Chapter 579 Arriving in Qiu City
They stay in the business vehicle for three hours when the car finally stops.
“Qiu City?” Gao Ge takes a look at Tang Jiusi who is driving.
“Yes.” Tang Jiusi nods his head, “Here we are. Let’s get off the car first.”
The business vehicle stops before a quadrangle courtyard.
Surrounded by high-rise buildings, the quadrangle courtyard is situated in the busy area of Qiu City, but by now it hasn’t been torn down. Evidently, the owner of the courtyard is not an ordinary person.
Tang Jiusi glimpses Gao Ge’s surprised face and says with a chuckle, “This place also belongs to the Tang Family.”
Gao Ge takes a tumble.
No wonder.
Qiu City is also in Shu Province, where there are too many estates of the Tang Family. It is fair enough to say that the Tang Family has a final say in Shu Province. Gladly, Tang Jiusi is a member of the Dragon Court, or the Dragon Court won’t allow the Tang Family to continue expanding in Shu Province. Everything must be under control. No family is allowed to become so strong that it may affect the economic lifeline directly or indirectly. Of course, it will be a different case for the people on its side.
Now Tang Jiusi is sort of one of the people on its side.
When they enter the courtyard, an old man wearing a black gown walks over.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Young Master, there you are.”
“Yeah.” Tang Jiusi nods his head and frowns, pointing at the brazier placed in the yard, “What are you burning?”
“Some mugwort leaves.”
Tang Jiusi feels a bit confused, “Today is not Dragon Boat Festival. Why are you burning the mugwort leaves?”
The old man says with a bitter smile, “Young Master, you don’t know this. Recently, there seems to be some plague in Qiu City, but it hasn’t been spread. Despite that, we should be cautious too.”
“How come I haven’t heard of it?” Yue Xincheng asks in confusion.
“Ahem. Sir, this matter hasn’t been known to many people for now,” the old man says smilingly.
Although he doesn’t know who Yue Xincheng is, it seems that he should be a friend of Tang Jiusi’s. There must be nothing wrong with being polite.
It is not that one will be sophisticated when he gets old. Instead, when one has experienced too many things and made plenty of mistakes, he will learn. A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. For some mistakes, you won’t make it for a second time. This is the best interpretation of growth.
“Well, are the rooms I asked for all ready?” Tang Jiusi asks with his hands placed on his back.
He is always frivolous before Gao Ge and the other friends, but in front of the Tang Family, he still acts kind of daunting and not that nicely. He has no other choice but to do so. If he is too amiable to everyone of the Tang Family and hangs around with them, he will lose his dignity as a young master. Men are always so pathetic! The more you take one seriously and want to make friends with him, he will tend to take you lightly. Even if he doesn’t voice it out, he still thinks so in his heart.
“The rooms are ready!” The old man hastens to nod his head.
Gao Ge walks around the courtyard and finds it not small. There is a porch before the principal room, and a corridor at the back. Besides, behind the principal room are a row of rooms. The eastern and western wing rooms are both equipped with verandas, which connect with floral pendant gates. In the floral pendant gates are four wooden screens.
Four tanks are placed at the four corners of the outer yard. The tanks have multiple functions. For one thing, it is about Fengshui. It is said that water generates wealth and tanks gather money. Secondly, the water in the tanks can be used to put out the fire. This kind of old courtyard is made of wood, which burns easily. Hence, the four tanks can be used to put out fire if any. Besides, they also serve as a decoration. For example, the four tanks in the yard are filled with plants. The most common plants are the lotus and its leaves. They are also planted in the tanks here.
Compared with high buildings and high-end villas, Gao Ge prefers this kind of yard. Sometimes he thinks that when he finally settles down, he will spend some money in buying such a yard in a city and experience the lifestyle in a deep courtyard.
The rooms next to the gate of the courtyard are called reversely-set rooms, which faces north, opposite to the principal direction. They are also called southern rooms, usually used as living rooms, the accountant’s office, the porter’s lodge, guest’s rooms and rooms for servants.
After everyone sits down, the old man starts to serve dishes with two young girls.
“Alas, Jiusi, I didn’t expect that you were such a corrupt man keeping so many beautiful girls!” With his arms placed around Tang Jiusi’s shoulders, Yue Xincheng says.
“Hey, what decade are you living in? Stop talking nonsense! They are sort of like the staff of a hotel, who are paid to work here with a decent salary.” Tang Jiusi pats away Yue Xincheng’s arms from his shoulders and says snappishly.
Yue Xincheng giggles.
Gao Ge is still contemplating.
Tang Jiusi hasn’t spoken frankly by now. Gao Ge knows about his concern, so he doesn’t hurry. Since Tang Jiusi brings them to Qiu City, it means that his man saw Meng Jing in this city.
The old man brings two bottles of liquor, which is Wuliangye available in the market. It is not of customized supply. Moreover, Gao Ge doesn’t dare to drink the ordinary Wuliangye of customized supply. Generally, nine of ten bottles of the customized supply edition are fake. Of course, if the liquor is the Tang Family’s, Gao Ge can rest assured.
“Liu, bring a few packs of cigarettes to me.” Tang Jiusi touches his pocket and feels a bit strange. He remembers opening a new pack of cigarettes this morning. Why can’t he find it? Is it left in the car?
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmObviously, he forgot that the pack was put into the pocket by Gao Ge.
Not for a while, a carton of the common Pride Kuanzhai cigarettes in Shu Province is served. It is the same brand as the pack that Tang Jiusi took out this morning.
Seeing that Gao Ge puts a pack into his pocket, Tang Jiusi is shocked on the spot, “Man, are you too poor to buy cigarettes? Oh shoot, it rings a bell. My pack of cigarettes is still with you!”
“We are buddies. Why do you mind it?” Without turning a hair, Gao Ge opens a bottle of liquor, pours a glass for Shao Shuai, Shao Gusu and himself. It is not about hierarchy but the way of hospitality.
He is kind of a guest though.
“Shuai, Gusu, make yourselves at home and enjoy the meal,” Gao Ge says.
“Dang, this is my place!” Tang Jiusi snaps.
The old man addressed as Liu by Tang Jiusi keeps standing aside all the time. He doesn’t sit at the table. Neither do Gao Ge and the others ask him to sit down too. This man works for the Tang Family and Tang Jiusi is the young master of the Tang Family. There is a distinct hierarchy between them. Gao Ge is unwilling to wreck Tang Jiusi’s dignity in the Tang Family. And it is Tang Jiusi’s job to win the old man’s support by asking him to eat together. Since Tang Jiusi doesn’t do it, how can Gao Ge do it?
Now Liu is staring at Gao Ge with a grin.
He finally understands that the one who is closest to Tang Jiusi at the table must be this young man.
This must be kept in mind.
“Mr. Gao, I’ve been spiritually attracted to you for long. Come on. Here is a toast to you!” Shao Shuai raises the glass and says to Gao Ge with a smile.
“Spiritually attracted? Is he in platonic love?” Yue Xincheng mumbles.
Qingrou hits him with her fist.
Gao Ge laughs, clinks the glass with Shao Shuai’s and drinks it up.