West Lake, the Li family?
Yan Shouyi's footsteps faltered, and a ripple of thought stirred within him.
Even hearing that some powerful figure had sealed off the West Lake waters hadn't surprised Yan Shouyi much. But upon learning that this powerful family was the West Lake Li family, Yan Shouyi felt a touch of astonishment.
Rongcheng wasn't a vast city, but it wasn't small either. However, encountering the West Lake Li family at West Lake seemed within the realm of possibility.
After a brief moment of distraction, Yan Shouyi quickly regained his composure, his mind returning to its usual stillness.
Still, he paid a little attention, wanting to observe what the Li family members were like before revealing his identity.
After all—
They were his in-laws according to the engagement.
Walking through the long covered walkway, the two of them finally arrived outside the West Lake Elegant Abode. Pushing open the ancient, simple door, service staff in long robes bowed politely on either side. One of them presented two pairs of exquisite cloth shoes, which Yan Shouyi and Huang Hai changed into.
"Welcome to West Lake Elegant Abode, esteemed guests," the person said politely. "I presume you are Mr. Huang and Mr. Yan? Please follow me upstairs. Tea has been prepared, and the dishes can be served at any moment."
This West Lake Elegant Abode was as he had imagined. Since they had hired a former imperial chef, the hospitality naturally followed the rules for entertaining an emperor. Although Huang Hai was benefiting from Yan Shouyi's connection, he felt a sense of elation at this moment.
Especially the service staff kneeling on either side; even their voluminous robes couldn't conceal their alluring figures. From the manager down to the cleaning staff, everyone had been meticulously selected. They had to be under twenty-five years old, possessing a gentle and beautiful appearance. During work hours, only minimal makeup was permitted, to restore the most natural beauty. Heavy makeup, it was believed, would cause discomfort to the guests.
Throughout West Lake Elegant Abode, antique artifacts were visible everywhere. Calligraphy and paintings adorned every wall, interspersed with photographs and inscriptions from contemporary celebrities, constantly reminding visitors of West Lake Elegant Abode's prestige and class.
Not long after Yan Shouyi and his companion ascended, another group arrived at West Lake Elegant Abode.
This party consisted of eight people, appearing to be two families of three, accompanied by a driver and a nanny, who held a newborn infant.
The two families of three were dressed in understated luxury. They were the kind of people who, at first glance, exuded an excellent temperament, but without wearing overt jewelry. Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that each of their garments cost tens of thousands, and their watches were items that ordinary people could not afford even after a lifetime.
The two families of three were each accompanied by a young man and a young woman.
As the young woman was changing her shoes, she suddenly noticed a pair of worn-out cloth shoes on the shoe rack, still bearing some yellow mud. This caused her expression to instantly turn unpleasant.
"Whose shoes are these? Why are they placed here?" the young woman said coldly, pointing at the shoes. "To place our shoes alongside these, what if they get stained with mud and odor?"
The service staff knew that this young woman was not someone they could afford to offend, and quickly explained:
"These are a guest's shoes. Miss Li, please rest assured, we will store your shoes separately."
"No, throw these shoes away. They are an eyesore to me!" the young woman commanded.
The service staff dared not disobey. They could only put on gloves, pick up Yan Shouyi's shoes, and toss them into West Lake. Immediately afterward, they threw away the gloves as well.
The young woman was then satisfied: "What a pity. I should have had them burned just now. To throw them into our Li family's West Lake is to pollute the water."
The pollution she spoke of was not referring to the shoes as garbage, but rather a concern that the "aura of poverty" on the shoes might contaminate her Li family's lake water.
"Qing'er, those who come to West Lake Elegant Abode are not ordinary people. Although our Li family has nothing to fear in Rongcheng, try not to provoke trouble if possible," a middle-aged man warned the young woman.
The young woman smiled. "They're just a pair of worn-out shoes. At most, I'll pay him some money later!"
The middle-aged man shook his head helplessly but said no more. In reality, he didn't care much either; his admonishment was merely to assert his authority as a father.
The middle-aged woman said, "Let's go up quickly. Today is a joyous occasion for our Li family as our new addition celebrates its full moon. Let's not let these trivial matters disrupt our spirits."
Led by the service staff, the group then proceeded upstairs.
The remaining service staff looked at the still bubbling lake water, feeling a moment of distress.
They had thrown away Yan Shouyi's shoes. What would happen if Yan Shouyi came down later and blamed them?
They couldn't possibly shift the blame to the young lady named Li Qing'er. Ultimately, they would have to bear the responsibility themselves.
...
On the third floor of West Lake Elegant Abode, the corridor had three doors, numbered "Qing," "Dan," and "Ya." None held higher precedence than the others.
The service staff led them to the "Dan" room and knocked. A voice soon replied from within, "Please come in."
Upon opening the door, a panoramic floor-to-ceiling window was revealed. In front of a wooden long sofa, a teapot was emitting white steam. A dining table with only three chairs was still empty.
Huang Hai bowed respectfully and announced:
"Sect Leader, Second Elder, descendant of Lu Ban, Mr. Yan, has arrived."
In fact, the Sect Leader was Huang Hai's senior martial uncle, and the Second Elder was his senior martial brother. However, this was a formal occasion, so Huang Hai could not address them as such.
"You may withdraw."
"Yes."
Huang Hai stepped out of the door to stand guard, closing the door behind him.
Yan Shouyi stood steady, appraising the two people on the sofa.
The Sect Leader of the Lu Shan Sect was named Lu Jingsheng. He was a small old man with a white beard, appearing to be no more than 1.4 meters tall. On the not-so-spacious sofa, he could sit cross-legged. Today, he wore a white training uniform and a string of wooden beads on his wrist, resembling an old man who had just returned from practicing Tai Chi in the park.
The other person was the Second Elder of the Lu Shan Sect, named Tong Jiuhua. He was a middle-aged man whose attire was much more fashionable. He wore numerous small items that looked like jewelry but were actually magical artifacts – bracelets, bangles, rings, necklaces, earrings… and even a nose ring. Everywhere he could wear something, he had. Besides that, he held a folding fan in one hand and was fiddling with walnuts in the other, his hands never idle.
As Yan Shouyi observed them, they were also observing him.
"Young friend, please sit," Lu Jingsheng gestured to the seat in front of him.
Yan Shouyi said thank you and sat down opposite Lu Jingsheng. Tong Jiuhua put down his folding fan, poured boiling water into a teapot, and served Yan Shouyi a cup of tea.
"Come, have a taste."
In China, tea culture was deeply integrated into the lives of every southerner. Whether for business discussions or meeting friends and family, sharing tea was inevitable.
Yan Shouyi was accustomed to the environment. He picked up the tea cup with three fingers, observed it, sniffed it, and then tasted it, sipping it lightly in three small mouthfuls.
After savoring the taste, Yan Shouyi put down his teacup and smiled, saying:
"Sect Leader Lu, Elder Tong, I, a mere descendant of Lu Ban, and moreover, a young lad, you even entertain me with tea from the mother trees of Da Hong Pao. This junior is truly overwhelmed by your generosity!"