On the second day of the first lunar month, at the border between Liang and Ling provinces, at the intersection of two posthouse roads, a group of carriages with escort flags mounted on them turned into the spacious north-south posthouse road, following behind the two carriages. Escorting an escort was dangerous and unpredictable. As long as there was a relatively safe official road, one would have to ride at full speed to make up for the time spent on careful escorting on mountain roads and rivers. This group of carriages carrying the banner of the Golden Gate Escort Agency was quite ostentatious. There were more than thirty burly men, most of whom were young and strong. When the escort team passed by the two carriages in front of them, one of the carriages suddenly lifted the curtain. A gray-haired head poked out and smiled at one of the escorts. "Hero, do you still remember me? Last time, when we were entering autumn, we drank Green Ant Wine together at the roadside wine shop. "
After the escort recovered from his shock, he slowed down his horse and approached the carriage. His face full of joy, he nodded and said loudly, "I remember, how could I not? Young master's handwriting is good, and your father is also very loyal. He treated us brothers to two large jars of Green Ant Wine and five catties of beef. Why, are you also heading to Ling Province?"
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "Isn't that so? Now that I'm making a living in the capital of Ling Province, I have to run over there after spending the new year at home. It's a life of hard work. If I remember correctly, there's a shop a few li ahead. The wine and meat are authentic and the price is fair. If it's on the way and won't affect your escort work, let's eat together. It'll be more lively. It's still my treat. "
The escort who came from Liaodong to Beiliang to make a living was immediately put in a difficult position. Back then, the three of them were forced into a corner by that mad dog with the surname Yuan. Out of more than a hundred people in the sect, only the three of them were left. That mad dog also had an old father-in-law who was said to be extremely powerful in the Liyang imperial court. After thinking about it, they felt that only Beiliang could not control them. But now, even though they relied on their martial arts skills and finally had a stable job, they were still living under someone else's roof. He was just a new escort and had to look at the old escort's face. For a moment, he was in a dilemma. Fortunately, the old escort, who was rather dignified in the Golden Gate Escort Agency, had sharp eyes. After carefully sizing up the two carriages for a moment, he laughed loudly and said, "Since this young master is an old acquaintance of our Brother Dou, then he can be considered a friend of our Golden Gate Escort Agency. I know the shop in front. It's the next stop for our escort agency. Later on, we won't dare to let young master spend money. We'll pay for the wine. No matter how poor the Golden Gate Escort Agency is, we still have to pay for it!"
Hsu Fengnian did not refuse. Without him saying anything, the coachman, Xu Yanbing, had already whipped the horse to move faster. This detail made the old escort inwardly click his tongue in wonder. He did not expect that not only did this young master, who should be from an extraordinary family, look so friendly, but even his retainer was a sensible person.
The two groups of people arrived at the familiar shop that was very 'clean' for the escort agency. The shopkeeper had long been familiar with the eating habits of these returning customers, so he did not need to say much. He instructed the shop's staff to quickly serve the dishes and wine. There was more meat than rice than wine. It was an ironclad rule that escorts were not allowed to drink alcohol. Usually, only one or two highly respected veterans in the escort agency who were fond of wine were allowed to have a few sips. Xu Yanbing and Hong Shuwen were straightforward and did not sit at the table. Huyan Guanyin was also not hungry. In addition, the woman in the same carriage had alighted, so she was even more reluctant to leave the warm carriage. Thus, the main table with wine was occupied by Hsu Fengnian, Xu Beizhi, and Pei Nanwei. She sat side by side with Hsu Fengnian. There was also the old escort leader, Bao Fengshou, as well as Dou Liang, a native of Liaodong, who should not have been qualified to sit at this table. Pei Nanwei was draped in an expensive white fox fur coat and a fox fur hat. Originally, such attire would have made a woman with slightly darker skin appear as black as charcoal. However, her attire made her look even more beautiful than snow. The old escort leader, who had traveled extensively for most of his life, still had to expend a lot of effort to retract his gaze. He thought to himself, 'I've never seen such a beautiful woman in my life. This meal was well worth it.'
The young waiter in charge of serving the dishes and wine almost knocked the wine jar to the ground. His face flushed red and he resentfully looked back three times with every step. He was kicked by the angry shopkeeper until he cried out in pain.
As usual, Hsu Fengnian referred to himself as Xu Qi to outsiders. After a brief conversation with Dou Liang and Bao Fengshou, he roughly knew about Dou Liang's situation and the scale of the Golden Gate Escort Agency. Dou Liang's personality was straightforward, but he was thin-skinned. He did not exchange pleasantries with this Young Master Xu. When Bao Fengshou met him for the first time, he was very familiar with building up their relationship. He kept saying that when they arrived at the Golden Gate Escort Agency in Lingzhou's capital, he had to personally pay a New Year's visit to Young Master Xu's residence. Especially when he heard that Xu Qi's family lived on Apricot Street, this experienced Jianghu man's eyes burned with passion. One had to know that Apricot Street was where the Administrator and a large number of Lingzhou's influential officials lived. Recently, there was even a Lingzhou General with the surname Xu! Although Apricot Street was very long and there were people who were not officials, since they could live on that street, even if they did not have any power, they were still the wealthiest people in Lingzhou. In the industry, the Golden Gate Escort Agency had always been using sparrow darts, which were small darts with little meat and no oil. The big escort agencies all used sow darts, which earned them so much money that their hands went limp. If they could establish connections with the nobles on Apricot Street and spread word of mouth, the Golden Gate Escort Agency would make a name for themselves. They would be considered to have truly developed, otherwise, who would be willing to spend New Year's on the escort route? Hsu Fengnian took the initiative to propose a toast five or six times, but most of the time, he clinked bowls with Dou Liang. This made Dou Liang, a homeless dog, feel an indescribable warmth. However, he was not good with words, so he did not care if he would be stung by the head of the escort after the event. He did not leave a single drop of wine behind.
After eating and drinking to their heart's content, Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "My ancestors are also from Liaodong, in Jinzhou. Brother Dou and I can be considered acquaintances in a foreign land, how rare. When we return to Lingzhou City, Xu Qi will definitely go to the Golden Gate Escort Agency to pay New Year's greetings. As for the other two brothers, I will have to properly meet them. I did not drink to my heart's content today, so let's leave it for now. When the time comes, we will not return until we are drunk. "
Bao Fengshou chuckled and said, "Young Master Xu will also have to pay a visit. The Golden Gate Escort Agency must not be impolite. If this gets out, we will be laughed at."
How could Hsu Fengnian not know what the old escort was thinking? He was afraid that "Xu Qi" was a small family that bragged without a draft, so he had to personally take a look at the mansion to be at ease. He did not expose him and nodded with a smile, "No problem. In the future, if there are any items that need to be escorted, since Brother Dou is in your escort agency, I will specially trouble the Golden Gate Escort Agency."
The escort agency still had to hurry on with their journey. Both parties cupped their fists and bade farewell. Bao Fengshou whispered to the shopkeeper when he paid the bill and gave him a few extra pieces of silver. Obviously, he knew that Young Master Xu wanted more food and wine, so the escort agency paid for it in advance. Hsu Fengnian sat back down on the bench and asked for an extra pot of warm Green Ant wine. He poured half a bowl for Xu Beizhi and Pei Nanwei. Xu Beizhi laughed softly and said, "After this escort mission, Dou Liang's salary will definitely double."
Hsu Fengnian did not comment and changed the topic, saying, "Chen Xiliang not only has to manage the salt and iron industry, but also has full authority over the transport of grain. One is competing with the local tyrants, the other is wrangling with the officials of the capital. He has already provoked the local tyrants. Do you think he can do it? "
Xu Beizhi said indifferently, "I don't know."
Hsu Fengnian pursed his lips and continued to ask, "You are already the Provincial Governor of Lingzhou, Chen Xiliang still does not have a real official position. Do you think he has a knot in his heart?"
Xu Beizhi only drank.
Hsu Fengnian clicked his tongue and said, "I originally thought that the two of you are so smart that you don't have to belittle each other. I didn't expect that you still can't escape from this vicious circle."
Xu Beizhi squinted his eyes and said, "What do you know."
Hsu Fengnian said shamelessly, "Be careful, I will really let out a fart for you!"
Xu Beizhi wiped the wine stain on the corner of his mouth, "When I become the Provincial Governor, you should get out of Lingzhou as soon as possible. Out of sight, out of mind."
Hsu Fengnian only cared about cursing and swearing, but there was nothing he could do. Pei Nanwei was a little puzzled. There was still someone in this world who could subdue another. Was it the Heir of Beiliang beside her?
On the third day of the first lunar month, the Lingzhou General did not enter the Lingzhou Prefecture City. This made many of the old foxes in the official circles who had a keen sense of smell to act were greatly disappointed. They all retreated from the General's Manor on Xingzi Street and endured the cold for a day for nothing. They resisted the urge to jump up and down and curse. They begged in their hearts that His Royal Highness must return to the city tomorrow. Otherwise, when would this suffering end?
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