Uncle Wei?" Lin Wanrong was surprised, instantly dispelling his drowsiness. He spoke towards the carriage, "Miss, I've encountered an acquaintance; I'll be back shortly." The young lady hurriedly lifted the curtain, only to see him dismounting and swiftly heading towards the tavern.
Entering the tavern, Lin Wanrong rushed upstairs. The area above the third floor was quite spacious. He found the spot he had observed earlier, but there was no sign of Uncle Wei.
This was strange. Did my eyes deceive me? That old blind man clearly returned to his hometown. How could he appear in Hangzhou? Puzzled, he descended the stairs.
However, in a private room upstairs, several pairs of eyes were fixated on him. A middle-aged man with a somewhat pale complexion, dressed in a yellow silk robe, exuding an air of grace, looked at Lin Wanrong and casually said, "Is this the Lin Wanrong you mentioned?"
"Reporting, Master, it is indeed him." Standing beside him was an old man with vacant eyes, a blind man. Hearing the middle-aged man's question, the blind man hastily and respectfully replied.
The middle-aged man smiled, "He seems clever. I'll sit and chat for a while; let him bump into us by accident. Are the recent business activities of the Xiao family his doing?"
"According to the information gathered by my subordinates, it is indeed the work of Lin Wanrong," the blind man replied.
"He's quite capable, making some silver. Judging by his confident stride, he seems formidable, not easy to deal with. It matches your description. The people in the carriage are from the Xiao family, right?"
"Yes, from my perspective, that should be Miss Xiao from the Xiao family," the old man replied respectfully.
"Miss Xiao?" A hint of melancholy crossed the middle-aged man's face, sighing, "Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. I didn't expect her daughter to grow so big. How has Miss Guo, in these years at the Xiao residence, been faring?"
The middle-aged man's expression changed rapidly. After asking about Miss Guo, he instantly shifted back to an indifferent demeanor. "Master, in my opinion, Miss Guo has had a hard time in recent years. With the successive deaths of the old master and young master in the Xiao family, she has been supporting the Xiao family. It has been tough until the young lady grew up, and she finally gained some respite."
The middle-aged man nodded, "I wonder if she still remembers me? I was too cautious back then and missed the opportunity."
"Master, it was your restraint back then that led to great achievements. I deeply admire it," the blind man hurriedly replied.
"Restraint? I restrained too much." A hint of severity flashed on his face, then he continued, "In these years in the Xiao residence, does Miss Guo know your identity?"
"She doesn't know. I only said I was an old friend of the late Old Master Xiao. Miss Guo has always trusted me. When I left the Xiao family, I recommended Lin Wanrong to them," the old man said.
The old man's face returned to calmness. He said, "Listen to the matters you mentioned. This Lin Wanrong seems to have some means. First, let him ensure the safety of the Xiao family. Other matters need to be observed slowly."
Receiving such praise from the middle-aged man was not easy. The blind man hurriedly acknowledged with vacant eyes gleaming with gratitude.
Lin Wanrong returned to the carriage of the young lady. She looked at him and said, "What were you doing? So impulsive."
Not finding Uncle Wei, Lin Wanrong's mood wasn't great. He nodded, "I met an old friend. Oh, it's Uncle Wei. Miss, you should know him, right?"
"Uncle Wei?" The young lady furrowed her brows, "Of course, I know him. He was a close friend of my grandfather and stayed in our Xiao family for many years. He only left a few months ago. Do you know him?"
Lin Wanrong chuckled, "I'm just confirming that Uncle Wei recommended me to the Xiao family. No wonder that old man could retire comfortably at the Xiao family."
The young lady smiled, "Uncle Wei has always been a close friend of our family. His eyesight might be gone, but his heart is clear. Now, if he recommended you, then you must be trustworthy."
Lin Wanrong laughed, "Miss, your discerning eyes are truly admirable."
"You're shameless." The young lady whispered.
The Xiao family's branch in Hangzhou was large and strategically located, facing West Lake. It was indeed prime real estate within the city. The innkeeper was a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties.
"Miss, you've finally arrived," the innkeeper held the young lady's hand, smiling.
"Madam Zhang, it's been a while. How have you been?" The young lady seemed quite affectionate towards this innkeeper.
Madam Zhang smiled and replied, "Very well, thanks to the blessings of Madam and Miss."
The young lady introduced Lin Wanrong, "This is my nurse from childhood."
"Oh, you're the Third Master. I've heard a lot about you. Good looks, indeed. Now that you're here in Hangzhou, with the Miss, rest assured, I'll take care of everything," Madam Zhang said.
Lin Wanrong, looking at Madam Zhang's kind appearance, greeted her, "Madam Zhang, greetings. With your benevolent expression, I can tell you're a kind-hearted person. I'm Lin San. Please take care of me in the future."
"Lin San, right? Miss spoke highly of you. Rest assured, our inn will do its best to provide the best service." Madam Zhang smiled.
Lin Wanrong, after exchanging pleasantries, went back to his room. Just as he was about to sleep, he heard a knock on the door. It was Xiao Cui, the maid.
"Third Brother, the young lady invites you to talk."
Lin Wanrong sighed. It seemed that today's trip was far from over. He went to the young lady's room and found her sitting elegantly.
"Lin San, let's discuss the matter of the Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. It's going to be held at Qingyu Tower on the day after tomorrow. The invitation has already been sent by the Chamber of Commerce," the young lady said.
Lin Wanrong nodded, "Miss, don't worry. I'll handle it properly."
The young lady continued, "This annual meeting is crucial for us. Many eyes will be on the Xiao family's recent activities. You need to pay attention to your actions and words. I trust you can handle it."
Lin Wanrong understood the importance of the situation. He reassured the young lady, "Miss, I will be cautious and ensure everything goes smoothly."
The young lady smiled appreciatively, "Thank you, Lin San. Rest well tonight; we have a busy day ahead."
Lin Wanrong left the room, and as he closed the door, he couldn't help but sigh. The challenges seemed to be piling up, but he was ready to
face them. With determination in his eyes, he prepared himself for the upcoming events at the Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
(To be continued...)