The daily life of a space tycoon raising children, doting on his husband, and farming.

Chapter 157 Other Courtyard
Shang Wan glanced back at him, and seeing that Yan Dangjia didn't seem to be deliberately teasing her, she sat down in her previous spot again.

Master Yan smiled and said, "Madam, your timing is perfect. Tomorrow, the escort agency is going to transport a batch of medicinal herbs to Maocheng, so this is convenient for you."

"That's wonderful!" Shang Wan's face lit up with surprise. "How much will it cost?"

After a moment's thought, Master Yan said, "Since we're on the way, just give the brothers some money for tea. Five taels of silver in total, what does Madam think?"

"Five taels! That's a lot." Shang Wan's face immediately showed reluctance. She raised her hand and gripped the money pouch, her lips slightly pursed. "My husband has been bedridden for many years and has to take medicine every day. We really don't have much money left at home. Since it's on the way, could the fare be reduced a bit?"

She deliberately wore old clothes today because she was afraid of being ripped off.

It's just a letter I'm delivering along the way; one tael of silver is the most I can offer.

Yan, the head of the household, frowned and carefully examined Shang Wan. Only then did he notice that although Shang Wan was exceptionally beautiful, her clothes were old and faded, suggesting that her family was indeed in dire straits.

Running a security escort agency inherently involves a sense of chivalry, with a strong desire to help the poor and weak. Moreover, the person on the other end is a beautiful woman, and seeing her in distress, one can't help but feel compassion and pity.

After a few moments of consideration, Master Yan said, "Every family has its difficulties. Considering Madam's filial piety, three taels of silver will suffice."

Shang Wan opened her money pouch, poured out the only one tael of silver and ten copper coins inside, looked at Manager Yan with her watery almond eyes, and nervously clenched her hands together, "This is all I have."

Boss Yan: "..."

Under Shang Wan's watchful gaze, he impulsively wanted to agree, but the old man standing behind him suddenly coughed heavily.

Master Yan immediately snapped out of his impulsive impulse and waved his hand, saying, "This is against the rules. Three taels of silver is the minimum. Otherwise, I can only ask you to look elsewhere, Madam."

"What's against the rules?" A slightly hoarse male voice came from outside, followed by a lean man walking in.

Upon closer inspection, Shang Wan realized that the face was square, almost like a cube – it was definitely Sang Qi himself.

"This lady wants to entrust the escort agency to send a letter home to the border, but she only has one tael of silver." Manager Yan winked at Sang Qi, "You know that our escort agency never accepts jobs with less than three taels of silver; it's against the rules."

Sang Qi didn't hear what Master Yan was saying at all; his attention had been entirely on Shang Wan ever since he came in.

With skin as white as snow and a face as beautiful as a flower, a delicate nose and cherry lips, she was even more beautiful than the most beautiful courtesan in the Drunken Spring Pavilion. How could he not know that there was such a beauty in the city?
Shang Wan seemed embarrassed by his gaze, lowered her head, and a dark glint flashed in her eyes.

You dare to fantasize about me? I'll smash your head in!
Master Yan coughed awkwardly twice and called out in a deep voice, "Second Brother."

Stop staring at people like that!
Sang Qi reluctantly shifted his gaze from Shang Wan, and Yan Dangjia, as if used to it, repeated what he had just said.

“Brother, rules are rules, but people are flexible.” Sang Qi, wanting to please the beauty, said with a smile, “Anyway, I’m the one escorting the medicinal herbs to the border this time, so delivering the message is just a side job. I’ll take it even if I don’t get paid.”

"Second brother!" Master Yan's tone became stern. His second brother was good in every way, except that he was fond of beautiful women and easily blinded by them.

Not wanting to lose face by being scolded by his elder brother in front of the beauty, Sang Qi curled his lips into what he thought was a dashing smile at Shang Wan, "Please wait a moment, Madam."

He reached out and pulled Master Yan outside to discuss things in a low voice.

Shang Wan pretended to look outside nervously, but in her heart she was thinking that Jiang Bo was right, Sang Qi was indeed a womanizer.

Before long, Sang Qi and Master Yan walked in one after the other. Master Yan looked rather unhappy, while Sang Qi was all smiles.

"I'll take this delivery." Sang Qi looked at Shang Wan. "After you pay the money, Madam, fill out the delivery form and then give me the letter."

Shang Wan hesitated for a moment, then handed him a tael of silver. Just as Sang Qi was about to touch her hand, she quickly withdrew it and asked softly, "I can't read. Can someone help me write it down?"

“Of course.” Sang Qi’s gaze was more eager than before. He glanced at Shang Wan and said solicitously, “Come with me, I’ll help you write it.”

He led Shang Wan to a side hall, and the old man with the white beard followed. Sang Qi turned around and glared at the old man, but the old man pretended not to see it and firmly followed behind the two of them.

Shang Wan pretended not to notice the subtle tension between the two and tried her best to maintain her persona.

After Sang Qi filled out the escort order as she instructed, she handed him the thick family letter.

Under Shang Wan's watchful gaze, Sang Qi personally placed a lacquer mark on the envelope.

This was done to reassure the employer that the escort agency would never open the letter or check it privately during transport.

The old man's gaze shifted to Shang Wan, and Shang Wan immediately let out a slightly exaggerated sigh of relief.

With the old man watching from the side, Sang Qi didn't get any advantage and secretly cursed his bad luck.

As he saw Shang Wan off, he kept asking about her background, clearly still not having given up.

Out of gratitude, Shang Wan answered all the questions asked; she had never lost a lie before.

Both sides had a pleasant conversation.

Only after Shang Wan drove the oxcart far away did Sang Qi reluctantly turn his gaze away, glare fiercely at the old man, and stride into the escort agency.

The old man's eyes were full of disdain. He curled his lip, picked up the broom, and continued sweeping.

Shang Wan didn't go far. She booked the cheapest room at a nearby inn, left the oxcart there, and quietly climbed out of the inn's window to return to Longling Escort Agency to monitor Sang Qi.

Sang Qi changed into a blue brocade robe, led a chestnut horse out of the stable, and rode out of the city.

Shang Wan followed from a distance and saw him stop at the gate of a house in the suburbs, jump off his horse and go inside.

Judging from the sounds and auras alone, there were many guards in this mansion, including several experts. Shang Wan did not rush in, lest she alert them.

She strained her ears to hear what the people in the courtyard were doing.

There were many people in the courtyard, and the noise was chaotic, including the high-pitched, shrill cries of several children, which gave Shang Wan a headache.

As she raised her hand to rub her temples, thinking of sneaking in to take a look, a group of people came out of the courtyard.

The leader was wearing a black veiled hat, obscuring his face, but judging from his stature and clothing, he was likely a man.

What caught Shang Wan's attention was the wheelchair he was in.

This person has a leg ailment.

In a flash, a name suddenly popped into Shang Wan's mind.

Could this person be Lu Chengyuan?

Thinking of this possibility, Shang Wan leaped to a high place and looked down to search her surroundings.

If it really is Lu Chengyuan, then this suburban residence should be the Ge family's villa, and Qiao Yu'an's people must be watching it.

The scanning gaze suddenly stopped; sure enough, there were two people keeping watch nearby.

Seeing the person wearing a veil being lifted onto the carriage, Shang Wan hesitated for a moment before leaping up to follow.