Chapter 140 Gifts and Regrets
Got it. This is a specialty derivative profession of ancient warfare. You follow the army and pick up bargains. Every time a city is captured, the army will loot the city, and the merchants will set up stalls and prepare money. Some merchants with good reputation don't even need to prepare money. They will just write down your name and address and send the money to your home, and you can cash it out immediately.
This kind of business can be said to be very profitable. After all, few soldiers can appreciate the value of things, and they cannot even estimate the price of jewelry except gold and silver. Whether this pearl hairpin is worth one or one hundred taels is still up to these merchants to decide.
But this is really a case of seeking wealth and fame through danger. Who knows if those bloodthirsty soldiers will suddenly turn around and chop you to death to rob you of your money?
"Brother Gao, this road is very dangerous, be careful."
"I know. I don't have the ability to work alone. I am just leaning against a big tree and getting a share of the benefits. Brother Zhao, I see that you are still alone. If I have the chance this time, why don't I buy you a few high-quality Hu concubines to serve you?"
Zhao Yushu's face immediately changed: "Brother Gao, people trafficking is something that others do. I am powerless and cannot do anything about it, but I hate it deeply."
Gao Xu was stunned for a moment: "I was wrong. I saw that the nobles in the two capitals were surrounded by three or five Hu girls, and I thought everyone had this kind of thing. Okay, I won't mention this matter anymore, don't ruin the relationship between you and me."
The two clinked glasses again. Gao Xu hesitated for a moment and said, "I have another idea. I'd like to ask Brother Zhao to listen to it."
"But it doesn't matter."
"To be honest, this trip to the West is very costly. After all, the things in the Western Regions must be shipped back to the two capitals to be exchanged for money, but the capital must be paid out to the Western Regions. I am a little short of capital. If Brother Zhao is interested, you can consider participating. I promise not to engage in human trafficking. How about that?"
Borrow money? Zhao Yushu hesitated for a moment and asked, "How much does Brother Gao need?"
"Of course the more the better, but too much is not good either. I am just a queue-jumper. If I take too much of the master's share, I am afraid I will not be welcomed. Add my own share, and another two thousand taels will be enough."
Zhao Yushu's heart moved, and he took out three silver notes from his pocket: "Brother Gao, here are three thousand taels, and I have something to ask of you."
Gao Xu took the banknote and said, "There is no need to ask for anything between us. Just tell me what you want."
"I have studied swordsmanship for a while, but I still don't have a weapon that suits me. If Brother Gao encounters a magical weapon in the Western Regions, especially one that can leave some legends in the local area, preferably a sword or dagger, please find a way to inform me."
"Magic weapon?" Gao Xu frowned. "I have no idea now. I can only go to the place to have a look. If the price is right, I will directly let Brother Zhao get it."
The two chatted for a while and said goodbye solemnly. Gao Xu might not be able to come back for a year or two on his journey to the west this time, and the journey was dangerous in the chaos of war, so it might be a farewell forever.
After bidding farewell to Gao Xu, Zhao Yushu returned to the academy alone. A Yao ran over mysteriously and handed over a note with both hands: "A beautiful sister came to see you. You were not here, so she left a note. Now I believe you are not good at that."
Zhao Yushu was so upset that he snatched the post away and said, "Why don't you go home?"
Ah Yao raised his head and said, "Where do I have a home? I have been living with a group of beggars these days. Prince Wang knows that I am your follower, so he arranged a room for me in the academy, together with the servants. From now on, I can live in the academy."
Zhao Yushu opened the post and said, "Hey, we are so familiar with each other, but we are still so formal."
A Yao leaned over to look at the post: "Who is it?"
"It's none of your business, go back to sleep!"
The post was left by Lan Ling. She didn't know that Zhao Yushu had gone out of the city. She brought gifts to the academy today but found nothing. She waited for a long time but only saw Wang Buzhi and A Yao coming back. She chatted with A Yao for a while and then left the post and left.
As for the gift, she definitely would not keep it and insisted on giving it to Lao Zhao personally.
The post stated that it was inconvenient for Lan Ling to come over tomorrow, so he was asked to meet at the government office early tomorrow morning. See you there.
Old Zhao was excited most of the night, wondering what good thing Lan Ling would give him, but why wouldn't it be convenient for her to come tomorrow?
Forget it, there’s no point in thinking too much. I’ll know tomorrow when I ask.
The next morning, Zhao Yushu got up early and went straight to the government office without even having breakfast. The yawning guard looked at him suspiciously and went in to report, leaving him and another guard staring at each other in the slightly cold morning mist.
Not long after, a sound of jogging came from the courtyard, and Lan Ling's maid Xiaocao ran out in a hurry.
"Mr. Zhao?" Xiaocao looked at Zhao Yushu and asked hesitantly.
Hey, do you want to do this? We just met two days ago. But it’s a good thing to prove that your old face is just ordinary, not ugly enough to make people remember it.
"Miss Xiaocao, nice to see you again." Zhao Yushu leaned over to look behind Xiaocao and asked, "Where's your young lady?"
"Uh, Mr. Zhao, please follow me." Xiaocao waved and took Zhao Yushu to a corner outside the courtyard wall, avoiding the sight of the guard.
Zhao Yushu felt uneasy: "What happened?"
Xiao Cao looked around and said, "It's nothing serious. It's just that the young lady was confined to her house. She asked me to bring this to the young master. She said, um, what were the original words? um, she was very happy to have a friend like Young Master Zhao. um, that's it."
Xiao Cao handed over a wooden box that was more than a foot long. Zhao Yushu took the box and asked, "Why are you being grounded?"
When Xiao Cao heard this, she looked at Zhao Yushu with resentment in her eyes: "It's all because of you, young master."
"Me? Even if I have offended Governor Lan, there is no need to vent my anger on Lan Ling."
"The day before yesterday, the young lady came back and had a quarrel with the master, wanting to cancel the engagement. The master was furious and ordered the young lady to reflect on herself in her room. But yesterday, the young lady ran to the academy to find you again. When the master found out, he got very angry and locked the young lady in her room. He also sent Uncle Chen to watch over her and not allow her to leave the house at all."
No wonder Lan Ling left a message yesterday saying that she was not available today. It seemed that she had known that she had sneaked out and her father would definitely put her under house arrest if he knew about it. To be honest, it was indeed because of me.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Xiao Cao looked at him: "Sir, do you really want to help?"
"That's natural."
"Then don't come to see the young lady again, lest the master become even more angry." Xiaocao said, bowed lightly, turned around and left.
Zhao Yushu stood there in a daze for a long time. Then he let out a long sigh and turned away.
Inside the government office, Lan Rong stood with his hands behind his back, watching Zhao Yushu's receding back. Xiao Cao stood trembling behind Lan Rong.
"Did you tell him?"
"said."
"Go back and persuade Ling'er. She doesn't like this engagement. As a father, I can go to Jiangning to resolve it. But if Zhao Yushu studies hard and seeks fame in the future, it will be fine. But he is so eager to get ahead that he will suffer a great loss in the future. Ling'er is too close to him. How can I feel at ease? Oh, go."
Xiaocao bowed and stepped back. Lan Rong stood silently for a long time, then turned and walked towards a side room.