novelkee Chapter 324 Staying at the Inn
Chapter 324 Staying at the Inn
The sea breeze blew gently, and Shen Shaodong and his group returned with a full load. Everyone was holding large and small buckets in their hands, which were filled with fresh and delicious seafood. The heavy weight indicated the richness of the harvest.
Putting down the wooden barrel steadily, Shen Shaodong turned to look at Shen Li, his eyes filled with inquiry and concern, and said, "Ali, look, we've caught quite a lot of seafood now, isn't it time to head back? We've been away for a while, and there must be a lot of things waiting for us to deal with at home."
Shen Li, who was carefully checking the condition of the seafood, raised her head when she heard this, a sweet smile bloomed on her face, she nodded gently and responded: "Yes, Dad. Speaking of which, I miss mom and brothers. As an older sister, I haven't even seen my two younger brothers." Her words were full of longing and concern for her family.
As Shen Shaodong listened to his daughter's words, his mind flashed back to the gentle face of Zhang Xiu Niang and the adorable looks of his two young sons. A wave of tenderness welled up in his heart, and a kind and gentle smile appeared on his face. He nodded and said, "Well, I feel the same way as a father. It's been several months since I last saw them, and I really miss them."
After a brief pause, Shen Shaodong turned to face Zhao Lin and Luo Feng. His expression became serious and earnest. He instructed them methodically, "Listen carefully, both of you. After lunch, pack your bags and get ready to go. We'll leave for home as soon as possible."
Zhao Lin and Luo Feng immediately straightened up, clasped their hands together, and responded in unison: "Yes, sir!" Their voices were loud and firm, demonstrating their loyalty and execution ability.
Nangong Qi stood aside and when he heard Shen Shaodong's arrangement, his heart suddenly tightened and he thought to himself that something was wrong.
He frantically racked his brain for a plan, when suddenly, an idea struck him. He stepped forward and respectfully addressed Shen Shaodong, "Uncle Shen, to be honest, my father heard that my former savior had arrived in Xiqi and was deeply concerned. He specifically instructed me to bring her to the palace to meet him as a token of his gratitude."
After saying this, he lowered his head slightly, a blush of seeming embarrassment appearing on his face, and continued, "I... I have already agreed to this matter with my father. I want to take Ah Li to travel in Xiqi for a few days, so that she can experience our Xiqi customs and culture, and then go to the palace to pay her respects to my father. And... and I have already booked an inn for you in advance, everything is arranged."
As Nangong Qi spoke, he secretly observed Shen Shaodong's expression out of the corner of his eye, silently praying in his heart that his plan would work.
Shen Shaodong's eyes were filled with doubt as he slowly turned to Shen Li, as if waiting for her opinion. His eyes were full of inquiry and concern, after all, this matter concerned the family's schedule.
Shen Li keenly caught her father's gaze and thought to herself: Given the current situation, it might be difficult to leave Xiqi easily. However, meeting the Emperor of Xiqi might yield unexpected gains, which might not be a bad thing for future development.
Thinking of this, Shen Li nodded slightly and nodded gently to her father, indicating that she was willing to stay.
Seeing this, Shen Shaodong turned around and faced Nangong Qi with a gentle smile on his face. He said sincerely, "In that case, I'll have to take the last seat. I'll trouble Master Nangong to arrange it." His words were full of humility and courtesy.
The brothers Shen Yu and Shen Xuan stood aside, looking at each other quietly. They understood each other tacitly and neither of them said a word.
They thought to themselves: A-Li/Sister must have her own considerations and reasons for making such a decision. As a family, we naturally support her.
The other people present did not raise any objection to Nangong Qi's proposal and silently accepted the arrangement to change the itinerary.
Only Su Ran, although he also did not speak, revealed a hint of determination in his eyes.
He secretly made up his mind: No matter what Nangong Qi's plan is or what his intentions are, I must stay close to Li'er and never let her fall into any danger or predicament.
The sea breeze blew gently with a faint smell of the sea, and busy figures shuttled between the camps.
A group of more than 30 people led by Shen Shaodong, plus a dozen people led by Su Ran, were just finishing their simple lunch in a hurry.
They packed their bags swiftly, putting all the items in order, and then followed Nangong Qi to the reserved inn.
Along the way, the sunlight shone on the moving team, casting mottled light and shadows.
Nangong Qi rode on a tall horse, his posture upright, with a hint of pride in his expression.
He arranged everything early in the morning. In order to ensure the secrecy and safety of the trip, he specially sent guards to clear the post station in advance.
When everyone arrived at the posthouse, they saw the building with carved beams and painted rafters standing quietly in front of them. There was silence all around. It was just as Nangong Qi said. Apart from them, there was no other outsider.
The vermilion door slowly opened, as if welcoming these guests from afar.
People filed in, their footsteps echoing in the empty inn. An unknown story seemed to be about to unfold quietly in this quiet inn...