Chapter Twenty-Five: Disappearance

  The Chen family's house in the afternoon was exceptionally quiet, different from the dull silence of the previous days. The news of Old Man Chen waking up and supposedly being curable made the current quietness more leisurely.

  The sunlight was good, and Cheng Jiaoniang sat under the veranda, leaning against a low table, with one hand supporting her head and the other tracing characters at random.

  The young servant girl sat aside, holding her breath and remaining silent.

  Outside the courtyard gate, someone poked their head out. It was a four or five year old girl who seemed a bit timid, taking a glance before shrinking back, only to poke her head out again after a moment.

  The servant girls and the maids all saw it, but they all pretended not to have seen it.

  "Dan Niang." Jing Niang suddenly shouted.

  The little girl immediately walked out happily from behind the courtyard door.

  "Looking for me? Something's up?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  Dan Niang ran up front, took off her wooden clogs, knelt down and came over, looking at Cheng Jiaoniang with a smiling face.

  "It's nothing." She shook her head and said.

  Really speaking without inhibitions, with servants and maidservants standing behind, bowing their heads, coming over for no reason, saying whatever comes to mind.

  Jiang Yao's mouth curved into a smile.

  "It's all right," she said, changing hands to draw.

  Tan Niang gazed at her with great enthusiasm.

  "Sister, what are you doing?" she asked.

  It's really a case of "children speak without reserve", people love to do whatever they want, and asking them might be considered mocking their foolishness, wouldn't that stir up trouble?

  "Write," said Jingniang.

  Is writing just a matter of rubbing back and forth on a desk with your fingers? Only kids would believe that.

  A woman nearby muttered to herself and indeed heard the child's exclamation.

  "Sister, are you writing with your left hand?" Dan Niang said in surprise.

  "Left hand, right hand, they're both hands, so naturally they can both write." said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  Dan Niang nodded vaguely.

  "Oh, right, right, yeah, yeah, how come I didn't think of that?" she said.

  Because you're just a kid, not an idiot.

  My wife and daughter are so angry they'd like to stick their heads into their necks.

  Is this fool okay now? Or is he still not alright? Why is he talking nonsense all the time?

  That maid is still not back yet, they are so uneasy here.

  Jiangniang was chatting with visitor Chandan Niang when Chen Shao also welcomed the visitor.

  He led a man out of Old Mr. Chen's house and sat down in the living room.

  "It's much better now," said the man with a relieved expression. "Your Majesty has been worried."

  Chen Shao presents his respects.

  "My fault has caused Your Majesty's worry." he said with a sob.

  "This is none of your business." The man hastily stretched out his hand and shook his head, saying "It's fine, it's fine."

  Chen Shaodong nodded.

  "This time is invited from where big doctor?" The man asked curiously again.

  "Jiangzhou native. Met with my father on the way, a chance encounter, at that time she pointed out that my father had an underlying illness, but at the time I didn't know." Chen Shao said, with a hint of relief.

  "Oh, it's actually still a bit, just standing for a moment, and I already know what's wrong with you." The man exclaimed in surprise.

  Is he a divine doctor? It's indeed quite mysterious, but there's also something strange about it. Chen Shao smiled and didn't say anything.

  I really don't know what to say.

  "May I see you?" The man asked again.

  Chen Shaoyi hesitated for a moment.

  "See me?" Jingniang looked at Chen Shao in front of her with a wooden expression. "Why?"

  Chen Shao was at a loss for words.

  "This person is my colleague, and we are very close." he said.

  "What does it have to do with me?" Jingniang interrupted him and asked.

  Chen Shaoyu was speechless.

  "No, it's not what I mean." He hastily explained again, a thin layer of sweat appearing on his forehead.

  This girl is eccentric and naive like a mischievous child, doing whatever she wants without considering others.

  But what can you do with naughty kids?

  "I've heard that you have a remarkable skill, I'd like to get acquainted with you." Chen Shao said.

  "I don't want to know him," said Jingniang, standing up. "I'm going to rest."

  Chen Shao wiped away his sweat and returned home.

  "Cheng Niangzi, after giving injections, she was exhausted and went to sleep. What bad timing." He explained.

  The man laughed and didn't think much of it.

  "The old master's illness is urgent, the old master's illness is urgent, let's meet again another day." He said, as he stood up to bid farewell.

  Chen Shao stayed behind.

  "Hold on," he said, "It's been many days since we last met, and today I've finally found some relief from my worries. Let us have a drink together."

  Sighing as she spoke, she patted the man's arm.

  "It's been pent up for many days, and it feels good to finally pour it out." he said.

  Family affairs and state affairs are all in his heart. These days Chen Shao has been grinding and polishing, not lightly. A man's understanding nod.

  "Go, prepare wine," Chen Shao said.

  The little servant answered.

  "Oh, and get a plate of yellow sparrow to go with the wine." Chen Shao instructed.

  The man listened with some curiosity.

  "Canary?" He laughed, "That's just a few ounces of meat? Actually used as an appetizer?"

  "It's great, no more or less." Chen Shao laughed and walked with him, "You'll know when you taste it."

  The maid stretched out her hand and pinched a piece of cloth handed over by the shopkeeper.

  "Is this the best silk?" she asked.

  "Yes, yes, young lady, this is the most fashionable Tianma brocade." The shopkeeper said.

  Also the most expensive.

  "Bring some over here." The maid said with a nod.

  The shopkeeper happily responded by directing his apprentices to cut the clothes.

  "Want some more..." The maid took out a paper and looked at it saying, "Weizi brocade, is there Ruijin palace satin?"

  What?

  The shopkeeper was taken aback.

  "What's Weijin? Ruijin Gongsi?" she asked, "Never heard of it."

  "It's Shu brocade." The maid said, looking at the paper again.

  "Sichuan brocade is available." The shopkeeper said hastily, letting his assistant bring some out. "However, they are all warp brocades."

  The maid looked at the paper.

  If there is, it's good; if not, then as you like.

  "Alright then." She patted it and said, choosing a few patterns.

  After selecting the fabric, the maid didn't need to take care of anything else. She walked out and waited, looking around at the street scene.

  "It's very lively in the capital," said Cao Guan Shi, "if you're not in a hurry, you can take your sister for a stroll."

  The maid smiled slightly.

  "No need, I'm very familiar with the capital." she said.

  Cao Guan's smile on his face was somewhat stiff.

  How familiar! Isn't this your first time here? A maidservant from the Cheng family rarely comes to the capital.

  "Uncle Cao?"

  A voice came from beside him.

  Cao Guan was busy with his affairs, but when he saw this, he let out a cry of surprise and hastily stepped forward.

  "Sixth Master." He bowed and said, looking at the young man in the soft sedan, "Qin Lang Jun."

  Before they could say anything, he pointed behind himself.

  "I've come to buy some things for Madame Cheng," he said.

  What's wrong with you?

  On Saturday, Lang looked at the store and his eyes fell on the woman standing by the car at the door.

  The gentleman on the soft carriage also looked over and sat up straight.

  Is that it?

  "Miss Half Cabbage." Manager Cao hurriedly shouted over this way.

  Is this what the unchanging half-Chinese are like?

  Gentlemen with interest, please take a look.

  "This is our Sixth Master." Cao's manager introduced enthusiastically.

  The maid looked at Zhou Liulang with a hint of surprise, and Zhou Liulang also looked back at her.

  This young girl's eyes sparkled with spirit, without courtesy or respect, only a faint smile.

  "It's getting late, Cao Guan Shi has something to attend to, I'm going back." She said, nodded slightly as a greeting, and turned around to get on the car.

  Cao Guanshi's face was awkward, Zhou Liulang's face was gloomy, only Qin Langjun smiled.

  "Cao Shu, you've forgotten what I said again." He smiled and said.

  Cao Guan's face twisted into a bitter smile.

  "I've said too much," he said.

  "You, send her back first." Zhou Liulang said with a straight face.

  Cao Guan Shi responded immediately and hastily followed behind him.

  Watching the carriage sway away from the street, the maid never looked back again.

  "What do you think of this little girl?" Qin Langjun asked with a smile.

  Half celery, half celery, just a person, just a name.

  "It's as if you've seen an enemy." Zhou Liu Lang said with a cold smile, "How can you spend my family's money and use my family's people so comfortably?"

  Qin Langjun burst out laughing.

  "Sixth Master, using someone else's money and taking advantage of them, isn't that just delightful?" he said.

  To all book friends at the starting point of Taiwan station, I saw someone helping me pull gold medal votes, thank you thank you, only more than 100 votes have prizes, now it's over 80 votes, if everyone has votes in hand, please support a little bit, or such a good ranking will be wasted, hehe, don't know if you can see it, I often go to see, saw your comments, just can't speak, thank you for your support, didn't expect the number of votes would be so many, ranked first, this has only been on the shelves for a month, really grateful and flattered.