Chapter 129: Going to the Capital City Together

Ji Cheng Kang looked at Lu Lin and asked suspiciously, "Do you want the kids to go to the capital city with me?"

Lu Lin smiled and said, "Cai is not a kid anymore."

Ji Cheng Kang smiled, "Sorry, I've always seen Cai as a kid."

Lu Lin looked at Ji Cheng Kang and said, "I have prepared everything they need for the tri. General Ji, please take care of them for me."

Ji Cheng Kang looked at Lu Lin and said, "Magistrate Lu, thank you for your trust. I do need to make it clear in advance, it's a long and dangerous journey from Sha County to the capital city, I can't guarantee you anything."

Lu Lin hesitated for a moment and nodded, "I still hope they can go to the capital city to enrich their experience."

Ji Cheng Kang nodded and said, "If you have made up your mind, Magistrate Lu, I promise you I'll try my best to protect them."

Lu Lin nodded and said, "That's great."

Lu Lin walked into his room only to see Chen Xiao Mi wearing an anxious look, "Xiao Mi, talk to me, what's wrong?"

Chen Xiao Mi hesitated for a moment and said, "Mai heard that Cai is going to the capital city, he also wants to go."

Lu Lin sighed and didn't know what to say. "Mai can't be serious, right? He is just being a child."

Chen Xiao Mi rubbed his forehead and said, "I think he seems to be quite resolute this time."

Lu Lin went to Chen Xiao Mai's room to sound him out. Chen Xiao Mai was packing, there were a few clothes and some pancakes in his bag.

Yuan Bao looked at Chen Xiao Mai in frustration. "Little Uncle, you're going to the capital city too? What should I do then?"

"I will bring you all the yummy food from the capital. Don't worry, Yuan Bao, you are not missing out," Chen Xiao Mai comforted Yuan Bao.

Lu Lin shook his head, 'Mai, I know you want to share all the yummy food with Yuan Bao, but it's impossible, all the food will go bad after the long journey.'

Lu Lin looked at the pancakes Mai had put in his bad and showed a doting smile.

'This is very Mai, putting pancakes with his clothes! He has always been like a squirrel, always hoarding food!'

Yuan Bao sat on the bed and pouted as he watched Chen Xiao Mai busy packing.

"Father," Yuan Bao saw Lu Lin and jumped down from the bed.

Lu Lin nodded and stroked Yuan Bao's hair gently, then he sent Yuan Bao away with an excuse.

"Why do you want to go to the capital city all of a sudden?" asked Lu Lin.

"Second Brother is going to the capital, I want to go with him," Chen Xiao Mai said.

"Your second brother is going there to do business. If you follow him around, I'm afraid it might be troublesome," Lu Lin said seriously.

Chen Xiao Mai hesitated for a moment and asked, "Will it be troublesome? But brother Ji asked me to go together!"

Lu Lin was stunned for a moment and he was so surprised. Lu Lin thought that Chen Xiao Mai was just being a good-time boy, but it turned out to be Ji Yun An's doing.

'Is Ji Yun An the reason Mai is so keen to go to the capital city? Why would Ji Yun An encourage Mai to go there?'

"What did Ji Yun An say?" asked Lu Lin.

Chen Xiao Mai blinked and said, "Brother Ji said that there are many fun places and delicious foods in the capital city. He can take me to all those places and try all the food."

'That Ji Yun An surly knows how to convince you Mai, I'm sure he has you at the word food!'

"When did he say that?" Lu Lin asked.

Chen Xiao Mai tilted his head and said, "Two days ago, I told him that Second Brother was going to the capital city to make money. He said that I can go with Second Brother."

Lu Lin showed a knowing smile, 'So Ji Yun An didn't mention a word in front of me or Xiao Mi in case we refuse his invitation, he went directly to Mai and lured him with foods, hmm, what a strategy.'

"Lin Ge, what are you thinking about? You are wearing a very funny smile right now."

"Do you really want to go to the capital city?"

Chen Xiao Mai hesitated for a moment, he blushed and nodded.

Lu Lin looked at Chen Xiao Mai and sighed helplessly, "Since you want to go, then go, me and your Big Brother support your decision."

Chen Xiao Mai hugged Lu Lin and said, "Thank you, Lin Ge."

Lu Lin looked at Chen Xiao Mai and said in earnest, "Mai, now I need you to listen to me, you can go to the capital city and explore, but you must come back with your second brother, all right?"

Chen Xiao Mai nodded cheerfully and said, "Of course, even though the capital city is a good place, you, Big Brother, Yuan Bao are all here in Sha County, of course I will be back with Second Brother!"

Lu Lin nodded, "Good boy... I'm very glad to hear that."

What Lu Lin didn't say was 'You say that now, but I'm afraid you might indulge in pleasure and forget about us by then.'

Lu Lin looked at how thrilled Chen Xiao Mai was about this trip, he couldn't say anything to dampen Mai's mood.

Lu Lin suddenly felt a sense of desolation in his heart, just like a father on his daughter's wedding day.

After seeing Chen Xiao Mai, Lu Lin went to see Chen Xiao Cai and told him to take good care of Chen Xiao Mai. Chen Xiao Cai immediately got the undertone, he guaranteed Lu Lin that he would keep an eye on Mai and drive away anyone with ulterior motives.

Lu Lin was surprised that Cai knew exactly what he meant.

Lu Lin suddenly realized that it was not only him who thought Ji Yun An was making a move on Mai, but Chen Xiao Cai also felt the same way! Chen Xiao Cai really has grown up and he saw his task to protect Mai from getting hurt.

"What? It is Ji Yun An who has asked Mai to go to the capital city?" Chen Xiao Mi said with a strange expression.

Lu Lin nodded, "Correct."

Chen Xiao Mi said unhappily, "This punk, why did he do that?"

Lu Lin squinted his eyes and hoped Mai wouldn't end up getting hurt.

......

In the Qin Family's house.

"Brother, you are going to the capital city soon, keep this in mind, stay away from trouble and take care of the two young masters!" Qin Lang said that in all earnestness.

Qin Ming nodded solemnly, "Don't worry, Big Brother, I know what to do."

Qin Ming was a grownup now. His Big Brother Qin Lang was recently engaged, so Lu Lin had entrusted Qin Ming with the task instead of Qin Lang. Lu Lin didn't want to in the way of Qin Lang and his happiness.

In fact, Qin Ming was quite happy about going to the capital city. Qin Ming had gone to many places in the past few years, but most of them were poor areas. Chen Xiao Cai told him that they were going to the capital city to do big business. Thinking of big business, Qin Ming couldn't help but get excited, how he wished he could make contributions to the big business.

In the past few years, Qin Lang had been undertaking several tasks under Lu Lin's instructions. Qin Ming was always the valuable assistant, he enjoyed that but he always wanted to take wing by himself, so he couldn't wait to fulfill his potential in the capital city.

Qin Ming felt that even if he still didn't get the chance to take charge as chief of the tasks in the capital city, he would feel so great about being part of this trip.

Lu Lin prepared buns, dehydrated foods, travel-friendly clothes and pants and shoes for them.

Lu Lin sewed bandars notes in the linings of Chen Xiao Cai's outfits. Lu Lin told Chen Xiao Cai that it was a safe way to keep the money and he should spend liberally while travelling.

Lu Lin prepared money for Chen Xiao Cai and food for Chen Xiao Mai.

Lu Lin made a giant hamper for Xiao Mai and stored countless snacks for him.

......

On the day of their departure, Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi went to see them off.

In order not to burden the team, Lu Lin prepared two horse-carriages for the kids in the family. The horses were much more valuable than the mules, each horse was worth fifteen taels of silver.

Chen Xiao Mai had been excited for days about this trip to the capital city, but now he pulled a long face when they were about the leave. He rested his head on Chen Xiao Mi's shoulder, refusing to let Chen Xiao Mi go.

Ji Yun An looked at Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi and said with an air of easy assurance, "Magistrate Lu, Brother Mi, don't worry, I will take good care of Mai."

Lu Lin felt the words meant more than they said, he permitted a dry smile and said, "Thank you, An, we are entrusting Mai to you."

Ji Yun An seemed to be encouraged by that and he nodded solemnly: "I won't disappoint you."

Seeing that it was getting late, Lu Lin patted Chen Xiao Mai on the shoulder and said, "Mai, it's time to say goodbye now."

Chen Xiao Mai waved at everyone and entered the carriage.

Looking at Chen Xiao Mai who was looking at them through the curtain on the carriage, Lu Lin felt this scene was more like they were marrying Mai off.

......

The moment Chen Xiao Cai and Chen Xiao Mai left, the house became cold and cheerless.

Lu Lin felt Shen Chi became more and more busy after Cai left. Lu Lin hired two assistants for Shen Chi.

"Magistrate Lu, Magistrate Lu," Yun Niang hurried in.

Lu Lin glanced at Yun Niang. "What's the matter?"

Yun Niang said with joy, "Young Master Shen is pregnant."

Lu Lin was overjoyed on hearing that, then he immediately regretted asking Cai to go to the capital city.

"Have you sent for a doctor?" asked Lu Lin.

Yun Niang nodded and said, "Yes. The doctor said that everything is good." Yun Niang hesitated for a second and said, "After seeing the doctor, Young Master Shen went to commercial house again."

'Oh my, Chi is such a workaholic, maybe I shouldn't sleep in every day,' Lu Lin made a face.

Although Shen Chi repeatedly promised that he was in good health and could definitely handle his work, Lu Lin was still a little worried and asked Shen Chi's assistants to share more work.

At this moment, Zhang Rui came to Sha County and that was some timely help!

"Rui, this is so great! How did you manage to convince your family though? " Lu Lin grabbed Zhang Rui's hands.

Zhang Rui scratched his head and said, "It hardly took any convincing, haha, my mother always joked about kicking me out of the house because my mind has always been unhinged since I left Sino Commercial House. And I don't get paid as much at my new job, that's not good." Zhang Rui was joking about his mother wanting to kick him out, but he was being honest about the income part, he earned two taels of silver a month in Sino Commercial House, and his income plummeted since he left Sino Commercial House.

Although his family was doing all right, their living standards had declined compared to when Zhang Rui worked for Lu Lin. Zhang Rui felty more pressured after they had a baby, so he discussed with his family and decided to come work for Lu Lin.

"How is everyone at home? Is your wife happy about your decision?" Lu Lin asked.

Zhang Rui nodded and said, "No problem. My family will reunite with me after I gain a firm foothold here."

Lu Lin nodded and said, "That's great."

Zhang Rui looked at Lu Lin and said, "Lin Ge, you're so amazing. I heard that you were rewarded by His Majesty. The Big Stone Village has been talking about you, everyone feels honored that one of their fellow villagers is rewarded by the emperor."

Lu Lin glanced at Zhang Rui in surprise and asked, "Has the news even reached Big Stone Village?"

Zhang Rui nodded, "Yeah! I heard that the emperor has rewarded you with money as well. After hearing that, Grandma Lu was very excited and even said that she was coming to find you."

Lu Lin narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is she really coming?"

Lu Lin's eyelids twitched and he thought to himself, "If Grandma Lu is determined to come, it will be troublesome."

"I don't think so. I heard that the Lu family found a group of travelling merchants to escort her, but the group rejected them because they don't think Grandma Lu can handle the long trip."

Lu Lin let out a sigh of relief. It was good to go far away.

Zhang Rui then continued, "I heard that there are other reasons as well. The group charged 8 tales of silver, but Grandma Lu directed a torrent of abuse at them, she even said..."

Lu Lin glanced at Zhang Rui and asked with great interest, "What did she say?"

"She said that she is the grandma of the magistrate in Sha County. It's their honor that she has asked them to escort her, otherwise she would ask her grandson to punish them!"

Lu Lin was speechless, he couldn't believe that annoying woman was using him to assume great airs.

"What did the merchants say? Did they fall for that?" "

"Lin Ge, don't worry, many people know about your relationship with the Lu family. The merchants are well informed, they know the stories between you and the Lus very well."

Lu Lin nodded and said, "That's good."