Qi Lu Region, Dongchang Prefecture, Pingshan Guard.
Li Miao and his three companions rode their horses to the City Gate.
The Soldiers at the City Gate looked up. One of them, seeing that they were travel-worn, assumed they were Merchants and prepared to ask for a bribe.
A sharp-eyed person saw a section of Sword Sheath exposed at Mei Qinghe's waist, and knowing that these people were People of the Jianghu, quickly stopped the person who was about to ask for a bribe and waved them through.
People of the Jianghu are all both poor and arrogant, both without money and fond of fighting, and they also care about face.
So many people pass through every day, and there are always Merchants who are easy to handle and have some money. It's not worth it to ask People of the Jianghu for money.
Wang Hai saw this scene, turned his head, and said to Li Miao with a smile, "Elder brother, do they want to ask us for money?"
“It's always us who rob other people's homes. This is the first time someone wants money from us.”
In Public, Wang Hai naturally couldn't call Li Miao "Commander".
Li Miao said indifferently, "If they really want it, just give it to them. Soldiers who eat a bowl of wontons without paying are considered to have taken advantage of us. How much can they want?"
But it made Little Four behind him complain, "Master, we can't afford it."
“We have no money!”
“Hmm?” Li Miao turned to look at Little Four: "Didn't you bring a lot of Silver before we left? Did you spend it all?"
“You're still saying that!”
Little Four held out her fingers, counting one by one: "Yesterday, you listened to the Storyteller in the teahouse, and when you were happy, you gave him five Silver. The Storyteller was almost scared to death, thinking you wanted to buy his life!"
“And the wine you drank the day before yesterday, a pot for three coins of Silver, you drank five pots.”
“The day before the day before yesterday, you said the Saddle was too hard and uncomfortable to sit on, and you had to change to a soft one. As a result, after it was made, you said it was too soft and uncomfortable, and you wanted them to make a soft-and-hard one.”
“The master thought you were here to stir up trouble, and you were only satisfied after making six of them. One was three Silver, and that's eighteen Silver.”
“The key is the previous trip to North Zhili. You gave the local Yamen Runners one hundred Silver to help the Refugees settle down.”
“And the day before the day before yesterday…”
Little Four recounted them all, which gave Li Miao a headache, and he quickly waved his hand.
“You also know that I can't save money, it's not been a day or two.”
“Just tell me how much is left.”
He really hadn't managed the money matters. When he was in Shuntian Prefecture, the money was all kept with Little Four. When he didn't have money, he would go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's treasury to withdraw some. Anyway, some of it was originally his.
It's not that he really couldn't calculate the accounts, but he was used to this way of life. He had never kept this matter in mind, and only regarded Little Four as a Steward.
People are all inherently lazy. Li Miao had long been spoiled by Zhu Zai and Little Four. When Little Four gets married, he might learn to manage money.
Little Four spread her two small hands: "It's all gone!"
“The money for our meals these past few days was all paid by Sister Mei!”
Li Miao turned to look at Mei Qinghe.
Mei Qinghe closed her eyes, and expressionlessly took out a Cloth Pouch from her arms: "I still have ten Silver..."
She turned to look at the side, and stretched her hand in front of Little Four: "That's all..."
Seeing her look like she was ready to die heroically, Li Miao hurriedly said, "Alright, alright, take it back."
“I haven't reached the point where I have to take my subordinates' Silver to eat.”
“Hai'er.” He turned to look at Wang Hai.
Wang Hai smiled: "Elder brother, I am also your Running dog. How can you be so embarrassed to ask me for money?"
“I'll return it to you when we go back to Shuntian Prefecture. Anyway, it's all Official business. Just grab a couple of handfuls from the treasury and settle the account for you.” Li Miao said.
Wang Hai spread his hands: "I gave all my money to Little Four. Little Four has no money, and I have no money either."
Li Miao heard this, glanced sideways at Wang Hai, and then looked at Little Four: "Where's his money?"
Little Four tightly clutched her waist pouch with her small hands: "I won't give it!"
“Brother Hai's money is for doing proper things, and can't stand you wasting it!”
“Oh ho.” Li Miao laughed: "You haven't even married yet, and you're already starting to manage the money. You won't even give money to your own family, right?"
“When the time comes, if you ask for a betrothal gift, aren't you afraid that I'll make a big offer and take all this money away?”
Before, in Shuntian Prefecture, Wang Hai and Little Four had already developed Affection, but at that time, Wang Hai couldn't always go to Li Miao's house, and they couldn't say much when they met, so the two of them were still a little embarrassed before.
But during this period of time, Li Miao was either sleepy or dozing all day long, or he was running around everywhere to watch the fun, and he couldn't take care of the two of them.
Mei Qinghe also has a Temper who doesn't like to talk, and she follows behind all day without saying a word.
The two of them talked together every day, and Li Miao always teased them, so now they have almost made their relationship clear, and they won't be as shy as before.
Little Four blushed when she heard Li Miao say this, and said in a low voice, "You don't even know how much money you have in your hands, and I'll bring more over when the time comes..."
Li Miao laughed: "That's also a way, it seems I can't get it from you."
“Xiao Mei.”
Mei Qinghe had just stuffed the money into her arms, and when she heard this, she closed her eyes again, and then took out the money and gave it to Little Four.
Li Miao waved his hand: "Let's make do with it today, and tomorrow I'll go to the local Officials to beg for some money."
“There are Embroidered Uniform Guard who are cut to death, but I haven't heard of anyone starving to death.”
“When an Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander comes to your door, just to ask for some money, I'm afraid he'll be so happy that he'll cry.”
The four of them, one sentence after another, talking and laughing, walked to a Restaurant.
It was only Noon at this time, and the Restaurant was crowded with people, with few empty seats, obviously doing good business.
The few of them tied up their horses in front of the door, and Li Miao walked in first, and a Waiter came to greet them.
“Guests, how many of you, what would you like to eat?”
“Four people, what good wine and good——”
“Master!”
The voices of the three people overlapped.
Li Miao looked back, and Little Four was looking at him angrily, gesturing with her hands to show ten Silver.
Looking at Mei Qinghe again, she was looking up at the ceiling, saying nothing.
He couldn't change his habit, and he almost said "What good wine and good dishes can you serve", forgetting that he only had ten Silver, and it was still from Mei Qinghe that he had to get it.
Even if this place was open to eat, it wouldn't cost ten Silver, but after all, the wallet was already empty, so it was better to save some money.
Li Miao smiled, turned to the Waiter, and said, "Four people, have a simple meal."
“According to our appetite, serve a few dishes, and some Tea.”
“Alright, please sit here.”
The Waiter agreed, led the four people to their seats, first served them some Tea, and turned to go to the Back kitchen to order.
The four of them sat down, Wang Hai and Little Four sat together and whispered, Mei Qinghe closed her eyes to Regulating Breath, put her hands on her Knee, and her fingers occasionally gestured, probably thinking of Sword Moves in her mind.
This left Li Miao out.
When they first went out, Wang Hai and Little Four were embarrassed to talk alone, and they would chat with Li Miao. Since the two of them made their relationship clear, they were together all day long, and Li Miao was the one who had no one to talk to.
Mei Qinghe is not a good conversation partner either. If you talk to her about Martial Arts, then there's something to talk about. But if you talk about something else, she can only listen for half a day and squeeze out a "yes" or "I don't agree."
Li Miao had to pour himself a cup of Tea, and use his Ear Technique to eavesdrop on other people's conversations in the Tavern to pass the time.
Suddenly, Li Miao's eyes lit up, and the teacup in his hand was also put down.
“Have you heard about the Haunted house of Master Wu?”
“Hey, who doesn't know. Didn't it scare away a lot of servants?”
“My brother-in-law works at Master Wu's house. The other night, when he was patrolling, he really saw the ghost!”
“With disheveled hair, blood all over his body and face, and his feet didn't touch the ground as he floated in the air. My brother-in-law fainted on the spot, and was found in the Courtyard after lying there for half a night. He's still taking medicine now!”
Li Miao got up, ignoring Little Four's angry gaze, took some Silver, and bought a pot of wine.
He turned around and walked to the side of those people's table and cupped his hands.
“Everyone, I was waiting for the dishes over there, and I accidentally overheard you talking.”
“I travel all over the place, and I like to hear some local anecdotes. This pot of wine is just to moisten your throats.”
“This Haunted matter... is it convenient to tell me about it?”