By the time Ding Songyan returned from Yellow Gate Alley to the vicinity of Prince Kang's Residence, darkness had fully fallen. He turned into Tiger Tail Alley and entered the Cheap Wine Shop.
After the incident at noon, business at the wine shop had clearly suffered. The dinner hour had barely passed, yet only three or four tables remained occupied.
Ding Songyan chose a square table by the wall and sat down, ordering a pot of wine, a small bucket of rice, and three dishes-two meat and one vegetable.
The person who brought over the stir-fried lamb with scallions was neither of the two men who waited tables and did odd jobs, but the ordinary-looking, clean and tidy cook, Shi Wuyan.
Ding Songyan glanced up at him and said, almost as though speaking to himself:
"Your junior brother has been found. He's safe and sound."
"Tonight's meal is on me." Shi Wuyan nodded slightly, then turned and left.
Being a good person really isn't bad. Everywhere I go, someone treats me... Ding Songyan amused himself with the thought as he drank and ate.
Once Twelfth Madam Luo had finished dealing with the men taking verbal liberties with her, he made a discreet gesture, signaling her to come over.
"What else do you need?" Wearing a dark red short jacket and a three-colored long skirt, Twelfth Madam Luo approached with a kettle of boiling water.
It's hard to control how much damage boiling water does. A hatchet would be better... Ding Songyan chuckled.
"There's something I think I ought to tell you, Twelfth Madam."
Twelfth Madam Luo set the darkened kettle on Ding Songyan's table.
"What is it?"
Ding Songyan glanced around. Seeing that the other tables were some distance away, he lowered his voice.
"There's probably another very important reason