Chapter 164

She had wandered since childhood, her head was as hard as iron, and she didn't feel anything when she rushed ahead and hit someone, it was the person who got hit that let out a soft moan.

"Ow...is this a rock?"

Jiang Sheng looked up in confusion, and saw a handsome young face with arched eyebrows, somehow looking vaguely familiar, but she couldn't remember who he was.

It was the shopkeeper Hao from upstairs who rushed over in surprise, with a worried look on his face, "Young Master, are you alright?"

Jiang Sheng suddenly remembered who the person in front of her was.

The only person who would get such respectful treatment from the shopkeeper of You Ran Ju was the young master of the Jiang Family. She had seen him twice in Xieyang County when she was seven, so no wonder he looked familiar.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." The youth rubbed his chest, his gaze falling on Jiang Sheng, also with some recollection, "You little girl, you seem familiar from somewhere."

Jiang Sheng felt a little embarrassed to speak up.

Shopkeeper Hao remembered she was the sister of Zheng Ruqian, and explained with a smile, "Miss Jiang is sister of little Zheng, they both came from Xieyang County, and have always delivered goods for our You Ran Ju."

Only then did Jiang Chengyuan have a sudden realization, "I remember now, I saw you in Xieyang County, so we have some affinity since we share the same surname Jiang."

"That's not right, Young Master." Jiang Sheng shook her head, "I don't have the surname Jiang as in river, my Jiang is ginger, as in the ginger plant."

She couldn't remember who gave her this name anymore. She only knew she was named Jiang because she once stole and ate a slice of ginger, and it was so spicy that she vomited, yet she couldn't bear to throw it away either, so she could only take a bite and drink some water, then take another bite and drink some water again.

Although ginger was hard to eat, it could dispel cold, and even bring a person on the verge of freezing back to life gradually. So Jiang Sheng was willing to take the name Jiang, and also willing to become a girl like ginger.

"So we don't share the same surname after all." Jiang Chengyuan said regretfully, "Since you rushed over in such a hurry today, is it because you have some business?"

Only then did Jiang Sheng remember the cured meat on the carriage, and slapped her little head, "I'm here to deliver goods."

She then called out to a familiar buddy, "Brother Shunzi, bring in the goods." Shunzi gave a loud response, and nimbly rushed to the front of the carriage, skillfully unloading the cured fish, cured meat and sausages.

Jiang Sheng also went over to help lift the curtain, and with some effort, lifted up a package of fish slices.

"These siblings are so capable. They started by just delivering vegetables, then made cured meat, and now cured sausages and cured fish too. The flavors are unique in the whole Anshui Prefecture, and many people come to You Ran Ju just for these cured delicacies." Shopkeeper Hao stroked his beard, sincerely praising them, "Give them some more time, and they will go places, go places!"

Jiang Chengyuan looked at Jiang Sheng, who was not much taller than the shafts of the carriage, completely astonished.

This little girl was about the same age as his own younger sisters at home. Chenghui was even arguing with their parents about status issues, but this little girl had already started doing business and earning money, and walked all the way from Xieyang County to Anshui Prefecture step by step.

At this moment, Jiang Sheng carried the package of fish slices to the door of You Ran Ju.

Because she lacked strength, the package of fish slices slipped down little by little from her arms, and was about to fall to the ground.

In a panic, Jiang Sheng simply lay down on the ground to catch the package with her body.

Jiang Chengyuan was shocked beyond words. He rushed over to grab the package, threw it to Brother Shunzi, and at the same time pulled Jiang Sheng up from the ground.

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang." Jiang Sheng scratched her head, extremely embarrassed.

She had already made a fool of herself several times here.

"Why would you choose to fall down rather than let the package drop? If it fell to the ground you could just pick it up again?" Jiang Chengyuan did not understand.

"That wouldn't do." Jiang Sheng explained seriously, "The fish slices are delicate, if they fell to the ground the appearance would be ruined. And this is food, it wouldn't look good to customers if they saw it fell on the floor."

So she'd rather fall down and use her own body to catch it, than let the fish touch the ground.

Jiang Chengyuan didn't know how to describe his feelings, he only felt complicated emotions that couldn't be put into words. Jiang Sheng didn't bother with him either, and hopped inside to watch the weighing, waiting for Shopkeeper Hao to settle the bill.

The 300 catties of cured meat passed the scale check with no issues at all, the craftsmanship of Zhu Hua Courtyard was as impeccable as always.

Shopkeeper Hao smiled from ear to ear. He calculated with his abacus and took out the full amount, then deducted the deposit paid earlier, and finally handed over 100 taels of patterned silver to Jiang Sheng.

The large 20 tael ingots, a full 5 of them stuffed in her bosom, bulged out conspicuously as if she was hiding something.

Shopkeeper Hao couldn't help laughing. Over Jiang Sheng's protests, he changed it into silver notes instead.

The 100 taels silver note was much easier to keep. She folded it up and put it in her purse, then tucked the little purse deep inside her sleeve pocket. Finally Jiang Sheng was very satisfied, and bid farewell bouncingly, "Shopkeeper Hao I'm leaving now, Brother Shunzi I'm leaving now." As she passed by Jiang Chengyuan, she thought for a moment, and also waved her hand, "Young Master Jiang, Jiang Sheng is leaving now."

The little girl hopped onto the carriage like a rabbit, leading the horse much taller than her, swaying as she left.

Jiang Chengyuan suddenly realized, "She even calls Shunzi brother, yet calls me Young Master."

"Eldest Young Master already has plenty of sisters, why notice this." Shopkeeper Hao laughed, "Miss Jiang was probably trying not to be too presumptuous with you."

Hopefully that was the reason.

Jiang Chengyuan withdrew his gaze from Jiang Sheng, and let it fall back onto the newly delivered cured meat. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"What business does Eldest Young Master have coming to Anshui Prefecture?" Shopkeeper Hao stroked his beard probing, "Did you come to relax, or is there important business at hand?"

Jiang Chengyuan's smile disappeared, his gaze growing increasingly profound.

Even if he wanted to relax, he couldn't come to Anshui Prefecture to do it.

The reason he left Fengjing was because he was ordered by Grandmother to find his younger sister who had been lost for many years.

But in this wide world, how could a child who had vanished without a trace for ten years be easily found?

Furthermore, even if he found her, how could it be guaranteed that the child would be willing to go back, and able to integrate into the Jiang family?

Jiang Chengyuan felt depressed in his heart, yet he couldn't defy Grandmother either, so he simply came to Anshui Prefecture, partly because he was familiar with it, and partly because Anshui Prefecture's You Ran Ju's reputation for cured meats had already spread to Fengjing, making him extremely curious.

"Bring me some of each of these cured sausages, cured meat and cured fish." He pointed at the newly delivered cured meat, "This young master wants to have a good taste, to see what is so special about them."

Shopkeeper Hao laughed. He went to call the head chef to prepare the food himself.

The next day.

The Imperial College announced the exact dates for the provincial examination - starting from the 28th of the third month, one exam every three days, three exams total, and ending on the 5th of the fourth month.

The entire Zhu Hua Courtyard quickly became busy, preparing travel supplies, food, drink and chamber pot for Xu Mo.

While packing, Jiang Sheng cursed Zheng Ruqian, "Stinky Second Brother, you promised to come back early, you promised to be home before Eldest Brother's exam. "

But the 28th of the third month was almost here, yet there was not even a shadow of Zheng Ruqian.

The little girl was both anxious and angry. After packing everything, she stood on tiptoes at the door of Zhu Hua Courtyard, looking out.

With great difficulty, two lean, monkey-like figures appeared in sight.