Chapter 44 Let it go Wang Sicheng said gratefully, "It was originally agreed that I would treat you, but you ended up forgetting about this matter while drinking, and I caused you so much trouble. It was really rude. Thanks to Lady Xiaomei for paying the bill for me and saving my face. If you need me in the future, I will go through fire and water without hesitation." "That's too much. We are all family members from now on. No matter who invites us, it's not an invitation. Lord Wang, please don't take this matter to heart." "No, that won't work. We agreed to treat you, so you can't pay for it. Please let me know how much you spent on drinks and the inn last night, and I'll give it to you. Also, this time doesn't count. I'll treat you again another day to make amends." "You don't have to pay me. It's not much. Just ask me again some other day. I won't apologize. If Lord Wang brings up this matter again, it means he doesn't treat me as his own." Xin Qiwu also spoke. "Cheng'an is right. We are all family. We don't need to worry too much about money. It's too formal. Just keep it in mind." Wang Sicheng no longer insisted and kept the matter in his heart, and he would see what happened in the future. In the morning, Mei Cheng'an approved several purchase and repair applications. Some musical instruments of the ritual and music department were damaged. Some could be repaired, while others were completely broken and needed to be purchased new. Mei Cheng'an approved the applications as the amounts were not large, but he also asked Xiao Hong to pass a message to the person in charge of the maintenance of the musical instruments, saying that if he neglected his duty again, he would be fired. After approving the note, Mei Cheng'an spent the rest of his time reading the regulations. The morning passed in a flash.
At noon, Bluebird came to deliver lunch. Mei Cheng'an asked about Hongshu's rest. He learned that Hongshu had gone to catch up on his sleep as soon as he left in the morning. Only then did Mei Cheng'an feel relieved. In the afternoon, I still read regulations and checked information. I got tired of watching in the middle, and also played pitching pot for a while, but it was boring. What's the point of hitting the target every time? Xiao Hong even put the pot at the corner of the stairs and it was still not difficult. Xin Qiwu was also bored at the moment, so he came over to see how lively the fun was here. Seeing that Mei Chengan was able to hit the target every time he threw the ball, he started to itch and insisted on trying it too. As a result, the pot moved all the way from the corner of the stairs to three steps away from him, but he failed to throw it in once. Mei Chengan had a toothache just watching this. This is how many dishes there are. Finally, he made the shot from a distance of one step away, and Xin Qiwu showed it to Mei Chengan in ecstasy. What could Mei Chengan do? He could only applaud his leader, saying he was really awesome. Otherwise, Xin Qiwu would say that he lives a happy life. The success was so heartbreaking that there was no trace of embarrassment on his face, only joy. Whether true or false. This person is not simple. After playing for a while, the building soon returned to silence. At the beginning of the You hour, I was dismissed from office and went home. As soon as I got home, Mei Zhili took me to the study. "Did you go to the brothel yesterday?" Mei Chengan was confused by just one sentence. It couldn't be Hongshu, as we had already agreed on it last night. Who else could it be?
"Who did you listen to?" “Does it matter who you listen to?” "Very important!" "Well, the concierge said so." "The concierge? Did he tell you so?" "That's not the case. When I was leaving, I suddenly remembered that I didn't see you come back before going to bed last night, so I asked him." Hmm...it makes sense. I let him off for now, but then I thought of the unreasonable part. "That's not right. How did the concierge know where I went?" "He didn't know. He just said that you came back at midnight and you smelled of alcohol and powder. I knew it was a brothel the moment I heard it." Damn, this doorman has been to brothels many times. His nose is as sensitive as a sweet potato. I guess he is born in the Year of the Dog. I thought for a long time but couldn't think of where else except a brothel could have the smell of alcohol and cosmetics at the same time. Well, tell me the truth. "Yesterday, Wang Sicheng invited us to dinner, but he didn't tell me where it was. I didn't know until I got there that the restaurant was newly opened. It was full of prostitutes. We just drank, ate, listened to music and watched dance." He paused and asked tentatively. "Dad, I'm already this old, so it's okay to go to a brothel." Upon hearing this, Mei Zhili stroked his beard and looked him up and down. He had indeed grown up, almost as tall as himself. He had grown up without realizing it. "How old are you this year?" Mei Chengan was confused. "Fourteen years old. You must have done it on purpose." Mei Zhili glared at him. "I did it on purpose. You know you're only fourteen. Why would you go to a brothel at your age? If your mother knew about this, she would break your legs!" Mei Chengan felt very guilty. "It shouldn't be that serious." "Of course not. You're still so young, but you're hanging out in brothels and visiting prostitutes for pleasure. If this gets out, will your reputation be ruined? Which lady will be interested in you in the future?" "Then Lord Xin, Wang Sicheng and others..." Mei Cheng'an actually wanted to ask them if they didn't care about their reputation, but he was interrupted by Mei Zhili before he could finish his words. "They have already married and had children. Can you be the same as them?" "Can we go after we get married?" "Cheng... you can't say that. Of course it would be better if you get married, but if you can avoid going, try not to go. It will be bad for your reputation if the news gets out." "Dad, have you been there?"
"Of course... I haven't been there." Mei Zhili thought to himself, that was a close call. Mei Chengan looked unconvinced and even said it in a teasing and funny way. Mei Zhili's face turned red and he slammed the table. "We are talking about you now, stop talking nonsense." Mei Chengan became more serious. "Dad, I know I was wrong." "What's wrong with that? You were tricked by your colleagues this time. What's wrong with that?" Mei Chengan was stunned. "Dad, what are you doing..." "I've said so much, not to say that you did something wrong, but to warn you that kind of place is not something you should go to at your age, at least not before you get married. Otherwise, if your mother finds out, I won't be able to help you." Mei Cheng'an was deeply moved. This was his real father. All his words were heartfelt and true. "Don't worry, Dad. I know. When I get married, I'll ask you to go there secretly once. I promise not to let my mother know." Mei Zhili's face changed immediately. There was another "bang" sound, very loud. "What nonsense are you talking about, you rebellious son, get out of here." "okay." Mei Chengan ran away in shame. After Mei Cheng'an left, Mei Zhili's expression gradually returned to normal. He suddenly smiled and muttered something under his breath. "This brat." Now that the bomb about the brothel has exploded, Mei Cheng'an feels a lot more relieved and swaggers back to his own courtyard. After washing and changing into regular clothes, he lay comfortably on the recliner and read the handwritten version of Huayang Acupuncture. He really wanted to find a patient to give him acupuncture, but unfortunately he had no chance and could only read. "Master, I've made up my mind." Hongshu stuffed a strawberry into Mei Chengan's mouth. Mei Chengan chewed it slowly and swallowed it. "What have you thought of?" "I've decided what conditions to propose." "What conditions? What conditions?" He handed the sweet potato fruit halfway and stopped. "Master, have you forgotten? You asked me to think about it last night." "Is this happening?"
"Of course there is!" "Oh, well, why should I let you make conditions?" "Because the young master doesn't want me to complain to the master and the mistress." "What are you complaining about?" Hongshu was a little anxious. Could it be that the young master had lost his memory? "The young master went to the brothel!" "Why do you say I went to a brothel?" "Master, you admitted it yourself last night." "I don't remember anything like that." "Master, you are playing tricks on me!" Sweet Potato pouted. "It's possible that you remembered it wrongly." "Hmph, how do you explain the scent on the clothes, young master?" "What kind of fragrance is that? I don't understand. Bring the clothes here so I can smell them." "Take it!" Hongshu got up and left, and came back dejectedly after a moment. "What about the clothes?" There is no point in living with sweet potatoes. "Let me wash it." "Then there's no evidence." Sweet potato bites. "What kind of evidence do you need to file a complaint?" Mei Chengan finally took his eyes off the book and looked at the sweet potato. "Ah~ That sounds a bit like the censor. Don't keep thinking about telling tales all day long. That's not a good behavior. Okay, I won't tease you anymore. I've already told my father about this matter. It's okay now." The sweet potato has a big mouth. "Master knows?" "Ah." "Then why didn't the master beat the young master?" Hongshu was puzzled. Mei Chengan glanced at her unhappily. "Hey, can you please give me a little help, young master? You want to see me get spanked." Sweet potato smiled embarrassedly, indeed a little.
When Mei Cheng'an saw her expression, he knew that he was right and tapped her forehead with his finger. "Thank you so much, you are so kind to me, young master." "Hey, Master, have an apple. It's very sweet." "It's a bit sweet." …… Wang Sicheng's meal did not make Mei Cheng'an wait long. It was arranged within a few days. What was more unexpected to Mei Cheng'an was that Wang Sicheng arranged the dinner in the Mei family cafeteria. The three of them were still present this time. After spending so many days together, this meal was more comfortable and relaxed than the last time. The three of them toasted each other, burped and coughed from time to time. At the end of the dinner, both the host and the guests were very happy, and Wang Sicheng was relieved of his worries. The days that followed suddenly became dull. Mei Cheng'an went to get off work and came home on time every day, handled some trivial official business, played mahjong and quarreled with the maids in his spare time, studied medical skills, and tried to stimulate the final acupoint that had not moved for thousands of years. His life was quite easy and comfortable. At the turn of spring and summer, one of the new policies, the postal stations, had been completed in the territory of Qing State. It didn't take long to build the stations, but it took time to convey the new policies to local areas. Upon hearing the news, Mei Chengan thought that Fan Xian and Fan Ruoruo could finally communicate freely and talk about private matters without worrying about being seen by others. A new chapter of Red Mansions was also coming. That's right, Mei Cheng'an was also waiting for Fan Xian's updates. In his previous life, he scoffed at Dream of the Red Chamber. Not to mention the book, he couldn't even finish the drama. But now, he suddenly found that he could get into it and read it with gusto. Unfortunately, the chapters came too slowly and he could only read a few chapters in a year. Gradually, he lost his patience and put it out of his mind. He had no patience, but his sister Mei Yuxi did. In order to urge him to update the work, she asked him for money and exchanged it for gold, silver and jewelry as gifts for Fan Ruoruo. Mei Cheng'an also told his sister that giving such gifts was meaningless, but the girl wouldn't listen to a word she said and insisted on asking for money. Mei Cheng'an had no choice but to let her do as she pleased. (End of this chapter)