Han Ling didn't know how he fell asleep. When he woke up, the sky was bright and the showers last night seemed to have washed away all the gloom, and everything seemed full of life.
He once thought that he would be unable to sleep all night long in the legendary Yanshan Inn, which was so haunted and gloomy. Therefore, he specially brought a wooden stick to knock himself out when he had insomnia.
Now that I think about it, I can't help but smile.
On the day he arrived at Yancheng, Zheng Yu specifically reminded him to stay at the inn closest to the city gate and choose room No. 2 with the word "di". Han Ling looked at his dirty and greasy rags and felt angry and funny. He wrote on the page: "Di Zi No. 2, where does the money come from?"
It took a while for Zheng Yu to reply to him. Juanxiu's red letters were thin and her tone was full of ridicule: "Just tell me that you are going to Yanshan Inn on this trip. Which boss dares to come without paying for it."
Han Ling smiled knowingly and knew that Zheng Yu had already prepared the money for the trip to the inn.
He entered the inn with his not rich pocket and bumped into two people:
Those two people looked noble and noble from a distance, and they looked magnificent from a close distance. The petite girl was wearing a Sichuan brocade undershirt in magenta embroidered with gold patterns. She was tugging at the unfitting shawl and was talking about something. The man in blue wears a jade badge on his waist and lowers his head slightly. His clothes are not as luxurious as the girl's, but walking side by side with the girl does not seem to be of low status. It can be seen that he is quite familiar with the girl.
Iwaki is not a wealthy city, so the two people's luxurious clothes attracted many people's attention. Han Ling was poor, with his head lowered, and did not attract attention. Therefore, when he entered the door, he listened carefully to the conversation between the two and couldn't help but laugh.
The girl said, "Didn't you bring an ocher-white suit with you? Why do you have to wear this unconventional undershirt for me?" She tugged at the shawl again and said in annoyance: "And these useless rags? It looks light and airy, and you step on it every step you take."
The man in blue explained calmly: "That is Yingzhou's Daisha, woven by Yingzhou Ling. One piece can be sold for nearly a thousand taels of silver."
The girl frowned slightly, as if she noticed that people on the street were looking at them. She lowered her voice and said bitterly: "Don't pull these clothes, take out that set of clothes."
The man smiled softly: "If you are... humble and fearful, I'm afraid that you will take the opportunity to do something extraordinary."
The girl took a few steps angrily, stepped on the silk fabric and almost tripped. The man covered his smile with a folding fan and walked to the girl.
They walked further and further away, so far that Han Ling couldn't hear their conversation. He changed his hand to carry the package and stepped into the inn.
As soon as he walked in the door, a young man dressed in green and white came forward. While saluting, he asked in an almost inaudible voice: "But Mr. Han?"
Han Ling was surprised. He nodded without changing his expression and asked in a low voice, "Who are you?"
The young man immediately showed a bright smile and looked at Wuchengfu: "Madam has already booked a room for me. Madam said that I will be traveling in plainclothes this time and may be dirty, but I don't care, even if You dare to come in even if you are wearing rags.”
"Master, please come this way."
Han Ling was stunned for a moment when he heard the word "Madam", his ears turned red and his face became a little hot. Even though he was already twenty-two years old, long past the age of crowning, and most of the people around him had married at his age, he still felt a little at a loss when he first heard the word "Madam".
Seeing his red face dripping with blood, the boy couldn't help but wonder: "Master Han, is he feeling unwell?"
Han Ling waved his hands quickly and followed the boy upstairs. When he arrived in front of the door, Han Ling couldn't help but call the boy:
"My dear friend, may I ask, my wife, uh... what does she look like?"
The boy looked at Han Ling in surprise. He didn't dare to be too rude, so he could only lower his head and pretend that he had no other thoughts.
"Mr. Han, can't you remember your wife's face?"
Han Ling was a little shy and a little impatient, so he said casually: "I have too many wives, and I don't know which one they are."
The boy showed a somewhat regretful expression, and Han Ling could tell that what he was thinking was, "I am not satisfied with having such a wife." He was even more anxious, so he took out a few coins and stuffed them into the boy's hands without any explanation.
The boy hurriedly caught the copper plate and made a funny bow. While counting the copper plates, he recalled: "Madam... she was wearing a blue gown when she came here. I didn't dare to look at the fabric... It seemed that she was still very wet." Xiang, there is a pocket with a lot of money..." He realized that he had gone astray, and quickly changed his words, "Madam, Madam, she seems not to be very tall, but she has a scent."
He raised his head and looked at Han Ling. Han Ling nodded pretending to understand and sent the boy downstairs. After entering the door, I couldn't help but blush again.
Zheng Yu, who is not very tall, is wearing a green shirt, with a lingering fragrance. He will see Zheng Yu tomorrow.
The stairs were wide and Han Ling walked briskly. He stood at the corner of the stairs and saw Zheng Yu sitting at the dining table with a few letters spread out in his hands. The food in front of her remained untouched, waiting for him.
"Zheng Yu," the aroma of the food went straight to his nose, causing Han Ling's stomach to growl, "the food is so fragrant, your cooking is really good."
Zheng Yu looked up at him and said with a smile, "You think the blind man is too omnipotent."
She put away the letter at hand, turned around and put it on the counter, and then waved to the little girl cooking to come forward.
The little girl is wearing a green shirt, petite, with long black hair pulled into two buns, and a bulging embroidered lotus purse around her waist. Han Ling glanced at her, then remembered the boy's words, and couldn't help but want to laugh.
This is what the young man calls his "Mrs."
"This is Cen Cen, Han Ling, please say hello to the chef of our inn."
Han Ling walked down the stairs, glanced at the food on the table, clasped his fists towards Cen Cen and said, "Han Ling is lucky to be able to eat the food cooked by the girl."
There were sixteen dishes on the table, all of which were small and exquisite, neither stingy nor extravagant. Han Ling just took a cursory glance and knew that it was quite rich.
On the table, the meat options include squirrel mandarin fish, Huadiao drunken chicken, pumpkin stew, and grilled lamb chops; the vegetarian options include stir-fried jade bamboo shoots, dried tree mushrooms, vinegar cabbage, and tofu with green onions; and the snacks include seven-color delicacies. Vegetable and fruit pancakes, salt-and-pepper fried potato slices; melons and fruits include new peach and crispy melon; soups include purple sweet potato and pumpkin porridge and emerald seafood soup; rice includes corn white rice and scallion-flavored beef patties. No matter how far apart it is, all kinds of food are available.
Han Ling walked to Zheng Yu and was about to take a seat when Cen Cen pushed him.
"Go away." Cen Cen's face was fierce. "Go away. This is my place."
She was not even as high as Han Ling's chest. Even if Han Ling had no martial arts skills, he would just have to use his hands to push this little girl away.
But Han Ling glanced at her, sighed helplessly, and gave up his seat.
There is indeed a strange fragrance on this girl, but it is definitely not incense, more like some special skill. Han Ling didn't want to provoke her, firstly because she was still young, and secondly, he was quite sure that the people around Zheng Yu were anything but mediocre.
Cen Cen sat confidently next to Zheng Yu. After getting Zheng Yu's nod of approval, he picked up her bowl and filled a small bowl of porridge.
"Sister, you stayed up late last night. I specially added barley and wolfberry to the porridge. Barley clears the lungs, and wolfberry improves eyesight."
Han Ling, who was sitting at the end of the dining table and picking up vegetables, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Cen Cen turned his head as fast as lightning, gritted his teeth and said, "What's wrong?!"
Zheng Yu also smiled and stretched out his hand to rub Cen Cen's head: "Good boy, I accept your wishes. Let's eat quickly."
Cen Cen glared at Han Ling and gave Zheng Yu another spoonful of wolfberry.
Han Ling couldn't hold it back anymore and laughed again.
Cen Cen put down the bowl and slapped the table hard.
"Do not laugh!"
Zheng Yu couldn't persuade him anymore. Cen Cen ran directly to Han Ling and looked at him angrily: "Why are you laughing! Why are you laughing!!"
Han Ling looked at Zheng Yu and then at Cen Cen, pretending to be calm and put away his smile.
"Miss Cencen, you know that wolfberry is used to improve your eyesight, right?
"Look at your sister, does she need eyesight?"
Cen Cen was so angry that he shivered. She shouted, "Don't slander my sister!" She reached out to grab Han Ling's hair.
Han Ling didn't tie his hair up this morning, so he tied it with a rope and went downstairs. When he was grabbed by Cen Cen's strong little hand, he didn't know how many strands fell off at once. He screamed in pain and reached out to flick Cen Cen's forehead. Cen Cen became angry, grabbed a handful of celery nearby and hit Han Ling.
There was a melee in this room, and Han Ling secretly glanced at Zheng Yu. She still had a gentle smile, her eyelids were lowered, and she looked at the bowl of porridge in front of her lovingly.
After looking at it for a long time, he felt a little embarrassed, raised one hand and said: "No fight, no fight, I admit defeat. Miss Cen Cen is the chef, she has the final say how she wants to cook."
Cen Cen sat back down proudly. When she raised her eyes, she saw Zheng Yu calmly drinking porridge, and felt a little embarrassed for a moment.
"Sister, I'm sorry." She gently shook Zheng Yu's arm, her face full of grievance.
Zheng Yu was not annoyed with her, he just looked at her and said with a smile: "With your temper, I'm afraid that the reputation of 'Yanshan Inn' will get worse and worse when I leave."
Cen Cen didn't say anything, but Han Ling was surprised.
"Should Miss Cen Cen be in charge of the Yanshan Inn?" He was afraid that Cen Cen would be angry, so he added, "She is so young."
Cen Cen turned around and stopped making trouble, saying: "It's not an escrow. After my sister left, I will be the owner of Yanshan Inn. Besides, I am already fifteen years old, and my sister was only fifteen when she first met me. .”
Han Ling then took a serious look at Cen Cen: she had a pair of delicate red and phoenix eyes, tall willow eyebrows, and she had a compelling aura when she was serious. The bridge of the nose is not very straight, the tip of the nose is softly curved, and the color of the lips is very light, but it does look a bit like Zheng Yu. She is short in stature, but not thin and strong. Her hands have calluses from years of cooking. Looking at it this way, he looks like a child who can stand on his own.
Han Ling said seriously: "Well done, I believe you can manage the inn as well as Zheng Yu."
"It would be better if we knew that Zheng Yu couldn't see clearly after eating wolfberry."
Cen Cen broke through his power in an instant and rushed towards Han Ling screaming. Han Ling threw her celery far away on the counter and hid here and there to prevent her from catching it.
Zheng Yu smiled and watched the chickens and dogs dancing over there for a while. After finishing his meal, he turned around and picked up the letter on the counter.
"Cen Cen, the food is getting cold. Stop playing. Han Ling, don't tease her. Go eat quickly. After dinner, we will prepare to leave."
Han Ling was stunned and asked, "Don't you need to pack your bags?"
Cen Cen sneered and said, "Sister has packed her things a long time ago. As for you, you are so poor that you can't afford to eat. What luggage can you have?"
Han Ling picked up a piece of mutton ribs and pretended to take aim at Cen Cen.
Cen Cen was not threatened by him and snorted: "But, my sister is kind-hearted and asked me to buy you some clothes. Just keep them there."
She raised her chin towards the counter, and Han Ling saw a large suitcase there.
"Thank you, Miss Cen Cen. Han is grateful."
He bowed to Cen Cen and received a blank look.
"Okay, stop being so pretentious." Cen Cen waved his hand, "Hurry up and finish your meal, I'm still waiting for you to wash the dishes."
The two parties made a truce and began to eat. There were not many vegetarian dishes left on the table, but there were enough meat dishes. Han Ling looked at Cen Cen's annoyed expression and guessed that she probably planned to take this opportunity to give Zheng Yu more nutrition, but the plan failed.
Han Ling saw that she was funny, but he was afraid that the child would be angry, so he couldn't hold back his laughter.
Cen Cen ate the food very quickly, moving his chopsticks constantly, and he could be said to be gobbling it up. Han Ling watched her hold the rice bowl in front of her face, her movements wide, as if someone would compete with her if she didn't finish eating quickly. He sighed inwardly, guessing that she probably suffered from hunger for a while when she was a child.
He knew what it was like to be locked in a small, dark room with his chest pressed against his back due to hunger, so he felt more sympathy for Cen Cen.
After Cen Cen finished eating the meatballs in front of him, his eyes roamed around the dining table and locked onto the lamb chops in front of Han Ling.
She is so small that she might not be able to reach the lamb chops even if she is lying on the table.
Han Ling picked up the plate. Cen Cen thought he was going to take away the mutton chops, and stamped her feet anxiously. However, she saw Han Ling pick up the mutton chops and hand them to her.
Cen Cen sat down, pursed his lips, and said:
"Mr. Han, you know I am deliberately making things difficult for you, right?"
Han Ling nodded: "I know, you don't want Zheng Yu to leave with me, but..."
Cen Cen interrupted him simply: "Since you know this, you should understand that this small favor cannot buy me off."
She crossed her hands and placed them on the table. There was a smile on her face, but it didn't make anyone feel angry or intimidating.
This is the true face of Miss Cen, who was chosen by Zheng Yu as his heir.
When Han Ling was interrupted by her, he was not angry, but laughed.
"Cen Cen, let me finish. Zheng Yu is willing to leave the inn and go with me not because I need her.
"But because she needs me."
Cen Cen frowned slightly, but nodded gently, indicating for him to continue.
"Zheng Yu doesn't want a stable place to stay." He swallowed and decided not to tell Cen Cen that Zheng Yu was already behind her. "She has a soul and will as strong as fire. She needs me to replace her." She fulfilled those long-cherished wishes.”
"I will not take away Zheng Yu, between us..." Han Ling couldn't help but laugh when he said this.
"Between us, we help each other."
Cen Cen took a deep look at him. His eyes were not like those of a fifteen-year-old girl, but rather like those of a hundreds-year-old goblin who could tear out his heart with one glance.
After a while, she said: "Okay, I believe you."
She put down the rice bowl, raised her chin towards the kitchen, and signaled Han Ling to wash the dishes. In the blink of an eye, she turned into that arrogant little girl again.
"That's right!" Cen Cen suddenly remembered something and shouted, "You are not allowed to call me Cen Cen. My name is Cen Sen. You have to call me: 'Shopkeeper Cen'."
"Okay." Zheng Yu sat behind her and said with a smile, "My shopkeeper Cen."
