l amount for serving the people on behalf of Heaven."No matter if it was sincere or feigned, Li Lao Er couldn't help but feel his heart warm. He repeatedly clasped his hands and bowed in gratitude.The...Both of them bowed to the Li brothers together.

Lu Zhong said, "Li brother, please forgive our ignorance and offense just now. We won't look for this jade pendant anymore; even if we did, we probably wouldn't find it."

"We'll just follow you brothers around, don't worry, this time we'll definitely listen to the arrangements."

Jiā Rén sighed in his heart, knowing he couldn't shake these two off.

Actually, he didn't want to go around with them.

Jia Xu is still okay, but Lu Cong's identity seems rather special. If something were to happen and he got injured, the Li family could easily be implicated.

Then, isn't that a disaster without cause

But since we've gotten this far, refusing now would be rude.

He could only say: "My esteemed gentlemen, in the capital of Xinchou, under the Emperor's feet, naturally no one dared to make trouble.

"

"But here the emperor is far away, and danger could strike at any time. I ask that you all be careful in your actions. If there are disagreements, please follow our arrangements."

"Okay, this time we'll definitely follow the arrangements." Lu Zong quickly replied.

He and Jiaxu losing the jade pendant was a real blow, making them see the darkness and danger lurking behind the bustling waterfront...

The crowd continued walking forward, leaving the docks behind. The streets were a bit quieter.

But with people coming and going, it looks just like an ordinary county town, which is very reassuring.

Unlike the heavy snowfall in Beidi, the temperature here is as hot as summer. It's not just hot, it's even stifling.

The little Mao Ge er quickly cried out that he was hot and thirsty.

Then, several people chose a restaurant. Seeing that most of the tables in the front hall were full, they went inside.

The master and servant were served at two separate tables, each with four dishes and a few bowls of rice.

The young man recommended drinking, Jiarren refused, and gave him a few copper coins.

The little fellows skipped merrily toward the back, and Zheng Liu, feigning a stomach ache, went after them to look for a restroom...

Soon, the kitchen staff brought out the dishes. They had just been placed on the table when Zheng Liu also returned, nodding at the masters.

The Li brothers only then started eating. Lu Cong and Jia Xu watched, though they still felt it was a bit too careful, they didn't say anything.

People were eating, listening to the conversations of the diners around them.

It turns out there's a dragon boat race on the river tonight.

The so-called inland river is a waterway built from the wharf, leading to the city.

A main waterway, very wide, branches out into countless smaller canals, supplying the local people with transportation on a daily basis.

Many people's back doors are right next to a river, with boats tied up there. It's much more convenient than carriages.

There were two wealthy merchants in the city who, for some unknown reason, had a falling out. They agreed that their dragon boat teams would compete, and whoever won would be awarded the honor.

Such a lively atmosphere naturally attracted everyone.

Jiārén's brothers were also moved, Lü Zòng and Jia Xu even more eagerly wanted to join the fun.

After dinner, they headed straight to the river, choosing a spot with the best view. They booked two riverside rooms with a view and two standard rooms nearby.

"Meow," thought the cat, "I'm looking forward to the excitement of the evening. “Big brother, let’s go buy some delicious food and eat while we watch.”

Jia Ren rubbed his younger brother's hair and agreed readily.

The sun was just setting outside. It had finally come out, so naturally I couldn't stay cooped up inside all evening.

Then, they tidied up and went out again.

There's a large market not far away, with vendors selling local specialties like fried squid rings and shrimp cakes. The crowd rushed over.

Freshly cooked food is always the tastiest.

Even though they had already finished their lunch, Jia Ren and the others couldn't resist gathering around the stall and eating a lot.

Jiarren reached into his belt for a silver coin, but Jiaxu had already pulled out his money pouch and tossed a coin to the vendor, then bagged up plenty more.

When he turned around, he saw that the Li brothers' faces were not good. He then remembered what he had promised and quickly stuffed the money bag back. "I'm sorry, I was so excited just now that I forgot."

"Jiarren and the others couldn't say anything, so Jiarren could only say: 'Jia brother, you have spent a lot of money.'"

Several people continued to browse the market. There were performers and street vendors, making for a lively atmosphere.

Li Ge'er was about to pull Cat Ge'er away when someone else suddenly reached out and grabbed Jia Xu's robe.

Jia Xu was startled and looked down. A young woman in a white dress was kneeling by the roadside, about sixteen or seventeen years old. Though her expression was haggard, she could not conceal her beauty.

Tears welled up in her large eyes, threatening to spill over, eliciting the deepest sympathy.

Jia Xu originally wanted to get angry, but seeing this, he also suppressed his anger and asked, "Miss, why won't you let go of me"

The girl loosened her grip, bowed deeply, and revealed the patched mat behind her.

The top of the cylinder was unidentifiable, but a pair of black feet peeked out from the end…

Everyone jumped back, taking two steps in retreat.

The young woman also burst into tears, choking out, "Sir, my father and I came here seeking refuge from our relatives. We were robbed of our belongings by bandits along the way."

"My father died in a fit of anger. I, as his daughter, am utterly powerless to give him a proper burial. All I can do is kneel here...and sell myself to bury him!"

After that, she kowtowed again, tears quickly soaking the gray stone floor before her.

Jia Xu was a little at a loss. He had been raised under strict rules at home, and there wasn't even a maid in his room, let alone a concubine or a mistress. His meals, clothing, lodging, and transportation were all taken care of by servants and maidservants.

To suddenly be accosted by such a beautiful young girl, crying and pleading, was truly beyond my comprehension.

He glanced at Lu Zong and the Li brothers. Seeing that they remained silent, he could only force a smile and say: "Miss, we are just passing through... Is there anything we can do to help you"

The girl wiped away a tear, her eyelashes wet, blinking lightly. Her eyes and brows held a hint of allure.

"Young Master, being out and about, you likely haven't brought many servants with you. As long as Young Master gives this woman ten taels of silver, after I bury my father, I am willing to follow Young Master, serving as a slave or maidservant, at your disposal."

Having said that, she shyly lowered her head, revealing a section of her smooth, white neck, which glistened in the sunlight.

Jia Xu subconsciously swallowed, he pinched the pouch in his sleeve, it had twenty or thirty taels of silver inside, so ten more wouldn't make a difference.

"Miss, I can give you ten taels of silver to bury your father, but I don't need maidservants. After you bury your father, you may continue to seek a new family..."

The woman didn't wait to hear the rest, and burst into tears again. "I know, with my willow-like figure, I can't catch your eye. Sir, you don't have to take me in, but please tell me where you live. After burying my father, I want to go pay my respects to you."

Jia Xu's forehead was already covered in sweat.

It's the hardest thing to bear, the favor of a beautiful person!

The woman stopped pestering him and just kowtowed in thanks. He was about to subconsciously tell her the inn's name.

As a result, Jiarren grabbed his sleeve and stopped him just in time.

Lu Zong watched for a while and also felt something was wrong. He spoke, "This girl probably wants to bury her father and then find a new home, but we are just passing through and can't help."

"Perhaps we should yield our place and let the young lady wait for another suitor"

He was about to pull Jia Xu away.

But at some point, seven or eight spectators had gathered behind them.

There were women carrying baskets, fierce-looking men, and even white-bearded old men, blocking their retreat tightly...n't stop them.Then, the head housekeeper surnamed Chang from Hou Mansion was assigned to serve by the old lady's side.Both Wan'er and Wenjuan each had maidservants, but they also had an additional ser...