Who in the world does not know you?

Chapter 54 1-Day Holiday

The head镖师 (chief镖师) of the Wen Family Escort Agency is named Wen Ran, who has a very good personal relationship with Yun Ping, the father of Yun Luobai.

In previous years, during the Spring Festival in Ningxia, children would gather together to go out and play, and Yunping would also meet with Wenran to drink and chat. Over the years, this has become an unspoken agreement between the two.

Yunping planned to go to the Wen Family Escort Agency after leaving the yamen in the evening. Yun Luobai and Ye Zi were together, so he didn't need to worry about them.

Recently, everyone in Ningzhou Prefecture knew that Prison Chief Yun had moved to a new house. In order to give him more time to spend with his son whom he hadn't seen for three years, the prison guards volunteered to take over Yun Ping's night shifts. He hadn't worked night shifts in a long time.

Putting himself in their shoes, this was the reward Yunping had earned from his usual kindness towards these prison guards.

That's why no one wanted Yunping to be stripped of his position as jailer, especially since it was done by someone like Ma Ben who got in through connections. No one could accept such a thing.

Inside the prison, Yunping counted the number of people as usual.

The headcount was conducted in two steps. The first step was to count the number of prisoners, which naturally included newly imprisoned prisoners and those who had been released. In this way, Yunping would know how many prisoners were still in the prison, what crimes they had committed to get in, and when they would be released.

Secondly, it involves counting the number of prison guards in the prison. Due to different shift schedules, the guards on each shift are not necessarily the same group of people. If someone has a family matter and needs to go on a long trip, they have to switch shifts with others and then report to the prison head, Yunping, and that's it.

Yunping was naturally an easy-going person and had never tripped up anyone in this kind of matter. However, the basic procedures still had to be followed. Helping others was helping yourself. Otherwise, if something really happened, even if he, the jailer, was willing to help take the blame, he might not be able to handle it.

To put it bluntly, Yunping's position as jailer only really works in this dark and gloomy prison.

However, when Yunping counted the number of jailers today, he discovered something was amiss.

"Where's Ma Ben?"

He asked the other prison guards beside him, but they all shook their heads, indicating they didn't know.

Everyone in the prison knew that Ma Ben wanted to take Yun Ping's position as jailer. Normally, people would not ostracize or isolate him, but they would not give him a good look. No one was close to him, so naturally no one knew why he had not come to work on time.

"So, you're saying Ma Ben didn't ask for leave from you?"

One of them tentatively asked Yunping a question, but the latter gently shook his head.

Although Yunping didn't like Ma Ben, he would definitely approve it if Ma Ben were to skip work and ask for leave from him, the jailer, in advance.

Seeing Yunping shake his head, the jailer curled his lip in disdain.

"He might have died out there, who cares?"

"Exactly, it would be a good thing if he died out there. Just looking at his pointy-faced, monkey-like appearance makes me want to vomit."

"Who can argue with that?"

Several jailers discussed the matter amongst themselves, but none of them took Ma Ben's absence to heart.

Ultimately, Ma Ben was a distant relative of the prefect. If he were to skip work without cause one day, no one could do anything about it. Even if Yun Ping, the jailer, reported the matter to his superiors, it would most likely end in nothing.

But Yunping didn't think so.

His brows were furrowed, his face was full of worry, and his outstretched hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist.

At the same time, inside the Wen Family Escort Agency, Chief Escort Wen Ran was drinking tea while watching the escorts practice martial arts.

Wen Ran is about the same age as Yun Ping, but looks much younger than Yun Ping, with a heroic air about him.

Since they run a security escort agency, they inevitably have to transport goods and protect the safety of their employers when traveling around the country, so they naturally need to be skilled in martial arts.

The sounds of clashing swords filled the air. Wen Ran's gaze wandered over the group of bodyguards, but he seemed somewhat absent-minded, completely lacking the leisurely and composed demeanor he usually displayed when instructing them on martial arts.

"Chief镖师, when will Miss be back?"

"What, you've got your eye on Miss now? Want to become the chief镖头's son-in-law?"

"Pah! Who would dare to covet Miss without having learned external martial arts at Ningshan Temple? Being beaten sixteen times in three days, what kind of physique would that take..."

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd, but Wen Ran didn't pay it any mind. After all, this was the usual atmosphere in the escort agency. When there were no escort missions and things were quiet, the escorts would gather together to joke around. With more people, whatever they did would always be associated with liveliness.

"That girl will probably be back soon. Knowing her personality, even if people asked her to stay a few more days, she wouldn't agree."

Wen Ran replied in a gentle voice.

His daughter had been exceptionally talented in martial arts since childhood. At a young age, she was already invincible throughout Ningzhou Prefecture, and even he, her father, was ashamed of his own inferiority.

However, Wen Zhao was born impulsive and straightforward. Her tone of voice and her clothing were completely unlike those of women her age. If things continued like this, she might really never get married.

"Yes. But today is the day of the Spring Ning Lantern Festival, and Miss loves lively celebrations, so it's a pity she missed it."

"Who says otherwise? If I had known this would happen, I would have taken this delivery for you, Miss."

"With your pathetic skills? You'll definitely ruin the reputation of our Wen Family Escort Agency..."

"What nonsense are you spouting? Take this!"

The two bodyguards got into a verbal sparring match, and the words "Spring Ning Lantern Festival" reached Wen Ran's ears, but he felt a vague unease in his heart.

Yunping will definitely be a guest at the Wen Family Escort Agency tonight; this is an unspoken understanding between the two over the years.

But this time is different from before.

Some things have to be settled sooner or later; it's just a matter of time.

After having breakfast at a roadside shop with Ye Zi, Yun Luobai strolled around the street, casually introducing the so-called Chun Ning Lantern Festival to Ye Zi as they walked.

"The Spring Lantern Festival is a very important day in Ningzhou Prefecture. Many years ago, it was created by the people praying to heaven for protection and for good weather and a peaceful life. Later, it gradually evolved into a celebration festival. At that time, every household hangs colorful lanterns. When the moon is high in the sky, the markets in Ningzhou Prefecture are still bustling. The prefectural government stipulates that all shops must stay open. Where people gather, dragon and lion dances and singing and dancing take place. It is the most exciting day for all children."

Ye Zi looked up at the colorful lanterns that the rice shop owner had hung up to instruct his employees, then looked at Yun Luobai, who was doing nothing beside her, and felt that there was no future in following the latter to just drift through life.

"On such a lively day, why don't you set up your fortune-telling stall all day to earn more money? Besides, doesn't the government have regulations? Your fortune-telling stall may be small, but it's still a way to make a living. People come to you for the fun of it, and they probably won't mind your swindling and cheating."

"My fortune-telling stall doesn't have any official permits, so it's not a business location recognized by the government. Why should I join in the fun? Besides, with so many people around, if I make a mistake and something goes wrong, it'll be inconvenient to run away."

"..."

Ye Zi took a deep breath, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence.

"So you're not going to set up your fortune-telling stall during the day anymore?"

Yun Luobai waved his hand, looking completely indifferent.

"Today is the day of the Chuning Lantern Festival, so I'm taking a day off."

"..."

The leaves were speechless.

At this moment, she felt that any girl who married a man like Yun Luobai would eventually be able to live a life of ease, going hungry for three days and eating only two meals a day...