Fortune Across the World

Chapter 19: Invitation to Meet the Lady for a Heart-to-Heart (Part 2)

"Your homeland? Qiyu, you're not from Xingcheng?" Lu Weixi had suspected that Ding Qiyu's background was unusual. Although their relationship wasn't close enough to warrant such probing questions, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy as she watched his formerly sunny demeanor shift to one of sadness. His eyes, filled with despair, seemed as if the world had abandoned him, stirring a deep curiosity and a desire to understand his past to offer comfort and warmth.

Ding Qiyu remained silent for a moment, gathering his emotions before returning to his cheerful, gentle self. Yet, this transformation only made Lu Weixi feel more for him. She listened as he continued, "Yes, my homeland. I'm not from Xingcheng, nor can I be considered a citizen of Qianguo."

Lu Weixi was taken aback. Qianguo was a powerful, vast nation, bordered by smaller countries and nomadic tribes. Could Qiyu be from one of these places? If not, there were tales of lands beyond the sea, but those people were described as looking quite different from those in Qianguo, and Qiyu didn't seem to fit that description.

Observing Lu Weixi's expression, Ding Qiyu pondered how to explain being from another world without sounding too fantastical. He elaborated, "Actually, my homeland isn't part of any country in this world. But don't misunderstand me—what I mean is, my home is an isolated paradise, separate from Qianguo and any other nation on this continent. It's hidden in a distant mountain, with mechanisms and... barriers set by our ancestors to keep it isolated. So, it's a place unknown to you." To make it comprehensible yet not frightening, Ding Qiyu crafted this somewhat believable story.

Qing'er, who had been quietly listening, was increasingly shocked. So, Young Master Ding hailed from an isolated land? This explained why he wasn't just a simple carpenter from Hejia Village.

"But how did you...?" Lu Weixi was even more intrigued by Ding Qiyu's story. Was he truly from a secluded haven? What was his homeland like, and why had he come to Qianguo?

"I ended up here by accident, and even I don't know how it happened. So..." Ding Qiyu paused, a wry smile on his lips, "I have no idea how to return. To be precise, it's impossible to go back."

Lu Weixi sensed the bitterness in his words. She couldn't fully imagine what it was like for Ding Qiyu to be completely cut off from his original family and friends. Yet, she could deeply empathize with his despair from his earlier expression. Unconsciously, her brows furrowed with concern, "Don't lose hope. I'm sure you'll find a way back." Though her words were sincere, a part of her selfishly dreaded the thought of losing this rare confidant to his homeland, never to meet again. But more than that, she couldn't bear to see him in despair. Pushing aside her selfish feelings, she added, "If you can't find a way yourself, I can ask my father to help. He can seek out scholars across the land to find a way to open the barrier..."

Seeing the genuine concern in Lu Weixi's eyes, the warmth in her gentle gaze touched Ding Qiyu's heart. He shook his head, meeting her eyes with gratitude, "There's no need to waste your efforts. It's impossible to return," he paused, then smiled brightly, "But what if I can't go back? I can live well here, too."

Lu Weixi was dazzled by his smile, her heart inexplicably stirred, as if something had taken root and begun to sprout. She mirrored his smile, "I believe you'll live a wonderful life."

Ding Qiyu nodded with a smile, glancing at the sky. It was time to work. He stood and bade farewell, "It's getting late. I have to inspect the city's businesses. Can't be too obvious about slacking off on the first day, right?" he joked, though he was reluctant to end this heartfelt conversation with Miss Lu.

Seeing him prepare to leave, Lu Weixi didn't insist he stay, "Then go about your work, Qiyu. Qing'er, see Young Master Ding out."

"Please keep what I shared about my background between us. Not even my mother and Lian'er know," Ding Qiyu requested, wishing to keep his origins private.

"Don't worry, Qiyu. Neither Qing'er nor I are talkative. Besides, you've already moved beyond those past experiences and started anew, right? Bringing it up again wouldn't mean much," Lu Weixi assured him.

"You're right, Miss Lu. Well, I must be going." Ding Qiyu bowed slightly and turned to leave. Just before exiting the room, he paused, turned back, and softly said, "Thank you, Weixi." Then he disappeared from Lu Weixi's sight.

Lu Weixi's heart rippled gently at his use of her name...

Leaving Yaolu Residence, Ding Qiyu felt lighthearted and open. Though she had already resolved to start anew, she had carried the weight of her secret without anyone to confide in, like a thorn lodged in her heart, occasionally reminding her that she was an outsider in this world. Sharing her secret with Lu Weixi, albeit with a few fabrications, finally gave her a sense of being understood, no longer feeling isolated from the world.

Upon returning to her courtyard, Ding Qiyu encountered Lu Weiming, who was just leaving. Lu Weiming looked delighted to see her, "Qiyu, you're back already? I thought you'd be here at noon and wanted to chat, but you weren't around. Have you finished today's tasks?" He appraised Ding Qiyu, who was now wearing a long robe, with increased admiration.

Can I say I haven't even started yet? Feeling a bit awkward, Ding Qiyu decided to be honest, "Steward Shan briefed me this morning, and I made a plan. After lunch, I took a walk around the mansion but haven't started today's work yet. I'm just about to begin now." She thought to herself, if she claimed to have finished work, Lu Weiming might chat with her endlessly.

Lu Weiming looked disappointed but didn't want to delay Ding Qiyu's work, so he said, "Alright then... I won't hold you up. Let's have a proper chat another day." With that, he left the courtyard.

After Lu Weiming departed, Ding Qiyu gathered her things and set out on her planned route for the day. Exiting the General's Mansion, she found herself on a street lined with residences, all owned by the general's trusted aides or relatives. If you didn't have a connection to General Lu, no amount of money could buy you a place on this street. The frequent patrols by soldiers ensured it was the safest area in Xingcheng. In fact, with the General's Mansion overseeing it, Xingcheng's overall security was among the best in Qianguo.

The General's Mansion was located in Xingcheng's northern district, which had become the city's "wealthy district" due to its influence. Most residents in this part of the city were affluent and powerful, so the businesses here were sizable. Following the map at the back of her roster, Ding Qiyu headed to her first destination, "Liuhe Inn," one of the best inns in Xingcheng, situated at the northeast corner where two main streets intersected. The inn was bustling with business.

Entering the inn, Ding Qiyu found the main hall sparsely occupied since it wasn't mealtime. A waiter approached with a welcoming smile, "Sir, are you here to rest or stay?"

Ding Qiyu showed her Jiancha Shi token and said, "I'm the newly appointed Jiancha Shi for Xingcheng."

Upon seeing the token, the waiter's demeanor shifted to one of respect, and he bowed, "Ah, Inspector, please follow me. I'll take you to see the manager."

The inn's manager gave Ding Qiyu a tour from the front hall to the back courtyard. Liuhe Inn operated in a standard ancient inn style, with little connection to mechanical contraptions. Ding Qiyu pondered but couldn't see how such mechanisms could be applied to the inn. Though she knew a bit about modern business models, she wasn't knowledgeable enough to advise. Committed to doing her job thoroughly, she conducted her inspection according to protocol and, finding no irregularities, moved on to her next destination.

The next shop was "Yunluo Workshop," the largest fabric store in Xingcheng. Ding Qiyu was eager to learn about the latest fabric production techniques. Entering the shop, she introduced herself to the shopkeeper and began her inspection. The shop offered top-quality goods, with a wide range of colors and patterns. The fabrics felt luxurious to the touch, and there was a large section dedicated to ready-made garments.

Ding Qiyu paused to ask, "Shopkeeper, from your earlier introduction, do we source our fabrics from other weaving workshops, or do we have our own weaving facilities?"

The shopkeeper respectfully replied, "Your Excellency, we do have our own production. In the back courtyard of our shop, we have weaving, dyeing, embroidery workshops, and a garment-making workshop. As you might know, Xingcheng brocade is renowned throughout Qianguo. It sells very well in the store, so we decided to establish our own workshops to produce high-quality Xingcheng brocade."