"It just so happens that we are also planning to change places. Why don't we escort Miss Zhang back to the caravan and stay in the caravan tonight too." Shao Xi decided.
Old Wu nodded and expressed no objection.
Ding Yu'an is in a bit of a dilemma now. He was the one who just went with the horse bandits to rob the caravan, and now he is the one escorting Miss Zhang back to the caravan. How will he explain it then?
Shao Xi saw Ding Yuan's concerns and turned to Zhang Wan and asked: "Miss Zhang, when the caravan was robbed just now, did Brother Ding take action?"
Zhang Wan looked at Ding Yuan, shook his head and said, "I didn't see him take action at that time, so he was scolded by the man."
After saying that, Zhang Wan glanced at Shi Jintang on the ground, then quickly raised his sleeves to cover his face, not daring to look again.
Ding Yu'an also explained: "There were many guards in the caravan at that time, and no property was stolen. However, before leaving, Shi Jintang discovered Miss Zhang and took her abducted. For this reason, Shi Jintang complained about me all the way."
After hearing this, Shao Xi said to Zhang Wan: "Miss Zhang, if someone misunderstands us when we arrive at the caravan camp later, please ask Miss Zhang to help explain. I wonder if Miss Zhang is willing?"
Zhang Wan nodded and said, "If father and others misunderstand our benefactor's friends when we go back later, I will explain myself."
Hearing this, Ding Yu'an hurriedly bowed to Zhang Wan and said, "It was not my intention to frighten Miss Zhang just now. Now Miss Zhang ignores the past grudges and thanks me."
Seeing this, Zhang Wan quickly clasped her hands halfway, placed the upper right and lower left hands in front of her abdomen, bowed slightly and returned the blessing.
Now that the discussion was complete, Old Wu helped Zhang Wan onto Shi Jintang's previous mount, handed the reins to Ding Yuan, and the four of them walked slowly towards the caravan camp.
Soon after the few people left, a pack of wolves surrounded them. In just a moment, he tore Shi Jintang's body into pieces and ate them.
After several people walked in the direction of the caravan for a while, the sound of horse hooves was heard from the front again. Shao Xi turned to look at Lao Wu. Lao Wu waved his hand to wait and see what happened, but Ding Yuan on the side looked calm, as if he knew who the person coming was.
When the cavalry arrived in front of a few people, a black-faced man at the head raised the sword in his hand, pointed at Shao Xi and others and shouted: "You thieves are really blind, how dare you rob the Taihe Trading Company's caravan, and then... You dare to kidnap my young lady. Now I’ll give you a chance to beg for mercy. Release our young lady immediately, kneel down and apologize. Otherwise, don’t say I’m rude to you, just kill her and not bury her.”
Shao Xi was happy when he heard this. Was this guy also a horse bandit before? Why is it all the same routine? He probably doesn't know yet, but the last person who said this has already fed the wolves.
"Uncle Geng, you are finally here. Don't misunderstand these people. If it weren't for these benefactors, I might have been in danger. They saved me." Zhang Wan explained hurriedly.
When the big man surnamed Geng heard this, he quickly put away his knife, clasped his fists at Shao Xi and others and said: "It turns out he is the benefactor who saved my young lady. He really misunderstood you just now. Geng Hu, please tell me The hero apologizes."
Shao Xi and others also hurriedly returned the salute with clasped fists, and Old Wu gave Geng Hu an overview of what had just happened. When Geng Hu heard that Ding Yuan was also one of the previous group of horse bandits, he drew out his sword without saying a word and slashed with it.
Ding Yu'an raised the spear in his hand and neutralized the sword's force with just one flick. He said calmly, "You are no match for me. But I can explain what happened just now."
Geng Hu was about to swing his knife and chop again, when Zhang Wan shouted from the side: "Uncle Geng, don't get me wrong. Although he came with the horse bandits before, he did not participate in robbing the caravan or kidnapping me. He is not a treacherous person." people."
From the move just now, Geng Hu already knew Ding Yuan's strength. In addition, Zhang Wan said this, so he put away the knife and headed towards the caravan camp with Shao Xi and others.
The atmosphere in the caravan of Taihe Trading Company was very tense at this time. Fires of various sizes were burning around the camp. The guards of the caravan were on horseback with weapons in hand and were waiting. The horse bandits just made trouble and this really shocked everyone. It's not easy. The most anxious one was Zhang Huanzhi, the chief shopkeeper of Taihe Trading Company, who was walking around non-stop, looking in the direction Geng Hu had gone from time to time. He was just such a daughter, and if something happened to her when he took her out this time, he would really regret it for the rest of his life.
Suddenly I heard someone among the guards shout, "Uncle Geng and the others are back. It seems they have brought the lady back as well."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Huanzhi hurriedly took two steps forward and looked in the direction pointed by the guard. He indeed saw the cavalry that had gone out before returning, and he also vaguely saw Zhang Wan riding on the horse. Zhang Huanzhi almost cried, mumbling, "It's okay at last! It's okay at last! Thank God! Thank God!"
When Shao Xi and his party came to the caravan camp, Geng Hu jumped off his horse first, ran to Zhang Huanzhi and repeated to Zhang Huanzhi what Old Wu had told him before. After hearing this, Zhang Huanzhi hurriedly came over to greet Shao Xi and others, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply to them.
"My little girl is so lucky! Being able to be saved by several heroes is really a blessing from my previous life. I am Zhang Huanzhi of Taihe Commercial Bank. I would like to thank all the heroes here. Please accept my prayers." After saying this, he knelt down and gave Shao Xi a few blessings. People kowtow.
Lao Wu, with quick eyes and quick hands, hurriedly stepped forward and supported Zhang Huanzhi. He smiled and said: "Big shopkeeper, what a figure you are in Daliang City! How can the little old man and this child stand your respect? What happened today was just a coincidence that we met while passing by. We really can't take the word hero seriously. ah!"
Shao Xi secretly snickered, Old Wu heard about the name of the big shopkeeper of Taihe Trading Company in Daliang City and wanted to make friends with him! What an old fox.
After Zhang Huanzhi exchanged some pleasantries with Lao Wu, he came to Shao Xi. He cupped his hands and said, "This young hero is handsome and talented. I just heard that you killed the leader of the horse bandits? He is indeed a young hero, and his future is limitless!"
Shao Xi murmured in his heart, "You guys are so nice when you say nice things. Who knows what you are carrying in your stomach? There is no businessman without treachery, and there is no businessman without treachery. In the eyes of businessmen, Interests, how can there be any friendship at all?"
This is what I thought in my heart, but on my lips I said, "I don't dare, I don't dare. The shopkeeper's praise is too great, and I'm just lucky."
"Young hero, you are too modest. Since you have already arrived, let's rest together in our camp tonight! Although this place is not as good as Taihe Trading Company, we still have to express our gratitude for what happened today." After saying that, he ordered people to get it. Meat and wine.
Ding Yu'an was rather embarrassed at this time. Although no one came to trouble him anymore, no one seemed to pay attention to him. They probably still thought he was a horse bandit. It was just because of Shao Xi's face that he didn't say anything.
Only then did Zhang Huanzhi care about his daughter Zhang Wan. It can be seen that this person is very good at accidents, knows the priorities of everything, and always greets people with a smile and no disrespect for etiquette. He is worthy of being a great shopkeeper.
"Wan'er, are you okay? Are you injured anywhere? Those thieves didn't do anything to you, right? I told you not to come out with me a long time ago, but you kid is just disobedient. Look, something like this has happened now If something happens to you, how will your father explain to your deceased mother?"
Zhang Wan is Zhang Huanzhi's only daughter, so Zhang Huanzhi has always loved her as his heart. Now that he saw that his daughter was fine, he finally felt a little relieved.
"Father, my daughter came out with you this time, and I know how hard it has been for you, father, over the years. From now on, my daughter will stop messing around and will honor her father well at home."
Zhang Wan is indeed as her name suggests, she is indeed gentle and pleasant.
At this time, Ding Yu'an walked up to Zhang Huanzhi, cupped his fists and said: "Junior Ding Yu'an came here with the horse bandits before, but this junior is not a bandit, and he is not willing to join them. It's just that Miss Zhang was kidnapped. Although the junior did not participate, he did not lend a helping hand at the time, which is indeed against the chivalry and is really shameful. The junior would like to apologize to the shopkeeper and Miss Zhang."
Zhang Huanzhi looked at Ding Yuan and saw that he was quite talented and couldn't help but nodded. Asked: "You really don't look like an evil person, but why are you walking with those horse bandits?"
Ding Yu'an looked embarrassed and replied: "To be honest with the boss, my parents died when I was young, so I studied martial arts under my master. It's just that my master passed away not long ago, and I have nothing except this martial arts." , and they don’t know how to make a living, so they went astray?”
"I see. In that case, I just heard from Lao Geng that you are good at martial arts. Why don't you become a guard in my caravan? Although the reward is not much, you will still have enough to eat. In the future, if you Once you have a good place to go, you can leave at any time without having to be responsible to Taihe Trading Company."
Zhang Huanzhi is indeed a good person. At this time, instead of offending Ding Yuan with cold words, it is better to give him a job and make him one of our own. If he leaves in the future, you will have nothing to lose. It is better than offending him and laying a surprise for yourself.
"This junior has thanked the great shopkeeper. I will do my best to live up to the great shopkeeper's trust." Ding Yu'an bowed and thanked him.
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. Since you and the young hero are here together, I can naturally trust you."
Although Ding Yuan is low-key and humble, he is indeed a smart man. In just a few words, he was laid off and re-employed in his original competitive company. Can you believe this?
While talking, the wine and meat are ready. A group of people were sitting around the fire drinking and chatting. Zhang Huanzhi asked Shao Xi and Lao Wu, "I wonder where you two are going?"
Old Wu smiled and replied: "My young master and I are heading south back to the Central Plains. We have decided to go to Daliang City for now."
Hearing this, Zhang Huanzhi looked happy and said, "Oh? Isn't this just right? When I return to Daliang City after this trip, won't we be able to get together again?"
"I'm not sure how long I can stay in Daliang City. I really don't dare to commit to the promise." Old Wu cupped his hands and said with a smile.
"It doesn't matter." Zhang Huanzhi took out something from his arms.
"This is……?"
