Chapter 595 - 598: Tanghulu

Chapter 595: Chapter 598: Tanghulu

Hua Manman knew someone might sneak in tonight, so she set up traps in advance.

First, she stretched a thin string across the floor near the bed. Then, she stuck numerous embroidery needles into the bedding and also hung a large vase from the ceiling above the bed.

After finishing all this, Hua Manman crouched down and hid inside the wardrobe.

The wait was rather long, and she accidentally fell asleep.

She didn’t even notice when the man in black snuck in. It wasn’t until a piercing scream suddenly rang out that she woke up.

She rubbed her eyes, remembering that she was lying in wait. She pressed her head against the wardrobe door and peeked out through the crack. ’What’s my long-awaited "rabbit" up to?’

In the pitch-black room, after the man in black tripped on the string, his momentum sent him lunging forward.

He landed heavily on the bed.

Ordinarily, since the bed was covered with soft bedding, the fall shouldn’t have hurt.

However, the bedding was studded with embroidery needles.

The man in black fell right on top of them and was instantly turned into a human pincushion.

He let out a volley of agonized screams.

Hua Manman hurriedly untied the thin string fastened to her wrist.

As soon as the string went slack, the large vase hanging from the ceiling above the bed came crashing down, landing squarely on the man in black’s head!

SMASH! The vase shattered.

The man in black was knocked unconscious on the spot, lying motionless on the bed.

Hua Manman pushed open the wardrobe door and walked out.

Just then, Li Liao arrived.

He lit the oil lamp, and after seeing the scene in the room, he immediately guessed what Hua Manman had just done.

Looking at the assassin, who was covered in needles with a bleeding gash on his head, Li Liao couldn’t help but sigh in amazement once again.

’This daughter-in-law of mine is really something else!’

Li Liao hoisted up the heavily injured, unconscious assassin and stuffed him into the wardrobe, slamming the door shut with a THUD. He then shook out the quilt, letting the porcelain fragments fall to the floor, before flipping the bedding over to hide the bloodstains underneath.

Just then, an inn attendant rushed in and asked anxiously.

"What happened? I heard someone screaming just now."

"We accidentally broke a vase just now," Li Liao said. "My son was startled and let out a cry."

Playing along, Hua Manman gasped, clutching her chest as she collapsed onto the daybed.

"I was just trying to move the vase, I didn’t think I’d end up breaking it! It gave me such a fright."

The attendant’s heart ached as he looked at the porcelain shards scattered all over the floor.

’That vase was expensive!’

"We’ll pay for it in full," Li Liao said.

The attendant immediately broke into a smile. "I’ll get this cleaned up for you right away."

"Mm."

As the attendant turned to leave, he accidentally tripped on the thin string on the floor.

He couldn’t help but ask, "What’s this string for?"

Li Liao explained, "We’re traveling merchants, so we often run into petty thieves. This string is a precaution to stop anyone from sneaking in to steal our things."

The attendant’s face lit up with understanding. He said fawningly,

"You’ve thought of everything."

He brought a broom and cleaned up the porcelain shards on the floor.

After the attendant left, Li Liao hoisted the two unconscious men in black onto his shoulders and left the inn by climbing out the window.

He returned not long after.

The two men in black were gone, and Li Liao was holding a bundle.

He shook open the bundle, revealing the duvet cover packed inside.

As Hua Manman put the clean duvet cover on the quilt, she asked,

"What about those two from just now?"

"I threw them in the river," Li Liao said.

Hua Manman burned the dirty duvet cover she had removed, and with that, the cleanup was complete.

"They’ll probably send more men tomorrow night," said Li Liao. "And it won’t be just two of them next time."

The fact that tonight’s two men in black vanished without a trace was bound to attract Lu Kai’s attention. To keep them from escaping again, Lu Kai would surely dispatch more men with orders to capture them at all costs.

Hua Manman yawned, utterly exhausted.

She climbed into bed, hugged her pillow, and mumbled,

"That’s a problem for tomorrow."

The next morning, as soon as Hua Manman finished her breakfast, she eagerly sent for Yue Niang.

Li Liao looked as if he wanted to say something, then thought better of it, then wanted to speak again.

For the sake of his son’s happiness, the old father finally decided to offer a word of warning.

"Be careful. That Yue Niang isn’t as simple as she seems."

Hua Manman made an "OK" sign with her hand. "Don’t worry, I know."

Soon, Yue Niang was brought to the inn.

Today, she wore a red jacket over a white skirt. Her face was adorned with delicate, light makeup, and her cloud-like black hair framed her features. Her every glance was captivating; she was truly a lovely sight.

The attendant leading the way kept turning back to look at her, and the other guests in the inn couldn’t help but secretly size her up.

Yue Niang held a pipa in her arms, her eyes downcast, not looking at anyone.

Only when she entered the private room did she raise her head, curtsying to Hua Manman and Li Liao.

"This servant greets you, gentlemen."

Hua Manman quickly said there was no need for such ceremony.

Yue Niang was about to sit down and play her pipa when Hua Manman called her over.

"It’s so cold outside. You must be freezing after that walk over."

As she spoke, Hua Manman took Yue Niang’s hand. Finding her fingers ice-cold, she pressed her own hand warmer into them.

"Here, take this to warm your hands. A woman’s hands are precious; you must take good care of them."

Yue Niang was taken aback.

The warmth of the hand warmer flowed from her fingertips into her heart.

It was a kind of thoughtfulness she had never experienced before.

Hua Manman scooted over, inviting Yue Niang to sit beside her. Then she said,

"We’d like to go out for a meal today, but we’re new here and don’t know where to find the best food. Would you mind being our guide, Yue Niang? Don’t worry, we’ll pay you well for your time; we won’t short you a single coin."

Yue Niang blushed and replied bashfully,

"You are so good to me, sir. I would be willing to accompany you even without payment."

The three of them left together.

When they got to the carriage, Hua Manman made a point of taking Yue Niang’s arm to help her board, not forgetting to add a reminder.

"Watch your head; be careful not to bump it on the door frame."

Along the way, Yue Niang told them much about the local customs and traditions of Lingxi City.

Hua Manman listened with rapt attention, her eyes fixed on Yue Niang the entire time.

The intense gaze made Yue Niang’s heart flutter.

When they reached their destination, Hua Manman helped Yue Niang out of the carriage.

A cold gust of wind mussed the hair at Yue Niang’s temples. Hua Manman reached out to gently tuck the stray strands behind her ear, then took off her own cloak and draped it around Yue Niang’s shoulders.

"I really don’t need it," Yue Niang protested.

Hua Manman placed a hand on hers to stop her, saying earnestly,

"I’m a man; I’m stronger than you and don’t mind the wind. But you’re different. A delicate woman like you can’t be exposed to such a harsh, cold wind."

Then Hua Manman took Yue Niang’s hand and walked forward.

The cloak still retained the other person’s body heat, making Yue Niang feel especially warm.

She couldn’t resist stealing a glance at the young gentleman beside her.

Li Liao, trailing a step behind, took in their interaction and felt secretly relieved—

’Good thing Li Ji isn’t here, or he’d definitely lose his mind.’

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly called out from nearby.

"Mister, would you like to buy some candied hawthorns?"