She knew that marrying General Lin was somewhat a way of climbing the social ladder.

However, just thinking about Zhao Yongze, the son of the Zhao family, who had been trying to get close to her father, made her stomach turn every time he looked at her with that creepy gaze.

Thus, Wu Jinyao secretly made up her mind. Her husband must be someone she liked, someone who wasn’t like Zhao Yongze.

The first time she saw that young general at a banquet, she knew she wanted to marry him for the rest of her life.

She even considered the possibility of becoming his concubine, as long as it was General Lin, she would be willing to accept it.

She would rather be a concubine to someone like General Lin than be the wife of someone like Zhao Yongze.

Thinking about the words her father's secretary had said when he came to visit her, Wu Jinyao couldn’t help but feel a little upset.

She wanted to marry General Lin and grow old with him, but was she really supposed to resort to such underhanded means? So, she had rejected the idea. She knew that if the secretary dared to bring this up with her, it meant her father was aware and had probably tacitly agreed to it.

But she didn’t want General Lin to look down on her. So, she told the secretary that she would try again.

After Peng and his group entered the city, the streets were crowded, and their pace slowed despite the horses trying to go faster.

This allowed Wu Jinyao’s sedan to catch up easily.

The maid informed Wu Jinyao that General Lin and his men had stopped at Juxian Lou, likely to have dinner there.

Wu Jinyao adjusted her dress and got out of the sedan, planning to casually pass by and greet him.

She was thankful that she had dressed well today, wearing a new dress and a newly adorned hairpin.

As she watched her beloved General Lin, her heart couldn’t help but race. He was the one she had admired for almost three years.

In her heart, she went over what she was going to say to him again, rehearsing the words she had prepared. Just as she was about to step forward, she saw the woman from the Shen family clothing shop standing with General Lin and his men.

She was actually familiar with General Lin? No, wait, she was laughing and chatting with them as they entered the restaurant together!

Wu Jinyao’s foot froze mid-step. She lowered her voice and instructed her maid, "Go and find out what’s going on."

The maid quickly returned after inquiring. "It’s that young lady who invited General Lin and his men to the banquet. The staff at the restaurant don’t know the reason for the invitation."

Wu Jinyao’s face darkened immediately.

She had been investigating that young lady since the incident at the clothing shop, and what she found was that the young lady was able to freely enter and exit the military camp. The specifics of her relationship with the military officers, however, were unclear.

But to her surprise, it turned out she had a connection with General Lin?

Her father, the fifth-rank official, had invited General Lin to their house several times throughout the year, but he only accepted a few times. Why did this young lady manage to get him to come so easily?

If she invited General Lin, it surely meant they weren’t relatives.

Wu Jinyao gripped the handkerchief tightly, feeling unwilling to leave. She needed to find out more.

After thinking for a moment, she made up her mind and decided to go to the restaurant.

Upon entering Juxian Lou, Wu Jinyao immediately saw the woman who had invited General Lin. She was standing at the counter.

The innkeeper noticed Wu Jinyao and greeted her. "Miss Yaoyao, are you dining or ordering food?"

"I came to buy some lion's head meatballs for my mother... Oh, what a coincidence, the young lady is here too?" Wu Jinyao said as she stepped forward.

Hong Xiaoduo nodded politely, offering no other response.

Despite apologizing to her the other day at the clothing shop, Wu Jinyao’s apology wasn’t genuine. It had been coerced by Hong Xiaoduo's words, so Hong Xiaoduo didn’t feel like entertaining her.

"Innkeeper, we’ll have two tables. Just keep the balance; if they secretly come down to pay, don’t accept it from them," Hong Xiaoduo said, placing a ten-tael gold ingot on the counter.

"Understood, Miss. When General Lin’s group arrives, I’ll let them know the payment has been made," the innkeeper agreed quickly. They were happy when customers competed to pay.

"Innkeeper, is the young lady treating General Lin?" Wu Jinyao asked in feigned surprise.

"Yes, she is," the innkeeper replied, nodding.

"Then I’ll take care of the two tables," Wu Jinyao said, pulling a gold leaf from her purse and placing it on the counter.

The innkeeper looked toward Hong Xiaoduo.

"Please don’t misunderstand. My father has always said that General Lin’s presence at the borders keeps the peace. So, since it’s the end of the year, I’m simply treating General Lin and his men on behalf of the people of Dawo Town," Wu Jinyao explained.

Hong Xiaoduo caught the underlying message—was she trying to win favor with her father, the magistrate, by doing this?

"Sorry, but tonight, I invited them. The cost of the banquet will be covered by me. If you want to thank General Lin on behalf of the townspeople, you can leave the gold here and arrange another time to invite them," Hong Xiaoduo replied as she pushed the gold ingot closer to the innkeeper.

Hong Xiaoduo felt a bit speechless. She was simply trying to thank Peng and his group, and yet it was proving to be so difficult. Last night, they had paid for the meal. Today, she was trying to invite them again, only to have someone else interfere.

"I’m only doing this because I don’t get many chances to see them. Let me treat them this time, and you can invite them another time," Wu Jinyao raised her voice, not caring if General Lin heard, as long as he didn’t miss hearing it.

Hong Xiaoduo found this behavior incredibly irritating. "Sorry, but this meal is on me."

The innkeeper, caught between the two ladies, was enjoying the competition but was also feeling very awkward.

By right, the first lady to arrive should have the say, but he couldn’t afford to offend the one who left a gold leaf!

Just then, Qi Feng, who was upstairs, shouted down, "Hong Xiaoduo, the food’s ready! If you don’t come, we’ll feel awkward starting without you."

Hearing that, Hong Xiaoduo raised her voice, "Tell your boss or General Lin to come down here."

When Qi Feng saw Wu Jinyao’s displeased expression, he knew something wasn’t right. He hurried back to the private room and called the two men down.

Lin Ansheng and Peng, both confused, stood up and walked downstairs.

Meanwhile, Quan Jinghuai, the seven children, and Ying Hai had also come out, not yet downstairs but watching from the railing.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 155. Really Just Looking for Trouble Ch 155. Really Just Looking for Trouble

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