Chapter 083: A Hundred Years of Cultivation to Reach the Same Realm

  Xiaojie and Ximen Qing finished their meal, paid the bill, and left the restaurant. Across from the restaurant was the office of the Provincial Procuratorate, which was located on the banks of Daming Lake. Since they were so close to the famous Daming Lake, it made sense for them to take a stroll around it, so they walked over.

  Two people walked shoulder to shoulder, and Ximen Qing again in a tone of an elder brother exhorted: "Yang younger brother, from tomorrow on, the two of us will have to use our new identities. In front of people and behind their backs, we absolutely must not call each other by our real names, lest there be ears on the other side of the wall."

  Xia Liu smiled, this set of tricks was his forte. Now that he's being his true self, what else could be the problem? He nodded and said, "Brother Gao doesn't need to say more, I understand."

  Ximen Qing burst out laughing and said, "Tomorrow morning, we'll settle the bill and leave the inn. I've already booked our seats at the carriage depot. We'll disguise ourselves as accountants going to collect debts for our master. On the way, we must be mindful of our identities and not reveal our true selves."

  Xia Liu smiled and said: "I don't dare say that I can pretend to be a dragon like a real dragon, or pretend to be a tiger like a real tiger, but..."

  He had just said that, Ximen Qing suddenly lifted his spirits and hastily said: "Hey hey hey, look quickly, look at the young woman in front, ah yo yo, that waist, that figure, that butt is so... it's making me hungry to death. Oh no oh no, she's being led away, quick quick quick, hurry up and follow." As he spoke, he excitedly chased after her.

  Xia Liu sighed and reluctantly followed him.

  He had come to Jinan, originally thinking that if he had enough time, he would also go visit Ji Gang and Gao Xianning. But Xi Menqing said they should leave immediately, so in the rush, he didn't go after all. Just as he was thinking about this, he walked past a few willow trees in front of him, when suddenly someone called out: "Yang Xu? Could it be Brother Yang? Ah, Brother Yang, it really is you! Haha..."

  Xia Liu raised her head and saw Ji Gang and Gao Xian Ning coming over with big smiles on their faces. Beside them was a slender young man in a green robe, about 17 or 18 years old, with clear eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips, and white teeth. His shiny black pupils sparkled like jade, exuding an extraordinary elegance.

  Xia Fu was both surprised and delighted, and hastily cupped his hands together, saying: "Brother Ji, Brother Gao, I was just thinking of you two, haha, it's truly a coincidence. Hmm, who is this young master..."

  Ji Gang smiled and said: "It's him, the friend from Ji'nan Prefecture I told you about. We're currently staying at his place, eating and living for free."

  The young man in the green shirt smiled shyly, clasped his fists to his chest and said in a soft, gentle voice: "I am Liu Yuque, I have long heard Brothers Ji and Gao speak of Brother Yang's heroic bearing, today I am honored to meet you in person, it is my great fortune."

  Ji Gang smiled and said: "Don't stand here talking, let's go find a wine house and slowly drink and chat."

  "Hold on, I have another friend..."

  Gao Xianning said: "Oh, Brother Yang is here with a friend? Where is your friend now?"

  Xia Fu had not spoken yet, when someone suddenly burst into a loud scolding: "You this thieving-looking and shameless wretch, dressed up like a human being, but actually not knowing how to behave as one, chasing after my family's daughter with such impertinence?"

  Several people heard the sound and looked up to see a man in a light gown, wearing a soft hat askew, running wildly with his feet bare. Behind him, a big fellow was leading seven or eight friends in hot pursuit.

  Gao Xianning frowned and said: "This person looks refined and elegant, but unexpectedly he's a cultured rascal!"

  Xia Yu smiled and pointed at the person rushing over: "Him... cough, is a friend of mine..."

  This Jinan Prefecture is not like Yanggu County, where Ximen Qing was very famous. Moreover, he had been a smooth talker since childhood and actually never took advantage of anyone, so his oily mouth didn't get him into trouble. However, it's different here; he got beaten up by someone who caught up with him, luckily Xia Chuo and others arrived in time to rescue him.

  Ximen Qing was beaten until his nose was blue and his face was swollen, this appearance is not suitable to go to the tavern again. Xia Lian also didn't have the reason to leave his companions to attend the banquet alone, so the drinking matter was cancelled naturally. After listening to the explanation that Xia Lian would leave Jinan in the morning, Ji Gang and Gao Xianning repeatedly expressed their regret, and Liu Gongzi, who had a gentle temper like a big girl, even more enthusiastically tried to persuade him to stay, until he heard Xia Lian say that this trip was related to a big business, only then did the three of them give up.

  Three people made an appointment with Xia Xian again, next time they will come to visit the government office. They bid farewell and went back to their hotel. Xia Xian took the unlucky Ximen Qing to find a doctor. Ximen Qing took several medicines internally and externally, and returned to the inn still groaning.

  The landlady was kind-hearted and saw that he couldn't eat his rice, so she personally went to the kitchen and made him a bowl of noodles, fried two荷包蛋 (a type of egg dish), added a few drops of sesame oil, and sprinkled some green onions on top. Xia Bian's appetite was stimulated by the sight. Ximen Qing had a big mouth, picked up the bowl and started eating, that landlady heard him say the reason he was beaten... In the end, this bowl of noodles went into Xia Bian's belly.

  Xia Jiang still worried that if Xi Menqing's injury was serious, it would delay tomorrow's trip. Unexpectedly, this guy was like a small strong life force, and the next morning he got up earlier than Xia Jiang. The two of them quickly settled their accounts and rushed to the Four Seasons Carriage and Horse Station.

  There are many travelers going back and forth between Jinan and Beiping, so the Four Seasons Horse-drawn Carriage Company in Jinan operates from 5 am to 9 pm every day, with one class of carriages departing every half hour, but it is still overcrowded.

  It's rare for even wealthy families to use their own carriages for long-distance travel. Not only is the cost of food, lodging and horse feed along the way enormous, but the luxurious carriages used by wealthy families are also mostly used on flat, wide city roads and can't withstand the bumps of long-distance travel, which would easily damage them. Fortunately, Ximen Qing was a frequent traveler and had paid for his carriage in advance at the transportation company, booking his seat early.

  Xia Liu and Ximen Qing set out early, but they boarded the second bus, as the first one had departed before dawn. Xia Liu and Ximen Qing had changed into casual attire, typical of ordinary people traveling far from home. Ximen Qing also carried a cloth bundle on his shoulder, with a bruise around one eye and a dejected look on his face.

  As soon as he got on the bus, he shrunk into a corner of the carriage and didn't move again. He really looked like a cautious and prudent little businessman. Xia Liu secretly praised him and also shrank into an inconspicuous corner. Due to professional habit, he still subconsciously sized up his fellow passengers.

  On the long bench opposite him, sitting at the very back was Ximen Qing. He had his legs crossed and was leaning against the carriage wall in a very comfortable posture, with his head slightly tilted to one side and his eyes half-closed, as if he were dozing off. Next to him was an old man with a face full of wrinkles, with a small package on his knees, and next to him was a 7 or 8 year-old yellow-haired kid, timidly holding onto his arm, looking like they were grandfather and grandson.

  The old man and the young boy, one big and one small, were carrying such a small bundle, so they probably weren't going far. The bus passed through many counties along the way, and they might not necessarily be heading to Beiping either. Next to them was a young couple dressed in simple but cheerful clothing, who appeared to be a newlywed husband and wife returning to the wife's hometown.

  Xia Liu was sitting next to two burly men, both of whom were robust and had dark skin, as if they often traveled in the wind and dust. The man next to him was over 40 years old, with a slightly rugged face, his eyes were sharp and cunning, with a hint of rogue.

  The person next to him was a few years younger, dressed similarly, and occasionally whispered a few words in his ear. They seemed to be traveling together, and from their expressions and tone, it was clear that the other person was following his lead. Xia Yu also noticed that both of their hands were rough, although they still looked wealthy, these hands didn't seem like those of rich people who had been pampered.

  Xia Xun stretched his waist and looked out, but outside were two girls. Next to the strong man was a 12 or 13-year-old girl who put her small package beside her, slightly separating herself from him. Judging by the patches on her skirt, she must have come from a poor family. However, looking at her appearance, this little girl had clear eyebrows and bright eyes that sparkled with cleverness. When Xia Xun looked over, he was even glared at by her, seemingly an experienced young girl who was not afraid of strangers.

  On the outermost side was a girl who was several years older than this little girl, and with just one glance, she dazzled everyone. This young lady had delicate facial features, although she wore simple clothes and her skirt had patches on it, her face was bare without makeup or accessories, but those curved eyebrows, wise and beautiful eyes, nose as fine as sheep's fat, lips like red lotus seeds, and that sharp white chin... Xia Zhen felt that this person should be a woman from the water town in Jiangnan, if not for the local soil and water, it would be impossible to raise such a delicate and fragile woman. If she was really a southerner, it's not necessarily impossible, although this car started from Jinan, if someone really went from Jiangnan to Beiping, they would naturally take a local long-distance bus at this point. It's just that if the guess is true, in this era, a weak woman traveled thousands of miles away, which was indeed not easy.

  The girl, though she hadn't turned her gaze over yet, had already noticed his stare. At first, she pretended to be calm, but gradually began to feel uneasy. A faint blush crept up her face, and she nervously swept aside the hair by her temples, lightly turning her head away, while her hands also tightened around the bundle on her knees.

  "Cough! Cough!"

  The old man sitting opposite coughed twice in discontent, Xia Jiu smiled and withdrew his somewhat impudent gaze, stretched his body, and leaned back against the carriage. It was only then that he noticed, no matter how much the carriage shook, Xi Menqing remained in a leaning position against the carriage wall, his head shaking back and forth. This posture wasn't very comfortable, was it?

  Xia Fu suddenly discovered that in his half-closed eyes, a glimmer of light would occasionally escape. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that Ximen Qing was secretly peeking at the extremely slender and delicate woman sitting at the back of the carriage, with his head tilted to one side. Xia Fu couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused, thinking to himself: "This guy... is really hopeless."

  At this time, the two informants arranged by Qi Xiaqi had just gone through a tough negotiation with the owner of Siji Che Ma Xing, squeezing out two passengers who had already booked their seats and boarded the next big car...

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