Chapter 264: Arriving at Zhuang City

It's almost been half an hour; some people are still waiting to watch the excitement, while others have already left to go back to their rooms to sleep.

"Young master, how are that grandfather and granddaughter doing?"

The innkeeper's face turned pale; over this night, too many things have happened, leaving him somewhat unable to bear it.

"It's fine."

She nodded, wanting to go back to her room, then glanced at the relieved innkeeper and the clever shop boy, saying, "If possible, you'd better leave this place."

Never mind the three people from yesterday—will they come back?

Even these few people today, we fear taking out our anger on them.

For safety's sake, we should still leave.

"I also have made preparations, but..."

But where would the money be enough? Opening an inn here at least lets him scrape a meal and avoid starvation, yet in the city where every inch of land is gold, he can't even afford the rent—how would he survive?

Better to live a miserable life than die well; these years, hasn't he just been living like that for most of his life?

"Since you're prepared, then come with me, old lady." At that moment, the door opened—first came Feng Xi Xi, that little maid, smiling, she winked at Jiang Yunchu.

Then she respectfully said to the lady who had helped, "Madam, thank you."

That lady smiled and shook her head, "Lending a hand—I'll go back to sleep now."

As that lady left, she nodded at Jiang Yunchu, and he lightly returned the nod, counting it as a courtesy.

"Old lady, what did you say?" The innkeeper rubbed his ears, asking in disbelief.

The old lady felt her head was unusually clear today, not hurting at all; previously, as soon as night came, it would hurt terribly, each day a torment—if she weren't unwilling to leave her granddaughter, she would have long gone to find the old man and abandoned this miserable world.

"Since you have nowhere to go, then come with me to Jiangnan."

"Although I can't give you a shop, I can let you manage my family's shop as innkeeper; although it's not your own shop, it would be less worrisome than running this one."

This person, though old, has decent character; from yesterday to today's events, I've also formed a guess—although it was that girl who led, if the innkeeper lacked character, worrying about causing trouble, he probably wouldn't have opened that door.

As for whether the innkeeper agreed or not, Jiang Yunchu no longer cared; she simply shut the door, isolating all the probing gazes outside.

Lying on the bed, she slept fully clothed.

This night was too lively; it also let her see that people differ—different temperaments, different horizons—and many things could affect one's passage.

"Yun, let's go." A knocking sounded from outside.

She had actually been awake for a while, facing the mirror she began to put on makeup; even the hole in her ear had been patched. Touching the slightly protruding Adam's apple, she gave a light smile, and in the blurry bronze mirror she saw a handsome young man.

In fact, she very much likes men's clothing—it's convenient and quick, and makes movement easy.

Women's clothing, however, is layered and fussy; she finds it headache-inducing, and each time Zi Su arranges it for her—she only needs to pick the style and color scheme she likes.

"Here I come."

She picked up the somewhat empty bundle, lifted it, and walked out of the room.

"Eat before leaving, or eat on the road?" Seeing her lift the bundle, Han Bing gave a slight nod; as he stepped out, he had also prepared to depart.

"On the road, then—it's time to go."

Although this night was exhausting, it was the most comfortable sleep she'd had in these days; she felt as if every bone in her body had been realigned.

"Good."

The two came down the stairs and saw the shop boy tidying up; seeing them, he hurriedly scratched the back of his head, smiling, and said, "Sirs, thank you."

If it weren't for these two nobles, how could he and the innkeeper have a way to go to Jiangnan?

Let alone going to Jiangnan—he couldn't even make it to the city, and who knows how many years this inn has been open in this remote wilderness.

"This is your fortune; why thank others?" Jiang Yunchu shook her head and said nothing more.

Everyone has their own path; it was the innkeeper and shop boy's character that the old lady noticed, which gave them this fortune—what does it have to do with them?

"The innkeeper has packed dry rations for the two guests, and I already fed the horse its fodder this morning."

The shop boy handed the bundle of dry rations directly to Jiang Yunchu, but Han Bing reached out and took it; Jiang Yunchu glanced at him, somewhat puzzled, yet said nothing.

"Too much."

The silver she gave yesterday was exactly the right amount; it couldn't possibly have bought this much dry food.

"We're also setting out, so I had the kitchen make a bit more—just eat on the road, sirs." The shop boy smiled and then handed over two waterskins.

"These two waterskins were prepared by that old lady."

Jiang Yunchu blinked, laughed and shook her head—"That old lady is quite a character."

They had been traveling without waterskins, because of Han Bing's peculiar nature and also because she had water in her space...

Who would have thought—after all their calculations, there was still an oversight.

It seems these are things they need to pay attention to; otherwise they might die without knowing how.

"Sir."

Seeing the two figures about to walk out and leave the inn, the shop boy rushed out, clasping his fists.

When the two turned back, he gave a light smile and said, "Until we meet again."

Jiang Yunchu, watching, also clasped her fists and said, "Until later."

Thereafter they rode off—her attire of jade bamboo and his of ice blue etched themselves into the shop boy's heart, leaving a deep impression in his memory.

The two rode on without stopping; their current dry rations could last at least three days.

"Giddyap!"

"Giddyap!"

Blazing Flame and Jiang Yunchu were already in tune; any movement or command could make Blazing Flame quickly comprehend and respond.

Five days later……

"Sir, will you be stopping for a meal or staying at an inn?"

"Sir, would you like some noodles?"

Vendor cries echoed; I gazed at the river cutting through the small town, at the streets on both banks, where people washed by the water and stalls sold little trinkets.

"How much is this?" Jiang Yunchu examined a delicate little lotus-leaf doll; on the emerald lotus leaf sat a peach-pink doll, smiling brightly, holding a fresh flower in its hand, its eyes crinkling with laughter.

That resemblance was exactly like her own daughter.

It's been almost ten days since I left, and I have no idea how those kids are doing now.

"Three copper coins," the stall owner said after glancing at the item and looking up.

Jiang Yunchu took three copper coins from her purse and handed them over, saying, "I'll take it."

She clasped the little doll in her palm, gazing at it, and couldn't help laughing.

"Give me five boxes of these lotus-leaf pastries."

"Give me three boxes of these osmanthus pastries."

"This..."

"This..."

Along the way, Jiang Yunchu went on a buying spree, until the copper coins and silver bits Zi Su had prepared were all spent; all that was left were the items Han Bing and she herself carried, their hands full.

Most of them were children's toys, with some food items as well.