Chapter 23: Eliminating the Bandit Threat

So, Zhou Yu discussed a grain exchange with Uncle Chen Jiu:

“We’ll trade with you for the same quantity of grain. The new grain you’ve harvested can be kept for others as seed grain. What do you think?

“Strictly speaking, Tongshu Village is at a disadvantage here. But these are extraordinary times, and I can only ask you to bear some hardship for now.

“In the future, I’ll definitely find other ways to make it up to you.”

“That’s not necessary,” Uncle Chen Jiu said with a hearty laugh, waving his hand. “I may be old, but I’m not senile!

“You’re a good official! In these times, being able to get grain for us common folks—who knows how much effort that took!

“Besides, I know full well, during this autumn harvest, if it hadn’t been for you, we might not have even been able to reclaim this grain!

“When we first planted, people were always trying to sabotage us. If we hadn’t had villagers guarding the fields day and night, I fear even the seeds would’ve been dug up and eaten.

“Even with all that, we had several brutal fights. When they saw we were willing to risk our lives—and the nearby villages also started planting—they finally backed off.

“But now that it’s harvest time, the sneaky ones are coming in droves again.”

At this point, Uncle Chen Jiu let out a long sigh.

“Before the drought, there were no bandits around here. You’d have to cross several mountain ranges to find any—at least a hundred li away from us.

“But ever since the drought broke out, people have changed.

“A whole bunch of desperate people suddenly appeared.

“Who doesn’t want to live? But some choose to kill and eat others, while some wait quietly to starve to death?

“In times of disaster, people’s true natures are revealed.

“These kinds of people, who live with death hanging at their waistbands, fear nothing and are capable of anything.

“To tell you the truth, when Yingzi first found An’an, she was immediately targeted by bandits who tried to attack them in the middle of the night.

“I’m sure, Master Zhou, you know how in times of famine, heartless scum especially love children like An’an and young women like Yingzi.

“Let alone the fact that the Zhao family also has a boy, Huzi.

“That household consists of nothing but women and children…

“Fortunately, the Zhao family must have accumulated great merit in their ancestry. Those two bandits didn’t succeed that night—and even ended up injured.”

Zhou Yu’s heart clenched. If he had arrived at Tongshu Village earlier, would the Zhao family have been spared the harassment of those bandits?

Uncle Chen Jiu continued, “There was more to that incident. I originally wanted the villagers to drag the bandits out and dump them somewhere.

“But unexpectedly, two unfamiliar faces blended into the crowd and carried them away.

“I’m old, with an empty stomach and light sleep, so I woke up to a strong smell of meat.”

At this, Uncle Chen Jiu’s face twisted with both disgust and fear. His voice trembled:

“It was the smell of human flesh!”

Zhou Yu’s face turned stone cold. He asked in a hard voice, “Do you know where these bandits are hiding?”

“I only know the general direction,” Uncle Chen Jiu brightened up, “Are you planning to wipe them out?”

Zhou Yu’s expression was as cold as frost. “If I didn’t know, that would be one thing. But now that I do, there’s no way I can let such violent criminals go unpunished.”

Uncle Chen Jiu was overjoyed. He immediately dropped to his knees and prepared to kowtow:

“Then you are doing a great deed! I thank you on behalf of all the villagers!”

These bandits were a constant threat. Honest farmers like them only wanted to diligently till the land, but those bastards would never let them live in peace.

Zhou Yu quickly reached out and helped him up.

“Ninth Grandpa!” came Zhao Hu’s voice from outside the courtyard. He was carrying the beautiful baby girl, An’an, in his arms.

This uncle and niece had been playing in their own yard when An’an accidentally turned on the surveillance and saw Zhou Yu talking with Uncle Chen Jiu. She then insisted on going out to “play” and led Zhao Hu this way.

Uncle Chen Jiu beamed and called out, “Come, come! Come on in! I just ground some walnut paste—perfect for An’an to try!”

An’an’s brows curved adorably, and her soft pink lips opened to form a clear, crisp, “Grandpa.”

Uncle Chen Jiu was overjoyed. “Oh my! An’an can talk already?”

“She knows how to call people,” Zhao Hu said with a touch of envy, “but her pronunciation is still a little unclear.”

Zhou Yu intercepted An’an midway, scooping her gently into his arms. Smiling, he asked, “What about me?”

An’an tilted her head to study him for a moment, then mumbled a soft “Uncle.”

Zhou Yu’s eyes relaxed into a gentle smile. He reached into his robe and took out a white jade peace charm the size of a coin, carefully tying it around An’an’s neck. He said to Zhao Hu:

“The string is a bit worn. Ask your mother or sister to redo the knot when you get home.”

Zhao Hu quickly declined, “This is too valuable!” He hadn’t seen many treasures in his life, but even he could tell this was no ordinary item.

Zhou Yu smiled calmly, “It’s nothing. I feel a connection with this child—it’s just a small token.”

Uncle Chen Jiu, shrewd from age, turned his eyes with a glint and chuckled:

“You silly boy! This is fate between An’an and the master—what’s it got to do with you?”

An’an: Today’s my lucky day!

She had just gotten a 0.01 earlier on the way, and now she got another 0.01!

And both were from the same person!

As for the jade? Sure, it was nice. But once her energy was restored, she could have as many as she wanted! Worst case, she’d just return double the value to the handsome uncle in the future!

Zhao Hu wasn’t good with words and didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Uncle Chen Jiu dragged him toward the house, talking about the walnut paste as they walked.

Once inside, he lowered his voice:

“You really live up to the name Huzi! Always charging ahead like a tiger!

“Do you know what kind of man Lord Zhou is? Now that you’ve formed a bond with him, your family—your widowed mother, frail sister, and this little girl—will have someone to look out for them!

“Your mother is getting older by the year, your sister is skinny as a beanpole, and An’an is still so small. Can you, a half-grown boy, really protect all three of them?

“Your Grandpa Ninth here is already half buried in the ground. Even if I wanted to care for you all longer, I probably couldn’t manage it.

“Now that such a powerful protector is right in front of you, aren’t you going to hold on tight?”

Zhao Hu remained silent.

Uncle Chen Jiu directed him to reheat the now-cooled walnut paste. Once it was warm, he scooped out two bowls—one for Zhou Yu, and one for An’an.

Walnut paste was made by grinding walnut kernels into powder and boiling them with water. It was milky white with a tinge of brown, giving off a distinct aroma and a hint of bitterness.

Zhou Yu had drunk walnut beverages before. But back then, the chef had used the finest walnuts, carefully peeled off the skins, ground them with milk, simmered, and then strained the mixture thoroughly.

They’d even add osmanthus, rose petals, or icing sugar according to the master’s taste.

This coarse version was a first for him.

But when he looked tenderly at An’an, he suddenly felt a pang of sadness. This might be the first time in her life she had eaten something like this.

He scooped up a spoonful, blew it gently to cool, and carefully fed it to An’an.

An’an ate it happily—and gained another 0.01 of energy.