Traveling to ancient times to sweep the catering industry

Qi Shuo came to the capital this time not only to accompany Cheng Wenwen back home, but also to burn incense for an old friend at the request of his adoptive father, Duke of Yingguo Xie Chong.

According to his memory, Qi Shuo rode his horse to a hidden bamboo forest in the suburbs and found a tombstone behind the bamboo forest.

The tombstone was intact, and there was no name on it. Qi Shuo didn't know who this person was.

He had also come to burn incense when he came to the capital last time.

He had brought some incense and candles with him, and when he was about to take them out, he suddenly heard footsteps.

Qi Shuo became alert. Even though this place was sparsely populated, it would be strange if there were suddenly people here.

He stared at the entrance to the bamboo forest and saw a man suddenly walk in.

"Ashuo, it's me!"

When the man revealed his face, Qi Shuo was slightly shocked.

"Brother? You are in the capital too?"

The "big brother" that Qi Shuo was calling was Xie Shilian, the eldest son of Xie Chong, Duke of Yingguo.

Xie Shilian was a gentle, elegant man, and kind to others. He treated Qi Shuo like a foster father and his own brother, so Qi Shuo was quite respectful to him.

Xie Shilian replied: "My father asked me to come back with you to burn incense for his old friend."

Qi Shuo nodded: "I see."

The father and son of the Xie family guard the northwest and command a large number of troops. They have been feared by the emperor in recent years. Their sudden return to the capital is bound to give people a handle. The adoptive father asked the eldest brother to come back, presumably because this old friend is very important to the adoptive father.

Qi Shuo looked up at the nameless tombstone and couldn't understand for a moment. If it was so important to his adoptive father, why didn't he build a better grave for it? Was there some unspeakable secret behind it?

Xie Shilian had already taken the incense and candles, lit them, and passed them to Qi Shuo: "A Shuo, kowtow a few times!"

Qi Shuo said "oh" and inserted the incense and candles in front of the tomb. Then, according to Xie Shilian's instructions, he kowtowed three times to the tomb owner.

Xie Shilian then kowtowed solemnly several times, then he looked at the tombstone and said, "Don't worry, I will take good care of him."

Qi Shuo didn't understand who he was talking about, so he didn't ask more.

After the incense was finished, Xie Shilian patted Qi Shuo and said, "Come home with me for dinner!"

"No need, big brother!" Qi Shuo quickly refused.

"Why are you being so polite to me, big brother? Now that we're in the capital, of course we have to go home for dinner!"

Xie Shilian pulled him away.

Qi Shuo was not being polite, he just didn't want to cause trouble. Madam Xie always felt that she was the illegitimate son of her adoptive father, so she disliked him and was never in a good mood when she saw him. If he went there, it would inevitably make the Xie family uneasy.

But Qi Shuo couldn't resist his elder brother's kindness.

After getting on the carriage, Xie Shilian smiled and asked, "Before I left, my father was still talking about you and asked me to ask you how your book was going."

Qi Shuo smiled and said, "I'm watching them all, but I'm not very talented and I don't have any accomplishments."

"When I was a child, my father also liked to force me to read books. He had high hopes for you!"

Qi Shuo nodded: "I know how good my adoptive father is to me."

"But you just got married, and I haven't met your sister-in-law yet! Why don't you bring one home with you one day?"

Qi Shuo thought of Cheng Wenwen and was stunned for a moment.

Cheng Wenwen wanted to separate from me, and I was afraid that I would never have the chance to take her to meet her adoptive father and elder brother in the future.

Seeing Qi Shuo like this, Xie Shilian asked jokingly with a smile on his face: "What's the matter? Are you and your sister-in-law not getting along?"

"Not bad!" Qi Shuo tried to fool people with just two simple words.

Xie Shilian said: "I heard that my sister-in-law is only seventeen years old. She is a little young. If she has a bad temper, you should be more tolerant."

"I know bro!"

Xie Shilian didn't want to interfere in other people's affairs, so he just let it go.

The carriage slowly drove into the Duke's Mansion. The people in the mansion had already learned that the eldest son was coming back. When they saw the carriage coming, they immediately came up to greet him.

"The eldest son is back!"

"Go and report to the lady."

"Are you tired, young master?"

As soon as Xie Shilian got off the carriage, he was happily surrounded by the servants.

Xie Shilian fanned himself and said, "Let me have some peace and quiet."

The servants immediately stopped asking questions and just said, "Young Master, please go quickly. Madam has been waiting for you for a long time and has already prepared your favorite food."

Xie Shilian hummed, then turned to look at Qi Shuo who had just got off the carriage behind him.

The servants then saw that another person got out of the carriage.

"This... is the Second Young Master... The Second Young Master is back too..."

When the servants saw Qi Shuo, the smiles on their faces froze for a moment, and they were obviously not as happy anymore.

Qi Shuo was the adopted son of Duke Yingguo. Duke Yingguo treated him as his own son and according to seniority, he was his second son. Therefore, everyone in the mansion called him the Second Young Master.

It's just that the Duke's wife didn't like Qi Shuo, and as a result, the people in the mansion also treated Qi Shuo strangely. Qi Shuo had already accepted all this, so he didn't think there was anything wrong.

Xie Shilian naturally saw that these servants were playing tricks on him, so he lightly kicked someone beside him and said, "Why don't you go and comfort the Second Young Master?"

"Yes Yes…"

"Second Young Master, you must be tired from the journey. Let's go to the hall quickly. Madam is waiting for you..." The servant was obviously lying.

Faced with the false greeting, Qi Shuo just nodded lightly and didn't want to say more. He raised his foot and followed Xie Shilian.

When I arrived at the hall, I heard a woman's voice coming out to greet me: "Shi Lian! Shi Lian!"

Then, a woman was seen running out in a hurry, and she quickly pulled Xie Shilian to express her condolences.

"Shi Lian, you are finally back. I have been waiting for you for so long! You have become thinner and darker. You must have suffered a lot in the northwest!"

Xie Shilian said: "It's not hard! Mother, you don't have to worry about me."

"It would be strange if it wasn't bitter! Your brother couldn't stand it and came back after only a month, and now he's complaining when he mentions his time in the northwest!"

Speaking of his brother, Xie Shilian asked, "Where's Shiyu? Why didn't he come back?"

"Hey! He! I don't know where he has gone! Leave him alone! He only knows how to play!"

Xie Shilian sighed and said, "Mom, please stop indulging my second brother!"

The Duke's wife said with a guilty conscience: "How can I control him now!"

"Brother, you only remember the second brother, but not me?"

A young girl jumped out from behind the Duke's wife and said with a smile.

This person is the youngest daughter of the Duke and the Duchess, Xie Yuanyuan.

Xie Yuanyuan is very lively and cute, very likable. She has a baby face that makes her look very young, but she is actually nineteen years old. Because she was brought up to be spoiled, she has not yet married even though she is a little older.

"Of course I remember you!" Xie Shilian patted her head.

"Alright, alright, let's go inside and talk! Mom has asked someone to prepare some delicious food, Shi Lian, you have to take good care of yourself."

Mrs. Xie pulled Xie Shilian and walked inside.

Xie Shilian paused and looked back at Qi Shuo: "A Shuo, hurry up and catch up! What are you dawdling for?"

When Madam Xie heard Qi Shuo's name, her expression changed instantly. She looked at Qi Shuo who was walking up behind her and asked with some dissatisfaction, "Why is he here too?"