ABD - Chapter 27

Shopkeeper Mei gave Shen Xuan thirty taels of silver, and Shen Xuan sold the freshly made tea base to Guiyun Tower, even giving his stall's signboard to Shopkeeper Mei. 

Soon after, Shopkeeper Mei had the Honey Scholar Tea signboard hung at the entrance. Pedestrians on Jinli Street saw the signboard and realized that the Honey Scholar Tea, which had been missing for two days, was now being sold at Guiyun Tower.

The price of tea at Guiyun Tower was naturally higher than Shen Xuan's, but the tower's regular customers didn't mind the small extra cost, as long as the Honey Scholar Tea at Guiyun Tower tasted the same as before. 

With the addition of Honey Scholar Tea, Guiyun Tower attracted even more customers, making Daiyue Tower across the street appear even more deserted. 

The manager of Daiyue Tower immediately informed Vice Prefect Dai, who almost twisted his mouth in anger at the yamen. 

Watching his own customers flock to Guiyun Tower for Honey Scholar Tea, Vice Prefect Dai seethed with hatred, assuming Shen Xuan had directly sold the tea recipe to Guiyun Tower.

Realizing that the owner behind Guiyun Tower was beyond his reach, Vice Prefect Dai had no choice but to accept his loss. 

However, he still couldn't give up, thinking that since Shen Xuan could sell the recipe to Guiyun Tower, why couldn't he sell it to him? 

As he pondered how to obtain the Honey Scholar Tea recipe, Shen Xuan drove his mule cart back to the postal station to find Xue Fenglin.

***

It was still early, not yet noon. Shen Xuan went to the postal station but found Xue Fenglin was already gone. 

"Where's the young man who came to send a letter earlier?" Shen Xuan quickly asked the post official. 

"So many people come and go every day. How would I know which one you're talking about?" the official replied, looking at Shen Xuan.

"The one who's exceptionally handsome and has some difficulty with his legs?" Shen Xuan described.

"Hmm..." The official thought for a moment. "I do have some impression, but he walked in, looked around, didn't send a letter, and then left on his own. I don't know where he went."

Left on his own? Shen Xuan felt a bit bewildered. Didn't Lin Ye say he needed to send a letter home? Why did he leave without sending it? Shen Xuan felt worried, and at the same time, a wave of annoyance surged within him. 

Only then did he realize that he actually knew nothing about Lin Ye, and he wondered if Lin Ye would leave and never return.

He parked the mule cart by the road and waited, thinking, I wonder if Lin Ye will come back? Will I wait in vain? 

This thought was unsettling. The more he thought about it, the more irritable he became. In reality, apart from the name Lin Ye, Xue Fenglin had never told Shen Xuan anything about his family or identity. 

Only now did Shen Xuan realize that he had already considered Lin Ye a good friend, but Lin Ye might not feel the same way.

However, just as Shen Xuan was feeling agitated, he suddenly saw a familiar figure slowly approaching from afar. 

His steps were a little slow due to his leg injury. Who else could it be but Xue Fenglin? 

"Lin Ye!" 

Shen Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and a sudden surge of joy flooded his chest, pushing his earlier worries to the back of his mind.

Xue Fenglin was also surprised to see Shen Xuan already waiting at the postal station entrance. 

He then quickened his steps and said, "It's still so early, why are you here already? I just went to the latrine. You haven't been waiting long, have you?"

"Not long. I ran into something today, but it's resolved now," Shen Xuan paused, then tentatively asked, "Did you send your letter?"

"Yes," Xue Fenglin nodded. "I gave it to the post official."

Shen Xuan was startled, realizing Xue Fenglin had lied. He instantly felt a little displeased but didn't know what to do, so he just pretended not to know and forced a smile, saying, 

"That's good then." Everyone has their own unspoken difficulties. 

Lin Ye isn't anyone special to me. He doesn't need to tell me every little thing, Shen Xuan rationalized to himself.

But because of this, Shen Xuan fell silent. For a moment, there was nothing to say between them, as if a barrier had suddenly formed. 

Xue Fenglin also sensed it, though he didn't know why. He then proactively said to Shen Xuan, 

"It's almost noon. How about we eat in the city before heading back? That way you won't have to cook when we get home." 

Shen Xuan nodded then. "I was thinking the same thing. We haven't eaten in the city together yet. Since it's a rare outing, let's have a good meal."

***

Their current location, being very close to the prefectural yamen, was a bustling area in Lezhou City, with a few decent restaurants lining the road. 

Daiyue Tower also had a branch there, but Shen Xuan was naturally unwilling to go. Instead, they went to a restaurant next door called Lezhou Cottage. 

Shen Xuan generously ordered a private room, and Xue Fenglin didn't stop him. The private room was on the second floor of the restaurant, requiring a long flight of stairs.

Shen Xuan walked quickly for a bit, then looked back and saw Xue Fenglin slowly ascending the stairs, holding the railing. 

Although his face didn't show it, judging by his walking speed, his leg must still be hurting. Shen Xuan felt a bit embarrassed. He had completely forgotten about Xue Fenglin's leg injury. 

Seeing Xue Fenglin's expression, his heart softened again. He went down to Xue Fenglin's side, took his arm, and said, 

"I forgot about your leg injury. I shouldn't have ordered a private room on the second floor. Lean on me as we go up." 

Xue Fenglin looked at Shen Xuan, seeing him with his head bowed beside him, his face still a little flushed. His heart warmed. 

He hooked his arm over Shen Xuan's shoulder and said, "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

The two walked up the stairs, embracing each other like that. Once they reached flat ground, Shen Xuan released Xue Fenglin. 

Xue Fenglin reluctantly withdrew his hand from Shen Xuan's shoulder, then followed him into the private room. Soon after they sat down, the waiter brought a table full of dishes and wine.

Xue Fenglin saw their signature sweet and sour fish, eight-treasure duck, pan-fried tofu, a stir-fried mixed vegetables, and a mushroom chicken soup. 

The dishes were rich and exquisite. Coupled with a pot of osmanthus sweet wine, this meal at a restaurant near the Lezhou Prefectural Yamen would cost at least five hundred wen.

In reality, including the cost of the private room, this meal did indeed cost half a taels of silver. 

Although Shen Xuan wasn't short on money now, he wouldn't splurge on such a meal alone. 

It was only because he was with Xue Fenglin, and he thought this might be their last meal together in Lezhou, that he splurged on this good spread.

Xue Fenglin picked up his chopsticks and first placed a piece of sweet and sour fish belly onto Shen Xuan's plate, remembering that Shen Xuan quite liked fish. 

Then he tasted the dishes himself; the flavors were decent. The sweet and sour fish must have been deep-fried once, with a crispy exterior and tender interior, and a sweet and sour taste, making it Lezhou Cottage's signature dish. 

Shen Xuan ate a few bites and also found it quite good, then asked Xue Fenglin how the dishes tasted. 

Xue Fenglin thought for a moment and replied, "Although the taste is good, it's mediocre. Not as delicious as what you make at home."

Shen Xuan smiled upon hearing this and said with a bit of playful arrogance, "That's true! But not everyone gets to eat the food I make!"

"Then does the fact that I eat your cooking every day mean I'm more special to you than others?" Xue Fenglin asked.

Shen Xuan froze, unsure for a moment what Xue Fenglin meant. He glanced at the osmanthus wine on the table. The cork wasn't even opened, so Xue Fenglin shouldn't be drunk, right?

Seeing Shen Xuan's stunned expression, Xue Fenglin sighed. He opened the cork of the osmanthus wine bottle, poured a cup for Shen Xuan, and said, 

"You're so smart, you should understand what I'm saying. Think about it carefully." 

Xue Fenglin was truly handsome, and hearing those words from him made Shen Xuan feel a little giddy, his entire face flushing instantly. 

To hide his inner turmoil, Shen Xuan quickly picked up the wine cup and gulped it down. 

Although the osmanthus sweet wine was sweet, it was quite strong, and Shen Xuan immediately choked and coughed. 

Xue Fenglin shook his head and said, "Drink slowly; this wine is potent."

Shen Xuan put down his wine cup and took two deep breaths. He wasn't sure if he was drunk or what. 

But he suddenly plucked up the courage and asked back, 

"What about you, Lin Ye? What am I to you?" Xue Fenglin was silent for a moment, not answering directly. 

Instead, he said to Shen Xuan, "Last time, you said you never wanted to marry. I'll ask you again now." 

He continued, "I'll be returning to the capital in a few days. You've always said you want to leave Yunshui Village. Do you want to come back with me?"

Shen Xuan's heart pounded like a drum. Looking into Xue Fenglin's serious eyes, he felt himself retreating. 

So Lin Ye is from the capital. But what am I to Lin Ye? What would it mean if I went to the capital with him? 

He pondered for a long time before finally asking, "Lin Ye? Your family... they're not ordinary commoners in the capital, are they? I've noticed you never like to mention your family. Is it because you don't get along with them?"

How could Shen Xuan not know about the private matters of those powerful noble families? Even if Lin Ye had feelings for him, he might not be able to decide his own marriage. 

The thought of Lin Ye's family likely having many rules made Shen Xuan's head ache.

He did have some affection for Lin Ye, but not to the extent of wanting to give up his free life for him. 

His business in Lezhou was thriving now. In a year, he could buy a three-courtyard house in the city and hire two servants. 

With no parents pushing him to marry and no in-laws dictating his life, he would live a truly carefree existence. 

Shen Xuan hadn't been in a relationship in either of his lives, but the mere thought of all the issues involved in marriage was enough to deter him. 

Moreover, this was the Great Jin Dynasty, and given the status of Ger in this era, Shen Xuan found it hard to imagine what he would face if he truly got together with Lin Ye.

"I... I still have the same thoughts as before," Shen Xuan said, gritting his teeth. "This life is good enough for me right now. I don't want to marry." 

Xue Fenglin was silent for a long time again, his eyes revealing no clear emotion. He simply poured himself a cup of wine and drank it in one gulp. 

Then he said, "Then I wish you a smooth and free life from now on." There was a hint of farewell in his words.

Shen Xuan suddenly felt very sad. His mind was in turmoil, but he didn't know what to do. He could only raise his glass and say, 

"You too." Xue Fenglin clinked glasses with him again, and they drank together. Afterward, Shen Xuan and Xue Fenglin quickly changed the subject. 

They continued drinking and eating, as if their previous conversation had never happened.