Chapter 11 It’s Good to Come Back [Seeking Follow-up Reading]

"Guifei cake! Guifei cake!"

"Tanghulu--"

"We have a new Hu Ji in the store. If you want to see some exotic songs and dances, please come in!"

"..."

Walking in the bustling market town, with shops lined up on both sides and carriages and horses coming and going constantly, it is quite a scene of prosperity.

Flowers are blooming beside,

Wei Mingqi was considering his future plans.

Forget about the West Palace Yamen. After coming out, his first goal is to find Xie Beiling and Li He. All other things have to be put on the back burner.

Five years was too long a time, and he had no idea how the two were doing now. He didn't dare go into any teahouses he passed by along the way, for fear of hearing bad news.

It should not be the case that—

Otherwise, based on Wan Renshan's understanding of him, he would definitely not hide it from him. No news would actually be good news. He was a little worried.

"Sorry sorry!"

Suddenly, a child bumped into his arms unexpectedly, nodding and bowing hurriedly: "I'm in a hurry to get on the road. Goodbye, sir!"

After saying that, he was about to run away.

Wei Mingqi pulled him back with a smile and stretched out his hand: "How much did you steal today? Give me some."

The child looked bitter.

I'm so unlucky today. The man in front of me is very poor. Not only did I not get a penny, but it looks like I'll have to pay some more.

"for you……"

With a frustrated look on his face, he took out a handful of copper coins.

Wei Mingqi stroked his chin and said doubtfully, "You are so experienced, how come this is all you can do?"

"I dare not steal more."

The little beggar confessed honestly: "If you steal too much and get caught, you will be sent to a cold kiln. For someone like me, if I get caught, the most I will get is a beating."

Quite clever.

Thinking of Little White Tiger, Wei Mingqi took out some silver coins from his bag and threw them to him: "It's good that you know the importance of this matter. Take the money and go."

"Wow!"

The little beggar's face brightened up, he took the money and ran to the side with quick steps.

Wei Mingqi was about to turn around and leave.

"Sister Xie, make me two mutton buns, hurry up——"

"it is good."

The voice that he had thought of countless times in his dreams came faintly through the crowd, like an electric current passing through Wei Mingqi's body, making him stand still.

"elder brother!"

The little beggar ran back to him and raised his head as if offering a treasure: "Try this bun for you, it's delicious! It's the best in the market!"

Wei Mingqi suppressed his excitement.

"Thank you."

He took the oil bag and waited until the little beggar ran away before turning around and walking towards the place he had just been.

【Mantoupu】

There is a simple sign with three words on it, a small storefront and only the proprietress, but the stall is always crowded with people. The buns are delicious, but compared with the proprietress herself, the so-called dragon liver and phoenix marrow seem tasteless.

"Hiss - is this the Baozi Luoshen from Yong'anfang? I'm afraid she is no less amazing than the real Luoshen."

"Hey, you didn't know that when she first came, the business of the whole market was much better. I heard that there were even talented people who wrote poems for her."

"..."

"Boss lady!"

Suddenly, a man squeezed in front of the stall and shouted in a dissatisfied tone: "Why are your buns sour!"

Behind the stall, the proprietress in a plain dress replied without even looking up: "We never sell overnight meat. You must have come to the wrong store."

"impossible!"

The man shouted, "I bought it from you. If I'm not satisfied with the food, you have to go home and cook for me!"

It was obvious that he was here to cause trouble on purpose. Someone looked angry and wanted to squeeze over to stand up for the boss lady, but someone stopped him with a strange look on his face: "Why are you going up there? Wait and see the show."

The former did not change his tone when hearing this: "What good show are you looking at? This scoundrel is obviously coming for the boss lady, how can he——"

"You are the only one who has a warm heart."

The man who stopped him sneered:
"Why do you think Boss Xie is so beautiful and alone, but nothing has happened to her until now?"

"..."

At the back of the stall, the proprietress finally looked up after packing the buns, and looked at the visitor calmly. After a moment -

"Here, your buns."

She first handed the oil bag to someone else, then covered the steamer and looked up and said, "Sorry, everyone, I'm closing the stall. Come back tomorrow."

"..."

The crowd in front of the stall became visibly quiet.

"I'm just kidding, Master. Why are you closing the stall? There are still so many buns left. I'll close it after we sell them all—"

The young man walked around to the back of the stall and looked at everyone with great interest: "Steamed buns! The best steamed buns in Yong'anfang! Hurry and buy them while they're sold out—"

After he called out like this, a lot more people came to the stall, including many women, young women and middle-aged women.

"Wow, this barbarian boy is so handsome."

A woman dressed richly but with a big waist and shoulders came up, her eyes flickering between him and Xie Beiling: "Are they a couple? Why do they look like people in a painting?"

If you can praise someone, praise them more!
Wei Mingqi smiled and put an extra meat-filled bun in her oil bun: "See what you said, come more often next time."

"Sister, we are not husband and wife."

Xie Beiling raised his head calmly and explained: "He is my apprentice, he just came here."

Wei Mingqi knew that he would be beaten if he was too naughty, so he nodded in agreement: "That's right, sister, she is my master, you misunderstood."

The woman looked at him deeply, and before leaving, she gave him a word of encouragement: "You are so sweet. I think you have hope. Keep trying."

"..."

Countless men in front of the stall cursed her in their hearts.

What a shrew! She only instigates other young men to be immoral.

Xie Beiling had no intention of arguing anymore and just buried her head in her work. This woman was like that. If an explanation didn't work, she would stop explaining, but she always had her own principles in her heart.

Wei Mingqi understood her, so he knew when to stop. He worked while answering questions from customers. Maybe there were more female customers in the store than usual, so the remaining trays of buns were quickly sold out.

At noon, the streets and alleys of Yong'anfang near the east gate.

Wei Mingqi followed Xie Beiling into the courtyard and saw that it was well maintained. The baskets for drying food were neatly arranged. There was a small vegetable patch against the wall, and washed white underwear was hung next to it...

"Put the drawer on the ground next to you first—"

After sending him away, Xie Beiling calmly put away her clothes and prepared to fetch water to wash the steamer for today, but was stopped by Wei Mingqi who came over.

"I'll come, I'll come!"

The latter came over and snatched the bucket from her hand: "Master, go and take a rest. I will do these things from now on."

Xie Beiling did not fight with him anymore. She looked up for a moment and smiled, "See you again. You are really taller than Master."

Wei Mingqi performed a one-handed water-lifting trick for her: "Not only am I taller than you, my martial arts skills are now as high as three or four stories high."

"I see it."

When they met again, Xie Beiling smiled more: "You are full of energy, strong muscles, thick flesh, and a wasp waist and a monkey back. Wan Gong really didn't treat you badly."

Wei Mingqi put the bucket on the ground.

"Master."

He looked at Xie Beiling, no longer hiding the thoughts that had been suppressed for so long:

"I miss you."

"..."

Xie Beiling seems to have really changed a lot.

If it were five years ago, she would have said nothing and gone to do other things. She wasn't avoiding it, she just didn't want to pay attention.

But this time she didn't look away, she just thought for a moment and smiled gently:
"Just come back."

(End of this chapter)