OFTLHFRO C86

Chapter 86 Time to Do Something Else

After a scolding, the young masters dispersed. Luo Mingchen and the others thanked the two guards and headed toward the carriage across the street.

Once across, Chen Xiuyue said, “Good thing the two employers were here; otherwise, we truly wouldn’t have known what to do.”

“A small matter.”

Having hauled up so much from the sea, Luo Mingchen was in a fine mood.

One thing was still a bit surprising.

People always say the ancient bureaucracy was rotten and commoners suffered miserably.

But at least the dynasty he’d ended up in wasn’t bad; though there were bullies who threw their weight around, there were more who upheld justice.

Having lived through a world without law, he treasured this place—where reason still counted—all the more.

The bucket of sea shrimp went into Xiao Lin’s carriage; Wen Liuyun rode with Luo Mingchen’s family, and since space was tight, Chen Xiuyue sat with Hua Niang.

When Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan had taken the sheepskin scroll to Yuanzhou, Chen Xiuyue had helped care for Huo Xinyue and had taught Hua Niang a few dishes, so they were familiar enough not to feel awkward together.

Sitting beside Huo Yan, Luo Mingchen turned and saw Lin Qingfeng standing at the carriage, a little surprised. “You’re here to sit the exam too?”

Lin Qingfeng sneered. “Why not? Don’t think everyone is like you two—blind to fine jade.”

Hearing that, Luo Mingchen couldn’t help laughing. “This is the first time seeing someone so eager to sell his own praises.”

Seeing him laugh, Lin Qingfeng’s face darkened.

Noting him planted in front of the carriage, Luo Mingchen asked, “Does this ‘fine jade’ want to get trampled—or are you here to shake us down?”

“I’m here to tell you that when I pass the provincial exam, you’ll be kneeling and begging me!”

At the sound of his voice, Hua Niang lifted the curtain to look.

After that, Luo Mingchen was speechless.

What had they done that would require kneeling to beg him?

He’d rather not see him at all, okay!

Lin Qingfeng finished and walked off; passing by, he glanced at Hua Niang, then at Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan, and scoffed, “You call me a frequenter of brothels—but you two? You’ve even brought a girl from the house back home. Living it up, aren’t you!”

Silent until then, Xiao Lin jumped down and threw a punch. “What did you just say!”

A fist the size of a sandbag crashed into Lin Qingfeng, knocking him flat and leaving him dazed.

Startled, Hua Niang hurried to stop a second blow. “Brother Xiao! Don’t hit him!”

If the man were hurt badly, paying damages was small; ending up at the yamen was big—especially since the fellow was a licentiate.

Seeing her worried eyes, Xiao Lin reined himself in.

Reeling, Lin Qingfeng stood and snapped, “You dare hit me? I’ll go to the yamen and accuse you today—”

Before he could finish, a pebble struck his mute acupoint.

Lin Qingfeng suddenly couldn’t speak. Shocked, he tried several times, panic rising on his face.

Xiao Lin blinked; Huo Yan said, “Well? Move.”

Only then did Xiao Lin come to, hopping into the driver’s seat and cracking the reins—nearly running Lin Qingfeng down.

When Lin regained his balance, Huo Yan drove past again, scaring him into landing on his rear. He tried to shout after them, but not a word would come, and he hopped in place in frustration.

Looking back to see Lin Qingfeng stamping his feet, Luo Mingchen asked cheerfully, “How long will that stay shut?”

“The pebble wasn’t finely controlled,” Huo Yan said with a slight curve of his lips. “Naturally, it should undo on its own in three days.”

Up front, Xiao Lin had also seen the hopping and burst out laughing. “If you really couldn’t control it, that stone should’ve punched a hole through his throat.”

Huo Xiang’s eyes went wide. So Daddy was that powerful?

Could one little stone really kill a man?

Wen Liuyun was very curious about Huo Yan’s identity.

Usually he was with the children or working—yet he was clearly a martial adept…

Thinking of Lin Qingfeng’s smug face, Luo Mingchen asked, “Liuyun, was the exam hard?”

Thinking he was asking about his chances, Wen Liuyun smiled. “Do one’s best and leave the rest to fate.”

“No, I mean the difficulty—would someone who spends all his time in brothels manage to pass?”

After a moment’s thought, Wen Liuyun said, “Moderately difficult. Without steady effort, he won’t pass.”

“Oh… good.”

He had thought to ask whether this year was harder than last, but remembering Wen hadn’t tested last year, he dropped it.

After pondering, Wen added, “However, nothing is absolute.”

“It’s fine. Even if he passes, he’s only a provincial graduate. Once he becomes an official…”

Looking at Wen, Luo Mingchen said, “It might be your post outranking his. We’ll be counting on you.”

Uh…

Wen Liuyun gave a wry smile. “Office isn’t easily won.”

“Don’t believe you’ll do worse than him—unless you don’t want to help us,” Luo Mingchen said blithely.

“How could I not…” Wen said. “You’ve shown my mother and me immense kindness. If not for the shop work you gave me, how would I have earned Old Master Ming’s recommendation?”

He knew clearly that without them, there would’ve been no letter. Plenty failed to get one; because they had brought him into the shop, Old Master Ming judged his character sound and gave it.

Then Huo Yuhui loaned him silver—another kindness.

“Then that settles it.”

If Lin Qingfeng managed to pass, Wen Liuyun would be at least in the top three, Luo Mingchen felt.

Once home, since they planned to deliver vegetables to Wen and Chen anyway, he figured, better to have them eat here.

Xiao Lin carried the sea fish into the kitchen; Luo Mingchen didn’t stand on ceremony—large ones steamed and braised red, small ones simmered with white radish.

From the bucket of sea shrimp, the big ones were boiled and served plain with dip; the small ones were stir-fried.

The clams and swimming crabs stayed in storage, so weren’t served.

Even so, there was plenty.

He also made salted duck, stir-fried three small dishes, tossed two plates of preserved egg salad, and finally simmered a big pot of ginger broth.

Seeing the spread, Xiao Lin swallowed. Then he eyed the ginger soup and ventured, “Mingchen, look, since this is our first gathering after moving into the new house, how about a little wine?”

“Wine leads to trouble. There’s something else Huo Yan and I need to do tonight, and with so many children here, let’s skip it.”

At that, everyone looked at Huo Yan with shock and complicated expressions.

Did he really just say that out loud?

Knowing where their minds had gone, Huo Yan did not explain.

Utterly unaware his words might be misconstrued, Luo Mingchen sat down with a smile. “Let’s eat!”

Xiao Lin loved a drink, but for the sake of his brother’s happy life that evening, he didn’t bring it up again.