Li Chen had already taken the hunting bow off his shoulder. There were too many people. If they all rushed forward at once, it would be troublesome. He would have to kill one to warn a hundred.
Just then, the thunder of hooves sounded. A patrol of government cavalry had arrived.
At the sight of them, fear immediately appeared in the refugees’ eyes. They all sat back down at once. No one dared to stand anymore.
Which of these patrolling soldiers did not have refugee blood on their blades?
The refugees had long since been killed into submission.
“You starving wretches, behave yourselves. Anyone who moves recklessly will be hacked to death!” a bearded officer shouted angrily, reining in his horse and pointing his whip at the refugees.
Li Chen led Yu Qingwan along the other side of the official road, walking forward with a heavy heart.
In troubled times, refugees were worth less than dogs. Wandering souls blown by harsh winds.
Living was hard. Living in chaotic times was even harder.
When they finally reached the county city, Li Chen clearly felt Yu Qingwan let out a breath of relief the moment they entered.
Turning to look at her, he saw fine beads of sweat on her forehead. He could not tell whether it was from the sun or from fear.
After another half quarter of an hour, they were fully inside the city.
Walking along the bustling main street, Yu Qingwan’s large eyes looked left and right in curiosity.
Though this northern county city was far from the former capital of the Great Yan Empire, Liang Capital, it had its own charm.
Shop signs lined the streets. Vendors shouted their wares. Taverns hung their banners and did brisk business. Colorful flags fluttered outside entertainment houses. At first glance, it still looked like an age of peace and prosperity.
But that was only because Beiyan Pass had not fallen and had shielded this region with its steadfast defense.
Once inside the county, Li Chen found a restaurant specializing in wild game and sold his catch.
Because there had been war for the past six months, most able-bodied hunters had been conscripted to Beiyan Pass. The restaurants that specialized in wild game had lost the majority of their supply and were struggling to stay open.
The shopkeepers practically prayed every day for hunters to come sell game. Otherwise, they could not even open for business.
For that reason, Li Chen’s game fetched a high price. He received 3 strings of coins.
The two fat rabbits sold for 1.5 strings. The five large birds sold for another 1.5 strings. Large birds were not easy to encounter.
After all, few people possessed Li Chen’s near-miraculous archery.
Anyone with such skill would probably already be an officer at Beiyan Pass.
It was a plentiful harvest. Yu Qingwan was extremely excited. She counted the 3 strings of coins again and again before carefully placing them into her small bamboo basket and covering them with a piece of coarse cloth. She hugged the basket tightly to her chest, making Li Chen smile slightly at her earnestness.
With money in hand, there was naturally the mood to stroll.
After wandering for some time, they bought a single-wheel handcart for carrying goods. Then Li Chen entered full shopping mode. This story is hosted at g.com.
He bought two sacks of coarse rice and one sack of mixed flour, along with a pile of radishes and cabbages. In times of war, these were the only local vegetables available. Produce from other regions simply could not be transported in.
Halfway through their shopping, Li Chen happened to notice a salt shop ahead and slowed his steps.
In the Great Yan Empire, salt shops were government monopolies. Through an auction system, designated merchants were granted exclusive rights.
One city, one salt shop. The salt shop was not allowed to operate outside the city. This was written clearly into law.
Staring at the sign reading “Lin Family Salt,” Li Chen fell into thought.
In the Great Yan Empire, refined salt was specially supplied to nobles and high officials. It was difficult to produce and scarce in quantity. It never appeared on the open market.
If he could produce refined salt easily, would he not earn money by the bucketful?
In chaotic times, if a commoner wished to gain power and influence, he first needed money and grain. That was the foundation of survival.
Once that foundation was solid, only then could grand ambitions be steadily pursued.
As someone decisive and ruthless, Li Chen always acted once he had made up his mind.
He took money directly from Yu Qingwan’s basket and bought 2.5 kilograms of coarse salt for a total of 500 coins.
Fortunately, because there were salt fields beyond the frontier, the price of coarse salt had not yet soared to the sky.
After leaving the salt shop, Li Chen was about to continue forward when he vaguely sensed that someone had been secretly following him the entire way.
Especially now, that feeling grew stronger.
When he reached a street corner, he discreetly glanced back and narrowed his eyes at once.
Three men were trailing them from a distance. The one leading them was Zhang Guang, glaring at him with venomous hatred through the crowd.
“Courting death,” Li Chen thought coldly.
Yet his expression did not change. He continued strolling with Yu Qingwan.
At a herbal tea stall, he bought her a bowl of cooling tea.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he took out 1 string of coins from the basket and weighed it in his hand. “We passed an arrow-maker’s shop earlier. I forgot to buy some hunting weapons. Drink your tea. I’ll be back soon.”
“Alright, Husband,” Yu Qingwan replied obediently, staying to drink her tea and wait.
In the end, she quietly took out 100 coins and hid them in the small inner pocket of her undergarment. It was not that she wanted secret savings, but her husband spent money too freely. She had to keep some in case of emergencies.
Li Chen knew nothing of her little plan. Right now, he intended to deal with Zhang Guang.
He deliberately avoided the bustling streets and chose increasingly secluded paths.
Before long, he found a dilapidated courtyard and walked inside.
The courtyard had clearly been abandoned for years. Even the window frames had been stolen.
There were no nearby households. Li Chen stood quietly in the courtyard and waited.
Soon, three figures appeared from afar. They entered the courtyard and stood opposite him.
The man in the middle was Zhang Guang.
Seeing Li Chen standing there calmly and unhurried, Zhang Guang frowned deeply and stared at him, uncertain.
This brat seemed to have discovered them long ago and deliberately lured them here.
Was there an ambush?
But looking around and seeing no one else, and then at Li Chen’s lean frame, while they were three sturdy men, his confidence returned.
With a sinister grin, he said, “Brother Chen, we meet again.”
“You’ve been following me. Do you need something?” Li Chen asked, his hand hidden in his sleeve, already gripping the short blade he had crafted himself.
He quietly scanned the surroundings. It was silent. No one was nearby. A perfect place to kill.
“Brat, speak. Where is Huzi? What happened to him?” Zhang Guang advanced slowly with the other two men.
The two behind him looked fierce. Each flipped his wrist and revealed a dagger that gleamed coldly in the light.
Yet Zhang Guang felt puzzled. Had this brat grown reckless?
He knew they meant him harm, yet still ran here to wait?
“He tried to rob my grain and insult my wife. I killed him,” Li Chen said calmly.
Those simple words stunned Zhang Guang and ignited his fury.
In truth, he had only grown jealous seeing Li Chen make money from hunting and had intended to extort him.
As for whether Li Chen had killed his brother, how could this brat possibly have had that ability?
It was merely an excuse to rob him.
But he had not expected this brat to actually admit it.