Chapter 314
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Without spending a single coin, he drank a pot of fine Longjing tea at the tea shed. Never mind whether the tea leaves were truly Longjing, or whether he even needed to drink tea—what mattered was that the feeling of taking advantage of others made Zhang Xiaohua feel thoroughly delighted!
“You think I don’t know what you’re up to? Really treating me like some pampered young master who’s never seen the world? Heh, this face of mine has been weathered by sun and wind on a desolate island—how could I possibly be some delicate pretty boy?”
Zhang Xiaohua touched his own cheek, somewhat pleased with himself.
Just as he was about to withdraw his divine sense, he suddenly saw bald-headed Ji Xiaohua hurrying out from the side of the tea shed, looking flustered. Zhang Xiaohua was a little surprised. He had a decent impression of this little servant. Of course, if it weren’t for the contrast with the shop assistant, he might not have noticed the boy’s merits. At the very least, the lad had exchanged a hundred copper coins for him without skimming a single one off the top, and hadn’t stood there pestering him for a reward, right?
Ji Xiaohua came out of the thatched shed and stood on the main road, first looking anxiously around. After thinking for a moment, he started running in the direction of Songning Town.
Zhang Xiaohua was already eighteen years old now, a time when his body was still growing. At this point, he was already a full head taller than the average person. But the main road was crowded with people—how could someone of Ji Xiaohua’s stature possibly see him?
Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t sure whether the bald-headed boy was looking for him, but he still slowed his steps a little, letting just a sliver of his figure show among the crowd. His black robe was quite eye-catching; the moment a trace of it emerged, Ji Xiaohua’s eyes lit up. After quickly glancing back to confirm that no one was following, he dashed over at full speed.
Zhang Xiaohua had his back turned, watching everything through divine sense. Seeing the little fellow’s face covered in sweat as he charged straight toward him, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of suspicion—could it be that the kid was coming to ask for a reward?
With that thought, his right hand unconsciously shielded his chest.
Ji Xiaohua spotted Zhang Xiaohua’s black figure and his eyes lit up with joy. He was just about to shout, but immediately clamped a hand over his own mouth. After sneakily glancing back and scanning the surroundings, only then did he quicken his steps and catch up.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Xiaohua had a faint realization—this little servant who shared his name probably had something to tell him.
Sure enough, after catching up to Zhang Xiaohua, Ji Xiaohua didn’t dare speak loudly. He merely tugged at his sleeve and said: “Young Master, I’ve got something to tell you.”
Then, after glancing around, he darted like a kitten to the large tree at the side of the road. Once there, he looked back again, then urgently waved at Zhang Xiaohua with his little hand.
Zhang Xiaohua found it quite amusing, but he was also slightly moved. No matter what this little servant wanted to tell him, as long as it wasn’t some scheme to harm him, he’d give him a small reward. Hmm, but how much should he give? That was the real question.
Seeing Zhang Xiaohua strolling over at a leisurely pace, Ji Xiaohua grew a little anxious. He wanted to rush over and drag him, but didn’t dare—so he could only glance back nervously while stamping his feet. Only when Zhang Xiaohua had made his way behind the tree did Ji Xiaohua hurriedly speak: “Young Master, you mustn’t believe a word that man said earlier!”
Zhang Xiaohua looked at him with great interest and smiled. “Ji Xiaohua, why should I believe you instead of him? And anyway—do you even know where Pingyang City is?”
At that, Ji Xiaohua’s face flushed bright red. His childish voice rose a pitch as he said: “It’s fine if you don’t believe me, Young Master. I don’t know where Pingyang City is either. But you mustn’t trust that man! Every time he gives directions to people here, it’s always west through Songning Town, then north. I’d wager he’s never even been to Pingyang himself. And also…”
Ji Xiaohua gritted his teeth and added, “He… he’s always hanging around the tea shed. I heard the innkeeper call him Master Xu. That’s all I know.”
After speaking, seeing that Zhang Xiaohua didn’t quite believe him, Ji Xiaohua stomped lightly and bit down on his lip. “That’s all I know. I don’t dare say anything else. Young Master, you’re still young—you’d best return home early. I’ll be off now.”
With that, he turned around to run back toward the main road.
But Zhang Xiaohua was quick—he reached out and grabbed his arm. “Ji Xiaohua, you went to all this trouble just to tip me off, don’t you want to ask for a reward?”
Surprisingly, there wasn’t a trace of embarrassment on Ji Xiaohua’s face. He even sneered a little. “Young Master, if you don’t believe me, why would I bother asking for a thankless reward? I’d just come off looking like a swindler in your eyes.”
Zhang Xiaohua laughed. “Of course I believe you. That ‘Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake’ in Pingyang City—well, that was just something I made up on the spot.”
“Oh?” Ji Xiaohua was first delighted, then disappointed. He said: “Since Young Master knows it was a trick, then I’m relieved. I still have to go back and tend the fire—Young Master should hurry home too.”
But Zhang Xiaohua still didn’t let him go, and asked: “I’m still curious—why were you willing to risk being found out just to warn me? Aren’t you afraid that this ‘Master Xu’ might come back to cause you trouble?”
Ji Xiaohua scratched at his bald head and replied: “Well, Young Master, I can’t say for sure. Maybe it’s because you splashed tea on Gui Er’s face earlier. That guy’s always bullying me, and he even says bad things about me in front of the innkeeper.”
Then, with a touch of loneliness, he added: “Master Xu wouldn’t even spare a glance for someone like me. Even if he did find out, my family only has a sickly mother who’s been ill for years—we can barely afford meals. What would he even gain by doing anything to me?”
With that, he forcefully shook off Zhang Xiaohua’s hand and said: “Young Master, I really have to go. Last time the innkeeper already warned me—if he catches me slacking off again, he won’t let me tend the tea shed anymore. Now that you’ve held me up, he’s probably already noticed.”
Zhang Xiaohua asked: “So what’ll you say?”
“Hehe, I’ll just say I had an upset stomach! Who can control needing the toilet, right? I’ll beg him earnestly, maybe knock my head on the ground a few times, take a few kicks—he’ll probably let me stay.”
In that instant, Zhang Xiaohua felt a pang in his chest. His nose stung. It was as though he were seeing his younger self again, when he had just left Guo Village and come to Pingyang City—struggling at Huanxi Villa, enduring hardship at Lotus Escort Agency, suffering in the Piaomiao Sect. He had thought his life was bitter enough. But when he looked at this kind-hearted boy who just wanted to earn a few copper coins to buy food for himself and his ailing mother… he realized he had been blessed. At least he had his Second Brother, Zhang Xiaohu, looking after him. At least he had a warm and loving home in the distant countryside.
Then, Zhang Xiaohua gently asked: “Ji Xiaohua, how many copper coins do you earn in a day for tending the fire at the tea shed?”
Ji Xiaohua forced a smile. “This tea shop’s innkeeper is a stingy one, maybe three coins a day, tops. Alright, Young Master, I have to go—any later and I won’t be able to cover this lie.”
As he spoke, he was about to dash off again, but Zhang Xiaohua quickly grabbed him. “Don’t rush, don’t rush. I appreciate you coming all this way. How about this…”
Hearing that, Ji Xiaohua’s eyes lit up with both anticipation and shyness.
Zhang Xiaohua looked into the child’s round, clear eyes and said: “Go back to the tea shed first and tell the innkeeper you need a few days off. I happen to have something that I need help with. I’ll pay you ten copper coins a day. What do you think?”
At first, Ji Xiaohua felt dejected when he heard he had to go back to the tea shed—but the next few words filled him with joy. “Really? Young Master, what kind of thing do you need help with? Ten copper coins a day?”
“Mhm. That’s not for you to worry about. It’s an important matter. You just go ask for leave first.”
Ji Xiaohua hesitated, then said: “Well… Young Master, if it’s something like murder or arson, I’m not doing it!”
“Do I look like that kind of person? And even if it was, you think you could pull it off?”
Ji Xiaohua grinned wide, showing his teeth. “Young Master, wait here—I’ll be right back!”
Immediately after, he darted out like a streak of smoke, and before long, he came back carrying a small cloth bundle.
Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “You got leave that easily?”
Ji Xiaohua replied, “That Gui Er was already watching me. Before I could even bring up asking for leave, he chased me out. I didn’t even get to use the excuse I came up with.”
As he spoke, he opened the cloth bundle and took out something about the size of a fist—half of it had already been gnawed away. It wasn’t clear what it was made from. He bit into it with difficulty, chewing the hard lump before swallowing with effort, and said vaguely: “It’s a pity I can’t drink the hot water from the tea shed anymore.”
Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua nearly shed tears.
He chuckled and said: “Ji Xiaohua, I’m hungry too—how about you give me a bite?”
Ji Xiaohua looked at him in surprise. “Young Master, this stuff… you… you can actually eat it?”
Zhang Xiaohua reached out, grabbed a chunk, and took a hard bite. Though he had grown up in the countryside and was no stranger to hardship, he had never eaten something so unpleasant. It was dry and astringent, and it hurt his teeth to chew. Based on his years of farming experience, this thing had to be made from a mix of grains, vegetables, and chaff.
Zhang Xiaohua chewed slowly, one bite at a time. Ji Xiaohua stood to the side, stunned. This was his ration for the day, and it was being eaten by a silk-clad young master?
Though Zhang Xiaohua seemed to eat it bite by bite, truthfully, the thing wasn’t even half the size of a fist. He finished it in two or three mouthfuls. But it was difficult to swallow. Even with Zhang Xiaohua’s cultivation, he had to mix it with saliva and cautiously send it down his throat. He really couldn’t imagine how this child managed to eat such things regularly.
Once Zhang Xiaohua finished, Ji Xiaohua was still frozen in disbelief.
Zhang Xiaohua walked over and, without hesitation, patted his scabby head. “Come on, brat, let’s go into the city and take care of some business.”
At only nine years old, Ji Xiaohua was still small, barely reaching Zhang Xiaohua’s chest. Patting his head felt oddly natural.
“No wonder Second Brother always liked to pat mine, it really is kind of fun.”
Zhang Xiaohua thought to himself.
Ji Xiaohua quickly packed up his small bundle and slung it over his skinny arm, smiling brightly. “Young Master, may I ask what business you’re heading into the city for? If you tell me first, I can think ahead about where to take you. Oh, right—Young Master, let me carry that walking stick for you.”
As he spoke, he reached out toward the long sword in Zhang Xiaohua’s hand.
Zhang Xiaohua waved him off and blocked his hand. “You won’t be able to carry this thing. Better let me hold it.”
“Young Master, don’t be fooled by my age—I’ve been strong since I was little. I’m quite well known in the southern part of the city! Why else would the tea innkeeper have hired me? I even chop wood for them!”
