After leaving Xiangmanlou, the carriage headed towards the Laofuxiang Silver Shop.
From afar, they saw Su Shirong coming out of the door. Seeing the carriage, he winked at them.
Bailu understood and said, "Madam, let's park the carriage in the alley nearby. Master Shirong is hiding his identity by working as a laborer. If someone sees him get on our carriage, his identity will be exposed."
Su Li nodded, and Bailu told the driver to park the carriage elsewhere. After a while, sure enough, Su Shirong hurried over, got on the carriage, and chuckled, "I guessed I'd get a free ride home with Sister Li today."
Su Li smiled and asked, "How do you usually get home?"
Su Shirong replied, "Usually, I go to the Qingmiao city gate and take the village carriage home."
While speaking, Su Shirong took out two small cloth bags from his bosom and gave one each to Su Li and Bailu with a smile.
They took the bags and saw that Su Li's contained a pair of simple silver ear studs, while Bailu's was a small silver hairpin.
"I got paid and bought some little trinkets for everyone—my mother, Lanxiang, Second Aunt, Fourth Aunt, and Yindou all got one. Bought at employee prices with a discount! Sister Li, Sister Bailu, don’t think they’re too shabby," Su Shirong scratched his head, sneaking a glance at Bailu.
Su Li smiled, "Not bad, not bad. You earned money and still thought of us. Sister has not treated you in vain."
Bailu felt a bit embarrassed. Su Shirong’s gifts were meant for family members; she was just an outsider and felt uneasy accepting them.
Su Shirong seemed to see through Bailu’s thoughts and said with a smile, "Sister Bailu, I still have to thank you for teaching me so much. You just keep the silver hairpin. If I don’t understand something later, I’ll have to ask you. Consider it tuition I’m paying you."
Bailu laughed heartily. Hearing Su Shirong say that, refusing would seem stingy, so she accepted it graciously, saying, "Alright, I’ll take it as tuition. No backing out!"
"No backing out, no backing out!" Su Shirong looked at Bailu with burning eyes.
They returned to the village, and Su Shirong insisted on sending Su Li and Bailu home before going to report to his Fourth Uncle.
As soon as Su Li entered the house, not even stopping to drink water, she saw Li Yanhao excitedly running towards her, shouting loudly, "A Li, A Li, you’re finally back! Come quickly, I have something to report to you!"
"Oh, Young Master, you look so anxious," Su Li smiled warmly.
Li Yanhao had only run a few steps when Lingdang suddenly grabbed his belt from behind and said, "I say, Young Master, if you dare to pounce on my master, do you believe I’ll throw you out?"
Li Yanhao immediately grabbed his belt, his face turning green, whispering, "Lingdang, stop pulling, you’re going to pull my pants off!"
"So what if they fall off? You’re a big man. I’m just looking at you, you’re not losing out, tsk tsk," Lingdang said with a mischievous smile, eyes glancing down. Li Yanhao blushed bright red and stopped running, tightly guarding his waistband.
"Alright, Lingdang, let go of Young Master. Come, all of you sit down and listen to what Young Master has to say," Su Li said cheerfully, sitting down to drink tea while watching Li Yanhao.
Taking Su Li’s order, Lingdang let go. Li Yanhao hurried over, clutching his waistband, sitting down with a mysterious look, and said, "A Li, I investigated the village chief’s matter. Guess who’s behind the mischief?"