly helped him up.

"Haha, sorry sorry, I messed up—next time I'll nail it!" Lao Tietou sheepishly patted the dust off his rear.

Du Ruo's mouth twitched.

Good grief, there's a next time? Next time don't go breaking your old bones apart.

Forget it, forget it—she'd originally planned to rely on herself; agreeing to bring a guard was only to put Jiang Li's mind at ease.

As for whether the guard is formidable or not, it doesn't matter.

Just don't hold us back.

As they talked, the mule cart had already stopped at the gate of Xiushan Academy.

Lao Tietou was especially eager, scuffling down first, then reached out to steady Jiang Zhan, "Second Young Master, watch your step."

Jiang Zhan wanted to speak but held back.

Lao Tietou then looked at Du Ruo behind Jiang Zhan, "Madam, watch your step too."

Du Ruo staggered, nearly falling.

"Stop, stop, stop—we're not master and servant, so you can't call me that." It gave her goosebumps.

Lao Tietou insisted, "When out and about, although we shouldn't be ostentatious, we also shouldn't let people look down on us; the necessary dignity must still be maintained."

Du Ruo was about to say more when Shang Tianyou suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Ah Zhan, why did you take so long? I've been waiting forever!"

The boy clung to Jiang Zhan's arm like a stubborn plaster.

Jiang Zhan's handsome face stiffened.

Then he swiftly shook him off, even stepping back two paces, deliberately keeping distance, "Tianyou, don't do that…"

Shang Tianyou pursed his lips, tsk, coward.

He turned his head to look at Du Ruo, and was startled by Du Ruo's big black face, "Oh, Jiang Zhan's wife, you're poisoned again?"

Du Ruo gave an awkward smile, "No, no, I just... put on some powder and rouge."

Ah, so that's how it is.

Shang Tianyou suddenly understood.

Also, a beauty like Jiang Zhan's wife really shouldn't go out without blackening her face. Jiang Zhan is a constable; in Wutou Xian he's somewhat a notable figure, and can still protect his own wife.

But if you go to the prefectural city, it's completely insufficient; in the eyes of those officials and nobles, it's probably no different from ordinary commoners.

So taking precautions beforehand is correct.

"By the way, Jiang Zhan's wife, the chili peppers you sold to our tavern I've tried; they're absolutely top-notch, incredibly delicious!"

Talking about food, Shang Tianyou's eyes lit up with golden light.

That greedy look is almost exactly the same as when he sees Jiang Zhan, as if he wants to swallow him whole.

Du Ruo smiled and said, "As long as Tianyou likes it, that's fine."

"Wife." Jiang Zhan called to her, "I'll go greet the teacher first, and by the way mention my third uncle's matter."

Du Ruo nodded.

Jiang Zhan walked straight toward the academy gate.

Shang Tianyou immediately followed close behind like a little bug.

The academy gate was already packed with people—aside from the students going to the prefectural exam in Fengyang this time, there were also those seeing them off, accompanying them, forming about ten or so small circles.

Each circle was filled with the sound of chattering advice.

Du Ruo instantly spotted Xiao Liangchen.

Xiao Liangchen was truly outstanding in appearance—refined and handsome, with an exceptional demeanor; standing in the crowd, he was like a crane among chickens.

However, the man and woman beside him were quite unpleasant.

Du Ruo only glanced at them and then looked away.

Xiao Liangchen also saw her.

His expression flickered with a moment of startled unease.

A Man, is she also going?

How come it's just her alone? Where's her husband?

Xiao Liangchen's heart was in turmoil, a bit angry, yet inexplicably he also felt a secret joy.

What angered him was that the Jiang-surnamed man wasn't accompanying A Man by her side, just letting her go like that— isn't he afraid she'll be snatched away?

What pleased him was that over these few days on the road, he could get to look at her a few more times...

"Chen'er, Chen'er?" Xiao's father furrowed his brows, "Did you hear what Father told you?"

Xiao Liangchen came to his senses, "Mm, I heard."

As the saying goes, a mother knows her child best; seeing her son just fine a moment ago, suddenly absent-minded, Liu Shi immediately grew suspicious.

She looked around.

She quickly identified the culprit.

Hehe, sure enough, it's that shameless little flirt A Man again, trying to come up with ways to seduce her own excellent son!

Liu Shi hated it so much her teeth itched.

If it weren't for that little *** deliberately swaying back and forth in front of Chen'er, disturbing his peace of mind, with Chen'er's ability, how could he have only placed second?

It's clearly deliberate, just so her husband's younger brother could snatch Chen'er's top place in the county exam!

She still wants to reuse the same trick—what a beautiful dream!

Liu Shi turned and left.

"Mother, Mother, where are you going?" Xiao Liangchen hurriedly grabbed her.

"Nothing." Liu Shi patted the back of her son's hand with a gentle smile, "You and your father talk a bit first; I'm just going to freshen up, I'll be back soon."

Really… is she just going to freshen up? Xiao Liangchen was half-believing, half-doubting.

Only after seeing Liu Shi head toward the outhouse with his own eyes did he let out a long sigh, the corner of his mouth twisting in self-mockery.

It seems I was overthinking; Mother may be a bit rash, but she still has propriety—she certainly wouldn't cause a scene in public.

Liu Shi indeed had no intention of causing a scene.

First, this is the academy; her son's teacher and classmates are here, and making a fuss would embarrass him.

Second, her son is about to take the exam; his mood must not be affected.

If he loses the top rank again like in the county exam, wouldn't that be a loss outweighing the gain?

So she only wanted to say a few words to Du Ruo, warn her, to kill that thought.

That's all.

After finishing in the outhouse, Liu Shi hurried straight to Du Ruo.

Du Ruo was talking with Lao Tietou, "Uncle Lao Tie, you really don't need to call me 'madam'; you're my elder, isn't that embarrassing me? If you really can't, you can call me Du Niang Zi."

Lao Tietou was as stubborn as his own ox, "It's fine, I took ten taels of silver from your man! Not pretending to be a servant, I feel guilty taking this money."

"If you insist on disagreeing, then I won't go, and I'll return the money."

Du Ruo: "……"

He even threatened her—why? Why not be a proper bodyguard but insist on being a servant? Could it be he enjoys role-playing?

"Fine, do as you like, call me whatever you're happy with." Anyway, pretending won't make it real.

Lao Tietou instantly broke into a grin like an old chrysanthemum.

He instantly slipped into the role, "Yes, madam."

Madame Liu had just come over when she heard this address, and she immediately rolled her eyes.

"Yo, I thought which madam? Turns out it's the Jiang Bu Tou household." She glanced at Lao Tietou with contempt and said sarcastically, "It's been a few days since we last saw each other, and you've already started ordering servants around? Looks like you've really struck it rich."

Du Ruo raised an eyebrow, thinking, "This person is sick? Rushing over to pick a fight without even checking what time or place this is."

She turned away speechlessly, too lazy to bother with Madame Liu.

Madame Liu, however, refused to let it go, marching up to Du Ruo with a hostile air, lifting her chin, and demanded, "I'm asking you—are you also heading to Fengyang Prefecture?"

Du Ruo could no longer ignore her, retorting, "What the hell is it to you?"