By nightfall, all the lamps were lit, and Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin finally ca out of their room.
Song Chongjin’s deanor had softened considerably, and his lips were slightly curled up, his eyes never leaving Wang Yongzhu.
No matter how composed Wang Yongzhu tried to be, being watched like that by Song Chongjin made her face flush, especially in front of so many people.
Taking advantage of the mont no one noticed, she pinched Song Chongjin’s waist hard.
Song Chongjin winced, realizing Yongzhu was embarrassed and angry. If he truly upset her, he might have to sleep on the floor tonight.
So he could only try to rein himself in a bit.
Two tables were set up for dinner, one for Song Chongjin and his wife, Old Granny Zhang, Jinhoo, and Jian Huaifeng, and the other for everyone else.
Jian Huaifeng, knowing their nature, took one glance at the couple, then stroked his beard and smiled.
Old Granny Zhang could also tell; the young couple had stayed in the room all afternoon, who knows what private words they exchanged?
Seeing how the son-in-law’s eyes revolved around her daughter, and noticing her own daughter’s calm deanor but blushing ears, she knew she was still shy.
They had all been young once; who wouldn’t have an inkling of the situation?
Old Granny Zhang pretended not to notice and called everyone over to eat.
Only Jinhoo, being young, didn’t notice anything and was still feeling a bit down.
Last night, he, along with several won including Old Granny Zhang, was locked in the cabin, hearing only screams outside and a faint sll of blood, which was terrifying.
Once the bandits were captured and the Green Camp Army took over, stabilizing the situation, soone let them out.
Upon leaving the cabin, Yao Da and the others blocked them from going onto the deck.
But Jinhoo, having experienced the bandits and worried about his aunt and the others, seized the opportunity when Yao Da wasn’t paying attention and sneaked up.
Only to be t with an overwhelming stench of blood, even stepping in it unnoticed, sticky and wet...
Unable to hold it in, he ran to the side of the ship and vomited until he felt dizzy.
Just after finishing vomiting and turning around, he saw Green Camp soldiers dragging corpses with severed limbs right past him, the cold, stiff bodies brushing against his leg, making him faint.
When he woke up today, it was almost noon.
His clothes had been changed, and when he ca out, the deck was already clean, as if nothing had happened.
They had sailed out of Tiger Leaping Gorge, surrounded by familiar rchant ships, making yesterday’s events feel like a nightmare.
Still young, the shock left him feeling dispirited and with little appetite.
So Wang Yongzhu instructed Old Madam Ding to make the als lighter for the next few days, refraining from serving at to avoid stimulating those who couldn’t eat because of it.
Though Old Madam Ding hadn’t seen the horrifying scenes outside, she’d heard a few things from the sailors while cooking, so scared she didn’t dare to cut at or fish, settling for two tables of purely vegetarian dishes.
All the fresh vegetables ca as tributes from nearby rchant ships.
There were freshly picked water chestnuts, lotus seeds peeled of their skins, and slices of crisp tender lotus root stir-fried with red peppers, all fresh and tasty.
There was also cold bitter gourd, fresh green loofah stir-fried with egg, winter lon braised with dried shrimp, finely chopped green beans with dried chilies, fresh and appetizingly spicy.
Old Madam Ding’s specialty pickles, green beans, radishes, and green peppers were fished out and placed on a plate, best served with rice.
Finally, a big bowl of mung bean soup was served. Drinking a bowl with the river breeze, the sumr heat dissipated all at once.
Jian Huaifeng ate with endless praise, even calling for a pot of wine.
Song Xiaoyin and the others, accustod to eating at in large chunks, suddenly faced with a table full of vegetarian dishes, felt utterly uninterested, thinking this was ant for rabbits rather than humans!
Especially seeing Jian Huaifeng praising the food and still enjoying the wine, they exchanged confused looks.
Unable to understand how these scholarly types could enjoy consuming what looked like a table of grass.
After finishing with a few bites, they excused themselves, heading to the sailors to ask for a few pounds of at to fill their stomachs.
On this side, Wang Yongzhu and the others were almost done eating; Old Madam Ding and the others efficiently cleared the table, leaving so dishes for Jian Huaifeng to enjoy with his drink before retreating.
Jian Huaifeng, being a scholar and about the sa age as Old Granny Zhang, was thus an outsider. Old Granny Zhang, avoiding arousing suspicion, retired early to rest.
Only Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin stayed with Jian Huaifeng.
A few cups of wine in, Jian Huaifeng seed a little tipsy, pointing at the moon, ready to recite a poem.
Below, Song Xiaoyin inadvertently glanced at the rear of the ship, his eyes suddenly sharp, signaling everyone to be on guard.
He quickly ran to report to Song Chongjin, "Sir, a small boat is approaching from behind, it looks like a Green Camp Army boat."
Jian Huaifeng and Song Chongjin exchanged a look.
Jian Huaifeng sipped the last of his wine, stood up: "They have co." showing no signs of drunkenness, very sober.
Wang Yongzhu imdiately realized that the arrival of the Green Camp Army was sothing Jian Huaifeng and Song Chongjin had anticipated.
Sure enough, no sooner had they thought it than Song Xiaowu reported that Commander Dong had sent soone to report on the bandit-suppression follow-up to Song Chongjin.
Song Chongjin signaled to have the person brought up.
In walked soone, despite the hot weather, cloaked from head to toe.
After entering, he knelt to salute Song Chongjin, raising a letter over his head with both hands: "This is a handwritten letter from our commander."
Song Chongjin nodded, gesturing for Song Xiaoyin to take it.
Jian Huaifeng then invited the ssenger to have tea on the side with Song Xiaowu.
Song Chongjin had no need for discretion; everyone in the room was trustworthy.
He opened the letter directly, allowing Wang Yongzhu beside him to see it all.
The letter was brief, stating they had raided the water bandits’ lair, found the cave where Boss Hou hoarded gold and silver, and had quite a haul.
It also ntioned that the suppression of the Hupao Gorge water bandits was largely due to Song Chongjin’s efforts, and they would certainly morialize the imperial court to credit him.
The letter concluded with a gesture of goodwill, asking Song Chongjin to kindly accept a token of appreciation.
Once Song Chongjin finished reading the letter, the ssenger clapped his hands, and Song Xiaomao and Song Xiaowei, with four soldiers carrying boxes, stepped forward.
The Green Camp soldiers placed two boxes in the center, quietly retreating afterward.
The ssenger also got up to take his leave.
Jian Huaifeng and the others wisely stood to see him out, all exiting and shutting the door behind them.
In the room, only Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu remained.
They exchanged a look, and Song Chongjin stepped forward to open the two boxes.
Imdiately, the room was filled with the brilliance of treasures.
One box was completely filled with Snowflake Silver Ingots.
The other contained various gold ingots and jewels.
"What’s this?" Wang Yongzhu looked at Song Chongjin.
Song Chongjin circled the boxes twice, a cold smile on his lips: "These must be the items confiscated from the water bandits’ hideout. Sending these is to silence , to stop from speaking out, to prevent from stealing their glory—"
"So, they an for the credit in suppressing the bandits to be theirs?" Wang Yongzhu began to understand.
"Exactly, it’s an understood rule for everyone. Those noble sons go to the border to gild themselves; as long as they don’t ss up or slow things down, with so silver, any accomplishnts would be reported as theirs. Stay there for two years, accumulate enough rit, and they can be reassigned back."
"These noble sons don’t lack silver, while the border soldiers lack it. Knowing they have no hope of promotion, they exchange their accomplishnts for silver to support their families, a mutually accepted deal."
"Only now, it’s reversed; our lord achieved primary rit, and they wish to share in it, naturally needing to offer rewards in hand." Jian Huaifeng spoke, having returned after sending off the Green Camp Army, chiming in as he overheard, offering an explanation.
Wang Yongzhu fully understood.
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