OFTLHFRO C72

Chapter 72 Bringing Local Specialties Home

So powerful, huh!

The group of officers and soldiers were stunned. Just how strong did one’s martial skills have to be to capture so many bandits in one sweep?

Dusk was falling; if they hurried back now, they would likely arrive at midnight.

Also, having captured so many bandits, they needed to go to the prefect to give statements.

So, the couple simply followed the officers back to Yuanzhou Prefecture to stay the night.

Yuanzhou Prefecture was equivalent to a city, a very large one; even at sunset, it was much livelier than Yuelan County.

Seeing the officers bring back nearly a hundred prisoners, many on the streets stopped to gawk in curiosity.

No one knew whether they were brigands or something else…

At the prefectural yamen, the prefect had been waiting inside. Seeing them return with prisoners, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He had already had the contents of the sheepskin decoded, and after reading it, had been left trembling with fear.

Only by arresting and controlling those bandits first could a number of people be saved immediately.

“You two have worked hard.”

Seeing the prefect so polite, Luo Mingchen was a bit flattered. “It wasn’t hard.”

Huo Yan offered a formal salute, and Luo Mingchen imitated him; though his form was a bit off, the prefect did not mind.

“These Black Mountain bandits colluded with the magistrate of Heishan County, trafficking young women and smuggling monopoly salt; the sheepskin you turned in records the times and routes of each of their crimes.”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen looked in surprise at the chubby, righteous-looking prefect, not expecting him to share so much.

Huo Yan said, “Earlier, a brother from the escort agency and I sent them to Heishan County. That brother took this sheepskin from them thinking it was a treasure map, and didn’t know what was written on it. When he was nearly killed by their ambush, he realized it was no ordinary thing and asked us to deliver it to the prefecture.”

The prefect nodded. “We will handle this and report to the Third Prince. You’ve done enough. Why not rest first?”

Since they didn’t know much and had merely happened upon the sheepskin, the prefect said no more.

“Many thanks, milord.”

Leaving the yamen, the couple found a restaurant for a meal.

Once seated, Luo Mingchen sighed. “I thought meals and lodging would be covered.”

Huo Yan poured him tea. “We delivered the news. They still need to go to Black Mountain to make arrests—how would they have time to host us?”

That made sense. They were already swamped. The couple could view this as a good deed, removing a lurking threat. Tomorrow they could head home happily—not bad at all.

After eating, they strolled the streets and bought some Yuanzhou specialties.

Since they were here, a bit of window shopping was nice.

Luo Mingchen specifically checked whether there were any unusual fruit trees or seeds; as it turned out, they were much the same as the ones in his space, and he wasn’t fond of the rest, so he only bought a fig tree.

They found an inn and settled in.

At night, lying on the bed, Luo Mingchen’s heart bled. “A mid-tier room is forty wen a night, hot water self-serve, no breakfast. We should open an inn in the future—this money is easy.”

Huo Yan held him and said, “Prices are higher in Yuanzhou Prefecture.”

“This is ‘a bit higher’? It’s a lot higher!”

In Taohua Town, the best rooms were fifty wen; here, the top rooms were ninety.

Huo Yan only chuckled and gently stroked his back. “Sleep. At these prices, sleeping poorly would be a loss.”

“…Okay.”

With that logic in mind, Luo Mingchen closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

The next day, after breakfast, they headed home.

Truth be told, Luo Mingchen’s deepest impression of Yuanzhou Prefecture was the crowds and the high prices.

Though they’d been away only a day, on the road he found himself missing the three children, worrying they might not be eating properly.

Still, with Hua Niang at home and Chen Xiuyue helping, going hungry was unlikely. If they were hungry, they definitely wouldn’t refuse food.

But reason aside, until he saw them in person, he couldn’t relax.

Eager to return, they arrived home to find a dozen-odd constables; Luo Mingchen could only say the Third Prince’s token was truly useful.

He’d thought five would be a lot; in fact, eighteen had come, including a head constable.

The head constable knew Huo Yan. Seeing them back, he asked in surprise, “Brother Huo, you finished so quickly?”

“The bandits who ambushed us were all captured by Yuanzhou officers, and the item was delivered without issue. Thank you for your trouble these two days.”

Relieved, the head constable said, “No need to be polite, Brother Huo. Those bandits prized that sheepskin so much—there must be shameful secrets on it. You were thinking of the people.”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen felt a twinge of guilt.

They hadn’t been that altruistic…

Leaving Huo Yan to play host, Luo Mingchen went to see his little girl.

“Yueyue!”

Hearing his voice, Huo Xinyue hopped off the bed where she’d been listening to a story from Hua Niang and toddled over. “Daddy!”

Afraid she might fall, Hua Niang hurried after her. “Careful.”

Just as she reached the threshold, Luo Mingchen scooped her up.

He kissed her soft cheek and breathed in the familiar milky scent, finally at ease. “Yueyue, did you miss Daddy? Hm?”

“I did!”

She wrapped her arms around his neck with a grin. “Daddy, you have a beard now.”

He stroked his chin. “Didn’t shave outside. Did it poke you?”

“A little.”

She showed a tiny gesture. “Just a bit bigger than a sesame seed.”

He laughed. “So you even know what sesame is?”

Her smile was brilliant. “It’s tasty!”

“Mhm… very good.”

After chatting while holding her, he spotted Hua Niang and sobered. “Sister-in-law, thank you for looking after Yueyue.”

“It was nothing. She’s very well-behaved.”

At this, Hua Niang grew a little emotional.

She wasn’t the youngest in her family—she had two younger brothers and a younger sister—but she’d never seen such a well-behaved child.

Just over two and a half, and already trying hard to dress herself; even if she fell, she neither cried nor fussed. When reasoned with, she wouldn’t make a scene even if she didn’t fully understand. At meals she was exemplary, eating whatever was offered without holding food in her mouth or running around.

Hua Niang hadn’t liked children before. Now she realized she didn’t dislike children—she disliked unruly ones.

“By the way, is Brother Xiao’s injury better?”

“Much better,” Hua Niang said with a gentle smile. “This morning he even wanted to get up and practice boxing, said he felt stiff after lying so long. I gave him a good scolding—now he’s feeding the chickens.”

Just remembering her scolding made that slap sound painful.

Luo Mingchen laughed. “I’ll go cook, Sister-in-law. Take a rest.”

“Shall I help?”

“No need. You’ve worked hard these days—please rest.”

After declining her help, he left with the child.

If Hua Niang came along, how would he take things out of the space?

Speaking of things, the several big chests of Xiao Lin’s treasures were still in the space; better to give them back after the constables left…