TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 131: Seeing Jiankang's Scenery and Her Family

What had elicited Nurse Ping's exclamation was that he had poured out something aromatic and white. There were also meat and vegetables inside, and it turned out to be white rice.

The servants all gasped.

Their cries made the other servant turn around. He lifted his hat to glance at Chen Rong's carriages as his eyes grew menacingly large. He threw the baskets into his vehicle as he swore, "Country hicks!"

He was loud on purpose, and they heard him crystal clear. But at this moment, they were still feeling bewildered. They couldn't believe the food that could save lives in Nan'yang was mere garbage here.

Chen Rong gave a glance and said, "Stop looking, you have to remember that this is Jiankang."

Nurse Ping immediately turned her head and loudly praised her mistress: "You're so smart, miss. Food in Jiankang is really worthless."

"Aye aye, luckily we listened to our young lady," Old Shang added.

When they had been preparing to leave, Chen Rong still had had nearly three carriages of grains. The servants had wanted to bring those with them on the journey. Chen Rong, however, insisted that Old Shang get rid of them. Those three carriages had therefore been replaced by the worthless gold and gems in Nan'yang.

Her servants had been nervous that there was suddenly no food. Every time they looked at their carriages, they would inwardly mutter at Chen Rong. They took a total of six carriages with them to Jiankang. Chen Rong sat in one and her things were stored in another, one was for the servants to take turn resting, and the remaining three, originally filled with food, were now empty.

At this time, a servant cried, "There's Luo Lane."

Everyone looked and sure enough, there was a stone three hundred paces away with large cursive script that read 'Luo Lane'. Next to it was the entrance.

Overjoyed, they steered the carriages into the alley.

Soon enough, their cheers and laughter died down. They stared at the simple wooden houses on either side of the alley, the filth that was visible everywhere, and the beggars squatting in the corners. Now they knew why the fat man had made a face to hear them ask about Luo Lane.

This place did not look like somewhere the nobles would live.

"Miss, how do we go from here?" asked Old Shang.

Chen Rong's voice was still clear and calm: "It's said to be the third alley. Ask someone when we get there."

"Aye."

The group went on.

By now, children inside the wooden homes along the street had discovered the carriages. They pointed at them and yelled, "Rich people are coming, rich people are coming."

Their cries alerted the adults in the houses. Men and women in mended clothes came out. They glanced at Chen Rong's carriages and shook their heads, giving her no more attention. But the urchins had already followed behind them laughing and curiously looking at Chen Rong.

They arrived at the third alley before long.

The servants sighted an estate compound upon entering the alley. It was built entirely of wood like the other houses. There were bout fifteen buildings that made a square. Next to the gate were two small huts. The servants were now looking above the door where a plaque hung with the engraved words 'The Chen Estate'.

The Chen Estate? The servants all looked at Chen Rong.

Chen Rong had lifted the curtain and hopped down. "We've arrived, it's this place," she said, walking up to the entrance.