While the First Class Pavilion was bustling with activity, a pair of eyes was watching them intently.
"Fish soup? Century eggs?" Seeing the thriving business, Fu Zhixi narrowed her beautiful eyes and gazed deeply at Luo Ge before turning to leave.
At the moment she turned, Luo Ge also looked in her direction.
Watching her figure board a carriage, his eyebrows raised slightly.
"The young mistress of Spring Bloom Pavilion, quite a petite beauty."
After the changes brought by the Water of Space, their perceptive abilities had clearly strengthened considerably, so they had already noticed Fu Zhixi's presence the moment she appeared.
They didn't react, merely observing what the other party would do.
Nearby, Gu Jinchen heard her mumbling and turned his head curiously towards the carriage: "......" Beautiful?
He couldn't see it; his wife was far prettier.
He withdrew his gaze, silently stepping forward and placing the pot of soup on the table before them.
"The soup Master Liang made. Taste it, dear wife, he said it's good for you."
Master Liang was one of the two chefs they had brought back, the one more skilled with soups.
At his words, Luo Ge lowered her head to take a look. A fragrant aroma wafted up from the thick, rich-colored soup with a sprinkle of scallions on top, whetting the appetite.
Lotus root, peanut, and pork rib soup—nourishing for qi and blood, suitable for pregnant women.
"I tasted it when I brought it over earlier. The flavor is quite good."
Hearing this, Luo Ge nodded, taking the opportunity to sample Master Liang's skills. She naturally didn't refuse.
"There's plenty, you should all have some too."
"Okay."
...Those few young servants had all received training at the manor, so they worked very efficiently.
Thus, they adapted quickly at the pavilion. After a couple of demonstrations from the two chefs, they could handle serving customers on their own.
The two new kitchen staff were quite capable too. The new soups and stews they added were unexpectedly well-received by the patrons.
Seeing this, Luo Ge felt very satisfied.
....Another busy day passed, and they didn't leave the city until dusk fell.
"Driver!"
Just as their carriage set out on the path back to the village outside the city gates, another carriage swiftly rushed past them.
"This late, and someone's still hurrying to the provincial capital," Luo Ge muttered, noting the direction of the departing carriage.
"Perhaps there's an emergency at home," Gu Jinchen replied upon hearing her words.
At such a late hour, that was usually the case.
Luo Ge nodded, but in the next instant, her peripheral vision caught something on the ground, causing her to suddenly pause.
"Husband, stop for a moment!"
"What's wrong?" Gu Jinchen asked with some confusion, but obediently halted the carriage as she requested.
"Look over there, isn't that a child's shoe?" She pointed towards a roadside bush, right where the previous carriage had just passed.
Gu Jinchen dismounted and went over for a closer look, then nodded.
"Indeed it is." A small, embroidered shoe with a tiny horse motif—the kind worn by young boys from well-off families, judging by the quality.
Looking at the shoe, Luo Ge suddenly raised her head to meet Gu Jinchen's gaze. The two seemed to realize something simultaneously as they turned towards the carriage now disappearing from view.
Without further thought, they quickly gave chase in their own carriage.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage ahead, a scarred man viciously gripped a young boy's throat, his expression twisted with rage.
"You little brat! Where's the other shoe?" Seeing the boy missing one shoe, his tone dripped with menace.
Figures, from such a wealthy family, the kid was sly—one moment of inattention and a trail had already slipped out.
Damn it!
"Agh, ack ack ack."
The man's grip tightened with full force. The boy couldn't utter a word, his face flushed red as he feebly clawed at the assailant's hand.
In a corner of the carriage, Tie Dan—who had been knocked unconscious earlier—groggily came to and stared in bewilderment at the scene. Kidnappers?
He had obediently followed his family all day, only going to the fields with Grandpa in the afternoon to water the crops. When Grandpa went to fetch water, he had helped pick some vegetables.
Then everything went black, and he woke up to this—the other boy being beaten.
"Scar-face!" A voice barked from outside before the boy succumbed.
The scarred man finally released his grip, gritting his teeth. "Boss! The brat left a trail. Should we turn back and get rid of it?"
"No time. Take a few detours to shake off any pursuit."
Seeing the carriage giving chase behind them, the man in front coldly ordered, abruptly increasing their speed.
Perhaps because Tie Dan had been rendered unconscious when abducted, they had merely gagged him, leaving his hands, feet, and eyes unbound.
He had been lying prone near the rear of the carriage cabin, his small frame partially obscured by the seats, his subtle movements going unnoticed.
Directly before him was a gap in the carriage's paneling, offering a glimpse of the scene behind them.
Spotting the pursuing carriage, Tie Dan felt a surge of relief!
For he recognized Uncle Gu as the driver of that carriage.
Upon seeing Uncle Gu, Tie Dan's frantic heart gradually calmed. He knew Uncle Gu was a great hero capable of single-handedly defeating giant beasts, surely able to rescue him.
Composing himself, he began recalling the advice Aunt Gu had imparted to Big Treasure and Little Treasure about what to do if kidnapped.
After some thought, he furtively glanced at the barefoot boy before reaching into the small pocket sewn into the inside of his trousers, retrieving a few copper coins tied with a red string.
This was his private stash, purposely sewn into his trousers by Grandma.
Taking advantage of the carriage's jostling, he gradually shifted his position until his hand could access the gap in the paneling.
Keeping a close watch behind them, whenever he sensed an imminent turn that would obstruct the view of Uncle Gu's carriage, he would quickly toss out one of the copper coins.
That other boy was so silly. Aunt Gu had said to leave inconspicuous markers, not something as obvious as a shoe that the bad people would surely notice.
If the bad guys reacted quickly and turned back to retrieve it, not only would all his efforts be in vain, he might even get beaten to death.
