Chapter 209

The date of Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun’s trip to Ban Yue Town was set, and nobody else had any objection. After all, summer was approaching. If they postponed the trip, it would be much more difficult for the trees to survive in summer rather than in spring. Therefore, they decided to take advantage of this favorable opportunity.

Liu Tong had originally wanted to go with them, but Xu Ran did not agree. Du Xin was in Ban Yue Town, which was a hidden danger. Besides, he was a person of hot temper. Who knew if he would disclose the secret on impulse. If that happened, it would be too late.

Preparations had been done at home. Xu Ran also went to town to notify Qin Shuwu and Mr. Chen of his trip. On April 28, he and Zhuo Yun drove the carriage to Ban Yue Town.

Neither of them knew Ban Yue Town well, so they had been asking for directions on their way, and occasionally guessing. Thus, they spent more days on the journey.

When they arrived at Ban Yue Town, it was already May 5th. However, it had been raining, so the roads were in terrible condition and mud was all over their carriage. The two of them looked messy when they arrived at Ban Yue Town. If they hadn’t been driving a carriage, no inn would let them in.

Because they didn’t know where exactly to get the fruit trees, they could only find a place in town to stay first and then ask about it.

Hardly had Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun arrived in town than someone set his sight on them. The two arrived at noon. After they found an inn and booked a room, they planned to have lunch first, then get some good rest and start working tomorrow.

During lunch, an unexpected guest joined them at the table.

It was no one else but Du Xin. And the one who set his sight on them was also Du Xin. He had originally been hanging around on the streets, and seen a carriage covered in mud. He had looked at it with disdain. However, he should know the driver, so he had been following them all the way.

Xu Ran ignored him, mainly because of Liu Tong. If it weren’t for this, they might have been good friends.

However, Zhuo Yun was also there, and Xu Ran couldn’t just pretend not to know Du Xin, so he introduced them to each other.

Du Xin pulled out the stool, sat down and asked the waiter to bring another pair of chopsticks to eat with them. He asked Xu Ran while eating, “Why are you here at Ban Yue Town? I remember you don’t have any relatives here.”

Xu Ran pouted. Obviously, this guy was giving back what he had said to him back then, but the difference was that Du Xin was able to make up a relative at that time, while Xu Ran wasn’t.

Before Xu Ran could figure out whether to tell him the real reason or not, Zhuo Yun said, “We’re here to buy fruit trees. By the way, Du Xin, since you’re from Ban Yue Town, you must know that! Tell us where we could get them! So that we don’t have to look around.”

Although Xu Ran was reluctant to reveal his purpose in coming, he knew that Zhuo Yun was telling the truth. After all, with help, it would save them a lot of time and energy. They were totally unfamiliar with this place and the people, and it would be bad if what had happened to Xu Ran last time happened to them again.

Du Xin saw Zhuo Yun’s earnest eyes and looked at Xu Ran. Although Xu Ran was not staring at him, he was also listening very attentively. Du Xin had to clean up his act now. He knew why Xu Ran had distanced himself from him. If Du Xin could offer some help, they might get closer again.

Du Xin was pleased with this thought! He smiled and said, “You are talking to the right guy here! Ban Yue Town is exactly the place that produces fruits. Let me tell you something. I’m very familiar with the villages nearby. When do you want to visit them? I’ll take you there.”

Of course, he was completely bragging. He didn’t even know the names of the villages nearby, let alone their further information.

But it didn’t matter. Although Du Xin was not familiar with it, someone in his family was! Du Xin just needed to go home, talked to his dad about it, and then asked his dad to find someone to lead the way for them.

Therefore, there was a confident smile on Du Xin’s face.

However, Xu Ran was a little doubtful about what he had heard. This person appeared to be a dandy. Was it possible that he was familiar with the villages nearby? Could it be that he said so because of Tongtong?

The more Xu Ran thought about it, the more he strayed from the point. On the contrary, he did not doubt whether Du Xin was really familiar with this place.

Zhuo Yun, on the other hand, didn’t know Du Xin. He thought that since Du Xin was from Ban Yue Town, he believed whatever he said.

Therefore, Du Xin took on the job, saying that he would come to them tomorrow morning. After that, he left.

Xu Ran was speechless when he saw Du Xin running away.

It was when Du Xin was gone that Zhuo Yun got back at Xu Ran. “Why didn’t you tell me you have acquaintance here?”

Xu Ran touched his nose, trying to come up with an answer to Zhuo Yun’s question. Since Liu Tong wasn’t with them, Du Xin was out of his plan, so he hadn’t mentioned him to Zhuo Yun.

Xu Ran said to Zhuo Yun, “We just met when we took the imperial examination. We hadn’t spent so much time together. I worried that he doesn’t remember me while I still remember him. How awkward that would be! After all, we are not good friends.”

Zhuo Yun rolled his eyes, “Do you think I didn’t see it? It was obviously you who didn’t want to talk to him. He was making up to you. And he generously suggested that he help us find the fruit trees. It was kind of him to do so.”

Xu Ran couldn’t argue with that. After all, Du Xin had been earnest with them.

Xu Ran thought for a while and said, “I didn’t expect this would happen, nor did I expect that we would meet him once we got to town, so it’s not my fault. Hurry up and eat! We have to get some sleep after this, and we still have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”

Zhuo Yun didn’t talk back and hunched over his lunch. After all, what Xu Ran said made sense.

The road condition of these villages were still unclear. If it was bad, it would be a big trouble for them to move the fruit trees out.

After a few moments of consideration, Zhuo Yun also asked this question. Xu Ran replied, “You don’t have to worry about this. As long as there are fruit trees in the village, they have to move the fruits out to sell them. If the roads are bad, it would be troublesome to them too.”

Zhuo Yun agreed with Xu Ran, didn’t talk again and focused on his lunch.

Zhuo Yun’s question inspired Xu Ran. He began to think of the trolleys. Not only could they carry unhusked rice, but also fruits.

However, since now they were unclear about the specific situation, they might as well play it by ear!

After lunch, the two took a shower and went to bed.

They booked two rooms. After all, they were men and not a couple, and it was embarrassing for them to live together. It was true that they were close, but they couldn’t just live together due to their good relationship. It simply didn’t make sense.

Both of them were aware of that, so when Xu Ran booked two rooms, Zhuo Yun didn’t say anything.

After a good night of sleep, early the next morning, just as Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun went downstairs, they saw Du Xin waiting at the entrance of the inn with a large group of people.

Looked like Du Xin was serious!

Having Zhuo Yun order breakfast, Xu Ran went to the door and asked Du Xin, “Why did you bring so many people here?”

Du Xin explained, “These are my retainers. They more or less have acquaintances or relatives in the villages nearby, and it would make things easier for you. Although I’m familiar with those villages, I’ve never talked to those people.”

Xu Ran nodded. That was indeed the case. He asked Du Xin, “It’s so early. Have you guys had breakfast?”

Du Xin shook his head at once. “No, I got up too late. I haven’t had breakfast.”

Xu Ran’s mouth twitched. ‘Do you think I don’t know that you are a rich kid? How would I believe such a terrible lie?’

However, since Xu Ran had put on a show, the show must go on. Now that he had ask Du Xin whether he had had breakfast or not, Xu Ran still invited him, “Since you haven’t, eat with us! But the food here must not be so good as at your home. Please don’t mind.”

Du Xin was overjoyed to hear this, so how could he mind that? He waved his hand immediately, “No, no, definitely no.”

Xu Ran didn’t answer him. He glanced at Du Xin and turned to walk in. Zhuo Yun had already ordered breakfast and was waiting for the waiter to serve food.

Du Xin followed behind Xu Ran. He sat down and greeted Zhuo Yun with enthusiasm.

Zhuo Yun held the opinion that Xu Ran’s friend was also his friend, so he talked to Du Xin. While Du Xin, who engaged with people very naturally, talked back and they started to chat. Xu Ran watched them, his mouth twitching.

As for Du Xin’s group of retainers, since Du Xin did not care about them, Xu Ran wouldn’t either.

After breakfast, Xu Ran went to the village nearby with Du Xin and his people. Of course, Du Xin was definitely not the one leading the way. After all, Du Xin had said that he was a young master, and that he should make full use of the servants. It would be degrading for him to lead the way himself!

Zhuo Yun had used to be a young master before, but he hadn’t treated himself in so big a way as Du Xin did at all. More importantly, Zhuo Yun would not keep telling people his identity as a young master, so Xu Ran still appreciated Zhuo Yun more.

The village they were going to visit was called Li Jia Village. Most of the villagers were named after the village’s name and they basically shared the same surname, Li. In fact, this was pretty good, because it would be easy for one to read and remember those names.

As for the person leading the way, he was called Du Bai, which sounded a little like Dubai. Du Xin told them he was his personal servant. Of course, Xu Ran did not buy it. After all, every time he saw Du Xin, he was alone, including yesterday. If he really were Du Xin’s personal servant, why would Du Xin have always been on his own?

However, this was just a thought and Xu Ran didn’t speak it out.

There were indeed many fruit trees in Li Jia Village. Just as they reached the entrance of the village, they saw rows of cherry trees. Some even had cherries on them. This was probably because the temperature here was low, and the cherries got ripe relatively late.

However, the moment Du Xin saw those cherries on the tree, he wanted to ask someone to pick them for him.

Xu Ran stopped him instantly. “Could you leave a good impression on the villagers? We’re here to buy fruit trees after all. If you pick cherries from the tree that is privately owned the moment you arrive, it would be generous of them to beat you with the stick, let alone sell you fruit trees.”

Du Xin did not expect that what would be waiting for his casual words was actually Xu Ran’s long monologue. Du Xin nodded reluctantly, “I got it. I promise I won’t let anyone touch anything in the village, alright? I won’t ask my people to buy cherries until you finish buying fruit trees, alright?”

Du Xin said with great grievance. However, when Du Bai, who was leading the way in the front, saw how wronged his young master was, he almost rushed up to Xu Ran to argue with him. His young master had never been wronged before since birth.

Of course, Du Bai certainly didn’t dare to do this. After all, he was smart. Even his young master was treating this person so meticulously, and he must not drag him down.

Of course, what Du Bai didn’t know was that it was only at home that Du Xin had never been wronged, while he had suffered a lot with Xu Ran and Lu Qi.

However, as long as Xu Ran and Lu Qi didn’t say it, Du Xin would not disclose that secret like a fool, and that was why no one knew about it.