Chapter 33: First Encounter

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Shengjing City, Flower Alley.

Early in the morning, a housekeeper from the Ji Manor arrived and explained to Nanny that because it was too far from Fuyang, the wedding procedure and etiquette would be simplified in the interest of convenience.

The date had been set on the 26th of October, but the process of dowry would be no less than expected. When Miss Su’s parents came to Shengjing, the dowry would be sent and accepted by Miss Su’s parents themselves.

When the housekeeper of Ji Manor left, Su Jiu grit her teeth.

Why did they have to wait for the Su family? It would be nice to send the dowry now. Then she wouldn’t have to go to get married anymore because she would just be able to flee with the money.

Ji Manor was the richest family in Shengjing, and the dowry would be sizeable.

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Qiao An frowned under the osmanthus tree. What he was most worried about now was what were they going to do when Miss Su’s parents came?

As they were talking about the wedding, someone knocked on the wooden door. A man in server’s garb came in, looked at the note in his hands, and asked, “Does Young Master Su live here?”

“Yes, come in!” Qiao An replied.

The man pushed the door, bowed, and said in a hurry, “I’m from Qinghe Tavern. My boss Shopkeeper Li sent me to find Young Master Su. Something happened in the shop. Please hurry over!”

Su Jiu frowned and her gaze grew cold. The Bai family must have made trouble again!

She went back to the room to change clothes, dressed in the men’s robes of that day. The gang then got in the carriage and rushed to the tavern.

Between the time it took for the waiter to inform them and for them to rush over, the store had to have been wrecked by now.

Qiao An was anxious and constantly urged Chang Huan to hurry the whole way there.

When they got to Xieyang Street, they saw a lot of people crowding in front of the tavern from afar, and there were still a few people lying on the ground.

Su Jiu got out of the carriage and squeezed into the crowd of onlookers. At the door lay a few hooligans from the Bai family, howling bitterly.

Su Jiu and the gang were stunned. What hero helped them first?

When they entered the tavern, they saw two tables smashed in the room. Li Tai and several waiters hid behind the counter. Bai San lay on the ground, and a middle-aged man in gray brocade robes looked at the man in the lobby, cradling his shoulder.

The man in the lobby was dressed in black and silver brocade robes, his aura cold. Upon taking a closer look, they realized he was Nangong Shu.

The man nodded slightly when he saw Su Jiu come in

Su Jiu clasped her fists in greeting, “Brother Nangong!”

Bai San grabbed the wall as support to get up, pointing to Su Jiu, “Big Brother, this is the boy, yesterday he hurt me and several of our brothers!”

Eldest Master Bai looked a little pale, and his gaze swept across Su Jiu and Nangong Shu as he asked in a cold voice, “Who exactly are you? Why are you messing with us?”

Su Jiu’s face was cold, “We have no feud nor grudges with you, and we have nothing to do with the Bai family! This tavern has been sold to us, and it belongs to us now. Whoever dares to make trouble here will have me to deal with!”

The Bai brothers’ faces turned green.

“Have I made myself clear?” Su Jiu asked, smirking dangerously.

“Where’s Xie Rong hiding? If he can’t find my daughter, it’s no use even if he hides in the ends of the world!” Eldest Master Bai shouted.

“I don’t know where he went. You just need to understand that this tavern has nothing to do with him anymore!”

The Bai brothers looked at Su Jiu, knowing that they would not have the upper hand today. They grit their teeth and began to back away. “Retreat!”

“Wait a minute!” Su Jiu roared.

Bang! With a loud noise, Hu Dapao punched the table and smashed a solid wood table. “This is the last time. If you dare to come again, I will smash your head in with my fist!”

With shock in their eyes, the Bai brothers looked at Su Jiu and the gang in horror, took two steps back, and then left with their underlings.

As soon as the Bai family left, the crowd immediately dispersed.

Li Tai and the waiters also came out of the back of the counter and began to clean up the tavern.

Qiao An clasped his fists in gratitude at Nangong Shu. “This time, it’s all thanks to you, Master Nangong. Otherwise, I don’t know what we would have discovered in this store!”

“The Bai family were humiliated yesterday. I guessed that they would come to make trouble so I went for a walk here and happened to encounter them!” Nangong Shu said simply.

Su Jiu smiled brightly and asked, “Where’s Miss Nangong?”

When it came to his sister, Nangong Shu’s gaze turned gentle. “She went out of the house yesterday without my father’s permission and is grounded for ten days.”

“Huh?” Su Jiu was surprised, and secretly lamented. Powerful families sure have loads of rules, she thought. She was punished just for leaving the house.

“I have some things to see to, so I’ll make a move first. I’ll have to trouble you to take care of things here then!” Nangong Shu said.

“No worries, it’s our job!” Qiao An smiled politely.

Nangong Shu nodded slightly, paused and looked at Su Jiu and strode out.

Looking at Nangong Shu’s retreating back, Qiao An praised, “The members of the Nangong family, are formidable characters indeed!”

He had taken them on one versus ten and although his demeanor was cold, he was humble. He led the army at a young age, and it was the blessing of the people to have such a formidable character in the dynasty.

At this time it was nearly noon, as diners came to the tavern. Chopping firewood and carrying water all needed people to help, so Hu Dapao, Ah Shu and Chang Huan took the initiative and went to the backyard to help.

Li Tai, the new shopkeeper, came over and poured tea for Su Jiu and Qiao An. “Thanks to Master Nangong, he came in time, and kicked the arrogant hooligans out the door effortlessly with his skills.”

Today, Li Tai had changed into a long dark gray robe, and washed his hair and face clean. He actually looked very scholarly and lean.

“Is your daughter alright?” Su Jiu asked.

“Yes, she’s much better after drinking medicine. She can get out of bed and help in the kitchen tomorrow,” he said respectfully.

“Don’t worry! There’s no rush.” Qiao An sipped his tea. “Since she’s ill, let her rest for a few more days. There are a lot of staff in the shop to help out!”

“Yes!” Li Tai nodded gently and quickly attended to a customer who just walked in.

Su Jiu watched Hu Dapao hold the broken table and chair as firewood to burn in the backyard. Since two tables were missing, the lobby suddenly seemed empty. A lot of them were broken yesterday and the replacement tables and chairs in the backyard had been used. In the end, two more tables and chairs were broken today.

“We should have made the Bai guy pay up before we let them go!” Su Jiu spat angrily.

“As long as they don’t make trouble here in the future and the store returns to normal reception, the silver will soon be earned back,” Qiao An coaxed.

Su Jiu held the five coins left after buying the wine yesterday. “But we still have to add a few more tables and chairs.”

At this time, more and more people were frequenting the shop and they would soon need to expand.

It seemed that the shop still enjoyed some fame.

“I’ll go out and see who doesn’t want any tables and chairs, and bring back two.” Su Jiu said.

Qiao An smiled. “Do you want me to go with you?”

“It’s fine, you stay in the shop and watch the rest. Make sure they don’t fight with the customers!”

“That’s good too!” Qiao An nodded. “Be careful, Chief. Come back early.”

At this time, there were many people on the street. It was the first time Su Jiu went to the street alone after she came to Shengjing, and did not sit in a carriage. She wandered around with the crowd, gradually walking farther and farther away from the tavern.

After 30 minutes, Su Jiu was bending over among a group of children to see sugar figurines when her gaze inadvertently swept across something, and she could not help but turn.

A man passed by her, leading a black horse in his hand. He wore a dark blue-striped brocade robe and had perfect posture and noble temperament. Standing in the middle of a group of ordinary people, even only looking at his back, one could tell he was a handsome and charming person.

Su Jiu’s gaze fell on the purse tied around his waist.

The purse was made of excellent brocade gold thread, embroidered with Ruyi patterns, and looked full. It was extremely tempting!

He might be a spoiled young master, she thought. Target locked!

Su Jiu smiled, got up and followed him.

Su Jiu kept a distance between them. There was a stall selling meat in front of them. Many people were crowding around and snatching for the meat in the middle of the road.

This was a godsend!

Su Jiu walked two steps quickly, and as she walked through the crowd, she grew closer until she was nearly huddled with the man as she reached out to the belt at the man’s waist.

The purse was in her hand, but Su Jiu had no time to rejoice before someone grasped her by the wrist.