Chapter 95

Leaving Wenxiang Tower, the sun had already set in the west. Unconsciously wandering the streets, he unexpectedly found himself in front of a familiar small courtyard. This was Zhang Xiaomao's home, where he had once had a wild drinking spree.

Staring blankly at the gate of the small courtyard, the large red "xi" (喜) character was still there, though slightly faded. Jian Dao walked to a nearby杂货店 (miscellaneous goods store) and bought some sugar and other small gifts, wrapped them up, and then walked to the courtyard gate, gently knocking on the door ring.

The door opened, and inside stood Yegou, leaning on two crutches. Seeing Jian Dao, his eyes widened, "Why is it you? Why did you come?"

"Can't I come?" Jian Dao sized up Yegou, "You look much better!"

"Of course, my body is so good that even Boss Qin praised it. Let me tell you, it won't be long before I can compete with you again." Yegou laughed, eyeing the items in Jian Dao's hands, "You came, you came, but why bring gifts?"

"Flatter yourself, this is for Sister-in-law. You, a stray dog, just having food to eat is enough." Jian Dao strode in, "Where's Xiaomao?"

"He's in the kitchen at the back with Sister-in-law, making dinner. They're so sweet, it makes me envious."

"Then why don't you find one quickly?" Jian Dao said.

Originally a joke, but Yegou nodded seriously, "I've been thinking about this. I've already asked Sister-in-law to introduce me to someone!"

Jian Dao was taken aback, "You, a respectable officer, why not think of finding a good family's daughter? Why look for a..."

Yegou snorted, "Jian Dao, if Xiaomao heard you say that, he might kick you out."

"Slip of the tongue! Sister-in-law is really good, like a lotus that remains clean despite the mud, very rare." Jian Dao quickly said.

Yegou stroked his chin, "Damn, we're not good people either, what right do we have to be picky? A good family's daughter, who would marry someone like us? I don't ask for someone as good as Sister-in-law, just someone who cares for me, and I'd be content."

As they chatted, Xiaomao heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen, his hands still sticky with flour.

"Jian Dao, you sure have good luck, picking a good day. We're making dumplings today."

"He smelled the aroma and ran over, his nose is very sensitive." Yegou laughed, limping into the house, "But this guy is not decent, he came to drink in the city and didn't even invite us, truly annoying."

Xiaomao laughed, taking the gifts from Jian Dao. "You're actually being polite now? I remember you were always broke."

"These are for Sister-in-law. If it were just you two clods, you wouldn't get a single coin from me."

Everyone laughed. Knowing each other well, Xiaomao and Yegou both knew that Jian Dao had to support two disabled elders in Qiushui City, which was indeed a difficult situation.

Hong'er's belly was already very noticeable, but she was still energetic, setting the table with a few dishes that were fragrant and delicious. Although they couldn't compare to the delicacies at Wenxiang Tower, the homely atmosphere made Jian Dao's heart ache, almost to the point of bleeding.

The dumplings, filled with leek and egg, and three-flavored pork, were fragrant and delicious, but tears streamed down Jian Dao's face, dropping into his bowl, making Xiaomao and Yegou look at him in surprise.

"Hey, Jian Dao, what's wrong with you?" Yegou knocked on the table, dissatisfied, "Crying while eating dumplings?"

Jian Dao lifted his head, shook it, "Nothing, I haven't had such fragrant dumplings in a long time. I thought of my mother, her dumplings were also very fragrant."

His words made everyone fall silent. After a while, Hong'er stood up and added a few more dumplings to Jian Dao's bowl, "Brother Jian Dao, if you don't mind, come here often and treat this place like home."

"Good, good, Jian Dao, we're brothers!" Xiaomao clapped his hands.

"Sister-in-law is really virtuous. Sister-in-law, can I come often too?" Yegou quickly said.

"Aren't you already living here?" Xiaomao tapped Yegou's head with his chopsticks. "What more do you want?"

"Why isn't Brother Heshang here?" Hong'er looked at the men, puzzled. She remembered that on her wedding day, the three men had slept in a very intimate pose in her hall until the next morning.

At this, the three men all laughed ambiguously.

"Don't mention that stud!" Jian Dao shook his head.

"Right, right, he'll die on a woman's belly!" Yegou laughed.

The meal was enjoyed with great pleasure, and everyone except Jian Dao was genuinely happy. Xiaomao was the first from the dare-to-die camp to have a real home, which was incredibly attractive to someone like Yegou, who had long lacked family warmth, making him think about getting married and settling down.

After clearing the table, the men gathered under a small tree in the courtyard. Hong'er prepared the tea set, and Xiaomao, with great ceremony, began to brew the tea, but his clumsy hands constantly drew ridicule from the two men. In the end, Hong'er, who had finished in the kitchen, came over to take over.

Although Hong'er had taken off her silk and put on cotton, and had washed off her makeup to work in the kitchen, years of training gave her a unique charm. Wherever she sat, the tea set moved skillfully in her hands, immediately captivating the three men.

In a moment, three cups of fragrant tea were placed before them.

Yegou half-closed his eyes, sipped gently, "Good tea!" he praised, shaking his head.

"You can actually tell good tea from bad? That's rare!" Xiaomao feigned surprise. "Do you know what kind of tea this is and where it's from?"

Yegou's eyes widened, "Xiaomao, don't be so mean. We're just scoundrels, can't we pretend to be refined sometimes? Not to mention me, even you, a dead bandit, probably never robbed tea when you were a highwayman."

Everyone laughed, even Hong'er, who smiled.

Amidst the laughter, the door was suddenly knocked. Hong'er stood up and went to open it.

"It can't be that Heshang smelled the aroma and came too? Today is truly strange, usually there are no guests, but today they come one after another." Xiaomao turned to look at the door, shrugging at Yegou and Jian Dao.

The door opened, and both the person inside and outside were stunned.

The visitor was none other than Cheng Pingzhi, the governor of Anyang City, in civilian clothes. Cheng Pingzhi looked at Hong'er, his gaze sweeping over her slightly protruding belly, a hard-to-read emotion flashing in his eyes. Inside, Zhang Xiaomao was surprised by Cheng Pingzhi's sudden visit.

The three men stood up, and Xiaomao went to greet him first.

"Governor Cheng, what wind has brought you, the governor of a city, to my small courtyard?" Xiaomao bowed, and Jian Dao, following behind, also bowed. Only Yegou, huffing through his nose, remained seated, still harboring resentment over Cheng Pingzhi's previous refusal to let them in.

Bureaucrat! he spat in his heart.

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