Then Luo Chen saw Sheng Sanlang following closely behind Luo Sheng, step by step.

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes.

Third Cousin had changed.

Back in Jinsha, all the cousins had avoided Luo Sheng from afar. Now, looking at him like this, he must have eaten quite a bit of the food Luo Sheng made, hadn’t he?

With this thought, the young man grew even more displeased.

“Sheng’er has arrived.” The moment Grand Marshal Luo saw Luo Sheng, joy showed in his eyes and brows.

It couldn’t be helped—these past days, eating dishes from Youjian Wine Shop every day had been truly delightful.

Going to the wine shop was certainly not acceptable, nor was takeout, but this didn’t stop Grand Marshal Luo from eating the food.

Every day he dispatched two or three subordinates to disguise themselves as customers. After ordering dishes, they would seize moments when the shop assistant wasn’t paying attention to quietly pack some dishes and tuck them inside their robes to bring back to him.

Getting full was impossible, but it barely satisfied his cravings.

He truly hoped Sheng’er’s wine shop would continue operating for a long, long time.

Grand Marshal Luo’s gaze toward Luo Sheng grew increasingly affectionate.

Luo Sheng paid her respects to Grand Marshal Luo, then looked toward Luo Chen.

Luo Chen pressed his lips together. The words “elder sister” at the tip of his tongue somehow wouldn’t come out.

Back in Jinsha, they had quarreled frequently, only managing to ease their relationship slightly during the last few days.

He had traveled a thousand miles back to the capital—if he eagerly greeted her upon first meeting, wouldn’t that make him seem too pathetic?

Luo Sheng raised her hand and skillfully patted Luo Chen’s head: “You look much sturdier.”

Luo Chen froze.

She—she patted his head again!

Who had become sturdier? Was she saying he’d been eating a lot these days? He clearly had no appetite.

Before the young man could protest, Luo Sheng had already withdrawn her hand and gracefully curtsied to Second Uncle Sheng: “Uncle has worked hard escorting my brother to the capital all this way.”

Second Uncle Sheng suppressed his inner surprise and said cheerfully: “Not hard at all. Uncle has long wanted to come to the capital to see you.”

His niece seemed quite reasonable and sensible—completely different from how she was in Jinsha.

Only then did Sheng Sanlang sheepishly greet Second Uncle Sheng: “Father.”

The previously amiable Second Uncle Sheng’s smile vanished: “You scoundrel, you still remember I’m your father?”

Sheng Sanlang quickly made pleading expressions: “Father, there are so many people here.”

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Second Uncle Sheng’s face.

Grand Marshal Luo coughed: “Now that you’ve met the young master, all of you may leave.”

“Yes.” The head concubine led the way, giving a slight curtsy, and led the string of concubines out.

The hall suddenly emptied by more than half.

Second Uncle Sheng felt his breathing become much easier. With a stern face, he scolded Sheng Sanlang: “How long have you been away? Your mother can’t even sleep well from worrying about you, yet here you are—like a bird that’s flown from its cage, never to return!”

“Father, let me explain.” Sheng Sanlang’s face reddened somewhat.

Being scolded in front of his cousin didn’t matter—after all, he was so close with his cousin now. But there were still three unfamiliar female cousins here.

He still cared about saving face.

“What will you explain?” Second Uncle Sheng asked irritably.

This brat must have been dazzled by the capital’s prosperity. Did he not think about whether his own father had it easy these days? Every day he had to endure at least a quarter hour of nagging from his wife.

The most frequent nagging concerned fear that their son had fallen into the clutches of his cousin.

“Your son found work to do, which is why I delayed returning home.”

“Work?” Second Uncle Sheng looked questioningly at Grand Marshal Luo.

Grand Marshal Luo’s old face flushed red, but he said nothing.

What could he say?

A dignified First Rank Grand Marshal—his nephew came to the capital to see the world and became a shop assistant at his daughter’s wine shop?

He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Seeing his uncle-in-law wouldn’t help cover for him, Sheng Sanlang could only pat his chest: “Your son wanted to make a name for himself through his own efforts, so I didn’t trouble Uncle.”

“Then what work did you actually find?”

Sheng Sanlang’s mind spun rapidly, thinking of a suitable lie.

Luo Sheng said coolly: “Cousin is working as a shop assistant at the wine shop I opened.”

Sheng Sanlang: “…”

Grand Marshal Luo: “…”

Second Uncle Sheng: “…”

Only Luo Chen reacted fastest, asking with a taut expression: “What wine shop?”

Only then did Second Uncle Sheng catch his breath, likewise looking at Luo Sheng.

What wine shop would have his son working as a shop assistant?

The Sheng family was at least a scholarly household—thinking of this fact made Second Uncle Sheng feel even more distressed.

“It’s a wine shop that sells spirits and drinking snacks.” Luo Sheng explained.

Seeing Second Uncle Sheng about to collapse from the shock, Grand Marshal Luo quickly said: “Ahem, brother-in-law doesn’t know—Sheng’er’s wine shop is different from ordinary wine shops. It exclusively serves high officials and nobles. Even Prince Kaiyang’s personal guards work as shop assistants there.”

Prince Kaiyang’s personal guards who entered the Jinwu Guard were all outstanding individuals. In all fairness, they were far superior to ordinary young men like Sheng Sanlang.

Hearing this, Second Uncle Sheng looked astonished: “Prince Kaiyang’s personal guards also work as shop assistants at Sheng’er’s wine shop?”

Though the Sheng family resided far away in Jinsha, he still knew of the world-renowned Prince Kaiyang.

If Prince Kaiyang’s personal guards also worked as shop assistants at his niece’s wine shop, then his son’s job didn’t seem quite so terrible…

“Father, if you don’t believe me, your son can summon Prince Kaiyang’s personal guard right now.”

“Right now?”

Sheng Sanlang chuckled: “Yes, during the day he helps Cousin raise geese at the Grand Marshal’s Manor.”

Second Uncle Sheng fell silent again.

Did people in the capital all behave so unpredictably?

He was beginning to worry about his two nephews now.

If Dalang and Erlang achieved high rankings on the examination results, they would need to come to the capital to prepare for the next examination as early as next spring or even this winter.

At this moment, Luo Sheng spoke: “The wine shop is about to open for business. Uncle, if you’re not too tired, why not come eat at the wine shop?”

“Not tired!” Grand Marshal Luo blurted out.

Second Uncle Sheng looked at Grand Marshal Luo in shock.

So indeed, people in the capital really did behave quite differently from those in the south.

Actually, he had come to the capital years ago, but it wasn’t like this back then.

“Uncle?”

Second Uncle Sheng snapped back to attention and smiled reluctantly: “Uncle isn’t tired. I’d like to try Sheng’er’s wine shop.”

The Grand Marshal had already spoken for him—could he refuse?

Only after stepping onto Qingxing Street did Second Uncle Sheng belatedly realize: Wait, can a proper young lady from a respectable family openly operate a wine shop?

“Father, Cousin Chen, look—that’s Cousin’s wine shop.” Sheng Sanlang pointed at the fluttering blue wine banner in the distance, looking quite proud.

Luo Chen’s expression grew even tauter.

It was his sister’s wine shop—what was Third Cousin showing off about?

He’d never seen someone so pleased about being a shop assistant.

“Proprietress, you’ve arrived.” The female manager came forward to greet them.

Luo Sheng nodded slightly: “Go to the private room.”

After entering the private room and taking their seats, Second Uncle Sheng couldn’t help asking Grand Marshal Luo: “I saw no notice posted outside the wine shop—how do you ensure only high officials and nobles are served?”

Grand Marshal Luo was silent for a moment, then uttered a single word succinctly: “Expensive.”

Second Uncle Sheng: “…”

Luo Sheng smiled: “Today happens to be a day ending in zero, so the shop has braised pork knuckle for sale, plus a new dish—shredded mandarin fish with pickled ginger. Uncle should try them.”

Grand Marshal Luo, who had been maintaining a pleasant expression, began feeling sour inside.

A new dish? He hadn’t tried it yet either.

Luo Chen was even more displeased.

New dishes, old dishes—he hadn’t tasted any of them.

Soon wine and dishes filled the table.

Grand Marshal Luo enthusiastically urged Second Uncle Sheng: “Brother-in-law, help yourself to the food!”