One Cart, One Horse, and Home Again

Chapter 24: One Cart, One Horse, and Home Again

"But Fifth Uncle is still waiting for news, and your aunt is home alone..." Zi Jian hesitated.

"Didn't the old man give us carrier pigeons? I'll send one back in a little while to let them know."

"No need," Luo Qianshan said. "I'll pick a strong rider from the camp and have him gallop back with your letter. You can tell me anything else you need passed along, too."

Luo Qianshan knew his current task was to make sure Zi Bofeng had no worries weighing on him, so he could focus on his work. Letting him act a little brazenly was no big deal. Keeping Zi Jian in his hands and getting a little closer to him would help keep Zi Bofeng under control. The boy was as sly as a fox, but his father was an honest man.

"Then thank you, General." Zi Jian hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

Once Little Stone returned, rubbing his belly and frowning, Luo Qianshan arranged lodging for Zi Jian and the others. It was one of the Prefect's properties, where Luo Qianshan usually stayed himself. Aside from one personal guard, no one else lived there. There were three empty rooms, so Zi Bofeng, Zi Jian, and Little Stone each had one, while Zhuzi and his mother shared the third.

After taking care of the odds and ends, Zi Bofeng went to work that afternoon under Luo Qianshan's constant prodding. Little Stone, worn out from playing, was soon fast asleep, snoring away.

Zhuzi made sure his mother was looked after, then found Zi Jian and burst into tears.

"Big Brother, the doctor said my mother won't live past this summer..."

"Zhuzi... Zhuzi..." Zi Jian wanted to comfort him, but didn't know what to say.

Could any of the world's many hardships ever be changed by human effort? If Zi Bofeng hadn't argued his case and spared Lower Yan Village a calamity, how many would have failed to live past this summer—not just Zhuzi's mother?

"Good people are blessed by Heaven, Zhuzi. There's always a way..." Even Zi Jian felt how feeble his comfort sounded, but he had no choice but to say it anyway.

Zhuzi still took his mother home. They had stayed in the city for many days, and her illness hadn't been cured, but they had spent nearly all their money. Zhuzi's mother refused to continue treatment, insisting that if they didn't go home, she would die right there in front of him.

At last, Zi Bofeng finished the job. Though a large number of accountants had been assigned to help him, he had still worked until both his eyes were as red as a rabbit's.

On the day Zi Bofeng left, the Prefect came in person to see him off. An official post station's carriage stood nearby. The Prefect took Zi Bofeng's hand and said, "Bofeng, why not stay here in the prefecture? You and Qianshan, one civil and one military, could serve as my right and left arms. Then I'd have nothing to worry about."

The Prefect genuinely admired Zi Bofeng. The boy was capable, yet never flaunted himself. Even the several accountants who had helped prepare the accounts couldn't find a problem with the books he had made.

Luo Qianshan? Zi Bofeng tilted his head slightly and looked over the Prefect's shoulder. That fellow was threatening him with his knife again.

"I'd rather go back to being Village Chief. The Emperor is far away, and I can enjoy my freedom." Zi Bofeng smiled. "If Your Excellency feels bad about it, give me some travel money. Life's been hard lately..."

The Prefect was speechless. He shook his head. "Ah, you, Zi Bofeng. Honestly..."

Zi Bofeng had realized that having a reputation for "only telling the truth" was actually pretty nice. He could speak plainly, and no one blamed him for it. After all, everyone knew that was just how he was.

"Look behind you." The Prefect was still holding Zi Bofeng's hand as they spoke off to one side. No one but Luo Qianshan, who attended him closely, dared approach. Zi Bofeng turned and saw a runner handing a bundle to Zi Jian. Zi Jian took it in both hands, and his expression changed as its weight pulled them down.

"I'll be taking the accounts to Quzhou Prefecture the day after tomorrow. I won't be back for at least ten days. Qianshan won't be coming with me. If you need help with anything, send someone to find him. He knows the right people and can handle most ordinary matters for you."

Zi Bofeng glanced sideways toward Luo Qianshan. He was still toying with his knife. The message was obvious: Don't bother me unless you have to—and don't bother me even if you do.

Zi Bofeng decided it would be best not to bother him unless necessary.

Zi Bofeng climbed into the carriage and looked around. Little Stone wasn't there. He looked up and saw him sprinting out through the city gate. There was no doubt about it: Little Stone had gone to say goodbye to Qiu'er. The little fellow's face was filthy, like a painted cat, and Zi Bofeng couldn't tell whether the streaks were tears or sweat. He clutched a wooden figurine. Looking closely, Zi Bofeng saw it was one of the two figures he had carved—not Little Stone's, but Qiu'er's.

"Then I wish Your Excellency swift success." Zi Bofeng cupped his hands in a salute. In the corner of his eye, he spotted Scholar among the crowd, seeing him off. Zi Bofeng had been terribly busy these last few days and had only visited him once. Scholar had offered him many words of encouragement.

He turned and climbed back into the carriage. His father, Zi Jian, was holding a bundle, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as he gripped it so tightly.

Zi Bofeng accepted the payment without a qualm. Here, he was practically a senior accountant. By rights, he should have charged a percentage, so this amount was still on the low side.

The carriage wheels rumbled along. Before long, hoofbeats clopped behind them. Zi Bofeng leaned out the window and saw Luo Qianshan riding after them.

"The Prefect asked me to escort you for a while." Luo Qianshan sat astride his horse in full military dress, a steel saber at his waist and his back ramrod straight, his bearing bold and spirited.

Sitting in the carriage, Zi Bofeng soon grew drowsy. Through his haze, he heard Luo Qianshan shout. The carriage seemed to stop, so Zi Bofeng lifted the curtain and asked the driver, "What's wrong?"

A black stone nearby was shaped like a galloping horse. They had reached the area around Galloping Horse Stone.

"Scholar's awake? A few petty thieves tried to rob us just now. The soldier went after them."

Between Meng City and Lower Yan Village, once they left the main road, there was nothing but barren mountains and wild country, where bandits often lurked. Before, Zi Bofeng and the others had carried nothing worth taking, so no one had bothered to rob them. This time, they were traveling by carriage and looked like they might have plenty of loot, so the bandits had shown up. That was why Luo Qianshan had personally escorted them. Otherwise, the gold and silver the Prefect had given them might have been stolen before they ever got home.

Zi Bofeng looked up and saw Luo Qianshan, alone on horseback, chasing four or five men. When he caught up, his saber flashed, and the one at the back fell to the ground. The others gave a cry and scattered in every direction, fleeing into the woods beside the road.

When Luo Qianshan returned, his saber was already sheathed. He didn't have a speck of blood on him, as if he'd done something trivial. Yet killing intent radiated from him, and the stench of blood came rushing over, making Zi Bofeng's heart give a jolt.

Seeing Zi Bofeng's face turn deathly pale, Luo Qianshan muttered something under his breath, seemingly looking down on him. Then he told the driver, "Let's go. I doubt those thieves will dare come back."

Luo Qianshan's reputation in Meng City was thunderous. As Zi Bofeng put it, the man's combat strength was through the roof; a few petty thieves meant nothing to him.

It was only that Zi Bofeng had never had much to do with him before, so he hadn't really understood him.

The rest of the journey passed without incident. When they reached the village entrance, Luo Qianshan stopped. It wasn't that he refused to enter the village; the entrance was packed shoulder to shoulder with villagers.

There were no slogans, no organization. The villagers had simply jostled their way to the entrance to watch, and Zi Bofeng suddenly felt moved.

The last time he had returned, every household had kept its doors shut. Apart from Yan Wu Shi, there hadn't been a single person to talk to.

This time, the villagers had come to welcome him of their own accord.

The villagers knew what he had done for them. They understood it. Even if they didn't say so, they remembered it in their hearts.

"What are you all staring at? Move along, move along!" Yan Lao Wu came out of the crowd, waving everyone away. The villagers scattered with a whoosh, leaving only Yan Lao Wu and a few others of high standing in the village.

Zi Bofeng rolled his eyes. That old rascal's trying to put me in my place again.

"Hard work, sir! And you too, driver! Come on in and have some water. Let the horses rest as well." Yan Lao Wu greeted them with the air of a host.

Luo Qianshan cupped his hands from atop his horse. "I'm in armor, so I shouldn't dismount. I'm on official business and can't stay long. I'll leave you here, Brother Zi. Take care."

He spoke stiffly, as if he and Zi Bofeng weren't even acquainted.

"Take care, Brother Luo." Zi Bofeng cupped his hands as well. "Thank you for escorting us."

The two of them exchanged stiff, formal thanks. Then Luo Qianshan turned and rode off. The driver hurriedly set the carriage moving after him. He would have liked a drink of water himself, but he had no say in the matter.

Watching Luo Qianshan and the others disappear into the distance, Zi Bofeng turned to look at Lower Yan Village behind him.

It was still run-down and surrounded by barren hills, but somehow it looked far more welcoming than before.

At least here, he no longer felt any hostility. At last, the village had accepted him. He had become a part of it.

Zi Bofeng looked up toward the mountainside. The towering Blue Stone reflected the sunlight, breathing in and out spiritual energy. In the air, the energy formed two characters.

All is well.

"Mm. All is well." Zi Bofeng nodded, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.

Then the smile turned into an open laugh.

Zi Bofeng laughed aloud at the mountains. His voice echoed back from distant peaks. Then the sky laughed, the earth laughed, and the whole world laughed.

Beneath the earth, something seemed to rumble and churn. Even Yan Lao Wu's face turned pale. He flailed about, trying to stop Zi Bofeng. "D-don't... don't laugh anymore..."

He stared at Zi Bofeng in shock, unable to understand how the boy's voice could be so loud.

"I know! It's science!" Little Stone popped out and declared.

"That's right. It's science." Zi Bofeng pinched Little Stone's cheek.

"Mother! Mother!" Little Stone suddenly ran off, skipping with delight.

The Zi father and son looked up and saw Yan Wu Shi hiding behind a tree, covering half her face with one hand and smiling at them through pursed lips.

There had been too many people around before. She hadn't felt comfortable coming over.

"Dad, what are you still looking at? Let's hurry home."

"Right. Home."