Special 6: Marriage Line (1)

Tomorrow was the semi-annual meeting of the Brother’s League.

After Lin Xiao finished inspecting Cui Yu Zhai Restaurant, he locked the doors and walked home.

It takes three hours to walk to He Yuan, but he would rather walk slowly in the dense night every day. The quiet environment can relieve his fatigue during the day.

The streets were silent during the late autumn time. In addition to the occasional barking of dogs, the regular chirping intertwined to break the silence of the entire Dashi.

Passing through Fan Luo City Gate, one will find the main street leading to He Yuan.

Most of the shops on both sides of the street have closed, except for a few workshops in their rush period; they were ramping up production with the little time they had left.

Huh? What’s that? Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, and through the misty twilight, his sharp eyes swept to the strange bulge at the entrance of an incense shop.

Wrinkling his eyebrows, with a single leap, he appeared in front of the door of the incense workshop, which was several dozen meters away. It turned out to be a woman curled up and sleeping.

He reached out and probed her forehead, to find it hot. No wonder she did not respond to his arrival.

Knocking on the door of the incense workshop, he didn’t have time to pay attention to the surprised expression of the servant who came to open the door, and carried her into the incense shop.

“Eldest Young Master, she… I mean this girl was here to look for relatives. We have told her clearly during the day that the person she was looking for is not here. However, for some reason, she just stood by the door and refused to leave.” Uncle Xiang, the chief steward of the incense shop, was an old incense craftsman that was specially recruited by his mother from the imperial capital. His personality has always been calm and reserved. Therefore, now that his mother seldom comes to the store, Uncle Xiang acts as the main manager.

“Hmm, maybe she has just been in the cold for too long, so she’ll be fine after taking a few prescriptions.” The doctor on duty at Qingyang Clinic, who was urgently summoned by Lin Xiao, prescribed her antipyretic and cold expelling medicine. He then motioned the servant to take it to the kitchen to brew before turning back to Lin Xiao’s gloomy face. He smiled to ease the atmosphere: “Don’t worry about it, Young Master. Uncle Xiang didn’t mean to let the girl catch the cold. He just did not notice.”

Lin Xiao nodded, he didn’t mean to take out his anger at Uncle Xiang, but felt that if he didn’t pay attention tonight. This girl was very likely to be frozen by the cold dew of late autumn, or even freeze to death.

At that time, the incense shop will be affected a little, but a person’s life was a big deal.

“Eldest Young Master, it’s late now. Please head back to rest first. With me here, the arrangements will be made properly. I’ll ask Xiao Cui to come and take care of this girl.” Uncle Xiang was a little embarrassed. How could he not know what Lin Xiao was thinking? He had the desire to remedy the situation.

Lin Xiao nodded, “Uncle Xiang, check carefully before closing the door in the future. Don’t let this phenomenon happen again. If… If there are such people who are homeless and can’t find their relatives, if possible, send them to Yang Xin Tang.” Lin Xiao pondered for a moment and warned Uncle Xiang carefully.

“Understood. Don’t worry, Eldest Young Master, I will pass on it. As for this girl, when she gets better from her fever, I will send someone to take her to Yang Xin Tang.”

Yang Xin Tang was a social welfare office under their name in Dahui. The original intention of the establishment is not to make a profit, but to seek a survival path that is most suitable for the many unemployed and homeless people of Dahui.

Of course, the major industries under He Yuan were given priority to the people introduced by Yang Xin Tang. After they have a full staff, Yang Xin Tang would then introduce them to other merchants in Dahui. Soon, Yang Xin Tang gradually replaced the yabo who secretly trafficked people to sell as slaves and servants. And it officially became the largest manpower introduction center in Dahui.

—

“Happy birthday, big brother.” Lin Xi carried a brocade box and shoved it into Lin Xiao’s hand with a smile, “Mother said that you will be twenty after your birthday. Do you have someone you favor? When will you bring them back for your parents to see?”

Lin Xiao glanced at this younger brother, who came with a clear motive, and determined that this time he was here due to their mother’s instructions.

“What about you? Don’t forget that you are only two years younger than me. We’re all adults, so why do I have to be the first one?” Lin Xiao said lightly. The gentle expression seemed to be talking about a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.

“This is not true, I am your younger brother, and will always follow your lead.” Lin Xi smiled, “I’m going back. Remember to go home at night. Mother said that she wants to spend a good birthday with you and big sister.” He waved his hand, stepped out of Cui Yu Zhai, and walked towards his palace.

Eighteen-year-old Lin Xi had only been on the throne for half a year, but he already had the demeanor of an emperor. Of course, in front of his family, he was happy to pretend to be tender.

Lin Xiao opened the brocade box, as he expected, it was another portrait of a lady from a famous family… He pouted and put the brocade box at the bottom of the red sandalwood cabinet. Since he turned sixteen, he had received portraits of different maidens every year for his birthday.

At first, it was a prank by Uncle Si Chong, but the following year it became a common entertainment for everyone. He had received seven different portraits when he turned eighteen! Did they think he was trying to find concubines?!

Shaking his head helplessly, he walked out of the courtyard he had set up in Cui Yu Zhai Restaurant last year. Cui Yu Zhai was a three-layer compound courtyard. The first layer was a six room, two-story restaurant, the second layer was for the staff resident, and the third entry was his independent courtyard. An arch separated the place where he lived and worked.

Before last year, this small courtyard was just his study and account room. During New Year’s Eve last year, he was so busy that his feet didn’t touch the ground. He didn’t return home for several nights. Instead, he would spend the night in the study. After being discovered by his mother, she sent a carpenter and mason over. They constructed more rooms for him and set up a gate for the courtyard, which was independent of the Cui Yu Zhai.

The small garden in the courtyard was also sprinkled with a lot of grass and flower seeds. His mother had planted a row of holly that stayed green all seasons, and also a few bay laurels.