Martial arts mastery? But I'm just a spoiled brat!

Yan Yanyan's reaction was much more intense than Yan Qing's; she kept waving the newspaper in her hand as she spoke.

"That's not surprising. In situations where we are surrounded by external enemies, it is all the more necessary for someone to step forward."

Yan Qing knew that someone or some powerful force was pushing things along, and that was exactly what he wanted.

"That's something worth treasuring."

Yan Yanyan could understand some of the reasons behind it, but what she valued more was that the person who stood up was Yan Qing.

"What? Finished exploring the city?"

Yan Qing didn't want to talk about this matter anymore. Yan Yanyan had just returned and didn't know the current situation of the Yan family and Jin Province. Yan Qing didn't want to discuss these things further, as it would only add to her troubles.

"I was just about to go out. I made an appointment with Wu Hong to visit a factory outside the city today, and we're also going to check out a beef soup restaurant there. I heard their beef noodle soup is delicious."

When Yan Qing asked, Yan Yanyan simply folded the newspaper carefully and then mentioned her plans for the day.

"Oh? How about you take me with you?"

Upon hearing that Yan Yanyan had made an appointment with Wu Hong, Yan Qing's eyes lit up, and she made a plan in her mind.

"OK!"

Yan Yanyan agreed without hesitation.

"Then you go and meet up with Wu Hong first, I'll wash up and be there."

As they were speaking, Yan Qing had already sat up, and Wan Xing casually picked up a robe and draped it over Yan Qing's shoulders.

"Uh-huh!"

After Yan Yanyan nodded, she walked out with light steps.

"Arrange more gunmen; those Japanese will definitely not let this opportunity pass. Also... make sure she is safe."

Watching Yan Yanyan leave, Yan Qing gave an instruction and then walked to a room next door where hot water had already been prepared.

Since the trip was to the outskirts of the city, Yan Qing did not travel by car but chose to ride a horse, and Wanxing and Lanyue, who were with him, also followed on horseback.

Two squads of soldiers carrying rifles jogged behind them.

"Here~ Here~~"

As soon as they arrived at the city gate, they saw Yan Yanyan standing on tiptoe and waving at Yan Qing.

Behind her stood Wu Hong, but he was no longer the impeccably dressed man in the suit he had worn when they first met. Instead, he was dressed in a white short-sleeved outfit, though he still looked incredibly handsome.

"Mount up!"

Without much formality, Yan Qing gave a greeting, and someone led a horse up to the two of them.

Yan Yanyan and Wu Hong did not hesitate and skillfully mounted their horses, then followed Yan Qing towards the city gate.

When Yan Qing traveled, especially with armed soldiers following behind him, no one dared to mess with him. The roadblocks at the city gate were quickly removed by the guards, who then watched them leave the city.

"How's Shanxi Province? Are you settling in well with the food and accommodation?"

Riding on horseback, not pursuing speed, Yan Qing turned to look at Wu Hong and spoke.

"I'm quite used to it. If this were in Northeast China, the weather would already be getting cold and it would be snowing soon."

Wu Hong looked at Yan Qing, who seemed listless even while sitting on horseback, and first replied with a question before casually mentioning:

"I also read the newspaper today; the Third Young Master has a great vision!"

"What grand strategy is there? He just spoke his mind to protect himself!"

"That is admirable. The Third Young Master is truly a role model for us all."

"Hahaha~ The younger generation still has to look to Zhang Shaoshuai of the Northeast. He has a lot of troops under his command. I can only talk a little bit."

Yan Qing and Wu Hong were talking on horseback, but there was a deeper meaning hidden in Yan Qing's words.

"Miss Yan told me that the Third Young Master is practicing martial arts. I happen to have some experience in this area, so I can exchange ideas with him another day."

Upon hearing Yan Qing's last sentence, Wu Hong's expression remained unchanged, but he began to change the subject and started talking about martial arts.

"There's a chance!"

Yan Qing simply smiled, and the conversation between the two ended there.

Yan Qing then turned to chat with Yan Yanyan.

Unwittingly, Yan Qing and Yan Yanyan rode their horses closer and closer, with Yan Yanyan being shielded in the middle of the crowd.

The group rode horses, with soldiers on foot behind them. Although the pace was not fast, they arrived at their destination town more than an hour later.

Our destination this time was a factory outside the city, located in this small town nestled against the mountains. This factory was the town's most important industry.

Yan Qing and his group did not stay in the town, but went directly to the factory.

As the third young master of the Yan family, no matter what his purpose was in coming to the factory, no one in the factory dared to slack off. So, the town mayor and the factory manager rushed over immediately.

However, Yan Qing was not interested in the local officials. He waved them away and then had the factory manager show Yan Yanyan around the factory.

This was a large textile factory. Yan Qing wasn't interested in it and even found it a bit noisy, but Yan Yanyan was quite enthusiastic and kept asking about details such as production equipment and capacity.

The factory manager dared not hide anything from these questions and answered them carefully and thoroughly.

Yan Qing was initially interested in listening to a few words, but after listening for a while, she lost interest and lazily sat down to the side, leaving Wan Xing to accompany Yan Yanyan around.

Wu Hong, on the other hand, followed Yan Yanyan closely, looking every bit like a bodyguard.

Just as Yan Qing was about to fall asleep, Yan Yanyan brought the two of them over.

"Okay, I've learned what I needed to know!"

"Third Young Master! It's almost lunchtime. I've had food prepared and invited some prominent figures from town. What do you think?"

The factory manager also took the opportunity to approach Yan Qing and ask her questions.

"No need for that trouble, we have other plans later!"

Yan Qing stood up, waved to the factory manager, and then spoke to Yan Yanyan:

"Let's go try that noodle shop you mentioned."

After saying that, he led the group outside.

The factory manager breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Yan Qing hadn't stayed for dinner, but he still saw the group off before returning home.

Yan Yanyan must have just asked the factory manager. After leaving the factory, she simply looked at the directions and led Yan Qing toward one side of the town.

You can smell a rich aroma of beef even before you've gone far.

"This is it!"

Yan Yanyan was a foodie. Smelling the aroma, she dragged Yan Qing to the beef noodle shop, while Wanxing, Lanyue, and Wu Hong followed behind.

Just as the group was about to enter the noodle shop, they saw two other people riding towards them from the other side.

"Young master, should we clear the area?"

Seeing that the two people seemed to be heading into the beef restaurant, Wanxing stepped forward and asked Yan Qing if they should stop them.

"Need not!"

Yan Qing looked at the two people opposite him and gently shook his head.