A life of two souls traveling through time

Chapter 115: Drinking buddies reunite, eyes full of jealousy

Mu Liang finally received a letter of safety from An Yun in Liangdu. He breathed a sigh of relief, but when he learned that they had gone to Xiyue Country, he couldn't help but worry again, both for his sworn brother Li Yunye and for the dyes. Although the urgent need of Jiangnan Mingli was temporarily solved, if he didn't find a supply of dyes in time, the goods in the shop would not last long.

After thinking it over again and again, he decided to go to Xiyue Kingdom in person, but before leaving Liangdu he had to visit Old Madam Zhuo again.

"Well, you're right to be concerned. The most urgent thing is to ensure the safety of your adopted brother."

In the Zhuo Mansion, Old Madam Zhuo was still kind and amiable. She smiled as she listened to Mu Liang's words of concern for his brother, and she felt secretly relieved in her heart that they were not blood brothers but could have such a deep relationship as blood brothers. She was very happy for her niece.

"It's just that the famous Jiangnan Li has just resolved the crisis, and someone still has to keep an eye on each shop just in case. Mu Liang is uneasy if he leaves, and even more anxious if he stays. It's really a dilemma!" However, Mu Liang sighed, shook his head helplessly, and his face showed obvious helplessness.

"Even the dignified Shopkeeper Mu is in a dilemma?" Old Madam Zhuo saw through Mu Liang's half-said and half-hidden thoughts at a glance, so she deliberately frowned and pretended to be angry and said, "Why don't you just say it directly if you have anything to say? Why are you trying to be so cunning in front of a half-buried person like me?"

"Madam, you are wise. How dare Mu Liang have the intention of offending you? It's just that Mu Liang has an unreasonable request in his heart, but he doesn't know how to express it to you, madam." Mu Liang couldn't help but laugh when he saw that his cleverness was seen through. He then stood up, bowed solemnly to Madam Zhuo, and sighed.

"You smart people are just too thoughtful. You just want me to keep an eye on the four shops in Liangdu for you. Why can't you just ask for it? I love my niece like my own daughter and you are her adopted son. I will help you on this level. What's more, you are going to find my nephew this time, so I will not stand idly by. You can go without worry. I will ask the housekeeper to keep an eye on the cloth shop." Old Madam Zhuo drooped the corners of her mouth slightly, showing an angry expression. She glared at Mu Liang and blamed him, but her tone was still gentle.

"Mu Liang thanks the old lady." Knowing that the old lady was just pretending to be angry, Mu Liang felt relieved. With guilt and gratitude, he bowed solemnly again.

With the Zhuo family watching over it, there wouldn't be any major trouble in the shops in Liangdu for a while. Without any worries, Mu Liang went to the cloth shop again and gave a few words to his two trusted managers before he rode out of Liangdu at full speed and headed straight for Mocheng.

Under the guidance of Lao Zhou, Li Yunye and An Yun successfully entered the border of Xiyue Country, Mucheng. Time was tight, and as soon as the three of them checked into the inn, Li Yunye dragged Lao Zhou out of the inn in a hurry:

"We just arrived. We are exhausted from the long journey and the dust is everywhere. We can't go to do business in such a dusty state, right? Why don't we take a good rest today?"

The two of them still switched identities outside. On the surface, Lao Zhou was supported by Li Yunye, but in fact he was being dragged and pulled. There were many people outside and he was afraid that Li Yunye would say something wrong when he was angry, so he did not dare to be tough. He could only let him be and comfort him with a gentle voice.

"How come you are so dirty sitting in the carriage every day? Isn't this suit pretty good?" Li Yunye glanced at Lao Zhou's appearance of a wealthy businessman and frowned impatiently and continued: "The famous Li in Jiangnan is still waiting for me to find the dye. Can you please stop dawdling? Didn't you make a promise to us on the way? You said that Mucheng is like your second hometown. You know this place very well. Finding a dye merchant is a piece of cake. If it is so easy, why not get it done today and we can go back tomorrow."

"I'm not lying to you. I, Old Zhou, have traveled all over the country and am familiar with everywhere, especially this Mucheng. But you must not be impatient when negotiating a business deal. Not only will you not be able to get the best deal, but you will also be easily taken advantage of and suffer a great loss!" Although Li Yunye was pulling Old Zhou, he had no direction and didn't know where to go. Old Zhou was dizzy, so he persuaded Li Yunye earnestly while holding his forehead.

"Then what should we do?" Upon hearing that he would suffer a great loss, Li Yunye did not dare to urge him anymore no matter how anxious he was. He stopped and looked at Lao Zhou in confusion.

"Let's..." Seeing that Li Yunye finally let him go, Lao Zhou hurriedly tidied his clothes. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by a rough voice:

"Lao Zhou?"

Hearing the voice, Lao Zhou's face froze slightly. He turned around and saw a sloppy and rude but smiling strong man walking towards him. Then he also showed a surprised and enthusiastic expression and opened his arms to hug the strong man:

"Oh, my dear brother, how are you?"

Li Yunye was confused when he saw the two middle-aged men hugging each other after a long separation, but when he saw that Old Zhou actually met his old friend here, it showed that he had indeed been to Mucheng and did not lie.

"Okay, I haven't seen you in these years, but you look like a decent man now. Where did you make your fortune? You didn't even ask your brother for help. Don't forget that I was the one who treated you to wine when you were too poor to drink!" After the two separated, the burly man looked at Lao Zhou's silk and satin clothes, the gold waist and the jade pendant, his eyes full of jealousy, and his words became sarcastic.

"What do you mean by getting rich? I just did some hard business. Are you willing to let your wife and children at home live with me and sleep in the open air?" Old Zhou laughed nonchalantly.

"What do you mean by a wife, children and a warm bed? The family can't even afford to eat, and the children are almost starving to death. Now that you've become rich, shouldn't you save your nephews?" The sturdy man saw that Old Zhou was not unhappy with his sarcasm but instead smiled triumphantly. The jealousy in his heart burned even more, and he immediately frowned and complained with a sigh.

"Save him, of course!" Old Zhou smiled knowingly and immediately took off an exquisite jade pendant from his waist and threw it to the sturdy man.

Li Yunye, who had been silent nearby, glared at Lao Zhou. My goodness, he bought this business with his own money, and this guy gave him a jade pendant as a favor without his permission?

Feeling Li Yunye's angry and questioning eyes looking at him, Lao Zhou felt guilty and had to bite the bullet and pretend he didn't notice anything as he continued to speak to the sturdy man holding the jade pendant with shining eyes:

"I came to Mucheng to do business, so I want to ask you for a favor."

"Brother, you are so generous. I should not be ungrateful, right? Just tell me what you want me to do for you." The sturdy man was reluctant in his heart, but he couldn't refuse such a good jade pendant as he had just received it. He thought about what kind of help he could get.

"I came to Mucheng to buy a batch of dyes. Please help me find out privately who has the most dyes in this city." Lao Zhou leaned forward and whispered in the sturdy man's ear.

"Dyes? It seems like brother is doing big business!" When the sturdy man heard this, he couldn't help but feel jealous and hateful. They were both alcoholics, so why was he getting better and better while he was getting worse and worse?

"Don't worry, I will give you a generous reward after the task is accomplished." Seeing the jealousy and greed in the eyes of his former drinking buddy, Lao Zhou patted the other's shoulder, raised his eyebrows and smiled.

The sturdy man didn't show much joy after hearing this. He just agreed perfunctorily and turned away.

Li Yunye, who was still furious, saw the strong man leave, and directly dragged Old Zhou, who had not yet reacted, back to the inn.