Wanghai County, Tianxiang Tower.

The waiter in the restaurant bowed and took the reins from Luo Fengtang's hand, and led the horse to the stable in the backyard.

Yang Yongjin took Luo Fengtang's shoulder and went to the elegant room to drink tea and talk.

Yang Ruoqing turned around and said to Ping'er, who was holding a bundle behind her, "Let's go to the guest room to stay first."

Ping'er was looking around at the backyard of the restaurant when she heard Yang Ruoqing's voice and hurriedly looked away, "I knew you opened Tianxiang Tower in many places many years ago. I've seen the one in the town, but this is the first time I've been back to the county town.

Every place is really more luxurious than the last.”

Yang Ruoqing pursed her lips and smiled: "The county has a larger population than the town, and there are more wealthy people, so the level will naturally increase."

The two families in Qing'an County and Licheng are even more luxurious!

"Go in, it's a little cold outside." Yang Ruoqing reached out and took Ping'er's bundle: "This way."

Yang Ruoqing asked Luo Fengtang and Yang Yongjin to sleep in the same room, and she and Ping'er slept in the same room, so that they could talk to each other at night.

As soon as the two of them entered the house, Yang Yongjin sent the waiter to bring a charcoal brazier and hot tea and hot water into the house.

The two of them washed their faces with hot water, untied their hair and combed it again, and just sat down to drink tea.

Yang Yongjin and Luo Fengtang came over.

When Ping'er saw Yang Yongjin, she felt a little cautious and quickly put down her tea bowl and stood up.

Yang Yongjin nodded kindly to Ping'er, went straight to Yang Ruoqing and said, "Several stewards in the restaurant heard that you were coming, and they all came to the backyard to pay you respects."

Yang Ruoqing put down the tea bowl in her hand and smiled: "Everyone is interested. Please say hello and don't be in a hurry. Second brother, is dinner ready?"

In the morning, Tianma Maliang and the three of them drove the carriage out of the village, but because the road was very muddy after the snow started to clear up, the speed was relatively slow.

We arrived at the county seat near evening. Although the three of them ate some solid food on the way, they were not doing well at all.

Yang Yongjin said hurriedly: "I was just about to say that the dinner prepared for you is also cooked and can be eaten at any time."

Yang Ruoqing said: "Second brother, go and tell the stewards. I'll eat first and let them go and eat. I'll call them over to talk to you later in the night."

Yang Yongjin nodded, turned around and went out.

Luo Fengtang asked Yang Ruoqing again: "It's cold outside, do you want to go to the private room to eat, or do you want the waiter to bring the food to the house?"

Yang Ruoqing looked at Ping'er, who said hurriedly: "I'm fine with everything, you just make arrangements."

Yang Ruoqing thought of Ping'er's shyness when she faced Yang Yongjin, so she said to Luo Fengtang: "Send it to the house!"

Luo Fengtang nodded and turned to make arrangements.

Therefore, the scene of dinner at night was that Yang Ruoqing and Ping'er ate behind closed doors in the room, while Luo Fengtang, Yang Yongjin and several stewards ate and drank in the private room.

Ping'er was very grateful for Yang Ruoqing's thoughtfulness and said to Yang Ruoqing: "Qing'er, thank you for putting yourself in my shoes. Indeed, I saw that your second brother was really embarrassed."

Yang Ruoqing was using serving chopsticks to put a piece of shredded fish-flavored pork into Ping'er's bowl. When she heard this, she asked without raising her head: "Why is this?"

Ping'er sighed softly, "Your second brother looks 70% similar to your eldest brother. When I see him, it's like meeting your eldest brother. In addition, what happened between me and your eldest brother back then, your second brother should be the same."

You know, that’s why I’m a little cautious.”

Yang Ruoqing smiled, nodded and said: "I can understand, but you and my eldest brother have parted ways a long time ago. You have brother Zhou Sheng, and you have a daughter. Now you are about to be your mother-in-law, and my eldest brother also has wives and concubines.

My legitimate son and concubine, my second brother will not remember your old sesame seeds and rotten millet things, so you can just relax."

Ping'er smiled gently, picked up the bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat the food in a reserved manner.

The two of them quietly discussed the next itinerary while eating.

Today is the nineteenth of the twelfth lunar month. On the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month, the Gu family will go to Changping Village to welcome their bride. The twenty-fourth is for ancestor worship. Restaurants and all walks of life have to close their doors and go home to celebrate the New Year. They will not open until after the Lantern Festival in the first lunar month.

Therefore, they had to rush back to the village on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month at the latest, so the two of them had only three days at most to secretly investigate the inside story of the Gu family.

"Everyone is tired from the journey today. After dinner later, you can take a shower and have a good rest. I'll go meet with some of the stewards in the restaurant to have a few words. When it's daytime tomorrow, we'll disguise ourselves and go to Gu's house.

Is it possible to carry out "covert inspections and secret visits" on the streets?" Yang Ruoqing asked.

Ping'er smiled gently, with gratitude in her eyes: "Yes!"

The next day, the sun came out, the snow on the streets melted, and the streets and alleys were full of people. The New Year atmosphere suddenly became intense.

Yang Ruoqing and Ping'er disguised themselves and walked hand in hand on the streets of the county town, following the bustling crowd.

There are various shops and hawkers on both sides of the road, which is very lively. A child is sitting on the man's shoulder, and the woman is standing aside holding the child's leg.

The children were so attracted by the targets selling candied haws and candied apples that they refused to leave.

The man asked the candied haws hawker for the price, and it cost three cents for a candied haws.

The man said: "Buy two bunches!"

The woman then bargained: "Can I sell two strings for five cents?"

The hawker chuckled: "It's a small business, so we don't bargain."

The man then said to the woman: "Six cents is just six cents. It's almost the Chinese New Year. We don't care about the one more cent and the one less cent."

The woman gave up bargaining, took out six cents and handed it to the vendor according to her words, and carefully selected two bunches of candied haws that seemed to be larger.

He peeled one bunch and handed it to the child sitting on the man's shoulder. He took the other bunch in his hand and said, "I'll save this bunch for you. You can eat it when you go home."

The man said to the woman: "You eat this bunch, and if you want to eat it later, you can come out and buy it."

The woman shook her head, "How can I eat candied haws as an adult..."

"Why can't adults eat it? When you are happy, you think about this sour food!" the man said again.

The woman lowered her head, a little embarrassed, "Why are you saying this on the street? People laughed at you."

The man chuckled: "You can eat it. The syrup is easy to melt and only costs three cents. When I get my wages back, I will give you two new clothes to celebrate the New Year!"

The woman couldn't resist the man's persuasion, so she peeled off the candy wrapper on the surface of the candied haws, then handed the candied haws to the man's mouth: "You take one first."

The man took a bite and puffed up his cheeks: "Well, it's delicious, you can eat it too."

The woman then took a bite and held it in her mouth. It tasted sour and sweet. The couple nestled together, protected the child, and gradually walked away while eating the candied haws, and finally disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Yang Ruoqing and Ping'er had been walking behind the family of three, watching their every move.

Yang Ruoqing couldn't help but sigh: "That man is not bad, he loves his wife and children."
Chapter completed!