Press-Ganging Men

The Roe Deer weighed thirty jin, and the Four Rivers Merchant Guild gave him 36 Big Coins.

Li Yuan immediately spent 13 Big Coins on thirty jin of Foxtail Millet and ten jin of beans, packed into two sacks.

He then spent another 5 Big Coins on one jin of salt, and 5 more on a small bag of sugar frosting and some candles.

That left him with 13 Big Coins.

These days, salt and sugar were both luxuries. Being able to bring so much home already left Li Yuan completely satisfied.

Zhao Feng's expression darkened slightly. Li Yuan's purchases made it seem as though he intended to settle down here rather than leave with him.

After some thought, Zhao Feng looked at Li Yuan's retreating figure in the distance, then hurried after him into the snow, calling, "Wait! Wait!"

Li Yuan stopped and said politely, "Brother Zhao, what is it?"

Zhao Feng said, "Li Yuan, let me be frank with you.

"If you join the Four Rivers Merchant Guild, you'll be following Third Miss alongside me.

"Though Third Miss is being suppressed, she's very capable. She'll definitely secure a place in the guild one day.

"If you follow Third Miss with me now, once she truly rises to power, we'll both be great contributors. The benefits will be plentiful."

His words completely dispelled Li Yuan's last trace of hesitation.

Sure enough, every faction had its own cliques.

And wherever there were cliques, there would be conflict.

For a young miss to rise to power, she needed her subordinates to fight and struggle for her.

Chaos reigned beyond their doors, while they were still fighting among themselves.

Besides, Zhao Feng was only Not Ranked. How much authority could he possibly have in the guild? If he had any real authority, he wouldn't have been assigned to sell grain in a place like Little Ink Village.

"Thank you, Brother Zhao. I'll consider it carefully after I return.

"If I decide to join the Four Rivers Merchant Guild, I just need to come here within three days, right?" Li Yuan put on a thoughtful expression.

"That's right! Just come here within three days," Zhao Feng said. "I'll await your good news."

Li Yuan nodded, hoisted the sacks onto his back, and headed home through the snow.

Heavy snow fluttered down.

Not a soul could be seen on any road.

Step by step, the young man left footprints across the not-too-long distance and returned beneath the eaves of his little house.

He set down the burlap sacks and shook off the snow.

Yan Niangzi had heard him coming and opened the door. Seeing his head covered in silver-white snow, she giggled. "You look like a little old man."

Then she turned to fetch hot water for her man to wash his face and hands.

But before she had taken two steps, Li Yuan grabbed her hand.

With a tug from Li Yuan, Yan Niangzi gave a cry, like a blue butterfly flying into his arms.

Li Yuan caught her and spun her around in the snow.

Only after three or four turns did he stop.

Yan Niangzi was not a dull woman. Once he stopped, she said nothing, merely wrapping her arms tightly around her man's waist.

Li Yuan held her too.

The two of them stood there foolishly, pressed close together in the middle of the snow-covered yard.

The snow had not been swept away and reached nearly to their knees.

Above them, goose-feather snow still drifted endlessly from the sky.

Before long, both their heads had turned white.

Yan Niangzi giggled. "What are you doing?"

Li Yuan said, "Your hair has turned white too."

Yan Niangzi smiled. "That's a good omen. Heaven is telling us that we'll grow old together with white hair."

To grow old together with white hair... in this world, what a fairy-tale dream that was.

Li Yuan thought of his "Eternal Life" and paused for a moment. Then he hugged his wife tighter and said, "I bought you sugar frosting."

"Sugar frosting!" Yan Niangzi laughed happily.

Li Yuan scooped her up and carried her into the house.

Night fell.

The young couple lay together, whispering pillow talk.

"When I went to the Four Rivers Merchant Guild, I heard they'll be withdrawing in three days."

"What happened?"

"They said the Red Lotus Bandits have risen in rebellion."

"The Red Lotus Bandits? Shouldn't that be the Red Lotus Sect? I... I've heard a little about them, but I can't remember who told me."

"The Red Lotus Sect?" Li Yuan searched his memories and found nothing. That meant the original owner of this body had not exchanged much information with the outside world.

Yan Niangzi said, "The natural disasters and man-made calamities in the south have become too severe, and the Red Lotus Sect emerged at this time.

"They say the Red Lotus Sect Leader can turn talisman water into food. Drink one bowl, and you won't go hungry for an entire day.

"Many refugees followed him. They even set up portraits of him in their homes and worshipped him like a god."

"One bowl of talisman water could keep someone from going hungry for a day?" Li Yuan sneered.

But suddenly, he thought of something.

If the Red Lotus Bandits really attack, would the authorities conscript soldiers?

If they did, I'd definitely have to go. That won't do.

For a moment, he fell silent.

Could it be that I still have to leave with Zhao Feng?

No. That road is even less secure.

Seeing the situation turn bad and gambling everything on some other place I couldn't see clearly, thinking it couldn't possibly get worse...

But the outcome was usually disappointing.

Li Yuan suddenly grew serious. "Sister Yan, I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" Yan Niangzi froze for a moment.

Li Yuan leaned close to her ear and said, "After some time, if word spreads that the Red Lotus Bandits are attacking the county town, I'll hide in the mountains ahead of time, then quietly return home around midnight."

"Huh?" It took Yan Niangzi a while to understand.

Once she did, Yan Niangzi asked softly, "Won't you be discovered? And will it be safe for you to hide in the mountains?"

Li Yuan said, "I won't be discovered."

Time flew by.

Three days later, Zhao Feng never saw Li Yuan. He did not come to his door either, instead leaving directly with his men.

Li Yuan continued hunting as usual.

Meanwhile, Uncle Wang had opened up a line to the tavern, establishing a trading connection.

Uncle Wang was an honest man, and Li Yuan's game was of excellent quality. The tavern was also happy to buy meat directly from this "firsthand market."

In the blink of an eye, another nine days passed.

In Little Ink Village, Li Yuan began keeping a lower profile. Once, when he returned, he deliberately scraped his skin against a stone and claimed to have encountered Blind Bear, then put on a frightened expression.

That performance sent his "prestige" plummeting.

Over the next few trips, he returned later and later each time, while the game he brought back grew smaller and smaller.

On the ninth day, he simply returned empty-handed, claiming he had caught nothing at all.

When Brother Xiong heard the news, he could not help bursting into laughter. Feng Er was already sleeping in his bed, rolling around with him beneath the covers.

Upon hearing the news, Feng Er said coyly, "Brother Xiong is still the best. That Li Yuan is far inferior to you."

Brother Xiong laughed. "He's all right. Not bad."

Feng Er said, "Brother Xiong, when are you going to marry me?"

Brother Xiong said, "Soon, soon."

Elsewhere, Qian Er also gave a dark chuckle when he heard.

Another five days passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, all of Shanbao County seemed to boil over.

The authorities' runners raced everywhere, forcibly press-ganging men into the army to defend against the powerful enemy.

"The Red Lotus Bandits are attacking! It's time to defend our homes and our country!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? We're not asking whether you want to go. You have to go!"

"Two men in your household? Draw lots and send one."

"Only one man in your household? Then he has to go!"

"Move, move, move! What are you dawdling for? If you refuse to go, are you in league with the Red Lotus Bandits? Move!"

For a time, the people were filled with resentment. Scenes of families torn apart, of flesh and blood separated, and of husbands and wives split apart could be seen everywhere.

Little Ink Village.

Brother Xiong was still sleeping with Feng Er in his arms when someone began pounding on the door.

"Who is it?" Brother Xiong asked in a gruff voice.

Feng Er chimed in with an affected tone, "Don't they know Brother Xiong is resting? Have they no sense at all?"

Before her words had even faded—

Bang!!

The door was kicked open. The runner swept his gaze over the room, craned his head inside, and said, "Lu Ergou, right?"

Brother Xiong: ...

Seeing the fierce-looking runner, he lowered his head, avoiding Feng Er's gaze, and obediently said, "Yes."

The runner said, "Conscription! Get dressed and come with us."

Elsewhere.

The gates of the Qian Family home were also shoved open.

Qian Er was eating meat and drinking with a group of ruffians when he saw runners barge in.

Qian Er froze. "You..."

The runner said directly, "I was wondering why so many homes were empty. Turns out they're all here with you! Move, conscription!"

Qian Er took out two taels of silver from his robe and quietly handed them over. Lowering his voice, he said, "Liu Constable and I are brothers."

The runner slapped the silver away and said, "Liu Constable doesn't work here anymore. Move, move, move!!"

Behind him, a plainclothes officer carrying a saber leaned against the doorframe, coldly watching the scene.

Several ruffians tried to argue, but the plainclothes officer stepped forward. Like an eagle snatching chicks, he quickly threw every last one of them to the ground. None of them dared resist again.