In the Hebei East Road during winter, the bark and vegetation have all been dug up due to the previous influx of refugees, making the area appear even more desolate and barren.
However, at least the previous panic had subsided, and the main road was bustling and lively.
In a small town not far from Daming Prefecture, a temple fair was being held, attracting people from afar and nearby who came to sell and buy daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and various mountain goods for winter.
"Business is tough."
"Nowadays, life isn't easy."
"Yes, we just had a turmoil."
Several woodcutters squatting at the city gate warmed their hands while waiting for business and chatting among themselves.
Among them, a man in his thirties was very silent.
"You've got a lot of firewood there, brother," someone struck up a conversation.
The man acknowledged with a sound, looking shy.
"I've never seen you before, brother." Another woodcutter craned his neck, asking curiously.
This town wasn't big, and the group of woodcutters selling firewood coming and going were always the same people, somewhat familiar with each other.
"Oh, it's my first time here," the unfamiliar man said.
The people on both sides laughed, all too familiar with the local accent.
"Weidian?" the previous person asked.
The unfamiliar man nodded in acknowledgment.
"You've got too much firewood there," someone commented enthusiastically. "You shouldn't have chopped so much. If it gets damp, it's worth less."
"But then again, you never know. I heard someone is buying a lot of firewood these days," another said. "De Sheng Chang from Daming Prefecture."
That was certainly a wealthy family, and everyone became curious.
"What would someone like De Sheng Chang need with so much firewood?"
"Besides cooking, they don't burn wood; they use charcoal."
For these people who lived from hand to mouth, the life of the wealthy was unimaginable.
"It's actually quite funny," the person said, gesturing for everyone to gather closer.
The man from Weidian, also quite curious, squeezed in.
"You've all heard about De Sheng Chang's family division, right?"
Some had heard, some were unaware. After all, they never had the chance to deal with money businesses in their lifetime.
The person briefly recounted the situation.
"So now, the people of the Miss are dividing the money business in Daming Prefecture with the people of the Young Master. They're all experienced, skilled, and cunning. Young Master deliberately bought firewood to heat the place to hasten their departure. The whole house was filled with smoke, everyone coughing non-stop, absolutely hilarious."
Indeed, it was quite funny.
"It's embarrassing to let it get like this."
"What do you know, even brothers settle accounts clearly. The rich are very clear-cut."
They laughed and chatted until the sound of hooves stopped beside them.
"Hey, how much firewood do you have? I'll take it all," asked a haughty male voice simultaneously.
Could it be...?
The woodcutters looked over in disbelief.
"But you have to deliver it a bit far, to the De Sheng Chang in Daming Prefecture," the man said. "Of course, you'll be separately compensated for the delivery."
It really was De Sheng Chang. They hit the jackpot. The woodcutters immediately started bustling, hurriedly responding and packing up their firewood.
Daming Prefecture was now much more strictly guarded than before. Even the managers of De Sheng Chang, who used to stride right in, had to undergo checks, and these woodcutters were no exception. Their firewood got jabbed and prodded with long spears.
"Aren't we not at war anymore? Why so strict?" one woodcutter couldn't help but ask quietly.
"You guys don't know?" whispered a fellow citizen who was also being checked. "The Duke of Chengguo rebelled and fled in fear. They're all being sought now."
The name of the Duke of Chengguo was known to everyone, and the woodcutters' eyes widened.
"How could the Duke of Chengguo rebel?" they blurted out.
The surrounding people quickly signaled them to be quiet.
"You want to die? You want to be grabbed as accomplices?" they whispered sharply.
The woodcutters fell silent, not daring to speak loudly, looking terrified.
"But how could the Duke of Chengguo rebel?" someone couldn't help but mutter softly.
This was not a question but a denial.
This statement left everyone silent for a moment, as the Duke of Chengguo was seen as a god by the people of the northern lands.
"How would we know about things above us," someone sighed softly.
"Alright, enough talk, let's go into the city," urged the people behind, "mind your own business."
For these ordinary folks, it was hard enough just to live, let alone concern themselves with such major affairs.
The gloom at the city gate quickly dissipated upon seeing the words "De Sheng Chang."
"I say, Weidian man, you've hit the jackpot this time," someone remarked, looking at the man with the highest and biggest pile of firewood among them.
The man gave a simple, shy smile. Though he said nothing, his eyes sparkled.
"Where are you from?" the manager of De Sheng Chang asked casually while watching them carry the wood into the compound, seemingly making small talk.
The woodcutters answered one by one, and when it was this man's turn, he glanced at the manager of De Sheng Chang.
"Weidian," he said, pausing, "my wife's family is from Runan."
Country folk often fell silent when nervous, but some talked too much. The mention of his wife's origin didn't surprise the manager, who just responded with an "Oh."
The man lowered his head, carrying his firewood, ready to proceed, but the manager raised his voice again.
"You have a lot of firewood here," he observed, "quite strong, aren't you?"
The man sheepishly grinned.
The manager pointed inside.
"Just right, there's a lot of firewood inside. You go help carry it into the house," he instructed. "I'll pay you extra."
It was indeed a good job. Other woodcutters looked at the man with envy as he thanked them, carrying the wood into the inner courtyard with a servant.
The courtyard was smoky indeed. The back courtyard was slightly better, where an elderly man in brocade robes sat under the veranda, drinking tea.
"It's still quiet here. I almost got smoked to death. These people can bear it without leaving," he complained to the servant standing in front of him, "go sell more wood, burn it, burn hard."
The servant boy responded with a smile, and the old man took a sip of tea as he saw the man walk in.
"Master Zhou asked him to come in and move the firewood," the clerk introduced.
The old man scrutinized the man.
The man bowed his head, appearing somewhat nervous.
"Do you like playing chess, old man?" he suddenly asked, biting the bullet.
Is this just chitchat? The clerks found it amusing.
The old man also chuckled.
"You rural folks know how to play chess?" he asked, pausing for a moment, "Have you heard of pig chess?"
What kind of chess is pig chess?
The clerks laughed again, as there was no such thing as pig chess. The old shopkeeper was just teasing the country folk.
"I've heard of it," the man lifted his head and said earnestly, "it's something the Runan people from my wife's family play."
Really?
The clerks were a bit surprised, and the old shopkeeper laughed heartily.
"Yes, yes, it's indeed a game from over there," he said, waving his hand, "off you go, get to work."
The man walked away as instructed.
"Do your best; this money is a reward for you to buy some liquor," the old shopkeeper called after him, casually throwing the money bag from his waist.
The money bag landed at the man's feet, and he seemed too startled to pick it up, so a clerk picked it up and stuffed it into his hands.
"Our shopkeeper's gesture, don't hesitate to take it," he said indifferently.
For a woodcutter, a bag of silver coins was a lot, but to De Sheng Chang's old shopkeeper, it was no more than sand.
The man thanked them repeatedly as he accepted it, his simple face unable to conceal a smile, which remained as he left De Sheng Chang.
The fellow woodcutters looked enviously at the heavy money bag hanging from his waist.
This time, he earned the most money, but there was no help for it; the man worked hard for it.
The checkpoint at the city gate was still strict, and they didn't relax even for those leaving the city, checking each one carefully. Apart from money, the people didn't bring anything else out, and the money had no issues since it was earned from selling firewood.
The guards quickly waved them through.
The man didn't walk far with the other woodcutters, saying he was going to visit a relative before parting ways. Since they were mere acquaintances, no one thought much of it, and they each went their way.
The man walked along the road with his head bowed, continuing until dusk, when he entered a village and went directly into a courtyard.
Inside the house, a lamp was lit, and the sound of a woman weaving click-clacked, sounding as peaceful and serene as all village households.
The man pushed open the door and entered. Inside the small house, a dozen people were sitting or stationed, and the door was shut behind him.
"Big brother, I got it," the man excitedly said to a full-bearded man with his head down among them, holding up the money bag.
The bearded man looked up, his complexion somewhat haggard, yet his eyes were youthful and bright.
"Did it work?" he asked.
"Yes, De Sheng Chang's claim that they needed firewood was indeed waiting for you," the man said excitedly, "what you told me to say matched exactly, as if it was prearranged."
That's right, the saying that minds are naturally in sync wasn't just empty talk.
The bearded man's face broke into a smile, as he removed his beard, revealing Zhu Zan's bright and radiant face.
"Was it her arrangement?" he asked.
The man shook his head.
"No mention of a person, and I don't know if it was Miss Jun's arrangement," he said quietly.
The smile on Zhu Zan's face dimmed but then he nodded.
"That kid is quite clever," he muttered to himself, "but she's still impressive; if it weren't for her, that boy would certainly catch me to cash in."
Indeed, that Young Master Fang kid would definitely do just that, he's essentially a ruthless person.
He was silent for a moment, for no news was good news. He bucked up and reached out his hand.
The silver coins were emptied onto the table, and a few men pinched the broken silver. After a moment, several pieces of the broken silver cracked open, revealing hollow interiors. Instead of anger at being deceived, there was excitement among them, as they pulled out small slips of paper from within.
By the light, they could see the slips were covered with place names and directions.
The slips of paper were spread out on the table, densely packed with at least a dozen.
Zhu Zan stood in front of the table, fingers brushing over each slip, then lifted his hand.
"Let's go, get the money," he said, taking up a slip himself and heading straight out.
The remaining men, just like him, each picked up a slip and left the house in single file, vanishing into the night.
At dawn, several horse-drawn carriages drove to the four city gates of Daming Prefecture.
Upon seeing De Sheng Chang's mark on the carriages, the guard soldiers had no doubts and opened the gates, teasing slightly as they did.
"Finally couldn't stand the stench and left?" one city guard joked.
The lead manager of De Sheng Chang chuckled and shook his head.
"Couldn't stand it anymore," he said, "this will about do it though."
The city guard shook his head.
"The richer they are, the more they nitpick," he said.
The manager went up and handed him a heavy money bag, which the city guard accepted without hesitation.
"But checks must still be done," he said solemnly.
The manager smiled, stepping aside.
"Naturally, sir. When you check, we are cleared, making travel and work convenient," he said.
The general waved a hand, and the waiting soldiers with long spears stepped forward, opening the carriages to reveal piles of shining silver bricks. Squinting at the glare, they resisted blinking while poking their swords and spears through the silver bricks.
Packed so full, it couldn't even fit a fly, let alone hide a person, the general waved his hand impatiently, and the soldiers retrieved their weapons and stepped back.
"Go on," the general said.
The manager smiled, bowed in thanks, and jumped onto the carriage.
"Off we go, to deliver the money," he shouted.
The general watched the carriages trundle heavily out of the gate, shaking his head with a sneer.
"So happy about delivering money," he said, ignoring the scene as he solemnly and vigilantly patrolled inside and outside the city gate, "stay alert, if you spot Duke Chengguo's family, show no mercy."