Xia Li finally learned that this breed of dog was known as the Yanshan Wolfdog in this era. The Yanshan mountain range lay to the north, half within the Dahe Dynasty and half within the Xiyuan Kingdom. Though valuable, ordinary households also kept them.
The Dusi was a fourth-rank military officer, and the highest-ranking commander stationed in the Xiangshan Prefecture garrison was the Dusi. Xia Li knew this so clearly because her third uncle, Xia Shan, served as a camp soldier there.
In this era, the main sources of military personnel were partly from Military Households, partly through conscription, and a small portion from convicts sentenced to military service.
Three years ago, when the Xia family was assigned a conscription quota and couldn’t bear to pay twenty taels of silver to hire a substitute, Xia Shan went to become a soldier. He was fortunate not to be assigned to border defense or capital guard duty thousands of miles away, but instead served in Xiangshan Prefecture just two hundred li from home. Such camp soldiers had their food, lodging, and clothing provided by the court, plus they received Military Pay ranging from one hundred to three hundred wen per month. After completing five years of service, if the soldier hadn’t become an officer and didn’t wish to continue, they could retire and return to farming. If they wished to continue and the army was willing to keep them, the Military Pay would increase to between four hundred and nine hundred wen.
Xia Li had privately admired how, aside from the Military Household system preserved since the founding of the dynasty, the conscription system somewhat resembled that of her previous life, with distinctions between compulsory service and voluntary service.
However, most of Xiangshan Prefecture’s jurisdiction lay within the Huaxiang Mountains, where bandits plagued the people, committing frequent road robberies that had become a grave concern for the court. The prefect of Xiangshan Prefecture had a difficult position, and the Dusi’s role was even more challenging…
Xia Li wondered if Dangdang’s previous owner might be her third uncle’s superior, the Dusi stationed in Xiangshan Prefecture.
Not wanting to burden Mrs. Xia psychologically, Xia Li forced a light laugh and said, “Mother, Dangdang came to our home at the end of March, while the Dusi’s dog was lost on the nineteenth of this month – the timing doesn’t match. Erhu and the neighbors can testify to this. Besides, Yanshan Wolfdogs aren’t limited to just one or two – other households in town keep them too. Who says our Dangdang must be Huzi? No matter how high-ranking the Dusi is, he can’t forcibly seize commoners’ property.”
Seeing Xia Li brazenly lying with open eyes, Mrs. Xia knew she didn’t want to return Dangdang. She advised further, “Li Li, five thousand taels of silver! With that money, we could live comfortably for the rest of our lives without doing anything. If you like dogs, we can buy another one. Besides, keeping Dangdang is like holding a hot coal. If someone discovers we’ve stolen the Dusi’s dog, it would be equivalent to stealing five thousand taels – we’d surely be thrown in jail.”
Xia Li tugged at her arm, coaxing, “Mother, the county town is nearly twenty li from our home. How could Huzi have run that far? Dangdang can’t be Huzi. Although he also wears a hemp rope, there’s no Golden Lilac pendant – the hemp dog leash might just mean their owners bought from the same shop. Even if we consider the remote possibility that Huzi really is Dangdang, we didn’t steal him – he came to our home on his own. At most, it would be failing to report finding him. Though I’ve only been with him for a few days, I already feel he’s like family and can’t bear to be separated from him. Mother, whether he is or isn’t, let’s keep him, please…”For Xia Li, Mrs. Xia had always been unconditionally doting and compliant. Though she disapproved wholeheartedly, seeing Xia Li’s stubborn insistence made her abandon the idea. Still, she said, “We won’t actively seek them out, but if they come looking and Dangdang truly is Huzi, we’ll return him. We could get five thousand taels of silver.”
Xia Li sighed and said, “Mother, we’re a widow and orphan. Just having a courtyard and a well has already drawn envy and caused so much trouble. Do you believe me? If Dangdang really is Huzi and we get that five thousand taels, my grandmother would definitely make a huge scene to claim half. Not just Little Mrs. Yang—every relative would fight tooth and nail to push their sons forward. Wealth stirs desire. My grandfather and second uncle might not resist the temptation either, letting them make a fuss while they reap the benefits. And then there are the clan relatives and distant kin—they’d all stretch out their hands for money. Relatives would demand openly, while outsiders would steal or rob in secret… Not only would we be unable to keep that five thousand taels, but our peaceful life would vanish. We might even lose our lives. Money is good, but you need to be alive to spend it. You should understand the principle that ‘treasure invites calamity.'”
Mrs. Xia thought it over and realized this was true. They were a widow and orphan—even guarding their courtyard was difficult, let alone such a large sum of money. Her earlier thoughts of exchanging Dangdang for silver vanished instantly.
The mother and daughter agreed that Dangdang must not be seen by anyone for now, including Erhu. No matter who asked, they would not admit Dangdang was a Yanshan Wolfdog and must emphasize that he came to their home at the end of March. As long as they stuck to this story, others would believe them. Putting themselves in others’ shoes, who would be foolish enough to choose a dog over five thousand taels?
Afterward, Mrs. Xia went to the kitchen to cook, and Dangdang’s sinister gaze followed her retreating back.
He wanted to tear her skirt to shreds. What to do?
Xia Li thought to herself, Dangdang had lived two lifetimes and was even smarter than in his previous life.
She sat on a small stool, hugging his neck, and said, “Don’t look at my mother like that. She has a very kind heart. She hasn’t been with you long and doesn’t have much affection for you yet, but once she spends more time with you, she won’t be willing to part with you.” Lowering her voice further, she added, “Your previous owner from this lifetime has come looking for you, and he’s quite influential. Offering so much silver to find you shows he’s a madman… No matter how much he adores you, he can’t compare to me…”
Dangdang couldn’t speak, so he kept nuzzling against Xia Li.
During the meal, neither mother nor daughter spoke much. Mrs. Xia feared attracting trouble, while Xia Li felt guilty about wronging Dangdang’s previous owner.
But no matter what, she had to protect Dangdang.
In the afternoon, Wang Erniu came to deliver firewood, and Xia Li asked him to make a small dog hole in the northeast corner of the backyard wall. She was preparing for the worst—if someone really came looking, Dangdang could escape through it into the bamboo grove and directly up the mountain.
At dusk, as Mrs. Xia was about to start cooking, Xia Erhu arrived again. Xia Li quickly shut Dangdang inside the house.
He declared immediately, “I’m not here to mooch a meal. Third Uncle has returned, and Grandfather wants Aunt and Sister Li to come back for dinner.” He added, “Let Dangdang come to our house to play too, so Third Uncle can see him.”
Hearing that Xia Shan had returned, both Mrs. Xia and Xia Li were delighted.
Xia Li thought to herself that this would be a good opportunity to inquire whether the colonel in his camp had lost a dog. However, she had no intention of bringing Dangdang to the Xia residence. Shaking her head, she said, “Dangdang still has a wild nature. Aside from us and you, it doesn’t like anyone else. What if it bites someone?”
Thinking about how Dangdang had frightened Grandma so badly that she strained her back, yet was so affectionate with him, Xia Erhu felt extremely proud and broke into a wide grin.
Mrs. Xia took twenty eggs with her, and the group headed to the Xia residence together. Although Dangdang was unhappy about being left home alone by its sister, its past life had ingrained in it the habit of absolute obedience to Xia Li’s commands, so it didn’t try to follow them.