Chapter 21: Loulan Girl

  What? You don't think I'm a pretty boy, do you? Do I look like one? Although I may look a bit pale, I'm not someone who eats soft rice!

  Xiao Jiading shook his head like a rattle drum: "A real man, how can he use a woman's money? Don't worry about the place to live, with my ability, I'm not worried that there won't be a place to live?"

  Yan was also drunk, and only then did she blurt out these words, which she regretted as soon as they were spoken. Wasn't this belittling him? Seeing that he had refused her, but wasn't very angry, she let out a sigh of relief and apologized: "Sorry, I misspoke. When you find a place, tell me, okay? I'll go visit you."

  "Alright. It's late, I'm leaving!"

  Ya Niang's maid, Qiao Fan, supported her as Ya Niang personally saw him off, sending him all the way to the entrance of Cui Yu Lou before reluctantly bidding him farewell with a wave of her hand.

  Although the Tang Dynasty's Chang'an had a curfew, in the following states and counties, there was no curfew at night. Even late at night, there were still drunk guests stumbling home, loudly talking.

  Xiao Jia Ding was originally drunk, but after that passionate and sweet encounter with Ya Niang, he sobered up a lot. So he didn't pass out on the street and managed to return to the inn smoothly.

  Things were settled, and he even got a stunning beauty. He slept very soundly until the next morning.

  He was sleeping soundly when he heard a knock at the door, and then Zhu Haisheng's loud voice shouting: "Big brother! Are you up yet?"

  "What's going on?" Xiang Jia Ding woke up from his dream, somewhat annoyed, and mumbled a sentence. He got out of bed, opened the door, and let out a long yawn: "So early, something's up?"

  Zhu Haixin accompanied a smile and said: "Big brother, didn't you say last night? Today we need to go to the government office. I passed by downstairs and thought of calling you, afraid that you overslept and missed the morning assembly. Hurry up, it's almost time for the morning assembly."

  "I'll go in the afternoon, I won't go in the morning."

  "What? Really? Ah, I'm so sorry, I didn't hear clearly last night and delayed your sleep."

  "It's okay, it's good that you got up early. I went out drinking last night and didn't eat much, so I'm hungry."

  "That's great, then let's go eat together. This afternoon I'll accompany big brother to the government office."

  "Aren't you going to the yamen?"

  "I won't go, I'll let the servant go and ask for a leave of absence from Xu Sifa on my behalf." After saying that, he turned around and said a few words to the servant standing at the door, and the servant nodded and left.

  Zhu Haixin entered the house and said: "You go get dressed, I'll call the shopkeeper to send over some water for washing up."

  Xiao Jiading put on his clothes and washed up, thinking about the events of that night. He casually asked: "You and that so-called top talent from Yizhou, Zhong Wenbo, aren't you at odds with each other?"

  Zhu Haixin smiled and nodded, "Big brother saw it? Yes, this kid is too arrogant, looking down on others. I originally had the intention of currying favor with him, but he actually humiliated me in public by composing a poem. It made me lose face greatly. I was furious, but his family has a father who is a high-ranking official in the government, while my family only has some money and nothing else. How can we compete with them? So, you publicly humiliating him is equivalent to avenging me for past grievances. I'm extremely grateful and admire you very much."

  Xiao Jia Ding smiled and said: "I didn't intentionally humiliate him, it was he himself who forced me to do so."

  "Whatever, forget it, no point talking about him, don't want to spoil our appetite for dinner."

  After Xiao Jia Ding finished washing up, the two of them left the inn and arrived at the entrance. Xiao Jia Ding asked: "Where are we going?"

  Just as he said that, an old man came over from the opposite side of the inn with a young woman, beaming at Xiao Jiading: "Nephew!"

  Xiao Jia Ding took a closer look, and it was the old man Xiao who helped him write the petition paper yesterday. Behind him followed the maid San Niang. He cupped his hands and said, "Uncle Tang." And then introduced him to Zhu Haiyin.

  Zhu Haiyin immediately paid his respects upon learning he was Big Brother's paternal uncle.

  Xiao Lao Han returned the courtesy and said to Xiao Jia Ding: "Thanks to you, my good nephew, for writing that petition. I went to the yamen this morning and asked about it, and was told that they have already accepted the case and are waiting for me to respond."

  Xiao Jiading smiled and said: "That's good, I've already agreed to become a clerk in the government office, I'll go there this afternoon. You can be happy now?"

  Xiao Lao Han didn't know about this matter, and upon hearing it, he was naturally extremely delighted. He repeatedly exclaimed: "That's great! Our family's case will now have hope! --- Third Madam, quickly go congratulate Young Master!"

  The third daughter-in-law hastily stepped forward, bowed and congratulated: "Congratulations to the young master on his promotion."

  "What great promotion, just a minor clerk."

  Zhu Haixin smiled and said: "Big brother can't say that. With big brother's ability, this promotion is only a matter of time."

  "Don't say that, it's embarrassing. Xiang Jia Ding said to Xiang Lao Han: "You go back first, I'll take care of the case."

  "Alright then, I'll trouble you with that! And there's one more thing, can I also trouble you with it?"

  "What's wrong?"

  "It's like this." Old Xiao beckoned to a middle-aged man across the street, who was overjoyed and hurriedly ran over, hastily making a bow to Xiao Jia Ding. Old Xiao said: "His name is Yu Gui, he's from our neighborhood, and this time he also came to the government office to file a lawsuit. He knows that my case was filed by the government because of your clever writing, nephew, and thinks you're capable, so he wants to ask for your help in writing a statement too. What do you think?"

  Xiao Jiading smiled wryly and said in a low voice: "Helping someone with an official lawsuit is to ask for a beating, Uncle Tang, you're harming me."

  Yu Gui hastily said, "No need, no need for you to personally write the petition. I'm just a simple old man who barely knows how to read and write, but I don't understand the law, so I'm afraid of losing the case. That's why I wanted to ask for your help in coming up with a plan. As for the petition, I'll write it myself, I wouldn't dare implicate you, and I'll definitely keep my mouth shut!"

  "This is still okay..."

  Beside him, Zhu Haixin said: "Let's go find something to eat first, and chat while we eat. We haven't had breakfast yet!"

  Yu Gui hurriedly said: "Then let's go to the small shop to eat, the small shop's huajuan and steamed buns are famous far and near. It's just in a small alley next to the government office."

  Xiao Jiading said: "Go ahead, where are you going?"

  Yu Gui was a young master of a wealthy family, and he rarely went to these roadside stalls. He had originally wanted to invite Xiao Jia Ding to the wine tower for breakfast, but Xiao Jia Ding had already agreed, so he could only follow him to this small eatery.

  During the Tang Dynasty, snacks were called "small food", so the sign of this shop was written as "Yu's Small Food Workshop".

  Not bad, this snack bar is quite clean, but there aren't many customers inside, it's okay though, because at this time it's already the end of breakfast hour, judging from the few customers, the taste should be alright.

  Yu Gui led them to a room in the backyard, which was quiet and had no other guests. Yu Gui's wife welcomed them with a flattering smile. She personally served them steaming hot pastries on a wooden tray, including mantou, baozi, flower rolls, Hu biscuits from the Tang Dynasty, and noodles. There were also the shop's signature dishes, including mian pian tang (wonton soup).

  Xiao Lao Han and Bi Nu San Niang did not follow, fearing it would affect their conversation, so they bid farewell at the door. The house was left with only Yu Gui and the three of them. Zhu Hai Yin looked at the food of these ordinary people with a bitter face, having no appetite, but seeing Xiao Jia Ding eating very fragrantly, he could only force himself to pick it up, yet hesitating whether to eat or not.

  At this time, a woman's clear voice came from the doorway: "Dad! Come out for a moment."

  Yu Gui nodded and walked to the door. Zhu Haiyin heard the voice was extremely sweet, not only curiously looked over, but this one look, suddenly stiffened there, holding a bowl, two eyes staring straight at the door.

  At the door stood a maiden in her prime, wearing a coarse linen dress, with a slender waist tied with a hemp belt, which set off her not yet fully developed breasts. She had a double braid, and her black hair cascaded down her fragrant shoulders. Her eyebrows were like paintings, her nose was made of jade, and her eyes were large and bright, shining like two purple grapes in the water. Her cherry lips curved into a beautiful arc. What left the deepest impression was her pale skin, which was as white as snow, seemingly transparent, with two faint pink blushes on her cheeks, exuding an aura of mystery, like the vast desert - the charm of Western Regions.

  Look at her appearance, she is actually a Western barbarian woman!

  The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty attracted many people from surrounding areas to settle here, including many Hu people from Western Regions. Zhu Haisheng had seen many Hu people before, but he had never seen such a beautiful Hu girl! And in such an inconspicuous small shop. Zhu Haisheng felt that the whole room suddenly became brighter.

  As soon as he saw the girl finish talking to Yu Gui and turn to leave, Zhu Haisheng hastily got up and chased after her to the door, loudly asking: "Yu Boss, who is this young lady?"

  When she heard the words directed at her, the girl stopped in her tracks and turned around to glance at Zhu Haixin's smiling face. Zhu Haixin immediately felt as if he had seen an icy mountain peak, cold enough to chill his heart.

  "Oh, it's a little girl, hehe."

  "You... is your daughter?"

  "Yes, yes," Yu Gui seemed to know that Xiao Jia Ding's words were suspicious, and he quickly explained: "Adopted daughter, is adopted daughter. Hehe"

  "It's no wonder," Zhu Haoyin turned his head to glance at Xiao Jiading, who was eating with his head down, and said to Yu Gui, "I'm saying, Yu Guizhang, you're not very good at being a person, are you? Your daughter has arrived, but you didn't even introduce her to my brother. And yet you still want him to help you?"

  Yu Gui's expression was somewhat awkward, and he hastily smiled: "Right, right, it was old Han's mistake. Lou Lan, come and meet Xiao Gongzi. ——Xiao Gongzi, this is my little daughter Lou Lan."

  The woman walked over, bowed slightly, and didn't say a word. Her expression was still icy cold, not even looking at Xiao Jia Ding.

  Xiao Jiading saw that she had a high nose and big eyes, and was actually a Western woman, and looked extremely beautiful, like a blue moon, with an exotic flavor. In modern society, many Western beauties have been seen in movies and TV shows, but none are as good-looking as this one. Especially her skin, as white as milk, those eyes and long eyelashes, simply captivating, compared to Ya Niang, Ya Niang is the kind of seductive charm, while this woman is a kind of elegant beauty. Unlike Han women's gentle and soft demeanor, only her expression was too cold. Makes people feel too proud.