Crisis Approaches, the Salt Secret Leaks

Just as the Zhangsun siblings were discussing leaving the Zhangsun residence, a maid came to report from outside the door.

"Miss! The steward says the residence is running a little short of charcoal, so there's none to spare for you. He told you to find a way yourself."

"What?! This is outrageous! What is Zhangsun Anye trying to do?! Does he really think the two of us are so easy to bully?!"

"Brother! Forget it! I'll just use a little less. It doesn't matter."

"No! Your health has never been good, and the weather is so cold now. How could you bear it? I'm going to see him!"

"Brother! Listen to me first! Xiaoyu! You may leave us!"

"Yes! This servant will take her leave!"

"Brother! Going to see him now won't do any good. They clearly don't want us to live comfortably in the Zhangsun family, so why go looking for humiliation?"

"Damn it! I don't want to stay in this place another day!"

No matter how angry Zhangsun Wuji was, it was no use. Just as his sister had said, it was all plain to see.

Whatever Zhangsun Wuji felt about it, laughter was ringing out in Zhangsun Anye's room, where it looked as though a scheme had succeeded.

"You did well. As long as you follow my lead from now on, I won't treat you poorly."

"I have to thank you for your favor, Eldest Young Master. I'll be sure to shoulder more of your burdens in the future."

"Good! Haha..."

Zhang Family Estate

"Lan Xin! What's for dinner today?"

"Master! We're having mutton hotpot."

"It's a world of ice and snow outside, so hotpot sounds good. Let's have that, then. Call that foodie Lan Yun over."

Just as Zhang Sheng and Lan Xin decided on hotpot, Lan Yun heard the commotion and came in. She cried excitedly:

"Are we having hotpot today? Great! I feel like I haven't had it in ages."

"Lan Yun! What did you eat five days ago?"

After hearing what Lan Yun said, Zhang Sheng couldn't help rolling his eyes.

"That was ages ago too!"

"Forget it! I can't win an argument with you. If you want to eat, hurry up and get things ready. Bring some vegetables from the greenhouse too."

"Vegetables! I like those too. I'll go get everything ready!"

With that, Lan Yun skipped out, leaving Zhang Sheng and Lan Xin quite speechless.

"Lan Xin, that sister of yours is beyond help!"

"That's only because you've spoiled her, Master!"

Lan Xin wasn't about to fall for Zhang Sheng's trick. Her sister had become the way she was today entirely because Zhang Sheng had indulged her.

In this era, there was actually very little to eat during the winter apart from meat.

Other green foods were hard to come by, and anything available had been stored in advance and could hardly be called fresh.

Zhang Sheng was different. Thanks to the heaven-defying ability of his Soul Skill, he didn't have to worry about going without fresh vegetables in winter.

On top of that, he had often wandered around the mountains over the years and brought back quite a few ingredients.

He had been particularly excited to discover wild mountain chilies. After all, without chilies to go with them, there would be far fewer delicacies.

After Zhang Sheng sped up their growth and cultivated them, he had also stockpiled some chilies, enough to meet his own needs and those of Blue Silver Village.

As Zhang Sheng and the others ate hotpot and warmed themselves by the fire, they had no idea that a plot against them was quietly taking shape.

"General! Every word I've said is true. If there's so much as half a lie, you may cut off my head."

"Wang Ergou! I'll believe you for now. As long as everything you've said is true, you'll get your share of the benefits when the time comes."

"Thank you, General! Thank you, General!"

"Mm! You may go!"

After the general sent Wang Ergou out, he began to ponder. It wasn't that he disbelieved Wang Ergou.

Besides, he had some confidence in himself. He didn't think Wang Ergou would have the nerve to deceive him.

What he had to consider now was whether to swallow all the benefits himself. But he was afraid the bite would be too big for him, and if it stuck in his throat, he would be in trouble.

At the thought, the general's expression grew uncertain, and a glint of killing intent showed in his eyes.

In the end, however, reason gained the upper hand.

"Someone!"

"General!"

"Ride as fast as you can and deliver my secret letter to Lord Yuwen!"

"Yes!"

In the blink of an eye, another half a month and more had passed. It was now the depths of winter, and people were increasingly hard to find in the wild. Even Blue Silver Village looked desolate.

The wilderness was a boundless expanse of white when a group of dark figures appeared in the distance.

They rode swiftly toward Blue Silver Village. Judging by their murderous air, it was hard to tell whether they were friends or foes.

"Leader! Blue Silver Village is just ahead!"

"Good! Pick up the pace and enter the village."

"Yes!"

There were about thirty or forty people in the group, each on horseback. They quickly reached the gates of Blue Silver Village.

Looking at the gate tower, which stood three zhang high, they couldn't help swallowing.

"The intelligence was true after all. It seems there's an earthshaking secret hidden inside."

There were quite a few of them, so naturally they made a considerable commotion as they approached.

As a result, the defense squad on duty that day soon spotted them.

When the defense squad saw that they were all dressed in fitted martial attire, they knew this was no ordinary group.

They hurried forward and blocked their path.

"Who are you? What business do you have in our Blue Silver Village?"

"Hmph! A mere village dares to build a city wall without permission? Are you planning to rebel?"

"This..."

Faced with their aggressive questioning, the defense squad didn't know how to answer.

After all, rebellion was not something to speak of lightly. It could cost them their heads.

Fortunately, there was someone quick-witted among them.

"Don't stand there spitting blood at us! We built it to defend against bandits and robbers. Besides, who are you? Could it be..."

"Impudent! We are men sent by the imperial court. Hurry up and summon your village chief. I have questions for him."

"This..."

"What do you mean, 'this'? Hurry up and go!"

"Erniu! Go fetch the village chief and the others. Quickly!"

"All right! I'll go right now!"

Although Erniu had gone to fetch the village chief, those who remained didn't dare let their guard down.

Blue Silver Village was their home now, and nothing could be allowed to go wrong.

The group did not make things difficult for the defense squad, instead waiting quietly.

Their faces, however, betrayed no expression, and there was no telling what they were thinking.

Before long, Blue Silver Village's chief, Uncle Dashan, arrived at the gate with Erniu leading the way.

As soon as Uncle Dashan arrived, he saw the tense standoff. He hurried forward to greet them and asked:

"Gentlemen, what business brings you to our Blue Silver Village?"

"You're the chief of Blue Silver Village?"

"I am indeed!"

"Good! Let me ask you: have you been selling salt here without permission? And what's the meaning of this wall?"

"Are you men from the authorities?"

"You could say that!"

"My lord! We've been wrongly accused! We've never sold salt to outsiders here. We eat it all ourselves.

"As for the wall, my lord, what you don't know is that we were attacked by mountain bandits some time ago.

"They gave everyone quite a fright. After we finally managed to drive them off, everyone decided to build a defensive wall for safety."

The leader asking the questions was left somewhat speechless by Uncle Dashan's explanation. Just because of some mountain bandits,

they had built a three-zhang-high city wall around the village. Wasn't that a little absurd?

But all that was secondary. They had come today for the secret recipe for making refined salt that Blue Silver Village possessed.