“Have the bricks and stone slabs been decided?”
“It’s all set. When we go back, we’ll go to Wangshan Town to inform Master Sun. Since he’s almost fully recovered, we can start preparing to build a house.”
“If it’s settled, let’s go back,” Yue Jiaojiao said as she placed the bun in front of Zhao Zhan’s mouth. “Don’t just watch me eat. Have some for yourself.”
Zhao Zhan opened his mouth and took a bite of the steamed bun.
The warmth of his lover touched his heart, causing him to close his eyes in pleasure.
Realizing what he had done, Zhao Zhan picked up a hot handkerchief from the side and held Yue Jiaojiao’s hand. “Let me help you wipe it.”
Yue Jiaojiao retracted her fingers and avoided his action. Then, she raised her hand and pressed it against the corner of Zhao Zhan’s lips. “You don’t have to wipe it. It’s not like I’m going to despise you.”
“Jiaojiao,” Zhao Zhan’s eyes were warm, and the affection in them was so sincere that it seemed to materialize.
“Zhao Zhan! Zhao Zhan!”
It was so noisy outside the guest room that Yue Jiaojiao frowned. “Why does it sound like the voice of that annoying fellow from Wangshan Town?”
“It is him.”
Zhao Zhan was a little impatient with the sudden interruption of the atmosphere, and he recounted what had happened yesterday with a frown to Jiaojiao.
Yue Jiaojiao was overjoyed when she heard that. “So he wants to be friends with you? So you’re a foodie.”
“A foodie?”
“It’s because food is bringing the both of you together,” Yue Jiaojiao explained casually. She then pushed him and said, “Why don’t you go and ask why he’s here? Plus…” Jiaojiao moved closer to his ear and whispered, “Remember what we talked about?”
Zhao Zhan nodded and walked over to open the door.
“Is your wife here too?”
Fang Tianlu stuck his head out to take a look, but just as he moved his head, Zhao Zhan pushed it back down and closed the door.
“What’s there to see?” Zhao Zhan grabbed Fang Tianlu by the collar and led him to the lobby downstairs. “What brings you here?”
“I’m here to eat with you! Yesterday, didn’t you say that you would have a meal with me today? I braved the trouble of being discovered by my father to come and find you.”
Fang Tianlu wanted to put his arm on Zhao Zhan’s shoulder, but after trying, he realized that it was a little too much, so he retracted his arm resentfully.
“Yesterday, I spent another hundred silver for your steamed pork ribs. If it wasn’t for the money I have in my private stash, I really wouldn’t be able to afford it. Hey, can you get me some fresh and delicious food, the kind that I’ve never tried before?”
“You really want it?” Zhao Zhan glanced at him and he nodded. “Then you’ll have to come back to Wangshan with me. I’m going out to hire a carriage now. Do you want to come with?”
“If I go to the mountain gaze, can you make me something good to eat?”
“Sure, but you don’t have to sneak off. You can go back and tell your father first that you’ve gone to find meat for the men who are guarding the goods outside to store,” Zhao Zhan said truthfully according to Yue Jiaojiao’s instructions. “I guarantee that you won’t be punished when you have an explanation for your father.”
“This is great!” Fang Tianlu’s eyes widened, and he patted Zhao Zhan’s back.
“You’re a true homie. Just you wait, I’ll go home and settle the matters at once.
“You don’t have to hire a carriage. We have a lot of carriages in our family. Just leave these trivial matters to me.”
Zhao Zhan did not refuse. The carriage hired from the outside was dirty, and since he was willing, Zhao Zhan would not say no to a comfortable carriage.
After using someone else’s carriage, Zhao Zhan was no longer as disgusted with Fang Tianlu as he was before.
“I’ll be waiting for you at the inn’s entrance in half an hour.”