Chapter 32 :  She landed securely against the broad chest of the man behind her

Cui Yunzhao was momentarily delighted.

Finding what you seek without much effort is indeed a stroke of luck. It was fortunate that she arrived at the grain shop just as Bau Xiaochuan did.

Cui Yunzhao nodded. Manager Sun was well-informed and calm. He did not ask any questions about the boss’s affairs. He did not care why Cui Yunzhao cared so much about Bau Xiaochuan. He just nodded to the second brother and said, “You are doing very well. Keep watching and report back after General Bau leaves.”

After the young lad left, Cui Yunzhao turned to Manager Sun. “Have the military men been coming these days? I noticed they are not exchanging for new rice but for millet.”

Millet, or yellow rice, is less expensive than japonica rice but still fills the stomach.

Manager Sun smiled and said, “It’s thanks to Lord Huo’s effective management that the military men are behaving this way.”

Although this was a courtesy from Cui Yunzhao, there were no restrictions on what could be exchanged for, and all grains in the shop could be used.

Yet, the military men uniformly exchanged for millet at sixty copper coins per dou, which was surprising at first but soon made sense.

As Manager Sun had said, the troops under Ho Tan were elite and well-trained, showing neither greed nor flattery a rare quality.

Cui Yunzhao nodded with a hint of a smile in her eyes. “You’ve worked hard these days, Manager.”

Manager Sun waved his hand. “I was thinking of accompanying Manager Xia to Fulu. Madam are you considering managing the shop there as well?”

Cui Yunzhao nodded and gave him brief instructions. Just then, the young lad with the round face returned.

“Madam , Manager, that military officer is about to leave.”

Cui Yunzhao signaled him over. “What’s your name?”

The young lad, no more than fourteen or fifteen, was taken aback by the celestial-like presence of Cui Yunzhao and blushed.

“My surname is Wang, and my family calls me Huzi.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled. “Alright, Wang Huzi. I have a task for you. Follow Bau discreetly and observe where he goes. Be careful not to let him notice you.”

Wang Huzi’s eyes brightened, and he promptly said, “Madam , don’t worry. I’ll do it well.”

With that, he dashed off, not waiting for a reward from Cui Yunzhao.

Cui Yunzhao was momentarily stunned and turned to Manager Sun. “He’s quite a sharp kid.”

Manager Sun, who had rarely discussed serious matters with Cui Yunzhao before, felt that she was quite different from before. Her entire demeanor had changed, and it was evident.

He had considered this carefully. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to speak directly to Cui Yunzhao: “Madam, I have a suggestion that I’m not sure whether to make or not.”

As one of the older members of the family, Manager Sun had been in charge since Yin’s time when she allocated the dowry to Cui Yunzhao’s mother. Over the past twenty years, he had grown into middle age, his hair now graying, and the previous madam had long passed away.

With his extensive experience, he had managed to keep the shop thriving despite the chaotic times. Whenever other shopkeeper had questions, they would come to consult him. More importantly, Manager Sun was reliable, not driven by quick gains but rather loyal and dependable.

Cui Yunzhao had great respect for him. Seeing that he had something to say, she responded warmly, “Please, speak your mind.”

Manager Sun poured her a cup of hot tea before continuing, “Madam, with you managing the household and having multiple shops and fields, it’s quite a lot to handle. Even Manager Xia alone can’t oversee everything. If possible, you should consider hiring a general manager. As far as I know, Lord Ho’s household also lacks a general manager.”

Cui Yunzhao thought for a moment and replied, “There is an elder named Ping who manages trivial matters in the household, but he doesn’t seem capable of handling much more. He was once a personal guard of Ho Zhan and stayed on after being injured. Although he knows some characters, he is not adept at managing household affairs.”

Cui Yunzhao reflected on this. When Ho Tan’s family first moved to Fulu, Ho Tan had risen rapidly, but the weaknesses of the Ho family’s thin foundation had become apparent. Both the shops and fields were poorly managed, and Lin Xiu Gu, who didn’t understand these matters, had added to the problems during those two years.

By the time Ho Tan realized the need for proper management, he had already missed countless business opportunities and lost many assets. While these losses were insignificant compared to the final imperial throne, they had greatly affected the family’s early years, making them less prosperous.

It was only now that Cui Yunzhao had considered this, realizing her lack of experience. She said, “I do need a general manager, and I believe Manager Sun would be quite suitable.”

Manager Sun was taken aback. He had initially intended to offer advice on how to manage the family business but hadn’t expected this opportunity to fall on him.

He was about to decline when…

Cui Yunzhao’s eyes lit up with pleasant surprise. It was as if luck was on her side; she had just arrived at the grain shop when Bau Xiaochuan happened to arrive as well.

Nodding, Cui Yunzhao acknowledged Manager Sun’s broad experience and stability. He was well-versed and did not pry into Cui Yunzhao’s concerns about Bau Xiaochuan. Instead, he simply instructed the young attendant, “You did well. Keep an eye on him and report back once General Bau  leaves.”

After the attendant left, Cui Yunzhao turned to Manager Sun and asked, “Have the long-haul troops come by these past few days? I noticed they’re not taking new rice but millet.”

Millet, or yellow rice, is less expensive than japonica rice but still provides sustenance.

Manager Sun smiled and replied, “It’s thanks to Lord Huo’s good management that the troops are acting this way.”

Though Cui Yunzhao had provided this initial gift, there were no restrictions on what the grain could be exchanged for, all grains in the shop were available for trade. However, the troops had uniformly exchanged for millet priced at sixty wen per dou.

Cui Yunzhao was initially surprised but soon understood.

As Manager Sun mentioned, the long-haul troops under Ho Tan were well-trained and disciplined, not greedy or deceitfulan admirable trait.

Cui Yunzhao nodded with a smile in her eyes and said, “You’ve worked hard these past few days.”

Manager Sun waved his hand and added, “I was thinking of accompanying Manager Xia to Fulu. Do you want to consider having that shop managed properly?”

Cui Yunzhao agreed and briefly outlined her thoughts. Just then, the young attendant, Wang Huzhi, returned.

“Madam,” Wang Huzhi said, out of breath, “General Bau has gone to Chunfang Brewery.”

Wang Huzhi, being quick-witted, continued without being prompted, “I saw him secretly. It seems General Bau bought a bottle of wine and then headed towards Liushao Alley.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded and signaled for Li Qing to give Wang Huzhi a reward. Wang Huzhi’s face turned red with embarrassment as he looked towards Manager Sun.

Manager Sun smiled and said, “This is a reward from Madam. Take it.”

Cui Yunzhao did not have Wang Huzhi follow Bau Xiaochuan any further. As an excellent soldier, Bau Xiaochuan would likely notice if followed repeatedly.

With her tasks for the day mostly completed, she left the grain shop and went directly to Chunfang Brewery.

Currently, salt, liquor, tea, and iron were all government-regulated. Any establishment wishing to sell alcohol had to purchase it from the liquor office and pay a tax. Each hundred worth of liquor was taxed three wen.

Chunfang Brewery was one of the top establishments in town. Among its offerings, Taoli Chunfang Brewery’s honey wine was renowned for its sweetness and aroma, made with a blend of alcohol and peach essence.

Although Cui Yunzhao had not been fond of alcohol before, she had heard of this particular wine. The carriage arrived quickly at Chunfang Brewery.

The business was thriving, and besides Taoli Chunfang wine, they also sold Jinling Zui and Bau ling Chun. Bau ling Chun was a local rice wine with a lower price, affordable for ordinary people to try occasionally.

As the carriage stopped at the brewery’s entrance, Cui Yunzhao disembarked and was greeted by a hostess. “Miss, are you here for wine? We have not only beverages but also snacks. Please have a look.”

Being a newcomer to Chunfang Brewery, Cui Yunzhao was met with special attention. After the hostess described all the snacks and drinks, Cui Yunzhao asked, “Do you have any private rooms?”

The hostess was somewhat troubled. Cui Yunzhao’s visit coincided with lunchtime, and the main hall was packed, with all the private rooms fully occupied.

However, as someone experienced in the business, the hostess quickly offered, “Miss, there’s a table in the corner of the main hall. It’s only suitable for two people. How would you like to proceed?”

Cui Yunzhao accepted and went to sit in the corner.

Not knowing what kind of wine Ho Tan liked, she decided to buy a bottle of each type and asked about their prices.

The wines were sold either by the bottle or by the jar. The most expensive was Taoli Chunfang’s honey wine, and the cheapest was Bau ling Zui. A bottle of Taoli Chunfang wine cost about eighty wen, roughly equivalent to the price of new rice.

Since Cui Yunzhao didn’t want to drink wine today, she ordered some snacks to sample.

The snacks were acceptable but leaned towards being quite sweet, likely intended to complement the wine.

Noticing Cui Yunzhao’s friendly demeanor, the hostess engaged her in conversation, even adding, “If you like our wine, you can send someone to buy it in the future. We can deliver it to your home.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded and asked, “Have any soldiers come by to buy wine?”

The hostess paused for a moment before smiling, “You must be asking about your husband?”

Cui Yunzhao blushed and smiled shyly, “I’ve just gotten married and am worried about my husband drinking. That’s why I’m inquiring.”

Her elegant and refined attire made it obvious that she wasn’t of ordinary background. The hostess, quick-witted, assumed she was the wife of a general.

She continued, “Our wine is expensive but mostly sweet. The soldiers don’t prefer it much. They like the strong liquor from the Wulang Store instead of our honey wine.”

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but smile.

“There must be someone who likes it, right?”

The hostess replied, “There is someone who likes it. Just earlier, a soldier came and bought a bottle. He comes to buy once every couple of days, so he must like it.”

Cui Yunzhao exchanged a glance with Li Qing and subtly changed the topic.

After the hostess left, Li Qing whispered, “A bottle of Taoli Chunfang wine costs eighty wen. If someone buys it once every couple of days, even if just ten times a month, it would amount to a whole string of money. How could that person have so much money?”

Cui Yunzhao squinted, sensing something odd about the situation.

The world was indeed strange these days.

Although military generals could change their status through military achievements, most long-haul soldiers lived in considerable poverty.

They fought in battles, risking their lives, and their monthly military pay was only slightly better than that of ordinary people.

Such benefits were exchanged for their lives and blood.

Cui Yunzhao knew that a soldier’s monthly pay was only about three strings of cash.

To cover daily expenses, including food and clothing, would cost at least seventy to eighty wen. If they also had to rent a house, it would be even more challenging.

Spending one-third of their military pay on wine was not something someone like Bau Xiaochuan would typically do.

Cui Yunzhao narrowed her eyes, not saying anything further. She had Li Qing tidy up the wine bottles and snacks, and they prepared to leave.

Just as she was about to get up, she heard a cheerful voice, “Isn’t this Miss Jiu? What brings you here for some wine?”

Cui Yunzhao looked up to see a young and handsome man striding over.

The newcomer was someone Cui Yunzhao had met before. She immediately smiled, “General Lu, it’s a pleasure to see you.”

The visitor was Lu Zixian, the son of General Lu Jiming.

—

Lu Zixian, the eldest son of Lu Jiming, was appointed as the cavalry battalion commander directly due to his family background, without needing to earn his position through military achievements.

A battalion consists of five hundred men, and Lu Zixian’s battalion was one of the five. Ho Tan served under him.

Previously, when General Lu was promoted to the defense commander in Bau ling, the Lu family held a banquet. Cui Yunzhao had accompanied her second aunt to congratulate them.

It was on that day that Cui Yunzhao had met Lu Zixian.

Lu Zixian was relatively open and generous among the junior generals, without the usual dandy habits or predatory behavior. He had a good reputation.

Cui Yunzhao remembered him being polite and courteous when they first met.

Thus, when she saw him now, she stood up and greeted him gracefully.

Lu Zixian gestured towards the wine table with a relaxed smile, “Miss , there’s no need for formality. It’s a chance encounter, so let me treat you to a drink.”

Cui Yunzhao hesitated.

Originally, there had been discussions about a marriage between the Cui and Lu families. However, due to a series of misunderstandings, the Lufamily had no such intentions, and coincidentally, Ho Tan had a past connection with Lu Zixian. In the end, the marriage was settled with Ho Tan.

During the engagement and marriage, there was no significant movement from the defense commander’s household, indicating that they did not care much about the reputation of the Cui family’s daughter.

It was understandable. The Cui family’s most notable reputation was during the Former Han Dynasty. However, with the change of dynasties and frequent wars in the Central Plains, many emperors had come and gone, and no one paid much attention to who the empress was anymore.

Thus, the Cui family’s reputation gradually declined, and the Cui family was no longer what it once was.

marrying a daughter of the Cui family wasn’t particularly enticing.

The Cui family was well aware of this; they did not treat the Cui daughter as a rare gem, and Cui Yunzhao never considered herself to be someone others would deeply yearn for.

Lu Zixian’s swift and unhesitating refusal of the marriage proposal was probably the best proof of this.

Although the marriage did not come to fruition, there had indeed been a story surrounding it, which left Cui Yunzhao feeling somewhat hesitant.

Lu Zixian seemed to misunderstand her hesitation, and after a moment, he realized and laughed, “Miss Cui, there’s no need to worry. That’s all in the past. Moreover, we never even discussed the match formally. Now that you are my brother’s wife, you are like my sister-in-law. Since we’ve met, I should naturally treat you to a drink.”

Cui Yunzhao breathed a sigh of relief.

She smiled and returned to her seat, saying, “At home, I often hear my husband praising General Lu. You are truly an outstanding and honorable person.”

“Since you’re my brother’s wife, it’s only right that I drink to you,” Lu Zixian replied with a grin.

Cui Yunzhao’s beauty was evident.

In the past, she had always been reserved and demure, which sometimes made her seem stiff and uninteresting.

But now, as she chatted and laughed, her charm and brightness flowed naturally, making her smile unforgettable.

Lu Zixian’s gaze deepened as he looked at Cui Yunzhao, lifting his glass with a smile. “Then I shall honor your request.”

Cui Yunzhao took a small sip of her drink, then decided to stand up.

“General Lu, it’s getting late, and I should…”

Before she could finish, Lu Zixian interrupted, “Miss , why are you in such a hurry? I’m not going to bite.”

Lu Zixian looked at her with a gaze that conveyed a strong sense of insistence.

Cui Yunzhao wasn’t particularly fond of this but had to sit back down for the sake of courtesy.

“Is there something you wish to discuss, General Lu?”

Cui Yunzhao broached the subject.

Lu Zixian’s fingers traced the rim of his cup as he spoke quietly.

He kept his eyes lowered, not looking directly at Cui Yunzhao’s face.

“Huo tan is a good general. He’s brave and resourceful, and treats his subordinates with kindness. The soldiers under his command all admire him,” Lu Zixian said, taking a sip of his drink. “He rose through military achievements, while I, on the other hand, am just a privileged son of the family, relying on my father’s influence.”

Lu Zixian’s voice was soft, almost as if he were speaking to himself.

Cui Yunzhao listened quietly.

Lu Zixian continued, “So when Uncle Cui came to discuss the marriage, my father hesitated. For him, I was just…”

useless.”

He seemed somewhat aggrieved and bitter, exuding a sense of despondency.

This Lu Zixian was completely different from the sunny and cheerful person he had been earlier.

Cui Yunzhao felt a bit uncomfortable.

She felt she shouldn’t be listening to Lu Zixian’s grievances, but given his current state, it felt impolite to leave abruptly.

Such behavior would seem disrespectful.

Across the table, Lu Zixian continued to drink, his pale face quickly flushing red and his eyes growing somewhat dazed.

Perhaps it was due to the alcohol, or something else, but his gaze gradually shifted upward, slowly focusing on Cui Yunzhao’s face.

Cui Yunzhao was somewhat displeased.

She slightly turned her head, avoiding direct eye contact with Lu Zixian.

“General Lu, you seem to have had quite a bit to drink.”

Cui Yunzhao’s voice was calm and indifferent.

Lu Zixian suddenly laughed, “Yes, I’m quite drunk.”

His voice lowered, and there was a noticeable bitterness at the corners of his lips. “It’s only when I’m drunk that I dare to say these things normally, I wouldn’t dare to speak a word.”

“Miss Cui, you are from the Cui family of Bo Ling. I’ve heard of your reputation since I was in Qiyang. Everyone said you were a celestial being from the Cui and Yin families, the most beautiful woman in Boling.”

Cui Yunzhao furrowed her brows slightly, her tone indifferent. “I don’t deserve such praise.”

Her cold demeanor immediately caught Lu Zixian’s attention.

His gaze became deep and somewhat intoxicated as it remained fixed on Cui Yunzhao’s face.

“At that time, I was young and didn’t understand what the first beauty was like until I saw you in person.”

“Truly… truly unforgettable.”

His words were indeed excessive.

Cui Yunzhao had never faced such a situation before. She was not pleased and felt Lu Zixian’s remarks were quite inappropriate.

She was now married and a wife to someone else. Lu Zixian’s behavior, taking advantage of alcohol to speak such things, was far from gentlemanly.

Lu Zixian’s eyes even turned red as he spoke.

“Father said I was too naive and lacked martial skills. If I sought to marry a Cui daughter and failed to make a name for myself, I would be ridiculed.”

Lu Zixian lowered his head, as if trying to secretly wipe away tears.

Cui Yunzhao, who had been somewhat displeased, was at a loss for words seeing him cry.

She could only sit there stiffly, waiting for Lu Zixian to either finish his drunken rant or for his personal guards to come and take him away.

take him away.

Leaving a drunken young general alone here could cause trouble for both the Huos and the Cuis if something happened.

Cui Yunzhao exchanged a glance with Li Qing, sighed, and continued to listen to Lu Zixian’s grievances.

“At that time, Huo Tan and my father submitted a petition, saying that Huo Tan had won first place in the previous martial competition. My father agreed to give him a reward. I don’t know where Huo Tan heard about our family’s marriage discussions, but he directly asked my father to use this marriage as the reward.”

Cui Yunzhao had asked Huo Tan about this matter before, and his response was consistent, so she was not very surprised. She remained calm and composed.

Lu Zixian glanced at her, noting her serene expression and composure, seeming indifferent to the origins of the marriage arrangement. He couldn’t help but clench his fists.

He looked down and wiped his face: “Miss Cui, do you find me annoying?”

“Everyone says I lack skill in martial arts and strategy, and am not suited to be a general. I know it myself, but born into a family like this, I have no choice but to be a general.”

Lu Zixian suddenly changed the subject.

Cui Yunzhao shook her head: “General Lu might be too reserved and have no one to confide in. It’s good to let it out with a drink.”

“I’m not familiar with General Lu’s skills, but as the eldest son of General Lu and a prominent figure in Bo ling, you must be capable.”

In military families, promotion doesn’t rely on the imperial examinations or recommendations. The son of a military governor will eventually become a military governor himself.

Common people refer to future military governors as “Yanei” (the official’s family).

Lu Zixian, who seemed to dislike the term “Yanei,” had been venting his frustrations in drunken chatter. Cui Yunzhao made an effort to address him as “General Lu.”

Sure enough, hearing the term “Yanei,” Lu Zixian let out a bitter smile: “Yes, I am just an ‘Yanei.’”

Hearing this, Cui Yunzhao felt uncomfortable.

In this world, how many people struggle alone and strive to survive? Soldiers, farmers, itinerant merchants who among them lives easily?

Lu Zixian, relying solely on his background, had effortlessly risen two ranks above Huo Tan, yet he was still dissatisfied.

It seemed somewhat ungrateful.

Lu Zixian’s gaze fell back on Cui Yunzhao, his tone filled with grievance “I can’t do what I want, and the one I wish to marry…”

Cui Yunzhao abruptly stood up, interrupting his rambling: “General Lu, you’re drunk. I’ll help you find your attendants.”

Lu Zixian seemed to not understand that he had said something wrong. He shook his head and saw Cui Yunzhao was about to leave.

Lu Zixian’s eyes reddened with urgency.

“Miss Cui, why are you leaving?”

Cui Yunzhao lost all patience. After Lu Zixian had said that half-sentence, she could no longer remain quietly seated.

She swiftly circumvented a table and quickly walked towards the door.

However, even though she was moving quickly, Lu Zixian clumsily followed behind her.

Cui Yunzhao did not look back. She reached the entrance of Chunfang Brewery and was about to call for the city guards when she heard Lu Zixian’s voice calling out to her from behind.

“Miss Cui, don’t go, don’t go.”

Cui Yunzhao instinctively tried to move forward, but the next moment, a pair of strong hands grasped her wrist through her sleeve.

Cui Yunzhao was startled and immediately turned around to see Lu Zixian standing right behind her.

While sitting, Lu Zixian’s presence was less noticeable, but now, with them standing one in front of the other, Cui Yunzhao felt his imposing stature and the pressure he exerted.

Even though he was crying and feeling wronged, Lu Zixian was still a young, strong, and imposing general.

Cui Yunzhao was alarmed and instinctively tried to shake off Lu Zixian’s grip.

In broad daylight, Lu Zixian was completely disregarding manners and directly grabbing her.

Cui Yunzhao did not want to cause a scene and attract unwanted attention. She did not speak but tried to free herself from Lu Zixian as quickly as possible.

However, Lu Zixian’s grip was too strong, and Cui Yunzhao could not break free.

Her face darkened with increasing distress.

At this moment, Lu Zixian was drunk and completely unreasonable. In just a moment, people began to notice.

Beside her, Li Qing also appeared anxious.

Lu Zixian seemed oblivious to his own behavior and mumbled, “Miss Cui, I haven’t finished speaking, don’t leave.”

As he spoke, still drunk, he reached out with his other hand towards Cui Yunzhao’s shoulder.

With her right hand restrained and unable to escape, Cui Yunzhao could only dodge backward, ignoring whether she would fall or not, in an attempt to avoid Lu Zixian’s touch.

But she did not fall.

At the moment she was about to topple, a pair of familiar large hands caught her slender waist, ensuring she landed securely against the broad chest of the man behind her.

Immediately after, Lu Zixian’s outstretched hand was firmly seized by someone else.

“General Lu, let go.”

Huo Tan’s commanding voice, filled with authority, swept over Lu Zixian.