Chapter 254: Wheel

Chapter 254: The Wheel

The next day, when Song Tingzhou sought out Prince Lian's advisors, they were overjoyed.

"I told you, even heroes struggle to resist a beauty's charms. Just look at his husband—Prefect Song clearly favors that type of young man."

"Good, good, it's all thanks to your plan. Who would've thought Xiang Ge'er would be so useful, winning over Song Tingzhou in one night!"

"Now it's up to Xiang Ge'er to see how thoroughly he can enchant Song Tingzhou."

"If he were just an ordinary official, a young man wouldn't amount to much. But judging by how Song Tingzhou indulged his husband last time, he seems to be a lovesick fool."

"Exactly. Love is like drinking arsenic once you touch it. On this trip, not only might we secure the Zhen Guan Workshop for the prince, but we might even turn Song Tingzhou to our side."

They were still lost in their fantasies when they stepped out of the inn where they had settled. Instead of encountering the imagined Song Tingzhou, bewitched by beauty, they were met by bailiffs from the prefectural office.

Fearing their skilled guards, Song Tingzhou had even sent Chi Yu and Xue Sheng along.

"Lord Song, what is the meaning of this!" The great scholar among the advisors turned pale with anger.

Xue Sheng drew his blade, confronting the guards accompanying the advisors, and said coldly, "Last night, assassins attempted to attack the prefect. Upon interrogation, they swore you gentlemen had ordered it. My lord has sent us to bring you to the prefectural office for questioning. Please cooperate."

Chi Yu chimed in, "That's right!"

Though they knew this was nonsense, Song Tingzhou's orders were law in Xiwu Prefecture. Reluctantly, they followed Chi Yu and the others back to the office.

By the time Luo Jining returned from drifting around the rubber workshop, the advisors were already in prison. Their self-delivered leverage had been firmly seized by Song Tingzhou. Furious yet unable to abandon them, Luo Jining had no choice but to bring generous gifts and visit the Song residence.

He arrived at an awkward moment. As the Song servants led him in, the young and capable prefect was in the middle of a melodramatic scene straight out of a Qiong Yao drama with his young husband.

Meng Wan, pitifully dabbing his eyes with a silk handkerchief, said tearfully, his eyes reddened, "When you married me, you promised a lifetime of just the two of us. Now you've found a younger, prettier young man outside and you're tired of me!"

Song Tingzhou held him to keep him from flailing and said expressionlessly, "Don't listen to idle gossip. I have no entanglements with anyone else."

Meng Wan struggled and flailed, accidentally slapping Song Tingzhou's chin, leaving a red mark. He turned Song Tingzhou around and rubbed it discreetly, whispering, "Just be as shameless as Chai Jun and his Yun Ge'er—be shameless about it."

A hint of helplessness flickered in Song Tingzhou's eyes. "I'll try."

Before they could finish their act, Luo Jining could no longer bear it. "Ahem, Lord Song."

Frowning deeply, Luo Jining suppressed the nausea rising in his stomach and forced a smile. "Meng Fulang is at home as well."

Meng Wan flicked his handkerchief and turned away without a word, as if taking out his anger with Song Tingzhou on an outsider.

Luo Jining stood frozen, his skin crawling. If someone like him were in charge of the relay station and the workshop, I’d drop dead on the spot!

Song Tingzhou humbly coaxed Meng Wan. "Wan'er, please go inside. I have matters to discuss with our guest."

Meng Wan glanced at Song Tingzhou, then sidelong at Luo Jining, seemingly deeming him less refined than himself. Snorting disdainfully, he minced away with delicate steps.

Finally gone.

Luo Jining's taut nerves relaxed. He said courteously, "Your husband is quite a character. Last time I saw him, he was quite courteous."

Last time, he kept calling me 'brother' to annoy me; now he's acting like a fighting cock. What the hell is wrong with him?

What the hell? Song Tingzhou, a perfectly sensible young man—how could he be into this? Pure looks?

Though Luo Jining still had many doubts about Xiwu Prefecture, Meng Wan was now the first he ruled out.

Song Tingzhou invited him into the hall, speaking protectively, "My husband is innocent by nature, and I've spoiled him so he throws a little tantrum now and then. Nothing serious."

Luo Jining thought, *"Nothing serious?"*

He had come to plead for the old scholars in prison; otherwise, how could he face his brother-in-law back in Shengjing?

Forcing the image of Meng Wan out of his mind, Luo Jining carefully chose his words. "Your husband is charming and rare." Fearing Song Tingzhou might keep blowing smoke, he quickly added, "I'm sure you know the purpose of my visit. Those gentlemen are all famed scholars with countless disciples. Even if they acted foolishly and offended you, please, for Prince Lian's sake, show leniency."

A servant served tea. Song Tingzhou took a sip and said slowly, "I never intended to make things difficult for them, but their reckless actions truly disturbed my household."

Hearing the softening in his tone, Luo Jining immediately assured him, "Lord Song, rest assured. Our business is in Lin'an Prefecture. We merely passed through Xiwu to negotiate a deal with Zhen Guan Workshop and won't linger long. Once the gentlemen are released, I'll take them straight back to Lin'an."

Song Tingzhou toyed with the small teacup in his hand and said casually, "That would be best. Then, when you set out, I will personally see that justice is done for the gentlemen."

Luo Jining understood: unless they left, Song Tingzhou wouldn't let them go.

To prevent any further trouble, Luo Jining left the Song residence and immediately ordered his servants to pack.

Song Tingzhou kept his word. By the time their carriages were ready, Song Tingzhou had used his far-reaching influence to have the men sent directly outside the city.

The man Luo Jining had dispatched hadn't even gone one street before returning to report, "Young master, Lord Song has already sent everyone outside the city. He said to save you the trouble, and even provided carriages and rations."

"In that case, let's depart." Luo Jining gave a long glance toward the prefectural office, his feelings toward Song Tingzhou were complicated. Though the man seemed foolish about love, his competence matched the rumors in Shengjing.

Leaving Xiwu's city gates and picking up the advisors—who looked plumper and unharmed from their time in prison—Luo Jining suddenly felt calmer.

The excitement and turmoil he had felt in Shengjing over the canned lychees had now subsided.

Perhaps he was overthinking. The idea of inexplicably traveling through time into another world and possessing someone else's body was just too absurd. Every morning when he woke, he still thought he was dreaming.

How could it be that another person had also come from another world?

The managers of Zhen Guan Workshop were quicker than the bailiffs. No sooner had Luo Jining left than they rushed to the Song residence to report to Meng Wan.

"They definitely left. First, they took the official road; then, a man met up with them on a small path near Zhihe Village."

A slightly slower manager from the relay station ran in, continuing the story. "I found out that man was a new cook hired by the old madam's new shop."

Chang Jinhua's old shop was next to the relay station. She had recently opened a branch in the city's entertainment quarter, selling only rice noodles, not fried chicken. Rice noodles were easy to make, and any skilled cook could learn them quickly.

The weather had been hot, and the new cook had even invented a cold rice noodle salad. Chang Jinhua liked it and raised his wages. Who would have thought he'd sneak off with Luo Jining?

Meng Wan found it amusing. He instructed the relay station manager, who was better suited for gathering information, "Have the managers in other posts keep an eye on their movements, but don't be too obvious. We don't want to alert them."

The guards around Luo Jining were all skilled martial artists, each on par with Xue Sheng. Meng Wan had no desire to confront Prince Lian yet, nor to engage in any "fellow time traveler reunion." Even family members would scheme against each other.

Learning that there might be other travelers in this world, Meng Wan felt no particular excitement. He would never reveal his origins to anyone—that would be like handing over his life.

Though Song Tingzhou occupied a fourth-rank official post, they lacked the power to affect Shengjing's political situation. The road ahead was long and arduous. Neither the Crown Prince nor Prince Lian was a viable choice for them now. Playing it safe and quietly building their power was the best strategy.

Having lost a cook to poaching, Chang Jinhua fumed for a while, then simply sent Jin Gu to manage the new branch.

After staying home for so long, once he confirmed Luo Jining had truly left, Meng Wan finally stepped out. His first stop was to try the new cold rice noodles at Chang Jinhua's shop.

"Mother, make me a big batch later. I'll take it to the workshop," Meng Wan said as soon as his noodles were served, urging her to prepare more.

Chang Jinhua replied, "Wait a moment then. I'll have Aunt Qin make it. Do you still want the crispy chicken?"

Meng Wan thought for a moment. "Alright, I'll take five chickens." Because the shop sold whole chickens, even ordinary customers had to buy at least half a chicken, and only family members could pick specific parts like drumsticks or wings.

The shop's patrons had initially grumbled about the Song family's mother-in-law and son-in-law dynamics, but now they took it in stride.

"Aunt Chang, why hasn't Meng Fulang been coming to the shop these days?"

"Yeah, it's been a while since we saw him eating noodles here."

Chang Jinhua, without putting on any airs as the magistrate's mother, grabbed a cloth to wipe down the table. "Wan Geer wasn't feeling well these past days, so he's been resting at home."

The rumor of someone flirting with Song Tingzhou on the street had spread all over town, and everyone tacitly understood—the couple must have had a fight, and Meng Fulang had fallen ill from anger.

Meng Wan brought lunch for Tang Jinshuang at the Zhen Guan Workshop. Even during the busiest times in the workshop, when she had to speed up her meal, she always ate gracefully. Now, with nothing pressing in the afternoon, Meng Wan, in turn, took his time with the cold rice noodles.

"Your wedding with Xiao Yu is set for November. My mother and I will add to your dowry," Meng Wan said. He had just returned to the He Shan Lotus Workshop to see Dong Geer off in marriage earlier this year, and now Tang Jinshuang was getting married. Time flew so fast that one could only grasp at its tail.

Tang Jinshuang didn't stand on ceremony. "Thank you, Boss, and the old madam. By the way, the manager of the rubber workshop next door seems to want to discuss something with you."

Meng Wan pointed to the two large food boxes in Xue Sheng's hands. "I know what it's about. You eat first; we'll go check the rubber workshop."

Tang Jinshuang hurriedly finished her last bite. "Boss, I'll go with you."

The three of them left the Zhen Guan Workshop and headed straight for the rubber workshop. Manager Liang, upon hearing that Meng Wan had arrived, hurried over to greet him. "Boss, Master Feng is over there with the latex workers."

"Fengzhong, I brought some cold rice noodles for you and the masters. Want to grab a bite?" Meng Wan cheerfully called out to Fengzhong.

Fengzhong frowned and answered gruffly, "Fine, I'll grab some!"

The workers weren't picky about eating. Once Xue Sheng took the basin of cold rice noodles from the food box, Fengzhong's area was filled with the slurping of noodles.

Fengzhong tore off a few drumsticks to offer to his master and senior masters, then finished the whole chicken himself.

"Not bad... delicious. Once I finish the work at hand, I'll go to Aunt Chang's shop every day."

Fengzhong's words drew a chorus of approval.

"Thanks, Boss!"

"It really is tasty."

"When I get my monthly wage, I'll buy a Crispy Chicken for my daughter."

With the meal finished, it was time to discuss business. Fengzhong led Meng Wan into his workshop, where twenty-odd wooden wheels of various sizes were laid out. Besides that, there were mostly pale yellow rubber sheets and seven or eight bowls of black, gooey stuff.

Fengzhong guided them further in. On the workbench sat several black wheels. Meng Wan's eyes widened in surprise then narrowed. "Fengzhong, did you really make the wheels?"

Fengzhong's expression was half pride, half embarrassment. His mouth opened and closed before he finally said, "It didn't work."

"Huh?" Meng Wan thought they looked very similar to the tires from his previous life. He reached out and pressed on the wheel, only to get his hand covered in black goo that didn't have the firm yet springy feel he had expected.

He didn't know much about the chemistry behind it, so he didn't dare say anything that might disrupt Fengzhong's train of thought. He could only encourage Fengzhong—a master who started as a sword forger but now forged nearly anything—to keep at it and offered to bring in more people if he needed help.

It wasn't without reason that royalty and powerful ministers and marquises were keen on keeping retainers and advisers. Meng Wan was just beginning to taste the benefits.

His eloquence was far superior to Luo Jining's. He soon had Fengzhong's head spinning from flattery and swearing to develop this damn wheel within two years.

In truth, Meng Wan had considered having Fengzhong invent more things, but before Luo Jining showed up, he held back too much. Now it worked out perfectly—Luo Jining had given Meng Wan a good excuse.

At the end of April, the prefectural exams were to be held in Xiwu Prefecture. As the local magistrate, Song Tingzhou needed to assist the imperial examiner appointed by the court in preparing for the exams and maintaining order.

The examination site was set at the prefectural school, so the students there had started their holidays early.

When A Yan first started school, he cried every day. Now that he had discovered the joy of learning, he didn't want to stay home anymore.

Chang Jinhua looked at her grandson and thought he was perfect, praising how A Yan took after Song Tingzhou—so studious at a young age.

But Meng Wan saw through his son. "Him liking school? That's not it—he just wants to play with the other kids."