Chapter 364: One Must Be Scheming

Chapter 364: Chapter 364: One Must Be Scheming

Zhao Xiao’an had something to do in the afternoon, so she left after having lunch with Wang Chenning and Wang Chongjiu.

Before she left, she handed her car over to Wang Chenning and asked him to pick her up in the afternoon. Then, they would go to the airport together to get Li Fuzhen and Li Yanxian.

Wang Chenning agreed.

Yang Xiaofei called, saying she was waiting for Wang Chenning at the entrance to Yuanming Garden. She told him to bring Wang Chongjiu and meet her there.

Yang Xiaofei knew Zhao Xiao’an had been with Wang Chongjiu and Wang Chenning at the Summer Palace, so she went directly to the entrance of Yuanming Garden to wait for them.

Wang Chenning drove over in Zhao Xiao’an’s car, but Yang Xiaofei didn’t let her jealousy show.

With Wang Chongjiu there, she had to act reserved.

Today, Yang Xiaofei was dressed much like Zhao Xiao’an, in a casual sweater and jeans.

Yang Xiaofei also shed her usual aloofness, acting very demure and gentle in front of Wang Chongjiu.

But Yang Xiaofei was no ordinary person, and she still found subtle ways to reveal her intentions.

After touring with Wang Chenning and Wang Chongjiu for a while, she smiled and asked Wang Chongjiu, "Grandpa Wang, do you prefer the Summer Palace or Yuanming Garden?"

"I like them both!" Wang Chongjiu replied with a chuckle. "The Summer Palace and Yuanming Garden each have their own unique charm. They are both top-tier imperial gardens. Anyone who comes here can’t help but fall in love with them!"

Yang Xiaofei was visibly disappointed.

Wang Chongjiu saw the disappointment on her face and added, "However, Yuanming Garden has a unique history. If I had to choose between the two, I would definitely prefer Yuanming Garden!"

A faint smile blossomed on Yang Xiaofei’s face. She then asked Wang Chenning, "And you?"

Wang Chenning replied meaningfully, "If the Summer Palace and Yuanming Garden both belonged to me, I’d like them both. If they don’t, then I prefer the garden at my own home!"

Yang Xiaofei rolled her eyes.

Yang Xiaofei tried her best to loosen up, but her personality was fundamentally different from Zhao Xiao’an’s. Her smile couldn’t be as bright and sunny as Zhao Xiao’an’s, and she had never acted as a tour guide for anyone before. Her speech was always measured and proper, so she still gave Wang Chongjiu and Wang Chenning the impression of an aloof CEO.

The overall atmosphere was definitely not as relaxed and congenial as when Zhao Xiao’an had been with them.

Still, Wang Chenning was quite grateful that Yang Xiaofei had set aside her usual aloofness and humbled herself to tour with him and his grandfather.

During the tour, whenever Wang Chongjiu was engrossed in reading an information plaque or looking at a historical relic and not paying attention to them, he took Yang Xiaofei’s hand a few times.

Although Yang Xiaofei kept rolling her eyes at Wang Chenning, she didn’t pull her hand away.

Eventually, she whispered a request, "You’re going to Jiangnan tomorrow and won’t be back for several days. You have to give me a treatment tonight or tomorrow morning. Otherwise, I’ll definitely feel unwell while you’re gone!"

"Alright," Wang Chenning agreed after a moment’s thought. "If it’s convenient tonight, I’ll come over and help with your conditioning. If not, then tomorrow morning it is."

Wang Chenning was scheduled to take a 3 PM high-speed train to Qian Tang, the capital of Zhijiang Province, the next day.

Qian Tang is further south than Gusu and Guangling, so spring arrives earlier there.

At this time of year, spring in Qian Tang was in full bloom. One could see the pink peach blossoms and green willows by the West Lake, and Wang Chenning wanted to take Zhao Xiao’an to appreciate the lake at its most beautiful time of the year.

Departing at three in the afternoon, they would arrive in Qian Tang around half-past eight. By the time they got to the West Lake, the crowds would have thinned, and they could leisurely enjoy the night view.

After admiring the night view of West Lake, they could grab a late-night snack and then get a wonderful night’s sleep.

Zhao Xiao’an had things to do the next morning, so Wang Chenning’s schedule was free.

If he couldn’t make it to Yang Xiaofei’s place that night, Wang Chenning could help with her conditioning the next morning or around noon.

Yang Xiaofei was quite happy that Wang Chenning hadn’t refused her request, and she began to smile more often.

For the rest of the tour, she proactively took Wang Chenning’s hand several times. Once, when no one else was around and Wang Chongjiu wasn’t looking, she even took the initiative to kiss him.

That evening, Wang Chongjiu was going to Yang Liansheng’s place for dinner and tea. The two old men had arranged to have a good, long chat, and Yang Liansheng planned to stay the night.

The next afternoon, Yang Liansheng would also be taking a high-speed train from Yandu back to Chang’an. The ticket Wang Chenning had booked for him was also for three o’clock.

As the three of them continued their tour, the conversation turned to the two old men, Pu Zhengyang and Tian Zhongxin.

After accompanying Pu Zhiyun and Tian Zhiheng to Yandu for the discipleship ceremony, Pu Zhengyang and Tian Zhongxin hadn’t immediately returned to their own countries.

They stayed in Yandu for a few days, visiting a number of influential people.

Wang Chongjiu had spoken with them a few times. Pu Zhengyang and Tian Zhongxin were very respectful, convinced that Wang Chenning’s grandfather was a reclusive master with countless secret techniques. Wang Chongjiu didn’t bother to correct them, much less mention that Wang Chenning’s medical skills had long since surpassed his own.

He adopted a lofty air, speaking to Pu Zhengyang and Tian Zhongxin as an elder guiding his juniors.

He did not, however, discuss any matters of cooperation with Pu Zhengyang or Tian Zhongxin.

He didn’t want to get involved in such matters, preferring to let Wang Chenning figure things out for himself.

Tian Zhongxin and Pu Zhengyang also had acquaintances in Yandu. Hoping their grandsons would be looked after, they had been paying visits to various people.

After discussing the two old men for a while, Wang Chenning laughed and said, "Grandpa, you’re heading back to Chang’an tomorrow. I’ll have Pu Zhiyun and Tian Zhiheng go with you. They can travel to Chang’an to bring back some of the medicinal herbs we prepared. We can consider it their first test. And aren’t Pu Zhengyang and Tian Zhongxin worried their grandsons will have a hard time in Yandu? Well, I’ll make it so they can’t even see their grandsons before they leave!"

A round trip to Chang’an for Pu Zhiyun and Tian Zhiheng would take at least three days.

Pu Zhengyang and Tian Zhongxin were planning to return to their home countries in two days. This meant that by the time they left, Pu Zhiyun and Tian Zhiheng would almost certainly still be in Chang’an.

Yang Xiaofei looked at Wang Chenning in surprise. "Are you sending a warning to Pu Zhengyang and Tian Zhongxin?"

"Yes." Wang Chenning nodded. "I know that while they’re impressed by me, they haven’t truly submitted. They’re still trying to prove how influential they are. I’m going to ignore their little displays of power and not even see them off when they leave. I’ll let them know I can be even more arrogant than they are."

"Pu Zhengyang and Tian Zhongxin must assume you’ll see them off when they leave Yandu." Yang Xiaofei pursed her lips in a smile. "But instead, you’re just leaving and heading south, and you’re even sending their grandsons to Chang’an. They won’t even get to see them one last time. They’ll probably be quite frustrated, and they’ll definitely get the message that you’re not pleased!"

"Pu Zhiyun and Tian Zhiheng also need to be knocked into shape. Otherwise, they’ll definitely have a sense of superiority. After all, many of our countrymen tend to put foreigners on a pedestal. I’m also worried they’ll try to hit on my female disciples during their training. If any of them get deceived, I’ll lose face. So, I have to put them in their place from the get-go. I won’t teach them any real skills for the time being, not unless they’re so well-behaved that I can’t find a single fault with them!"

Hearing this, Yang Xiaofei grinned and asked Wang Chongjiu, "Grandpa Wang, don’t you think Chenning is a bit mischievous? Always thinking up ways to mess with people!"

"The fact that he thinks this way actually puts my mind at ease!" Wang Chongjiu chuckled. "Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have dared to let him come to Yandu to make his way on his own. Now, I’m not worried about him being tricked or bullied here!"

Yang Xiaofei: "..."