Chapter 377 - 280: Arriving at the Port, Admired by Ten Thousand

Chapter 377: Chapter 280: Arriving at the Port, Admired by Ten Thousand

Though spring had officially begun, the winter in Huangpu Guard was proving to be exceptionally long this year.

The sky had been gloomy since morning, and by afternoon, a light rain had begun to fall.

The fine rain turned to ice upon hitting the ground, making the roads incredibly slick.

Such weather was hardly ideal for going out, but Flower Square was as bustling as ever.

The patrons cared little for the rain. To them, such weather was all the more reason to come to Flower Square, find their favorite girls, and share a few drinks.

Thus, just as dusk fell, the whole of Flower Square was already a hubbub of voices, its brilliant lanterns lighting up the night sky.

On the top floor of Jufu Pavilion.

Erya gazed down at the scene outside through the window, a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

’Brother Xiaowu has been gone for almost a month,’ she thought. ’I wonder how he’s doing, and if he’s run into any danger.’

Just then, Wu Mengchan’s voice came from behind her.

"Sister-in-law, everything is ready. Let’s eat."

At first, Erya would get shy whenever Wu Mengchan called her sister-in-law, but she had since grown accustomed to the address.

Turning around, she saw a massive grill set up in the center of the room.

It was essentially a large, custom-made iron pan with ridges hammered into its surface, designed to allow juices to run off while the meat cooked.

Beneath it, fruitwood charcoal was burning brightly, the intense heat already making the iron pan glow a faint red.

"Coming!" Erya pushed all her longing and sorrow deep down, stepping forward with a smile to help grill the meat.

The meat—all high-quality beef and mutton—had been sliced and marinated in advance, then mixed with onions. When it was time to cook, they simply had to pour it onto the hot surface, and a rich, meaty aroma instantly filled the air.

Yang Lian’Er stood to one side holding her bowl, practically drooling with hunger.

Seeing her impatience, Wu Mengchan couldn’t help but tease, "Sister Lian’Er, aren’t you on a diet? Should you be eating this barbecue?"

"Of course I can! A little indulgence now and then is fine! Is it ready yet?" As she spoke, her eyes never once left the grill.

She really was craving it.

She had been on a strict diet ever since Wu Liangchen left.

Every day was nothing but plain congee with simple side dishes, or just cucumbers and potatoes. After so many days, she was so famished her eyes practically glowed with hunger.

So now, seeing the barbecue, her desperation was palpable.

Finally, the meat was cooked just enough to change color.

"It’s ready!" Wu Mengchan announced.

The words had barely left her mouth when Yang Lian’Er shot her iron chopsticks out, snagged a piece of meat, and shoved it straight into her mouth without even dipping it in any sauce.

"HISSS..." She winced, her face contorting from the heat, but she refused to spit it out, swallowing it whole instead.

"How’s it taste?" Wu Mengchan asked with a laugh.

"I couldn’t taste it."

She was telling the truth. She had been so preoccupied with satisfying her craving that she hadn’t had the presence of mind to savor the flavor.

Erya couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. "Sister Lian’Er, why do you put yourself through all this? You’re not the least bit fat. Why insist on dieting?"

"You don’t understand. I used to be a famous opera singer," Yang Lian’Er replied. "In my line of work, the demands on your figure are incredibly strict. You can’t afford to be even a little overweight."

Though she had long since left the stage, her early immersion in the craft, combined with her own passion, meant she had never given up on the idea of performing opera.

This was why she had taken Wu Liangchen’s comment about her gaining weight so much to heart.

But right now, she couldn’t be bothered with any of that. There was only one thought in her mind: ’To hell with it. I’m eating my fill first, and we’ll see about the rest later!’

Just as the three women were happily enjoying their barbecue, footsteps sounded outside. The door then burst open, and Third Brother Xie strode in, his face beaming with joy.

"Quick, stop eating."

Having only just taken a few bites, Yang Lian’Er was rather annoyed. "What’s wrong? The meat is perfectly cooked. Why would we stop?"

"Xiaowu’s back!"

Those two simple words seemed to possess immense Magic Power, making the three women in the room hold their breath in an instant.

"Really?" Wu Mengchan exclaimed, overjoyed.

"Of course it’s true. The advance ship has already docked. Your brother will be here shortly," Third Brother Xie said with a smile.

Erya felt the knot of gloom in her heart instantly dissolve.

Ever since her father’s death, she had asked for nothing more than for Wu Liangchen to be safe and sound.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!" Wu Mengchan was just as eager.

The siblings had relied on each other to survive since childhood, and her affection for her brother was no less profound than Erya’s.

"Don’t rush. The ship won’t arrive for a little while yet. Go change your clothes. I’ve already prepared a carriage; it’s waiting downstairs." With that, Third Brother Xie left ahead of them.

"Sister-in-law, what are you standing there in a daze for? Hurry up and go change!" Wu Mengchan urged, seeing that Erya hadn’t moved.

Erya finally snapped out of it, as if waking from a dream, and turned to head to her bedroom.

After Wu Liangchen’s departure, the three of them had moved to the top floor of Jufu Pavilion.

It was the very heart of Flower Square and heavily guarded, which offered the best possible protection for them.

Although it was now difficult to find anyone in Huangpu Guard, or indeed in all of Great Yan, who dared to cross Wu Liangchen, Third Brother Xie subscribed to the "once bitten, twice shy" philosophy and took every precaution.

Wu Mengchan and Erya both went to change their clothes, but Yang Lian’Er didn’t move. Instead, she picked up her bowl and proceeded to eat every last scrap of meat on the grill, only letting out a long sigh of satisfaction when she was done.

"Now *this* is a meal! Compared to this, what was that crap I’ve been eating?" Yang Lian’Er exclaimed, though she felt a twinge of guilt.