Chapter 45

“Did you really agree to Wenliang’s request?”

After Ji Wanglan and Ji Wenliang left, Taoyu couldn’t help but ask Huo Shu.

Wenliang was quite a bit younger than her, just turning sixteen this year, and he was the youngest son of her seventh uncle.

When her grandparents were still alive, and her father was still living at home as a child, he was closest to his seventh uncle among the siblings. Even after the family split up, they stayed in close contact.

Her seventh uncle’s family had a son and a ‘ge’er’ (a term used for male children with feminine attributes in some Chinese contexts), and later they had Wenliang. It was said that initially, when her seventh uncle’s branch didn’t have a son for a long time, he wanted to bring Wenliang into his household to raise.

Her parents didn’t agree, feeling that although her seventh uncle’s family wasn’t wealthy, they could still raise their children. Sending a child away would be too heartbreaking.

Though the adoption didn’t happen, both families treated each other’s children as their own.

Huo Shu said, “Didn’t you say you liked Wenliang, that he was upright and ambitious? It’s a good thing he has the courage to go out and see the world. Why wouldn’t I agree?”

“Age is not a barrier. I joined the army at fifteen and was on the battlefield killing enemies by sixteen. At his age, going out to see the world is not too early.”

Ji Yangzong said, “Huo Lang is right. Since your seventh uncle and little seventh uncle agreed, let him go out and see.”

“You know your seventh uncle has some lingering health issues from his younger days and can’t do much heavy work now. Even though the family hasn’t split, Wenxian has taken on the role of the head of the household, and the entire family looks to him.”

“But your cousin Wenxian broke his leg last year and has been half-recovering ever since. They also had another child, and Wenliang is of age to be betrothed, which all costs money. Times are tight.”

Ji Yangzong sighed, “Your sister-in-law has been hardworking and uncomplaining for years, but now she wants to separate the family. Wenliang feels like a burden and wants to make something of himself.”

Taoyu fell silent. Every family has its difficulties, mostly revolving around the trivialities of daily life.

They say having many children brings blessings. While more children mean a flourishing family, it also brings more trouble.

“For now, let’s settle it this way.”

Ji Yangzong continued, “By the way, how was your trip to the city to look at goods today?”

“We’ve found what we need and the price is fair,” Taoyu said with a smile.

“That’s good.”

Ji Yangzong nodded in relief, then took out a small bundle and handed it to them. “Starting a business requires money. Your mother and I can’t offer much support, but take this. If it’s not enough, let us know, and we’ll think of something together with your uncles.”

“Father, we have money.”

“Take it.”

Ji Yangzong stuffed the money into Taoyu’s arms. “You used to pester me for money, but now that you have Huo Lang’s money, you’re being polite to your parents.”

“Your mother and I only have you. Whether you take it now or later, it’s all the same.”

Holding the money, Taoyu felt a warm sensation in her heart.

“Then I won’t be polite.”

After finishing their chores and returning to their room, Taoyu was very tired.

She took off her clothes and lay on the bed. When she opened the purse Ji Yangzong had given her, she saw fifty taels of silver inside and felt a surge of energy.

“Father and mother really went all out for our business, giving us so much!”

Although it was nothing compared to Huo Shu’s money, it was a significant amount for an average family. Her father, though a village head, only received a small stipend from the county office, which wasn’t much, just a few hundred copper coins a month. During festivals, they received some rice, flour, salt, and oil, saving a lot on expenses.

However, over the years, their salary and festival gifts had decreased. Taoyu didn’t know if it was because the county officials were skimming off the top or if the court was really cutting costs.

Their savings mainly came from their land and forests.

Fifty taels of silver was the most their family could support, given they still needed to live. They couldn’t drain all their savings for the business.

Speaking of money, their family had various sources of income: the county office stipend, gifts from the villagers, and their land and forests. With only one child to support, they were quite well-off compared to other families in the area, with a total savings of about a hundred taels.

How did Huo Shu save so much money?

She glanced at Huo Shu, who was sitting by the candlelight, trimming his nails. After a long while, he still wasn’t done.

“Are you preparing for a beauty contest by trimming your nails so neatly?”

“Almost done.”

After putting the silver away, Taoyu returned to the bed and saw that Huo Shu had finally finished. She wanted to check Huo Shu’s hands but remembered something more important.

She suspiciously looked at Huo Shu, who was about to get into bed.

“How did you make your money? I’ve asked several times, but you never tell me. If you don’t tell me today, I won’t let you up here.”

Huo Shu looked at Taoyu, who was blocking the bed with her arms, raised an eyebrow, and with one swift motion, picked her up and put her in the bed.

“You’re as naive as a mantis trying to stop a chariot.”

Taoyu, frustrated, kicked Huo Shu. Someday, when she built up her strength, she’d show him.

Huo Shu grabbed Taoyu’s kicking foot and held it at his waist.

He looked at Taoyu, who lay on the bed with her collar slightly open, revealing a hint of her collarbone. Despite being very tempting, she seemed unaware of it.

“This position is dangerous.”

“Let go, I’m freezing.”

Taoyu tried to pull her foot back into the blanket, but Huo Shu suddenly leaned over.

Instantly, Taoyu was enveloped by Huo Shu’s strong, sharp scent. This body could completely cover her.

Like a mountain falling, Taoyu felt suffocated and lightly pushed Huo Shu.

With Huo Shu’s legs pressing down on hers, the discomfort and shame made her blush.

“You’re crushing me.”

Huo Shu listened to the soft voice in his ear and said, “Why do you blush so easily?”

Always either red-eyed or red-faced.

Taoyu, looking at Huo Shu up close, couldn’t resist touching his sharply defined nose. “Not everyone is as thick-skinned as you.”

Huo Shu’s nose felt itchy from the touch. He grabbed Taoyu’s hand, which often caused trouble.

“Want to try again tonight?”

Taoyu, completely restrained and unable to resist, felt like a fish on the chopping board, ready to be sliced.

This only made her feel even more indescribable.

Her face grew hotter. She couldn’t refuse.

“Are you going to use what the doctor gave again…”

Without a word, Huo Shu got up.

Taoyu, relieved of the pressure, let out a sigh, not just because Huo Shu had lifted off her, but because he would still use the item from the doctor.

Even though she often thought about completing the deed, when it came to the real thing, she couldn’t help but hesitate.

Huo Shu was really…

Her thoughts were interrupted as Huo Shu returned.

Feeling a big hand tugging at her pants, Taoyu quickly grabbed Huo Shu’s hand. “Aren’t you going to warm it up?”

“It’s warm.”

Taoyu didn’t understand what he meant at first, but later realized why Huo Shu had been trimming his nails so meticulously.

This was even more embarrassing than using the jade instrument.

She never thought it could be done this way.

Just like a floating duckweed, she was at the mercy of the water’s flow.

If her pain sensitivity was doubled, then her pleasure… cough~

Taoyu bit her lip, trying her best not to make a sound.

The next day, when Taoyu woke up, her legs felt so weak they seemed glued to the bed. She had to use her hands to move them.

She lifted the curtain and saw Huo Shu entering with breakfast.

“What are we having today?” Taoyu asked, realizing her voice was terribly hoarse.

The memory of the previous night made her close her mouth in embarrassment.

“Dumplings, with lamb filling,” Huo Shu replied. He noticed the sparkle in Taoyu’s eyes as she sat on the bed, struggling to get down.

Some things just couldn’t rely on external objects; they required personal effort for true satisfaction.

He grabbed a thick, plush coat, wrapped her in it, and carried her to the table.

Taoyu looked at the plump dumplings in the bowl, very pleased. She picked up a spoon, ready to taste one, but noticed there was only one bowl. She looked at Huo Shu. “Aren’t you eating?”

“I’ve already eaten.”

Huo Shu opened the window slightly. The sun was out today, casting its light on the window lattice.

The room, with its closed doors and windows, was so quiet that Taoyu didn’t realize it was already mid-morning.

“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?”

Huo Shu sat opposite her. “Your parents are hosting guests today. They left early and told me to bring you over for lunch.”

Thinking about how they were busy yesterday and slept late, he let her sleep in.

Taoyu, relieved that her parents had already left, bit into the delicious dumplings.

The filling was well-seasoned, and the broth was a rich lamb stock.

The dumplings must have been made by her mother, and the broth prepared the day before. Huo Shu must have cooked the dumplings just now.

Even though it was just boiling them in broth, requiring no special culinary skill, it was the first time Huo Shu had cooked for her, making the food particularly tasty.

Watching Huo Shu quietly as he ate, Taoyu asked, “You still haven’t told me how you saved so much money.”

Seeing her persistence, Huo Shu knew she wouldn’t be at ease until she got an answer.

“Do you really want to know?”

Taoyu nodded eagerly. “Of course!”

Huo Shu’s eyes darkened slightly. “Do you know how ordinary soldiers get promoted in the army?”

Taoyu wasn’t familiar with military affairs and didn’t know why Huo Shu brought it up. “By bravely killing enemies, right?”

“That’s right, but on the battlefield, where swords clash, who can constantly witness your bravery? You need evidence to prove your courage.”

Taoyu nodded. “Yes, but how do you prove it?”

Huo Shu said two words quietly, “By counting heads.”

Low-ranking soldiers in the army were promoted based on the number of enemy heads they collected. They carried the heads with them through countless battles. Once they accumulated a certain number, they could be promoted from low-ranking soldiers to higher ranks.

To climb further, one needed both enemy heads and military achievements.

Taoyu’s mouth opened, and suddenly the dumplings in her bowl seemed tasteless.

She knew war was brutal, but she hadn’t realized how harsh it truly was on the battlefield.

Some scholars looked down on military officials who built their careers on martial achievements, thinking it was easier than studying hard. They didn’t understand that failing an exam could be tried again, but on the battlefield, one mistake could cost a life, leaving no second chances.

“I was young and ambitious, wanting to climb the ranks. But the court was corrupt, and the military even more so.”

Huo Shu, having killed countless enemies and distinguished himself, quickly rose to a higher rank among his peers.

In his youthful arrogance, he believed that bravery and fighting would be enough to succeed, until he met a superior who relied on connections rather than ability, stepping over more capable people.

Around him were many who bought their positions, hiring soldiers to kill for them and presenting the heads for promotion.

He realized then that true fairness was rare.

Huo Shu spent years as a high-ranking soldier but, lacking connections, saw his positions repeatedly taken by those who cut corners.

Such experiences wore down his edges.

He wasn’t someone who stubbornly refused to adapt. Realizing that without connections, his skills alone would make him a stepping stone for others, he knew he needed either money or rank.

“That’s why I accepted money whenever offered in the army.”

Huo Shu looked at the silent Taoyu and sighed. “It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you, but you grew up in a place like Tongzhou. It’s hard for you to accept these things.”

Ordinary soldiers didn’t earn money. Even those with minor ranks received only small stipends and occasional rewards for military achievements.

On the front lines, survival was difficult enough. Saving money required some strategy.

Taoyu bit her lip, feeling conflicted.

On the battlefield, lives were as cheap as grass. It was kill or be killed, and no one could blame the soldiers for their ruthlessness.

But hearing about buying and selling lives for military achievements still shocked her.

The saying “better a peaceful dog than a chaotic person” made sense now.

If the world were at peace, such brutal practices would be less common.

“I understand.”

“Finish your dumplings,” Huo Shu urged.

Taoyu picked up her spoon, the dumplings now a reminder of the harsh realities of war and survival.

---

Huo Shu gently stroked Taoyu’s hair.

“It’s getting late. After breakfast, we should head over.”

Taoyu responded with a nod.

When they arrived, Ji Yangkai’s home was already bustling with people.

Most of the family was there: Ji’s siblings, their children, and sons-in-law. Even with just a fraction of the family present, the courtyard was half full. If everyone were to gather, there would be dozens of people.

“Liuliu, it’s not right for you to make your family sign life-and-death agreements. Your third sister has always doted on you, and she always thinks of you first. How could you use the village head’s strict rules on your own family? Don’t blame me for being angry.”

Ji Yangkai stood in the courtyard with Ji Wanglan by his side. It was clear she had complained to him after feeling slighted yesterday.

This morning, Ji Yangkai tried to reason with him. “Yuan Fei will be here today too. I’ll make the decision. Let him and your son-in-law go out and venture together. They can support each other. How about it?”

Ji Yangzong saw the duo’s routine of teaming up, just as they had when they were kids. He felt his anger rise, but considering the family’s rare gathering, he decided against causing a scene. Crossing his arms, he remained silent.

“Uncle, Third Aunt,” Taoyu greeted as she stepped forward.

“You’re here,” Ji Yangkai responded, quickly changing the subject as soon as he saw Huo Shu. He knew Huo Shu was tough and wouldn’t engage in the earlier conversation. “Go inside and have some fruit. Your cousins are chatting in there.”

Taoyu smiled and agreed, but she didn’t move. Instead, she said, “It’s been a while since I came to visit, Uncle. How is the work crew you’ve been leading? I heard from Pear Brother that the crew went to the county to build some structures. He said the scenery was beautiful, and it sounded fascinating. Uncle, you’re amazing!”

“Taoge is so considerate, always asking about family,” Ji Yangkai replied, beaming. “It’s all going well. Just a small project in the county. We built a house for a merchant, and he recommended us to his relatives there.”

Taoyu, smiling, turned to Ji Wanglan. “Third Aunt, you mentioned yesterday that Cousin Yuan Fei was looking for work. It’s not safe out there. It would be hard for him to manage so far from home and also take care of the family.”

“If he could work under Uncle’s crew, he could stay close to home, learn the trade, and still travel a bit for work. He might even meet a good girl who’d want to come back with him.”

“Don’t you think so, Third Aunt?” Taoyu asked.

Ji Yangzong quickly chimed in, “That’s a good idea. If Yuan Fei goes far with Huo Shu, even if he meets a suitable girl on the road, they might not want to settle down due to the instability of a trader’s life.”

“If he stays local, he won’t be going far. Maybe girls would prefer him being near the capital.”

Ji Wanglan, focused on her son’s marriage prospects, found the idea appealing. “Brother, why don’t you let Yuan Fei join your crew?”

“With you watching over him, he wouldn’t dare misbehave.”

Ji Yangzong added, “I think it’s settled, Brother. Don’t you agree?”

Ji Yangkai coughed. “I’m not sure it’s appropriate. We already have enough people, and I just had to let go of a couple of long-time workers at the end of last year. Work has been scarce these past two years.”

Before Ji Wanglan could speak, Ji Yangzong replied, “The more hands, the better. How can there be too many people? Even if we have enough, having a couple more family members won’t hurt. He’s your nephew, not an outsider.”

Using Ji Wanglan’s own words from yesterday, Ji Yangzong threw them back at his brother.

Ji Wanglan, finding the argument convincing, said, “Yes, Brother. You can’t just leave Yuan Fei’s marriage prospects hanging.”

“I did find him work before, but he quit in less than a month. The crew’s work is hard, and he couldn’t handle it.”

“But that was someone else’s job. He’ll be motivated with family. You watching over him will ensure he works hard.”

Seeing Ji Wanglan pressuring her brother, Ji Yangzong felt satisfied. Now his brother could taste his own medicine, instead of always ordering others around.

“Brother, you used to dote on Third Sister. Don’t tell me you’ve changed just because she’s married.”

Given the situation, Ji Yangkai had no choice but to agree. “Alright, we’ll try it. We’ll discuss the details later.”

After having lunch at Ji Yangkai’s, Ji Yangzong couldn’t help but laugh as they headed home.

“Now your uncle has trouble on his hands. Yuan Fei is lazy. Keeping him in the crew will be a headache. Now he knows what it’s like to be pestered.”

Taoyu, full from the meal, swung Huo Shu’s hand back and forth.

As they reached the gate, they heard Da Niu call out.

“Someone’s here.”

“Who is it?” Ji Yangzong asked.

“Looking for the son-in-law,” Da Niu replied.

Huo Shu’s eyebrows twitched.

“Is it someone looking for you?”

“Probably Ge Liang,” Huo Shu replied, quickening his pace.

To his surprise, it was Fang He waiting in the courtyard.

“Brother Huo, happy new year,” Fang He greeted with a smile, carrying some gifts for the New Year and greeting everyone.

“What brings you here?” Huo Shu asked.

Fang He didn’t respond immediately.

Ji Yangzong said, “Take your guest to the main room. Have some tea.”

Huo Shu nodded.

Since their last meeting at the butcher’s shop, Huo Shu hadn’t seen Fang He.

Leading him to the main hall, they sat, and Da Niu brought tea.

“How have you been?”

“Good. My master realized I wasn’t cut out to inherit his craft. He seemed to have come to terms with it.”

“After my engagement with Qiao’er, he told me not to worry about the shop and to focus on my own business. We’ll get married in March when it warms up.”

Huo Shu nodded. “That’s great news. You have a knack for business. Your family’s shop will thrive with you.”

It was only a matter of time before Qiao the Butcher came to understand Fang He’s talents. With a supportive family and a willingness to work hard, Fang He would be an excellent match for any woman.

“Brother Huo, I hope you can come to our wedding banquet.”

“Of course,” Huo Shu replied.

Fang He continued, “I didn’t just come to invite you to the wedding. I heard from my master that you’re planning a trading trip up north. Is it true?”

“It is. We have the team and route planned, leaving in a couple of months.”

Fang He said, “I have a proposal. My family deals in tea, and we recently acquired a new plantation. We have a surplus of tea.”

“I was wondering if you’d be interested in taking some tea north. We’ve known each other for a while, and we can work out a favorable deal.”

Huo Shu considered the offer. “Your family’s tea is known for its quality. Taking some north could be beneficial for both of us.”

“Great! I’ll discuss the details with you later,” Fang He said, relieved.

Huo Shu knew this partnership could be mutually beneficial and was eager to see where it would lead.