Chen Ji silently gazed at the handful of yellow soil and ashes on the ground, pinching the corner of the yellow paper talisman in his hand.
Whose talisman could this be... Bai Long? Not sure.
Chen Ji had seen yellow paper talismans in Bai Long’s hands before, but Bai Long was not the only Executive Officer using yellow paper talismans; ng Ji used them, Dao Court used them, and all branches and scattered lineages of Executive Officers would need to use yellow paper talismans.
However, for so reason, he felt in the dark that the owner of this yellow paper talisman must be Bai Long.
When he first arrived in Guyuan, the post officers ntioned that the Spy Departnt had withdrawn due to the hardship here... which was illogical in itself.
How could such a spy-infested city lack the crucial presence of the Spy Departnt? Each spy was mad for rits, as if they were insane, wishing to capture Jing Dynasty spies every day; there should have been a large number of Spies around!
Originally, the Ritual Supervision let go of Jiao Tu and Yun Yang to lower the guards of the Liu Family.
Isn’t the current situation in Guyuan strikingly similar to before?
When Chen Ji realized "it might be" Bai Long behind this, his heart couldn’t help but sink.
He instinctively surveyed his surroundings, worried that when he turned his head, he’d catch Mr. Feng watching him from afar with a half-smile.
Fortunately, that was not the case.
But there was another question: Who exactly killed thirty-four mbers of the Chen family?
Was it Bai Long? Certainly not.
If it weren’t for the border army delivering mutton that day, Chen Ji and the others might have been affected too; Bai Long had finally managed to infiltrate him back into the Chen family, why would he kill him then?
If it wasn’t Bai Long, then who could it be?
Who would benefit from killing the Chen family?
The border army, Jing Dynasty spies, the Crown Prince...
While pondering, footsteps ca from outside the alley, and soone said from afar, "Honorable soldiers, the wails just now ca from this direction, they were quite bone-chilling!"
An old leader, followed by a group of border soldiers, walked briskly towards them. As they turned the corner, they only saw ashes on the ground, Chen Ji had vanished.
The border soldiers squatted down, picked up so of the yellow earth, and rubbed it closely in front of their eyes: "It’s ash from bones."
Another was puzzled: "Ash from bones? But that can’t be right, burning a person on firewood for a day might not even reduce them to ashes."
Chen Ji road the streets, stopping here and there, looking up at the signs until he saw the three big characters of "Yuancao Hall," then stepped into the shop.
Deer antlers, bear bile, bear paws, snow frog ovaries, ginseng smuggled from the North through Changbai Mountain to Dragon Hua in Eastern Capital Road, then transported to Zhongjing Road, and finally down Western Capital Road to Fengsheng State, entering Guyuan.
They were ultimately delivered to this Yuancao Hall for various agents and rchants to choose from.
As Chen Ji crossed the threshold, he saw a familiar figure wearing a young lamb skin coat with a striking section of leopard sleeve, standing at the counter talking with the Shopkeeper.
Third Master Hu!
Chen Ji heard Third Master Hu, with his back towards him, speak calmly, "Shopkeeper, Guyuan has been besieged by the Heavenly Strategy Army, and the city will fall soon; your ginseng’s not worth much now."
The Shopkeeper smiled unperturbed, "Third Elder, you know how I ca to own Yuancao Hall. Even if the Jing Dynasty breaks in, I have acquaintances that can speak for . I don’t know about others, but Yuancao Hall will certainly be fine."
Third Master Hu stroked the stubble on his chin, then said, "Leaving aside the city’s fall, we still don’t know how long the Jing Dynasty will besiege Guyuan. Now that the granary is burned, everyone lacks grain. Everyone is rushing to buy grain; they won’t co here for your ginseng. Why don’t you sell it all to for a cheaper price?"
The Shopkeeper’s smile was both sly and displeased, "Third Elder, we’ve known each other for years; there’s no need for empty words. Guyuan is isolated and on the brink of invasion at any mont; plenty of officials will want to buy ginseng to improve their realm, why would I sell it cheap to you?"
Chen Ji slightly furrowed his brow; Third Master Hu had co to the sa conclusion as him — with people competing, the price would naturally soar.
He did not approach, just silently listened from behind.
Then, he heard Third Master Hu saying, "Having mixed in Guyuan for so many years, I naturally know what’s expensive and what’s cheap at this ti. For an official to digest a piece of ginseng takes at least five days of refinent; after five days, Guyuan might already have fallen. What’s the use of rushing at the last minute? Moreover, one or two pieces of ginseng won’t elevate one’s realm much. Shopkeeper, whoever has grain in hand is now the boss; ginseng won’t fetch a high price."
The Shopkeeper raised his eyebrows, "Even so, the price you ntioned earlier for ordinary wild ginseng at eight taels per catty and fifty-year-old ginseng at ten taels a piece, I simply cannot accept such. Even if it all burns, I will not sell that cheaply; you agree, right? Third Elder, you are a respected figure in Guyuan, surely you would not force a sale?"
Third Master Hu smiled and said, "Harmony brings wealth. No need to be so harsh, Shopkeeper; you wouldn’t burn those ginsengs. If you think my price is too low, how about trading for grain? Your Yuancao Hall feeds over a hundred people, and more than thirty of your family need to eat. If you run out of grain, your seven precious sons and over ten rooms of treasured concubines will all starve."
The Shopkeeper smiled slightly, "There’s no need for Third Elder to worry about that."
"Oh?" Third Master Hu asked with interest, "It seems the Shopkeeper has hidden so grain; did the border army not search thoroughly enough?"
The Shopkeeper shook his head, "Third Elder, you don’t need to probe; I’m planning to let my whole family starve to death."
Third Master Hu laughed out loud, then said with cupped fist, "Then I won’t bother you further, I’ll ask again in ten days."
The Shopkeeper casually returned the gesture, "Third Elder, please feel free."
As Third Master Hu turned around, he saw Chen Ji standing not far away. He was slightly taken aback, then pretended not to recognize him and left.
The shopkeeper smiled and looked towards Chen Ji: "Guest, what do you need?"
Chen Ji asked, "How much for fifty-year-old ginseng?"
The shopkeeper held up three fingers: "Thirty silver taels each, fair deal for young and old."
Chen Ji turned around and left, the price was so high there was no need to bargain.
He stepped out of the door, inconspicuously turned into an alley, quietly waited at the corner, and slowly drew a short knife from his sleeve.
The next mont, Third Master Hu turned into the alley, and Chen Ji pressed the short knife against the other’s neck, calmly asking, "Third Master, why are you following ?"
Third Master Hu slowly raised his hands, smiling, "Don’t worry, I an no harm."
Chen Ji was puzzled, given the stature of Third Master Hu in the Jianghu, his martial realm must be high. Ordinary executive officers, no matter how familiar, would not casually entrust their lives to another.
Yet, here was Third Master Hu, showing no resistance, allowing the short knife to press against his neck.
Chen Ji thought for a mont but did not lower the knife: "Third Master, what do you want with ?"
Third Master Hu looked at Chen Ji with his one good eye: "You also want to buy ginseng? For cultivation? What is your current strength realm?"
Chen Ji was confounded by this series of questions: "Why does Third Master care about these matters?"
After a mont of silence, Third Master Hu said, "If you want to buy ginseng, I can help you."
Chen Ji sized up Third Master Hu: "Isn’t Third Master also looking to buy ginseng? Why help ?"
Third Master Hu chuckled: "I’ve traveled far and wide and have many chances to buy cheap ginseng. If you’re in a hurry, I’ll let you have it first, just consider it a good deed."
Chen Ji hesitated, the kindness of strangers always warranted vigilance.
Third Master Hu was undisturbed by his wariness and bluntly asked, "How much ginseng do you want to buy?"
Chen Ji gripped the knife handle tightly: "How much ginseng is there in Yuancao Hall?"
Third Master Hu pondered: "There’s quite a bit; there are thousands of pounds of ordinary wild ginseng, and I fear there might also be six to seven hundred pieces of fifty-year-old ginseng, all waiting to be shipped to the heartland of Ning Dynasty after the spring."
Chen Ji replied, "I want all the fifty-year-old ginseng and above, but his price is too high, I can’t afford it."
Third Master Hu’s pupils shrank: "What do you need so much for? Although old ginseng is good, one must follow a gradual approach. You can slice the ginseng into thirty portions, each with two slices in the morning, noon, and evening to steam and drink, but you mustn’t strive for quick success and instant benefit, lest your ridians can’t handle it."
Chen Ji remained silent.
Seeing that Chen Ji did not reply, Third Master Hu eased his voice: "Since you want to buy it, I’ll help you. Co back to Yuancao Hall after five days, and you’ll get what you want. Rember, pretend not to know then."
With that, he slowly backed away, his neck gradually moving away from the short knife.
Once he left the alley and quickly walked away, Chen Ji was left full of doubts: Could it be that in the past, unbeknownst to , I had saved the life of one of Third Master Hu’s relatives?
But what does Third Master Hu want with so much ginseng? It wasn’t for the money, for if it were for profit, selling grain would be more profitable than selling ginseng.
Behind Third Master Hu, there were many executive officers who needed ginseng for cultivation!
...
...
Chen Ji returned to Dragon Gate Inn, lifted the heavy cotton curtain, and saw several middle-aged n with bundles anxiously huddled by the counter: "Shopkeeper, hurry and help us leave Guyuan, we can’t stay here for a mont longer."
The shopkeeper leisurely said, "You all know the rules of Dragon Gate Inn for sending people away, right?"
The middle-aged n patted the bundles on their backs: "Understand! Understand!"
The shopkeeper glanced sideways at one of them: "Seventh Brother Li, as far as I rember, didn’t you have a wife here in Guyuan? Aren’t you taking her with you?"
Seventh Brother Li shrank his neck: "She can’t bear children, why bother taking her with ? With money, I can find a wife anywhere."
The shopkeeper fiddled with the abacus beads at hand: "I think you just don’t want to give the extra two hundred silver taels, you stingy thing; you’ve made so much but grudge spending two hundred taels to buy your wife’s life?"
Seventh Brother Li defiantly said, "Why is Second Master ddling in my family affairs now?"
The shopkeeper smiled: "Fine, I won’t. Go stay in the ’Ren’ word barrack room, I’ll send you off the day after tomorrow."
Seventh Brother Li was stunned: "Why the ’Ren’ word room? Even a ’Di’ word room would be okay."
The shopkeeper impatiently said, "The ’Di’ word rooms are all full, and the ’Ren’ word barrack room just beca available last night. You staying or not? If not, get lost."
Seventh Brother Li hurriedly stuffed a string of Buddhist Treasure into the shopkeeper’s hands: "Staying, staying... can I at least get so food? Even bran rice is fine, I really can’t stand the hunger."
The shopkeeper scoffed: "Dragon Gate Inn has no surplus food either, fend for yourself. You’re so tight-fisted; if desperate, nibble on your own foot skin."
Chen Ji: "..."
At that mont, Wang Gui ca from the back courtyard holding a tray with over ten yellow millet buns.
He saw Chen Ji coming face to face, turned around in a panic, worried Chen Ji would see what he was holding.
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