Method

Chen Mo shoveled a spadeful of horse manure mixed with urine and carefully tipped it into the wheelbarrow.

Ding Bao stood nearby, patiently teaching him the lightest, most efficient way to shovel so the filth wouldn't splash onto his clothes.

Having worked as a groom for two and a half years, Ding Bao had plenty of insight into shoveling manure.

One cartload of manure filled up quickly. Ma Cai pushed the cart away, shooting Ding Bao a meaningful glance as he left.

Once both men were gone, Chen Mo grabbed an apple meant for the horses and took two savage bites.

The horse, seeing its treat stolen, let out an indignant snort, though it couldn't voice its complaint.

Chen Mo wolfed down most of the apple in a flash, tossing the leftover scrap to the snorting horse before picking up his shovel again.

Ding Bao and Ma Cai weren't gone long before they returned pushing another empty cart.

"Told you," Ma Cai said, glancing at Ding Bao.

Chen Mo said nothing, understanding that these two had something secret to share with him.

"We didn't tell you before because you weren't shoveling manure. But now that you are, you need to know."

Ma Cai kept his voice low, barely above a whisper.

"We've been sneaking horse manure out to sell. Every day we make forty or fifty coppers."

Horse manure was valuable stuff, especially since warhorses ate plenty of grain, driving the price even higher.

Even though all the manure was supposed to go to the colonel's estate, a little pilfering here and there would never be noticed.

The two had debated whether to tell Chen Mo, since bringing him in meant splitting the money more ways.

But if they kept quiet and he found out later, he might report them. Better to drag him into it now.

"Does Master He know about this?" Chen Mo asked.

If Master He was in on it, Chen Mo wouldn't mind taking a cut. Not taking one would actually be awkward.

But at his question, the two fell silent.

They knew full well it would be best to include He Ma Guan, but they hadn't told him from the start, and the longer they waited, the harder it became.

"Aren't you afraid of getting caught?" Chen Mo's face showed genuine shock.

He really hadn't expected them to be this bold.

If Master He was also getting a share, even if things went south, he'd have reason to protect them to avoid being punished too harshly themselves.

But since He Ma Guan knew nothing, if this blew up, getting beaten to death under military law would be a light sentence.

"We'll be careful. Shouldn't get caught." Ma Cai's voice trailed off as he spoke.

If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it. Since they'd already started, exposure was only a matter of time.

"And if you do?" Chen Mo countered.

Ma Cai hung his head. His family did have some connections in the army, but nothing strong enough to save him if this came out. Otherwise, he wouldn't be stuck feeding horses.

If this was exposed, even if he kept his life, he'd take dozens of lashes and be kicked out of camp.

"I didn't hear anything you said, and I won't tell He Ma Guan. I'll just shovel manure. I won't ask about what happens to it after." Chen Mo drew a clear line, distancing himself from the whole affair.

With the Mortal Transformation Pearl on him, all he needed was to slowly accumulate blood and energy, waiting for his Mortal Transformation.

He didn't want to get tangled up in something that could threaten his stability.

Still, these two had helped him plenty recently—even if it was just letting him borrow soap or a bucket. For that, he wouldn't report them.

"We're brothers in arms! You can't just abandon us! Tell us what to do—we'll follow your lead!" Ma Cai's voice was desperate, his panic plain.

His family had pulled a lot of strings to get him this post. If he got kicked out, it would all be for nothing.

He'd shared a room with Chen Mo for half a month and knew Chen Mo was no ordinary refugee.

The man could read—just a few characters, sure, but that was rare among common soldiers.

So now, he hoped Chen Mo could at least offer some advice.

Chen Mo knew a few characters partly because this world's script resembled the one from his world before the transmigration.

And partly because, when he sold himself into service, his decent looks landed him in the kitchen for half a month before he was reassigned as a book boy, where he picked up a few characters by osmosis.

"Either stop completely. Or if you want to keep going, take all the money you've made so far, give it to Master He, and tell him everything."

Out of consideration for the small favors they'd done him, Chen Mo offered his advice.

Whether they took it was up to them.

After filling two full carts of manure and rinsing his hands, he went to steam cornbread for the horses.

He ate over two catties of cornbread himself and set aside eight more.

The camp only served lunch and dinner, no breakfast. So during the afternoon steaming, he'd save eight pieces—two for each of them to stave off hunger in the morning.

By the time Chen Mo finished steaming the cornbread and feeding the horses, the two men who'd gone to deliver manure returned, reeking of filth.

"Mo-ge." Ma Cai's voice was syrupy, his face plastered with a smile.

Even though he was a year older than Chen Mo, he shamelessly called him "brother," clearly about to ask for a favor.

"What's wrong?" Chen Mo grew wary inside—nothing good comes from sudden kindness.

"Nothing, it's just that we've had nothing but radishes and cabbage all day long. I bought a chicken to treat you to a proper meal."

Ma Cai pulled out a braised chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, its oily fragrance wafting through the air.

On the way back from hauling manure, the more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. The daily income of over twenty coppers was far too small compared to the price he'd pay if he were ever found out.

He wanted to stop, but Ding Bao was reluctant. Now they were tied together like grasshoppers on the same string—they could only advance or retreat together.

And even if they quit, the matter might still come to light later.

After discussing it for a long time, weighing every angle, they decided to go with the second method Chen Mo had mentioned.

"What exactly is it? Just say it." Though Chen Mo phrased it as a question, he could already guess about three parts of it.

"We two plan to follow your advice and tell Master He everything. But if we go ourselves, we'll definitely get a beating. So we wanted to ask you, Mo-ge, to help us out."

He rubbed his hands together, smiling a little sheepishly.

For what they'd done, even if they handed over all the money, it would still earn them a vicious thrashing.

That's why they didn't dare go themselves.

Since Chen Mo wasn't involved yet, if he went first to speak, Master He would take the money and his anger would cool by three parts. At worst, he'd scold them a bit—probably not beat them.

Even if they did get beaten, it would be lighter than walking straight into the muzzle of the gun.

If he got injured, it would inevitably affect his strength. Even if his family had paved the way for him, he still had to earn his own keep.

"Can't you just go yourselves? What use would I be?" Chen Mo shook his head, declining. He didn't really want to get mixed up in this.

"Mo-ge, just help us this once. If you do, we'll each give you another silver coin afterward." Ma Cai gritted his teeth and said.

"Well..." Chen Mo hesitated slightly. Two silver coins was no small amount—it could buy plenty of meat and help him build up his blood and qi faster.

"Mo-ge, if you help us, we'll be brothers from now on. And I'll tell you a piece of good news you definitely don't know." Ma Cai's face turned serious.

This matter wasn't something he should casually tell others, but he couldn't afford to care too much now.

If Chen Mo was willing to help him, then he could tell him. If not, then forget it.

Besides, he knew that even if he didn't say it now, everyone would know in two months anyway.

"What news?" Chen Mo was quite interested.

Ma Cai's family had some connections, so the good news he mentioned probably wasn't a lie.