Chapter 319: Noodles, Eat Them on the Road |
After Qiu Zhiheng got off the train with Lu Chunying, Ma Wu, and the others, they did not go to Freewind Wharf or Lu Chunying's residence. Instead, they went straight to the He Family's main residence.
They had been ambushed at Blackstone Slope, resulting in Qiu Zhiheng getting injured. He should have spent more time recovering, but he had received news that He Haiqin's funeral was taking place that day. He had to bring Lu Chunying to pay their respects. They could not neglect proper etiquette on an occasion like this.
Duan Shaoxia had also gone to the He Family's main residence to attend the funeral, accompanied by Zhang Huaiyi. During the funeral, Qiu Zhiheng stood behind Lu Chunying, while Duan Shaoxia kept staring at him, her eyes filled with resentment and sorrow.
After the funeral ended, Tan Fucheng left first, as he had matters to attend to.
He Yuxiu found Qiu Zhiheng. "Monkey, come have a drink with me."
"Where would you like to go, Elder Sister?"
"Let's go to Freewind Wharf. We can give Ma Wu some business."
He Yuxiu was now in charge of the He Family. Since she had taken the initiative to be friendly, Qiu Zhiheng naturally agreed to her request.
When they arrived at Freewind Wharf, Ma Wu arranged a private room for them. He Yuxiu said, "Junyang, I want to have this drink alone with Monkey."
Qiu Zhiheng poured He Yuxiu a cup of wine, and she downed it in one gulp. He poured another cup, and He Yuxiu kept drinking.
After five cups, tears finally spilled from He Yuxiu's eyes. "Haiqin is gone. He's gone..."
Qiu Zhiheng said nothing. He knew this was a time when he should not speak. There was nothing he could say that would be a better comfort than simply keeping He Yuxiu company while she cried her heart out for a while.
After she did just that, He Yuxiu looked at Qiu Zhiheng and asked, "What do you think of my looks?"
"Beautiful," Qiu Zhiheng answered very seriously.
"Even at my age, I'm not much worse than women younger than me, am I?"
"You're much better than them."
"Then why didn't you take a liking to me back then? I was a few years older than you, but I was still an absolute top beauty back then. I even offered myself to you instead of waiting for you to chase me, yet you still refused to marry me. Why?"
Qiu Zhiheng held his wine cup and stayed silent for a long while before saying, "Elder Sister, you know why I couldn't. Our statuses were different."
"Did I ever fucking care about status? Back then, all I needed was one word from you, and I would've married you and changed my surname to yours!"
Qiu Zhiheng fell silent.
After a long while, He Yuxiu wiped her tears and said, "Haiqin is gone, and Haisheng isn't close to me. I don't have anyone close to me left in this life. Monkey, I asked you here today for one thing. Haiqin left the He Family to me, but I know my own strengths and limitations. I can't beat you. If I really end up fighting you, the He Family will definitely be swallowed up by the Lu Family. Do you still remember our friendship and the affection we shared in the past? Will you come work with me? I'll listen to everything you say. Will you come to the He Family and be the chief steward?"
"The He Family..." Qiu Zhiheng muttered and shook his head.
He Yuxiu sighed. "I know you're one of the Lu Family's people. No matter where you go, you're still one of the fucking Lu Family's people."
"The Lu Family..." Qiu Zhiheng wore a bitter smile and said nothing else about that.
He Yuxiu replied, "It's fine if you won't come. Just spare me this once. I won't fight you over anything, and you don't set your sights on the He Family either. How does that sound?"
Qiu Zhiheng sighed. "Sister, I am a servant of the Lu Family. A servant is still a servant. I'm not the one who gets to make decisions."
He Yuxiu nodded. "I understand what you mean. You want me to look after that girl Lu Chunying. That child is decent, and I quite like her too. Lu Dongliang has disappeared without a word, and Duan Shaoxia has lost her fucking mind. Lu Chunying may not be her child, but she still bears the surname Lu. No matter whose seed Zhang Huaiyi came from, his surname is still Zhang. I'll agree to this. I acknowledge Lu Chunying. She is the head of the Lu Family."
Qiu Zhiheng raised his cup in a toast. "With those words from you, Elder Sister, I, Qiu Zhiheng, will never be your enemy in this life!"
"Then it's settled!"
Qiu Ziheng and He Yuxiu drank a few more cups of wine.
He Yuxiu looked at Qiu Zhiheng, her gaze becoming unfocused. "Monkey, how are you still so handsome even after all these years?"
Qiu Zhiheng smiled. "You're still just as beautiful too, Elder Sister."
He Yuxiu leaned close to Monkey Qiu's face and purred suggestively, "Why don't we sleep together tonight?"
"Elder Sister, I'm not really up for it today."
"Bullshit. With your Daoist path, you're telling me you're not up for it? If we could go back twenty years and let you choose again, would you choose me or your wife?"
"We can't go back anyway, so who can say for sure?"
He Yuxiu jabbed Qiu Zhiheng with one finger. "You little bastard, can't you say something nice for once?"
Just when the pair had gotten drunk enough to have warm, friendly banter without inhibitions, a sudden commotion broke out outside.
He Yuxiu frowned. "Who is it? Damn mood killer!"
Qiu Zhiheng stepped outside the room to take a look and found the corridor in complete chaos. He grabbed a support hook and asked what was happening, only to learn that Ma Wu was in trouble.
We're in Freewind Wharf, Ma Wu's domain. Yet, Ma Wu was in trouble?
Qiu Ziheng and He Yuxiu hurriedly followed the support hook to the dance hall. There, they saw a masked figure in black pointing a short saber at Ma Wu's forehead.
The masked figure barked, "Where is Li Qi?"
The masked figure's voice was deep and muffled. It was clear that it belonged to a man, but no one recognized his voice.
Zuo Wugang stood beside Ma Wu, hesitating over whether to rush forward. If the masked man thrust the saber out, Ma Wu would lose his life.
He Yuxiu, on the other hand, did not hesitate. She let out a drunken belch and walked forward with a rosy grin. "Stab him. Go on, stab him. If you don't stab him today, you're a fucking turtle-spawned bastard."
The masked man flexed his wrist, intending to cut a gash across Ma Wu's face.
Qiu Zhiheng's gaze darkened, and the masked man's heart was sent racing. His wrist trembled without him realizing it.
Then He Yuxiu casually waved her hand and snatched the saber from the masked man. No one, not even Qiu Zhiheng, had seen how she had taken it.
The masked man pulled open the lapel of his coat, and over a hundred shuttle darts flew toward the crowd with high speed and accuracy. Ma Wu could not dodge them, and even Zuo Wugang could not avoid them.
Zuo Wugang stepped in front of Ma Wu, intending to take the darts head-on.
He Yuxiu kicked the large fruit platter off the round table. It arced through the air and blocked every single one of the over a hundred shuttle darts. She could make anything a weapon, and an excellent weapon at that.
He Yuxiu stuck her hands in her pockets and walked forward with a cheerful smile. "What other good stuff do you have? Let me see."
The masked man tapped his toes and retreated rapidly. He Yuxiu stepped forward and chased after him at an unhurried pace.
Is this guy a Wanderlust Cultivator? He's really fast.
Just as he was about to retreat to the entrance of the dance hall, the masked man felt a scorching heat behind him. Huo Ling had appeared outside the door, and she spewed a mouthful of fire onto the masked man, engulfing him in flames.
He Yuxiu took a step back. "Where did this crazy hag come from? She almost burned me."
With an enemy at the front and another at the rear, the masked man had nowhere left to run. Yet, just as Huo Ling was about to intensify the fire and burn him to death, the flames suddenly dissipated, and the masked man vanished.
"Where is he hiding?" Huo Ling said, gritting her teeth. Her long hair turned into fire snakes that danced in all directions.
Ma Wu quickly urged her, "Ling'er, don't burn Freewind Wharf down!"
Freewind Wharf fell into chaos, and all the guests fled.
He Yuxiu laughed. "Junyang, your support hooks aren't good enough. How did that person sneak in? He was dressed so conspicuously in all black, yet no one noticed him?"
Zuo Wugang's face flushed a deep red.
Qiu Zhiheng said, "That person was probably a high-level Artificer Cultivator. He used an invisibility item."
***
Across the street from Freewind Wharf, He Jiaqing set the masked man down.
"That woman's fire really is fierce." He Jiaqing waved his hand, and a ball of fire rose from his palm. "Not bad. Guess I gained something out of this."
The masked man looked at He Jiaqing warily and asked, "Who are you?"
He Jiaqing said, "I am Ling Miaoying's friend. Let's talk somewhere else."
The masked man took a step back. "I don't know you."
He Jiaqing smiled. "But I know you, Movie Queen Tu Yinghong."
***
Late that night, Li Banfeng returned to Freewind Wharf and found that it had not opened for business. The dance hall was in a complete mess.
"Old Wu, what happened?"
"Someone came to our place to cause trouble. They said they were here for you."
"For me? What kind of person?"
"They were securely wrapped in their clothes. Every inch of them was covered, even their face. Their voice sounded like a man's, but the person was probably a woman."
Li Banfeng trusted Ma Wu's judgment on that point. Ma Wu could always tell if a person was a woman.
"A woman came to Freewind Wharf looking for me. Who could that be?"
Right then, Qiu Zhiheng walked out of the private room, leaving He Yuxiu drunk and sound asleep inside.
Lu Chunying kept dozing off, but when she saw Qiu Zhiheng come over, she forced herself to get up and shake off her sleepiness. She said, "Elder Brother Qiu, there are still some business matters I'd like to discuss with you."
Qiu Zhiheng chuckled. "Discuss business matters with Junyang. I've already taught you everything I can. Junyang is better at doing business than I am."
After saying that, Qiu Zhiheng looked at Ma Wu.
Ma Wu smiled. "Elder Brother Qiu, this is the eldest young lady of the Lu Family. You can't just dump her on me!"
"The Lu Family..." Qiu Zhiheng murmured.
Lu Chunying asked cautiously, "Elder Brother Qiu, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I should head back," Qiu Zhiheng replied, draping his coat over one arm. He glanced at Li Banfeng with a small smile and left Freewind Wharf.
Thunder rumbled, and rain began to fall.
Ma Wu looked out the window and sighed. "He's in a difficult position. As the Lu Family's chief steward, it won't be easy for him to deal with Duan Shaoxia. The ambush we suffered at Blackstone Slope was very likely ordered by her."
Li Banfeng fell silent for a moment before saying to Ma Wu, "Old Wu, go find the Border Controller."
***
At the Lu Family's main residence, Duan Shaoxia waited in the hall with a dark expression.
When Qiu Zhiheng returned, Duan Shaoxia sent the servants away and asked him, "Little Qiu, do you still care about this family? Do you still care about me? Are you still one of the Lu Family's people?"
Qiu Zhiheng was silent for a moment. Then he raised his gaze to meet hers and said, "Not anymore."
Duan Shaoxia froze. "Little Qiu, what do you mean by that? Are you angry with me?"
"I'm not," Qiu Zhiheng replied, shaking his head. "I'm leaving."
"Zhiheng, you can't leave!" Duan Shaoxia's voice trembled as she spoke. "Do you know who that child is? I am not trying to put you in a difficult position. That child Huaiyi is actually—"
Qiu Zhiheng said calmly, "I know, Madam. I watched Yuanhai grow up. I know Huaiyi is Yuanhai."
Duan Shaoxia was stunned speechless.
Qiu Zhiheng let out a long sigh. "Madam, if you had not done this, there would still have been a way to salvage the situation. No matter what it took, I would have found a way to cure Yuanhai. But now, the one lying in that bed cannot be cured because he is not Yuanhai, and I cannot support the one that's still standing because he is not a member of the Lu Family. Madam, there is nothing more I can do. I am leaving. My wife and child have already reached the station, and it is time for me to go too."
His wife and child have left? When did that happen? Duan Shaoxia thought puzzledly.
She held Qiu Zhiheng back. "Zhiheng, don't go. I did all of this for the Lu Family."
Qiu Zhiheng smiled sadly and replied, "I did everything for the Lu Family too. For half my life, everything I did was for the Lu Family. I've done everything I can to try to save it.
"Back when Master first brought me here, I had nothing. Now that I'm leaving today, I won't take anything with me. The savings I accumulated over my years here—I've given the money back to the Lu Family's accounts office.
"I borrowed the money for the train tickets and travel expenses, and I even borrowed money to buy these clothes. Everything the Lu Family gave me, I've returned it all to the Lu Family.
"Farewell, Madam."
Qiu Zhiheng turned and walked out of the hall.
Duan Shaoxia gritted her teeth. "Don't go!"
A blood vessel burst in her eye. This was the root of love she had planted in Qiu Zhiheng. Under normal circumstances, Qiu Zhiheng would definitely have turned back at that moment. But Qiu Zhiheng did not look back. He had pulled out the root of love long ago.
He strode out of the Lu Family's main residence. The rain was pouring heavily, and Qiu Zhiheng stood at the entrance of the residence for a moment. Then he straightened his back and walked through the heavy rain all the way to the train station.
His wife and child were waiting for him in the ticket hall, with Tan Fucheng standing beside them. Tan Fucheng had left the funeral first so that he could escort Qiu Zhiheng's wife and child to the train station.
"Chief Qiu, be careful on the road," Tan Fucheng said.
He was worried that Duan Shaoxia might make a move on the way, but after thinking about it a bit more, he realized Qiu Zhiheng should already be on guard.
"Brother Tan, you should be careful too," Qiu Zhiheng replied. He thanked Tan Fucheng, then he took his wife and child through the ticket gate.
Toot toot~
The train whistle sounded, and the train pulled into the station.
Qiu Zhiheng let his wife and child board first. Then he noticed there was someone on the platform watching him. That person wore a black suit and a fedora, with the brim pressed very low.
Qiu Zhiheng walked up to him and smiled. "You came to see me off? I'm no longer the Lu Family's steward, so I probably won't be able to help you with anything in the future."
Li Banfeng held out a large cloth sack and handed it to Qiu Zhiheng. "Noodles. Eat them on the road."
Qiu Zhiheng froze.
Li Banfeng said, "They don't sell instant noodles here, but dried noodles are pretty good too. These noodles will last you and your family half a month."
The rain was heavy. Qiu Zhiheng wiped the rainwater from his face and accepted the sack of noodles.
Li Banfeng took out a land deed. "Ma Wu found out about your ticket, so I know you're going to Medicine King Gully. It just so happens that I have something I'd like to trouble you with. I've been wanting to open a medicinal trading house in Medicine King Gully, but I don't understand the principles of medicine, and I'm also worried about losing money. So I want to entrust this medicinal trading house to you."
Qiu Zhiheng lowered his head. "You want me to manage a business for you? I don't do that sort of thing anymore."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "I'm not asking you to manage it. I'm asking you to partner with me. I'll put up the money, and you'll do the work. We split the profits fifty-fifty. You have a strong reputation and can hold the place down, so let's call the medicinal trading house Qiu's."
Li Banfeng held the land deed out to Qiu Zhiheng. Under the heavy downpour, the land deed was getting wet. Qiu Zhiheng accepted the land deed and gazed at Li Banfeng without saying a word.
The train whistle sounded. The train was about to depart.
"Take care," Li Banfeng said. He lowered the brim of his hat and turned away to leave.
"Take care, Brother."
Qiu Zhiheng kept watching Li Banfeng until he disappeared from view.
Then Qiu Zhiheng boarded the train and sat beside his wife. His wife took out a handkerchief and wiped the rainwater from Qiu Ziheng's face. There was a lot of rainwater on his face.
He handed the land deed to his wife.
His wife looked at it and asked, "What is this?"
"A business." Qiu Zhiheng wiped the rainwater from his face, but he could never seem to wipe it all away. "This is the Qiu Family's business."