Chapter 17: Meng Qiancheng

Jiming Town was a small town, home to fewer than a hundred households. The morning market was nothing more than local farmers from surrounding villages bringing their homegrown vegetables, eggs, and other agricultural products to sell, then bartering for daily necessities.

By noon, the market would disperse, leaving only a few storefronts—tailor shops, pharmacies, taverns, and clinics—still open.

The tavern Qingfeng brought Wen Lan to was the only one in Jiming Town. As the sole establishment of its kind, it was fairly crowded during lunch hours.

The two found a seat. Qingfeng, clearly familiar with the place, ordered a few dishes with practiced ease, then poured some tea and waited for the food to arrive.

It was Wen Lan’s first time experiencing ancient life up close, and she quickly began observing the other customers in the tavern.

Judging from their attire, the townspeople dressed better than the villagers in Yushou Village. Some women even wore embroidered gauze, and those who fancied looking nice adorned their hair with silver hairpins inlaid with kingfisher feathers. Gestures and movements revealed glimpses of jewelry made of gold and silver.

It seemed people in the Nan Dynasty lived quite well. Wen Lan felt somewhat reassured. She thought that as long as the people lived in peace and prosperity, they would have extra money, and with money came consumption—where there was consumption, there was opportunity for her to earn.

The idea of selling mountain goods became even more appealing.

Just as she was secretly calculating how to launch her money-making plans, two new patrons entered the tavern.

Wen Lan had been idly watching, and naturally looked over when she saw someone come in. One glance was all it took for her eyes to flare with anger.

Because one of the men who entered was none other than Meng Qiancheng—the very man who had betrayed Lin Furong.

And the person following Meng Qiancheng was identified from Lin Furong’s memories as the second eldest of the Sun family in Yushou Village: Lai Sun Dafu.

Why would Meng Qiancheng be with Sun Dafu?

Wen Lan tapped her forehead. Something didn’t add up. Lin Furong’s memories clearly painted Meng Qiancheng as a gentle, ambitious young man.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have risked gossip and disgrace to elope with him.

“Typical mountain girl—can recognize a face but not a heart.” Disguised as a man, Wen Lan took the liberty of boldly sizing Meng Qiancheng up.

Objectively, Meng Qiancheng could still be considered good-looking. But in Wen Lan’s 22-year-old eyes, his pale complexion and rosy lips made him look a bit too effeminate.

Right now, the man others saw as a refined gentleman, Wen Lan saw as dainty and pretentious. He found an empty seat and gestured for Sun Dafu to sit as well.

Then a waiter came over with water and asked what they’d like to eat.

Wen Lan didn’t originally plan to stir up trouble. If Lin Furong herself had seen Meng Qiancheng, she probably would’ve chosen to ignore him. But Wen Lan was far too curious about why Meng Qiancheng was with Sun Dafu.

So, she perked up her ears and began eavesdropping on their table.

Luckily, the tavern wasn’t very large, and the table Wen Lan and Qingfeng had picked wasn’t far from Meng Qiancheng’s.

If she listened carefully, she could catch a good portion of their conversation.

By now, Meng Qiancheng had already ordered food and wine. He asked Sun Dafu, “You said the hunter from the mountains went to the Lin family to propose?”

Sun Dafu nodded vigorously. “Yeah, just this morning! That matchmaker pulled out a gold ingot right in front of the whole village!”

What the—? Wen Lan craned her neck, frowning.

Meng Qiancheng was asking about Lin Furong?

Did he actually love her after all?