Anyway, this inn belongs to the Tang Family, doesn't it? Why is the Tang Family so wealthy!
Meng Ruyi gritted her teeth, barely maintaining her composure. She instinctively took a deep breath and scanned the inn.
It's really great to be rich.
Tang Xiyi watched the fleeting envy and shock on Meng Ruyi's face, and his pleasure reached its peak. Looking at Meng Ruyi, he said, "If we'd known Miss Meng would choose this place, we wouldn't have had to go to the neighboring mansion. It would have saved us some trouble."
It seemed that Tang Xiyi was really a bit petty, still brooding over the fact that she and Song Huaizhi had accidentally forgotten about him.
Meng Ruyi looked at Tang Xiyi. The man was dressed in a cyan robe, holding a jade-boned fan in his hand. Although the color should have been a cold one, Meng Ruyi saw a sense of opulence.
"Definitely next time," Meng Ruyi said. "If I come across another inn owned by the Tang Family next time, I won't stand on ceremony."
Then, Meng Ruyi got to the point.
"I wonder if Young Master Tang has settled that girl properly?"
"Of course," Tang Xiyi said as he snapped open his fan with a flourish. Smiling, he continued, "Money makes the mare go. Such a small matter is naturally no problem for me."
"I just wonder if Miss Meng intends to take this girl away or..."
As Tang Xiyi got down to business, his expression finally became serious. After hesitating for a moment, he still advised Meng Ruyi, "If Miss Meng doesn't want to take the girl away, I can also arrange for her to work in one of the Tang Family's shops.
"Anyway, the Tang Family's shops are short of staff. Or I can just settle her in the neighboring mansion. It's no big deal."
"I'll think about it." Meng Ruyi pitied the girl for her bitter fate. But if she took the girl to the capital with her, it would be rather unkind of her. It would be like throwing the child into the fire.
But if she just left the girl in Tang Xiyi's mansion, she wasn't sure if the people of the Tang Family were reliable. If such a young child were to be looked down upon and bullied in the future, Meng Ruyi would feel really bad.
What a pity.
"It's okay," Tang Xiyi said as he closed his fan. He went on, "Miss Meng just needs to make a decision before we leave."
"Thank you, Young Master Tang."
As Meng Ruyi was speaking, she saw Tang Xiyi snap open his fan again, fan it a few times, and then close it with a smile.
It looked familiar. There was a white crane painted on the fan, with smooth strokes and lifelike details.
"Is this a painting by Mr. Lin?"
Meng Ruyi watched as Tang Xiyi opened and closed the fan. His hand holding the fan was tightly clenched, as if he cherished it very much. But he couldn't help but close and open it again, showing it off to everyone.
[Lol, Yu Yu (Meng Ruyi) has spotted it. Tang Xiyi is really such a show-off, hahahaha]
[I like this kind of peacock-like person. He always brings a lot of fun, hahahaha]
[Tang Xiyi opened the fan so many times just waiting for Yu Yu to say something. I was wondering what he was doing there, opening and closing it all the time]
Meng Ruyi: "..."
So that's how it was.
"Miss Meng has a discerning eye," Tang Xiyi said with a smile, his face showing a hint of satisfaction. He said to Meng Ruyi, "Mr. Lin rarely paints these days, and he even rarely inscribes his works. Although there is no inscription on this fan, it is indeed painted by Mr. Lin."
"To be honest, I spent a lot of effort to get this fan," Tang Xiyi said with a sigh. "But just by looking at the strokes, one can tell it's the work of a master. Mr. Lin truly lives up to his reputation."
Meng Ruyi didn't know that Tang Xiyi liked such things. She had thought that Tang Xiyi only liked money.
"Does Young Master Tang like them?" Meng Ruyi remembered that whenever Mr. Lin sent her letters, the packages always contained a lot of calligraphy, paintings, and inscribed fans. He said they were for her to play with, but Meng Ruyi thought he was probably worried that she was short of money, so he sent them to her.
Thinking of the large number of items she had accumulated, a warm smile suddenly appeared on Meng Ruyi's face. She said to Tang Xiyi, "Does Young Master Tang prefer flower-and-bird paintings or landscape paintings? Calligraphy, paintings, or fans?"
"What?"
Tang Xiyi was stunned. He stared at Meng Ruyi fixedly and it took him a while to find his voice. "Anything will do!"
Could it be that he could actually get something for free from Meng Ruyi?
Tang Xiyi even suspected that he had misheard. He resisted the urge to rub his ears and said, "I almost forgot. Miss Meng is Mr. Lin's disciple."
"I'm still busy now. I'll have someone send them over later."
It could be considered as a reward for Tang Xiyi. After all, the matter of that little girl had nothing to do with him. It was something she had taken on. She had just been wondering how to reward him, and now it was much simpler.
Tang Xiyi looked calm. But the moment Meng Ruyi turned around, emotions flashed in his eyes, which finally turned into a hint of a smile.
It seemed that Meng Ruyi was indeed an extremely extraordinary and yet casual person.
He had taken the unsigned fan just to test her. Unexpectedly, she didn't mind at all and even gave him a generous gift because of the previous matter.
She was so insightful and astute. He wondered what kind of stir she would make in the capital.
...
The sun was setting in the west, leaving only a faint afterglow.
Looking at the dim light, Meng Ruyi felt inexplicably sleepy. She was just about to tell Lian Qiao to inform Song Huaizhi that she wouldn't be having dinner.
Unexpectedly, there was a knock on the door at this moment.
She got up to open the door and saw Tang Xiyi standing outside. The smile on his face was much more genuine than when they first met.
It seemed that the fan and the painting had really worked.
Meng Ruyi couldn't help but complain in her heart. Then she looked at Tang Xiyi and said, "I wonder what brings Young Master Tang here?"
"Miss Meng," Tang Xiyi bowed slightly and said to Meng Ruyi, "That little girl wants to see you."
"Okay, I'm coming." Meng Ruyi tidied up the hairpin on her head and then said to Tang Xiyi, "Let's go."
Only then did Tang Xiyi notice that Meng Ruyi was now wearing a cyan robe, the same color as his.
The young girl in front of him had a beautiful face, clear and gentle eyes, and an extremely calm demeanor. She was composed, exuding the unique aura of a noble lady.
Meng Ruyi was really a tough nut to crack. Only then did Tang Xiyi realize that the girl in front of him was also extremely good-looking. But when she met him, she was so composed that he subconsciously ignored this fact.
Tang Xiyi's breath caught slightly, but he didn't show it on his face. He turned around to lead the way and explained to Meng Ruyi, "The little girl heard that it was you who saved her, and she said she wanted to see you just now."
"Her father just passed away," Tang Xiyi said, his words filled with pity. "She's really pitiful. It's so sad that the little girl will be alone in this world from now on."
Meng Ruyi didn't say a word. She followed him, walked forward, and went upstairs. To her surprise, there was a large private room at the end.
"This is the room reserved for me."
But since Tang Xiyi was now staying on the second floor with Song Huaizhi and the others, this room was empty and no one was living in it for the time being. It was just right for the little girl to stay in for a few days.