Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 401 400 Who is investigating whom?
Speechless all the way.

The two arrived at Shiwuyu, and as soon as they approached the gate, they saw a familiar face—the doorman who had followed them before.

The burly doorman spotted them and quickly greeted them with a smile: "You two are here to patronize our business again? Welcome, welcome."

Feng Xiuhu glanced at the bandage on his head: "Why didn't your boss give you sick leave? Did he reimburse your medical expenses?"

"Reported, reported."

The doorman nodded obsequiously and led the two through the main gate, then beckoned a waitress in a cheongsam to come and greet them.

Feng Xiuhu patted him on the shoulder: "We're not here for dinner today. Call your head manager over."

After saying that, he took out his gold card and waved it.

The doorman saw it clearly and quickly bowed and left.

Before long, the head steward, dressed in a long silk robe, strode out. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, his slicked-back hair was impeccably styled, and he looked both refined and respectable. Even before he got close, he had already bowed to Feng Xiuhu and his companion.

"What are your orders, gentlemen?"

The head steward asked politely.

"I want something fresh."

Feng Xiuhu gave the code, then pointed to the ceiling: "Go up to the fifth floor to eat."

The head steward understood and gestured for them to come in, saying, "Please come in, gentlemen. Let me go and inform the master first."

A waitress in a cheongsam came over to lead the way, while the head steward quickly ran off and disappeared.

Upon arriving at the second floor, instead of continuing upwards, the cheongsam-clad waitress led them through the VIP area, which Feng Xiuhu had avoided entering that day.

Feng Xiuhu stopped in his tracks: "Aren't we going to the fifth floor?"

The waitress in the cheongsam explained, "Yes, it is the fifth floor, but you don't go up from this side. This is where our boss rests, and we never let outsiders in. The fifth floor is the reception area, which is accessed by going through this corridor and up the stairs on the other side."

Feng Xiuhu suddenly realized that he had barged into Xu Liansheng's boudoir that night.

Following the maid up to the fifth floor, Xu Liansheng was already standing at the door to greet them, with Zhao Mumu still by her side.

After the maids left, Xu Liansheng personally led them into the reception room.

The interior is luxuriously decorated, but there is only one long table in the very center for guests to dine at.

Xu Liansheng knew that Feng Xiuhu wasn't there for a meal at this time, so instead of leading them to the long table, she led them to sit on the sofa.

Xu Liansheng gestured to Zhao Mumu, who turned around and brought over two iron boxes. She opened the lids to reveal that the boxes were filled with shotgun shells.

Xu Liansheng pointed and said, "This box contains shotgun shells, and this box contains slugs."

She then took out a finely sewn leather belt from behind her back, picked up a bullet, and demonstrated it to Shunzi: "This is a bullet belt. Third Master can put the bullets into the cartridge case and then wear it on his body so that he can use it whenever he wants."

Shunzi took the bullet belt and held it up to his body for a long time, but he didn't know how to put it on. He felt a little embarrassed, so he looked at Feng Xiuhu for help.

But even Feng Xiuhu had never seen this thing before, let alone him.

Seeing this, Xu Liansheng stood up, took the bullet belt from Shunzi's hand, bent down and personally fastened the bullet belt and gun belt together for Shunzi.

Shunzi was even more embarrassed, because from this angle he could see Xu Liansheng's collarbone and half of her chest. Xu Liansheng's breath gently brushed against Shunzi's neck, making him swallow hard.

Xu Liansheng caught a glimpse of Shunzi's Adam's apple bobbing out of the corner of her eye, and only then did she realize that her posture was inappropriate, straightening up as if she had been electrocuted.

She pressed her hand to her chest, looking away. "That's fine. You don't need to take the bullet belt off anymore; wear it close to your body along with the sling." Shunzi didn't dare look at her, nodding and muttering, "Thank you, Sister Asheng."

Feng Xiuhu didn't notice the subtle interaction between the two. He had just finished counting the bullets in the metal box when he asked, "Why are they all ordinary bullets?"

His sudden words relieved the awkwardness between the two.

Xu Liansheng sat back down opposite him, her expression relaxing: "This is all we can get in a short time. Second Master must know that selling firearms privately is illegal, and firearms and bullets of the magical type are even more dangerous."

Feng Xiuhu smiled knowingly, his words carrying a hidden meaning: "What a joke! Even with Madam Xu's abilities, there are things she can't get her hands on in Qianyu City?"

Xu Liansheng raised her eyes and looked over.

Her expression remained unchanged; she simply smiled and said, "Second Master, you've sent someone to inquire about me."

Feng Xiuhu waved his hand: "There's no need to inquire about Madam Xu's reputation. I've heard your name several times over the time it takes to drink tea."

Xu Liansheng was amused and covered her mouth, chuckling softly: "It's not that exaggerated. If Second Master wants to know anything, he can just ask me. What outsiders say is never as true as what the person in question says."

Feng Xiuhu retorted, "Then why didn't you tell me that your father was a high-ranking official in Taijing?"

Xu Liansheng blinked: "This is not something you can hear over tea... It seems that Second Master still doesn't consider me one of his own. He specially arranged for Sixth Master, who drives the carriage, to investigate me."

Feng Xiuhu's eyes changed, and the smile on his face disappeared: "You were faster—when did you find out about me?"

Seeing Feng Xiuhu's unfriendly expression, Xu Liansheng quickly waved her hand: "Second Master, you misunderstand. I have no ill intentions."

She explained, "You were traveling together in Jiangluo Creek as a group of three. Since I knew you had arrived in Qianyu City, but only two of you showed up, I was naturally curious about where the other one was, so I asked someone to investigate."

She smiled at Feng Xiuhu: "That Sixth Master is quite a character. Once he entered Qianyu City, he threw himself into the newspaper office. He neither seeks pleasure nor stirs up trouble. It's as if he came here specifically to work for the newspaper office."

She spoke frankly, and Feng Xiuhu's expression softened slightly.

Taking advantage of the awkward atmosphere, Shunzi pointed to the food box on the table and said, "Sister Asheng, this is for you."

"Third Master is so thoughtful."

Xu Liansheng smiled with narrowed eyes. She reached out and opened the food box, seeing the pastries inside.

These pastries were made by the teahouse itself. They weren't particularly delicious or exquisite, but Xu Liansheng didn't mind at all. She picked up a piece and took a bite.

Feng Xiuhu stared at her, thinking that if this woman insisted on praising how delicious it was, then she would be a bit hypocritical.

Unexpectedly, Xu Liansheng swallowed after chewing for a while and nodded, saying, "There's too much sugar, it's a bit too sweet, and the bean flour isn't ground fine enough, but the taste is still acceptable, it's enough to fill your stomach."

She ate slowly and carefully, finishing the pastry in a few bites, and then reached for a second piece.

Feeling bad about Xu Liansheng's comments, Shunzi quickly closed the food box.

Xu Liansheng looked at him, and Shunzi said embarrassedly, "Never mind, Sister Asheng, I forgot that you don't usually eat these, so don't force yourself."

Xu Liansheng laughed and said, "What are you talking about? I didn't have breakfast. These coarse grain pastries are just right to fill my stomach."

Shunzi scratched her head and stopped trying to stop him.

Holding a pastry in her hand, Xu Liansheng casually said, "If Second Master and Third Master have nothing to do, why don't you stay for lunch? Didn't Second Master say he wanted to eat fish? I'll have the kitchen prepare a whole fish feast."

Feng Xiuhu waved his hand and declined, saying, "No, we have something to do later."

(End of this chapter)