Great Tang Idyll

Book 2: Chapter 124

Magistrate Jia's carriage rushed the entire way, and in the afternoon, he finally arrived at the junction between San'shui County and Hua'yuan County, where many people were already waiting there.

Magistrate Jia got out of the carriage and got into another carriage. There was already someone in the carriage, and when that person saw Magistrate Jia, he immediately said, "Magistrate Jia, the journey must have been exhausting; come back with me to rest. We will set out tomorrow morning and everything will be fine once we get there."

Magistrate Jia replied, "Official Han is courteous. By joining forces with you and the Yuan family this time, the Zhang manor will not be able to rise up again. Everything depends on Official Han."

"No problem. It's just that when the time comes, there are certain things that we need to discuss properly. In particular, about hatching chicken eggs, growing fungus, and the techniques to grow good grains. I ask that my lord take the big picture into consideration first."

Official Han didn't act overly courteous anymore. He clarified the situation first, so as to prevent mistakes from arising later on.

Magistrate Jia naturally understood that regardless of which of these three things he manages to obtain, he will make a fortune. Especially if he obtained the method for growing fungus. When he thought of this, he immediately felt angered. Since they were able to grow it, why did they give him only one catty each time? Because of this, he had to think about which superior to bribe first, and which one to bribe later.

The growing method was not easy to obtain. If the three families know about it and grow more fungus, someone will have to sell it in other places farther away. Furthermore, the relationship between the three families was not so stable.

Thinking of this, Magistrate Jia said, "Don't worry, Official Han, I just want to vent my anger. Later, we will slowly discuss how to divide it. However, for the wharf at Little Luo'shui, I want to be the head. After all, it is in San'shui County, and it is next to the Administrative Office."

"Okay, we will see if the Zhang manor has anything else, maybe there is something more valuable, hahahaha." Official Han was also thinking about his own plan, and he laughed.

*

He wandered outside the county town, going wherever his horse walked to. His horse walked straight ahead, and he occasionally touched his chest with his hand with a slight smile.

Seeing that there was no one around, he took out something from his robe. He looked at it carefully, and muttered, "I've finally accomplished a task. Perhaps I can get a random official title, Zhang manor, you have gone too far with your trickery. This time, we will let you know how powerful we are. Giddy-up!"

As he shouted, the horse that was walking slowly just now started to run, and he was riding on it with a high-spirited look.

After running for three hours, the horse couldn't stand it anymore. It was wading through the snow this entire time, and it was not a particularly good horse. At this time, white puffs of breath were fuming out of its nose and mouth, and its running pace was now slow.

Seeing the state of the horse, Jia Wei'ran had no choice but to get off his horse. He led the horse forward, scolding as he walked, "There is nothing good about the Zhang family, why is the Administrative Office's horse like this after running such a short distance? I wanted to go horse riding, and yet they gave me such an inferior horse?

After I teach all of you a lesson, I will make you feed the horses every day. Humph! You wait for it. I'll denounce you with three different crimes and no one will be able to save you. Even the Emperor's nephew will not dare not speak out, humph humph~! "

Jia Wei'ran kept scolding the Zhang manor while thinking about how to get those people to submit. He led the horse through the snow and looked ahead from time to time, hoping to find a place to rest. His body could not endure traveling so far. By the time he arrives there, he would either die from exhaustion or from the cold.

After walking forward for another hour, just when Jia Wei'ran wanted to get back on his horse, he suddenly noticed that up ahead, there were a few stalls set out on the sides of the road.

"Why are there stalls in a place like this?" Jia Wei'ran asked suspiciously, and he immediately hastened his pace. The aroma that accompanied the wind let him know that at least there was someone cooking food. He could drink some hot soup to warm up his body.

It was only until he got up close did he realize that these stalls did not sell goods. It was an area for people to rest in. Stalls were set up to keep out the wind. It was hard to tell where these people came from judging by their clothing. There were all kinds of random items, a few carriages and a dozen or so horses.

After a quick count, there were twenty-two people in total eating and drinking there. The aroma kept drifting into his nose, making him drool. Judging by the items and their clothes, they should be merchants.

The San'shui County was now rich, and many people sold goods here. It was evident that these people were from other places. He was unsure why these people would come here during the New Year. Could it be that they don't have a home to return to?

Jia Wei'ran thought about it, and felt that there was no danger. He wanted to eat again, and he took a fancy to other people's horses, so he walked over with his own horse.

"Are you merchants?" Jia Wei'ran saw that the people there raised their heads to look up at him, so he spoke up first.

"Yes. You have walked here alone with such an inferior horse. Have you encountered any troubles?" A person who was sitting in the center of a group of people replied back to Jia Wei'ran.

Jia Wei'ran shook his head, "No, I don't know how to choose horses, so I randomly chose one and rode it out. Once the horse was tired, I could only lead it. I'm hungry and tired. I wonder if you can sell me some of these things. I'll give you extra money."

Seeing him do this, those people suddenly laughed, and the person who had spoken earlier said to him, "Young Master, why would you need to pay for this small amount of food? Have a seat and start eating. Here, have a taste of this meat. It is nice and fatty."

A person next to him fished out fatty slices with a little lean meat from the pot, and placed it into another bowl. He poured a spoonful of soup in, drizzled half a spoon of garlic sauce, sprinkled some coriander and chopped green onion, and passed the bowl along with a pair of chopsticks to Jia Wei'ran.

Jia Wei'ran didn't like eating fatty meat. His family was not like the commoners who rarely had the chance to see oil and would be willing to eat fatty foods.However, seeing that these people were so enthusiastic, it was hard to decline. He endured his stomach's discomfort and accepted the food that was handed to him.

He smelled it first, and realized that the smell was actually really good. He wondered how the soup was made. He carefully picked up this big piece of fatty meat, which weighed about a catty, and took a bite. Jia Wei'ran's eyes lit up and he nodded, "It's delicious, fatty but not greasy. It's so fragrant. And this soup. Taking a sip warms up my entire body. I can't help but to drink a few more sips."

"That's a given. We're very tired from working outside. We wouldn't be able to function if we don't eat fatty food. It's gross to eat too much greasy food, so we have to come up with ways to make the fatty meat delicious. Since you like to eat it, then eat more. Come on, sit here."

Hearing Jia Wei'ran praise the delicious meat, the man became more and more happy. He patted a cushion beside him, and invited Jia Wei'ran.

Jia Wei'ran noticed that the spot was the least windy. He stopped acting courteous. He thought to himself that it was not a big deal as he can give them more money. He walked over there, but just after taking two steps, he stumbled and fell backwards. Before he fell, the two people on both sides grabbed him from the front and back.

"Young master, be careful. Food is prepared here so there is a lot of stuff laying around. If you are not careful, you might trip over something." One of the two people who grabbed Jia Wei'ran patted Jia Wei'ran's wrinkled clothing as he spoke

Only then did Jia Wei'ran realize that there was a stick at his feet that he didn't see earlier. He had to be more careful. If he fell, he would be in pain for quite a while and he would dirty his clothing. Since food was prepared in this area, the cooking fire had melted the snow.

After moving his waist, he felt that there was nothing wrong. Jia Wei'ran said with a smile, "Thanks to this big brother, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to wear my clothes out anymore."

The person who spoke earlier pulled Jia Wei'ran to sit next to him. He handed over a bowl of rice, and two types of pickled veggies. At the same time, a person next to him filled a bowl of soup and brought it to Jia Wei'ran. Eating the fried rice with pickles and soup was amazing.

Jia Wei'ran picked up his chopsticks and poked around at the innermost part, and said as he ate, "It's delicious, it's really delicious. It seems that you really know how to enjoy yourself. If all merchants can be like you, what kind of hardship do you even have to face?"

"Your words are not so correct. It's like this here, but if you go somewhere further, for example, the land of Ba'shu, no matter how well you eat, it is useless. The roads there are not easy to travel. If you think this food is delicious, then when you leave later, you can place some in a bamboo tube and put it in your robe. Not only can it warm your body, you can also take a bite when you want to eat."

A person next to him told Jia Wei'ran the difficulties of being a merchant, and at the same time he took out a bamboo tube and filled it with the meat and soup.

"Okay, I'll take these. I still have to travel a far distance. I'll give you the money before I leave." When Jia Wei'ran heard the man telling him to place the tube into his robe, he briefly touched his chest with his hand and was assured that the item was still there. Seeing that these people were so nice, he wanted to give them money.

"What did you say? Why would we want money? It is fate that allows us to eat together, so do not mention money again." The man said a little unhappily.

Jia Wei'ran pointed to his horse, and then pointed to their horses, and said, "It's not the money for food. I want to buy a horse from you and you can keep my horse. I must pay you for the horse. Please agree to this request."

"Buy a horse? This... Actually, we don't have many horses, ah." The man hesitated this time, as if he didn't want to sell it.

The person next to Jia Wei'ran said, "Fifth brother, this Young Master is having a hard time. Just sell one to him. What if he dies from the cold because he doesn't have a horse? Wouldn't that mean we treated him to a meal for nothing?"

The fifth brother thought about it for a while, then nodded to Jia Wei'ran, "Alright, I'll exchange my horse with you, but you have to give me an additional five strings of coins."