Only after Hu Xiaotian returned to the Good Fortune Inn did he remember that he had promised the innkeeper, Su Guangju, he would look at a house. Having spent the entire day out, he had completely forgotten. When he saw Liang Dazhuang, he learned that Liang had already gone with Su Guangju that afternoon. The house was in nearby Three Virtues Alley, and just as Su Guangju had said, everything about it was quite good. The owner had asked for twenty taels of gold, but upon hearing that the new County Deputy wanted to buy it, he had voluntarily lowered the price to eighteen.
Hu Xiaotian left the decision to Liang Dazhuang, but told him there was no need to accept that two-tael favor. Given his position, he did not want people saying he had used his authority to bully someone.
Night fell, and the evening lanterns came alight. Liang Dazhuang readied the carriage and drove Hu Xiaotian to the county yamen. Apparently, all the cooks preparing tonight's meal had been brought in from Wild Goose Tower, the most famous restaurant in Azure Cloud County. Whenever the yamen held an important event or received distinguished guests, they either went to Wild Goose Tower or hired its cooks. As they passed the restaurant, Hu Xiaotian made a point of looking. Sure enough, quite a few carriages and horses stood outside. An acquaintance stepped out of one carriage: Wan Boping, the master of the Wan Family. It seemed that as his second son Wan Tingsheng's condition gradually stabilized, Wan Boping's spirits had begun to improve too-he was even going out for dinner. Since Hu Xiaotian had business to attend to, he did not go over to greet him, instead urging Liang Dazhuang to drive past quickly.
The carriage circled around to the