148 – Adorable Radish Costume

The young man’s pupils suddenly shrank, thoughts unknown, and he appeared to be a little surprised.

Just in a breath, the look in the young man’s eyes changed, but it did not escape Lei Tie’s eyes. Lei Tie took hold of Qin Mian’s hand, squeezed it, and led him forward.

Qin Mian was surprised to see a man who looked like him with his own eyes. Out of politeness, he nodded to the man and followed Lei Tie into the inn.

Lei-Qin Shun and the others quickly followed.

The young man watched them disappear on the stairs before he turned and left.

After the waiter had led them to their guest room, Qin Mian asked the waiter to send hot water over.

Lei Tie put Yuanyuan and Manman down. When the waiter left, he hesitated for a moment, but said it nonetheless, “Wife, that person is very likely to know you.”

Qin Mian was taken aback, “How so?”

“He seemed shocked and suspicious when he saw you. As if… it’s very unexpected to see you.” Lei Tie’s wording was very strict.

Yuanyuan and Manman didn’t know what their dads were talking about; they ran around in the spacious guest room full of energy, chasing after White Spot. “Yuanyuan and Manman, run slowly. Be careful not to fall.” While Qin Mian and Lei Tie were talking, they did not forget to pay attention to their two sons. “Could he be… a relative?”

Lei Tie went over and put his arms around his wife’s waist. “Wife, do you want to find your family?”

Qin Mian took the opportunity to encircle his man’s neck and shook his head. “You know where I came from.” He didn’t know why this body appeared alone in Green Mountain Village at the beginning, or whether it would be a good thing for him and the other party if he found the original owner’s family. Therefore, he never wanted to take the initiative to go looking for them, but let nature take its course.

Lei Tie hugged him tightly, stroked his face with his big palm, pecked his ear gently, and then said slowly, “Wife, maybe I’m selfish, so I don’t want other people to take away your attention. As long as I have you, you can only have me.”

Qin Mian’s heart was comforted, and he kissed the man on the chin. Knowing that the man had just made a slip of the tongue, Qin Mian still wanted to tease him, “Well, you! Don’t you want your sons?”

Lei Tie’s face flashed a bit of embarrassment, “I mean, besides our family of four, others are not needed.”

Qin Mian simmered with laughter, patted the man on his back, and rubbed his cheek against the man’s neck. “Well, I’m not sure if that person is related to me. Why do we have to fret over it? Maybe we’re just people with similarities. We go out to sight-seeing; don’t let our mood be affected by others.”

“En.” Lei Tie dragged Qin Mian to the back of the column¹ and kissed him for a long time. Before Yuanyuan and Manman ran over full of curiosity, Lei Tie had let go of him.

“Dad, what are you doing with Old Dad?” asked Manman as he blinked, looking very cunning.

Qin Mian pretended to be unperturbed and rubbed his little head, “Doing nothing.”

“I saw you two hugging each other. Isn’t that right, Gege?” Manman turned to look at his Gege with his pigtail flung along.

Yuanyuan nodded.

Qin Mian crossed his arms over his chest and pretended to be angry as he glared, “What? You allow Old Dad to hug you, but he isn’t allowed to hug me?”

Lei Tie looked at them quietly with his eyes full of softness and satisfaction. Having a lover and sons such as them, what more could he ask for?

Grinning, Manman took Qin Mian’s hand and shook it. “Allow Old Dad to hug Dad. Old Dad, you can hug Dad again.”

Qin Mian was embarrassed. Isn’t it like lifting a rock and hitting yourself in the foot?

Looking unperturbed, Lei Tie drew his wife into his arms.

Qin Mian had no choice but to look at the sky.

“My guest, your hot water is here.”

Qin Mian pushed Lei Tie away and mischievously blocked Manman, who was trying to catch up with his Gege.

“Dad, let me go!”

Qin Mian held back his laughter as he looked at the little boy leaning forward like a frog on his arms in a struggle. Seeing that his son’s mouth was about to pout, Qin Mian patted his little bottom and let him go.

“You little rascal.”

They had arrived in Jinshui City in the morning and stayed there for one night. The next morning, after breakfast, they continued the journey.

Surprisingly, the young man they had met before set out only two steps later than them. Later, he always stayed about a li behind them.

Qin Mian couldn’t help but wonder if the other party was indeed related to him. However, he and Lei Tie both decided to be on alert and make no move. As long as the other party did not come to trouble them, they were not interested in taking the initiative to get involved with him.

Nothing happened throughout the journey.

In the morning three days later, the procession could already see the tall wall of the Capital from a distance. Everyone sighed with relief.

Escort Zhang and his men all showed a relaxing smile on their faces. The scholars they escorted, who could get the qualification to come to the Capital for the examination, were all talented people, so they had a lot of pressure along the way. If the scholars were not well protected, not only would these scholars be harmed, but their conscience would hurt too.

Eventually, they arrived in the Capital.

Huo Sirui’s carriage slowed down and went side by side with Qin Mian’s.

He poked his head out of the window, “Eldest brother, Eldest Sister-in-law.”

“What’s it?” asked Qin Mian as he stretched out his head.

Huo Sirui said, “Eldest Sister-in-law, my father has written to his friend in the Capital earlier, asking him to make a reservation for us. It’s just that I have to pay a visit first and ask which inn it is. I’ll go ahead on horseback.”

Qin Mian nodded, “Alright, sorry to trouble you. Lei-Qin Shun, go with Huo-gongzi.”

“Yes, Little Master.”

Lei-Qin Zhong jumped onto the shaft of the carriage and gave his horse to Huo Sirui.

Huo Sirui and Lei-Qin Shun galloped away on horseback.

“Dad, we have arrived?” asked Yuanyuan while leaning on the window.

“Almost there.” Qin Mian pointed to the wall in the distance, “Son, do you see that? That’s where we’re going. When the time comes, ask your Old Dad to treat us a delicious meal!”

Yuanyuan’s face showed a lovely smile, “En.”

“I want to see it, too.” Manman mischievously leaned on his Gege’s back.

Lei Tie timely held him.

The two brothers were excited and began to chatter again.

Qin Mian simply gave up his seat to them and let them sit side by side in front of the window to see the scenery outside.

White Spot had been on the ride for a long time that it looked somewhat sullen, lazily lying on the ground. Qin Mian rubbed its head in comfort “White Spot, hold on for a while. We’ll arrive soon.”

White Spot nodded its head and obediently lay down.

“A-Tie, is that person still following?” Qin Mian sat next to Lei Tie.

Lei Tie embraced him with ease and nodded.

Qin Mian smiled rather amusingly. “It seems that he has some qualms about me. But as long as he doesn’t come to provoke us, we don’t have to mess with him.”

Lei Tie’s voice sounded cold, “It’s fine if he didn’t mean any harm. If he did, I’ll make him regret it!”

Qin Mian kissed his face and started to sort out their family of four’s luggage. When Yuanyuan and Manman didn’t pay attention, he took out some of the things that had been temporarily put in the space.

Less than an hour later, the procession arrived at the city gate. On a closer look, the city wall stood more than 30 chi² high, all of which were made of big gray stones, looking imposingly tall, sturdy, and spectacular. On the city wall, solemn-looking soldiers holding spears stood straight like bamboos. The gate was about 30 chi wide and a stone plaque above it was engraved with deep and clear “Capital City” words in vigorous touches and fine strokes, appearing grand and magnificent. Inside the city gate, pedestrians and vehicles came and went. It was very lively.

After the soldiers guarding the gate checked their travel permits, the procession followed the stream of people into the city wall. Even Qin Mian couldn’t help but look out at the window and inwardly praised. The Capital City deserved to be called the country’s important place. The streets were paved with stone slabs, which were clean and spacious that could accommodate at least four carriages side by side – this did not include the area of the vendors on both sides of the street. Pedestrians and vehicles, whether coming in or out, all walked on the right side. It seemed methodically arranged.

The shops on both sides of the street were not comparable to those in small counties. Most of them were two-story buildings. Even the smallest shops were very orderly sorted out and the silk banners fluttering at the shops’ entrances were bigger than those in other places.

Among the people who came and went, most of them were gongzis in splendid clothes. They walked slowly with their heads held high and looks carried inherent nobility and arrogance. From time to time, there was an exquisite four-men-carrying palanquin or a luxury carriage unhurriedly passed by.

Qin Mian almost lamented. Fortunately, he and Lei Tie were rich people now. They were all neat and tidy. Otherwise, they would be embarrassed to walk on the streets of the Capital City.

Upon hearing the voices of Escort Zhang and Huo Sirui, he looked ahead and found that Huo Sirui was back. Besides Lei-Qin Shun, there was a youth dressed as a manservant, who was probably sent over by Dean Huo’s good friend.

The procession followed Huo Sirui and stopped at the entrance of Swan Goose Path Inn.

The waiter, who stood at the entrance of the inn to welcome the guests, saw the incoming guests, and immediately put on a warm and friendly smile on his face as he spryly welcomed them. His eyes were unconsciously attracted by the most unusual carriage.

When that carriage stopped, the door opened from the side. The waiter was surprised. The first one to jump out of the carriage was a dog – no, a wolf, strong and powerful, with fierce eyes. It looked around in carefree and leisure and smartly sat down on the ground. It turned a deaf ear to the cries of alarm from the passers-by. Its appearance of raising its eyelids and glancing sideways permeated haughtiness.

At this time, a three-layered wooden step suddenly extended from the bottom of the carriage. A young man slowly stepped down from the carriage. The man was about 26 to 27 years old, with dashing eyebrows and bright eyes. Unfortunately, there was an ugly scar on his cold face. The black robe covering his tall and well-built body made his indifference aura more intense that people dared not approach him readily.

The man turned to face the carriage and his cold face softened as he stretched out his hands and took a child out of the carriage.

The child was about three or four years old. On his pinkish face, his big black eyes were full of agility. His dress was very unique. He wore a red hat on his head with several pieces of cloth in the shape of green leaves on the top, a small red short padded jacket on his upper body with only the sleeves in light blue color, and a pair of trousers which was also in two colors, red from waist to the buttock and light blue below the buttock. When the red of the jacket and the trousers were connected, the whole person looked like a plump big red radish, oh-so-adorable!

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