Pei Xia stirred the embers in the charcoal brazier and added more charcoal. Lifting his eyes, he said to Qi Jiao, "Stay here. I'll go and ask for leave."
Qi Jiao told him to take his time. "Don't go. A Le is still waiting for me in the carriage outside. I'll leave soon."
Pei Xia looked at her without saying a word, then turned around and lifted the curtain to go out.
There were three rough men sharing the duty room with him.
The duty room was small. In winter, the window was opened for only a short time, so the smell in the room was a bit pungent.
Pei Xia didn't want Jiao Niang to feel the slightest bit uncomfortable. It was freezing outside. How could he bear to let her go back in the snowstorm?
Most of the men in Yuhua Stockade were bachelors, full of vigor.
For some reason, Pei Xia didn't want Qi Jiao to stay here for long.
He would go with her.
He went straight to Fang Qian's room to ask for leave.
It had been a long time since there had been any female in Yuhua Stockade. Naturally, Fang Qian knew that Qi Jiao had come to visit Pei Xia.
Pei Xia looked calm on the surface, but as sensitive as Fang Qian was, he still caught the tenderness hidden in his eyes.
For a moment, Fang Qian felt jealous.
He waved his hand impatiently. "Get out of here. You're done for the day."
Pei Xia twitched the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, sir. I'll be back early tomorrow morning."
"All right, all right. I know."
When Pei Xia came back, he found the yard bustling with activity and the duty room completely changed.
Dong Hong and Fan Wu, who shared the room with him, were following Qi Jiao, looking obedient.
Qi Jiao was not polite. After a few polite words, she assigned them tasks.
She was always meticulous. When she came, she brought half a carriage of winter supplies for Pei Xia.
Winter clothes, cloaks, shoes and boots, thickened quilts, and high - quality smokeless charcoal filled the small duty room quickly.
Qi Jiao had expected that the food in Yuhua Stockade was not very good, so she also brought fish pickle, jarred meat, and various pickled vegetables for Pei Xia.
"There aren't many things. Just have a change of taste. Put them in the room."
Dong Hong and Fan Wu had long heard of the fame of Jiao Niang's restaurant. Holding the jars and thinking of the unpalatable food in the kitchen, their eyes welled up with tears. They almost knelt down to Qi Jiao.
Of course, Qi Jiao also brought handmade snacks for Pei Xia's colleagues. There were several large food boxes. A Le was distributing them in the yard.
When the delicious snacks were in their hands and then in their mouths, everyone in Yuhua Stockade was excited.
Qi Jiao stood under the corridor, smiling slightly.
She wore a jade - colored cloak with a white fox collar. The fluffy white fur set off her fair little face. One couldn't see her features clearly from a distance, but it was that hazy beauty that made people feel as if a fairy had descended to the mortal world.
Just taking a distant look at such beauty was worth it.
While everyone felt happy, they also felt extremely envious. Pei Xia was really lucky!
Everyone wanted to go up and thank her, but when they saw Pei Xia coming, with his cold side - face and unfriendly nature, they immediately gave up the idea and didn't dare to go up and talk to her rashly.
Pei Xia stood at the door, not knowing where to put his feet. A thousand emotions welled up in his heart. He looked straight at Qi Jiao and said, "Have you moved your home here?"
Qi Jiao said with a smile, "Use these things first. I'll ask A Le to bring you more in a few days."
Suddenly, Qi Jiao seemed to remember something. She waved to Pei Xia and pointed to a large bundle on the windowsill. "I just forgot. This is for Lord Fang. Take it to him."
Pei Xia blurted out, "Why does he get something too?"
Qi Jiao gave him a gentle glare. "He's your superior."
The implication was that it was necessary to maintain a good relationship with him.
Of course, Qi Jiao wouldn't blatantly give Fang Qian money. Bringing some daily necessities showed more sincerity.
Pei Xia understood that Qi Jiao did this all for him, so he picked up the bundle and went to find Fang Qian.
He endured his curiosity all the way and handed the things to Fang Qian.
Hearing that it was from Jiao Niang, Fang Qian raised his eyebrows, thanked him, and then took it generously.
A moment later, Fang Qian looked up from the desk. Seeing Pei Xia still standing in front of him, he said, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Pei Xia was stunned for a moment, then said indifferently, "Why don't you take a look at what's in the bundle, sir?"
Fang Qian was taken aback. Didn't he see he was busy?
He sized up the lake - blue bundle wrapper embroidered with honeysuckle patterns. Suddenly, he realized that this guy must be jealous.
Fang Qian rarely saw Pei Xia like this. He glanced at him and sneered as he opened the bundle.
Inside were two sets of thick winter clothes, knee pads, a bunch of top - grade snacks, and two bottles of fine wine.
It had been a long time since he received such a gift. Fang Qian suddenly felt a pang of sadness. The hard shell that had surrounded him for years began to loosen.
Only when his wife was alive would she prepare these things for him and care about his daily life.
Little did Fang Qian know that while he was silently thinking of his deceased wife, Pei Xia was thinking that the clothes must have been bought by Jiao Niang in a clothing store, and the snacks and wine must have been the leftovers from the store.
Thinking like this, Pei Xia left Fang Qian in a good mood. He left Yuhua Stockade with Qi Jiao and A Le.
A Le didn't come to Yinwan very often. He was a bit confused after leaving Yuhua Stockade.
Pei Xia simply let him get into the carriage and drove the carriage himself.
This carriage was newly bought by Qi Jiao. Although it looked simple and was not as magnificent as the carriages of wealthy families, the interior was carefully designed by her. It had everything one needed and was warm and comfortable.
Qi Jiao yawned lazily. Looking around, she saw A Le leaning on one side, nodding off. He was already asleep.
Qi Jiao smiled. She leaned out half of her body and got close to Pei Xia. "Why haven't we got home yet?"
Pei Xia looked at Jiao Niang with clear eyes. A suspicious blush suddenly appeared on his face. "This is not the way home."
Qi Jiao let out a surprised sound. "If we're not going home, are we going back to the county town?"
But it was getting late. It would take half an hour to get to the town, and it was dangerous to travel at night.
Pei Xia whipped the horse. "The horse is hungry and can't run far. We'll stay in the town tonight."
Qi Jiao said it was a good idea. It was convenient for both of them.
The cold wind was howling. Pei Xia was wearing the black fox cloak brought by Qi Jiao, which could keep him warm, but his red ears were very obvious.
Qi Jiao stretched out her warm hand to cover Pei Xia's ears. She planned to order a rabbit - ear hat for him when they got back.
Yuhua Stockade was located at the junction of Yinwan and the town. Soon, they arrived.
Pei Xia was much more familiar with this area than Qi Jiao.
He drove the carriage straight to an inn on the street.
The inn was small, run only by the innkeeper and his wife. Their young daughter, in her twenties, also helped in the store.
Pei Xia led the horse to the backyard and told A Le to feed the horse some beans and light salt water.
Qi Jiao was warmly welcomed into the house by the innkeeper.
Qi Jiao sat at the table and quietly observed the environment. The store was very clean. The innkeeper's wife brought them steaming tea.
Qi Jiao nodded and thanked her. Then she ordered a few dishes and a large bowl of dumpling soup.
After the meal, Pei Xia booked a separate room for A Le, and he and Jiao Niang would share a room.
In Qi Jiao's memory, this was the first time she had stayed outside with Pei Xia.
The room was small, with only one bed. They could touch each other if they turned over.
The innkeeper's daughter kindly brought hot water. Qi Jiao wanted to take a bath.
Pei Xia poured the hot water into the bathtub. He felt the water temperature was not too hot, then called Qi Jiao to take a bath.
For some reason, Qi Jiao felt a little shy taking a bath in front of Pei Xia in this small inn in the town.
She pulled a clothes - rack in front of the bathtub, quickly took off her outer clothes and hung them on the rack, then sank into the water as if escaping.
Actually, this half - covered situation was even more alluring.
Pei Xia pretended to make the bed, but his peripheral vision was always on Qi Jiao.
The candle flickered, and the water vapor lingered. Her beautiful body was so white that it seemed to glow.
Pei Xia's eyes darkened, and his Adam's apple rolled.