The Apprentice Ran Away

Xiao Zetian didn't say anything about this plan, and Xiao Yun didn't ask either.

Xiao Yun simply followed Xiao Zetian's instructions to bring Li Yanhao back, after which Li Yanhao and Xiao Zetian held a secret meeting in the room for half an hour.

When Li Yanhao came out, his face looked very grim.

Xiao Zetian still wore his usual cold expression and only told Xiao Yun not to worry about Li Yanhao's side of things.

Meanwhile, Bailu and Su Li discussed the specific details of recruiting apprentices and then went to find Steward Yuan.

At that moment, Yuan Yu was talking with Fourth Uncle and Madam Chen about the new designs for the silver shop this year. Seeing Bailu arrive, he immediately jumped up and said to Yuan Jie, "Master, madam, I'll be right back."

With that said, he dashed out in a flash.

Madam Chen watched and shook her head with a smile, "Yuan Yu is usually so steady, but when he sees Miss Bailu, he acts like this."

Steward Yuan spoke with Bailu in the side hall.

Bailu said, "Tomorrow, you just bring that group of people here to let madam have a look."

Yuan Yu nodded and said, "Alright, I personally selected that group, they're very reliable."

Just as Yuan Yu finished speaking, a young servant of the Yuan family ran in, sweating profusely, and said to Yuan Yu, "Steward Yuan, bad news! The group you selected suddenly changed their minds one by one, saying they won't apprentice to learn cooking anymore. Now they're all leaving the inn and going home!"

"How could this happen? Wasn't it agreed upon? Miss Ali is going to choose apprentices tomorrow. What should we do?" Yuan Yu stood up, looking a bit anxious. This was Bailu's task given to him, how did it get messed up!

Bailu, however, was much calmer and said, "It's alright. The fact that they left now means their temperaments aren't settled yet. Even if they became madam's apprentices, they probably wouldn't last long. It's better they leave now than after madam painstakingly teaches them only for them to run away—that would be truly frustrating."

Bailu's words calmed Yuan Yu's anxious heart. He looked at Bailu with admiration, truly unflustered in the face of trouble and steady in demeanor—no wonder she was the girl he had his eyes on.

But the fact that the promised apprentices ran away was truly troubling.

After some discussion, the two decided to personally visit Qingmiao City, put up a notice for recruiting apprentices, and then screen the applicants together. Those who passed would stay; those who didn't would be rejected.

With time pressing, this was the only option left.

Yuan Yu immediately called for a horse-drawn carriage and set off for the city with Bailu.

Bailu had been preoccupied with the recruitment, but once the carriage started moving, she realized it was just the two of them inside.

In such a cramped space with a man, even knowing Yuan Yu was trustworthy, Bailu still felt a bit uneasy. She shrank back and leaned into a corner.

"Bailu, little sister, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell or cold?" Yuan Yu noticed Bailu's unease and moved the charcoal brazier closer to her inside the carriage.

Bailu bit her lip, her face pale, and shook her head, "I'm fine, I'll just stay here by myself."

Yuan Yu noticed that whenever he got close, Bailu would unconsciously put some distance between them.

With his keen insight, Yuan Yu immediately understood that Bailu was afraid to be alone with a man in such a small carriage. Although Bailu knew Yuan Yu wouldn't harm her, the fear and shadows in her heart couldn't be dispelled by reason alone.

So Yuan Yu stretched, smiled casually, and said, "Bailu, little sister, it's stuffy in here. I'll go up front to drive. If you get bored, just talk to me."

With that, Yuan Yu climbed out of the carriage and sat with the driver.

As the carriage curtain was lifted, the cold wind outside rushed in, blowing Yuan Yu's clothes up. He shivered, rubbing his hands as he sat. The driver had already prepared warm cotton sleeves and a thick cotton hat, but Yuan Yu had nothing prepared. He shivered, curling his hands inside his coat, hunched his shoulders, his ears and forehead stinging from the cold, bravely sitting at the very front of the carriage, facing the wind and snow.