"Ah, miss, you're here!" Zi Yi beside him suddenly called out.
Xu Lu Cha was slightly startled and turned his face to indeed find Zhang Meng not far from them.
Zhang Meng wiped her forehead, "I thought something had happened here, so I came over to check. I didn't expect it to be Young Master Xu and you all." Indeed, being too beautiful is troublesome, capable of causing traffic jams at any moment, Zhang Meng thought.
Xu Lu Cha looked at Zhang Meng and revealed a shy smile, like the first ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds, stunning and brilliant.
He bent his knee to give Zhang Meng a bow and said softly, "Lu Cha came specially to find the miss to thank you for yesterday's matter."
Zhang Meng waved her hand, "It's nothing, not a big deal, no need to thank me."
"It may not be a big deal for the miss, but for Lu Cha, this matter is as important as the sky. That jade pendant is a keepsake from my late father, and Lu Cha has always treasured it as his own life. If it were lost, it would be like taking Lu Cha's life. The miss is kind-hearted and returned it to Lu Cha, isn't that equivalent to saving Lu Cha's life?"
Zhang Meng was surprised, "Is it that serious?"
Xu Lu Cha lowered his head, "Lu Cha sincerely thanks the miss for her kindness. I have prepared some food and wine at the Yingyue Teahouse, hoping that the miss..."
Zhang Meng wanted to refuse again, but Xu Lu Cha's eyes slowly reddened, misting over with tears that seemed about to fall at any moment.
"Lu Cha just wants to express his gratitude. Won't the miss give Lu Cha a chance?" The surrounding citizens couldn't bear to watch anymore.
"Constable Zhang, they're being so sincere, why don't you go?"
"You won't go when a beauty invites you? Are you stupid?"
Zhang Meng hurriedly explained, "It's not that, I still need to go back and cook. A hundred people at the government office are waiting for me to make dinner!"
"Constable Zhang, you go to Yingyue Teahouse first. We'll find someone to tell the ma'am and have someone replace you. The ma'am will definitely agree."
Government Office.
The green bamboo leaves trembled in the wind, making a rustling sound.
Zhong Huo, dressed in plain white clothes, held a hoe and was digging up bamboo shoots.
Jin Yue walked along the stone path to her side and spoke with some difficulty.
"Ma'am, Zhang Meng might come back a bit late today."
Zhong Huo's hand paused: "Why?"
Thinking that she absolutely must not let Zhang Meng leave another bad impression on Zhong Huo, Jin Yue tried her best to speak well of Zhang Meng.
"Yesterday, Zhang Meng found a jade pendant. With the spirit of returning lost items, she specially returned it to its owner, who happens to be the young master of the Xu family, Xu Lu Cha. Xu Lu Cha was very grateful to her and insisted on inviting her to eat at the Yingyue Teahouse. Zhang Meng was firmly refusing, but the citizens all urged her to go. She could only reluctantly accept."
With a "snap", Zhong Huo chopped off a tender bamboo shoot.
Her voice barely concealed her anger: "When she comes back, tell her that she's lost half a month's salary."
"Huh?" Jin Yue was startled.
Zhong Huo threw the hoe in her hand to the ground: "It is the natural duty of a soldier to serve the people. Yet she dares to accept an invitation from a citizen. She has truly disgraced our government office."
"No, no, no, Zhang Meng refused for a long time... Ma'am..." Jin Yue hurriedly explained, but Zhong Huo had already left with a swish of her sleeve.
☆,