Zhou Laohan quickly added, “If so, why not come to my humble home? My daughter-in-law is an excellent cook. Though it’s just rustic fare, it has its own unique flavor.”
Before leading the group up the mountain, Village Head Zhou had instructed his father to try to invite the honored guests to their home for the midday meal.
Liu Changzhao surveyed the village houses and found the courtyard on the far east side most appealing. With its blue bricks and dark tiles nestled among emerald bamboo, it was not only charming but also conveniently close, allowing for immediate updates.
He pointed to that courtyard and said, “I’ll rest there.”
Xia Shan was initially pleased that Young Master Liu had taken a liking to his sister’s home, but then remembered her widow status made it inappropriate to host so many unrelated men. He hesitantly objected, “Young Master Liu, that’s my sister’s home. She’s been widowed for many years and shouldn’t be entertaining unrelated men…”
Liu Changzhao glanced at the large group and decided, “My cousin Lizhang and I will impose on your sister for a while. Lord Ding and the others can be accommodated by Zhou Laohan.”
In his mind, he didn’t consider himself part of the grown men category. Moreover, he firmly believed himself to be universally adored—wherever he went, people would be delighted to welcome and entertain him.
In Zhou Laohan’s eyes, the County Captain was far more valuable than any young master like Liu. He promptly bowed with a smile and agreed.
Those left at the mountain foot included messengers, horse minders, and cooks, while the rest proceeded into the village.
Xia Shan led Liu Changzhao, Zeng Lizhang, and two servants to stop at Xia Li’s doorstep, while the others continued onward.
Xia Shan knocked on the gate and called out loudly, “Sister, Li Li, open up! We have honored guests!”
Xia Li had been watching the mountain from the backyard. The search party included soldiers in military attire, constables, local farmers, and over a dozen dogs. Not seeing Young Master Liu among them, she assumed someone of his status wouldn’t personally join the search and was likely waiting below.
Hearing the village crowd and then Xia Shan’s voice, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
She rushed to the front yard, where Mrs. Xia emerged from the house. They exchanged a glance before Mrs. Xia steeled herself and opened the gate.
Liu Changzhao entered first, followed by Zeng Lizhang.
Xia Shan smiled as he introduced, “This is my sister, and this is my niece Li Li.” To Mrs. Xia and her daughter, he said, “This is Young Master Liu, and this is Young Master Zeng.”
Zeng Lizhang recognized Xia Li and Mrs. Xia immediately and grinned broadly. “What a coincidence! So it’s your home.”
Xia Li also recognized them, relieved they hadn’t brought any dogs along. She smiled, “Indeed, what a coincidence.” Stepping forward, she curtsied and said, “Young Master Liu, Young Master Zeng, please come inside.”
Outwardly calm, she was inwardly screaming, Get inside quickly, get inside quickly…
Mrs. Xia was also flushed with fear. Xia Shan mistook his sister’s reaction for nervousness around nobility and tried to reassure her with a look that said, Don’t worry.
Liu Changzhao remained rooted, eyeing Zeng Lizhang suspiciously. “You know them?”
Zeng Lizhang laughed. “Cousin, the Icy Jelly you love so much—they’re the ones who sold the recipe.”
He’d revealed their recipe sale.
Liu Changzhao nodded, studying Xia Li for a moment before saying doubtfully, “Somehow I feel like I’ve seen you before too?”
Xia Li smiled blankly. “Really? Perhaps Young Master Liu is mistaken?”
Zeng Lizhang glanced at Liu Changzhao, thinking he was just using a line to chat up a pretty girl.The servant accompanying Liu Changzhao wasn’t one of those from last time in the county town—those ones had received eighty military cane strikes and hadn’t fully recovered from their injuries yet.
He wondered if his young master’s old habits were acting up again and quietly reminded him, “Young Master, we came here for serious business.”
Liu Changzhao angrily kicked him and scolded, “When have I ever done anything unserious?”
Seeing Xia Shan step in front of the young lady, he snorted displeasedly, frowned and said, “What are you all thinking? How could I possibly have any interest in some country girl like this?” He then glanced around, didn’t enter the main hall, but instead headed toward the backyard.
Xia Li cursed inwardly twice but had no choice except to follow.
Liu Changzhao wore an ice-blue soft satin robe with embroidered floral patterns and wide sleeves, his hair tied up with a jade hairpin. As he walked, he fanned himself with a large folding fan, looking quite proud and arrogant. Unfortunately, he still walked with a slight limp, which didn’t match his handsome noble young master image at all.
Could it be from Lord Ye’s beating, and not healed yet? That Lord Ye really was an unreasonable brute, striking so harshly.
Thinking this, Xia Li felt quite guilty toward this Young Master Liu. At an age equivalent to ninth grade in her previous life, he had suffered greatly because of her.
Liu Changzhao showed great interest in the hanging sandbag, poking it with his finger and making it sway slightly. He asked, “What’s this for?”
Ancient people practiced boxing and palm strikes on wooden posts, so of course he wouldn’t know what a sandbag was used for.
Xia Li couldn’t come up with any other excuse and had to tell the truth, “It’s for practicing punches.” Seeing Liu Changzhao raise an eyebrow skeptically, she added, “There’s only us, a widow and her child, in this household. If we’re not tough enough, we’ll get bullied.”
This statement both explained her reason for practicing boxing and served as a reminder for Liu Changzhao to maintain proper boundaries and not ask or touch everything.
Huh, why does Liu Changzhao’s eyebrow-raising look familiar? Xia Li glanced at him again—there was indeed something recognizable. She’d been too worried about Dangdang earlier to notice his features… Who among her acquaintances did he resemble?
Liu Changzhao clearly didn’t grasp Xia Li’s hint. He instead made a fist and punched the sandbag, finding it much better than the wooden post his cousin made him practice on daily. Hitting the wooden post made his hands ache terribly, killing any desire to continue training. He said, “This is good—you can practice punches, build strength, without suffering.”
Then he told his servant, “Take a good look. Make one for me when we return.”
Seeing this, Zeng Lizhang also came over to practice punching.
Noticing the dog hole at the base of the wall, Liu Changzhao asked, “Do you keep a dog?”
Xia Li’s thoughts were interrupted. “Yes, we have a guard dog. It ran out to play early this morning.”
Liu Changzhao’s gaze then fixed on the straw mat hanging on the wall. “Don’t tell me you practice archery too!”
Xia Li nodded. “My grandfather and third uncle are both excellent archers. I learned a bit from them and practice occasionally.”
She inwardly complained—if she’d known this nosy troublemaker was coming, she would have put all these things away.
Liu Changzhao’s eyes swept over Xia Li and he uttered a profound truth: “Never judge a person by their appearance, nor measure the ocean by pints. This little girl’s hobbies are truly unbelievable.”
He was about to ask Xia Li to bring out the bow and arrows when a familiar dog bark came from the front. Immediately perking up, he exclaimed, “That sounds like Huzi!”
Xia Li was so frightened she nearly went mad, yet she calmly pointed ahead and said, “It seems to be coming from outside the main gate.”
Mrs. Xia was even more terrified, her legs trembling uncontrollably.