Bu Er remembered that the bundle contained a jar, but he had no idea what was inside it.
He pricked up his ears and listened closely, hearing Jiang Zhizhou say to the Northern Liang guards outside, "This humble fellow was thinking of how hard you soldiers work, so I prepared this little token especially for you. I hope you'll accept it."
Then the Northern Liang guards took the bundle and opened it to inspect its contents. Whatever Jiang Zhizhou said next sent them into a roar of laughter.
After laughing, they clapped Jiang Zhizhou on the shoulder a couple of times. "For this thoughtful gift alone, we brothers have to let you through."
The carriage wheels began rolling forward again. A little while later, Yang Qing and Bu Er heard Jiang Zhizhou say outside, "We've passed the Northern Liang checkpoint."
At that, Bu Er immediately sprang out of the carriage and sat beside Jiang Zhizhou.
"Young Master Jiang, what trick did you use just now to get those Northern Liang soldiers to let the three of us through so readily?"
Jiang Zhizhou turned and smiled at him. "An ancestral secret recipe, never shared with outsiders."
Bu Er snorted and returned to the carriage, crestfallen.
Seeing his displeasure, Yang Qing smiled. "Young Master Jiang was only teasing. Even if he doesn't say what was in that bundle, I know."
Bu Er's eyes lit up at Yang Qing's words. "Young master, is that really true?"
"Of course it is. There was nothing in that bundle but a jar of wine."
"A jar of wine? Then why did those men cling to it as though they'd found treasure?" Bu Er sounded unconvinced.
"The treasure was in the wine, naturally. But even if I explained it now, you wouldn't understand."
"Young Master Jiang was