Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 252 Someone is waiting for you!
"It's alright. We came in a hurry today, we'll be leaving in a bit." Lin Yangyang had already taken Xiao Cai's hand.

Xiao Cai kept pulling people inside: "Mom, Sister Lin, let's play!"

Seeing this, the woman didn't say much and welcomed the person inside.

Lin Zhiqing and Lin Yangyang exchanged a glance. After entering the house, the woman was picking vegetables and talking to Lin Zhiqing at a short distance away.

Lin Yangyang sat down outside and played with Xiao Cai.

Since the incident with Liu Mang, Lin Zhiqing has entrusted Lu Nanyue with some silver and guards to keep watch around the area.

Xiao Cai was present when they fired arrows at Liu Mang.

Afterwards, Lin Zhiqing was afraid that some of the spies from Liu Mang's side might harm innocent people, so he kept an eye on the situation here.

Looking back now, Xiao Cai seems relatively safe.

At least Jiang Liuyun shouldn't have thought of harming such a child.

Lin Zhiqing felt somewhat relieved.

"Thump, thump-thump~"

Just as she was pondering this, there was another knock on the door.

Lin Yangyang, who was playing with Xiao Cai, kept her smile, but her gaze fell on Lin Zhiqing before turning to the door.

Xiao Cai Niang wiped her hands and went to open the door.

As she passed Lin Zhiqing and his companion, she smiled sheepishly and said, "At this time, the garbage collectors should be here."

"Ladies, would you please excuse us for a moment?"

"No need, no need." Lin Yangyang waved her hand: "We have this at home too, there's no need to avoid it."

Lin Zhiqing nodded as well.

The woman then stepped forward and opened the door:

"You've been coming quite often lately. I don't have much here today, so please wait a moment."

"Okay." It was a somewhat weak voice.

As the sound of footsteps, some deep and some shallow, rang out, a tall, thin man with dark circles under his eyes and a stubble beard entered the house.

The moment he saw Lin Zhiqing, his pupils contracted, his eyes lit up, and then he immediately shifted his gaze to Xiao Cai:
"Xiao Cai, where did your slingshot go? Why didn't you take it out to play with it today?"

"Uncle Zheng, Sister Lin came to see me, no need to play, no need to play." Xiao Cai clapped his hands and took the pastries from Lin Yangyang's hands.

"No wonder, no wonder, you treasured that slingshot so much after you got it. It's rare to see you not playing with it." After saying this, the man looked at Lin Zhiqing and smiled.

Lin Zhiqing raised an eyebrow, turned her head, and looked at Lin Yangyang: "Cousin, did you bring all the little gadgets you bought today? Xiao Cai has new things, so naturally he doesn't want the old slingshot anymore."

Lin Yangyang glanced at the tall, thin man, then at Lin Zhiqing, before pointing to the peach wood sword in Xiao Cai's hand:

"How could I forget? Yesterday, when I was shopping, I was walking along and my things were almost stolen by that damned thief."

"Little thief?" The miser came out carrying a wooden bucket and couldn't help but give a few words of advice:

"Ladies, there are all sorts of people in this West Market. My family's firewood was even stolen before, so you must be careful."

“That’s right.” The tall, thin man took the wooden bucket.
“My dad also ran into a petty thief a few days ago. Luckily, he was quite skilled, otherwise he might have been in danger.”

"How can these people be so brazen in broad daylight?" The young woman shook her head, took out the copper coins she had prepared beforehand, and handed them to the tall, thin man.
"Isn't your father back in your hometown? Why don't you go back and see him?"

“He’s been waiting. He’s waited all these years, a few more days won’t make a difference.” The tall, thin man smiled and accepted the copper coin.

"Besides, how could I possibly go back when I'm penniless?"

After saying that, he turned to leave. "Wait," Lin Zhiqing called out to him.

"It's not easy for the old folks to wait all this time. I'm short of someone to take out the slop. You seem quite efficient. Why don't you give it a try?"

"Although the wages are not much, I can still save some money each month."

The man scratched his head: "That's fine. I haven't been back for so long, the big willow tree in front of my house has sprouted several new buds."

“My father and I are not close. He seems more affectionate towards the white geese in town than towards me. Why should I go back and get in his way?”

"You'd better hurry up and get married, then see if he'll still be affectionate towards you," the young woman teased with a smile.

The tall, thin man smiled, picked up the bucket, and went out the door.

After closing the door, the smile on Xiao Cai Niang's face faded a little.

She returned to the spot where she had been picking vegetables and sat down again.

“Miss Lin, this man surnamed Zheng is not capable of doing his job. If you need someone to empty the swill in your household, you might as well spend a little more money to buy one from a slave trader.”

"What do you mean?" Lin Zhiqing seemed very interested.

Little Money Girl pouted: "Don't be fooled by his sweet talk, he's actually incredibly lazy."

"He only started coming to empty the swill on time these past few days; he used to only come sporadically."

"His father was also pitiful. I heard that he stayed in his hometown for several years, but he couldn't wait for his son to come back and see him."

“Then it really can’t be used,” Lin Yangyang interjected.

Lin Zhiqing nodded as well.

The two sat in Xiao Cai's house for a while, and when they saw Xiao Cai's mother preparing a meal to entertain them, they got up to say goodbye.

After the young woman offered a few words of advice, the two politely declined her request to stay for dinner and then left.

After returning the way they came, the two got back into the carriage.

They didn't say much along the way.

Only after returning to Shuqing Pavilion did Lin Yangyang impatiently close the door and look at Lin Zhiqing with anticipation: "How was it?"

Lin Zhiqing took out Xuan paper and charcoal pencil before answering:
"We'll head to Yongqing County around noon; someone's waiting for us there."

"Zheng Kuo?" Lin Yangyang asked.

“That’s right.” Lin Zhiqing recalled the tall, thin man’s words: He’s waiting. He’s made it through all these years, so a few more days won’t make a difference.

Lin Zhiqing couldn't think of anyone else besides Zheng Kuo.

Lin Yangyang was somewhat surprised: "Qing-meimei, how did you know you would meet Zheng Kuo's son at Xiao Cai's house?"

"It wasn't that I met him, but that he waited for us for a long time." Lin Zhiqing scribbled on the paper, feeling a slight sense of relief.
"According to Aunt Mu, this person had never set foot in the Lin family's house before, but not long ago he shamelessly tried to come and work for them."

"Think about it, who would come to the Lin family's door at a time like this?"

Lin Yangyang stroked her chin, thought for a moment, and finally shook her head:
“In our family’s situation, we would never send people to the slave trader’s door unless there was something profitable to be made.”

"That's right." Lin Zhiqing nodded: "People strive to rise higher, and water flows downhill; this is an age-old truth."

"Besides, with so many people in the Lin family, why did he specifically go to Aunt Mu's place?"

"Why?" Lin Yangyang rested her chin on her hands, clearly still puzzled.

Lin Zhiqing raised her eyes: "Only Aunt Mu remembers Zheng Kuo's past, and at the same time, she is very close to me."

"He did it on purpose."