After Su Buchi finished the bowl of plain noodles, Yan Lianzhi finally put away his solemn and serious look and laughed, "Haha, now that you've filled your belly with noodles, you won't have the appetite to fight me for Ying girl's cooking. Excellent, excellent!"
He stopped talking to Su Buchi and returned to his usual playful and cynical self. He simply turned around and was about to take his seat.
Su Buchi was slightly stunned. Although he knew that his master was just trying to relieve the awkward atmosphere as the common people around them were all too afraid to say a word, he still respectfully bowed towards Yan Lianzhi's back and said, "Thank you, Master, for your teachings!"
Without even looking back, Yan Lianzhi just casually waved his hand and then went straight to enjoy his meal.
Li Ying took small portions of all the dishes and put them on separate porcelain plates.
She toasted Su Buchi three cups of peach blossom wine, then picked up the food box and went to visit the senior boss.
When she and Lu Xunguang arrived, the senior boss was slumped wearily in a grand master's chair. Surrounded by the thick fox fur, the old man looked even thinner.
Lu Xunguang looked at his haggard appearance and silently bowed his head.
There was a red - clay stove beside him warming a cup of yellow rice wine. Presumably, it was prepared for melting the Nine - Dynasty Tribute Gelatin.
Du Zhong had already tested the medicinal effect. The coldness of the "Red Water Spiritual Spring" from Xikang in the Hu region had just right neutralized the dryness of the gelatin. The medicinal properties were well - balanced between yin and yang, truly a top - grade tonic.
Seeing the two of them coming, Du Zhong heaved a sigh of relief as if he had seen a savior.
"Junior boss, Miss Li, please persuade the senior boss. No matter how much we try to convince him, the senior boss just refuses to take this excellent Nine - Dynasty Tribute Gelatin!"
Lu Xunguang frowned slightly, waved his hand to dismiss the maids and servants waiting nearby, melted a cup of gelatin wine himself, and said in a deep voice, "Are you doubting the medicinal effect of this tribute gelatin?"
His words were cold and blunt. Even though Li Ying had expected that the confrontation between the father and son wouldn't be a warm one, she still couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
The senior boss didn't seem to care at all. He still squinted his eyes as if he was taking a nap.
Lu Xunguang's face darkened. He continued, "Or do you deliberately want to ruin your own body and just want to go with the convicted Lian Ji?"
There was a hint of anger on his face. After a long time, the senior boss finally slowly opened his eyes, sized up Lu Xunguang from head to toe, but casually changed the subject.
"My son is really imposing."
"A Man has returned to the Hu region. Presumably, he will send some fine horses from Xikang soon. You've learned Zheng Ji's skills. Reconstructing the horse caravan will be an easy task. I can finally rest assured."
He smiled with relief, pulled his cloak tighter, and then said no more.
Seeing that the father - son duo was about to part on bad terms again, Li Ying secretly thought it was bad. She had to rack her brains quickly.
The senior boss's words actually gave a feeling of having fulfilled his wishes and having no regrets.
She was sharp - eyed and immediately noticed that there was a round bracelet hidden in the old man's sleeve. It seemed to be made of bamboo root and had been polished to a faint jade color. Her mind suddenly clicked.
Lu Xunguang's biological mother was in the bamboo - mountain business. The love token she taught her son to make was also a pair of bamboo bracelets.
If her guess was correct, this bamboo - root bracelet of the senior boss must also be from the hands of the never - met Mrs. Lu!
Although bamboo is a symbol of integrity and makes very elegant ornaments, it is also very easy to crack and needs to be oiled and carefully maintained every day.
The senior boss's bamboo - root bracelet had been polished almost to a jade - like state, which obviously showed that he cherished it very much.
His relationship with Lian Ji was just a passing affair. How could he lose all interest in life and seek death just because she was imprisoned?
The person he missed in his heart was probably only Mrs. Lu!
Li Ying's mind raced. Immediately, she gently stopped Lu Xunguang who was about to leave in a huff and said softly,
"The senior boss has endured humiliation for many years. Now that he has entrusted the Ping An Bank to Young Master Lu and seen him take charge independently and act vigorously, he feels at ease and is ready to be buried with Mrs. Lu. Although his love is deep and righteous, it is really cruel to Young Master Lu."
"Back then, many senior members of the horse caravan had some complaints about the senior boss and his wife's past. Senior boss, if I'm not wrong, your eagerness to seek death is not only to be reunited with your wife in the afterlife but also to give an explanation to the wrongly - accused horse caravan and to secure a bright future for Young Master Lu, right?"
As soon as she said this, Lu Xunguang's body immediately stiffened like an iron plate.
The senior boss never expected that Li Ying would be able to point out his thoughts in just a few words. A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"You girl have such a delicate and intelligent mind. There's really nothing that can be hidden from you."
Li Ying continued, "If Mrs. Lu knew in the underworld, she probably wouldn't want to watch you two father and son misunderstand each other like this. There's no overnight feud between father and son. Senior boss, Young Master Lu has tried his best since childhood just to get your praise. He's just mouth - hard, but he has always regarded you very highly in his heart."
"Since you're sure that Young Master Lu can support this tottering Ping An Bank and make it regain its glory, you must trust him very much. In that case, why not tell him all about the old feud between the river transport gang and the horse caravan?"
"Now the Tea - Horse Ancient Road and the fishing village are united as one. Uncle Su has successfully entered officialdom. We have all the advantages of heaven, earth, and people. Not to mention that the river transport gang is just a bunch of bandits. Even if they were some powerful and influential aristocratic families, as long as we work together, we don't have to be afraid of them. You're a hero all your life. Why do you have to be so cowardly?"
Li Ying's words were meaningful. The senior boss frowned. After a long time, he finally smiled with relief, sighed softly, and slowly stretched out his withered fingers to pick up the gelatin wine on the table.
Without hesitation, he drank the contents of the cup in one gulp. Then he turned to look at Lu Xunguang and said in a deep voice, "A Xun, it's my fault."
"The tribute gelatin, the pearl field, the restaurant, and the teahouse. You two have excelled in everything. I should have realized earlier that my son is no longer a fledgling bird in need of protection."
Back then, he and Mrs. Lu had discussed that after the private - salt case, the horse caravan was wrongly accused and had no choice but to leave. Outnumbered and out - gunned, they had no alternative but to part secretly.
Lian Ji's defeat, the return of the horse caravan, and Lu Xunguang's succession had all come too suddenly. There were many complaints within the bank.
That Imperial Censor Lin seemed calm on the surface, but secretly he was probably already eyeing them covetously and had made some plans.
The senior boss originally thought that as long as he died, the bank would inevitably fall apart. Now that Lu Xunguang was trying to turn the tide, the horse caravan and the bank would surely rally around him.
"I only thought about no ruin, no reconstruction, but I forgot that my son's current means are already no less than mine. With Miss Li as his virtuous helper, who always surprises us, it's not impossible to find a new way to break the deadlock."
A flickering fire reignited in his eyes. He looked at Lu Xunguang sharply and said in a deep voice, "A Xun, I will tell you everything you want to know truthfully. Are you ready?"