Chapter 181 – Let’s Be Chuunibyou Together (3)
At least it was the original crew; Jiang Pengji cared a good deal about it and even personally stepped in to shield the already disguised Meng Hunyun and his group.
To be cautious, these people were all posing as house servants recently purchased by the Liu Residence, with verified backgrounds and origins.
However, it seemed Jiang Pengji was thinking too much. The City Gate Guards would never conduct thorough inspections of the Liu Clan’s carriage.
Only a freshly appointed fool, knowing nothing, would meticulously examine the carriages of nobles.
If they encountered a kind-hearted guard, they might receive a compliment for “fulfilling their duty” and “upholding the law.” But if they came across those hot-tempered nobles who looked down on the common people, anyone daring to delay the nobles’ time with a detailed check would certainly face brutal punishment.
Therefore, seeing the Liu Clan’s crest on the carriage, the City Gate Guards all wore flattering smiles and allowed them to pass without further checks.
These guards were seasoned veterans of the city gate; they recognized even the most insignificant poverty-stricken clan insignia in Hejian County, let alone the Liu Clan, which held a decently favorable status, especially with Liu Zhi, the current governor, in the court. No one dared to provoke them.
The guards facilitated their passage, and Jiang Pengji was delighted, of course, she had nothing to say about it.
Jiang Pengji didn’t go out of her way to win over people or gain favor; she simply spoke in a casual tone, “I’ve sent people to prepare plenty of clothes and food for you to recover comfortably for a while. After chasing Meng Liang these days, I suppose you can’t be picky about the quality of living.”
Meng Hunyun didn’t feel like his previous life had been unbearable; the new master’s care was what he deserved.
However, recalling the brothers who had covered for him during his escape from the Meng army, his mood inevitably became heavier.
They hadn’t died on the spot; they succumbed to worsening conditions from lack of proper care after being injured.
He brought his brothers out of Meng County but couldn’t even allow them to return to their roots or be buried properly—only hastily burying them in the wilderness.
“Your subordinate has an unreasonable request; I wonder if Young Master can grant it?”
Meng Hunyun cupped his hands in a deep bow, his demeanor quite serious.
Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow and replied, “Just say what you need to say directly; as long as you think it makes sense, there’s no need to worry about this and that. I’m not one to hold grievances for trivial matters; so go ahead and speak.”
Meng Hunyun felt warmth in his heart, hesitantly stating, “Apart from the brothers I brought out, there are three hiding in the mountains.”
“Are they seriously injured?”
Meng Hunyun explained, “Previously… with the supplies Young Master provided, their conditions have slightly improved, but their bodies are still weak and not suitable for movement.”
“If that’s the case, once you’re settled at the farm, go back to get them from the mountains. It’s too dangerous for three injured men to be hidden there in the wilderness; you’re being careless.” Just a few words from Jiang Pengji warmed Meng Hunyun’s heart directly.
Meng Hunyun felt embarrassed; he also disagreed with leaving anyone behind to care for the injured.
But stubborn as they were, several brothers insisted on not leaving him behind, and how could Meng Hunyun betray such sincere feelings?
Only by avenging their enemies and fulfilling their vengeance could he honor their memory.
“Thank you, Young Master, for your understanding.”
Jiang Pengji didn’t show much; after all, these matters were merely trifles for her, but for Meng Hunyun, it was life-saving.
“The training at the farm is currently managed by Xiaoyu, but once you arrive, the matters will all fall into your hands.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Hunyun felt somewhat lost, surprised and a tad anxious.
Though he didn’t know who Xiaoyu was, he understood the principle of seniority—taking over his duties didn’t seem right… Well, Meng Hunyun, though a martial man, understood social niceties.
Jiang Pengji noticed his unease and added, “Don’t overthink it; since we were lacking personnel, Xiaoyu was essentially doing the work of two people.”
Meng Hunyun: “…”
Suddenly, he felt a bit sorry for that guy named Xiaoyu. Did he know he was being overworked by the Young Master?
All of a sudden, a vague image appeared in Meng Hunyun’s mind—the figure of someone working diligently under Young Master’s admonitions.
“If he knows you’re coming to take over, he’ll be quite happy; after all, it’s not his area of expertise, and it will take him more energy and time to do it well.” Jiang Pengji leaned back, while Meng Hunyun sat with her, the others riding in a rented carriage, “Moreover, technically speaking, you two have met before, so you don’t need to be overly nervous. Xiaoyu is relatively easy to get along with.”
“Met before?”
Meng Hunyun asked, racking his brain for related memories but coming up empty.
Jiang Pengji smiled, “That day, the one wrapped in white cloth, sitting by the river fishing—was him.”
Hearing this, Meng Hunyun vaguely recalled—a young boy, who probably wasn’t older than a few years?
At least he had seen him; Meng Hunyun’s nervousness gradually faded as he thought to himself, why was he worried about a kid?
However, Meng Hunyun would soon regret that thought. The kid indeed was just a kid, but he controlled the finances and managed internal affairs; Xu Ke could dictate everyone’s quality of life, while Meng Hunyun, with his blunt tongue, was no match for Xu Ke!
Not long after, they approached the farm, and Meng Hunyun felt emotional, not expecting his second visit here would come as this identity.
When they arrived, Xu Ke was diligently overseeing the training of the house servants—or perhaps they were called militia; who knew if Jiang Pengji had led them through training before, but their demeanor and morale had improved significantly since the initial state.
Upon hearing others mention the Young Master’s arrival, Xu Ke quickly set his affairs aside and tidied himself up.
However, when he saw the ruggedly built man standing behind Jiang Pengji, Xu Ke’s polite smile froze.
This guy… how could he be here again?
“Xiaoyu, come over and meet.” Jiang Pengji smiled at Xu Ke, “This is the new head instructor we hired—his surname is Meng.”
Xu Ke: “…”
How long has it been? How did these two get so close?
Why was he totally in the dark?
It felt like he was still dreaming.
While suspicions flashed through his mind, Xu Ke maintained his courtesy and exchanged greetings with Meng Hunyun.
Seeing Xu Ke salute, Meng Hunyun instinctively returned the gesture.
A scholar and a warrior, one internal and one external, they temporarily formed a pretty complete setup, which made Jiang Pengji very pleased.
“Since Instructor Meng has arrived, then the training will be entrusted to him; Xu Ke can discuss specific matters with him later.”
Before Jiang Pengji could finish, Xu Ke already wanted to bail.
Meng Hunyun was slightly taken aback by Xu Ke’s quick dismissal, feeling somewhat awkward.
Jiang Pengji said irritably to Xu Ke, “Instructor Meng just arrived; you’re so eager to brush him off, as if I abused you before!”
Xu Ke replied, “Each has his own expertise; that’s not Xu Ke’s strong suit, and can be filled in occasionally, but doing it long-term can lead to issues.”
