Jiaohua

Chapter 1649 Have you lost your virginity to anyone?
Chen Yongming and his entourage were greatly alarmed.

Chen Yongming's previous confidence and composure vanished, replaced by a look of astonishment.

Zhili chuckled and said, "Hey! It's perfect to run into you all. I'm a little hungry. Make me a bowl of braised pork noodles with an egg!"

Chen Yongming realized what was happening and forced a simple, honest smile: "Alright! Sir, please go back inside and wait a moment!"

"I'm not going back to my room, just take it to the lobby! Hurry up, I'm starving!" Zhili turned and left.

He turned his head left and right to look at Chen Yongming.

Chen Yongming frowned: "I don't know what happened either."

Zhili sat in the lobby, fiddling with chopsticks, his gaze fixed on the people coming and going outside the inn's main gate.

He really wanted to expose them on the spot, but the lack of news from his master made him hesitate.

It can't be said that it was "late," since his master didn't write to him often, but he needed it very much right now.

And, it's unclear exactly how many of them there are.

If the two in the backyard are bad guys, then what about those three experts today?

Why did those three experts target the woman who looked like their junior sister?
But the woman refused to say anything, and the junior sister, being kind-hearted like herself, didn't force her to talk.

The noodles were served quickly, and a maidservant warmly placed them on the table, saying, "Please enjoy your meal, sir!"

Zhi Li looked at her carefully: "Thank you."

The noodles smelled delicious, but Zhili stirred them a few times with his chopsticks, looking like they were too hot.

The maid went to tidy up the table next door, while secretly observing Zhili.

The people to the left and right behind are also observing the fragmentation.

The inn was cheap, and the lobby was quite crowded. By the window, He San and two of his men, who had never shown their faces, were drinking, while Zhi Li kept an eye on the entire lobby.

Apart from the maid and her attendants, they did not find anyone else for the time being.

An older woman came in from outside. When she saw He San, she exclaimed, "Nephew, your cousin has had an accident!" as she walked quickly toward them.

As they drew closer, the old woman whispered, "A suspicious group of people, at least fifty in number, has been spotted to the south. They are disguised as members of the Heyang Escort Agency, but I recognize their attire and flags. These people are imposters. I have already sent someone into the city to inform Miss Ali."

He San said, "Alright, I'll tell the young master later. After you go out, have the people outside make a scene."

"Yes."

The old lady stormed off, urging her nephew to hurry up and stop hanging out with his bad friends.

Not long after she left, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the inn. Two groups of men got into a conflict, which escalated from pushing and shoving to a brawl.

People in the lobby immediately rushed to see what was going on, and Zhili, who was about to eat noodles, also went out and craned his neck.

The servants and those around them all wanted to curse their father.

Amid the chaos, He San whispered something in Zhi Li's ear.

Zhili said, "Tell me as soon as you find out their true identities."

"Yes."

Zhi Li ran out to break up the fight, and walked away with the two groups of people who were fighting more and more fiercely.

Liu Yue and Zuo You immediately went to the backyard to remove their disguises and chased after them to see if they could take advantage of the chaos to stab Zhi Li.

As the commotion subsided, the people in the small inn returned to their seats.

Chen Yongming lifted the curtain in the back room and saw that Zhili's bowl of noodles was neatly placed on the table.

He managed to evade both attempts to poison him.

Suddenly, Chen Yongming noticed something interesting: Liu Yue and Zuo You, who had been watching him, were nowhere to be seen!

Chen Yongming was overjoyed. If he didn't leave now, when would he?

He quickly turned around and went back inside to pack his things.

Chen Yunqi was still waiting in the teahouse. Fortunately, Chen Yongming had given her enough money, and she was now well-off, so she wasn't kicked out.

She went to see the commotion outside and also saw the disarray.

Chen Yunqi also had the thought of stabbing him in the chaos, but she was a rational person and knew that her most important thing at the moment was to wait for Riyu Fangcao.

After the brawlers had left, Chen Yunqi returned to her seat.

Fortunately, as soon as she sat down, she saw Riyu Fangcao coming in through the main gate.

Chen Yunqi was overjoyed and quickly went to greet her, pulling her outside: "Quick! Zhili followed that group of people!"

Upon hearing this, Riyu Fangcao immediately exclaimed, "Where did they go? Chase after them!"

The two quickly left the teahouse, when suddenly a voice in Northern Yuan dialect came from beside them: "Are you from my hometown?"

The familiar local accent made Riyu Fangcao subconsciously turn her head to look. The next moment, a dagger pierced her chest and was stabbed four or five times in succession.

Before Riyu Fangcao could react, her heart and lungs shattered, and large amounts of blood gushed from her mouth.

Chen Yongming moved incredibly fast. After stabbing her, he pushed her to the ground and pulled up Chen Yunqi, who was screaming in fright, saying, "Let's go!"

Chen Yunqi stumbled as she was pulled, her eyes widening in surprise: "...Father?"

Having been separated from her father for so long, Chen Yunqi had imagined countless heartwarming scenes of reunion with her father, but at this moment, there was no warmth, only terror.

In particular, someone behind them was shouting "Murder!" "Someone is dead!" and chasing them.

"Father... what happened?" Chen Yunqi cried out in fear.

"Shut up!" Chen Yongming shouted, turning around and wildly slashing with his dagger, using his fierce aura to drive back the people chasing them.

Then, without stopping, they ran at full speed and with all their might.

The long and arduous journey had improved their physical strength. The father and daughter ran intermittently for more than half an hour before stopping in a desolate wilderness.

Chen Yunqi was covered in sweat, so exhausted that she couldn't even shed tears: "Dad, what happened?"

Chen Yongming looked at his daughter, but his first words were: "Have you lost your virginity to anyone?"

Hearing this question from her father made Chen Yunqi feel ashamed: "...No."

"really?"

Chen Yunqi said sadly, "Father? Why did you ask such a question right away?"

Chen Yongming sighed deeply: "Why do you ask? These past few years in Beiyuan, I've lived a life worse than a pig or a dog. I've finally escaped from that hellhole. If I want to live a life of wealth and honor from now on, I can only rely on you."

Chen Yunqi understood. A bitter taste rose in her throat, and she was speechless.

Chen Yongming added, "However, Father wants to try again..."

"Try it? Try what?"

“Chongmenheng mentioned a place,” Chen Yongming said thoughtfully. “Actually, following someone like Chongmenheng wouldn’t be bad. He’s very capable and knows a lot of people. If he’s willing, he could help me return to a life of wealth and luxury. However, he’s also suspicious and won’t easily agree to let me work for him, and…”

Moreover, what skills could he possibly possess that would earn Chongmen Heng's approval?

“Forget it,” Chen Yongming said. “Let’s not talk about it anymore. Let’s find a place to spend the night. Tomorrow, we’ll look for a wealthy family to rob and make some money before heading to Guizhou.”

Chen Yunqi couldn't understand what he was saying, so she whispered, "Father, the money you gave me before is still there, at least thirty taels, enough for us to buy a house and settle down."

Chen Yongming said irritably, "And then what? How will you make a living? Thirty taels, what do you think you can do with that? Daughter, that money isn't enough! Why did I embezzle in the first place? Why did I become a corrupt official? A set of fine writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones would cost ten taels of silver! What about your food, lodging, and clothing? Doesn't all of that cost money? And what about your sedan chair? What about the zither you play? Doesn't all of that cost a fortune?"

Chen Yunqi's eyes reddened: "Father..."

"Besides, where will we settle down? That bitch Ali still has our wanted posters! Thirty taels to buy a small house would make us easily recognized. Ali is ruthless; killing us would be a piece of cake for her! Either we hide in the deep mountains, but I can't stand that kind of hardship! Or I can earn three hundred, three thousand, or thirty thousand taels and buy a grand mansion, where we can stay at home and be waited on hand and foot. Wouldn't that be wonderful?!"

Chen Yunqi reminisced about the days when she was a carefree young lady, served by maids and flattered by servants. Other young ladies in the city called her sister, and when she went out for spring and autumn outings, the young masters and gentlemen treated her with great favor, often sending people to inquire about her...

All of this feels like a distant memory.

Chen Yunqi asked, "Dad, is it really possible to live like that again?"

"As long as you listen to me, you will definitely succeed."