Chef Hua
Chapter 440: Episode 242 News

Chapter 440: Episode 242 News

The clouds were thick, and as noon approached, the sun still failed to struggle out, leaving the room dim and obscure.

Ke Zhenwu sat alone facing the front hall entrance, cradling a cup of tea in his hands, pondering something with bowed head. Not having seen him for merely three or five days, it seemed he had aged further, his white hair even more abundant.

Meng Yuhuai took a deep breath outside the door, silently walked in, and came straight to stand before him, saying nothing for a long while.

The elder looked up, his face surprisingly bearing a smile, and chuckled, "Punishment by standing? You’re so stiff and straight, just looking at you makes me feel weary. Why not sit down and talk? I’ve got some Lu’an Melon Seed tea given to me by someone today. I remember you used to quite enjoy this refreshing taste. It’s perfect for the humid and hot weather we’re having now. Care to try?"

Without waiting for a response, he poured a cup and pushed it toward him.

Meng Yuhuai took it silently, and selected a random chair to sit down, yet still remained quiet.

"What’s this about?" Ke Zhenwu glanced at his face and said, "I heard all that rubbish Hou Chang was spouting earlier. Are you feeling uncomfortable because of that?"

"Not at all," Meng Yuhuai shook his head and casually replied, "Just that overnight such a matter arose, I..."

"What about you?" Ke Zhenwu turned his face and coughed, sounding rather grumpy, "Do you really feel so guilty that you can’t look me in the eye? Hmph, if that’s true, then I have misread you all these years!"

Meng Yuhuai was not a foolish man, and wouldn’t rashly take the blame onto himself, but after hearing Hou Chang’s words, he couldn’t help but ponder in his heart whether the situation would have been different if he had been the one guarding the Warehouse Guard last night.

What’s done is done, and further thought was fruitless, but such thoughts were not so easily suppressed...

"Everything else is still manageable. At worst, we’ll have to put in more effort to find people and be more cautious before Magistrate Tao. If he flies into a rage and curses a bit, I’ll take it. It’s not like I have such a temper that I can’t endure it. I reckon we should help take care in arranging the funeral for Big Zhong’s family and give them some more money—it’s just that I feel somewhat sorry for him. After all, he was like a brother, and in the end, all we can do is give money, nothing more..."

"That’s the truth," Ke Zhenwu agreed with a nod. Seeing him as if he had lost his spirit, speaking in ever lower tones, Ke Zhenwu firmed his expression and raised his voice slightly, "I know what you are pondering. You might be stronger than them, but last night’s situation was such that no one could guarantee exiting unscathed. Had anything happened to you, what about your mother and wife?"

He then sighed, "In theory, with your family being small, and Xiao Mai now expecting your first child, you should have been at home taking care of them. But with our Escort Agency... ever since Lv Bin and the others left, there haven’t been many competent people left. Now, with this trouble, you won’t be able to rest for a while..."

"That’s not an issue," Meng Yuhuai looked up at him, his expression softening slightly, "My wife and mother are getting along fine at the moment, and she’s resting at home without needing to manage the business, so there’s really no need for me to worry."

Upon hearing this, Ke Zhenwu laughed, "Xiao Mai’s temper matches well with your mother’s? Quite remarkable." However, he quickly glanced outside, lowered his voice, and spoke seriously, "Don’t say I didn’t warn you, in this disaster, the most important thing is to find that Warehouse Guard before the Government Office does, alive or dead. And those bandits, the sooner we get news the better. Those Government Officials are good-for-nothings. Our Escort Agency’s men may be not the best, but could they be worse than them?"

He suddenly leaned back in his chair, took a sip of his tea, and said, "I’m getting older, and there are many things I’d like to manage but no longer have the energy for. This matter is all on your shoulders. If handled well, you reap the benefits, but if something goes awry, you’re the one to carry the can, do you understand?"

Meng Yuhuai’s head jerked up, and he saw the elder’s eyes squinted with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, a gleam of shrewdness within, and seemingly a depth of deeper meanings.

Yet, some things he simply had no mind to consider at the moment, so he just nodded slightly, brought the teacup to his lips to sip, not knowing whether it tasted sweet or bitter.

Ke Zhenwu chuckled and stood up, "The old man is of no other use, but when it comes to taking a scolding, I’m the most experienced. Let’s go, I’ll accompany you to face Magistrate Tao, promptly deliver ourselves to him to let him have his rant at us!"