Chapter 36: Bad Child or Bad Father? [Part 1 of 2]
-xxx-
He Guang had noticed the commotion there long ago, but for various reasons, he didn't go to join the commotion.
Little brother Hua has already worriedly went to take a look at the buzz.
Hua Mulan often bought things in the market of Majiao bridge. There are many people in this market who, even if they do not know the famous "Hua Mulan", at least they know Hua MuTuo.
So as soon as Hua MuTuo showed up, everyone knew almost immediately who the Xianbei man they were using their fingers to point at. Momentarily, all the animals and birds scattered away.
He Mulan was troubled as she touched her face in agony. With the exception of her rough and tanned face, she wanted to know whether she looked that ferocious. Otherwise, how would they run away after knowing her identity?
Didn't she becomes a hero in the countryside when she forced Gai Wu to leave last time?
This is totally different from what the rumours said!
"Aunt, do you know who that man is?" He Guang carried a gentle and harmless smile, as he pointed to the lost He Mulan.
It has to be said that he was slightly pleased to see General Hua, who was "a man as brave as a heroic god" in his father's mouth, confused by what the villagers said.
The aunt had been attracted by a bead in He Guang's hand and all she could focus on was it. After hearing this, she looked up, and her eyes flashed with curious and fanatical expressions: "Oh, I see that you must be some rich young gentleman who came to tour the countryside. That is Hua Mulan from Yingguo village! She often comes to the market to buy things in men's clothes. I can identify her because Hua family’s young son is following behind her. "
"Since they know she’s that heroine, why did everyone avoid her?" This is not the same as what he imagined.
"You don't know that…..." The aunt lowered her voice and whispered to him mysteriously: "it's said that Hua Mulan is looking for a son-in-law recently. Her companions in the army are forcing others to marry her! They are afraid of standing close to her because they might be forced to marry her by those soldiers…... "
"How unbridled!" He Guang stood up, with his face green, and his handsome face was cold. "The army’s Yulin lads, the pillar of the country, in what capacity can you peddlers and sellers talk about them behind their backs!"
"Oh my God! You're so scary, young man…... " The aunt clapped her chest, looking at He Guang like a psychopath. "I've heard what the others say, since you asked me, I answered. Why do you have to act like a Lord official to scare me?"
Her face was probably swept to the floor by him, and she no longer told him where to buy salt. She lowered her head without looking at him or his beads.
"They just heard what others said..." He Guang lowered his head down and sighed. "I often hear people's words are terrible, but I often thought it's because the subject of the rumours is not firm enough. Now it seems that I also have a time when I don't want to hear other people's rumours. "
Only one day and this Hua Mulan has such an unpleasant character. Was it because she caused people to get ill?
He Guang took a glance at his silk padded clothes, and then he looked at other villagers' linen garbs. He regretted wearing them out here.
A few of these people are wearing leather garbs. No matter who they are, as long as they sell things, they crouch on the ground and curl up. If there is a gust of wind blowing at this time, many people would sneeze at the same time, as if they had agreed on sneezing then.
He held the pearls in his hand tightly and walked towards another pickle seller with a wry smile.
Why should he feel sorry for the others? Today, if he cannot manage to purchase the salt, he would have to be fumigated to death in that cesspit.
He Mulan watched Hua MuTuo walking towards to her.
The sight she saw when little brother Hua came to her with the closestool was too horrifying. She thought for a moment that the closestool was going to be worn on her head. So, when Hua MuTuo came to her, she was so frightened by what she imagined and took a few steps back.
"Sis, what happened just now? I seem to see you fighting with some people…... " Hua MuTuo looked around uneasily at the people who were judging them in hindsight. "Were there any issues?"
"Nothing. There is a misunderstanding. It's solved." He Mulan wants to take the closestool from Hua Younger Brother's hand, but he blushed and refused to give it. Instead, he takes the closestool and went to look for A-Dan Zhuo, who was looking after the horse cart.
"This boy..." He Mulan was a little moved as she gazes on the back view of Hua younger brother.
She knew what he was thinking, he merely thought that the "Heroine Hua Mulan carrying a closestool" would be too horrible of a rumour to hear.
She didn't know that her family were trying to make her live a life filled with other’s respect.
But even if she’s not respected, she would not mind.
Hua Younger Brother soon ran back. He Mulan followed him and watched him haggle with others. After the deal was confirmed, he looked up happily at her. After she had nodded her head, Hua MuTuo would then cut off the linen or part of the cotton cloth she had brought to the size agreed to the villagers.
At this time, He Mulan picked up the things he had bought and sent them to the cart by A-Dan Zhuo’s side one by one.
One has to say that it's very convenient if someone is looking after the cart. She used to carry all the items until she had to leave the market before she could put the items back on the cart with Hua MuTuo.
As this is the last time they were going to make purchases in this winter, and there are two more guests at home and Hua MuTuo bit his teeth to buy many precious vegetables and fruits such as frozen pears and persimmons.
Only then did A-Dan Zhuo knew what Hua MuTuo meant when he said, "when you go out with my sister, you would only need to lug a person with you.". And going out with this "Aunt Hua", one would only need to lug a person who knows how to bargain and choose things. He Mulan paid for the money and carried the things. She was very patient even when waiting for Hua MuTuo to pick and choose things……
Wait……
Why does he always feel that something about this is not right?
He Guang soon became a weirdo in the market.
This young man, who is squatting in the market with donned in good material garbs and especially looked for pickle stalls everywhere could only use pearls bigger than a thumb finger to exchange with goods, though he carried a handsome smile. No one in amongst these villages dared to sell him anything.
If such a bead is inlaid with any hairpin for the daughter of the family, it is would be enough for a dowry to marry a rich man!
But that will also depend on whether this pearl would attract thieves or not attract them.
All the people who bought and sold goods around the Majiao bridge market are acquaintances. Today you get a bead, and tomorrow the whole village would head to your home to see what’s the buzz about. As the saying goes, even if you are not afraid of thieves, you will be afraid of the thieves thinking about your possessions. Even if you earned something like this without much effort now, in the future, your days will be hard to live.
But there are also bold ones who took the initiative to talk to this little young master.
"What are you going to buy, young man? Tell this uncle, and I will see if I have it! " He Guang was stopped by a well-trained man wearing a big dog skin garb.
Far away, He Mulan looked at his direction with questioning eyes. He Guang shook his head to He Mulan and began to talk to him.
"I bet with my friend that I can buy ten jin of salt in this market." He Guang frowned and looked at the beads in his hand in embarrassment. "If I didn’t manage to buy it back, I will have to admit defeat."
"Oh, it turns out that this little young master wants to buy salt..." The well-trained man laughed.
"Yes, I want to buy ten jin of salt."
That mouth full of yellow teeth made He Guang feels sick in his stomach and he slightly lowered his head in response.
He did not know why He Mulan asked him to buy salt alone. He was not familiar with the market and did not know where to buy salt. But he knew that even if he did not know, the people who always used salt must know where to buy salt.
So, he kept asking the pickle sellers where they bought the salt, in hopes that it would attract the attention of the salt seller.
Ordinary villagers who sell pickled goods naturally, sell salt, but if it's easy for them to sell it if it was one or two liang salt, it's impossible for them to sell ten jin of salt all at once now.
In the early period of the Northern Wei Dynasty, although there was no money and many political edicts were chaotically loose to adhere to, but the salt trade had always been controlled tightly. People had no right to mine salt fields or sell salt privately.
But the sale of private salt is hard to be regulated. Consecutive years of wars have made the price of official salt higher and higher, and the profit is used to subsidize military expenditure. Therefore, there are more people who buy and sell salt privately in the countryside.
He Guang knew that there were a large number of people in the territory of Wei Dynasty who were engaged in the business of risking their lives to collect, transport and sell salt.
Ten jin of salt is a big deal in the countryside. The well-trained man probably didn't expect that someone from the government would send such a young man to buy salt in the market in expensive clothes. He happily agreed to sell him ten jin of salt. He only had to head to in a quiet place under the bridge in an hour to collect it.
He Guang really wanted to know how they did it, so he agreed without hesitation. He even let the man see the beads in his hand and told the man that if the man came faster, he would give him two beads.
When He Guang returned to He Mulan’s side to wait for the salt, even Hua MuTuo is a little surprised that He Guang bought them so easily.
Because of their father's stubbornness, they never bought private salt in the market. But they have all seen people buy them in the market, and they did not lay it bare to them.
He Mulan asked him to buy salt because, on one hand, she wanted to see if he was a fool. On the other hand, she wanted to see his ability in dealing with people.
The sale of salt is not the same as the sale of rice millet or silk. It is a very thorny type of goods. As for him, who is obviously a noble son that did not grow up around here, the people who sell private salt and the villagers will naturally hold restraining fear towards him and will not sell it to him easily.
But now it seems that the child knew how to use his advantages and is good at observing the situation around him. No wonder the young man ran away from home and could come to Liang county unharmed.
Should she in admiration that the youth these days should be regarded with respect?
He Mulan accompanied He Guang for a while. In order to avoid being robbed, she followed him to the foot of the Majiao bridge.
But when she saw who was carrying the salt, her eyes widened.
"Shuan ZhuZi! Why are you here! " Isn’t he Gao JinLong’s subordinate, Old Third?!
"Eh, General Hua, are you the one buying salt?" Seeing that He Mulan was accompanying a young man, he finally put his heart to rest. With this big bag of salt, it would be enough to pickle 100 jin of meat. The boss was worried about fraud. All his people and horses are watching the situation here. He is only sent out to sell salt together with Ma DaDan.
"If I knew it was you buying, I would have brought out the finer salt." Shuan ZhuZi laughed with great enthusiasm.
"General Hua, you know these..." Private salt smugglers?
"These are the wandering swordsmen based here. They contributed those obedient Lushuihus’ retreat. I would say, the wandering swordsmen have 70% effort due to their retreat." He Mulan is more surprised than He Guang.
When Shuan ZhuZi heard Hua Mulan praising him, he forgot to put down the salt on his shoulder. Ma DaDan saw that since they were familiar, he also laughed more joyously.
"I say, why do you guys do this trade?" He Mulan disagreed, "Your Majesty forbids the private sale of the salt produced in Hedong salt pond. If you do this, once someone finds out, the repercussions would be terrible!"
"We can’t afford to eat official salt."Shuan ZhuZi’s smile dimmed in reservation, "Not that I want to say it, but after so many years of fighting, if it wasn't for the grain that we could produce privately, we couldn't even afford to eat, let alone eat salt. Our brothers also have to eat. We can’t always imitate the dogs and steal chickens. (0)"
"Where do you get the salt from?" He Guang curiously inquired at one side, which attracted Shuan ZhuZi to take a few glances at him, but he did not answer He Guang.
He Guang wanted to ask more questions. He Mulan pressed down on his shoulders, took out two beads from his hands and hands the pearls to Shuan ZhuZi.
"As agreed, these are the two Hepu pearls."
"Shuan ZhuZi, give it back to General Hua. Let's go." In the distance, Gao JinLong finally appeared and shouted at them several feet away.
Shuan ZhuZi “oh”-ed, and dropped the salt bag before turning to leave, but He Mulan grabbed and put two beads in his hand.
"It's also a coincidence today that we met. However, an act of selling is an act of selling. Your boss also needs to feed many mouths, take it back, do not snag with me. "
At first, Shuan ZhuZi did not dare to ask for her beads, but he hesitated when he heard that " Your boss also needs to feed many mouths ". When he saw Ma DaDan was vaguely excited, he pinched the Pearls and did not relax his hands. He then replied, "if you want salt, head under the bridge to find Ma DaDan." He then ran away in a jiffy.
Chapter 36: Bad Child or Bad Father? [Part 1 of 2]
-xxx-
He Guang had noticed the commotion there long ago, but for various reasons, he didn't go to join the commotion.
Little brother Hua has already worriedly went to take a look at the buzz.
Hua Mulan often bought things in the market of Majiao bridge. There are many people in this market who, even if they do not know the famous "Hua Mulan", at least they know Hua MuTuo.
So as soon as Hua MuTuo showed up, everyone knew almost immediately who the Xianbei man they were using their fingers to point at. Momentarily, all the animals and birds scattered away.
He Mulan was troubled as she touched her face in agony. With the exception of her rough and tanned face, she wanted to know whether she looked that ferocious. Otherwise, how would they run away after knowing her identity?
Didn't she becomes a hero in the countryside when she forced Gai Wu to leave last time?
This is totally different from what the rumours said!
"Aunt, do you know who that man is?" He Guang carried a gentle and harmless smile, as he pointed to the lost He Mulan.
It has to be said that he was slightly pleased to see General Hua, who was "a man as brave as a heroic god" in his father's mouth, confused by what the villagers said.
The aunt had been attracted by a bead in He Guang's hand and all she could focus on was it. After hearing this, she looked up, and her eyes flashed with curious and fanatical expressions: "Oh, I see that you must be some rich young gentleman who came to tour the countryside. That is Hua Mulan from Yingguo village! She often comes to the market to buy things in men's clothes. I can identify her because Hua family’s young son is following behind her. "
"Since they know she’s that heroine, why did everyone avoid her?" This is not the same as what he imagined.
"You don't know that…..." The aunt lowered her voice and whispered to him mysteriously: "it's said that Hua Mulan is looking for a son-in-law recently. Her companions in the army are forcing others to marry her! They are afraid of standing close to her because they might be forced to marry her by those soldiers…... "
"How unbridled!" He Guang stood up, with his face green, and his handsome face was cold. "The army’s Yulin lads, the pillar of the country, in what capacity can you peddlers and sellers talk about them behind their backs!"
"Oh my God! You're so scary, young man…... " The aunt clapped her chest, looking at He Guang like a psychopath. "I've heard what the others say, since you asked me, I answered. Why do you have to act like a Lord official to scare me?"
Her face was probably swept to the floor by him, and she no longer told him where to buy salt. She lowered her head without looking at him or his beads.
"They just heard what others said..." He Guang lowered his head down and sighed. "I often hear people's words are terrible, but I often thought it's because the subject of the rumours is not firm enough. Now it seems that I also have a time when I don't want to hear other people's rumours. "
Only one day and this Hua Mulan has such an unpleasant character. Was it because she caused people to get ill?
He Guang took a glance at his silk padded clothes, and then he looked at other villagers' linen garbs. He regretted wearing them out here.
A few of these people are wearing leather garbs. No matter who they are, as long as they sell things, they crouch on the ground and curl up. If there is a gust of wind blowing at this time, many people would sneeze at the same time, as if they had agreed on sneezing then.
He held the pearls in his hand tightly and walked towards another pickle seller with a wry smile.
Why should he feel sorry for the others? Today, if he cannot manage to purchase the salt, he would have to be fumigated to death in that cesspit.
He Mulan watched Hua MuTuo walking towards to her.
The sight she saw when little brother Hua came to her with the closestool was too horrifying. She thought for a moment that the closestool was going to be worn on her head. So, when Hua MuTuo came to her, she was so frightened by what she imagined and took a few steps back.
"Sis, what happened just now? I seem to see you fighting with some people…... " Hua MuTuo looked around uneasily at the people who were judging them in hindsight. "Were there any issues?"
"Nothing. There is a misunderstanding. It's solved." He Mulan wants to take the closestool from Hua Younger Brother's hand, but he blushed and refused to give it. Instead, he takes the closestool and went to look for A-Dan Zhuo, who was looking after the horse cart.
"This boy..." He Mulan was a little moved as she gazes on the back view of Hua younger brother.
She knew what he was thinking, he merely thought that the "Heroine Hua Mulan carrying a closestool" would be too horrible of a rumour to hear.
She didn't know that her family were trying to make her live a life filled with other’s respect.
But even if she’s not respected, she would not mind.
Hua Younger Brother soon ran back. He Mulan followed him and watched him haggle with others. After the deal was confirmed, he looked up happily at her. After she had nodded her head, Hua MuTuo would then cut off the linen or part of the cotton cloth she had brought to the size agreed to the villagers.
At this time, He Mulan picked up the things he had bought and sent them to the cart by A-Dan Zhuo’s side one by one.
One has to say that it's very convenient if someone is looking after the cart. She used to carry all the items until she had to leave the market before she could put the items back on the cart with Hua MuTuo.
As this is the last time they were going to make purchases in this winter, and there are two more guests at home and Hua MuTuo bit his teeth to buy many precious vegetables and fruits such as frozen pears and persimmons.
Only then did A-Dan Zhuo knew what Hua MuTuo meant when he said, "when you go out with my sister, you would only need to lug a person with you.". And going out with this "Aunt Hua", one would only need to lug a person who knows how to bargain and choose things. He Mulan paid for the money and carried the things. She was very patient even when waiting for Hua MuTuo to pick and choose things……
Wait……
Why does he always feel that something about this is not right?
He Guang soon became a weirdo in the market.
This young man, who is squatting in the market with donned in good material garbs and especially looked for pickle stalls everywhere could only use pearls bigger than a thumb finger to exchange with goods, though he carried a handsome smile. No one in amongst these villages dared to sell him anything.
If such a bead is inlaid with any hairpin for the daughter of the family, it is would be enough for a dowry to marry a rich man!
But that will also depend on whether this pearl would attract thieves or not attract them.
All the people who bought and sold goods around the Majiao bridge market are acquaintances. Today you get a bead, and tomorrow the whole village would head to your home to see what’s the buzz about. As the saying goes, even if you are not afraid of thieves, you will be afraid of the thieves thinking about your possessions. Even if you earned something like this without much effort now, in the future, your days will be hard to live.
But there are also bold ones who took the initiative to talk to this little young master.
"What are you going to buy, young man? Tell this uncle, and I will see if I have it! " He Guang was stopped by a well-trained man wearing a big dog skin garb.
Far away, He Mulan looked at his direction with questioning eyes. He Guang shook his head to He Mulan and began to talk to him.
"I bet with my friend that I can buy ten jin of salt in this market." He Guang frowned and looked at the beads in his hand in embarrassment. "If I didn’t manage to buy it back, I will have to admit defeat."
"Oh, it turns out that this little young master wants to buy salt..." The well-trained man laughed.
"Yes, I want to buy ten jin of salt."
That mouth full of yellow teeth made He Guang feels sick in his stomach and he slightly lowered his head in response.
He did not know why He Mulan asked him to buy salt alone. He was not familiar with the market and did not know where to buy salt. But he knew that even if he did not know, the people who always used salt must know where to buy salt.
So, he kept asking the pickle sellers where they bought the salt, in hopes that it would attract the attention of the salt seller.
Ordinary villagers who sell pickled goods naturally, sell salt, but if it's easy for them to sell it if it was one or two liang salt, it's impossible for them to sell ten jin of salt all at once now.
In the early period of the Northern Wei Dynasty, although there was no money and many political edicts were chaotically loose to adhere to, but the salt trade had always been controlled tightly. People had no right to mine salt fields or sell salt privately.
But the sale of private salt is hard to be regulated. Consecutive years of wars have made the price of official salt higher and higher, and the profit is used to subsidize military expenditure. Therefore, there are more people who buy and sell salt privately in the countryside.
He Guang knew that there were a large number of people in the territory of Wei Dynasty who were engaged in the business of risking their lives to collect, transport and sell salt.
Ten jin of salt is a big deal in the countryside. The well-trained man probably didn't expect that someone from the government would send such a young man to buy salt in the market in expensive clothes. He happily agreed to sell him ten jin of salt. He only had to head to in a quiet place under the bridge in an hour to collect it.
He Guang really wanted to know how they did it, so he agreed without hesitation. He even let the man see the beads in his hand and told the man that if the man came faster, he would give him two beads.
When He Guang returned to He Mulan’s side to wait for the salt, even Hua MuTuo is a little surprised that He Guang bought them so easily.
Because of their father's stubbornness, they never bought private salt in the market. But they have all seen people buy them in the market, and they did not lay it bare to them.
He Mulan asked him to buy salt because, on one hand, she wanted to see if he was a fool. On the other hand, she wanted to see his ability in dealing with people.
The sale of salt is not the same as the sale of rice millet or silk. It is a very thorny type of goods. As for him, who is obviously a noble son that did not grow up around here, the people who sell private salt and the villagers will naturally hold restraining fear towards him and will not sell it to him easily.
But now it seems that the child knew how to use his advantages and is good at observing the situation around him. No wonder the young man ran away from home and could come to Liang county unharmed.
Should she in admiration that the youth these days should be regarded with respect?
He Mulan accompanied He Guang for a while. In order to avoid being robbed, she followed him to the foot of the Majiao bridge.
But when she saw who was carrying the salt, her eyes widened.
"Shuan ZhuZi! Why are you here! " Isn’t he Gao JinLong’s subordinate, Old Third?!
"Eh, General Hua, are you the one buying salt?" Seeing that He Mulan was accompanying a young man, he finally put his heart to rest. With this big bag of salt, it would be enough to pickle 100 jin of meat. The boss was worried about fraud. All his people and horses are watching the situation here. He is only sent out to sell salt together with Ma DaDan.
"If I knew it was you buying, I would have brought out the finer salt." Shuan ZhuZi laughed with great enthusiasm.
"General Hua, you know these..." Private salt smugglers?
"These are the wandering swordsmen based here. They contributed those obedient Lushuihus’ retreat. I would say, the wandering swordsmen have 70% effort due to their retreat." He Mulan is more surprised than He Guang.
When Shuan ZhuZi heard Hua Mulan praising him, he forgot to put down the salt on his shoulder. Ma DaDan saw that since they were familiar, he also laughed more joyously.
"I say, why do you guys do this trade?" He Mulan disagreed, "Your Majesty forbids the private sale of the salt produced in Hedong salt pond. If you do this, once someone finds out, the repercussions would be terrible!"
"We can’t afford to eat official salt."Shuan ZhuZi’s smile dimmed in reservation, "Not that I want to say it, but after so many years of fighting, if it wasn't for the grain that we could produce privately, we couldn't even afford to eat, let alone eat salt. Our brothers also have to eat. We can’t always imitate the dogs and steal chickens. (0)"
"Where do you get the salt from?" He Guang curiously inquired at one side, which attracted Shuan ZhuZi to take a few glances at him, but he did not answer He Guang.
He Guang wanted to ask more questions. He Mulan pressed down on his shoulders, took out two beads from his hands and hands the pearls to Shuan ZhuZi.
"As agreed, these are the two Hepu pearls."
"Shuan ZhuZi, give it back to General Hua. Let's go." In the distance, Gao JinLong finally appeared and shouted at them several feet away.
Shuan ZhuZi “oh”-ed, and dropped the salt bag before turning to leave, but He Mulan grabbed and put two beads in his hand.
"It's also a coincidence today that we met. However, an act of selling is an act of selling. Your boss also needs to feed many mouths, take it back, do not snag with me. "
At first, Shuan ZhuZi did not dare to ask for her beads, but he hesitated when he heard that " Your boss also needs to feed many mouths ". When he saw Ma DaDan was vaguely excited, he pinched the Pearls and did not relax his hands. He then replied, "if you want salt, head under the bridge to find Ma DaDan." He then ran away in a jiffy.
