TSFLIP Chapter 550

Si Jia nodded, then casually asked the innkeeper, “Why is the inn so quiet now?”

Feng Guang turned back to look around and noticed for the first time that no guests were sitting in the main hall — a dramatic contrast from the bustling scene when they first arrived last night.

The innkeeper explained, “Didn’t those people stay up far too late last night? So now, I’m afraid they’re all still in bed.”

“That’s true. Yesterday I saw a lot of people sitting here drinking.” Feng Guang asked, “Innkeeper, do people here love to drink?”

“Miss, you may not know this, but although our town isn’t particularly well-known, we’re proud of our brewing skills. Few places can match us in making alcohol. So the people here enjoy having a drink with nearly every meal. It’s quite normal for them to drink late into the night.”

Feng Guang understood that each place has its customs, but she hadn’t expected a tradition of drinking until midnight. She asked with great curiosity, “Innkeeper, if you’re so skilled at brewing, can you make the famous Agarwood Liquor?”

“Agarwood Liquor?” The innkeeper paused. “Isn’t that a specialty of Liubi Kingdom?”

He sighed quietly. “To produce Agarwood Liquor, you need a special kind of ferment — a unique culture — which we simply can’t grow here due to our climate.”

“Wow, Innkeeper, you know so much!” Feng Guang exclaimed in admiration. She’d meant it as a casual question, yet the innkeeper explained in detail why it wasn’t possible.

Flattered by the young woman’s admiration, the innkeeper smugly tugged at his beard. “Ah, when I was young, before I opened this inn, I traveled all across the land. Naturally, I saw and learned a great deal.”

“Traveled all across the land?” Feng Guang hopped up on a nearby stool, pressed her hands under her chin on the counter, and gazed up at him. “Innkeeper, please tell me more about your journeys.”

The innkeeper put aside his account book and abacus, cleared his throat, and was about to launch into a grand story —

“Miss Xia.” Si Jia suddenly interrupted him. His piercing, indifferent gaze fell upon Feng Guang. “Are you still going out today?”

A chill went down Feng Guang’s back, and she quickly raised her hand. “Yes, I’m going! I want to go boating on the lake.”

“Then let’s go.” Si Jia turned and walked toward the door first, and Feng Guang hurried after him.

Left all alone, the innkeeper sighed in dissatisfaction. It was a rare opportunity to find a young woman willing to listen to his stories of youthful adventure — yet it was gone just like that.

A chilly breeze swept fallen leaves down the nearly empty street. Feng Guang looked at the sparse passersby and said in puzzlement, “It’s not just the inn — even the whole town seems to get up late and retire early.”

Si Jia nodded. “I remember the lakeshore is that way.”

“We were led down this road by the coachman last night, in the dark… yet you already remember it. That’s amazing, Si Jia!” It was hard to say how many times she’d looked at him with pure admiration.

Si Jia paused briefly. “Miss Xia… do you enjoy complimenting people?”

Whether it was him, the nameless innkeeper, or the elderly clay figurine maker she’d met when first leaving the palace, she seemed eager to shower everyone with compliments.

It wasn’t that this was a bad thing. But when it happened repeatedly, it seemed less sincere…

Sometimes, a man’s heart is more delicate than a woman’s.