Although she had to consider Xue Rui's suggestion, Yu Shu did not stay at home. The next day, she pushed her cart to Autumn Osmanthus Lane to set up her stall. She had not appeared on the streets for several days, and there were not many customers early in the morning. She could use this time to continue studying the method of finding things.
Not long after, a pot of tea was delivered to Sun's Tavern. Yu Shu looked at the pot and felt strange. Wasn't this the refreshing tea that Xue Rui drank yesterday?
Seeing that she was confused, the waiter explained with a smile, "Yusheng, you're so lucky. We sell this tea for twenty taels of silver a pot. We don't even brew tea for ordinary people. The young master who was with you yesterday was very generous. He told us that as long as you came to set up a stall, he would bring you a pot to quench your thirst.
Yu Shu raised her eyebrows and felt it was funny. This Xue guy said he would give her time to consider, but he didn't forget to ask. Was he trying to win people's hearts by doing this?
"Thank you, waiter. I'll leave the tea here." Yu Shu knew it was a sugar-coated bullet, but she didn't refuse. She could just not come tomorrow.
The waiter returned to the tavern with the empty plate. He leaned against the counter and whispered to the manager who was doing the accounts, "Manager, isn't Yusheng a candidate for the Dayan Examination? It's almost the twelfth month, so why is he so calm? He's not preparing for the exam at home, but setting up a stall."
Shopkeeper Sun did not even raise his head as he replied: "Why are you asking so many questions? Why do you care what others think? Go and clean the tables by the window."
Yu Shu drank a cup of tea to refresh herself and continued to do the calculations. In the middle of it, there were customers, so she stopped to deal with them. It was almost noon when she packed her things and planned to go home for lunch.
At noon, there were many people on the street. From the south, a group of merchants passed by with carriages and goods. The street immediately became congested, and Yu Shu was afraid that she would drop something in the crowd, so she moved her cart into the tavern behind. The waiter was free, and when he saw the manager go to the back to get wine, he came up to talk to her.
"Yusheng, have you heard? The Xia Jiang family from the south has come to the capital."
How could Yu Shu not know that in the entire Autumn Osmanthus Lane, there was probably no one who knew the news before her. She pretended to be surprised like the waiter, "Oh? Really? "
"How can it be fake? News travels fast in our Autumn Osmanthus Lane. Xia Jiang's family is holding a grand funeral for the young lady who was murdered. The coffin was sent from the north of the city to the south of the city. It looks like it's going to be carried to Jiangnan."
Yu Shu raised her eyebrows. She did not know about this. No wonder there was no news from Xia Mingming after she was found that day. She was helping with the funeral. Could she have already returned to the south?
"Sigh, if you ask me, that young lady is too pitiful. She's the daughter of a noble family, but she had to leave her home and die outside!"
"Slacking off again. Hurry up and get to work. Go to the back and carry the wine!"
Shopkeeper Sun came out from the back and saw the waiter chatting with Yu Shu. He called out to him unhappily. The waiter pouted at Yu Shu and went back to work. Shopkeeper Sun helplessly said to Yu Shu, "This waiter has been getting more and more lazy lately. He likes to talk nonsense. For the rest of your life, don't listen to his gossip."
Yu Shu smiled and did not respond. "Shopkeeper, you go back to work. I'll go home now."
"So early today?"
"Yes. It looks like it's going to rain. Shopkeeper, see if there's anything to dry in the backyard. Bring them into the house early."
Yu Shu reminded him and pushed the cart away. Turning around, the caravan just happened to pass by the front door. She casually glanced over and saw the two words "Tehen" on the yellow side of the cart. Pausing for a moment, her heart suddenly jumped. Turning her eyes again, she saw a large bearded man sitting on a horse amongst the crowd. He had the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear —
If it wasn't Qiu Biao, then who else could it be!
It could be said that it was a coincidence. While she was still in a daze, the person on the horse also turned his head to look. Just like that, the two people's eyes met. Yu Shu's eyelids twitched and she quickly turned around. Using one hand, she brushed away the papers on the cart. Pretending to pick them up, she crouched down on the ground, not daring to look back. She did not know if Qiu Biao had seen her or if he had recognized her.
Anxiously waiting for a moment, the scene she was worried about did not appear. Yu Shu tilted her head to look at the side of the road. In the distance, she could still see Qiu Biao's back. Without delay, she picked up the papers on the ground and stuffed them into the cart. Silently bidding farewell to Shopkeeper Sun, she pushed the cart in the opposite direction of the caravan.
Only when she had walked out of Autumn Osmanthus Lane did she slow down. Stopping at the side of the road where there were fewer people, she panted with an uncertain expression.
That day at the mouth of the river, the scene of the water bandits massacring the merchant ship and the scene of them being forced to jump into the Night River flooded her mind. Her heart trembled with fear.
Why did this group of people come to the capital!
"What are you spacing out for? Get off the horse and come in."
In front of the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce's branch in the capital, the cart stopped to unload the goods. Bi Qing came down from the cart and shouted at the distracted Qiu Biao. The surrounding people heard her, but pretended not to hear. In private, they couldn't help but discuss the rumors that Boss Bi and Captain Qiu didn't get along.
"Hiss, it shouldn't be," Qiu Biao flipped his chin and handed the reins to his subordinates. He followed Bi Qing in.
Hearing his muttering, Bi Qing turned around and asked, "What shouldn't be?"
"Old Bi, I think I saw someone just now."
Qiu Biao scratched his beard and looked around. He pulled Bi Qing to a corner and whispered in his ear.
Bi Qing's expression changed. He said in a low voice, "Where did you see him?"
"On the street we just passed by."
Bi Qing immediately arranged for his subordinates to unload the goods and pulled Qiu Biao out of the door. "Let's go back and take a look."
Qiu Biao was reluctant. "It's not worth it. Aren't they all dead? My eyes must be playing tricks on me."
Bi Qing glared at him and said in a low voice, "What do you know? When they died, I didn't see their corpses. I suspected that they escaped after crossing the river. If what we have done is exposed by them, not only will you and I suffer, but my big brother is also helping Pei Jing to fight for the opportunity to come to the capital to manage things. Once it is exposed, all of us will perish. If there are still any survivors, we can't let any of them go. "
Qiu Biao's expression also became nervous. He didn't think about saving a few more steps. After instructing the brothers in charge of guarding the team, he left the branch with Bi Qing one after another. They met up at the street and found Qiu Gui, who had passed by earlier. When Yu Shu returned home, Jing Chen opened the door and saw that her complexion was very bad. He quickly helped her carry the cart in and asked, "Are you not feeling well?"
Yu Shu shook her head. She was hesitating whether she should tell him that she saw Qiu Biao and his group on the street.
Jing Chen closed the door. He turned around and saw that she was still standing at the door in a daze. He felt that there was something wrong with her and asked, "What happened?"
"It's nothing. I accidentally lost a piece of silver." Yu Shu thought that it was better not to tell him. If Qiu Biao didn't recognize her, this matter would be over. There was no need for another person to be responsible for it. Although Jing Chen felt that it was inappropriate, he didn't ask further. He looked at her slightly pale face and said, "Did you not rest well last night? Go to the room and lie down. I'll boil some hot water. I'll make you a pot of hot tea later."
Yu Shu nodded. She went back to the room with a restless mind. She put on her shoes and lay down on the bed. Her heart was in a mess.
Bi Qing and Qiu Biao were both vicious people, especially the former. He was a beast in human skin. That night, everyone on the ship was familiar with each other, but they could bear to kill them. If they found out that she was still alive, to prevent their evil deeds from being exposed, they would definitely think of a way to destroy her. She had inquired about the influence of the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce in the capital. Although it wasn't a first-class chamber of commerce, it was still famous. Bi Qing was a very sinister and cunning person. With the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce as his backing, it would be difficult for her to tear his face off. The only thing she could do now was to hide for the time being.
Thinking of this, Yu Shu couldn't help but comfort herself. It was just a glance. Even if Qiu Biao saw her, he might not recognize her. The matter might not be as serious as she thought.
But just in case, she couldn't go to Autumn Osmanthus Lane for the time being.
As for Yu Shu, she hid at home and didn't go out for several days. When Xue Rui had some free time, he went to Autumn Osmanthus Lane to find her. In the end, he didn't find her.
Shopkeeper Sun wasn't there, so he asked the shop assistant. He heard that he hadn't seen her in the past few days. He thought that she had deliberately refused him and was purposely avoiding him. He secretly suspected that he had bought too much in one go.
Since he was here, he couldn't avoid a drink. He ordered some wine and was about to go upstairs when he was stopped by Shopkeeper Sun who walked in from outside the door. "Master Xue."
"Hmm?"
Shopkeeper Sun waved his hand for the waiter to do his work. He led Xue Rui to another table and sat down. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Yu Sheng seems to have caused some trouble."
Xue Rui was suspicious. "Why do you say that?"
Shopkeeper Sun said, "In the past two days, there have been people coming to ask about him. They even asked where Yu Sheng lived."
Xue Rui frowned. "Who are they?"
Shopkeeper Sun shook his head. "I'm not sure. They don't seem to be people from the capital. They speak with a slight southern accent. Master Xue, I can see that your relationship with Yu Sheng isn't ordinary. It would be best if you go find him and find out what's going on."
Xue Rui thought for a moment. "Thank you shopkeeper for telling me. I will have to trouble you with this matter. If this group of people comes again, help me find out where they came from. At that time, I will definitely reward you handsomely."
Shopkeeper Sun waved his hand. "Master Xue is too polite. Last time, I still have to thank you for helping me with my nephew's matter. This time, it was only a slight effort. How could I dare ask for a reward."
As the two were talking, Shopkeeper Sun suddenly turned his head. Looking at the two people who had just entered, his expression changed. The two had already seen him and walked straight over.
"Shopkeeper."
"It's you guys again." Shopkeeper Sun gave Xue Rui a look. Turning around, his face showed his displeasure. "Didn't I say that person only set up a stall outside my family's wine shop? How would I know where he lives?"
Hearing this, Xue Rui knew that these people were looking for Yu Shu. Lifting his head, he looked at the two men in front of him. They both looked to be in their early twenties. Their clothes were decent and their arms were bulging. It was obvious that they knew martial arts.
This discovery caused Xue Rui's heart to be on guard. This was not a simple matter of looking for trouble. They definitely did not come with good intentions.
"Shopkeeper, I will tell you the truth. That Yu brat is a swindler. He was originally from the same area as us. He extorted a large sum of money from our family's master and fled to the capital. We are here to arrest him. Do not try to cover for him. It would be best if you quickly tell us his whereabouts."
Hearing the two men's bluff, Xue Rui laughed inwardly. That girl was truly an expert at swindling people. Thinking back, he had once been fooled by her.
Shopkeeper Sun's expression changed. He said: "I really do not know where he lives. Why don't you leave a place for me to go. When he arrives, I will send someone to inform you."
Hearing this, the two men discussed for a moment. Then they left a place for him to go. "If he comes, then send someone to the Hundred Complete Inn in the back to find the one surnamed Xu. Remember, do not alarm him. Otherwise, he might escape."
"Okay, I will remember.
Xue Rui, who was standing to the side, heard everything clearly. His fingers lightly tapped on his knees. The corners of his mouth curled into a cold smile. In a moment, he would send someone to the Hundred Complete Inn to ask around. He wanted to find out just what kind of person wanted to 'arrest' Yu Shu.
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