These were pocket money, convenient for when he wants to buy something. So he doesnât bother to keep track on how much he has.
âWhat color is the purse? What was embroidered on it?âLian Fang Zhou questioned.
Cui Shao Xi glance at her and cheerfully answered: âFrom I remember, silver blue. Embroidered with emerald green gourd and gourd leaves.â
Only then did Lian Fang Zhou pass the bundle to him, asserted. âOpen it and check. donât accuse us of stealing later on.â
His footboy harrumphed in annoyance. âWhat do you mean by that? My young master isnât that kind of person!â
âLoudmouth!â Cui Shao Xi threw a glare at the little manservant. He recklessly opened the bundle and carelessly counted the notes, then pulled open the purse and acted as if he looked over the content. He turned to Lian Fang Zhou and stated, âI have inspected them, nothing is missing.â
The footboy at the side, twitched his mouth as he thought, âyoung master can you even check it clearly like this?â
Lian Fang Zhou and the others werenât blind. They could see that this young master had no intention to inspect seriously. He was just putting a show due to Lian Fang Zhouâs word
Lian Fang Zhou find this person so irksome; to hold so much money and treat it as nothing. She internally sighed, âThe wealthy are really wayward! Sigh.â
âSince itâs like that, the lost property has returned to rightful owner, weâll take our leave! â Lian Fang Zhou nodded her head.
âOh,â Cui Shao Xi stopped her again. With a grin, he tested: âIf I said something is missing, what would you do?â
Lian Fang Zhou cast a glance over and said, âIf the inside doesnât match to what you said then that means that bundle isnât yours! Then we can only send it over to Yamen!â
Cui Shao Xi froze then burst into waves of laughter.
Once his laughter subsided, Lian Fang Zhou and the others had already left.
âCountry girl really donât know how to speak! The bundle is clearly ours, but she had to make up all these reasoning. In the end, the bundle is still returned to us!â the footboy Cui Yi mumbled.
Cui Shao Xi rolled his eyes and chided, âwhat do you understand! That miss is quite smart!â
Disagreeing, Cui Yi sulked as he argued, âthis servant doesnât feel sheâs clever. This servant finds her too long winded!!â
After a pause, he continued. âHowever, just now young master should have given her some reward money, to avoid her belittling young master.â
Even though they might not meet again and each doesnât know the other, Cui Yi felt uncomfortable that his young man would be looked down on by Lian Fang Zhou.
âTo say such silly words!âCui Shao Xi gently rapped his head. âShe wouldnât want it even if we gave her! HoweverâŠâ However, he should have asked for her name.
He self mockingly laughed and shooked his head. Would she tell him when asked?
âHow does young master know she wonât?âCui Yi immediately talked back. âYoung Master have few thousand liang inside the bundle in addition to two pieces of sable fur, clothe and things inside the purse. Itâs worth over ten thousand altogether! Sheâs just an ordinary commoner. Afraid she never saw such a large amount of money for a few lifetimes. So she wouldnât dare to covet them, right? Since itâs asking for trouble! However, she would accept a bit of reward money!â
Cui Shao Xi swept a gaze over to him, remarked, âThough you are foolish, you are also not!â
âIs servantâs deduction correct, young master?â Cui Yi eyes lit up as asked.
âA bunch of absurd reasoning! Letâs go. Donât make Uncle and Aunt anxiously wait!â Cui Shao Xi exasperatedly glared at him, walked to the side, untied the rein and hopped onto the horse.
Not long later, the master and servant pair caught up to Lian Fang Zhou and the others. When he passed by them, he pulled the rein to slow down. On the horse, he cupped his hands toward them, but his eyes were focused on Lian Fang Zhou. With a grin, he announced, âMany thanks! The surname, Cui and the name, Cui Shao Xi. If you need any help, go and let the townâs Jun Yue Restaurant know!â
Finishing, he gave her a nod. Without waiting for her to speak, urge the horse through whipping and speed away. Before long, he disappeared from the threeâs vision.
âSister, that person really is, really isââ Lian Ze couldnât find the word to describe him.
Ah Jian couldnât help glimpse at Lian Fang Zhou. He doesnât know why his heart feels faintly uncomfortable. Cui Shao Xi, his instinctly dislike the other person.
âJun Yue Restaurant? You want to go look for help from him? From the look of it, itâll save a lot of trouble by asking him!â Ah Jian couldnât resist mentioning.
Lian Fang Zhou shook her head, stated, âReturning the things to him was only a slight effort. The other might possibly just said that without thinking. We canât treat it seriously!â
âUn!â Ah Jian broke into a grin. âThat Su Familyâs young madamâs mother and your mother used to have deep ties, so presumably Su Familyâs young madam will definitely meet you!â
âHope itâs like that!â Lian Fang Zhou laugh. She was slightly baffled why Ah Jian suddenly was in a good mood.
After a few delays on the road, it was already past noon when the three of them reached the town. Amid the crowded market, they look for a small shop to eat lunch. They ask around for Su Familyâs address while they are at it.
Shuang Liu County appeared to be more bustling and energetic than Yun He County. Two large rivers ran along the city, Qing Yang river and Guang Yang. Thatâs where Shuang Liu County come from. (Shuang means double, Liu means flow)
Itâs because there are two large rivers as well as the area is located at the center of a traffic junction, maritime cargo comes and go, making it very lively and it is what makes Shuang Liu County buzzing.
Once the three of them asked around about Su Family, the shop owner mentioned, âThe East side of townâs Su Family on Shuang He lane? Thatâs our Shuang Liuâs wealthiest! Which manorâs housekeeper or servant are you looking for?â
Lian Fang Zhou froze in place. Su Family became the local wealthiest!
After some contemplation, she enquired, âIs the Su Familyâs young madam surnamed Fang? Su Family only have one young master and one young miss, right?â
The shop owner gave her a strange look and nodded. â Thatâs right! Though the Su Family have a prosperous amount of wealth but not a lot in family number. The Su Family master couple have only one son and one daughter! However, that was before. After the young madam married in, she gave birth to a chubby baby for the Su Family in her second year. Now she has two sons! Su Familyâs Master and Madam is overjoyed and dote the young madam a lot. Oh, that young madam is really lucky. Heard she came from a poor background. This is flying up the branches and turn into a phoenix! But itâs no wonder, not only did that young madam give birth to two sons at such a young age, but sheâs also skillful! She is proficient in managing the business. However, itâs Young Master Su whoâs retreating back to the groundâŠâ
Now Lian Fang Zhou was sure that wealthy Su Family is the Su Family she was looking for. She gratefully smiled as she thanked the shop owner and left with Ah Jain and Lian Ze.
The three of them using the address given by the shop owner, they arrived at Su Familyâs entrance on Shuang He Lane. There stood a brightly painted towering gatehouse and two huge crouching stone lion, one left and one right. A tall, thick, red painted door was closed tightly with a copper beast head knocker that was bigger than a human head.
The large doorway was covered with neatly aligned, stony green tiles was swept clean. It was bright and peaceful as the afternoon rays beamed down.
They stepped forward. Ah Jian grasped the knocker and lightly knocked on the massive door. Not long later, the giant door let out a dull groan as it was half opened by someone. A servant dressed like a footboy swept a glance at them and asked, âMay I ask who are you looking for?â