Chapter 2 Acquisition
"The noodles are ready! The noodles are ready!"
As Li Ang locked up the wooden box containing all their money, Chai Cuiqiao emerged from the kitchen carrying two bowls of steaming egg noodles.
The master and servant began to eat. Perhaps due to being scarred by poverty in her childhood, Chai Cuiqiao had a hearty appetite. Even a simple bowl of plain noodles without oil was devoured with enthusiasm, accompanied by loud slurping sounds.
"Slow down, don’t choke," Li Ang reminded her with a gentle smile.
Chai Cuiqiao merely hummed in acknowledgment and continued to bury her head in her meal, alternating bites of noodles with vegetables. Only when a perfectly intact poached egg and a little soup remained did she reluctantly bite into the crispy edge of the egg and finish it off with the soup.
THUMP, THUMP.
A knock on the door shattered the momentary tranquility. Li Ang frowned slightly and looked towards the entrance of Security Hall.
The mourning period just ended; who would visit now?
He glanced at Chai Cuiqiao, who understood immediately. She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, stood up, picked up the wooden box filled with coins from the floor, and went into the backyard.
Only after Chai Cuiqiao had left did Li Ang clear his throat, walk to the door, and ask, "Who is it?"
"Is young Mr. Li of the Li Family at home? I am Yu Jie, an assistant from Qing’an Hall in East City. You may call me Yu Liu, Mr. Li."
The voice outside continued, "My master sent me to deliver the gift box distributed at the last Xinglin Society meeting."