Adhere to the gentleman's principles

Five days later, "Miss, why don't we go to your grandfather's house first?"

Fuling asked in the inn, and Zhao Junning replied: "Go, we'll go later. We have already recruited ten grain households. You take Gancao and Zhou Aoyang to collect grain from these ten households, and then send the grain from this inn to the Zhenxi Marquis' Mansion. Take an extra detour."

Yuan Xinghui smiled and said, "Jun Ning, you are so cruel." Zhao Jun Ning and Yuan Xinghui arrived at the Marquis of Zhenxi Mansion. The housekeeper was very excited to see Zhao Jun Ning, "Miss Jun Ning is back. The Marquis is shooting arrows in the backyard. I'll go and report." After Zhao Jun Ning entered the mansion, Yuan Xinghui exclaimed, "This mansion is really big. Was that painting painted by you?"

Yuan Xinghui walked into the pavilion and looked at the paintings hanging on the wall. Zhao Junning nodded and said, "This is a birthday gift I gave to my grandfather when I was very young. Those paintings were painted by my cousin Qingzhi and my cousin Mengnan."

"My grandchildren's paintings are the most precious. Show them to my old friends so they can have a look." Meng Jingde came over with a smile. Zhao Junning turned around when he heard the voice and said, "Grandfather, you are so childish even at your age."

Meng Jingde smiled and stroked his beard: "Who said that you can't be like a child when you get older? You came back at the beginning of last year, why did you come back suddenly this time without telling me in advance? And you and your husband guarded Lucheng with your lives. Fortunately, your mother had my token, and you went to find my Meng Zijun. You are a brave girl."

Then he saw Yuan Xinghui smiling and saying, "Xinghui is here too." Yuan Xinghui smiled and said, "Hello, Grandfather." Then he looked behind Zhao Junning, who also turned around and looked behind him: "Grandfather, what are you looking at?"

Meng Jingde said, "My grandson-in-law didn't come back with you?" Zhao Junning laughed softly, "No, he's in Lucheng. Lucheng just experienced a war and he has to comfort the people and restore order in the city." Meng Jingde praised, "He is indeed Xu Chongjing's grandson. Let's go in and talk."

When they arrived at the lobby, Meng Jingde looked at Zhao Junning and said, "Tell me, is there anything you need to do this time? Fuling didn't come with you." Zhao Junning and Yuan Xinghui looked at each other and said, "Grandfather knows me well. It's not a big deal."

The housekeeper came quickly and said, "Several people came to the gate of the Marquis's backyard, pulling a large carriage, and Miss Fuling was among them. They said that Miss Junning asked them to unload the things on the carriage and put them in the backyard." Meng Jingde looked at Zhao Junning after hearing this. Zhao Junning smiled at Meng Jingde. Meng Jingde shook his head and said, "Ask the servants in the mansion to help carry the goods and put them in the backyard."

"Yes."

Zhao Junning stood up and said, "Thank you, Grandfather." Then Fuling and Zhou Aoyang came to the lobby. Zhao Junning explained, "Grandfather, we are staying at the inn tonight and not at your house." Meng Jingde was puzzled, "Why?" Zhao Junning said, "Because the tiger is still guarding the mountain pass, someone has to be outside the mountain pass to attract the tiger."

Meng Jingde sighed: "Okay, it's up to you, but why did you come to Yizhou to buy grain?" Zhao Junning explained: "Because I plan to make a deal, my food shop needs support. The shops in Yizhou are controlled by those ten grain merchants. I buy their grain in exchange for a shop to do business. Only with buying and selling can the business be done."

Meng Jingde smiled and sighed: "You are smarter than your mother. Shall we let the thugs from the Marquis' Mansion send you back?" Zhao Junning said: "No need. Zhou Aoyang and Gan Cao are both good at martial arts, and Xing Hui is also very good at martial arts. I am safe. Besides, if there are too many people, the Marquis' Mansion will be targeted, and it is dangerous to keep the food in the Marquis' Mansion temporarily." Meng Jingde agreed.

After returning to the inn, Zhao Junning stood at the window and looked out. Yuan Xinghui walked up to Zhao Junning and said, "Wait one more day and we can go back." Yuan Xinghui asked, "Wait one more day?" Zhao Junning nodded, "Someone is watching us, we have to entertain them, right?" Zhou Aoyang stepped forward and said, "I heard something today. There is a young official in the city named Lu Shengming. Do you think he sent someone to watch us?" Zhao Junning thought, "It's hard to say."

The next day, "Miss, some people came outside and said they were investigating foreign businessmen. Should we hide for a while?" Fuling walked into Zhao Junning's guest room and asked; Yuan Xinghui also walked in and several people looked at Zhao Junning.

Zhao Junning thought for a moment and said, "Don't panic. Let's just treat it as sisters from other places coming to visit us. Zhou Aoyang, you hide first."

At this time, there was a knock on Zhao Junning's door. Fuling went to open the door. Lu Shengming's men stood at the door and saluted, saying, "My master is here to check on the foreign merchants. The store owner said that you came in the past few days, so can we go in and check?" Zhao Junning yawned on the bed and asked, "What's wrong with Fuling?"

Fuling said, "Miss, we are here to check on foreign businessmen." Zhao Junning yawned again, "Let them in."

Zhao Junning walked over with a fan in his hand. Lu Shengming walked into the room, looked around, and saluted, saying, "I am Lu Shengming, the new governor of Yizhou. I have been investigating foreign merchants recently. I heard from the innkeeper that you are foreigners who have recently arrived, so I came to investigate."

Zhao Junning smiled and nodded slightly after hearing this: "Okay, please check it out, sir."

After searching for nothing, Zhou Aoyang hid on the beam. Seeing that there was no result, Lu Shengming did not continue to search, but took out a bag of rice. Zhao Junning walked forward and said, "My sister and I came to Yizhou to explore. I like to study some things, so I heard that Yizhou rice is very good, so I bought some. Can't we buy Yizhou rice?"

Lu Shengming replied, "Of course not." Then Lu Shengming asked again, "The girl's accent is also from the south, is she?"

Zhao Junning replied: "Young Master is right, I am from Yangzhou." Then Zhao Junning looked at Lu Shengming and said: "Young Master looks a bit like someone I know."

Lu Shengming asked, "Who is it?" Zhao Junning said tentatively, "Lu Wu." Lu Shengming was stunned and said, "The girl knows my senior brother."

After hearing this, Zhao Junning boldly continued, "We have only met a few times. Mr. Lu Wu is a smart man, and you are also very cautious." Lu Shengming smiled softly, "You are too kind. I will take my leave first."

After Lu Shengming walked out of the house, he chuckled and said, "Let's go." The attendant asked, "Don't you want to check?" Lu Shengming said, "Don't check. It's impossible."

After Lu Shengming left, Zhou Aoyang jumped down from the beam inside the house, and Yuan Xinghui walked up to him: "This Lu Shengming is not simple." Zhao Junning nodded: "Yes, he is indeed not simple. Every sentence is testing, but it gives people the feeling that it is just a normal conversation."

Zhou Aoyang frowned at Zhao Junning. Yuan Xinghui noticed and asked, "Zhou Aoyang, what's wrong with you?" Zhao Junning turned to look at Zhou Aoyang. Zhou Aoyang smiled and shook his head, "Nothing. I just feel that Lu Shengming is not a good person. We should go back to Lucheng as soon as possible."

Zhao Junning nodded: "That's right, tomorrow, we will set off to go back. The longer we stay, the more danger there is. Lu Shengming can become the governor of Yizhou, so this person must be no simple person." He thought: What's more, he is Lu Wu's junior brother.

Zhou Aoyang thought: After many twists and turns, it seems that this Lu Wu has met Zhao Junning again. When Zhao Junning walked out of the inn and headed towards the Marquis' Mansion, he found that someone was following him, so Yuan Xinghui quickened his pace and walked to the corner to hide. Sure enough, a man followed him. Yuan Xinghui stepped forward to stop him and took out a scimitar: "Who are you?"

The man pulled off his mask. Zhao Junning was shocked: "Mr. Qu? What's wrong with you?" The three of them did not return to the inn, but went to a dilapidated thatched house. Qu He saluted Zhao Junning and Yuan Xinghui: "I was impulsive at the moment, please forgive me."

Zhao Junning said, "So the people who have been watching us since we entered the city are your people, Master Qu?" Yuan Xinghui was a little angry after hearing this: "You have been watching us since we entered the city? What do you want to do?"

Qu He said, "It's my fault. My subordinates said that there was a merchant from Liangzhou who was a girl. She also said that she looked like Boss Zhao. So I wondered if it was really you. I kept an eye on you for a few days and didn't expect it to be true."

Zhao Junning comforted Yuan Xinghui and asked, "So what does Mr. Qu want to talk to me about?" Qu He said ashamedly, "I have parted ways with Lu Wu. Now his junior brother is the governor of Yizhou. I was targeted as soon as I joined the Yizhou caravan and all the guys were captured. I finally escaped. He has been in the city these days." Zhao Junning asked, "Are you the foreign businessman you are looking for?"

Then he said, "Mr. Qu, why don't you just speak frankly?" Qu He thought for a moment and said, "I want to ask Boss Zhao to give me a ride. I only have five men, so it won't be too obvious if they sneak into your team."

Zhao Junning thought for a while and said: "I can take you but your men can only go by water." Qu He looked at Zhao Junning and said: "Okay." Then Zhao Junning said: "I think Mr. Qu should know where I will set out tomorrow?" Qu He nodded.

After Qu He separated from Zhao Junning and Yuan Xinghui, Yuan Xinghui asked, "Junning, why did you agree to give him a ride?"

Zhao Junning curled his lips: "Because he is a rich man, the richest merchant in Jiaozhi, the Qu family caravan, making friends is better than making enemies, right?" Yuan Xinghui instantly understood what Zhao Junning meant: "Junning, you are so cunning."