The next morning, when Cheng Mo came down from the second floor of the inn, he saw the Xue siblings already sitting downstairs having breakfast. Besides the tired look on Xue Tinghua’s face, there was nothing different about him. Since he did not say anything, it would be awkward for Cheng Mo to ask. They both pretended that nothing happened last night and set off after breakfast. As they got closer to Suzhou, they saw more and more people from the Jianghu. The Jiang family’s Miss’ invitations were sent to the young talents in the Jianghu, but there were also many people who had not received the invitations as well. Perhaps they just wanted to join in on the fun or they wanted to try their luck to see if they could embrace a beautiful woman or maybe there were other people like Xue Tinghua who were interested in the Jiang family’s financial resources and wanted to have a look at their treasures. Due to this, they met various people from the Jianghu. Some youths from aristocratic families who were familiar with Cheng Mo were surprised when they saw him: “Is Leader Cheng also going to participate in the martial arts competition?”
Cheng Mo laughed and shook his head: “I’m just going to have a look and join in on the fun.”
Cheng Mo’s response felt unbelievable and they sighed: “If Leader Cheng participates, then there really is no hope for people like us.”
Cheng Mo asked: “Is the Jiang family’s Miss really a beautiful woman?”
They replied: “Leader Cheng, do you not know? The Jiang family’s Miss has been called the most beautiful woman in the south of the Yangtze river, her features are delicate, yet bewitching and no one can compare to her beauty.”
Cheng Mo said: “Oh? I really did not know that. In that case, I really do have to have a look.”
After travelling for a few more days, they finally reached Suzhou. As soon as the four of them entered the city, servants of the Jiang family greeted them: “Have you received an invitation from the Jiang family to participate in the martial arts competition?”
Cheng Mo nodded: “Yes we have.”
The middle-aged man who appeared to be the head servant looked at all of them before his gaze settled on Zi Xiao. He asked: “Could I please have your names?”
Cheng Mo reported everyone’s names and identities. Upon hearing his response, the middle-aged man hurriedly cupped his hands and said: “It turns out you are Leader Cheng, I’m sorry, this servant did not recognise you, I was too disrespectful!”
Cheng Mo smiled and replied: “You don’t need to be so polite. How should I address you?”
The middle-aged man responded: “My last name is Jiang, first name Ping. I am a domestic servant of the Jiang family in Suzhou. My responsibility here is to welcome all the guests from afar. As long as you have an invitation, we have already prepared lodging for you during this period of the martial arts competition in a separate courtyard at the Jiang family’s estate. I’d like to invite you to follow me to the Jiang family’s estate.”
“Oh?” Cheng Mo and Xue Tinghua looked at each other before he asked: “What about my friend?”
Jiang Ping quickly answered: “If Taoist Zi Xiao is willing, of course we can go together. It’s just that Taoist Zi Xiao is a monk, it might be inconvenient for you. However this lady,” Jiang Ping paused and looked at Xue Caier, “To tell the truth, all the people currently living in the courtyard are men, I’m afraid it would be inconvenient for this lady to stay there.”
Xue Caier heard his explanation and said angrily: “Then where do you want me to go?”
“This…” Jiang Ping trailed off, feeling awkward: “Why don’t I arrange a room at an inn for you to stay temporarily?”
“No need.” Xue Tinghua said: “I don’t feel comfortable letting Caier stay alone outside, I think it’s better for me to accompany her. If it is really inconvenient, then we will just leave Suzhou.”
Jiang Ping was about to dissuade him when Cheng Mo interrupted: “I have a friend in Suzhou, if you are willing, Caier can stay with my friend. I will definitely tell him to take care of Caier meimei.”
Xue Tinghua looked at Xue Caier: “What do you think?”
Xue Caier considered her options and said: “Okay, I will stay with Cheng Mo gege’s friend.”
Cheng Mo brought Xue Caier to his friend’s place to settle down before he followed Jiang Ping to the Jiang family’s estate with Zi Xiao and Xue Tinghua. Cheng Mo was unsure how the current Jiang family compared to how they were ten years ago, but in his opinion, they were definitely showing off their wealth. The Jiang family estate was extremely spacious, with countless maids and servants. Inside, there were numerous pavilions, rock gardens, ponds and various exotic flowers and plants. Jiang Ping directly took the three of them to the side courtyard and brought them to a small sectioned off area with three rooms and a maid to attend to them. When Jiang Ping left, Xue Tinghua commented: “This Jiang family is quite arrogant, even when guests arrive they only have a servant to welcome them and the host is nowhere to be seen.”
Cheng Mo comforted him with a smile: “Relax, don’t be annoyed. She is the richest person in the Jianghu and the most beautiful woman in this area, how could it be easy for you to meet her?
Xue Tinghua replied: “I’m just not sure if the Jiang family will take out the white jade glazed bead.”
“What would they take it out for?” Cheng Mo asked: “Would they take it out to get a son-in-law?”
Xue Tinghua said: “It would be good just to have a look at it.”
Zi Xiao did not say anything and retired to his room alone to meditate. When it was time for dinner, a servant came to guide them. It was said that this time the Jiang family invited nearly a hundred guests. Together with the servants brought by the guests, there were nearly two hundred people in total and they were all invited to the hall for dinner. When Cheng Mo arrived, the spacious hall was already filled with people. There were twenty round tables, with ten seats at each table and practically every table was full. The hall was originally noisy, but it quietened down after Cheng Mo’s arrival and when everyone noticed Zi Xiao behind Cheng Mo, the expressions on their faces showed how excited they were and the hall was instantly silent.
“Leader Cheng!” Suddenly, a young man stood up and waved happily. Cheng Mo looked towards him and saw that it was someone he hadn’t seen for a long time, it was Ling Xiaolu. Ling Xiaolu waved towards them: “Leader Cheng, come and sit here.”
Cheng Mo smiled and nodded, he was about to tell Zi Xiao and Xue Tinghua to follow him to Ling Xiaolu’s table when he heard a bone chilling voice from behind: “Please let me pass.”
The next morning, when Cheng Mo came down from the second floor of the inn, he saw the Xue siblings already sitting downstairs having breakfast. Besides the tired look on Xue Tinghua’s face, there was nothing different about him. Since he did not say anything, it would be awkward for Cheng Mo to ask. They both pretended that nothing happened last night and set off after breakfast. As they got closer to Suzhou, they saw more and more people from the Jianghu. The Jiang family’s Miss’ invitations were sent to the young talents in the Jianghu, but there were also many people who had not received the invitations as well. Perhaps they just wanted to join in on the fun or they wanted to try their luck to see if they could embrace a beautiful woman or maybe there were other people like Xue Tinghua who were interested in the Jiang family’s financial resources and wanted to have a look at their treasures. Due to this, they met various people from the Jianghu. Some youths from aristocratic families who were familiar with Cheng Mo were surprised when they saw him: “Is Leader Cheng also going to participate in the martial arts competition?”
Cheng Mo laughed and shook his head: “I’m just going to have a look and join in on the fun.”
Cheng Mo’s response felt unbelievable and they sighed: “If Leader Cheng participates, then there really is no hope for people like us.”
Cheng Mo asked: “Is the Jiang family’s Miss really a beautiful woman?”
They replied: “Leader Cheng, do you not know? The Jiang family’s Miss has been called the most beautiful woman in the south of the Yangtze river, her features are delicate, yet bewitching and no one can compare to her beauty.”
Cheng Mo said: “Oh? I really did not know that. In that case, I really do have to have a look.”
After travelling for a few more days, they finally reached Suzhou. As soon as the four of them entered the city, servants of the Jiang family greeted them: “Have you received an invitation from the Jiang family to participate in the martial arts competition?”
Cheng Mo nodded: “Yes we have.”
The middle-aged man who appeared to be the head servant looked at all of them before his gaze settled on Zi Xiao. He asked: “Could I please have your names?”
Cheng Mo reported everyone’s names and identities. Upon hearing his response, the middle-aged man hurriedly cupped his hands and said: “It turns out you are Leader Cheng, I’m sorry, this servant did not recognise you, I was too disrespectful!”
Cheng Mo smiled and replied: “You don’t need to be so polite. How should I address you?”
The middle-aged man responded: “My last name is Jiang, first name Ping. I am a domestic servant of the Jiang family in Suzhou. My responsibility here is to welcome all the guests from afar. As long as you have an invitation, we have already prepared lodging for you during this period of the martial arts competition in a separate courtyard at the Jiang family’s estate. I’d like to invite you to follow me to the Jiang family’s estate.”
“Oh?” Cheng Mo and Xue Tinghua looked at each other before he asked: “What about my friend?”
Jiang Ping quickly answered: “If Taoist Zi Xiao is willing, of course we can go together. It’s just that Taoist Zi Xiao is a monk, it might be inconvenient for you. However this lady,” Jiang Ping paused and looked at Xue Caier, “To tell the truth, all the people currently living in the courtyard are men, I’m afraid it would be inconvenient for this lady to stay there.”
Xue Caier heard his explanation and said angrily: “Then where do you want me to go?”
“This…” Jiang Ping trailed off, feeling awkward: “Why don’t I arrange a room at an inn for you to stay temporarily?”
“No need.” Xue Tinghua said: “I don’t feel comfortable letting Caier stay alone outside, I think it’s better for me to accompany her. If it is really inconvenient, then we will just leave Suzhou.”
Jiang Ping was about to dissuade him when Cheng Mo interrupted: “I have a friend in Suzhou, if you are willing, Caier can stay with my friend. I will definitely tell him to take care of Caier meimei.”
Xue Tinghua looked at Xue Caier: “What do you think?”
Xue Caier considered her options and said: “Okay, I will stay with Cheng Mo gege’s friend.”
Cheng Mo brought Xue Caier to his friend’s place to settle down before he followed Jiang Ping to the Jiang family’s estate with Zi Xiao and Xue Tinghua. Cheng Mo was unsure how the current Jiang family compared to how they were ten years ago, but in his opinion, they were definitely showing off their wealth. The Jiang family estate was extremely spacious, with countless maids and servants. Inside, there were numerous pavilions, rock gardens, ponds and various exotic flowers and plants. Jiang Ping directly took the three of them to the side courtyard and brought them to a small sectioned off area with three rooms and a maid to attend to them. When Jiang Ping left, Xue Tinghua commented: “This Jiang family is quite arrogant, even when guests arrive they only have a servant to welcome them and the host is nowhere to be seen.”
Cheng Mo comforted him with a smile: “Relax, don’t be annoyed. She is the richest person in the Jianghu and the most beautiful woman in this area, how could it be easy for you to meet her?
Xue Tinghua replied: “I’m just not sure if the Jiang family will take out the white jade glazed bead.”
“What would they take it out for?” Cheng Mo asked: “Would they take it out to get a son-in-law?”
Xue Tinghua said: “It would be good just to have a look at it.”
Zi Xiao did not say anything and retired to his room alone to meditate. When it was time for dinner, a servant came to guide them. It was said that this time the Jiang family invited nearly a hundred guests. Together with the servants brought by the guests, there were nearly two hundred people in total and they were all invited to the hall for dinner. When Cheng Mo arrived, the spacious hall was already filled with people. There were twenty round tables, with ten seats at each table and practically every table was full. The hall was originally noisy, but it quietened down after Cheng Mo’s arrival and when everyone noticed Zi Xiao behind Cheng Mo, the expressions on their faces showed how excited they were and the hall was instantly silent.
“Leader Cheng!” Suddenly, a young man stood up and waved happily. Cheng Mo looked towards him and saw that it was someone he hadn’t seen for a long time, it was Ling Xiaolu. Ling Xiaolu waved towards them: “Leader Cheng, come and sit here.”
Cheng Mo smiled and nodded, he was about to tell Zi Xiao and Xue Tinghua to follow him to Ling Xiaolu’s table when he heard a bone chilling voice from behind: “Please let me pass.”
