Noble Lady

"Miss Xue, please come in."

The innkeeper Huang of Longsheng Inn politely led Xue Chenyu and Xia Heyuzhu inside.

"Thank you."

Yesterday, Xue Chenyu asked Yuzhu to deliver a note, stating that she would visit today.

Originally, there weren't so many rules to follow, but since Zheng Duoqi was a student of Mr. Lu, she had to follow the rules of a scholar.

At this time, Xue Chenyu was walking while looking around inconspicuously.

The inn was very clean inside and out, but unfortunately there were no guests due to the famine.

There was no one downstairs, and the tables, chairs and benches had been put away.

But the inn was still kept clean inside and out, simply because an important visitor from the north lived in the inn.

"Manager Huang, how long has Mr. Zheng been staying here? Has he always been the only one staying here?"

The shopkeeper Huang, who was leading the way, led them upstairs. He glanced back and said, "Mr. Zheng has lived here for quite a long time. He arrived before the famine broke out."

"But back then, our inn was bustling with travelers from all over the country. It's only recently that many people have fled north to escape famine, and the merchants haven't come, leaving Mr. Zheng alone."

Xue Chenyu smiled and said, "Manager Huang misunderstood me. I was asking, has Mr. Zheng always been alone? Does he not bring any attendants, maids, or relatives with him?"

Shopkeeper Huang paused, then denied it, "No, Mr. Zheng has always been alone."

"Yeah." Xue Chenyu smiled and didn't ask any further questions.

Yuzhu and Xiahe looked at each other: This shopkeeper Huang obviously didn't say anything. When the girl asked just now, he hesitated too obviously.

But he was a businessman, and there might be many reasons why he didn't tell the truth, so Xue Chenyu didn't ask any further questions, and the two of them didn't ask either, but they kept it in mind.

Soon, they arrived at Room No. 1 where Zheng Duoqi lived.

Yuzhu said in amazement, "Didn't Mr. Lu say that Mr. Zheng taught children in a private school back home? How could he even afford to stay in room number one in the best inn in Haicheng County?"

Anyone who is not stupid can hear the tentative meaning in her words.

Manager Huang quickly explained, "Actually, Mr. Zheng didn't stay in the top-tier room before. He said that the expenses were paid by others, so he shouldn't be too extravagant or wasteful."

"So he has been living in a local restaurant. It's economical and affordable. He doesn't usually order in meals. Most of the time, he buys food and cooks it himself in the backyard."

Xia He was also surprised, "Does the inn often provide such conveniences?"

"Yes, our Haicheng County is a small place, and it can't be compared with those large county towns and prefectures outside. Many merchants who come and go are also small businesses, so naturally they are more concerned about saving money and being pragmatic."

"But there's no one else in the inn now, and Room No. 1 is empty anyway, so I might as well let the only guest, Mr. Zheng, move in."

As he was speaking, Zheng Duoqi walked out of the house.

He first greeted Shopkeeper Huang, then bowed deeply to Xue Chenyu, "Ms. Xue, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Shopkeeper Huang quickly returned the greeting and said, "The distinguished guest has been sent to us. I will not disturb you any further and will take my leave now."

"Shopkeeper Huang, could you please bring up two cups of hot tea? Thank you so much."

"Mr. Zheng, you are too polite. This is what I should do." Shopkeeper Huang said quickly and went down politely.

Zheng Duoqi watched Shopkeeper Huang go downstairs, then turned back and said, "Ms. Xue, please come in."

"Ah."

Longsheng Inn is indeed the best inn in Haicheng County.

Room No. 1 is very well designed, with an inside and outside suite, a bedroom inside and a guest room outside.

From the tables, chairs and benches to the paintings on the wall, the low cabinets beside the wall, as well as the vases and incense burners on the antique shelves, all are carefully selected and displayed.

As you walk in, you can feel the elegant atmosphere of a scholar.

"It's a nice place." Xue Chenyu looked around and nodded in appreciation.

"Ms. Xue, please sit down," Zheng Duoqi said, and he sat down as well. Then he explained, "This room looked like this before I came here. I just added two paintings that I brought from my hometown."

"Manager Huang is a very good man. Several counties in this area are suffering from famine, and many people can no longer survive. They have no choice but to leave their homes and head north to escape the famine. Merchants have stopped coming, and business has stalled."

"He gave the cooks and servants a generous sum of money and told them to go and make a living elsewhere. He stayed here with the elderly in his family who were unable to move."

"But even so, he did his best to clean the inn inside and out every day, never giving up at all."

After Xue Chenyu heard him finish, she was surprised and said, "From what Mr. Zheng said, it seems that he has great admiration for Manager Huang."

"I can't say it's admiration, I can only say I admire his character." Zheng Duoqi said modestly.

After a pause, he asked, "By the way, Miss Xue sent someone to deliver a visiting card yesterday, saying that she would come to discuss something important today. I wonder what it is?"

"Actually, it was Miss Xue who sent someone to pass on the message to me, and it was I who came to ask for an audience today."

"This area is in chaos and not a safe place. It would be inconvenient for a girl like Miss Xue to go out. Is there something extremely urgent? Why would you bother Miss Xue to come here in person?"

He spoke very politely, but he didn't mention it yesterday. Only when people came and sat opposite him today did he remember it.

This is not humility, but rather using the context to be humble and implicitly accusing her of making a mountain out of a molehill.

Xue Chenyu pretended not to understand his hidden meaning, smiled and waited for Manager Huang's tea to come.

Shopkeeper Huang was quite quick and brought up tea in a moment. Then, knowing that the customer inside wanted to discuss something, he greeted him and left.

Xue Chenyu nodded slightly to him and took a sip of tea. "It tastes smooth, rich and mellow, unlike the tea here."

"Miss Xue knows what she's talking about. This isn't the inn's tea. It's some Pu'er tea I brought from my hometown. It's not worth much. I never had the heart to drink it before."

"We're already starving. If we don't drink now, we don't know if we'll ever get enough to drink again."

There was a strong sense of emotion in his words, as if he was really worried that he would die in a foreign land.

What worthless Pu'er tea? Do you really think that Xue Chenyu is easy to fool? This is clearly the best aged Pu'er tea.

One tael costs more than ten taels of silver.

Xue Chenyu ignored Zheng Duoqi's flattery and took a sip of tea before putting it down. "According to the time, Mr. Zheng has been here for over a month. But the private school has made no progress at all."

Zheng Duoqi was stunned for a moment, "It has indeed been more than a month. But..."

"The Datong Company previously expressed its willingness to sponsor Mr. Lu and open a free private school..." Xue Chenyu interrupted him, "This is to help students from poor families who are eager to study but cannot afford it."

"Mr. Lu must have chosen you, Mr. Zheng, because he was impressed by you. You are a noble person and act prudently, and you are worthy of trust."

Zheng Duoqi said, "Yes, sir, you have placed such a heavy trust in me that I dare not disappoint you. That's why I packed my bags and rushed here after receiving your letter."

"Yes, Mr. Lu asked you to come all the way here because he hopes you can help supervise the construction of the private school. When the private school is established in the future, you will be the principal, which will be extremely beneficial to your future prospects."

Zheng Duoqi nodded.

Xue Chenyu smiled, "But more than a month has passed, and we haven't even finished choosing a site for the private school. Mr. Zheng has been living in the inn for more than a month. I wonder how long he plans to stay?"

Zheng Duoqi shrugged and asked, "What do you mean, Miss Xue?"

"Of course I'm here to call for justice." Xue Chenyu's eyes moved, with a hint of a smile.