Chapter 151: Night Talk

Yan Liqiang’s visit made things livelier in the Weaponsmiths Quarter. Aside from the wine he had brought for everyone, he also ordered a few roasted lambs on the way and had them delivered to the Weaponsmiths Quarter. With wine and meat, the dinner that evening became another special feast. Everyone’s laughs and cheerful conversations went on endlessly. How could anyone in the Weaponsmiths Quarter possibly not adore a person like Yan Liqiang?

After having dinner with everyone, Yan Liqiang followed Qian Su to the place he stayed at. Yan Liqiang then took out the gift he had brought for him — more than a decade-old ginseng. Although not very valuable, it was an attentive gift.

“Just you coming here is enough, why did you still bring me these things? You must have spent a lot on the wine and meat today too!” Qian Su took a sip of his tea and said this after he placed the box with the old ginseng in it on the table in the living room with a broad smile.

“Uncle Qian, you are always either working hard to serve the nation in the Weaponsmiths Quarter, be it on the frontlines for Huanglong County or mingling with the people to share and understand their sentiments. I kept pondering and really had no idea what would be the best gift to give to Uncle Qian. So I bought old ginseng as a supplement for your body…” Yan Liqiang said with a smile.

Qian Su seemed to have heard the amusing subject about ‘mingling with the people’ and ‘sharing and understanding their sentiments’ somewhere in his life before. Qian Su nearly spurted out the mouthful of tea he was drinking when he heard Yan Liqiang say that. Although he managed to swallow the tea in the end, he still choked on it and started coughing. Yan Liqiang hurriedly went over to him and patted him on his back, trying to relieve him.

“Are you alright, Uncle Qian?”

Qian Su, who coughed until his face was red, waved his hand and gestured for Yan Liqiang to go back to his seat.

“Although I’m not sure if you have made any progress in other areas, I can certainly tell that your talking skills have gotten sharper during your stay in Pingxi City for the past few months…”

“Hahaha, I still have a lot to learn from Uncle Qian!”

“I wonder how an honest man like your father made a son like you!” Qian Su shook his head and smiled wryly. Although the smile was helpless, there was also some comfort in it. “Tell me, how was your stay in Pingxi City over the past two or three months? Have you gotten used to the martial arts academy? I know a few people in Pingxi City. I can write you two letters if needed so you can pay them a visit with my letters when you return this time. In case anything happens, they can also look after you!”

“Everything’s been fine during my stay at Pingxi City. There’s no need to trouble you, Uncle Qian. Favors are finite, so there is no need to trouble Uncle Qian for now. I will come find you again if I need help!” Yan Liqiang had a bright smile on a face. It was impossible for anyone to see through the life-threatening crisis and hardships he had experienced in Pingxi City over the past two months from the looks on his face. If he told Qian Su about them, he figured Qian Su would be shocked.

“Hm, you are a wise one!” Qian Su laughed.

“But I have something else I wish for Uncle Qian to consider and examine for me…”

“What is it?” Qian Su put down his tea cup. The expression on his face grew serious. Based on Yan Liqiang’s personality, anything that required his help to consider and examine was definitely no small matter.

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“Did Uncle Qian hear about the incident that occured last night in Pingxi City?”

“Ahem, ahem… well… what happened last night in Pingxi City?”

Huanglong County wasn’t really that far from Pingxi City, but wasn’t that close either, and so news traveled neither fast nor slow. However, Qian Su was having too much fun at one of the pleasure quarters in Huanglong County last night and had only returned to the Weaponsmiths Quarter this afternoon. Hence, he was totally clueless about the incident that had happened last night in Pingxi City.

“Well, I was having dinner with two friends from the martial arts academy last night in Pingxi City. Halfway through the dinner, I noticed a horse carriage passing by outside the window…” Yan Liqiang calmly explained everything that happened last night in plain language. Of course, what he said was the same as what others had said. To sum it up, everything was just a coincidence. He just happened to have a deeper impression of that Shatu man so he was able see through that Shatu man’s disguise, which ultimately led to a series of events…

“What? You’re saying that the son of the Prefectural Governor, Ye Tiancheng, was dragged out of his manor by the commoners in the city last night and got beaten to death in the middle of the street? And that the Military Governor arrived at the scene and left after saying a few words, leaving the rest to the Law Enforcement Office…?” At first, Qian Su’s expression was still quite relaxed when he heard the story. However, toward the end of the story, he was shocked. His eyes were wide open as he had abruptly and involuntarily stood up.

“Yes, that’s what happened…”

“Did you rush forward at that time?”

“Even if that Ye Xiao was the scum of all scums, I wouldn’t rush to the front. It is pointless to kick to a dog to its death, so I have only watched the scene with my other two friends from afar…”

“Glad to hear that…” Qian Su instantly breathed out a sigh of relief. “Was the Prefectural Governor in Pingxi City last night?”

“No, he wasn’t. I think he only returned early this morning…” Yan Liqiang then told the situation he saw this morning in the city to Qian Su. “I have a feeling that Pingxi City won’t be too peaceful, so I wish for Uncle Qian to help critically examine if there are any flaws in the story on my end, and also the possible changes in Pingxi City in the near future.”

Qian Su stood up with his hands clasped behind his back and paced back and forth around the room with a slight frown on his face. After pacing two rounds, he spoke. “If it really was as what you have said, then the incident last night had nothing much to do with you. You have nothing to worry about as long as you keep a low profile. Liqiang, you are a smart one, so you should know about what I’m trying to say. Although what you all did last night could be considered a contribution, you might make enemies and attract resentment. Try not to mention this incident from now on. In regards to the state of affairs in Pingxi City, that’s a tough question. The son of the Prefectural Governor had caused such a huge incident which could be either trivial or serious. I’m afraid that Ye Tiancheng’s days as the sitting Prefectural Governor are numbered…”

“Do you think the higher-ups will arrest him?” Yan Liqiang immediately asked.

“I’m afraid it will be quite unlikely for them to arrest him!” Qian Su shook his head with a grave expression. “You might not be quite aware of some of the situations, but Ye Tiancheng is actually someone from the Ye Clan of Gan Province. The Ye Clan is a wealthy and influential clan in Gan Province. The members of the clan have been officers for generations. Among Ye Tiancheng’s ancestors, the highest was the Provincial Governor of Gan Province. The Ye Clan is deeply rooted in Weiyuan County where they have connections to everything. I heard that if you line up the Ye Clan’s farms and ranches in Weiyuan County side by side, you can’t even walk to the other end in a day. The servants and guards of the Ye Clan amount to no less than several ten thousand. Ye Tianchang is one of the spokesmen for the Ye Clan. It’s not that easy to lay a finger on him. The Ye Clan will definitely find a way to keep him safe!”

“So no one can lay a finger on him?” Yan Liqiang asked with slight disappointment.

“Not exactly either. I heard the Provincial Governor, Lord Lei, has long been displeased with the Ye Clan…”