Catching Monsters

Chapter 691 News of the Last Meteorite

"So, you, Uncle Tian, ​​and Li Chengdao have suffered a lot since childhood?"

In the backyard of the rouge shop, Dongfang Yao was carrying wooden crates and moving goods: "Of course. You were born and raised in the capital. You have no idea how difficult it is for people like us from the bottom of society to survive outside."

“Outside the capital, there has been war every year for years, and there are always refugees. Do you think they are all willing to leave their homes and beg for food elsewhere?”

"Not to mention the wars of previous years, even before the wars, the imperial court already imposed nearly twenty kinds of exorbitant taxes on its own."

"Not to mention the taxes levied by officials at every level."

Xu Xiaogang was certainly aware of these things. Dongfang Yao glanced at him and said, "A rich young master like you who grew up in the capital can't understand how hard it is for ordinary people to survive."

Xu Xiaogang smiled and asked, "Where did Miss Dongfang learn her martial arts skills?"

"Uncle Tian," Dongfang Yao glanced at Xu Xiaogang, "What's wrong?"

As Xu Xiaogang spoke, he reached behind him, holding two theater tickets, and hesitated slightly.

He came to invite Dongfang Yao to watch a play at the opera troupe, but he didn't know how to bring it up.

"Want to spar with me?" Dongfang Yao's eyes lit up, and she quickly put down the wooden box in her hand.

"Ah, right, right, right." Xu Xiaogang coughed. "But after our exchange, you know, when I came here just now, I picked up two tickets for the Sixi Troupe's performance."

"The Four Joys Troupe is quite popular in the capital; their tickets are extremely hard to get."

"I'm not really interested in acting, but wouldn't it be a shame to lose it?"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yao chuckled and said, "Then let's see if you can beat me. According to the rules of the martial world, if you win, I'll listen to you."

After saying that, he slapped Xu Xiaogang with his palm.

The two sparred in the backyard, and the fight was quite impressive.

Dongfang Yao's skills were indeed those of a martial arts master; although her moves were exquisite and delicate, they paled in comparison to Xu Xiaogang's.

After exchanging a few blows, Xu Xiaogang gave Dongfang Yao a handicap, but was forced to retreat several steps by Dongfang Yao's final palm strike.

"Miss Dongfang's kung fu is indeed impressive. Even if she joined our army, she would probably be a good general charging into battle," Xu Xiaogang praised.

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yao said, "Alright, I know you're going easy on me. After all these years of wandering the martial world, can't I see through this?"

“You rich kids are always like this. If you go out and fight with your enemies, you’ll suffer a great loss if you give an inch.”

As she spoke, Dongfang Yao glanced at the theater tickets that had fallen to the ground due to the two people's fight.

He bent down to pick it up and then handed it to Xu Xiaogang: "Take it, I have things to do at my shop."

"These tickets are really hard to get..." Xu Xiaogang wanted to say more, but when he touched the ticket in his hand, he found that there was only one left.

The other one was in Dongfang Yao's hands.

Dongfang Yao smiled, turned around, and waved the theater ticket in her hand, saying, "What's wrong? Since you invited me to the theater, can't I keep a ticket?"

Xu Xiaogang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll have a carriage come to pick up Miss Dongfang at 5 PM."

"Don't let the carriage pass, just walk."

"Since coming to the capital, I haven't been able to explore much. It just so happens that you grew up in the capital, so you can show me around."

The two looked at each other, and Xu Xiaogang walked out of the rouge shop with a look of joy on his face.

After Xu Xiaogang left, Dongfang Yao frowned slightly, looking at the theater tickets in her hand. Uncle Tian had told her about them after they arrived in Beijing.

With her beautiful appearance, she would surely attract many wealthy young men and playboys from the capital to pursue her.

However, Xu Xiaogang did not seem to be the wealthy and spoiled young master that Uncle Tian had described.

And being with Xu Xiaogang, she could feel his sincerity. At dusk that day, Xu Xiaogang was already waiting outside the rouge shop.

Soon, Dongfang Yao came out. She was still dressed in a smart black outfit. She tidied up the shop before coming out.

The two slowly headed towards the direction of the opera troupe.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but the play that the opera troupe arranged today turned out to be a tragic drama.

It tells the story of a pair of star-crossed lovers four hundred years ago. The woman was a wealthy young lady, while the man was a poor scholar.

The two were deeply in love, but were ultimately forcibly separated in a tragic drama.

Xu Xiaogang, sitting below, didn't seem to care much about this so-called opera, but Dongfang Yao saw it all very clearly.

"You like watching plays?" Xu Xiaogang asked curiously.

"I wouldn't say I like it, but tickets to the play are expensive, so of course I have to watch it seriously. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of the money you paid for the ticket?" Dongfang Yao stared intently at the actor raising his hand.

When the music ended, the two of them walked out with great interest.

After escorting Dongfang Yao back to the Sanqing Temple, Xu Xiaogang said with a smile, "Miss Dongfang, if you like it, I'll invite you to see it again next time."

"No way, those tickets are too expensive, it's not worth it." Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yao waved her hands repeatedly, then, as if she had thought of something, she said, "Even if you want to see it, next time, I should treat you. I have a shop now, and I have money."

Watching Dongfang Yao close the door, Xu Xiaogang's face was full of smiles. He put his hands behind his back, hummed a little tune, and was about to leave the place happily.

In the distance, two men in black watched as Xu Xiaogang saw Dongfang Yao off.

The two men exchanged a glance, and one of them asked, "Is this the person? Are you sure?"

"How can it be false?"

"Go back and report to your superiors immediately."

The two men in black disappeared silently into the night.

……

The backyard of the Jiang residence.

"What have you been up to lately, Xiaogang? You haven't been coming to our house much lately."

Jiang Yun finally had some free time and took the rare opportunity to fish in the courtyard. Xu Suwen sat next to him and said with a smile, "I heard that you often go to the rouge shop to see Miss Dongfang. It seems that you like her a bit."

"You like Miss Dongfang?" Jiang Yun was somewhat surprised to hear this, and said, "If you really like her, that's quite nice. Miss Dongfang is no ordinary lady from a prominent family; she's quite skilled."

"If I really get together with Xiaogang, we can go to the Northern Army together and endure the hardships."

"If I were to marry an ordinary lady from a prominent family, I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to endure the hardships of the North."

Upon hearing this, Xu Suwen shook her head and said, "It's too early to draw conclusions about this matter, but my mother is quite concerned. She even asked me to inquire about her attitude towards this Miss Dongfang during the day."

"Back when Xiaogang was unreliable, my mother was worried that other wealthy young ladies wouldn't be interested in him."

"Now that Xiaogang has made something of himself, there's no need to worry about this matter anymore, but my mother will have to worry about it again."

Jiang Yun smiled. Suddenly, the water surface rippled slightly. Jiang Yun slowly raised his head and saw a figure standing on the eaves.

Jiang Yun looked closely and realized that the visitor was none other than Master Lingxin.

"Master, is there something you need here?"

Master Lingxin said in a deep voice, "Eunuch Qin asked me to inform you that there is news of the last meteorite."

(End of this chapter)