I don’t know how long it took, everything outside the window was silent, and even the crescent moon shook the clouds to cover the veil. Liu Yanzhi finally mustered up the courage to walk to the bed.

In fact, Lin Su has woken up and is just pretending to be asleep. She has already seen Liu Yanzhi look like hesitating and entangled. She has long been in love with Liu Yanzhi and will never marry him in this life. But since the dust has settled, why bother to rush to ruin her reputation for a while?

Liu Yanzhi walked up to Lin Su, pulled the brocade quilt and covered Lin Su, turned around and went out, closed the door, and went downstairs. When he heard the gentle footsteps, Lin Su was both disappointed and relieved. Her sweetheart was not only both civil and military, but also a gentleman who was as honest as Liu Xiahui.

The next morning, Lin Su got up early and saw Liu Yanzhi lying on the ground in the yard with his upper body naked and doing strange movements. He had strong muscles, clear lines, masculine and strong movements, which were completely different from those coolies who pulled the two sides of the Huai River. Such a man is the symbol of China and the future of China.

Lin Su couldn't help but be fooled and didn't notice that the second concubine came beside her.

"This is... it wasn't enough last night." The second concubine joked. She was originally a man of the world and returned to the home court. She was much more courageous and dared to make such a joke with Miss Lin.

Although Lin Su was unaware of human affairs, she was a big girl after all. She could hear the meaning of the second concubine's words. The clear one would be clear. She did not make any excuses at all, but just smiled faintly: "Auntie, it's early."

"Good morning." The second concubine replied and greeted Liu Yanzhi: "Guard Liu, what are you busy with? Are there any holes on the ground?"

Liu Yanzhi got up, took the hot towel handed over by the turtle man, and gave a copper round casually, and smiled and said, "This is called push-ups, which can exercise the muscles on the arms."

"It's obvious that he is a human, why do you have chicken on your arms? Guard Liu is really good at joking." The second concubine said giggling. She expected that Liu Yanzhi would become the son-in-law of the Lin family and have a good relationship with this couple. Although she would never be able to become a real wife, her status in the mansion would be stronger.

"Muscles are lean meat on people. Only with more lean meat can you get strength." Liu Yanzhi explained seriously, turned his head to look at Lin Su, whose face flushed and lowered his head.

The second concubine saw it and felt that something must have happened last night.

It was still early, but Shen Xiaohong and Zhou Jiarui had not gotten up yet, so they might have to sleep until midnight before getting up. At the strong suggestion of their second concubine, Liu Yanzhi invited Lin Su to go shopping and tour the Bund and Nanjing Road.

In the early 20th century, rickshaws were just introduced from Japan and were also called Toyo Cars. Sima Road itself is a prosperous place. The streets were full of traffic. The three of them each called a Toyo Car. They first drove along the Bund, and then went shopping on the main road, satin shops, silver houses, and shops selling Western things. They walked for a walk, and they didn't return home until noon.

Shen Xiaohong and Zhou Jiarui had just gotten up, and they couldn't sleep well. Their faces were still tired. It was obvious that they had been tossing for a long time last night. I don't know if they were acting or really having a relationship. Shen Xiaohong was gentle and careful with Zhou Jiarui, like a newlywed wife.

"Today I have to go to the yamen to report to Li Zhongtang." Zhou Jiarui said, "After all, I am one of the imperial envoys of peace talks appointed by the Queen Mother. Yanzhi, don't rush to go to the United States. Let me ask in Shanghai if this George Cunningham is in China."

"Then I'll be here for Brother Zhou." Liu Yanzhi bowed and took the hookah handed over by Gui Gong. He imitated Chen Xiaohong's appearance and took a few sips on the fire. He was trying to integrate himself into this era, but in the eyes of others, he was still an alien, more like a foreigner with a Chinese face.

After lunch, Zhou Jiarui went to Shanghai Daoyamen to meet Li Hongzhang, and Liu Yanzhi stayed at the Book House to wait for the good news.

In early September, the climate in Shanghai was pleasant. A gust of wind blew and the bamboo forest rustled. Liu Yan stood by the window and pondered. Suddenly, he heard the sound of light footsteps behind him. He knew that Miss Lin was coming. He turned around and smiled shyly without saying anything.

"Are you going to the United States?" Lin Su remembered Zhou Jiarui's words clearly. She was in a bad mood all afternoon. Finally, she waited for the opportunity and asked in person.

"I shoulder the mission and must find someone, even if I stay at the end of the world, I have to find him." Liu Yan said straight.

"Is America far away?" Lin Suwen said, stepping forward, standing side by side with him in front of the window.

"On the other side of the ocean, it's 20,000 miles away, and it takes a month to take a boat." Liu Yan said straight, "but it may take longer to find that person."

"What after finding this person?" Lin Su continued to ask.

"I'm going back after the mission is completed."

"Where to go back to? Are you from Nanyang?"

"No, my home is in Jinjiang." Liu Yan replied insincerely. He understood Miss Lin's thoughts, but it was impossible to stay in the Qing Dynasty. He was not Zhou Jiarui or the Qing Dynasty's commander. Besides, there was the important task of saving the world waiting for him.

But this sentence gave Lin Su an illusion. Her face flushed, thinking that this was Liu Yanzhi's implicit expression of love for her. His home is in Omi, which means he wants to marry Lin Su and settle down in Omi.

"No matter how long and long, I will wait for you." After saying this, Miss Lin turned around and hurried away.

...

Zhou Jiarui did not come back until the bell was pointed at nine o'clock. He knew that the trip was a great success when he looked at the proud smile on his face. As expected, he said that he had been having a close conversation with Li Zhongtang all afternoon and benefited a lot.

"Li Zhongtang and I met too late." Zhou Jiarui brags shamelessly, "I am missing a set of fifth-rank official uniforms now. I always wear casual clothes and have no face. This is Li Zhongtang's original words. He rewarded me with 100 taels of silver and asked me to customize the official uniforms."

Chen Xiaohong poured tea for him, stood behind him and beat his back, and said with a smile: "I know a tailor shop, which has very good skills. In the Ming Dynasty, you should tailor your clothes. The front of your official robe should be long and the back should be short."

Mr. Gui deliberately asked, "Sir, why should the front be long and the back be short?"

Chen Xiaohong covered her mouth with her hands and smiled: "Mr. Zhou was so proud that the horse's hooves were fast. When he walked, he raised his head to the sky. If the front was not long, it would be indecent. Those old officials with a deep breath had to do it with their waists and hunched their backs when they walked."

Zhou Jiarui drank a sip of tea and was about to speak when he suddenly heard someone smashing the door in the front yard. One person broke into the door. Gui Gong couldn't stop him. This person was of medium figure, had a thin and fair face, and was weak in body. He looked like a weak scholar.

Chen Xiaohong lowered her face and said, "Don't ask if you are aware of me, just come if I go."

The two had a fierce argument. Even if Wu Nong's soft words sounded pleasant, Zhou Jiarui heard it all. He said that this man had a good relationship with Chen Xiaohong and spent a lot of money on her, but he had been rejected these two days. Today, he couldn't help it. He broke in and found the truth.

Liu Yan went downstairs when he heard the noise. He was just watching the young man pulling Chen Xiaohong, and immediately stepped forward and grabbed his collar. He threw it away and flew out and hit the rockery and fell down. He saw that he was extremely moved.

Chen Xiaohong panicked and hurriedly asked the old mother to help the person up. She pinched the person and fanned the wind. It took a long time for the man to wake up slowly, his face was pale and he couldn't speak.

After a while, the servant called a Toyo car and pulled the young master back.

"Will he call someone here?" Liu Yanzhi was very alert. Shanghai was mixed with fish and dragons, and the one he had the most was the playboy. He was merciless.

"Young Master Liu is not that kind of person." Chen Xiaohong sighed, "It's a bad fate."

It is common for jealousy in brothels. Even if this matter is over, Liu Yan felt that it would be a big deal to continue living in a bookstore, so he took Lin Su and others to a hotel on the road to stay.

The situation has been changing. The Eight-Nation Alliance attacked everywhere, occupied many places in Zhili, and even came to Shanxi, and refused to accept the peace request from Empress Dowager Cixi. Li Hongzhang was also stranded in Shanghai and refused to go north. Zhou Jiarui, as his deputy, also stayed in Shanghai, just for Liu Yanzhi to inquire about George Cunningham's whereabouts.

As an official in the Qing Dynasty Foreign Affairs Office, Zhou Jiarui was fluent in English and had a trendy mind. He was no different from foreigners in terms of concepts. He didn't take long to get familiar with diplomats in various consulates in Shanghai. There were not many US troops stationed in China, so it was not difficult to find out the whereabouts of an officer. It took him a few days to finally get the exact news that there was indeed a number of George Cunningham, who was indeed an officer of the 9th Regiment of the US Army stationed in China. However, due to illness, he delayed his trip and was still staying in the United States.

At the same time, Empress Dowager Cixi, who had arrived in Taiyuan Prefecture in Shanxi, sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang again, urging him to go to Beijing for peace talks, and promised to let him act cheaply, and the court would not control it.

Li Hongzhang decided to go north immediately, and Zhou Jiarui also wanted to go with him. Before leaving, Chen Xiaohong was the host and set up a banquet in the bookstore for him to practice.

Halfway through drinking, Zhou Jiarui opened his mouth: "Yanzhi, you really don't go to Beijing with me? That's a bright future."

Liu Yanzhi knew that he had made up his mind and wanted to stay in the Qing Dynasty to do a grand and vigorous cause. He couldn't help but feel sad and asked in vain: "Do you really don't want to go back?"

"Don't be bitter, you will see me again, but in history books." Zhou Jiarui was full of confidence and pointed out the window and said, "This is my stage. I don't want to live a mediocre life from nine to five, three-foot podium."

"Is it interesting?" Liu Yan said straight, "You really want to rewrite history?"

Suddenly, Zhou Jiarui became frustrated: "Changing history is not that simple. I have thought about it, but it is difficult. In fact, this is a real role-playing game for me. I lived so fuckingly awkwardly before. I just wanted to be awesome, do you understand?"

"Teacher Zhou, you're drunk too much." Liu Yan stood up and greeted Chen Xiaohong, who was already stunned by the sound of hearing, "Please help him up."

"Why can't I understand what you said?" Chen Xiaohong came over and helped Lord Zhang Jingzhou, who was already drunk.

A sudden knock on the door came, and the servant went to open the door. A fellow traveler came. She brought explosive news. Mr. Liu committed suicide by swallowing opium.
Chapter completed!