Chapter 230: Chapter 231: What a Coincidence?

"Scholar Gu? What a coincidence."

Ancient Wen Heng looked up and saw Ouyang Bing standing before him with Mudou.

"Young Master Ouyang," Ancient Wen Heng said, standing to greet him. ’Talk about a coincidence, I’ve walked right into your own establishment.’

"It’s been a while. Scholar Gu, you’re looking more distinguished than ever." Ouyang Bing felt he understood the man before him less and less. ’He was clearly born into a farming family, yet his noble air could almost rival that of a young master from a great house.’

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "You flatter me. If anything, it is Young Master Ouyang’s business that is booming. These Tianfu Restaurants are about to spring up everywhere."

Ouyang Bing gestured to Mudou beside him. "And people always say I’m a smooth talker. Look, here’s the real master of words."

"Enough of us trading compliments. Since we’ve run into each other, let’s have a drink together."

Ancient Wen Heng looked conflicted. He glanced at Lu Ping beside him and said, "Some other time. I’ll definitely join you next time."

"Ah, Mr. Lu is here as well," Ouyang Bing said, naturally recognizing the son of Lu Tongzhi. "I wonder if I might borrow Scholar Gu for a moment? There are a few things I’d like to ask him."

Lu Ping was speechless. ’I’m a whole person standing right here, and you’re only just now noticing me?’

But having been in Dao City for so long, Lu Ping knew who not to offend. He smiled and said, "I don’t mind, but you’ll have to ask the man himself."

Ancient Wen Heng could hear the protectiveness in his words and said to him, "I’ve had dealings with Young Master Ouyang a few times before. Just wait here, I’ll be right back."

Lu Ping glanced at Ouyang Bing. "I see. In that case, you two go on ahead. I’ll have them start serving the food."

"My apologies for the interruption, Mr. Lu. If you need anything, just let the waiter know. This meal is on me."

Lu Ping waved his hand dismissively. "No need. We already agreed that I’d be treating Brother Wen Heng. If you really feel that bad about it, just send over a pot of your best wine."

Ouyang Bing smiled, turned to give the waiter a few instructions, then led Ancient Wen Heng up to the second floor.

"I wonder what business Young Master Ouyang has with me?" Ancient Wen Heng asked.

Ouyang Bing turned back with a smile. "An old friend wants to see you."

Ancient Wen Heng immediately guessed who it was. ’Come to think of it,’ he mused, ’my connection to Ouyang Bing was because of Guo Yurong in the first place.’

Ouyang Bing pushed open one of the doors, a mischievous smile on his face, and walked straight in.

Ancient Wen Heng stared impassively at the scar-faced man who had suddenly appeared before him, simultaneously catching the look of astonishment on Ouyang Bing’s face.

He laughed inwardly. ’If you’ve seen all the various disguise techniques of the modern world, you’d have to be pretty easily impressed to be startled by a little trick like this.’

’Besides, it’s just a scar painted on a face. Does he really think I’m that easily spooked?’

"Brother Guo, I trust you’ve been well."

"Brother Gu," Guo Yurong replied. "It’s been a while. You’re looking much more robust."

Ancient Wen Heng smiled. He was already over six feet tall to begin with, and after this period of recuperation, he no longer had the gaunt, frail appearance of a man who could be knocked over by a gust of wind.

"Come and sit! It’s rare for us all to be together, so let’s have a drink, brothers." Ouyang Bing said, gesturing enthusiastically toward the freshly laid-out dishes on the table.

Ancient Wen Heng was silent.

Ouyang Bing pursed his lips. "Don’t get me wrong, Brother Gu. It’s not that I have anything against that Lu Ping fellow. It’s just that this Guo here is a real handful. He stirs up trouble everywhere he goes, and I didn’t want to drag Lu Ping into it."

Ancient Wen Heng nodded in understanding. After all, it seemed Guo Yurong’s circumstances, both then and now, were less than ideal.

"Don’t listen to this kid’s nonsense. I’m only disguised like this to avoid some hassle.

"I haven’t done anything unconscionable. Don’t be frightened, Brother Gu."

Ancient Wen Heng was silent. ’I haven’t even said a word, and you two have already argued both sides of the case.’

"By the way, when did you arrive in Dao City, Brother Gu?" Ouyang Bing had a guess, but he was afraid of asking the wrong question and embarrassing him.

"I just finished taking the provincial examinations. I’ll be heading back in a few days."

Guo Yurong raised his wine cup. "In that case, allow this elder brother to congratulate you in advance. May you have a meteoric rise from this day forward."

Ouyang Bing chimed in, "May you take first place and pass with the highest honors!"

"Thank you both." Ancient Wen Heng raised his cup and took a small sip. He then set it on the table and bowed deeply to Guo Yurong. "I must also thank you, Brother Guo, for your kindness in giving me that medicine last time."

Guo Yurong waved his hand dismissively. "It was nothing. Besides, your wife has helped me a great deal. This is just simple reciprocity. Don’t give it another thought, Brother Gu."

Ouyang Bing ground his teeth in frustration. ’Listen to him, making it sound so simple,’ he fumed silently. ’I’ve helped you so much, so why don’t you be a little more generous with me? How about some of that "simple reciprocity" for me?’

Then he heard words that infuriated him even more. "Your wife should be recovering well after taking that medicine, but from what I can see, her constitution is indeed weak. I happen to have a pill here that would be quite suitable for her.

"If she takes this, I guarantee she’ll be able to give you eight or ten sons. I just left in too much of a hurry last time and forgot about it. I’ll have to trouble you to pass it along for me."

Ancient Wen Heng was taken aback. "...How could I possibly accept this?"

"Why not?" Guo Yurong said. "I’ve benefited plenty from your wife’s amazing culinary skills. Thanks to those pastries she made, I was spared a great deal of suffering last time. Besides, this isn’t for you—I’m just asking you to pass it on."

Ouyang Bing’s heart felt completely stifled. ’Maybe I shouldn’t be so proactive next time,’ he thought bitterly.

Ancient Wen Heng knew that Guo Yurong’s medicine was incredibly hard to come by, so he didn’t refuse any further. He accepted the vial with both hands and thanked him once again.

"Are you two done with your business?" Ouyang Bing asked, feeling thoroughly vexed. His eyes glared at the medicine vial in Ancient Wen Heng’s hand before he spoke in a deliberately casual tone.

"Go ahead," said Guo Yurong.

"COUGH, COUGH." Ouyang Bing cleared his throat. "Brother Gu, regarding that portrait you drew for me, my people have searched all over but haven’t found him. I heard you went south a while ago. I was wondering if you happened to run into him?"

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "We saw many people over there with similar hair color and appearance, but unfortunately, we never saw the man himself.

"However, there are quite a lot of opportunities along the coast, and no shortage of rare and curious things."

Ouyang Bing’s eyes lit up. "Oh? Did you buy some novelties?"

Ancient Wen Heng smiled and nodded. "We bought some seeds we’d never seen before. My wife was curious, so she’s trying to grow them on her estate."

"Seeds?" Ouyang Bing sounded a little disappointed, but he still asked politely, "Have any of them sprouted yet?"

"Some are growing quite well, while others haven’t sprouted at all," Ancient Wen Heng replied. "Now it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing how they turn out.

"We’ve already harvested and tried some of the vegetables we’d never seen before, and they taste quite good."

At the mention of new foods to try, Guo Yurong pursed his lips. "I’ll have to go and try them myself if I get the chance."

Ouyang Bing, however, stared intently at Ancient Wen Heng. "Are you certain they’ve never been seen around here before?"

Ancient Wen Heng hesitated for a moment. "At the very least, I’ve never come across them in my hometown, and the old farmers on the estate also say they’re unheard of."

’The world is a big place,’ he thought. ’Only a fool would make him a guarantee like that.’