She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

With Wei Chengchao’s outburst, the two guards’ legs immediately went weak.

After Wei Chengchao rushed to the latrine twice and experienced a wave of discomfort, he finally believed Han Lei’s words—he had indeed started having diarrhea.

Han Lei gave each of them a gastric health and digestion pill, advising them to behave properly.

The three dared not act up again, so they obediently followed Han Lei to Canzhou.

The four of them walked out of the inn together, greeted by the bright spring sunshine.

The narrow street was already bustling with activity; vendors set up stalls, people shopped for vegetables, deliveries were made, and the street was teeming with life.

”Boss, four bowls of wontons, please,” Han Lei shouted.

”Sure, customers, please take a seat, coming right up,” the wonton vendor replied eagerly.

The wonton seller was busy but immediately perked up with enthusiasm when business arrived.

Han Lei casually ordered four bowls of wontons from the street stall next to the inn and sat down at a table by the roadside.

Wei Chengchao stood there with a disdainful look on his face, refusing to sit. Since he didn’t sit, the two attendants naturally didn’t dare to sit either.

The tables and chairs at this roadside stall were both dirty and worn-out. Even the furniture used by their servants was better.

”You’re not sitting?” Han Lei looked at them in surprise.

The three were taken aback, and only then did they reluctantly sit down, half-seated. For some reason, they now instinctively feared Han Lei.

While waiting for the wontons to be served, Han Lei looked around and admired the beauty of the small town.

Suddenly, she noticed a person at a nearby table eating wontons in a furtive manner, with their eyes constantly fixed on the door of the inn where they had stayed last night.

”You... are you Big Five?” Han Lei approached uncertainly.

The person withdrew their gaze and turned to look at Han Lei, instantly showing a surprised and joyous expression. ”Miss Han, what are you doing here?”

Seeing that the person in front of her was indeed Big Five of the Jingzhou Big Character Team, Han Lei was delighted.

”The Emperor has appointed the Prince as the King of Cangzhou. I got separated from the Prince and was planning to go to Cangzhou to find him. And you, what are you doing here? Why were you staring at that inn?”

Han Lei didn’t mention that she had been drugged and kidnapped. Now that she was safe, she didn’t want Big Five to worry about her.

Upon hearing Han Lei’s question, Big Five was even happier.

”Miss, I am keeping an eye on our sales market!”

”Hmm?” Han Lei was perplexed.

”Miss, let me explain!” Big Five hastily explained to her.

”Our brewery is on track now. Aside from supplying Tongfu Building in Qingshui County, we have surplus left. Captain Tao Qing of the Small First Team has neatly stacked the leftover liquor in the courtyard, saying that once we accumulate a bit more, we’ll find a shopfront to start selling externally. But the liquor smells so good that thieves were actually attracted by it a few nights ago.”

Hearing that someone came to steal the liquor, Han Lei was overjoyed.

”That’s great news! Even with the liquor jars sealed, people are drawn by the aroma. This proves Tao Qing’s craftsmanship is excellent, and the liquor we brewed is indeed good! Our liquor will definitely be popular.”

”Hehehe,” Big Five chuckled. ”Miss, you have no idea, Captain Tao Qing said the same. To open up the market, Captain Tao Qing told us not to catch those two little thieves. Let the stored liquor in the courtyard be stolen by them to help us with promotion.”

As he spoke, Big Five nudged his mouth towards the inn.

”Look! Those two thieves came to steal liquor and are staying in that inn. Captain Tao Qing asked me to follow them to see where they sell it.”

”Oh, I see,” Han Lei suddenly understood, becoming interested. ”Since the Prince will be waiting for me in Cangzhou, I’m not in a hurry. How about we eat the wontons and then I’ll join you in following them, and take a look at the business in Jingzhou as well?”

”Sure!” Big Five agreed readily.

Soon, the wontons were served. Han Lei sat at one table with Big Five, chatting and eating, while Wei Chengchao and his two attendants sat at another table.

Big Five finished eating first and kept his eyes fixed on the inn entrance. Before long, he excitedly crouched down.

”They’re coming, coming. Miss, they’re here,” Big Five whispered.

Han Lei looked up to see a waiter from the inn pulling out two wooden carts from a side door. Each cart was piled with three layers of liquor jars, covered with oilcloth on top.

Then, two men wearing cloth garments, picking their teeth, walked out of the inn. They seemed to have already had breakfast inside.

The waiter handed over the carts to the two men and returned to the inn.

The two men cautiously glanced around, seeing nothing unusual, they slung the pull ropes of the carts over their shoulders. Then, each pulling a cart, they walked forward.

Han Lei and Big Five immediately stood up to follow. As they passed by Wei Chengchao’s table, Han Lei nudged Wei Chengchao.

”Settle the bill and catch up quickly,” Han Lei said in a commanding tone, then went off with Big Five in pursuit.

Wei Chengchao was eating when Han Lei nudged him, causing a wonton to drop into his bowl, splashing soup all over his face.

Wei Chengchao’s wealthy young master’s temper flared, ready to rage, but seeing Han Lei had already left, he dared not delay, rolling his eyes and quickly ordered his attendant to pay the bill, then hurriedly followed.

Gazing at Han Lei’s back, Wei Chengchao’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, yet in his heart, he sighed deeply.

”That little harlot is truly ruthless. Here I am, the esteemed young master of the Wei Family, now with my life in her hands, and I even have to pay for her meals.”

Yet, he only dared to grumble behind Han Lei’s departing figure.

As soon as Han Lei’s group pursued the two thieves, Zhao Zun entered the small inn where they had stayed last night with Xiao Zhengfei and Ping Chuan to search. And so, they missed each other perfectly.

...

Hengshan Academy was built by the wealthy in Jingzhou at their own expense. They invited teachers from the county; besides their family’s children, they also admitted students from outside their clan. Although it wasn’t as grand as the academies for aristocratic children’s education, it was quite reputable in this small town.

Wealthy people generally have the flaw of looking down on the poor.

Even though Hengshan Academy was a small institution, it only recognized money, not people. Many impoverished students eager for knowledge were ruthlessly turned away.

Turning the impoverished students away at the door was considered polite; being beaten half to death was common if they persisted.

One must know, in ancient times, educational resources were tightly controlled by the powerful and noble families.

At noon, students poured out of the academy after class. They hadn’t even managed to board their carriages before they were attracted by a strong aroma of liquor.

”Hmm! What a strong scent of liquor!”

The students followed the aroma to find two vendors selling liquor.

”Don’t miss out as you pass by! Genuine fine wine, even the gods nod with approval!”

The affluent students scoffed at this boast. Even the largest tavern in Jingzhou wouldn’t dare boast of divine approval!

These affluent students were well-off and well-informed, having tasted countless fine wines before. They’d never heard of wine so good even the gods stayed.

Thus, curiosity emerged on all their faces.

The two vendors seized the opportunity to approach them, confidently drumming up business: ”Hehe! Gentlemen, we assure you, if you are not satisfied, we won’t take a penny!”

”Oh ho!”

The leading chubby student suddenly became interested.