CHAPTER 633: CHAPTER 336: TO GO OR NOT TO GO_2

Old Man Xue was extremely particular about the word "eat," but he didn’t pay as much attention to other things. When evening fell, he followed Wang Zhanrui and Master Tan to rest in the Zhenwei Garden. Hua Xiaomai instructed Qing You and the others to tidy up the garden, and she too returned home with Meng Yuhuai.

Meng’s mother had been walking back and forth in the front courtyard, holding little Walnut, desperately waiting for their return. As soon as they arrived, she immediately started scolding them nonstop.

"Can’t you be a bit more responsible?"

Without waiting for a reply, she thrust little Walnut into Hua Xiaomai’s arms, her face scowling, "Go to the village and ask around; which mother neglects her child like you do? Your son is such a handful; usually, you’re the one who soothes him to sleep. Today, in my care, no matter what, he wouldn’t listen, he made all kinds of trouble. I truly didn’t know what to do! I also don’t understand; he’s so young, how does he already recognize people?"

Oddly enough, just before Hua Xiaomai and Meng Yuhuai stepped through the door, little Walnut had been crying his lungs out, his little face turning bright red. As soon as he was in Hua Xiaomai’s arms, he immediately quieted down, still with tears on his cheeks. His cries had stopped, only occasionally sobbing softly.

Hua Xiaomai knew she had lingered too late today and felt quite sorry, so she didn’t retort and let her go on until she had said enough. Then she carried little Walnut back to the room in the backyard.

After lighting the lamp, the room suddenly bathed in a warm glow, casting large shadows of various things on the wall, superimposed one over another, flickering and floating.

Little Walnut stopped crying, curled up into a tiny bundle like a chubby little bun, and unconsciously pulled Hua Xiaomai’s fingers toward him. He gripped them tightly and refused to let go, as if only by doing so could he feel secure.

Holding him, Hua Xiaomai sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at him for a while before suddenly sighing.

"Is it just about the Eight Treasures Conference?"

She lowered her head and touched little Walnut’s cheek, "What’s so great about it? If we don’t go, we don’t go. Who asked for a little troublemaker like you? Without me, you refuse to sleep properly. How can I leave you at home alone?"

"Why not take him along?" Meng Yuhuai said, pushing the door open and smiling at her.

"Take... little Walnut to Provincial City?" Hua Xiaomai was slightly stunned. "That might not be appropriate. Though Tong’an City is not far, the journey still takes a full day. Little Walnut is not even half a year old in July; traveling by boat and carriage is too taxing for him."

"My son isn’t so delicate," Meng Yuhuai said without hesitation, shaking his head as he took little Walnut, "The Eight Treasures Conference is quite rare. Not only you, but I would also truly regret missing it. If you really want to go, I will make time to accompany you. It’s only three or five days, and as long as you’re by his side, what could go wrong? He’s a boy; being too meticulous is actually not good for him. Even if he doesn’t end up following the path of an Escort Master in the future, he should still be raised tough. Don’t you agree?"

This indeed... wasn’t a bad idea.

"Let me think about it some more," Hua Xiaomai said thoughtfully, lowering her head. As she inadvertently looked up, she saw him opening the wardrobe and packing several clothes into a bundle, immediately furrowing her brows, "What’s this, are you planning to stay at the Escort Agency for a few days?"

"Hmm," Meng Yuhuai nodded and replied, "In a couple of days, Han Hu will escort to Lizhou, and I plan to have him take a few newcomers along. I need to spend more time these days making things clear to them. There’s a lot to do during the day, and I may not be able to spare the time, only in the evening can I keep them and give more instructions. Instead of worrying about missing the curfew, it’s better to just stay at the Escort Agency, which is more convenient."

"So soon... you’re letting these newcomers start working as escorts?"

Hua Xiaomai opened her mouth in surprise: "Isn’t that a bit too soon? If something goes wrong on the road..."

Meng Yuhuai turned and smiled at her: "The Escort Agency business is different. No matter how much you talk, it won’t help. It’s better to just go out and gain some experience. Those who come to the Escort Agency usually have some martial arts foundation. The ones I kept are quite good with their fists and feet. This trip is just cargo escort; the goods aren’t very valuable, and Lizhou has always been peaceful. With Han Hu leading them and Li Yingchun as the sideman, there’s no need to worry too much."

"Oh," Hua Xiaomai nodded, "Anyway, I don’t understand; as long as you know best—oh, by the way, I know there are some specialty products in Lizhou that we can’t buy in Tong’an Prefecture. If it’s convenient, can you ask Han Hu and the others to bring some back for me?"

Meng Yuhuai laughed upon hearing this: "Who does that? They are going out there to do serious business, and in the end, it turns out they’ve been running errands for you. Aren’t you ashamed?"

Hua Xiaomai immediately stood up and approached him coquettishly, "Isn’t this why I’m discussing it with you? I’ll keep it within limits and won’t ask them to bring too much. Just three or five items to try out at Daoxiang Garden. If they work, I’ll send someone to buy them regularly afterward!"

Speaking thus, she grimaced playfully and made a half-joking, half-serious bow with her hands held together.

Meng, being badgered by her relentlessly, carrying little Walnut, tried to dodge to the side, helplessly said, "Fine, fine. Tomorrow I have to see Magistrate Tao at the County Government, I probably won’t have time. Aren’t you entertaining Uncle Xue at noon? After seeing him off, just go to the Escort Agency yourself and talk to Han Hu. If he agrees to help, I have no objections. Does that work?" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)