Chapter 211: Treasures Beneath the Oak Tree
Just as Liang En had speculated, the people on-site weren't the ones making a fuss about the spoils. So, their application for the excavation area was swiftly approved.
Once the permit was in hand, Liang En, Fan Meng, and Pierce joined the workers, heading towards the targeted excavation area.
Within the campsite, Pierce directed the workers to excavate several buildings within the designated area while Liang En and the others carried tools toward the oak tree, their focal point.
The oak tree stood tall near the center of the ruins, facing the main entrance of the commander's residence. Perhaps due to the dense branches and leaves, only a thick layer of fallen leaves covered the ground beneath the tree, with few other plants growing.
It was around 9 o'clock in the morning, and the golden sunlight filtered through the gaps in the oak tree's canopy, creating a dreamlike scene.
"Quite beautiful. Feels like a good sign," Pierce remarked, a smile gracing his face as sunlight formed pillars through the canopy.
"Yes, a good sign," Fan Meng nodded in agreement, then opened his metal detector. "The area we can excavate here is relatively small, so if there's something, we should find it before lunch."
Under the tree, the three simultaneously used metal detectors, exploring bit by bit around the massive tree. Soon, a buzzing alarm sounded in Liang En's earphones.
"I've found something," Liang En informed his friends immediately upon hearing the alarm, looking towards the spot where the alert was coming from.
The location was about four to five meters from the oak tree, aligning with an imaginary line between the tree and the commander's residence, the axis of the entire camp.
"It seems there's likely something buried here," Liang En murmured, and together with Pierce and Fan Meng, they retrieved tools and began digging.
Different from their previous excavations, after clearing a layer of mixed fallen leaves and humus and digging down about 20 centimeters, they encountered numerous stones in the soil.
These sudden stones disrupted their digging rhythm, blocking the shovels. They had to slow down and methodically remove these obstacles.
Fortunately, as they dug together, their teamwork improved over time. After half an hour, they successfully uncovered something unusual beneath a meter-deep pit.
"Clang!" Liang En felt his shovel tip hit another stone but discovered this one was significantly larger than the others when attempting to pry it out.
"I think we've found the target," Liang En whispered after five minutes, and at the bottom of the pit appeared a circular stone slab with a diameter of over a meter.
Digging a bit around it, they confirmed the stone slab, shallowly engraved with a cross, was only about seven to eight centimeters thick but far too heavy for the three of them to lift.
However, they had prepared adequately for this excavation. Quickly, they directed their workers to construct a tripod and installed pulleys to hoist the stone slab.
Beneath the slab lay a thin layer of soil, with over a hundred darkened metal coins resting quietly. Upon examining a few, they discovered these were silver coins.
Interestingly, these coins came from various sources, not just locally minted ones but also from the Germanic, Russian, and even distant Middle Eastern regions.
The practice of mixing coins from different nations was common in ancient times as the true value lay in the precious metals they contained, regardless of their issuer.
The total count of these silver coins exceeded 170, scattered beneath the stone slab at the bottom of the one-meter pit. Upon weighing them, the coins amounted to nearly 3 kilograms.
"These coins seem larger than the ones we've seen before," Fan Meng observed, holding one in his hand, comparing it. "I feel like the dinars we found earlier were much lighter and smaller."
"Your observation is correct. After Europeans discovered and extensively exploited gold and silver mines in the Americas, Europe experienced noticeable currency devaluation due to the influx of these metals," Liang En explained, holding a coin himself.
"To adapt to this change, European coins were enlarged for easier daily use. This batch of coins we've found here was minted in Europe after the Price Revolution."
Upon inspection, Liang En deduced the items in the pit were likely buried in the mid-to-late 17th century, no later than 1682.
Among the coins, the most recent one they found was a Groschen minted in 1682.
Surprisingly, after excavating the coins, they found the underside wasn't soil but another stone slab.
"It seems this prevented moisture from seeping through," Liang En whispered softly, observing the noticeably larger and thicker stone slab, explaining the coins' mild rust.
However, he didn't believe this slab was solely for moisture prevention. Compared to the value of over a hundred silver coins, the entirely stone-covered backfill or an intact stone cover seemed excessive.
"I think these coins might have been used for some ritual or as a diversion. The real items might be beneath this second slab," Liang En suggested, eyeing the thicker, rougher stone slab below the coins. "So, I propose we dig out that bottom stone slab as well."
"You're right. We shouldn't overlook any trace," Pierce nodded in agreement. "At least for this pit, we should dig until we reach undisturbed soil."
Having made their decision, they employed the tripod and pulley system again, repeating their previous process. As the stone slab shifted, underneath revealed metal encased within sand and charcoal.
After a brief excavation, Liang En discovered a silver-plated rectangular copper box. Wearing gloves, he wiped the slightly flattened box and noticed significant rust on its surface.
Fortunately, the box walls were thick, and the silver plating provided protection, so the rust remained superficial, without any severe perforations.
For the items inside the box, this degree of rust was even better than none at all. It sealed the entire box, ensuring the contents remained intact.
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 212: Horse Equipment and Shopping
Besides the box, there was nothing else of value in this pit. It was filled with sand and charcoal, serving as mere fillers for the space.
Once everyone had put in tremendous effort to clear out everything, they only found a palm-sized cross with a base quietly lying in the center of the dirt-filled pit.
"It seems this pit only holds this." Liang En confirmed, addressing the others after ensuring there were no other signs of disturbance around. "Let's move on to check elsewhere."
Regrettably, for the next day and a half, they didn't stumble upon anything remarkable. The only thing potentially valuable was a broken stone cross, half the height, unearthed from the ruins of a church.
"It seems this area has offered all it could. Let's head over to the archaeological team next." The day after they excavated the copper-plated silver box, Liang En and his group made this decision while eyeing the chaotic assortment on the white cloth.
During this day and a half, Liang En and the workers meticulously combed through their designated area, unearthing all metallic items.
As anticipated, most of the uncovered items were mere scrap metal; only scattered silver coins, buttons, and isolated fragments of armor held any value.
Had it not been for the small pouch of silver coins and the box they found earlier, this search would have been quite disappointing.
Regarding the box, Liang En, unable to contain his curiosity, had used an "Appraisal (N)" card the previous night. The card's conclusion left everyone puzzled.
"This is a copper-plated silver box, just a large jewelry box casually bought by the former captain of the Winged Cavalry in the market, repurposed for other uses."
"In 1700, when this distinguished Winged Cavalry unit was disbanded, the last captain exchanged valuable mementos for money to distribute among the soldiers. Less valuable items were placed in the box and buried under the oak tree at the campsite."
Evidently, with the box being the focus, the card didn't appraise the box's contents. Thankfully, after checking the box's weight and the sound it made when shaken, they confirmed the unlikelihood of precious metals inside.
When they presented the items to the neighboring archaeological team the next day, the team's attitude after inspecting everything confirmed their earlier assumptions.
"We'll purchase these silver coins at market price." After examining the items Liang En's group brought, the head of the archaeological department stated. "The rest belongs to you, and I'll provide you with an exit permit now."
While examining, the archaeologists had used a specialized X-ray machine to inspect the box's contents, finding only four horseshoes wrapped in what seemed like fragmented textiles and a horse bit inside the box.
For an elite cavalry unit, keeping retired horse equipment as memorabilia was common. Therefore, after confirming the absence of precious metals, the local archaeological department naturally refused to purchase them.
"If we were to buy, we could offer 500 euros." The negotiator handling this matter stated. "Based on similar items we've found before, they often contain just a few pieces of old horse equipment."
"Alright, I'll take this thing. I'll offer 1000 euros for it." Liang En stated after completing the transaction with the locals, eyeing the box.
While this item might not hold significant monetary value, for Liang En, who valued historical significance, it was a chance for potentially good cards.
"800 is enough." Pierce, who had examined the X-ray, spoke up. "Though the guy before priced it at 500 to clearly bargain, if it's just iron inside, 60-70 percent more would suffice."
Pierce seemed in much better spirits now, as the pile of items just sold for a total of sixty-two thousand euros, not only covering their expenses but also yielding around 3500 euros in profit.
Apart from the money, the salvaged armor scraps and weapon fragments permitted for taking could be sold in their shop, adding to their inventory.
"Do people really buy these rusty scraps?" Fan Meng looked at the pile of rust-covered iron and copper pieces, feeling puzzled. "These aren't even complete items—"
"You're right, these are indeed just scrap." Liang En nodded. "But that doesn't mean there's no market for them."
"For most people, affording genuine antique armor or even modern reproductions of such armor isn't economically feasible."
"So, these remnants from authentic Winged Cavalry armor cater best to the needs of regular people, items that are affordable for them to collect."
"Yes, these are collectibles for the masses," Pierce explained further. "We can remove the rust, oil them, and sell them based on their preservation, fetching between 20 to 70 pounds."
"I see!" Fan Meng's face brightened with understanding. "This is enlightening. I used to think only complete items had buyers."
After wrapping up matters with Pierce, Liang En originally planned to head home, but an email changed his mind. It informed him that his EU concealed carry permit, from Ireland, was approved.
This world's EU appeared to have a higher degree of integration than the previous one Liang En knew, recognizing various documents across the EU.
However, acquiring these EU documents was notably more challenging compared to similar ones in the US. If it weren't for Liang En's established position in academia and a previous favor to a police officer, the application might not have been processed so quickly.
Besides Liang En's permit, Fan Meng's permit also came through. However, unlike Liang En's personal document, Fan Meng's was a work permit under the Panda Exploration Studio, as his personal assets didn't meet the permit's requirements.
Having the permits was great, but Liang En's biggest issue now was having the permits without corresponding weapons.
Due to not having focused on this aspect previously, aside from a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun from his last visit to the US, he didn't possess any firearms.
So, while in Poland, Liang En planned to purchase a handgun along with Fan Meng, as weapons in Eastern Europe tended to be cheaper than in the UK and Ireland.
After lunch, Liang En, Fan Meng, and Pierce drove to the city center, intending to buy suitable weaponry.
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 213: Buying Guns
After driving into the Krakow city area, they first went to a bank right next to the police station and withdrew twenty thousand euros in cash. Then, they took a bus to a suburban camping park.
Perhaps due to the vastness of most European countries, these kinds of camping parks could be found around any city's outskirts. Unlike the crowded parks in China, these suburban camping parks, aside from a few exceptions, had hardly any visitors.
Consequently, the facilities and services in these parks were close to minimal. Ensuring that the public toilets and water sources around the campsite were functioning was already considered good enough.
"So, what are we doing here?" Fan Meng looked at the almost deserted park entrance, with at least one-third of the letters missing from the gate, and said, feeling frustrated. "Is there even a store in this ghostly place?"
"Of course, my associates' shops are right here," Pierce said, walking towards the park. "It's just that these might be a bit different from what we're used to."
Judging from the dilapidated building at the entrance and the rusty lampposts along the road, this park seemed quite aged. However, noticing the tire marks on the ground, Liang En realized that this place wasn't as desolate as it appeared.
After walking a short distance along the coal tar road and passing a small hill, a clearing in the woods appeared unexpectedly in front of them, teeming with people.
"This is a free trading market in Krakow," Pierce explained quietly to Liang En as they moved forward. "Compared to other places, the buying and selling here are... more liberal."
"What a choice of location." Thinking back to the people they encountered along the way who seemed to be picnicking but were constantly eyeing the surroundings, and the cameras hidden in trees and bushes, Liang En suddenly understood what this was all about.
Evidently, most of the transactions in this market were likely not very legal. However, the scale of activity here indicated something significant about what was happening behind the scenes.
But compared to more specialized underground markets, this one didn't seem excessively secretive. For instance, anyone could visit or shop here without specific qualifications.
After passing by a few Americans who seemed more like sightseers, they arrived at a camper van. Pierce approached a person standing by the van's door and exchanged a few words.
"Come in." Soon, Pierce finished the conversation and waved Liang En and Fan Meng over, leading them into the rather spacious camper van.
Surprisingly, the interior decor of the van didn't match its exterior luxury. It felt more like the cargo hold of a truck: lined along the van walls were iron racks holding boxes and bags of various sizes.
"Little Pierce, last time I saw you, you were this small." As Liang En and Fan Meng closed the van door, a middle-aged man with graying hair emerged from inside. "Is your father doing well?"
"Ah, good to see you, Uncle Adam!" Pierce greeted the man warmly. "My father is doing great and plans to visit this side of Eastern Europe in winter, to catch up with old friends like you."
"Seems like your father is in a better situation than mine. I can't go anywhere with the injury on my leg," said Adam, tapping his leg with a cane. At this point, Liang En noticed the cane leaning beside him.
"Well, I assume you're not just here to see me today," Adam sighed, then stood up with his cane. "The two following you are..."
"They're my friends, very reliable ones," Pierce said earnestly. "Since they've applied for concealed carry permits, they need handguns."
"In that case, you've come to the right place." Excited upon hearing their intentions, Adam continued, "Compared to regular gun stores, I have a wider selection here."
Saying so, he walked to a row of cabinets after standing up and asked, "So, what kind of firearms are you looking for? Something practical, showy, or slightly beyond the limits?"
"We hope the firearm stays within legal limits," Liang En quickly made a choice after the inquiry. "And preferably easy to maintain."
"Ah, in that case, your options are limited. But I do have something that fits your requirements." With that, Adam retrieved two black engineering plastic boxes from a nearby shelf and opened them.
"This is what I recommend, the Glock 17MOS, the fifth version of Glock's Glock 17 pistol, completely meeting your criteria."
"This gun is among the best handguns you can own within the permit limits, and 9mm bullets are more cost-effective than .45 bullets, also offering better handling."
"It's indeed a good gun." After handling the gun for a bit, both Liang En and Fan Meng nodded at each other; this gun was on their shortlist before coming here.
In fact, apart from the cheaper firearms here, the main reason for their visit was that only this place guaranteed available stock after scouring several local stores Liang En knew from his shooting and gun maintenance practice.
"The items are indeed good. How much for two if I buy them?" After confirming that these were new firearms, and that not a single magazine had been fired besides the test rounds, Liang En inquired about the gun's price.
"For two, give me 800 euros, and it's a deal." Adam looked at Liang En. "Because you're guests brought by Pierce, I'll give you a ten percent discount."
"That's more than fine. At least compared to waiting for three months elsewhere, getting them right away is better," Liang En expressed his satisfaction, even though the discount wasn't substantial.
"Besides these guns, do you intend to buy anything else?" After packing away the two boxes for Liang En, Adam asked, "Need some corresponding accessories or bullets?"
"Let's check out the accessories, but we'll pass on the bullets." After the inquiry, Liang En thought for a moment and said, "We're flying back, and while we can check in firearms with our permits, bullets are a no-go."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 214: Equestrian Gear from Vienna
Once he had the firearms in hand, while this Mr. Adam helped with the registration process, Liang En carefully surveyed the other items inside the RV. Soon, something caught his attention.
"Is this thing for sale?" Liang En pointed to a wooden box on the shelf, inside of which lay a beautifully crafted knight's sword.
It was a contemporary knight's sword, appearing rather plain in its overall decoration. But upon closer inspection, Liang En noticed that both the scabbard and handle were covered in genuine leather. Drawing the sword, he found its grip to be exceptionally comfortable.
Clearly, this wasn't just for show; it was a functional knight's sword. Considering his historical follower, it seemed wise to prepare in advance.
Though unsure when his historical companion, Joan of Arc, would appear, preparing ahead seemed more prudent than last-minute improvisation.
"You've got a good eye," Mr. Adam remarked as Liang En chose the sword. Once he finished registering his own items, Mr. Adam, leaning on his cane, approached. "This is a knight's sword crafted in the style of the Hundred Years' War by an American master cutler. It employs modern materials for combat effectiveness but adheres to the style of that era's knightly swords."
After obtaining permission, Liang En took the sword outside and tested its feel. For his six-foot frame, the sword was slightly shorter than ideal.
However, considering this sword was intended for a user under five feet, this length was perfect.
"I feel like this sword might be a bit short." Sheathing the sword, Liang En said to Mr. Adam, who stood at the door. "It doesn't seem quite fitting for me."
"Your feeling is correct; this sword is a complete replica of the knightly swords from the Hundred Years' War period." Adam nodded. "Compared to modern heights, people in that era averaged less than five feet seven inches."
After a brief chat, Liang En bought the sword. Surprisingly, its price exceeded that of the two pistols; he spent 2100 euros to acquire it.
The reason was simple: this was a handcrafted piece, not a mass-produced industrial item, hence its sale at an artistic value.
Moreover, the craftsman was an American Guild-certified master cutler, contributing to its substantial worth.
According to Mr. Adam, apart from its utility, this sword held significant collectible value. It could be preserved at home, waiting for its value to appreciate.
As firearms required prior approval a day before air travel, Liang En borrowed equipment from Mr. Adam to clean the copper-silver-plated box he had acquired earlier.
After meticulously cleaning the rust from the box's lid and body, Liang En used a small bamboo piece to pry it open, revealing a bunch of charred contents inside.
Carefully using tweezers, he took out a piece and examined it under a magnifying glass. They were organic remains—mostly rotted and blackened hay and rye.
Among this cushioning material, Liang En found a bit: a horse bit and four horseshoes, identical to the X-ray results from before.
Upon inspection, he realized these slightly rusted objects were just ordinary equestrian gear, showing signs of wear and tear from practical use.
Though seemingly unassuming, Liang En didn't underestimate them; such mementos often held significant historical value despite their mundane appearance.
Since repeated searches yielded no inscriptions on these items, he reluctantly used another "Appraisal (N)" card, this time receiving surprising information.
"These metal parts of the equestrian gear come from a brave winged cavalry squadron leader. This leader, on September 12th, 1683, at 4 PM, charged as the first wave towards the Ottoman Empire's southern camp in Tölz and valiantly sacrificed there."
"After the war, though unable to find the sacrificed squadron leader's body amidst chaos, people found his warhorse. Parts of the horse's gear were taken as the new squadron's mascot and have been preserved to this day."
"So, this is a relic of a fallen hero. But this date..." Looking at the date, Liang En suddenly shivered, swiftly searching the keyword on his phone.
Half an hour later, he found the story behind this item. This cavalry participated in the legendary Battle of Vienna, which halted the Ottoman Empire's expansion.
On July 14th, 1683, the Ottoman Turkish army, with hundreds of thousands, besieged Vienna. The Ottomans launched repeated attacks.
While rough terrain hampered the Ottomans' prized artillery, Serbian sappers aided them, repeatedly attacking Vienna's walls using mines.
During this, a baker in the city noticed an Ottoman tunnel's tremors while baking and helped destroy it.
To honor this baker's act, a crescent-shaped bread, resembling the Turkish crescent, was baked in abundance, birthing the renowned croissant.
Despite the resolute defense, over a month into the siege, the Ottomans breached a massive gap in Vienna's walls that fifty people could walk through shoulder to shoulder.
As the breach opened, destitute Ottoman soldiers charged recklessly. The crescent flag was momentarily planted on Vienna's walls.
But the defenders counterattacked; gunners fixed bayonets and joined pikemen, staunchly blocking the gap. They pushed the overwhelming Ottoman forces back.
Subsequently, engineers erected a makeshift wall using wicker baskets and sandbags behind the breach, mounting field cannons to fire outwards.
This tug-of-war lasted till September 4th. Vienna's defenders, exhausted from casualties, hunger, and diseases, struggled. Water supply became an issue.
To worsen matters, Ottoman engineers blew up another part of the wall. Although the defenders repelled them, everyone knew the city's fall was inevitable without reinforcements.
But that day, 47,000 German troops from Lorraine, Franconia, Bavaria, and Saxony rallied to Vienna, joining forces with 27,000 Polish soldiers led by the Polish king. They aimed to liberate Vienna from the Ottoman army.
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Chapter 215: New Skills and a Distinguished Visitor
During the Battle of Vienna, the assembling of reinforcements from the Holy Roman Empire took a whole week. After all, these reinforcements came from various factions and would be impossible to deploy without prior coordination.
Fortunately, the presence of these troops near the Ottoman forces diverted their attention, halting their assault on Vienna and giving the defenders a chance to catch their breath.
Despite the preparation time, the Ottomans launched multiple attacks, exploiting their numerical advantage. They prepared ten explosion points and even deployed their elite new troops to try and take Vienna before the reinforcements arrived.
However, all their plans failed. The defenders, invigorated by the arrival of the reinforcements, repelled every attack by the Ottomans.
Perhaps due to having more troops at hand than the combined reinforcements and defenders, the Ottoman commander made a fatal decision before the final battle:
They split the forces, sending the elite troops, including the new soldiers, to attack the city while withdrawing the cavalry and the newly arrived reserves for defense.
Yet, this attempt to gain advantage on both fronts led to neglect on both sides. The morale of the city's defenders soared as they sensed a decrease in artillery density, while the defense, due to insufficient numbers, seemed strained.
In this scenario, the Ottoman forces could only maintain a long but shallow defense line. Given the rugged terrain on the west and south sides of the city, the Ottomans didn't construct any fortifications, not even basic anti-cavalry wooden fences.
On the night of September 11th, Sobieski arrived with the Polish army at the southern ridge of the city, while the German coalition readied themselves in the north.
At dawn, the Germans initiated the attack, catching the Ottomans off guard. The Ottomans expected the reinforcements to be weakened gradually within their heavily fortified defenses, but the Saxons boldly maneuvered their cannons closer for direct fire.
These close-range artillery strikes shattered several key points of the Ottoman defense, forcing Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa to lead his elite guards into combat to maintain the front line. The battle continued in a stalemate until 11 in the morning.
While the Germans gradually dismantled Ottoman positions, Vienna's city area still seemed far off.
However, due to the Germans' relentless effort, the Ottoman mobile forces were diverted to the north and held back. So, when the Polish troops launched their assault at 1 PM, it struck at the weak link in the Ottoman army.
This sudden attack disrupted the Ottoman strategy. By 4 PM, the Polish forces breached several layers of defense lines and reached the edge of the Ottoman camp.
At this moment, King Sobieski sent a squadron of winged cavalry as a vanguard to probe the Ottoman camp's strength for the impending attack.
Though aware of the high likelihood of no return, these elite knights, armed with traditional lances, charged into the Turkish camp. Lowering their lances upon nearing the enemy, they fiercely pierced the chests or abdomens of the adversaries, often penetrating two soldiers at once, instilling fear among the Ottomans.
Despite their exceptional bravery, due to the vast difference in strength between the sides, only a fifth of this unit returned.
Liang En acquired this set of horse gear when soldiers retrieved it from the commander's horse during the post-battle cleanup. The fate of the commander amidst the chaos remained unknown.
Thanks to this small unit's valiant fight, Sobieski gained insight into the distribution of forces in the camp. He then led 3,000 winged cavalry, 6,000 dragoons, and a Cossack cavalry force to sweep through the camp, securing the final victory.
Historically, from a factual perspective, King Sobieski of Poland, the Holy Roman Empire's commander Duke of Lorraine, and Vienna's defender, Stadtholder Starhemberg, along with their troops, contributed equally, each claiming a third of the victory.
However, emotionally, the image of elite cavalry sweeping through an entire Ottoman force adds a dramatic touch. Hence, this scene has been reenacted multiple times in later years.
Whether in the numerous adaptations of the Battle of Vienna in films or the charge of the Riders of Rohan aiding Gondor in "The Lord of the Rings," these moments commemorate that sudden, almost miraculous, assault.
Just as Liang En comprehended the origin of the horse gear in the box and its implications, three black cards and one silver card appeared in his mind.
The three black cards were "Detection (N)," "Restoration (N)," and "Identification (N)." It seemed this discovery had immense historical significance, thus prompting the appearance of these cards.
After a brief glance at the three existing cards, Liang En quickly focused on the new silver card.
"Winged Cavalry Gear (SR): When the winged cavalry arrives on the battlefield—just as sung in 'Winged Hussars'—if the Poles are known as the Spear of God, then the winged cavalry represents the sharpest tip of that spear.
This set of gear embodies the spirit and soul of this powerful army, granting certain abilities related to this unit to the holder.
Item card: With ownership of this gear, the user can grant up to 126 horses a feeling of control and fearlessness akin to the winged cavalry's warhorses every week, adjusting them to their optimal state. This ability cannot be accumulated."
"This is my second item card," Liang En mused, looking at the new card. "But then again, this thing combined with the bronze pot from before would definitely make a unique pair."
After all, the reason the bronze pot ended up in civilian hands was due to the crushing defeat under Vienna's walls, representing the victorious side alongside the winged cavalry gear would create a peculiar sensation.
That night, Liang En and his companions enjoyed a locally flavored feast, including cabbage soup, Krakow braised duck, Polish dumplings, and Vienna cheesecake. Interestingly, the cheesecake, layered with vanilla cream or chocolate, was more popular in Poland than in Austria.
The next day, they flew back to London together. Liang En then bid farewell to Pierce and Fan Meng, returning to Dublin with them.
What Liang En didn't expect was hearing something quite astonishing from his mother during dinner, after returning home with his spoils.
"Did you know there's a young girl who came all the way from France looking for me? She found out I was temporarily away and is working in my ranch?" Surprised at his mother's words, Liang En inquired.
"Yes, she seemed just of age, carrying a photo of you specifically." His mother placed a piece of braised ribs into his bowl. "When did you two meet?"
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