Chapitre 236: Chapter 74 Chatter On and On
Although Fang Jinxiu didn't ultimately know what Jun Zhenzhen had said to make Registrar Lin endure the humiliation of his daughter, she didn't think that Registrar Lin would still be grateful to Jun Zhenzhen, let alone be happy to see her.
She also didn't think there was anything they needed to talk about.
Fang Jinxiu carefully watched over there as Jun Zhenzhen spoke, with Registrar Lin listening intently, his expression carried a hint of solemnity.
After Jun Zhenzhen finished speaking, Registrar Lin also began to speak, then shook his head as if sighing, and Jun Zhenzhen immediately said a few more words, causing Registrar Lin to laugh.
"It seems like they are having a pleasant conversation," Seventh Chen said from behind Fang Jinxiu.
Fang Jinxiu, having forgotten his presence, was startled, nearly stepping out, but the noise also seemed to draw the attention of people talking on the street.
Fang Jinxiu pushed Seventh Chen and hurried back into the alley.
Caught off guard, Seventh Chen nearly fell to the ground.
"What are you doing..." he asked.
"Don't talk," Fang Jinxiu glared and whispered sternly.
Seventh Chen quickly covered his mouth and nodded seriously, while Fang Jinxiu, uninterested in his antics, once more carefully leaned out from behind the wall.
Registrar Lin and Jun Zhenzhen were no longer visible on the street corner.
Where had they gone?
Fang Jinxiu stepped out and looked around frantically. The street was bustling with people coming and going, vendors hawking their wares, and groups laughing and chatting; it was still lively, but Registrar Lin and Jun Zhenzhen were nowhere to be seen.
"Maybe they've left," Seventh Chen cautiously approached from behind her and whispered, "Do you want to look for them? I'm very familiar with the city, and I know all the street vendors. Finding someone isn't difficult."
Fang Jinxiu withdrew her gaze.
What did she have to find her for?
When she was the Third Miss of the Fang Family, she didn't share any matters with her.
Now that she was no longer part of the Fang Family, anything that happened was even more unrelated to her.
"No need," she said in a muffled voice, standing still without moving.
Seventh Chen reflected for a moment.
"Right, we should leave others' matters aside for now. The most important thing is your own affair," he said, pointing to a tea stall by the street, "Come on, Miss Fang, let's sit over there and discuss where it's suitable to go, when it's best to leave, whether to take a carriage or ride a horse, consider everything thoroughly, so you have no worries about the journey ahead."
This time Fang Jinxiu did not rush out towards the city gates as before, but hesitated a moment.
Seventh Chen immediately seized the opportunity.
"I think riding a horse is better, it's hot, and riding is faster," he said, as if Fang Jinxiu had already agreed, seriously considering the next issue while walking towards the tea stall.
Fang Jinxiu hesitated for a moment and then followed.
"...but it's hot and you get sunburned easily on a horse, better take a carriage," Seventh Chen turned back and said seriously.
"Let's first decide where to go, then according to the distance we'll decide whether to ride or take a carriage," Fang Jinxiu said with a straight face.
Seventh Chen nodded repeatedly.
"Right, right, you're thinking correctly, I got all confused," he said, touching his head and laughing.
The two had already entered the tea stall.
"Seventh Chen, are you swindling money again?" The tea stall owner greeted with a laugh, though his gaze briefly swept over Fang Jinxiu.
Seventh Chen spit twice.
"I'm doing legitimate business here," he said, as he poured out a few coins from his purse and counted them carefully, earnestly picking out three and tilting his chin at the tea stall owner, "The good tea."
What good tea could there be in this tea stall, and what good tea could three coins buy.
Fang Jinxiu watched this man carefully put the remaining money into his purse on the table, and she could count at a glance that there were only a dozen coins or so. It was as if he was handling mountains of gold and silver.
She'd never seen so little money in her life; even the least she carried in her purse when she went out was a handful of silver coins.
"Miss Fang, who has lived in luxury, have you ever drunk such tea?"
Seventh Chen suddenly looked up and said with a smile as the tea stall owner brought over the tea, and Seventh Chen pushed the tea bowl towards Fang Jinxiu.
A large ceramic bowl, inside was brown tea water, without the scent of tea.
"Do you think I've never drunk it?" Fang Jinxiu said, picking up the bowl and taking a big sip.
She learned to ride a horse and once traveled with the money business people, and during the journey, everything was inconvenient, she had also rested at a simple tea stall by the road.
However, that wasn't because she didn't have money, but because even with money she couldn't buy good tea.
And at that time, the novelty of being outside overshadowed the inconvenience of the journey, and having a cup of bad tea water was just an amusing addition.
When what was a garnish became the daily norm, maybe it was no longer a pleasure.
She took several sips in a row, got used to the bitterness of the tea, which turned out to be quite thirst-quenching.
Once she'd quenched her thirst, her stomach growled.
Seventh Chen glanced over, and Fang Jinxiu's face reddened a bit.
She hadn't eaten a proper meal for the past few months, but she hadn't stopped eating and drinking altogether; even snacks and pastries were included. To tell the truth, she didn't really suffer from hunger.
She spent last night outdoors without sleep and then hurried to watch an execution at dawn, and hadn't had a drop of water until now.
She did feel hungry.
"Boss, boss, bring over the braised pork..." Seventh Chen turned his head to shout at the tea stand owner, holding up two fingers. As the words reached his lips, he withdrew one, "One bowl."
After saying that, he smiled at Fang Jinxiu.
"Sorry, I'm a bit short on money right now, so I can only treat you to a bowl of braised pork. Don't mind it."
Fang Jinxiu was about to say something, but Seventh Chen quickly spoke up again.
"Of course, don't refuse. We both know well what my situation is and what your situation is. Things are as they are, so let's just act accordingly. Let's be frank and not dwell on our woes or talk about gratitude and repaying debts," he said with a laugh. "It's just friends meeting up, sitting down for a meal and having some tea—simple as that."
Fang Jinxiu tried to speak again, but Seventh Chen cut her off once more.
"And of course, don't pity me, as I don't pity you," he continued, crisply.
Fang Jinxiu rolled her eyes at him.
"I don't have anything to say, and it's not as complicated as you think. Can you shut up?" she said.
Seventh Chen chuckled and made a gesture of covering his mouth, not making a sound. The braised pork was served, and Fang Jinxiu picked up her chopsticks without any reservation. Just as she was about to take a bite, she lifted an empty bowl from the table and divided half of it.
"I'm not eating, I've already eaten," Seventh Chen hastily waved his hands saying.
"I can't finish it," Fang Jinxiu said, pushing the bowl she had filled halfway toward him. "It's nothing special anyway."
Seventh Chen chuckled again, abandoning any notion of courtesy.
"Actually, it's quite good," he said. "Old Pang's braised pork is even better than the fancy restaurants'."
The tea stand owner overheard and laughed along.
"Yeah, yeah, my cooking is really authentic, it doesn't fall short," he said. "Qingfu Building's chefs originally learned from my ancestors."
Fang Jinxiu smiled, didn't say a word, and continued eating earnestly.
Seventh Chen paused with his chopsticks but quickly resumed eating with great enjoyment.
One bowl of meat and two bowls of tea later, they had finished their meal. During this time, Seventh Chen also suggested that Fang Jinxiu not leave town for the day; instead, she should wait and decide where to go before setting out.
"You can stay at my place tonight," Seventh Chen said.
Fang Jinxiu glanced at him.
Inviting a girl to stay at your home doesn't sound very proper, you know.
"There's no one else at my home, just my mother," Seventh Chen quickly added.
Afterwards, he felt that might have sounded even worse.
"What I mean is..." he started again, hurriedly.
Fang Jinxiu cut him off.
"I'll stay at an inn," she declared.
Seventh Chen seemed surprised.
"Do you have any money?" he asked.
Fang Jinxiu looked at the small bundle in her hand. She had carried the bundle with her as she left home the previous night and hadn't had time to open it until now. During the meal, she had a look and found that it contained two bags of money—one with silver coins, the other with gold leaves.
They were already divided into small enough amounts for daily expenses.
She didn't know if it was Concubine Yuan's words, a night spent in restless contemplation, the execution she witnessed, or just having satisfied her hunger, but many of the knots in her heart had been loosened.
She decided not to dwell on the past memories fading away or think that this money marked the end of more than a decade of familial ties. Like just now, when Seventh Chen offered tea and meat, he offered, and she accepted, and that was that. Why fuss over it?
She resolved to use this money to pay for lodging, travel away from this place, and start a new life.
"I do have money," Fang Jinxiu said to Seventh Chen.
Seventh Chen responded with an "oh," looking at her little bundle.
"Having money and still playing generous, you might as well have treated," he muttered.
************************
Thanks to Zixing Qiyue for the reward of He's Bi, are you the next Alliance Leader yet?
Thank you so much.
I still owe two additional releases to Alliance Leaders.
I've moved again, still without internet installed; this update is being posted via a hotspot. Give me some time to catch up so I can write more.
Thank you all. Have a great Monday, and let's rally for more recommendation votes for the new week, please and thank you.
（づ￣3￣）づ╭?～
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone