Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 34: Checking Inn

Li Zhu was exhausted from the long day of working the field. If it wasn't for that brat leaving without giving them any form of warning he wouldn't need to be manning the reception right now. After a long day of work should be allowed some well-earned sleep, in fact up until he heard the set of footsteps walking over the inn floor that's exactly what he'd been doing. Sleeping on the job. It wasn't like anyone would know, who in their right mind would arrive at this time anyway?

Well turns out there was one such idiot tonight.

Li Zhu knew that if his wife found out he'd ignored the guest he'd get a proper scolding later, but right now he was too tired to care. "We're closed, take up your complaints in the morning" he grumbled, still half-asleep. The customers staying in a village as small as theirs weren't wealthy enough to leave tips so it didn't matter how he treated the sleep-disturber. If it wouldn't benefit him economically he couldn't be bothered.

"We're not current guests, we'd like to rent a room" a soft and understanding voice spoke from the opposite side of the small table used as a front desk. Realizing that he might be able to earn money by pushing himself through the interaction the Li no longer had enough of an excuse to ignore the guest, and opening his eyes he was happy he did.

In front of him was a handsome man dressed in expensive-looking white robes. He was a cultivator. No not only that, he was a rich cultivator. Even if this was just a dream his wife would slaughter him for not treating them with utmost respect. Yes them, there were two of them.

In the rich cultivator's arms was someone who he could only assume to be the rich man's woman, with her arms wrapped around his neck, being carried as she slept in his arms. But the most interesting thing about her was the violet robes she wore. Even living this much on the outskirts of the Yunmeng region he'd recognize the Jiang sect's formal robes anywhere.

She was from a major sect. Meaning he man in white was either the luckiest man alive to have landed himself a woman way above his league, or he was even richer than Li Zhu had first suspected. Sensing a golden opportunity, he took it. "Apologies for my previous behavior, we don't usually get customers this late at night because of the extra fees that come with late arrivals" he said with the kindest and politest voice he could manage.

His family could not afford him standing his ground. His three daughters needed to be kept fed and happy, something which was far more important than him keeping his pride as a man. He'd apologize until his face turned red if it meant keeping such a rich customer. But the cultivator did not insult or shout at him for bad behavior like most of them would.

"That's alright, don't worry about it. Apologies for interrupting your sleep" the man said with a gentle smile. No wonder he had landed such an impressive woman, this man was a saint. Reaching into his sleeves he pulled out five golden coins and placed them on the counter. "Would this be enough to cover the cost of a room for me and my fiancé?" he asked.

"..." Was that enough to cover the cost!? Even with the increase in cost that Li Zhu was planning on making he'd never dream of charging them as much as a single gold coin. So five golden coins was much more than he had ever expected and it made it difficult to play it cool. However, Li Zhu was more intelligent than he was greedy. Where there was people who might try to extort more money out of the couple, he knew better.

It would already be tough to keep enough of a straight face to keep the money, no need to risk it. Taking their payment, he grabbed the key to one of the rooms intending to guide them himself. He never did as much, ever, but right now the weight of the gold coins weighed heavy in his pouch influencing his decisions. "Of course sir. I hope you and your fiancé will greatly enjoy your stay in our finest suite." Li Zhu said as he led the two towards the largest and fanciest of all their rooms. A room which much like every other night, was vacant.

His wife had insisted they needed a room for couples and he'd always argued there was no need because no one would stay there. Up until tonight it had been a great victory of his, brought up at any opportunity he'd get, but as of tonight it turned out she had been right. Even with all of the nights it had remained unoccupied it had taken just a single night for it to become their most well-paying room ever.

Excited about what had just happened he rushed over to wake his wife to inform her of their important guests. If they were willing to pay this much for a room they needed to be treated well, if only for the chance that they might be willing to tip them for their services.

"Hey Wanyin, you can stop pretending to be asleep now" the older cultivator whispered to his lover once he'd heard he footsteps of the inn-owner leave. The young man tensed up once more, same as he had done earlier when hearing the phrase 'my fiancé' be spoken so casually by the Lan when they entered the inn. Lan Xichen chuckled. "I love you"

"I love you too" the still-pretending-to-be-asleep man mumbled back. During their trip Lan Huan had managed to digest the story Jiang Cheng had previously told him. The compulsive responses didn't just apply to Wei Wuxian, but to him as well. Every time his lover had returned his affections had been out of compulsion rather than love. At first he'd felt a bit disappointed, but being reassured by his lover that he wouldn't respond unless he actually did love him combined with this new adorable way of teasing his lover made it all better.

Jiang Cheng pouted at him, upset that his little facade had been demolished. "What? Did you want to pretend in front of me too?" Lan Xichen asked. He'd been certain that Jiang Cheng had only done so to be able to continue clinging to him even though they were in public.

"No" Jiang Cheng grumbled in his arms, but he still wasn't letting go.

"Wanyin, you're going to need to let go now. You can't undress whilst hanging on to me like this" he explained as he let go of the Jiang's behind to lower him to the floor. Still no movement from Wanyin. Stubborn like a little child. Lan Xichen sighed. "Wanyin, we can't get to bed unless you take off your outer robes. I'm not risking you getting hurt on the metal buckles" Lan Xichen warned after which Jiang Cheng reluctantly allowed himself to be lowered to the floor.

Taking the opportunity to undress as well, Lan Xichen had only just removed his outer robes in time for Jiang Cheng to trap him in his arms yet again. "You were that worried?" Lan Xichen wondered. "I'm sorry A-Cheng. I shouldn't have acted like that. I promise I won't be cold to you again"

Waddling over to the bed was a more difficult task than Lan Huan had expected. He had not accounted for his uncharacteristically affectionate lover to have him in a death grip as he traveled the short distance over to the large bed. The bedding was softer than he'd expected it to be considering how small of a village it was, though Lan Huan thought he knew why that was.