Wedding ceremony tomorrow

Chapter 166 Soft Rice

The innermost part of the alley.

The house was engulfed in flames, thick smoke billowing out, and the entire alley was almost completely shrouded in smoke.

The two rushed in without regard for anything else.

Just as I entered the courtyard, the entire burning house suddenly collapsed with a loud "boom".

The leaping flames and smoke, like demons, grinned as they devoured everything in their path.

The nightingale cried as it rushed toward the fire and smoke.

Just as Luo Qingfeng was about to rush in, he suddenly grabbed her again, and a bright green light suddenly shone in his pupils.

The nightingale cried and struggled, "Let me go! Let me go! I need to find Crow and Grandma!"

Luo Qingfeng immediately said, "Sister Nightingale, there's no one in the room."

Upon hearing this, the nightingale's crying stopped abruptly, and she looked at him, asking, "Really...really?"

Luo Qingfeng looked again at the house engulfed in flames and thick smoke, nodded and said, "There is indeed no one inside, I can confirm that."

The two were now completely enveloped in smoke.

The surrounding area was scorching hot and thick smoke, but Luo Qingfeng's gaze could clearly penetrate the smoke and flames to see into the distance.

"Let's go, let's go outside first. Aya and Grandma aren't here."

After confirming it once again, Luo Qingfeng immediately pulled her away.

The two walked through the smoke-filled alley and arrived at the entrance. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out: "Sir, whose house is on fire?"

Luo Qingfeng looked up and saw Dong Miaomiao, dressed in a red dress, holding a string of candied hawthorns, looking at him with a curious expression.

Standing next to this little girl was another little girl holding a candied hawthorn and looking completely naive.

Grandma followed behind, carrying groceries in her hands.

Upon seeing the three, Nightingale burst into tears again and immediately ran over to hug the dazed Crow tightly.

At this moment, the female shop owner next to her said with a embarrassed expression, "Nightingale, I'm so sorry, I thought A-Ya and your grandmother hadn't come out yet, it gave me quite a fright."

Grandma's face immediately changed. Looking at the thick smoke in the alley, she said in a trembling voice, "Is our house...on fire?"

The female shop owner nodded with a look of sympathy.

She knew about this family's situation. There were only three women in the family. They finally had a house here, but it was burned down by fire today. Now it's freezing cold, and it's going to snow soon. Where can this family of three go after losing their house?

Grandma's face was pale, and she sighed repeatedly, "What can we do? What can we do..."

Nightingale wiped away her tears, her heart filled with joy after despair, and gently comforted her, "Grandma, it's alright. If we lose the house, we can just rent another one. As long as you and Aya are alright, it doesn't matter where we live."

At this moment, the officials from the yamen also arrived.

The patrol dispersed the crowd, while the officials found Nightingale and inquired about the situation.

The nightingale knows nothing.

Ah Ya and her grandmother had already gone out shopping, so they couldn't explain how the house caught fire.

When the officials couldn't get any answers and there were no casualties, they had no choice but to wait at the alley entrance for the flames to go out.

The entire house burned down quickly, and the flames gradually died down.

The flames that had spread elsewhere were all extinguished by the neighbors with water.

When the smoke had mostly dissipated, the officials immediately entered the alley and began searching everywhere, but they found nothing of any use.

It was already past midnight.

The officials, eager to close the case, could only say, "It must have been caused by the stove in the house. No one was home; perhaps the wind blew curtains or clothes onto the stove, which then started the fire..."

Grandma was about to argue when Nightingale shook her head at her.

The officials glanced at them and said, "No one was injured, which is the best outcome. If you have any other leads, or if you suspect anyone, you can come back to the government office to find us."

After leaving those words, the officials yawned and departed.

After confirming that all the flames had been extinguished, the patrol team left.

Nightingale stood in front of the burned-out house, looking at the charred remains on the ground. After a long silence, she said, "It's alright, we'll look for another house tomorrow."

Aya stood there blankly, not taking another bite of the candied hawthorn in her hand.

Grandma sighed a few times, but didn't dare say anything more.

The cold night wind blew in, carrying a biting chill that went straight to their hearts.

Suddenly, Dong Miaomiao spoke up, "Sir, why don't you let your wife and the others stay at my house first? I have many empty courtyards at my house, they can stay wherever they like."

Luo Qingfeng remained silent, his gaze fixed on the girl before him.

He knew her personality.

Nightingale turned her head, a smile appearing on her face: "No need. Miaomiao, it's getting late, you should go back. We'll find an inn to stay in later."

Dong Miaomiao said, "Our house is very big; no inn is as comfortable as ours. Don't worry, Master's wife, no one will dare to say anything against you."

Nightingale shook her head again: "Thank you for your kindness, but we'll just stay at the inn for one night and look for a place tomorrow."

Dong Miaomiao was about to persuade him further when Luo Qingfeng patted her shoulder and said, "Go back quickly, your father and mother will be worried again."

Dong Miaomiao looked worried and refused to leave.

Luo Qingfeng grabbed her wrist and led her out of the alley, waving and saying, "Go back now. We'll invite you over for dinner when we have a new house."

Dong Miaomiao looked at him and asked, "Sir, did some bad guys burn down your house?"

Luo Qingfeng paused for a moment, then said, "It's none of your business. Go home."

Dong Miaomiao pouted, somewhat displeased, and said, "Sir, we are fellow students, teacher and student, and good friends. How can it have nothing to do with me? If you need any help, please be sure to tell me. And I'm very tight-lipped; I won't tell anyone."

Then she whispered, "Even killing for you, sir, is acceptable."

Luo Qingfeng raised his hand and rubbed her head, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about? Your teacher is a educator, how could he possibly kill someone? Go back now, your teacher appreciates your kindness, I'll cook something delicious for you next time."

Dong Miaomiao immediately asked, "What delicious food? Did Xiaotao and Xiaomei secretly eat it that night?"

Luo Qingfeng raised his hand to hit her.

Dong Miaomiao giggled and ran away, waving her hand and saying, "Sir, I'll head back now. No matter what difficulties you encounter, if you need your beautiful and adorable senior sister, you can come find her anytime!"

After saying that, he chuckled, put his hands behind his back, and skipped away.

That lively and playful petite figure quickly disappeared into the darkness in the distance.

Luo Qingfeng stood there for a while before turning around and looking at the ruins in the alley. The soft light in his eyes gradually turned cold and sharp.

The four of them found an inn nearby and checked in.

Two people share a room.

Aya shared a room with her grandmother, while Luo Qingfeng shared a room with Nightingale.

Despite what had happened, none of the four felt sleepy, but at least it was warmer inside the house.

The night outside was bitterly cold, and the elderly certainly couldn't stand it.

Inside the room, a stove was burning and an oil lamp was lit.

Luo Qingfeng closed the door, looked at the girl standing by the window, paused, walked over, gently hugged her from behind, and whispered to comfort her, "It's okay, go to sleep, we'll look for a house tomorrow."

The nightingale gazed at the darkness outside the window, strands of hair swaying gently at her temples, and whispered, "It's my fault they're ruined..."

Luo Qingfeng hugged her tightly and whispered, "What are you saying? What does it have to do with you? It's not your fault that you have such bloodline and talent. Sister Nightingale, you can't think like that. Don't take the mistakes of bad people as your own. You did nothing wrong."

Tears welled in the nightingale's eyes, and her body trembled slightly. "I'm so scared... I'm afraid of A-Crow and Grandma..."

Luo Qingfeng gently comforted them, "It's alright, they'll be alright, I'll definitely protect them."

The girl turned around and nestled in his arms, sobbing softly.

Luo Qingfeng gently stroked her hair, his gaze fixed on the darkness outside the window, his pupils flashing with two piercingly cold light.

The next day.

The four of them left the inn, preparing to look for a place to live.

Unexpectedly, Dong Miaomiao suddenly arrived with her fourth steward, Sun Er, and said happily, "Sir, Madam, Steward Sun said that our Ningguo Mansion also has rental properties. There happens to be a small courtyard for rent in a small alley next to the Ningguo Mansion."

Sun Er quickly bowed his head respectfully and said, "Young Master Luo, that small courtyard has been abandoned for a long time. It's located in Pear Blossom Lane, less than a mile from Ningguo Mansion. Although the house isn't very big, it has a front and back yard, and the rooms inside are enough for five or six people."

This fourth steward is the uncle of that Chen Shui-bian.

When Luo Qingfeng first entered Ningguo Mansion, he was led by this fourth steward to see the head steward.

Luo Qingfeng quickly and respectfully greeted him.

Sun Er smiled broadly and said, "Young Master Luo, you're too kind. You're a distinguished guest in my household, and my master and mistress speak highly of you. When Ah Bian brought you into the manor, he was even rewarded by the head steward."

After exchanging a few polite words with him, Luo Qingfeng asked, "Butler Sun, how much is the rent for that small courtyard you mentioned?"

Sun Er glanced at his young mistress and said with a smile, "One tael of silver a month."

Luo Qingfeng did not speak again.

Just as Nightingale was about to refuse, Dong Miaomiao immediately said, "Fourth Steward, you must be mistaken. I heard it's five taels of silver a month there, how could it only be one tael?"

Sun Er quickly lowered his voice and said, "Third Miss, you don't know this. Someone died there, and it's been unrentable ever since, which is why it's so cheap."

"What? Someone died there!"

Upon hearing this, Dong Miaomiao flew into a rage, raising her hand to strike him, and shouted, "How dare you recommend a house where someone has died to the master!"

Sun Er quickly shrank back and said, "Third Miss, please calm down. There are other houses available, but they are a bit more expensive."

Dong Miaomiao sneered, "How expensive could it be? The master isn't just anyone, giving me a discount! Hmph, if my father and mother find out you dared to accept money from the master, they'll break your legs!"

Sun Er hurriedly said, "A discount, definitely a discount. If Young Master Luo wants to stay, it will be the lowest possible discount."

The two of them talked back and forth, their performance was extremely exaggerated.

Luo Qingfeng couldn't stand it any longer and asked, "Steward Sun, is it true that someone died in the first house you mentioned?"

Sun Er whispered, "Reporting to Young Master Luo, someone really did die there. A distant relative of Master's came to stay there, but somehow, he hanged himself in the house. So the house has been empty ever since, and we haven't dared to rent it out."

He then said, looking embarrassed, "To be honest, that house has been uninhabited for a long time. I took a look last time, and it was overgrown with weeds and full of dust. I'm actually embarrassed to recommend it to Young Master Luo, but..."

He glanced at his young mistress again, then dared not continue speaking.

Luo Qingfeng understood, of course.

This must be what his pretty and lovely female student meant.

The other party knows they don't like being given charity; if the house is too cheap, they definitely won't rent it; and if the house is too expensive, they probably won't be willing to rent it.

Properties in Ningguo Prefecture are probably not cheap.

There just happened to be a house where someone had died, so it was cheap. He and Nightingale were both cultivators, so they weren't afraid of such things. Therefore, he tried to recommend it to them.

"Shall we go take a look?"

Luo Qingfeng's gaze fell on the girl beside him.

Nightingale naturally knew that this was the third young lady of the Dong family's good intentions. After hesitating for a moment, she thought that if she looked for a house aimlessly now, she might not be able to find one. The weather was also cold. She and Aya didn't care, but she was afraid that her grandmother would not be able to stand it.

With that in mind, she nodded: "Then let's go take a look."

Dong Miaomiao's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she quickly said, "Fourth Steward, lead the way!"

"Okay!"

Sun Er immediately agreed and led the way.

The group followed behind, each lost in their own thoughts.

Only Dong Miaomiao, with a big smile on her face, kept chattering away.

Before long, the group arrived at Pear Blossom Lane.

The alley was very large, with houses on both sides. Judging from their gates and courtyard walls, they were all mansions of wealthy families.

Those who can live here are naturally either rich or noble.

The nightingale frowned slightly when it saw the houses.

Sun Er smiled and pointed to the left, saying, "If you walk straight from here, you'll reach Ningguo Mansion. If Young Master Luo lives here in the future, he can go to class anytime without having to travel so far."

Hearing this, Nightingale glanced at someone and chimed in, "Yes, it's really convenient. Whether it's day or night, you can go anytime. Sometimes when you can't sleep at night, you can just go over, right, Young Master Luo?"

Luo Qingfeng's lips twitched, but he didn't dare to say a word.

Unexpectedly, Dong Miaomiao brought up the very thing she didn't want to talk about, saying with a grin, "Sir, you can have Xiaotao and Amei come and serve your wife from now on."

Luo Qingfeng quickened his pace, pointing to a house in the alley and asking, "Is this it?"

Sun Er laughed and said, "We're not there yet, it's at the very back."

Luo Qingfeng immediately walked over to him and inquired about the house.

The nightingale followed behind, humming a soft hum.

at the same time.

In the library of the North Courtyard of the Demon Suppression Academy.

Grandma Ning went upstairs and was quietly reporting what had happened in Red Leaf Alley last night.

After listening, Bai Ruofei remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Where is he?"

Granny Ning said, "They should have gone to the inn last night, and probably went looking for a house with Nightingale's family early this morning. Miss, should we...?"

Bai Ruofei paused for a moment, then asked, "Has Uncle Wei arrived?"

Granny Ning said in a low voice, "They arrived last night and stayed overnight at the mansion. They should come to the courtyard today."

Bai Ruofei nodded, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "I'll go see him later."

Granny Ning chuckled, "Miss said she wouldn't help that boy and would let him handle it himself, but she couldn't help herself... cough cough, I'm talking too much..."

Bai Ruofei said calmly, "I'm just helping him buy some time. He'll have to rely on himself to resolve this completely."

Grandma Ning nodded and said, "Indeed, he has to rely on himself. A real man should take responsibility for dealing with any mistreatment of his woman; relying on other women for help is not a sign of competence."

He then muttered to himself, "But that kid seems to really like living off women..."

Bai Ruofei lowered her head to read and did not speak again.

(End of this chapter)