Chapter 615: Chapter 617: Returning to Le City
Jin Qianqian quickly collected herself and said with a smile, "I did travel with an escort agency, but there wasnât an escort team heading directly here at the time. The journey was a bit rough, and I had to switch between several different agencies along the way.
"You all had it better. There was a direct escort team available, which must have saved you a lot of trouble."
Jin Qianqian saw no need to mention the unpleasant incidents from her journey.
"This is much better now. With everyone traveling together, itâs so lively. The journey doesnât seem as difficult anymore."
Jin Qianqian had now learned how to socialize with these madams of varying temperaments. "I see you ladies are in much better spirits today than the past two days. Did you rest well?"
Mrs. He stroked her face. "Itâs all thanks to the carriage your escort agency provided, Mrs. Gu. Itâs so much more comfortable than my own. I barely felt any bumps at all.
"The gentle rocking just makes you want to sleep. Iâve been sleeping so much better without even realizing it, and I feel much more refreshed.
"Are these carriages sold to the public? I have to order one when I get back. That way, I can always travel in comfort."
Jin Qianqian replied, "They arenât for sale to the public just yet. But I donât think thatâs necessary. In the future, whenever you wish to travel, Madam, feel free to hire my escort agency. That way, you solve several problems at once, and you wonât even have to worry about maintenance."
Mrs. He laughed and said to Mrs. Lu and the others beside her, "Look at Mrs. Gu. Her mind is so much quicker than ours. No wonder she can run such a large enterprise.
"She can even drum up business during a casual chat. We really canât compare."
Mrs. Lu covered her mouth and chuckled. "This isnât the first time weâve seen how sharp she is. But Mrs. Guâs suggestion really does make sense. It would be much more convenient and save a lot of trouble.
"It seems weâll have to specifically request the Gu familyâs escort team for all our future travels..."
Jin Qianqian seized the opportunity to promote her escort team. "My escort teamâs dart masters are all retired veterans..."
...
They say three women are enough to put on a play, let alone four.
By the time Gu Wenheng and the other men finished their gathering, the women were still chatting away, not quite ready to stop.
"You all seemed to have a lively chat this time," Gu Wenheng said, leaning back against a pillow. "We could hear your happy laughter several times. What were you talking about?"
Jin Qianqian replied, "Youâre actually interested in what we were talking about?"
Gu Wenheng said, "I was just curious. Itâs been a long time since Iâve heard you laugh so cheerfully.
"You havenât made many close friends these past few years. If you think theyâre a good fit, you could spend more time with them."
"I also think theyâre all good-natured. Especially during our time in Lu City, we had a few small arguments, but everyone was able to get over them quickly.
"I always felt like they had formed their own clique, and I was a bit of an outsider.
"But I didnât expect them to change their attitudes so much on this trip. It seems like theyâre all trying to befriend me now."
Gu Wenheng could see that Jin Qianqian had her reservations, so he didnât press the issue. "Just let things happen naturally."
The carriage arrived in Le City before nightfall the next day. This time, they didnât have to find lodging themselves. Li Xia, who had already received their letter, was waiting for them at the city gate with a group of people.
After leading the escort team to an inn that had already been fully booked for them, Li Xia and a few of the local Shopkeepers bustled about, finally getting everyone settled in.
After freshening up, Jin Qianqian and her family came down to the main hall. Seeing Li Xia still busy giving instructions, Jin Qianqian walked over to her. "Youâve worked hard."
"It is my duty," Li Xia replied, curtsying. "If there is anything not to your liking, Madam, please just let me know, and Iâll have them correct it."
"Everything is fine. One canât be too particular when traveling.
"Youâve been here for a while now. Are you used to life here?"
"I really like my life here," Li Xia said, her face breaking into a brilliant smile. "I get a great sense of satisfaction from it, especially when I look at the figures at the end of the month after closing a deal."
"I see Qing Lan has completely corrupted you," Jin Qianqian teased, noting they were standing in a spot with no one else around. "But what about the matter of your marriage? Have you given it any thought?"
âIn the future, I donât know where Gu Wenheng and I will end up. The journey could be long and hard, and I want Li Xia to have someone to rely on.â She even wondered if Li Xia, like Qing Lan, was determined never to marry.
But then, Li Xia gave a shy smile, which Jin Qianqian immediately noticed.
"Have you found someone yourself?"
Li Xiaâs shyness lasted only a moment before she returned to her usual self. "Yes, Madam. In fact, I was hoping to ask for your approval."
"And who might that be?"
"Itâs Yang Lin, the leader of the escort from the Lecheng Escort Team."
Jin Qianqian blinked, looking at her. "I remember Yang Lin. Itâs just that, one of his eyes..."
"I donât mind, Madam," Li Xia said quickly. "I think he has a good character, and heâs considerate of me. Thatâs more than enough."
âItâs not that Iâm prejudiced,â Jin Qianqian thought, âbut Iâm worried this girl will regret it later and end up hurting the man.â
Yang Lin had been one of Zhou Shixiongâs trusted subordinates, and both his skills and his intellect were top-notch.
However, during a fight against bandits, he was wounded in the eye and lost his sight in it.
Because of this, he could no longer continue on his official career path. Even if he had stayed, there would have been no possibility of advancement.
When he heard that Jin Qianqian was recruiting retired soldiers, he specifically sought out Zhou Shixiong to process his discharge.
Because his skills and mind were both excellent, Jin Qianqian had assigned him to be the leader of the escort team here.
She never expected that in such a short time, he would actually capture the heart of Li Xia, who had been so determined never to marry.
"But working as an escort means heâll be away from home for long stretches of time. If something were to happen, he might not be there to take care of you.
"Has he told you about his situation?"
Jin Qianqian recalled that Yang Lin hadnât returned to his hometown because his parents favored his other brothers. They had more or less cut him off from the family while he was serving in the army.
Li Xia replied, "Heâs told me everything. Besides, I donât need him to take care of me. Iâm so busy with the shops on a daily basis that I canât take care of him either, so it all evens out."
But to Jin Qianqian, it sounded a bit like Li Xia was just looking for a partner of convenience. "How about this? I wonât be staying here for very long. Is Yang Lin out on an escort mission right now? If not, have him come see me."
Li Xia hesitated for a moment. "I... actually donât know. Let me ask around..."
Jin Qianqian was speechless. "...You donât even know that, and you say you want to marry him?"
"Iâve been a bit busy lately, so it slipped my mind," Li Xia said, not seeing anything wrong with her answer.
"Does he know that you want to marry him?"
Jin Qianqian had assumed it was all one-sided, but to her surprise, Li Xia nodded with certainty. "Of course he knows. I mentioned it to him, and he didnât object."
Jin Qianqian felt she couldnât continue this conversation any longer. It turned out Li Xia had been the one to take the initiative, and he had merely not objected.
"Itâs been a while since youâve seen your sisters, anyway. You donât need to worry about things here. Go and catch up with them, and while youâre at it, ask them for their advice."