Little Stepmother

The proprietor of the caravan was still in a corner, bowing and negotiating with the gate captain.

Uncle Rong Kui frowned and called out to Xu Yuan, "Wait a moment, let's see what's going on."

The caravan proprietor adhered to the principle of "being kind to others when traveling," accepting their ten coins and even inviting them to eat with the caravan members at noon, with two flatbreads and a bowl of soup made from dried meat for each person.

Xu Yuan also waited with them.

Before long, the proprietor was impatiently waved back by the captain.

As the proprietor passed by, Uncle Rong Kui asked, "Didn't you settle it?"

The proprietor glanced at the captain, hesitated, and shook his head, "Tomorrow... we'll see."

Outside the city walls were several inns catering to such caravans. There was no need to worry about not having a place to stay for the night.

Uncle Rong Kui understood immediately and cursed, "These scoundrels are breaking the rules again."

The proprietor sighed, "When you're out on the road, it's best to endure if you can..."

Uncle Rong Kui grabbed him, "Come with me!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa..." The proprietor didn't want to go. He could accept losing some profit on this trip, as he would be traveling this road again. If he truly offended the captain, he would be harassed on every future trip.

But Uncle Rong Kui's grip was incredibly strong. He dragged the proprietor in front of the captain and unceremoniously threw his waist token down, "Open your dog eyes and look! You dare to trouble my father-in-law?"

The captain took the token and saw it was from the Monster Extermination Army. He immediately trembled, his arrogant attitude completely changing. He bowed and scraped, returning the token with both hands, "My lord, I was blind! Rest assured, from now on, your father-in-law will pass through here without paying a single coin!"

The position on this waist token was "General Banner Officer," not one of the common soldiers from the Monster Extermination Battalion.

The Monster Extermination Army was responsible for gathering intelligence and eliminating traitors.

And who was deemed a traitor was up to them, wasn't it?

You say you're not a traitor?

Come, come, come, and experience the 108 torture instruments of our Monster Extermination Thousand Household Office.

"Hmph!" Uncle Rong Kui snorted coldly, "That's more like it."

The captain hastily kicked and shoved his subordinates, urging them, "Get moving, clear the way for this lord."

Then he personally ran to the front of the caravan, directing the drivers to enter the city gate.

The entire caravan was astonished, never expecting that the two people they picked up would be such important figures.

The proprietor had been doing business in Huangming for twenty years, and this was the first time he had entered the city without spending a single coin!

The captain and his men, standing behind the city gate archway, kept bowing and waving, seeing off Uncle Rong Kui and the caravan.

After turning a corner where the captain and his men were no longer visible, Uncle Rong Kui waved his hand, "Alright, we part ways here."

Uncle Rong Kui grabbed Xu Yuan and was about to leave. The proprietor hurriedly said, "My lord, I do indeed have a daughter, just reaching her prime..."

Uncle Rong Kui cursed loudly, "Get lost! I helped you out, and you actually think you can be my father-in-law!"

The proprietor bowed deeply on the roadside, gratefully bidding them farewell.

Uncle Rong Kui, feeling smug, secretly observed Xu Yuan's reaction.

He certainly hadn't helped out of pure kindness, or rather, kindness only accounted for thirty percent at most.

Xu Yuan, however, looked indifferent. He said to Uncle Rong Kui, "We should part ways here as well. I'm going home. My home is cramped and has no room for guests, so I won't be inviting Uncle Rong Kui over."

With that, Xu Yuan cupped his hands again and turned to leave.

Uncle Rong Kui quickly called out to him, "Aren't you going to reconsider?"

Xu Yuan turned back again and said solemnly, "Uncle Rong Kui, the Monster Extermination Army is very impressive, I saw that.

You said that following my second uncle would lead to a good future and a high salary, and I believe you. But I truly do not wish to join the Monster Extermination Army, so please don't waste your effort.

I am going home now, and you should not follow me—my Stepmother has a bad temper, and I don't dare provoke her. I advise you not to do so either."

Xu Yuan turned and left again, "That's all I have to say."

Uncle Rong Kui watched his resolute back from behind, opened his mouth, and finally slapped his thigh in dejection.

He oriented himself and headed towards a local freight station.

That was also a covert outpost of the Monster Extermination Army. Since Xu Yuan was unwilling to join, Uncle Rong Kui had already had Widow Yang send a message out last night. Now, Uncle Rong Kui could only wait for further instructions from his old brother and new superior.

Xu Yuan had seriously considered whether or not to join the Monster Extermination Army.

It seemed that his second uncle had made a name for himself. Joining the Monster Extermination Army and using his second uncle's influence to solve his family's "difficulties" appeared to be a good option.

However, Uncle Rong Kui first observed him in secret, and after discovering his capabilities, he seemed very eager.

This made Xu Yuan hesitant.

Xu Yuan had never met his second uncle since he could remember.

How much familial affection could such a relative have for him?

Why had he suddenly come looking for him? Was it pure kindness to "bestow favor" upon him... or was there some dangerous task that just happened to require someone with the identity of a "nephew" to undertake?

Xu Yuan actually didn't want to get a definitive answer.

That was his own uncle, his father's only brother.

Even if they didn't know the answer, they were still relatives.

Shanhe County wasn't large. Xu Yuan had grown up here, familiar with every street and alley... as well as the low walls and dog holes that could be used for shortcuts.

In less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Xu Yuan was standing at the east entrance of River Worker Alley.

The alley was roughly shaped like a "concave" character, with an entrance on the east and west sides. Seven or eight families lived inside.

The two families at the very back were the Xu family and Old Master Shen's family, who sold dog-skin plasters.

Old Master Shen had always been proud of his dog-skin plasters, claiming they were incredibly effective, so "good wine needs no bush."

At the two alley entrances, the east side had Uncle Mao Si's carpentry shop, and the west side had Aunt Wang's stew shop.

The carpentry shop's door was locked tight; Uncle Mao Si was probably out on a job.

Xu Yuan entered the alley, his footsteps involuntarily quickening.

He went all the way to his home's entrance—a small gate.

The stage's entrance was the main gate, located in the center of the "concave" shape, only opened when a play was being performed.

Xu Yuan pushed the door open and went inside.

Creak—

The sound of the wooden door startled a young woman in the courtyard. She wore a blue cotton padded jacket over a faded, starched apron, her sleeves rolled up to reveal two sections of arms as white as lotus root, and she was washing clothes in the courtyard.

Her black hair was styled in a "falling horse" bun, making her fair and delicate face appear even more radiant. She looked no older than twenty. Hearing the sound, she turned her head toward the doorway. Seeing that it was Xu Yuan, a wave of surprise surged into her ink-dark eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

Xu Yuan also saw his Stepmother.

The afternoon sun lazily stretched over the west wall, casting its light by the well on the east side.

A wooden basin rested by the well's edge, with a washboard placed inside. As his Stepmother turned to look at him, a few strands of hair fell from her forehead, catching the sunlight and appearing almost translucent.

The moment she saw him, her red lips parted slightly. Surprise, astonishment, and confusion flickered across her bright eyes, finally settling into a hint of doubt: "Did Qiao Zi'ang kick you out?"

She stood up with a "swish," her height almost matching Xu Yuan's.

The scholars of Huangming still favored the trend of "thin horses," and she clearly didn't fit that sickly aesthetic.

But she was agile and capable, with a heroic and spirited demeanor, much like the row of bamboo by the wall behind her—verdant and upright.

The woman abruptly dropped the half-wrung garment back into the wooden basin, splashing up a wave of soapy water.

"I'll go argue with him!" she declared, picking up the washboard.

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More tonight.