Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 685 - 466: This is Lu Dongliang_2

Qiu Zhiheng said nothing more and, carrying his bag, returned to the Medicine Shop. As he entered, he saw his wife approach to greet him, her expression troubled. "Zhiheng, weren’t you supposed to come back tomorrow?"

Qiu Zhiheng chuckled. "What do you mean by that? Is this not a good time for me to be back?"

"Indeed, it’s not a good time," his wife said, looking uneasy. "We have a visitor."

Qiu Zhiheng knew his wife’s temperament; she certainly wouldn’t do anything inappropriate behind his back. But why was her attitude so strange today?

His wife beckoned. Qiu Zhiheng bent down, and she whispered in his ear.

After listening, Qiu Zhiheng’s expression changed, and he stood stunned for a long moment.

"Zhiheng, maybe you should first..."

His wife was suggesting that Qiu Zhiheng go out and hide for a while when suddenly someone called out from inside the room, "Xiao Qiu, you’re back!"

It was Lu Dongliang’s voice.

Qiu Zhiheng handed the bag to his wife and walked into the living room.

A man was sitting on the sofa. Upon seeing him, Qiu Zhiheng was stunned again for a long time.

The man looked at Qiu Zhiheng and said, "What, we haven’t seen each other in a year, and you don’t recognize me?"

Qiu Zhiheng hesitated for a moment, then, as if suddenly realizing, he smiled, gave a slight bow, and greeted him, "Mr. Lu."

He hadn’t called him ’Master,’ which made Lu Dongliang frown.

But Lu Dongliang’s frown soon eased. "Although you’re no longer the steward of the Lu Family, you don’t have to be so distant. Calling me Brother Lu should be fine, right?"

"Brother Lu," Qiu Zhiheng said, then sat down opposite Lu Dongliang.

Previously, Qiu Zhiheng would never have dared to sit without Lu Dongliang’s permission, but things were different now.

Lu Dongliang lit a cigarette and said slowly, "It’s been hard on you these days I’ve been away. Shaoxia acts impulsively. Yuan Shan and Yuan Hai know nothing. Dongjun and Third Uncle give you trouble every day. It’s truly not easy to have made it this far. But now I am back, and I need people by my side. Yuan Shan and Yuan Hai have both run into trouble. Chunying is still young and can’t be relied upon for serious matters. You’re the only helper I can think of."

Qiu Zhiheng remained silent.

Lu Dongliang sighed. "Xiao Qiu, some of the things Shaoxia did before might have really hurt your feelings. Let me apologize to you on her behalf first. Bamboo, you should also put in a good word and try to persuade your husband. When we return to Greenwater City, I’ll have Shaoxia apologize to you both in person."

Qiu Zhiheng’s wife was nicknamed Bamboo.

Bamboo looked at Qiu Zhiheng, not knowing what to say.

Did she want to go back to Greenwater City? Of course not! Even though the Lu Family Mansion was large, it wasn’t her home. She and her child couldn’t move around freely; they couldn’t even leave the small building they lived in whenever they wished. Even within that small building, there were a multitude of rules, and mother and child didn’t dare to speak too loudly. Here, it was different. This was their own Medicine Shop. Bamboo was the mistress of the house. She could say whatever she wanted and cook whatever she fancied. Her child could play inside and outside, and neighbors could come over to visit. Setting aside all these trivial matters, the key point was that their current life had prospects. The business at the Medicine Shop was thriving, and Qiu Zhiheng even planned to open two branches in Waigou. And now they were being asked to return to the Lu Family. In the Lu Family, the position of chief steward indeed carried status, but what of it? Wasn’t he still just a servant in the end?

Bamboo smiled at Lu Dongliang. "Brother Lu, we’re actually doing quite well here. Zhiheng has also gotten used to living in the countryside. If he were to go back to the city, I’m afraid there are some things he might not handle well, so we wouldn’t want to cause you any trouble."

Lu Dongliang’s face darkened. "Xiao Qiu, are you saying you don’t want to follow me anymore?"

Qiu Zhiheng nodded slightly. "Brother Lu, I’m well into my forties. I can’t manage other people’s affairs anymore. I just want to focus on my own family now."

Lu Dongliang looked at Qiu Zhiheng, a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Bamboo chuckled from the side. "I’ve been so caught up chatting with you both, I haven’t even started dinner. Zhiheng, please keep Brother Lu company for a bit. I’ll go to the kitchen and whip up a few dishes."

In the living room, Qiu Zhiheng and Lu Dongliang sat in silence for a long moment.

In the kitchen, Bamboo took out about ten boxes of cakes and stuffed them into her mouth nonstop.

Bamboo was under four feet seven inches tall and weighed over one hundred and forty pounds, her figure very plump.

After a binge, her belly didn’t swell. Instead, her body rapidly slimmed down. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

After finishing more than ten boxes of cakes, Bamboo transformed from a plump woman in her forties into a lean woman in her early twenties. All her clothes hung loosely on her, and her appearance had changed dramatically.

Anyone unfamiliar with Bamboo would think the person standing before them had no relation to Bamboo whatsoever.

Bamboo brought a plate of cakes to the living room. Seeing such a drastic change in Bamboo, Lu Dongliang was taken aback.

As he stared in astonishment, Bamboo put down the plate of cakes and stood beside Qiu Zhiheng, her expression turning grim as well.

The atmosphere in the living room was extremely tense, as if a fight could break out at any moment. Suddenly, a shout came from the front counter: "Why haven’t the medicinal herbs I ordered arrived yet? Where’s your boss?"

Seizing the opportunity, Qiu Zhiheng stood up. "Brother Lu, please wait here for a moment. Bamboo and I will go check on the business."

Lu Dongliang also stood up. "Never mind, I won’t disturb your business any longer. If you ever change your minds and decide to go to Greenwater City, the gates of the Lu Family Mansion will still be open for you."

After speaking, Lu Dongliang left the living room and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Qiu Zhiheng went to the counter, where he saw Old Xu looking disgruntled. "What’s going on, Xiao Qiu?" Old Xu demanded. "Why haven’t the medicinal herbs I ordered arrived yet?"

Qiu Zhiheng chuckled. Old Xu had only ordered the medicinal herbs yesterday; how could they possibly arrive today?

Old Xu had shouted like that to let Lu Dongliang know he was there.

And it was precisely because he heard that shout that Lu Dongliang didn’t dare to pressure Qiu Zhiheng any further.