Reborn and Pampered

Chapter 261 The Honest Man

The steward squinted with a grin that made him look like a jolly Maitreya Buddha. “When you get back from this trip, we’ll have to talk about your pay. Halving it would be pretty generous.”

Hanshan’s eyes widened. “Why are you so petty? Can’t even take a few words? You’re just mad you’re not as good-looking as he is.”

“Half of the half.”

“…”

Hanshan looked as if he’d been hit with a frost spell, but still led the caravan out of Yuancheng in grand fashion.

Ning Yan and Bai Qingqing kept a deliberately low profile, following along in a dusty, unremarkable carriage that blended in so well, no one would have given it a second glance.

But inside that carriage was a world of its own. It had been specially commissioned by the steward of Suiyun Pavilion for a steep price—luxurious, soundproof, well-ventilated and warm, fully stocked with everything the pair might need to travel in comfort without wanting for anything.

Caravans, though, were filled with hearty, open-handed folk. The roads were long, time was plenty, and it was only natural to build a little camaraderie. You never knew when a bond forged on the trail might come in handy down the line.

Hanshan knew that Ning Yan and Bai Qingqing were kin to the steward, but he didn’t pay it much mind—distant relatives, after all, and friendly-looking to boot. Travel with a caravan once, and you were all brothers.

“Brother Ning, don’t just stay cooped up with your carriage all day. Your girl’s not going to run off. Everyone’s curious about you—come join the rest of us, have a chat.”

“Exactly, exactly. I’ll have my wife take your sister over to chat with the other women. Can’t have her bored out of her mind stuck in that carriage every day.”

There were quite a few women in the caravan—some traveling with their husbands, others running their own business, each with the flair and grit of heroines in their own right.

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Bai Qingqing was happy to befriend them, so when someone came to call, she stepped out of the carriage without hesitation.

The sister who had called out to her stood dumbfounded beneath the carriage. “Ah, no wonder your brother won’t leave your side. If I had a sister as pretty as you, I’d guard her day and night too.”

Bai Qingqing blushed. “Sister, please don’t tease me.”

“I, Mo Hongying, never speak falsehoods. Come now, I’ll introduce you to the other sisters.”

Mo Hongying linked arms with Bai Qingqing and led her toward the group of women. Only after watching her walk off did Ning Yan go over to sit with Hanshan.

As he sat, the atmosphere turned subtly tense. Someone nudged Hanshan and whispered, “What does this guy do? He doesn’t look easy to talk to.”

Hanshan gave a dismissive snort and slapped Ning Yan heartily on the shoulder. “You’re all mistaken. Brother Ning just looks a little fierce, that’s all. The way he dotes on his sister—he’s obviously an honest man.”

Ning Yan’s gaze slowly drifted from Hanshan’s hand on his shoulder, and he gave the group a “friendly” smile. “Brother Han is right. I’m just an honest man.”

“…”

“Young Brother Ning, maybe don’t smile like that—it’s a bit terrifying. We believe you, really.”

“Can’t be easy for you. It’s not your fault you were born like this, but finding a wife’s probably going to be tough.”

Ning Yan listened “humbly” as they worried over his romantic prospects. Some even began considering suitable girls from their own extended families. “Even if you look a bit intimidating, the way you care for your sister shows you’re someone reliable.”

Ning Yan smiled at the speaker. “I’m not like this with just anyone. And for now, I’ve no plans to marry.”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. You and your sister rely on each other, but you’re still a man—how can you tend to everything? If you took a wife, she might be a real help to you both.”