Old Friends in the Snow

Chapter 131 Old Friends in the Snow
Today, Yang Can wore a blue satin robe with arrow-sleeved sleeves, covered with a lambskin coat, a bearskin hat, and a wool felt cloak.

He stood under the tree, snowflakes falling on his shoulders, making him appear even more handsome, like a jade tree.

Ah Xiao was so happy when she saw it that her heart almost jumped out of her chest.

She dropped the spoon in her hand and ran to Yang Can's side, grabbing his leg tightly.

Unfortunately, the winter clothes were too thick, and the little guy's arms were too short, so he couldn't even hold Yang Can's legs properly and could only hold onto the hem of his clothes tightly.

Seeing that Ah Xiao had gotten there first, Ah He, who was following closely behind, anxiously circled around Yang Can.

Her little face turned bright red, like a puppy that couldn't find its owner, and she mumbled softly, "I want a hug too."

Yang Can was amused by the two children and laughed heartily. He bent down, stretched out his long arms, and picked them up, one in each arm.

At this moment, the other children also gathered around, shouting "Godfather" all at once.

Upon seeing their godfather, their desire to show off was immediately aroused, and they all reported to Yang Can how obedient and well-behaved they were.

Some said they had just shoveled snow, some said they had just memorized an article, and others said they had learned a few new moves...

The chattering sounds mingled together, so lively that it was impossible to hear what they were saying, but their genuine joy warmed people's hearts like a cozy stove.

Ah Xiao was being held by Yang Can, her little face red from the cold, looking at Yang Can happily.

She deliberately leaned back a little, as if afraid that her breath would hit his face.

In her heart, Yang Can was not only her relative, but also someone she revered and was grateful to like a god.

The young girl felt ashamed and dared not show any disrespect to Yang Can.

But when she saw her younger siblings surrounding her, she couldn't help but show a hint of pride.

You all have to look up at your godfather, but I'm held in his arms. I'm different from you!
That little bit of smugness immediately curved her eyebrows and eyes, and she couldn't hide it anymore.

"Godfather, Seventeen and I cleared all the snow from the path on the east side this morning!"

"Godfather, I can recite three articles now, do you want to listen?"

"Godfather, I learned the new move Uncle Leopard taught me in just one day. Can I show it to you?"

The children's faces were full of innocent smiles, and their eyes revealed their dependence on and closeness to Yang Can.

They were all eager to show him their skills, as if receiving a single compliment from Yang Can would be an immense honor.

Wangcai stood behind the children, smiling as he looked at Yang Can.

When this kid worked at Pan Xiaowan's house, he was always careless and sloppy with his work. He was the type who would only move when supported and wouldn't do any work if not supported.

But ever since he was sent by Yang Can to look after these children, he has become exceptionally attentive.

Perhaps it was the children calling him "Brother Wangcai" that made this orphan, who had no home since childhood, feel a sense of responsibility for the first time. Now, he takes care of these children more diligently than anyone else.

Yang Can responded to the children's words with a smile, and in between, he also praised Wangcai a few times.

Upon hearing his master's praise, Wangcai's face immediately turned red, and his eyes narrowed into slits with a smile.

However, Yang Can was heading to Tianshui City today, and the roads were difficult to travel after the heavy snow, so he could not stay here for long.

He inquired carefully about the children's lives and studies, and seeing that they were eating well and studying diligently, he put Ah Xiao and Ah He down with peace of mind and continued on his way with Leopard Head and other guards.

The children were naturally reluctant to see him leave. One of the younger children was about to cry when Ah Xiao glared at him fiercely, forcing him to hold back his tears.

But when she turned around, Ah Xiao's own eyes were red, and tears began to well up in them.

Back when they lived in Feng'an Fort, no matter how busy their godfather was, they could always catch a glimpse of Yang Can when he passed by the door.

Now that they live in the mountains, they only see each other every few days. How can I not miss them?
But they also knew that their godfather was a very capable person, and people with great abilities are always busy.

The people in the manor said that Godfather is now the chief steward of the eldest branch of the family, in charge of many fields and estates, and many people rely on Godfather for their livelihood.

So they all secretly resolved to learn skills well so that when they grew up, they could help their godfather.

Yang Can walked a long way, and when he looked back, he could still see the children standing in the snow, waving to him from afar.

Snowflakes landed on their little heads, turning them into little snowmen.

Those small figures, amidst the vast expanse of white snow, create a heartwarming scene.

……

The wind, carrying fine snowflakes, swirled around the city walls of Tianshui before settling into the city gate, which had just been partially cleared.

The snow was partially melted by pedestrians, and mixed with mud, it accumulated on the road as dark brown snow water.

Stepping on it, the "crunching" sound mixed with the faint splashing of snow water was particularly clear in the crisp, cold air.

Once inside the city, most of the shops on both sides of the road were open, but there were few customers to be seen.

The shopkeepers and their assistants were sweeping the snow in front of their shops with bamboo sticks.

The bamboo sticks scraped across the icy ground, making a "swish, swish" sound.

The snowflakes were swept to the roadside, piling up into small snowdrifts.

At the street corner, a noodle vendor huddled in a sheltered corner.

The large iron pot on the stall was steaming, and the milky white steam, carrying the aroma of wheat and the savory smell of meat broth, went straight to people's noses.

In front of the charcoal shop, piles of charcoal, like small mountains, were completely covered by straw mats, with glistening icicles hanging from the edges of the mats.

Five or six people lined up in a crooked queue, haggling with the shopkeeper, hoping to get a discount of two coins.

At the same time, he kept an eye on the worker who was packing the charcoal, afraid that he might accidentally put clods of soil and remnants of snow into the straw bag with one shovelful.

Yang Can pulled the mask he had been wearing down to his chin. The edges of the mask were still covered with frost formed from his breath, which turned into tiny water droplets when exposed to heat.

As soon as he entered Xiguan Jinshi Street, he dismounted and slowly walked forward, holding the reins, so that he could take a closer look at the winter scenery of Tianshui City.

He walked at the front, the snowflakes clinging to his blue satin sleeves shimmering in the sunlight.

Leopard Head and the other three guards were dressed in dark winter clothes, which were slightly more cumbersome than their usual outfits, but did not affect their agility at all.

They held the horse's reins in one hand and rested their other hand on the hilt of their swords at their waists, following Yang Can with steady steps.

As their gaze swept over the sparse pedestrians on the street, a hint of wariness remained in their eyes.

Since Yang Can was kidnapped by Dugu Qingyan, they have not dared to relax their guard duties in the slightest.

It was already deep winter, and there was still more than a month until New Year's Day, which was the slowest time for business.

Fewer merchants were coming and going, and even the usually bustling Kunlun Huizhan was deserted.

The indigo banner hanging at the entrance of the inn swayed from side to side in the wind, and the four ink characters "Kunlun Huizhan" on the banner were somewhat darkened by the snow water.

However, the icicles hanging under the eaves were sparkling, like strings of crystals, refracting tiny sparkles in the sunlight.

Inside the inn, two workers squatted by the charcoal brazier by the door, each holding a rough earthenware bowl.

The bowl contained murky, cheap wine, which they sipped one after another, chatting about everyday things.

Another employee leaned against the counter, fiddling with an abacus.

His fingers aimlessly fiddled with the abacus beads, the soft "clattering" sound mingling with his off-key tune, sounding particularly jarring in the empty hall.

They only snapped out of their daze when Yang Can appeared at the door.

The guest was dressed in a fur coat and accompanied by four imposing guards; he was clearly no ordinary person.

The two men drinking at the door jumped up, dusted themselves off with charcoal ash, and greeted him with smiles.

Leopard Head stepped forward and solemnly explained Yang Can's identity.

The two shop assistants were immediately startled and their expressions changed slightly. One of them hurriedly ran to the backyard to call for the manager, while the other eagerly led Yang Can and his group inside.

As soon as they entered the shop, they quickly fetched the owner's privately stored fine tea and carefully brewed it, afraid of neglecting their true owner.

When the shopkeeper heard that the owner had arrived, he didn't even have time to put on his coat properly before he ran out to greet him.

He had seen Yang Can before and recognized him at a glance; his smile instantly widened.

"Oh my, boss! Why did you come all this way in this snowy weather? You must have suffered a lot on your journey. Please, have a seat!"

As he spoke, he invited Yang Can to sit down in the seat of honor. Before long, six Hu women also hurriedly ran out from the backyard.

They were originally beauties bought from Liangzhou by Yu Rui, the young master of Dailai City, who intended to give them to Yang Can as concubines. However, Yang Can sent them to Kunlun Huizhan to work as waitresses. Being a concubine for the master, no matter how hard it was, was better than being a waitress.

So as soon as they heard that their employer was coming, they quickly tidied themselves up, drawing their eyebrows and tidying their sideburns, trying to look even prettier in front of their employer.

What if the master takes a liking to me?
Everyone has some ambition.

When they saw Yang Can, they were stunned again. This boss was even younger and more handsome than rumored!

When Yang Can saw Yu Rui off, the two of them were by the drawbridge at Feng'an Fort, while these Hu women were in the outermost camel caravan.

There was a group of people standing in front of the bridge, and they didn't recognize who the owner of the estate was.

Looking up, he saw his master dressed in a fur coat, his posture upright, his brows revealing composure, yet still retaining the youthful vigor of a young man.

A woman like that, even if she were a concubine to the master, would be far more comfortable than being a waitress...

No, no matter how comfortable... pshaw! No matter how hard it is, it's still better than being a waitress.

For a moment, several of the women from Hu were quite excited.

One subtly tugged at the hem of her clothes, while the other raised her hand to smooth her hair, wishing that the heavy winter clothes could reveal her stunning figure.

Yang Can paid no attention to their little antics. He picked up his teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and felt the warmth slide down his throat into his stomach before saying to the shopkeeper:
"I came to Tianshui this time to select midwives and nurses for the young mistress."

"We'd be more comfortable staying in our own guesthouse, so please prepare a few clean rooms for us first."

Upon hearing that they weren't there to inspect the business, the shopkeeper's tense heart immediately settled down, and he quickly replied, "Yes! Don't worry, boss, I'll get it ready right away, I guarantee it will be clean and warm!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a Hu woman stepped forward, knelt down, and said, "This servant will go and prepare a room for you, sir, and make sure you are comfortable."

Seeing this, another woman from Hu was also eager to take credit, so she quickly squatted down and said in a soft voice, "This servant will go and warm the bed for the master..."

As soon as she said that, Yang Can, the shopkeeper, and Leopard Head and his group all turned to look at her.

The woman from Hu blushed deeply and quickly changed her words, her voice becoming somewhat weak.

"What I mean is... to warm the master's room. Cough! Yes! I mean to light the stove in advance and warm the room thoroughly."

The lobby fell silent for a moment. The shopkeeper chuckled awkwardly and tried to smooth things over: "The girls meant well. Go ahead and be careful, don't neglect your employer."

The woman breathed a sigh of relief and quickly lowered her head and slipped into the backyard.

If I say something wrong, I don't know how my sisters will laugh at me later. I'll be so embarrassed!

……

Inside the Chen family residence, the son-in-law, Suo Hong, has been staying for three days.

In the eyes of the Chen family, this man in his sixties was no ordinary son-in-law, but a distinguished guest who could decide the fate of the family.

The mere fact that Suo Hong is the "Second Master of the Suo Family" is enough to make the Chen family go to great lengths to curry favor with him.

Moreover, the Suo family's influence has now infiltrated the Yu family's territory, which is an unprecedented opportunity for the Chen family, who have been engaged in business for generations.

As long as the Chen family clings tightly to the Suo family, given time, even if they don't become a behemoth like the Suo family that spans the entire region, they can still rise from a purely merchant family to a powerful local force.

That's why the entire Chen family revered Suo Hong as their ancestor.

Even his concubine, who came from the Chen family and was only seventeen years old, was repeatedly summoned by his parents and instructed to serve Master Suo with all her heart, saying that "the future of the Chen family rests entirely on your shoulders," and they dared not neglect her in the slightest.

At this time, Suo Hong was living in the Jin Yu Xuan in the back of the Chen family's residence.

He leaned back on the soft couch covered with thick brocade cushions, his posture languid yet exuding an undeniable authority.

Two pretty maids stood on either side of him, one gently massaging his shoulders with her fingers, the pressure just right.

The other girl made a fist with her small hand and rhythmically massaged his legs, even breathing very softly.

The charming and alluring Madam Chen was nestled close to him.

Madam Ru held a glass of crystal-clear grape wine in her hand and carefully brought it to Suo Hong's lips, her eyes full of flattery.

"Second Master, Second Master." With a respectful greeting, Chen Yinjie walked in with a smile.

In the past, he was a powerful and arrogant figure in Tianshui City, but now, facing Suo Hong, he showed no sign of his former arrogance.

Although Suo Hong was his brother-in-law according to seniority, he dared not actually address him as "brother-in-law" and still respectfully called him "Second Master".

"Second Master, I have taken care of everything you asked me to do..."

Before Chen Yinjie could finish speaking, Suo Hong suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him.

Upon seeing this, Chen Yinjie immediately stopped talking, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Suo Hong took the wine glass from Madam Ru's hand and waved his hand gently.

Lady Ru and her two maids understood each other and quietly withdrew, gently closing the door of Jin Yu Xuan behind them, leaving only the two of them inside.

"Be more composed in your actions, and stop being so boisterous." Suo Hong took a sip of wine, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Chen Yinjie cursed inwardly, "Old bastard, what's with all the arrogance just because of the Suo family's power!"

But his smile grew even more obsequious as he bowed and scraped, saying, "Second Master is right; I was too hasty."

"Is everything arranged?" Suo Hong put down his wine glass, his gaze falling on Chen Yinjie with a scrutinizing tone.

"Don't worry, Second Master, everything is arranged!" Chen Yinjie replied quickly, his tone full of confidence.

“Our Chen family has been established in Tianshui for over a hundred years. Can’t we handle this little matter properly?”
There will be absolutely no mistakes in its safekeeping, and there will be no possibility of any leaks afterward.

Moreover, as you instructed, the people I arranged still don't know that I was the one who truly commanded them.

Suo Hong listened and nodded in satisfaction.

He knew that the Chen family had been operating in Tianshui for over a hundred years and was one of the top businesses in the area, so they certainly had the capability.

To ensure that the midwives and nurses he brought from Jincheng could be completely disguised as locals of Tianshui without revealing any flaws, he had to rely on the power of the Chen family, a local strongman.

Ultimately, the Chen family's reliance on him was a ploy to leverage the Suo family's influence for personal advancement.

He used the Chen family to gain a foothold in the Yu family's territory more quickly; it was simply a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Suo Hong took another sip of wine and waved to Chen Yinjie.

Chen Yinjie immediately rushed to the soft couch, bowed slightly, and looked flattered, his ear almost touching Suo Hong's mouth.

Suo Hong lowered his voice, his tone tinged with mystery: "Go find a few more pregnant women whose due dates are around New Year's Day."

Once you find them, don't alert them; just keep an eye on them secretly.

Where do they live? What is their family background? When exactly did they give birth? Is it a boy or a girl?

All this information must be reported to me promptly; not a single detail can be missed.

Chen Yinjie was immediately puzzled: This old man first looked for a midwife, and now he wants to find a pregnant woman. What on earth is he up to?

But he also understood that he absolutely could not ask questions at this time.

Since her younger sister married into the Suo family, the Chen family has been completely tied to the Suo family.

Since Suo Hong has given the order, he should just handle things properly and not ask any other questions.

Thinking of this, Chen Yinjie immediately bowed and replied, "Don't worry, Second Master, I'll take care of it right away. I guarantee I'll get all the information clearly and won't let Second Master's plans be ruined!"

Suo Hong nodded: "Hurry up with this matter. By the way, go to Kunlun Huizhan again and see if their owner is here. Judging by the time, he should be here soon."

Chen Yinjie's heart skipped a beat. How did Second Master know that I was pursuing Rena?

Chen Yinjie cautiously said, "To be honest, Second Master, I already know Miss Rena, the head manager of Kunlun Huizhan."

She is now personally leading a caravan to the Western Regions…

Suo Hong was taken aback, then chuckled: "It's not her, I'm talking about the real owner of Kunlun Huizhan. His name is Yang Can. You should get to know him better."

Suo Chanzhi had already secretly told her second uncle that Yang Can's accusation against the Suo family was purely a charade she and Yang Can had conspired to stage.

Her purpose was to reassure Yu Xinglong, who was wary of the Suo family, to plant him as a spy, even though she had already bribed him.

The next crucial hurdle will require Yang Can's help.

Given Master Suo's status, it was naturally impossible for him to personally contact Yang Can. This brother-in-law was the perfect candidate.

(End of this chapter)