A life of two souls traveling through time

Chapter 390: Flower Thief Appears in Jing'an City

There are houses under small bridges, flowing water and green willows swaying in the wind. The melodious black-sailed boats are slowly rippling on the clear water, crossing one stone arch bridge after another. There are dense green trees on both sides, all kinds of red and purple flowers competing for beauty, and verdant ivy on the mottled white walls.

"Is this the legendary city in the south of the Yangtze River? It is truly misty and picturesque!"

After walking for almost two hours, Si Yao and the other two finally arrived at the border city of Jiangnan, Jing'an. Xiaolu, who had never been to Jiangnan before, looked at the misty Jiangnan water town in front of him and couldn't help but sigh in surprise.

"The stone bridge is over the curved green water, the willow branches are long on the river bank, the bamboo pole is gently pushed, and the boat enters the gallery..." Even Caiyi couldn't help but hum the Jiangnan folk song in a low voice.

"I didn't expect that Caiyi can sing?" Xiaolu smiled happily when he heard Caiyi's murmured singing.

"I used to know a sister who was from Jiangnan and married to my hometown. I heard her talk about the beautiful Jiangnan, and she was the one who taught me to sing this song." Caiyi lowered her eyes shyly and smiled.

"So this is a Jiangnan tune. No wonder it sounds so beautiful." Xiaolu nodded in sudden realization.

"It's a pity that this sister was also a miserable person. She died less than ten years after she got married... Her husband lost money in gambling and used her as collateral. She couldn't bear the humiliation and died by hitting her head against the wall. She always wanted to return to her hometown in the south of the Yangtze River before she died." But Caiyi still lowered her eyes and shook her head, and suddenly sighed sadly.

When Xiaolu heard this, the smile on his face disappeared immediately, and he couldn't help but mourn in his heart for such a tragedy.

Si Yao, who had been silent all the time, turned around and looked at Caiyi with concern, but she didn't know what to say to comfort her.

"Green glutinous rice balls, green glutinous rice balls, mugwort green glutinous rice balls! The fragrance is refreshing and sweet but not greasy!"

“Mung bean cake, peach blossom cake, crabapple cake, soft, sweet and melt-in-your-mouth cakes!”

“Xiao Long Bao, Xiao Long Bao filled with delicious meat broth!”

"Shortbreads, dried plum, vegetable and meat shortbreads! Salty, fragrant and crispy!"

Soon, the three people's thoughts were attracted by the hawking sounds of the vendors on both sides of the river bank. It was almost noon, and the mouth-watering aromas from all directions hit their noses. After walking for a long time, they all felt hungry involuntarily.

"Sister Siyao, we have mugwort green rice dumplings!" Xiaolu swallowed his saliva and came to a small stall. Looking at the green and glutinous dumplings in the steamer, he hurriedly shouted to Siyao.

Si Yao immediately took out her purse and handed it to Xiaolu, then said to Caiyi, "Go buy whatever you want to eat with him. I'll wait for you here."

"I don't know what to eat either. I'll stay with Sister Si Yao." Caiyi knew that she was not like Xiaolu, who was Sister Si Yao's medicine boy. She felt embarrassed to spend Sister Si Yao's money casually, so she shook her head and smiled.

"Okay, okay, you all wait here, I'll pick some and buy them over." At this time, Xiaolu had already bought a basket of mugwort green rice balls that Si Yao liked to eat, and after saying this to the two of them, he couldn't wait to walk to another stall.

"Enjoy your meal, ladies!" After collecting the money, the stall owner immediately placed a basket of steaming green dumplings on the table nearby and smiled warmly at Si Yao and Cai Yi.

"Thank you, old man." Si Yao nodded, and was about to pull Caiyi to the table, when she was suddenly bumped from behind by a scholar in white clothes waving a green fan. She was caught off guard and fortunately Caiyi supported her so that she did not fall.

"Excuse me, my apologies, young lady. I didn't mean it." The scholar was not very tall, and had a somewhat elegant appearance like a Jiangnan man. After he realized what was happening, he hurriedly bowed to Si Yao and apologized.

"No problem." Si Yao also returned the greeting and said lightly.

The scholar in white glanced at Si Yao with a shy look, bowed and left hurriedly without saying another word.

"Sister Si Yao, are you okay?" Caiyi asked Si Yao with concern after the scholar in white walked away.

"Luckily you're holding me up, I'm fine." Si Yao smiled at Cai Yi, then picked up a piece of the still steaming Qingtuan and put it in her bowl, and continued: "Are you hungry? Try this Qingtuan first."

"Yeah." Seeing that Sister Si Yao was fine, Caiyi felt relieved.

"Here we are. We bought a little of everything. We must try them all since this is our first time in Jiangnan." After a while, Xiaolu ran back to Si Yao with several bags of snacks, looking very satisfied.

"Wow, it smells so good!" Caiyi had just finished eating two green rice dumplings, and her eyes immediately widened when she saw the bags of snacks that Xiaolu brought back. Because her family was poor, she had not tasted many delicious foods since she was a child.

"Eat more." Xiaolu happily picked up two steamed dumplings and put them in Caiyi's bowl.

Both of them were about seventeen or eighteen years old. Caiyi was a farm girl who had been working at home since she was young, so naturally she had a bigger appetite. If she really ate to her heart's content, she would eat as much as Xiaolu.

"Eat slowly, we're not in a hurry." Looking at the two people in front of him eating heartily, Si Yao couldn't help laughing. She quickly poured two bowls of tea and handed them over, advising them.

"Hehe, maybe I'm too hungry." Xiaolu smiled at Siyao after drinking half a bowl of tea, and pointed at the shortbread on the table and said, "Sister Siyao, try this shortbread, it's delicious."

"Yeah, Sister Siyao, this vegetable and meat pie is delicious!" Caiyi nodded in agreement, still biting half a piece of the pie in her mouth.

"I'm full after eating a few green dumplings. You guys eat." Si Yao smiled faintly. After teaching herself medicine, she has controlled her appetite and is content with eating until she is 70% full each time.

"You three just came from out of town, right?" At this time, the vendor selling green rice dumplings suddenly walked up to the three people and started chatting.

"Well, by the way, I would like to ask you how to get to Mr. Xue Heng's home?" Si Yao also looked up at the vendor and asked after answering.

"Miss, are you asking about Mr. Xue Heng who opened a school in Jing'an City?" The vendor thought for a moment and then asked in surprise.

"That's right." Si Yao nodded in reply.

"It's not far. Just walk to the end of this street and then go west through two alleys. His family is a scholarly family. I heard that the school run by Mr. Xue Heng has accepted many poor children who study hard, and he doesn't charge any tuition fees. He is such a kind man!" The vendor's eyes immediately sparkled, and he couldn't help but praise after pointing out the way.

"Mr. Xue is indeed a very nice person." Xiaolu nodded in agreement while biting a piece of cake.

"Yes, yes..." The vendor smiled, hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but curiously asked: "I wonder why the three of you went to the Xue family?"

"We have also received favors from Mr. Xue before. We went to visit him today when we passed by. Thank you for telling us, old man." Si Yao then said with a smile.

The vendor nodded after hearing this, and was about to return to his stall when he seemed to have thought of something and walked in front of Si Yao again, lowering his voice to remind her:

"After you finish eating, go find the Xue family. Don't stay outside for too long. Jing'an City has been a little uneasy these days. Pretty girls like you should be careful."

"Uncle, why is Jing'an City not peaceful?" The vendor's words immediately aroused the curiosity of the three people. Xiaolu also put down the biscuit in his hand and asked.

"About half a month ago, a skilled flower thief came to Jing'an City. He would sneak into houses almost every night and pick out pretty girls. He would use the scent of medicine to make them faint and then he would touch them. So far, more than a dozen girls have been tortured by him, but no one has ever seen his true face. It's such a sin! This flower thief is so elusive that even the government is helpless. They can only close the city gates early at dusk every day to strengthen security." The vendor sighed with a frown, then continued in a low voice.

After hearing what the vendor said, Caiyi was immediately frightened and her face turned pale. Seeing this, Si Yao grabbed her hand and comforted her:

"Don't be afraid, we are here."

At the same time, Si Yao suddenly realized that it was no wonder that there were not many girls on the street. Most people must not dare to go out.

"Humph, how abominable. You practiced martial arts and use them to pick flowers? How despicable!" Xiaolu was immediately furious and cursed with a cold snort. What he hated most in his life were those flower thieves who loved to steal and do something unscrupulous.

"That's right. He has such a great ability, so why does he have to do anything else but harm girls? He is so immoral!" The vendor also shook his head and sighed following Xiaolu.

"It's really unfortunate. The master and the young lady are out visiting relatives and haven't returned yet. The eldest and second young masters are also studying in the outer city academy. The host family has not been away recently. However, the master has instructed that if Miss Si Yao comes, she must be treated well."

Following the route they inquired about, Si Yao and the other three soon found the Xue Mansion. Not long after the servant brought them into the hall of the mansion, a slightly plump middle-aged man walked in. He first bowed slightly to Si Yao and the others, then smiled slowly.

"Since Mr. Xue and Miss Qinglian are not at home, we will not disturb them. This was originally a gift for Miss Qinglian, so we can only ask Butler Xue to deliver it on their behalf." Since the hosts were not at home, it was not convenient for them to stay. Si Yao handed the gift for Xue Qinglian to Xue's butler, then took her leave and left with Xiaolu Caiyi.

"Sister Si Yao, we have to stay in this city for a night anyway, so why don't you stay directly at the Xue family's? It's safer to have guards at the Xue family's house than to stay at an inn, right?" After leaving the Xue family's house, Caiyi still asked with a worried look on her face.

"That flower-stealing thief is so skilled that even the government can't do anything about him. Do you think the Xue family can keep him under control?" Without waiting for Si Yao to speak, Xiaolu smiled helplessly at Caiyi with disapproval.

"It's still early, let's go to the county government office." Si Yao said thoughtfully.

"What are we going to do at the county government office?" Xiaolu and Caiyi asked in unison when they heard it.

“You’ll find out when you get there.”

Si Yao just said this indifferently.