Qingyan said in her heart, I was afraid that you had this idea, so I said it in the opposite direction.
She didn't have time to go with others anymore. She had almost finished shopping in Xingtang Mansion today, and was planning to leave tomorrow. She would go to a deserted mountain forest outside the city and then leave without fear of being seen.
When they arrived at East Street, He Linling took Qingyan directly to the largest restaurant in Xingtang Mansion - Anhe Building.
Seeing their familiar faces, Qingyan knew that this was probably not the first time for them to come here. She complained that although she was stopped outside yesterday, she knew that the earliest city gate to open in the morning was from the Nancheng side. It was probably because of this that she Escaped the pursuers from behind.
Of course, the two people they saw before were not necessarily chasing them, nor did they have other motives.
Anhe Building is indeed the largest restaurant in Xingtang Mansion. It is located in the most prosperous part of the center of East Street, not far from the bank where Qingyan went before, and only two or three shops away.
The building of the restaurant is made of wood. It is not very high but has three floors. The first floor is the lobby, with more than a dozen square tables. Because it is already noon, there are only three or four tables occupied.
They should all have relatively good family conditions. Their clothes may not be too flashy, but they are all neat and tidy, and there is no one who is dressed down.
The name of this No. 1 restaurant alone can deter some cash-strapped people.
He Linling and the others did not stay on the first floor, but went directly to the second floor.
The waiters in the lobby didn't even have time to come over to greet them. They saw them walking up the stairs skillfully. Knowing that they were regular customers, they didn't bother them again.
"Young man, have you seen the guests? How many guests are there? Are they on the second floor or the third floor?" We climbed to the second floor. There was also a dedicated waiter on the second floor. When he saw the guests, he quickly came over to greet them.
"Let's eat here on the second floor, find a seat near the north." He Linling said.
Qingyan looked around. She originally thought that the second floor would be private rooms, but she didn't expect that the second floor was similar to the first floor. It was also a lobby, but the tables were further apart and separated by screens. Now I have an independent space.
And every table is located next to the window, so you can see the outside scenery.
You can see the street view from the side next to the street, and you can also see the scenery of the restaurant's backyard from the side not facing the street.
As she walked in, Qingyan glanced over there. Because the windows were propped up and not closed, she could clearly see the backyard of the restaurant.
The scenery in the backyard is very good, with flowers, grass, rockeries, and a lotus pond. This season is when the lotus flowers are in bloom. The pink lotus flowers stand gracefully among the green lotus leaves, which is very poetic.
The scene here is obviously much better than on the street, but it is noon now, and the door of the restaurant opens to the north, so the backyard is a bit sunny, so they still chose to sit on the street side.
As soon as they sat down, He Linling asked Qingyan if she had any preferences or taboos.
Qingyan shook her head and said, "I'm not picky about food, I can eat anything, sweet, bitter, spicy, anything."
He Linling smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll make the decision. Knowing that this is your first time here, let's order some specialties from Xingtang Mansion."
After that, he said to the waiter of the restaurant: "Sautéed mutton with green onions, crispy fish, lotus-flavored chicken, two seasonal vegetables and side dishes. The main food is steamed cakes for four people, one Wufu cake, and a pot of Jade Fragrant Liquid..."
Qingyan has also learned during this time that in this era, anyone with some wealth can drink easily. Whether it is Handeng or here, the most opened shops in the city are liquor shops.
It's just that along the way, she met people who either didn't have this condition or didn't have this leisurely attitude. This was the first time she had the opportunity to take a sip.
When the food was on the table, the wine was also served. He Linling picked up the thin wine bottle and poured a small glass for Qingyan.
Then he said to her: "I don't know if Miss Xue is good at drinking, but when you come here, you must try this Yufang liquid. This Yufang liquid is also called Zhuyeqing. It turns out to be tribute wine."
Qingyan took a sip, her eyes brightened, and she asked with interest, "What allusions does this wine have?"
He Linling said with a smile: "It's true. It is said that there was a man named Liu among the common people who was always good at making wine. He took river water and brewed it repeatedly into fragrant and mellow wine, stored it for a long time, and then when the mulberry leaves fell, Open it, so the name of this wine was originally called Sangluo wine.
Because this fragrant wine is blue and white in color, like rice swill, and has a unique fragrance, which is different from other wines. It emits the fragrance of orchids and floats like musk, forming an elegant fragrance of its own. When paying tribute, this wine was chosen as the wine. The finest wine.
Later, I felt that the name of Sangluo was not very good as a tribute wine, so I later changed it to Yufangye and Zhuyeqing. "
Qingyan thought about the wine she bought in Handeng. It was said to be the best in the wine shop, but compared with this wine, it was still far behind. At least the aroma of this wine to her was mellower than that wine. A lot.
"Can I buy this wine in a wine shop? I want to buy some for my elders to try."
He Linling nodded, "You should find it in the largest wine shop. The price of this wine is actually not high, but the output is small, and it is difficult for small wine shops to get it."
Qingyan felt relieved after hearing this, and thought about going to the largest liquor store in the city soon to buy some for her father and the others. Her grandfather also liked drinking.
After three drinks and five dishes, He Linling called the waiter to pay the bill, and they left the restaurant.
Qingyan was also a guest at other people's homes, so it would be difficult to take them there, so she asked them where they would wait for her to come back and drive the donkey cart for them.
He Linling looked up and looked around, and saw a teahouse not far away on the street. They had just finished lunch, and it was too hot to leave right away, so they said they would sit in the teahouse for a while. Wait for Qingyan.
Qingyan nodded and walked with them to the teahouse. After taking just two steps, she heard Chou Chou say to her: "I saw four big men on horses coming in from the north city gate. Look at their Dressed and dressed like a horse, he should be the same as those people yesterday.
The horses and knives of these four men are exactly the same as those of the men you killed yesterday.
When they were inspected at the city gate, they claimed to be members of the Mighty Escort Agency, so they were not suspected by the city defenders because they were carrying weapons. "
Qingyan paused, "Then Feng Dongyue didn't have any doubts when he saw their horses, right?"
Chou Chou said with a smile in his tone: "It was such a coincidence that Feng Dongyue went home with his father for dinner and was not guarding the city gate there. The soldier who was there to guard him before found no problem. "
Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. If it were just the horses, it would actually be okay. The horses all look similar. Even if they are from the same batch, it doesn't mean anything. However, the saddles and harnesses of the horses are all the same. It seems that they are from the same batch. It makes no sense.
Then he asked Chou Chou: "Did they come straight here?"
Chou Chou: "No, they went to Nanshi. I guess they only saw the bodies of their accomplices on the road, but not the horses, and then they followed the horses' hooves and chased them here. I thought you should also sell the horses." Drop it, you can’t just throw it away.”
Qingyan was glad again that she had taken the person to sell to Feng Dongyue. If it had been sold to the mule and horse market, the horse dealer and the innocent people there might have been implicated.
After all, those people are not good people. They are all masters who can kill people and set fires. Now the horses are in the public yard, and the ground in the city is paved with stone bricks. Even if they find out about the horses from Nanshi, Clues can't be found by following the horse's hooves.
Furthermore, the people who live in the North City are the soldiers who guard the city. These four of them do not seem to be the kind of people who dare to act openly.
Qingyan thought for a while, then turned around and said to the three of them, "I forgot to mention it just now. When I went to call the person collecting the horses, I met four people who were dressed very similar to those yesterday. He also had a broadsword on his shoulder.
At that time, they were passing the city gate inspection and told the city guards that they were members of the Yecheng Mighty Escort Bureau. "
When the three of them heard this, their expressions immediately changed. They took a deep breath and cupped their hands towards Qingyan and said, "Thank you, miss, for reminding us. We will pay attention to it. We will go to the teahouse to find a private room to sit in later. Please be more careful on the road, miss." ."
"I will, and you should pay attention." Qingyan knew that they understood, and when she reached the door of the tea house, she separated from them and left first.
Those four people may not be able to find their way here, but what if? If you can't find someone, come here to drink tea or have a meal. He Linling and the three of them are sitting in the lobby and can be spotted at a glance.
At that time, not only the three of them will be in danger, but with such a large flow of people here, innocent people may be hurt.
The three of them quickly entered the teahouse, and Qingyan quickly walked towards the west.
She wasn't afraid of running into the other person, anyway, everyone who had seen her was dead, and those who caught up later would not be able to recognize her even if they heard the description.
Her clothes have changed and are completely different from yesterday. Besides, with Chou Chou as a cheat, it would be too fantasy to be able to walk across from them.
Even so, when I reached the crossroads, I subconsciously speeded up my pace.
Although Chou Chou said that the other party was still inquiring at Luoma City, and that no one told them that most people in this era are not nosy, especially the people living at the bottom.
Those people were not easy to mess with at first sight, and most of them believed that doing more was better than doing less. They all said that they had never seen the three people and more than a dozen horses they mentioned, and even the horse dealer didn't mention it.
Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the four people would never have thought that they would lose the chance to know the clues because she did not look like a good person and had a fierce look on her face.
Qingyan's steps became much brisker, and she trotted all the way back to the westmost side door of Xue Mansion.
After grabbing the copper ring on the door and patting it a few times, the door opened from the inside. The person who opened the door was Hou Shunzi, the concierge from yesterday.
Seeing Qingyan's face, a smile immediately appeared on her face, "The girl is back, but are you tired from shopping? I'll take you to the backyard, girl."
Qingyan quickly stopped her and said, "No, I have to go out. I have something to ask my brother. Can someone help me drive out the donkey cart yesterday? That cart was borrowed from a friend. I want it Give it back."
Hearing this, Hou Shunzi nodded hurriedly and said: "Okay, okay, I will bring the car to you, please wait here."
After that, he said to a boy next to him: "Er Linzi, I'll be right back when I go. You can watch the door for me here."
The boy named Er Linzi nodded repeatedly and said, "Brother Shunzi, don't worry, I will definitely guard the door."
This is a side entrance, and there are often maids, servants, and stewards from the backyard going out to buy things, so we can't leave them alone.
As for why Hou Shunzi agreed so readily and went to drive the donkey cart without asking Manager Yang or their lady, it was because Manager Zhang from the backyard had already come over to give instructions today.
Manager Zhang is Manager Yang's wife Zhang Fangcao. Yesterday, I heard from Xue Minghua that Qingyan sent her back specially, and this car also belongs to her.
Zhang Fangcao was afraid that Qingyan would use the car or go to the car to get things today, so she came over and told her not to look back and make others find it difficult to get her things.
Qingyan didn't think much about it. She wasn't leaving today anyway, so she didn't think about telling Mrs. Xue or Xue Minghua about it now.
Besides, she still has a horse left here, so the other party shouldn't think that she left without saying goodbye.
The stables of Xue Mansion were not very far from here, and within ten minutes, Hou Shunzi drove the donkey cart over.
These ten minutes should also include the time to put the cart on the donkey, otherwise it would be faster.
Hou Shunzi and Er Linzi opened the two wooden doors and removed the sills. Then they drove the donkey cart out and asked if they wanted to help drive the cart over.
Qingyan waved her hand and refused, "No, my friends are right over at the intersection. I'll just give them the car. Thank you for your hard work, two little brothers."
Hou Shunzi and the other two hurriedly waved their hands and said: "It should be done, it should be done, this is what a young man should do, and the girl should pay more attention on the road."
Qingyan smiled and waved to them again, got on the donkey cart and drove towards the intersection.
Chou Chou had already put the things in the car into the space before, so except for the two quilts that Xue Minghua took out at Chen's house, there was nothing else in the car.
Of course, the basket she had hung behind her before was still there.
Qingyan thought that since Xue Minghua had returned to Xue's house, he probably didn't care about the two quilts anymore, so she didn't put down the quilts for Hou Shunzi to take back.
These two quilts are rare for farmers. For a wealthy family like the Xue family, they will probably be disposed of as garbage in the end.
So Qingyan decided to just put it in the car for the three of them to use, and it would also make them more comfortable on the road.
Of course, I won't let you Xue Minghua suffer. When the time comes to give her the banknote, she will give her an extra ten taels of silver, which is exactly the benefit He Linling gave her, even if she sold two quilts to them.
(End of chapter)
