Chapter 34: The Chieftain’s Wife
On the way back to the village, Zhao An told Liu Hu about the government’s attitude towards privately trained militias, making him understand Feng Shaoping’s good intentions. He also gave him two liang of silver as a reward for helping to transport the bodies.
Only then did Liu Hu cheer up, willing to follow Zhao An’s instructions and first go to the village to pour some cold water on the villagers who had become restless after repelling the bandits.
For many villagers who had never experienced a major event in their lives, this incident was indeed enough to become a lifetime’s worth of conversation. Zhao An didn’t mind the villagers telling their sons the story of how they had fought bandits when they were old, but at this juncture, he still had to temporarily cool their spirits.
He said to Liu Hu, “Gather the few who are jumping the highest and tell them about the prices in the city and the attitude of the officials. Make sure to explain it clearly.”
After returning to the village and returning Scholar Zhao’s donkey cart, he took out the remaining silver and had Scholar Zhao and Liu Huan discuss how to distribute it. Only then did he walk home with a nervous heart.
Although he had been talking to the villagers just now, a thought had been lingering in his mind. When he got home, he had to ask Hu Sheng if he was willing to marry him.
The main issue wasn’t marriage itself, but certain intimate activities that could only be done after marriage. Since he had already found a partner who completely suited his heart, how could he let himself remain a vegetarian all day?
After entering the courtyard, he saw Qin Tong sweeping the fallen leaves. Hai Bo was most likely supervising at the kiln at this time. Zhao An lightened his steps and walked to Qin Tong’s side, asking in a low voice, “Is Ah Sheng awake yet?”
Qin Tong was also infected by Zhao An’s mysterious atmosphere. He shook his head and said in a very low voice, “Young Master Hu didn’t wake up for lunch. Hai Bo saw that he was really tired and didn’t call him. We just steamed the food over hot water, so he can eat whenever he wakes up.”
Zhao An nodded, took out a few candies from his robes, and stuffed them into Qin Tong’s hand. “Ah Sheng and I have something to talk about. You go out and play for a while.” Zhao An was very frank, with no intention of deceiving the child, and naturally received a smile that reached his ears.
Zhao An was not angered by the child’s teasing smile. He waved his hand at Qin Tong. “Hurry up and go.”
Qin Tong pocketed the candies and ran off happily, not forgetting to close the courtyard gate behind him.
Zhao An lightened his steps and pushed open his own room door. He had originally wanted to sit by Hu Sheng’s side to see how he was sleeping and then consider whether to wake him. But after opening the door, he saw that Hu Sheng had already sat up in bed. After a nap, his complexion was much better. His stray hair fell across his forehead, and his just-awakened gaze was a little hazy. Coupled with the stubble on his chin, he had a kind of decadent beauty.
He stood at the door, stunned, until Hu Sheng stood up and walked to him, then raised a hand to touch his cheek. “You make me feel very charming.”
Zhao An nodded. “So are you willing to be with me?” He decided to go for it and ask all the questions that had been weighing on his mind at once. “If you want to be with me, we have to get married. Just the two of us, no one else. You can’t test your charm on others.”
Faced with Zhao An’s question of whether he was willing to get married, Hu Sheng immediately blurted out, “Do you want to have a wedding ceremony? Then let’s find someone to pick an auspicious day and invite the whole village to a running feast.”
In fact, he had always been worried that Zhao An was too young. When he was young, he might have fallen for him out of a desire for novelty, but when he got older and saw others with children and grandchildren, he might want a family of his own. So he had always suppressed himself and not let their relationship go any further. It wasn’t until today that he heard Zhao An say that it could only be the two of them forever. Perhaps he had said it out of some impulse, but Hu Sheng was no longer willing to push him away.
When Zhao An heard Hu Sheng say he wanted to find someone to pick a date and even hold a running feast, a huge weight was lifted from his heart. Before all his courage disappeared, he raised a hand and caressed Hu Sheng’s chest, then quickly fled. “You go and clean yourself up first. I’ll go heat up some food for you.”
After running to the kitchen and closing the door, Zhao An began to savor the feeling on his palm just now. It was indeed as firm as he had imagined. As the corners of his mouth curved up, he also felt as if he had missed out on millions before. Just because he was shy, he hadn’t dared to put his hands on him when they had kissed before.
He felt that he should make up for what he had missed out on as soon as possible. So when Hu Sheng had washed up, shaved, and tied his hair, and was sitting properly in the living room, Zhao An not only placed the food on the table but also brought out a jar of wine that smelled delicious just by its aroma.
At this moment, Zhao An seemed to have forgotten his act of taking advantage just now. He said very seriously, “I heard you like to drink. I have some homemade wine here. It tastes pretty good. Would you like to try some?”
“Yes,” Hu Sheng replied, but his eyes were on the person, not the wine. It was unclear what he really wanted to taste.
Zhao An felt that he couldn’t show weakness. He smiled back and poured the fruity, fragrant liquid into a porcelain bowl. “I’ll have some with you too.” Eating at County Magistrate Feng’s house at noon was, after all, not as enjoyable as at his own home.
It was unclear whether the wine was more intoxicating or the affection. Zhao An talked a lot with Hu Sheng at the dinner table. He learned about Hu Sheng’s life and past, and the insulting meaning behind his name, which he was unwilling to change. Because his mother, in order to protect him, had been whipped to death by that Shang family head.
Zhao An’s heart ached. He squeezed his hand tightly, hoping to bring him some comfort. Just as the affection in his heart was about to be drowned by pity, Hu Sheng told him many stories about his time in the military camp. He could hunt wild geese in the sky with a slingshot, and even the most formidable troublemakers could be beaten down by him.
He had also used his hunting skills to save a scholar who was on the verge of starvation. That was his current military advisor, Li Dake, an unlucky fellow who was related to the deposed empress’s family. And there were the people he had saved on the battlefield, who were about to be killed by the enemy. He had many loyal subordinates.
Hu Sheng had laid almost everything bare, but after two cups of wine, the dizzy Zhao An became interested in Hu Sheng’s qinggong. He wrapped his arms around his neck and said coquettishly, “Can you take me flying? I want to fly, fly, fly.”
How could he refuse his beloved who was acting coquettishly with his arms around him? Hu Sheng picked up the alcohol-scented Zhao An and flew onto the wall of their house, then leaped up and landed on the top of the bamboo forest behind the mountain.
The rapidly passing wind blew away some of Zhao An’s drunkenness. He sobered up a little and, seeing the bamboo forest pass beneath his feet, exclaimed in amazement, “Wow~ oh~”
This encouraged Hu Sheng even more, making him leap through the treetops behind the mountain even faster. He bypassed the place where the fight had happened last night, crossed the small stream where Zhao An had once caught fish and solved his urgent hunger. He then crossed an uninhabited mountain and arrived in a flat valley.
Here, patches of cornflowers were in bloom. The small blue-violet flowers trembled and swayed in the wind, making one’s heart sway with them. It was unclear who had climbed onto whose lips first. When the two became entangled, they were already inseparable.
When their clothes had disappeared without them noticing and they were bare, Zhao An’s dizzy mind finally cleared a little. He propped one hand on Hu Sheng’s honey-colored chest and wrapped the other around his neck, unsure whether to refuse or invite. His chest heaved violently, and sweat trickled down his neck. “Be gentle. It’s my first time.”
He hadn’t expected his first time to be in the wild. It was a bit wild. If they weren’t prepared, it would be easy to get hurt. But now, the arrow was on the bowstring; it was impossible to stop. Because even as he spoke, his body was constantly writhing, and he was still asking Hu Sheng for kisses.
After another short, shallow kiss, one of Hu Sheng’s hands had already reached his key area. While serving him, he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll make you comfortable.”
Then Hu Sheng used his own thing as lubricant. By the time the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped, he was sober, but his mind was a blank. He lay in the flower patch, pillowing his head on Hu Sheng’s arm, and looked up at the white clouds in the sky. They moved slowly, slowly.
Zhao An suddenly turned his head and kissed Hu Sheng’s cheek. To take care of him, Hu Sheng had been too gentle just now, making him curl his toes just thinking about it. “Next time, when we’re prepared, you don’t have to be so considerate of me.”
Hu Sheng raised his palm and covered Zhao An’s eyes. “Alright, don’t tease me anymore. Rest a little longer, and I’ll take you back.”
But Zhao An had deeply felt Hu Sheng’s care and consideration for him. He playfully blew into his ear. “I’m not going back. Didn’t you say you’re a mountain chieftain? I’m your chieftain’s wife now. I want to see your stronghold.”
“Alright~” Hu Sheng replied readily.
Then, wearing only an outer robe—his inner clothes had been used to wipe himself and thrown away—Zhao An saw several thousand people, either standing or lying, crowded on a hillside. They were all skin and bones, looking like refugees.
“Didn’t you tell me there were only five people in your stronghold?” Zhao An had a strange feeling, as if he had been deceived, yet also as if he had taken advantage.
Hu Sheng looked at Zhao An cautiously. “I forgot to tell you. I brought back several thousand defeated rogue soldiers this time.”
Fortunately, Zhao An did not feel scared, only very worried. “How will we solve the problem of food and clothing for so many people?”
Zhao An had heard from Hu Sheng about the plight of these people. They were all ordinary people who had been forced to rebel, at least better than that group from Banpo Village who would run out to kill and burn at every opportunity.
But for Hu Sheng to take in so many people at once, food and supplies were indeed a serious problem. He didn’t want Hu Sheng to really become a robber.
Hu Sheng once again took Zhao An’s hand, half-embraced him, and flew over the crowd, landing on the only wooden pavilion on the back hillside. “My men bought a batch of grain from the Nanyue Kingdom from the Jiaozhou Garrison Commander. It should be enough for these people for two months. After they settle down, I’ll have them open up a piece of land on the mountain to grow some sweet potatoes and potatoes. I’ll also organize a horse caravan to trade with the Nanyue Kingdom and Ü-Tsang. As long as there are enough hands, we should be able to make a profit.”
Hu Sheng wanted to have a force in his hands. He had already thought of a way out before accepting these people. So, seeing Zhao An’s worry, he immediately laid out his plans.
But this did not dispel Zhao An’s worries. The weather in the past two years had not been good. There was almost no water for farming down the mountain, let alone on the mountain. Although cross-border trade could make money, it also meant high risks. Privately, Zhao An was unwilling to let Hu Sheng take risks, but feeding these several thousand mouths was no easy task.
Zhao An thought about it and finally thought of his ability. He raised his chin and looked into Hu Sheng’s blue eyes. “Have you noticed that I’m very special?”
“Of course you’re special,” Hu Sheng said, caressing Zhao An’s earlobe, his voice full of seduction.
When Zhao An talked about serious business, the affection in his heart completely dissipated. He slapped Hu Sheng’s hand away. “Be serious.”
Hu Sheng’s expression also became serious along with Zhao An’s mood. “Are you talking about those strawberries and grapes that appeared out of nowhere? They do taste very good, but the quantity is not enough.”
It was clear that Hu Sheng had indeed noticed his abnormality but hadn’t paid much attention to it, because the amount of fruit was too small to be of any significance for the food of these several thousand people.
However, Hu Sheng only thought that Zhao An had opened up a secret planting ground somewhere, just like how he had previously hidden in the great green mountains with a few people. There were so many mountains nearby, and many places to hide secrets.
However, Zhao An took out a strawberry seed from his sleeve and performed the magic of ripening the seed on the spot for Hu Sheng. He picked all six fruits from this strawberry plant, put one in his own mouth, and another in Hu Sheng’s. “When I left the capital, I was once on the verge of death. Then I met an old immortal. He taught me the magic of ripening plants, and that’s how I survived.”
After the shock, Hu Sheng numbly chewed the strawberry in his mouth. He swallowed the sweet and sour juice and only then regained his senses. “But the number of plants you can ripen should still be very limited, right?”
Zhao An did not refute, nodding. “I can only ripen eight plants a day, but I can improve the seeds. If each mu of potatoes can yield two thousand jin, then these several thousand people shouldn’t have to worry about starving.”
