Pastoral Splendor

"Three flowers."

Yan Ying looked up and saw Liu Ada standing there with a fawning expression: "San Hua, your uncle wants to see you."

Why did Liu Ada come back to Baixiangyuan to find her? Yan Ying glanced at him. On the second day of the Lunar New Year, she went to her maternal grandmother's house in the south of the city with Aunt Xiao. At that time, Liu Ada still had a stern face and wouldn't talk to her. How come he changed his face in just over ten days?

"Uncle, what's wrong? Just tell me. Can't you see I'm busy here?" Yan Ying was doing accounts on the counter. Today is the eleventh, and the shops on East Street have gradually reopened. There aren't as many people visiting relatives and friends as before. People visit relatives and friends until the seventh or eighth day of the new year, and the dishes are all gone. In other words, by the eighth day, fewer people are going out to visit relatives, and the food on the plates and dishes has been eaten up and doesn't need to be refilled.

Now Dongda Street has returned to its former bustling state, and the shops are getting busy again. Baixiangyuan hasn't found a suitable new employee yet, so Yanying is temporarily lending a hand to help out.

"Sanhua, I want to ask you for a favor." Liu Ada said with a smile, "How about I work as your assistant?"

Yan Ying frowned: "Uncle, I've already said, my little temple can't afford to invite a bodhisattva like you." She glanced at Liu Ada: "Why don't you go back to your employer?"

Liu Ada said, trembling, "Sanhua, it was your uncle's fault. Please forgive your uncle. Your uncle is working for you sincerely, isn't that enough?"

Yan Ying smiled at Liu Ada: "Uncle, would you help me guard the fishpond? It'll be two taels of silver a month."

Hearing that Yan Ying seemed to be relenting, Liu Ada's face showed displeasure: "What did you say? Why do you want your uncle to guard the fishpond for you? That's too shabby! You should at least be given a decent job!"

“But after thinking it over, this is the only thing that Uncle can do.” We definitely can’t let Liu Ada get involved in Baixiang Garden. He handles so much money every day, and we don’t know if he will try to cheat us. If he insists on being unreasonable, then let him go and guard the fishpond and enjoy the northwest wind. “Uncle, if you don’t want to do it, then so be it. There are plenty of people who want to do it.”

Guarding the fishpond wasn't difficult; all she had to do was sleep there every day and walk around the pond a couple of times during the day. Da Mu was very conscientious in his duties, and he even helped her cut weeds twice a day. She used to only pay Da Mu one and a half taels of silver for his work, but later, seeing how diligent he was, she raised it to two taels. If Liu Ada were to guard the fishpond, she really wouldn't want to pay him two taels of silver—he certainly wouldn't do as well as Da Mu.

"Sanhua, are you really not going to help your uncle?" Liu Ada asked with a mournful face, clutching his purse tightly in one hand. Inside was a heavy silver ingot, which lay there, and he pulled the purse down.

He had originally planned that if his niece was sensible and arranged a good job for him, he would return the ten taels of silver to the stewardess. But now, seeing Yan Ying's stubbornness, he was also getting angry. He rolled his eyes and said, "Sanhua, your uncle knows you have a grudge against me. How about this, I'll book a room at Fengya Restaurant, and I'll treat you to a meal as an apology. Let's put aside our past grievances, okay?"

Yan Ying smiled and said, "Uncle, what grudge do I have against you? You don't need to spend money on me."

"No, no, no, you absolutely have to come. Uncle knows you're holding a grudge against me. If you don't agree to go, I'll have a knot in my heart and won't be able to put my mind at ease." Liu Ada's smile was very insincere: "What's wrong? You won't do me the honor?"

Seeing Liu Ada's smiling face, Yan Ying suddenly became alert. Why did Liu Ada insist on inviting her to dinner? She'd never even heard of Fengya Restaurant, let alone know which way its doors faced! Why was Liu Ada booking a room there? What was he up to? Why would he bother booking a room at a restaurant? There was definitely something fishy going on!

Yan Ying narrowed her eyes and looked Liu Ada up and down. Liu Ada was a little embarrassed: "Sanhua, what's wrong with you? What's wrong? You're acting like you don't recognize your uncle."

"Uncle, I don't really know you anymore." Yan Ying smiled coldly: "My uncle is said to be extremely stingy. How could he be so generous as to invite me to dinner? I really don't believe it."

Sweat dripped from Liu Ada's forehead. He reached up and pulled his collar open to let the cold wind blow in: "You brat, your uncle sincerely apologizes to you, but you don't believe me!"

Manager Ning listened for a while, but he didn't quite understand what was going on. He just thought it was a bit inappropriate for an uncle to beg a niece like this, so he quickly advised, "Miss Xiao, let's talk this out. This is your uncle after all. You have to give your elders some face."

Seeing that someone was speaking up for him, Liu Ada was pleased and squinted his eyes, grinning, "The shopkeeper is right, Sanhua, you should accept this sincerity from your uncle."

The more Liu Ada insisted, the more suspicious Yan Ying became. She was eager to know what strange things might be going on at Fengya Restaurant. Liu Ada wouldn't insist on taking her there for no reason; perhaps he had people there to beat her up and vent his anger? Thinking this, Yan Ying smiled at Liu Ada: "Uncle, okay, I'll go. You wait at the restaurant, and I'll come back when it's lunchtime."

"Okay, okay." Liu Ada was finally relieved to see Yan Ying agree. "Then I'll wait for you at the restaurant. It's in the He Zi private room. You absolutely have to come!"

Yan Ying nodded: "Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise in mind. You should go and do what you need to do."

Liu Ada glanced at Yan Ying and saw her standing there smiling, without any sign of suspicion. He breathed a long sigh of relief, thinking to himself, "This girl is still a bit naive." He then walked out triumphantly with his hands behind his back.

"Brother-in-law," Yan Ying beckoned to Gong Liang, "Go to the prefectural government office."

"Going to the prefect's office? What's the matter?" Gong Liang ran over and looked at Liu Ada, who was walking out of Baixiang Garden: "Could it be that Uncle..."

"Needless to say, there's definitely something fishy about him." Yan Ying smiled. "Do you think someone who loves money so much would be willing to spend money to take me to a restaurant for drinks? There's definitely something fishy going on."

Gong Liang's expression changed, and he looked angry: "I'm going to find him and get to the bottom of this!"

“No need, brother-in-law. Go to the prefectural government office and ask Prefect Lin to send a few yamen runners to that elegant restaurant to reserve the room next to the He Zi private room. I’ll order a table of food and drinks for them. They just need to keep an eye on the He Zi private room next door.” Yan Ying pouted. “If I don’t go, how will his true colors be revealed? How will I know how he will plot against me next time? It’s better to let his plans be out in the open.”

Gong Liang nodded and said, "Third Sister, I'll go right away."

Upon arriving at the prefectural government office, the guards, upon hearing that she was sent by Miss Xiao from Baixiang Garden, respectfully said, "Come in with me, and I will lead you to see Prefect Lin."

Prefect Lin returned from his hometown on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year and officially began his official duties on the eighth. During the Spring Festival, with everyone in harmony and joy, there were no major matters to worry about. He spent his days idly sitting in the yamen until noon before returning home for lunch and a short rest before coming back to the yamen. In recent days, he had been sorting through the letters he had received before the New Year, considering whether to reply. He first read through the official correspondence, then his private letters, and found a letter from a fellow student. Upon opening it, he couldn't help but beam with joy.

His senior fellow apprentice had connections, and Prefect Lin fawned over him. So, although his senior fellow apprentice was also a prefect, he never forgot to send him gifts during festivals and maintain close contact, all in order to try and find out what was going on through him. In this letter, his senior fellow apprentice wrote that he had recently heard that someone in the capital was recommending him to the Ministry of Personnel, and that he estimated he would be able to be transferred next year.

Prefect Lin read with great interest. His senior brother wrote in a very detailed and logical manner, saying that the person who recommended him had a very powerful background. It was not a personal recommendation, but rather a recommendation from someone else. The writing went around in circles, as if it had landed on the Zhenguo General's Mansion.

Prefect Lin held the letter in his hand, pondering for a long time. Why would someone from the General of the State recommend him? After much thought, a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared before him. Wasn't the Princess Consort of Yu from the General of the State's household? It seemed that his attempt to curry favor with that Miss Xiao hadn't been a mistake; the Prince of Yu's heir was indeed somewhat effective.

"Sir, Miss Xiao from Baixiang Garden has sent a shop assistant looking for you." A yamen runner stood at the door, bowed, and reported, "Should we bring him in?"

"Bring her in quickly!" Upon hearing that Yan Ying had sent someone, Prefect Lin beamed with joy: "Don't delay Miss Xiao's matter!"

Gong Liang walked in and recounted what had happened with Liu Ada earlier that day. Prefect Lin was furious upon hearing this: "He dared to make a move on Miss Xiao today! Go and arrest Liu Ada immediately!"

Gong Liang quickly bowed and said, "Lord Lin, please don't be anxious. Our boss said that she just wants to see what Liu Ada is up to. She doesn't want to arrest him right away. She wants to invite a few constables to the Fengya Restaurant next to the private room to keep an eye on things for her, so that they won't suffer any losses. As for the cost of the constables' food and drinks, our boss will cover it."

Prefect Lin quickly waved his hand: "How could we let Miss Xiao pay!" He quickly gave an order, commanding the best constables in Yuzhou City to take several burly yamen runners to Fengya Restaurant: "Miss Xiao cannot be allowed to suffer any mishap. If she loses even a hair, you guys will be in for a beating!"

Upon hearing that they were going to protect Yan Ying, the constables all nodded: "Please rest assured, sir, we will do our best to protect Miss Xiao!"

This Miss Xiao is really good at dealing with people. During the Spring Festival this year, everyone in the prefectural government office, from top to bottom, received a roast duck and a jar of red oil. Although the prefect would definitely not let her lose money, she still had to think of these things. She sent them to everyone, regardless of their official rank.

"Brother Gong Liang, don't worry, we will absolutely not let anything happen to Miss Xiao!" The group walked to the entrance of Fengya Restaurant, smiled at the waiter at the door, and said, "Give us a private room!"

Chapter 207 Clash

The sun slowly climbed to its zenith, and golden sunlight streamed in through the open window, casting a warm glow on the table. Liu Ada leaned against the window, looking out with a hint of anxiety on his face.

A rich aroma wafted through the restaurant, making his stomach rumble. He glanced at the dishes and drinks on the table, licked his lips, and dared not look directly at the two men sitting opposite him.

"Why hasn't your niece arrived yet?" Li Dahai asked impatiently. He had been waiting for so long, but that Miss Xiao hadn't come. It was too boring to just sit there like this.

"My niece is really cunning." Liu Ada looked out the window with some worry. Although Yan Ying had agreed, she was born with her own legs and feet, and he couldn't just tie her up and bring her over. "You two, you don't know her. She's as slippery as an eel."

Li Dahai and Zhao Erlang exchanged a glance, their brows gradually furrowing. The madam had instructed them to disfigure Xiao Sanhua, and they had felt reluctant to do it. However, Xiao Sanhua was not falling for their trick and refused to come over. Their plans to persuade her to leave the young master, which they had discussed with Huang Mama, were just wishful thinking.

The two gripped the daggers at their waists tightly. Did they really want the other to disfigure her? In an instant, a thin layer of moisture appeared on the cold scabbard of the dagger, cool and sticky to their palms.

"She's here, she's here!" Liu Ada suddenly exclaimed happily, pointing outside the Fengya Restaurant: "That one in the light yellow cotton-padded jacket is her."

Fengya Restaurant is located in a remote area. Although it has the name of a restaurant, it is actually only two floors and is quite far from the main street. The people who eat here are not rich, but they are not poor either. The restaurant's business is just so-so. There are not many people coming and going. So, sitting by the window, you can see Yan Ying walking into the restaurant clearly.