How exciting.
"Let me tell you..."
Just as Zheng Xiu was about to recount the classic tale of "white meat," the young boy arrived with a tray.
"Hot tea! Ginger soup! Braised meat! Here you go! Enjoy your meal, esteemed guests!"
"Hold on," Xie Luohe said with a smile, gently placing two copper coins on the table. "I'd like to ask about the latest news. Tell me whatever you've heard recently."
The boy excitedly scooped up the two copper coins and quickly recounted two pieces of news.
First, bandits were causing trouble up north. Marauders from who-knows-where had plundered several villages, and some Survivors were fleeing south.
Second, many martial artists from the Jianghu, all wielding weapons, had recently been seen riding fast horses north along this very road. None of them looked like people you'd want to cross.
Xie Luohe placed another two copper coins on the table.
The boy gulped and shared one more piece of information.
