Long Aotian’s Beautiful Butler Has Run Away chapter 76.1

Chapter 76: The Old Servant part 1

“Brother Rong, what are we doing today?” Wang Mu asked.

“Going to the North Gate Market to buy daily necessities. Soap locusts, incense, pancreatic soap, hand towels, waste paper, padding cloth… let me see what else…” Rong Xie took a list out of his sleeve.

“Why is there still so much!” Wang Mu shouted.

“Yes, moving into a new home is like this. The big items can be settled in a few trips, but the trivial small items are endless. There’s no upper limit to living a refined life,” Rong Xie laughed. “If you find it boring, go play on the street. I’ll find you after I finish buying everything.”

“Deal!” Wang Mu agreed readily, telling Rong Xie about the little friends he met at the North Gate Market.

The two walked out of the lane entrance, their figures merging into the crowd coming and going on the bluestone street.

The white plaster on the lane wall rippled, and the Old Servant that Shen Bingsi had transformed into revealed his form.

He stared at their receding figures.

“Moved into a new home already?” Shen Bingsi murmured. “So fast? And it really is a Southern style house.”

Shen Bingsi looked back at the bamboo-shaded Zhuli Lane. Indeed, all the houses had green tiles and white walls. The environment looked quite nice, and the houses were built beautifully, though he didn’t know which one Rong Xie lived in.

It seemed the people at the brokerage hadn’t told the truth. Or perhaps there was another possibility: Rong Xie didn’t buy, but rented a unit. If renting, he could indeed save some money, and if it wasn’t comfortable, it would be easy to return.

Right, how could Rong Xie live comfortably in a place like this? No matter how beautiful or exquisite, it was designed for rich masters to look at—flashy but impractical. How could it compare to Huanxue Villa, which was designed inside and out by famous craftsmen of the Capital? Moreover, Huanxue Villa was decorated entirely according to the owner’s needs. Rong Xie wouldn’t find another house that fit his needs so perfectly.

Thinking that Rong Xie wouldn’t live there long-term and that this was just a temporary act, Shen Bingsi felt slightly relieved and walked toward the North Gate Market.

The North Gate Market was weaving with people.

The goods here were fairly complete. Daily necessities, vessels, and general merchandise—everything one should have was there. However, the styles weren’t as gorgeous or novel as in the Capital; most were local goods produced by villagers from the surrounding ten miles.

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Rong Xie picked through a bowl and plate shop for a while, selecting a few simple bowls and teacups. Although they weren’t made perfectly smooth and round, they felt heavy in the hand. The material was very solid, possessing a simple, clumsy beauty.

“Shopkeeper, how much for these?” Rong Xie asked.

“Ten wen for large bowls, three wen for small bowls, five wen for teacups.” The shopkeeper beamed. “Is the young master doing the shopping personally?”

“Mm, just looking around. I’m no young master, just an ordinary person,” Rong Xie smiled, counting out copper coins to hand to the shopkeeper.

“Young Master jests. With your air of elegance, I’d believe it if you said you were a relative of the Emperor.” The shopkeeper took the money and heaped praise upon Rong Xie.

Rong Xie smiled and shook his head, taking out a plain cloth bag to pack the bowls and teacups.

Seeing this posture, the shopkeeper stopped mentioning imperial relatives. Most likely, this was a noble son whose family had fallen on hard times and was now returning to the life of commoners.

Rong Xie packed his bag, bid farewell to the shopkeeper, and walked out onto the street.

The shopkeeper tidied up, planning to receive the next wave, when he suddenly saw an Old Servant standing in front of the counter. It gave him a start.

“Old Uncle, when did you come in? Why didn’t you make a sound?” The shopkeeper patted his chest. “What are you looking for?”

“Mm… whatever the customer just now bought, give me a set too,” the Old Servant said.

Although the Old Servant’s voice was aged, it held an arrogance not belonging to a subordinate. The shopkeeper couldn’t help but take a few more looks at him. He figured this must be a servant born and raised in some high-ranking household; such people were indeed more formidable than families with merely a little wealth outside.

Not daring to ask, the shopkeeper fetched a set of the large and small bowls and teacups Rong Xie had bought for the Old Servant.

The Old Servant took them in hand, weighed them, and frowned. “How can one eat with such heavy, crude bowls? It’s a struggle just to lift them.”

The shopkeeper smiled apologetically. “Perhaps Old Uncle is used to light, thin porcelain bowls and isn’t accustomed to our farm-style goods. Although these bowls are heavier, they won’t burn your hands when holding hot soup or rice. They work well!”

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“Hmph.” The Old Servant reluctantly accepted the shopkeeper’s explanation and continued to examine the rough bowls with a critical eye. Suddenly, he slammed a bowl onto the counter in annoyance. “You cheat! Look at this, is this bowl meant for humans to eat from? The rim is so rough, there’s even a chip. What if a pampered young master cuts his skin? What then?”

The shopkeeper’s scalp went numb, and his smile faltered. “Old Uncle, this is what the bowls we farmers eat from are like! Seeing your age, isn’t calling yourself a ‘pampered young master’ a bit excessive? If you aren’t buying, please step aside.”

As they spoke, the curtain to the shop’s back door lifted. Two sturdy men walked out, greeted the shopkeeper, and stood behind the Old Servant.

“Fine. I have business today and can’t get entangled. I won’t lower myself to your level.” The Old Servant picked up the bowls and teacups, pulled out a piece of broken silver, slammed it on the counter with a slap, and strode away.

The shopkeeper stared unkindly at the retreating Old Servant. “Old thing, lucky you slipped away fast.”

“Uncle, this silver is real!” One of the two sturdy men took a piece of broken silver from between his teeth and handed it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took it, looked at it again and again, then suddenly beamed with joy, praising, “Didn’t expect it was an old God of Wealth!”

Rong Xie stopped and started in the market. He wasn’t rushing to any particular place. If he saw something on his list, he stopped to choose; if he encountered interesting or pretty trinkets, he also stopped to look.

Unknowingly, he had walked in the market for a long time without feeling tired. It was as relaxing and pleasant as an outing.

This was different from going to the Outer Gate Market before. Huanxue Villa was too far from the Outer Gate Market; every trip required planning what to buy so everything could be purchased in one go.

The North Gate Market was just three streets away from Zhuli Lane. He could go whenever he wanted. What he didn’t finish buying today, he could buy tomorrow.

Rong Xie walked in the money, beaming, unaware that a “tail” had attached itself behind him—the Old Servant played by Shen Bingsi was trailing two or three steps behind.

When Rong Xie stopped, the Old Servant stopped. When Rong Xie picked out small items at a stall, the Old Servant pretended to look at things at the neighboring stall, but his eyes didn’t look at the stall at all—they drifted straight toward Rong Xie.

When a smile appeared on Rong Xie’s face, the Old Servant’s gaze became stickier. Whatever Rong Xie bought, the Old Servant would wait for him to leave and then go up to buy an identical set.

Rong Xie bought things all the way, and the Old Servant followed all the way.

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Suddenly, Rong Xie stopped and stood motionless in the middle of the road.

The Old Servant also stopped.

Shen Bingsi’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at the back within reach.

Had Rong Xie discovered him?

Shen Bingsi didn’t know if he hoped Rong Xie would discover him or hoped he wouldn’t.

Rong Xie turned his head, his gaze fixing on a clothing shop by the roadside. Hesitating for a moment, he stepped toward it.

So he hadn’t discovered Shen Bingsi; he was just debating whether to enter that shop.

Feeling slightly disappointed, Shen Bingsi followed Rong Xie toward the clothing shop.

Before reaching the door, Shen Bingsi knew why Rong Xie had hesitated.

Inside the clothing shop door, two rows of garish clothes hung on either side. At a glance, it was a riot of colors, bees, and butterflies—extremely noisy to the eyes.

Rong Xie hated garish styles the most. Shen Bingsi was very surprised he could even enter such a shop.

Rong Xie really had no choice.

He had wandered the North Gate Market for three days, and this was the only clothing shop.