83: Chapter 0083 Thanks

With the strength of a Martial Arts Grandmaster, Lin Xiao had naturally sensed him long ago.

However, he was not in a hurry. He was not here to engage in illicit affairs; he was here to soothe a beautiful woman's wounded heart—he was doing a good deed!

Upon hearing her father's voice, Su Wansha immediately stood up in a fright and hurried out.

Since they had been caught, it was better not to face her chubby father, lest things become awkward.

Su Chang walked in slowly behind her and cupped his hands in a salute to Lin Xiao, though his expression was somewhat reluctant.

Lin Xiao even felt that if Su Chang had any confidence in winning a fight against him, he would have charged in to risk his life!

"Lin Xiao, what business brings you to my mansion so late at night?" Lord Su asked with a stiff face.

"I want the military defense intelligence for the entire Cang Province, especially that of the White Kings Army."

Lin Xiao got straight to the point, showing no courtesy at all.

Su Chang gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger. "General, shouldn't such intelligence be gathered by the scouts of the Zhenbei Army?"

Lin Xiao was not surprised; with his precious daughter being 'stolen', it was only natural for a father to have a temper.

"Lord Su, do you wish for your daughter's happiness?"

Su Chang frowned, remaining silent.

"Although I am not sure why someone with your strength would be a mere registrar in Baishui Prefecture."

"But I am certain that you love your wife and daughter deeply, and are willing to endure humiliation and humble yourself for their sake."

Su Chang kept his head lowered, his gaze gradually sharpening. He was astonished—could Lin Xiao have discerned his background with the Academy?

It couldn't have been Elder Zhu and his wife, could it? Impossible; they wouldn't do anything unnecessary.

"Lord Su, I hope you will not let temporary emotions cloud your judgment."

"Think carefully: helping me or helping Prince Bai—which course of action is beneficial to Miss Su?"

Lin Xiao stepped forward and placed a hand on the chubby man's shoulder.

"Both you and I are family men; you should understand what a man is capable of doing for the woman he loves."

Su Chang's eyelids twitched violently, his expression shifting uncertainly.

After a dozen seconds, Su Chang let out a long sigh, bowed, and cupped his hands.

"Before noon tomorrow, this subordinate will deliver the intelligence to you, General."

Lin Xiao nodded with satisfaction. "Then I will trouble you, Lord Su."

Watching Lin Xiao leave, Su Chang looked filled with lament.

In these chaotic times, finding a place to settle down and live in peace was merely a luxury.

He could only hope that his daughter hadn't misjudged the man...

The next morning.

Dressed in men's clothing, Su Wansha arrived at the mansion.

The steward led her to the backyard, where she found Lin Xiao and several women fiddling with a pile of small wooden trinkets.

Xie Yu, the young marquis, was holding a carving knife and being urged to carve something.

"Lin Xiao, what are you all busy with?"

Su Wansha was initially a bit shy, as the two had shared a brief moment of "mutual support" the previous night.

But seeing the novel items on the table, she immediately became interested.

"Boss Su is here! I'm crafting a gift of thanks for Elder Zhu with my own hands!"

"A gift of thanks?"

Su Wansha walked up and picked up a "Zhong" (Middle) wooden block that had just been painted and was waiting to dry.

"What is this?"

"This is called Mahjong, a small recreational toy from my hometown that is suitable for all ages."

Xie Yu looked dejected. "A toy? Didn't you tell me this thing had infinite mysteries, contained the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and was unfathomably profound?"

"I came over early in the morning and carved until my hands were nearly ruined, and you're telling me it's a toy!?"

"Enough nonsense! If you don't want to be sent back to the Linyuan Marquis Mansion, keep carving!"

Upon hearing he might be sent back, Xie Yu immediately behaved and buried himself in his work.

Su Wansha was dumbfounded. How could the dignified heir of the Linyuan Marquis Mansion be so humble?

"Sister Su, come sit. Someone, serve tea!"

Qingxuan shifted over to make space and pulled Su Wansha to sit down.

Mu Wanying was also holding a brush, helping with the painting, and looked up with a smile.

"Wansha, why don't you come help? My husband is clumsy; he's smudged the Mahjong tiles. We women are much more meticulous."

Su Wansha looked at the expectant gazes of the two women and understood perfectly well—this was their way of signaling that they considered her one of their own.

She felt touched and nodded with a gentle smile.

"Alright! Then I will join in too."

As she spoke, Su Wansha didn't forget to hand an envelope to Lin Xiao before picking up a brush to learn how to paint.

Lin Xiao watched the scene of the three women working together, feeling very satisfied.

If the setting could be changed to a large bed, it would be even better!

He opened the envelope and began reading the intelligence.

After reading it, he was slightly surprised, but he didn't say anything and quietly put it away.

In the afternoon, Lin Xiao took the Mahjong set and, together with Su Wansha, visited Elder Zhu and his wife again.

The elderly couple was not surprised by Lin Xiao's arrival, but they did not expect him to bring such a strange gift of thanks.

Lin Xiao taught them on the spot, and after an afternoon, Elder Zhu and his wife were already hooked!

"Hiss! Ding Cuihua! Why did you Pong the Two of Dots?! How am I supposed to win now!?"

Zhu Ming watched helplessly as his Two of Dots—which he was waiting on—was Ponged, and he exploded in frustration!

"I didn't know you were waiting on the Two of Dots! Just wait for something else!"

Ding Cuihua was smug. This old man had complained about her being slow since they were young, but now she could finally hold her head high!

"Teacher, I... I've drawn the winning tile again."

Su Wansha looked apologetic, but her hands were honest; she very 'consciously' scooped a copper coin from in front of the great scholar of the age.

With the protection period for beginners, Su Wansha was clearly superior; playing for one wen per tile, she had already won nearly a hundred wen.

Zhu Ming's facial muscles twitched twice, and he waved his hand grandly!

"No matter! A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it properly; I can afford to lose! Come again!!"

"My apologies, Elder Zhu, but I must leave."

Lin Xiao said with a look of regret, "Someone from the army has arrived; there must be an urgent matter, so I must return."

The others looked and realized that someone was riding over from a distance—it was a man from the Zhenbei Army.

Zhu Ming looked deeply reluctant. "Sigh... since it is military business, please go, General. There is no need to worry about this old man, who is nearing the end of his days and living in solitude..."

Lin Xiao nearly couldn't hold back his laughter!

What was going on? After playing Mahjong for an afternoon, had his repressed, passionate nature been exposed!?

However, as people grow old, they do indeed become more and more like children.

"Elder Zhu, if you don't mind, another day I will have my two wives come to play with you both. I will teach them how to play!"

"That's great! I heard Wansha mention that your two wives are quite extraordinary; I would like to meet them too!"

Ding Cuihua's gaze shifted, and she immediately said with a smile.

"Since my wife wishes to see them, I naturally welcome it..."

Zhu Ming stroked his beard and pretended to deliberate. "How about tomorrow?"

Lin Xiao didn't know whether to laugh or cry; it was clear they were eager to grab them immediately!

Returning to the military camp.

Lin Xiao saw the intelligence sent back by the scouts.

After reading it, Lin Xiao's eyes lit up; it was indeed almost identical to what Su Chang had provided.

This was interesting...