130 Buying Horses

◎When the muscles in the neck are tense, you can see the powerful ups and downs under the skin.◎

For the next few days, Song Jinyi was busy with the construction of a restaurant in the suburbs and had long forgotten about Yang Xiu, the person she was going on a blind date with.

That day, she went to Juxing Tower to help. As soon as she entered, she ran into Yang Xiu. She was stunned for a moment, secretly wondering why he was there, but she remained polite and greeted him, "Why are you here today, Mr. Yang? If you don't mind, I'll take you to the third-floor wing."

Yang Xiu waved his hand and said, "Don't bother. I'm just passing by. I'd just like to have a quick meal. The second floor is perfect."

Song Jinyi led him to a window seat on the second floor as instructed, and instructed the waiter to serve some signature dishes as soon as possible.

It was past dinner time and there were not many customers in the restaurant, so it seemed a little quiet. Song Jinyi knew that Yang Xiu's sudden visit was definitely not just for a meal.

So, she slowly sat down opposite him and asked tentatively, "Mr. Yang, is this food to your liking?"

Yang Xiu smiled and said, "Of course the food in Juxing Tower is delicious."

He ate his meal leisurely, as if he really came to eat.

Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a long time, Song Jinyi took the initiative to ask, "Mr. Yang, you came here today, it shouldn't be just for this meal, right?"

Yang Xiu raised his eyes to look at her, a smile on his lips, and then asked, "Oh? Then, my lady, what do you think I came here for today?"

She did not answer immediately, but just looked at him for a while, thinking in her heart: No matter what he did today, he must explain the matter clearly.

Thinking of this, she spoke, "I just thought Yang Langjun came here to see me."

After she finished speaking, she observed his reaction. He was indifferent, neither saying yes nor no.

She continued, "To be honest with Mr. Yang, it was a surprise that I agreed to go on a blind date with Mrs. Wang.

"I have no plans to get married at the moment. If Mr. Yang really wants to find a beautiful woman, you might as well find a suitable family as soon as possible to avoid delaying you."

Yang Xiu was not angry, but smiled, "Madam Song has a straightforward personality, but we have only met once, and it is normal for her to feel that it is indifferent.

"Matters of love are a long-term process. If my lady doesn't have anyone she likes, and she thinks Yang is a good person, we can slowly cultivate feelings for each other."

Song Jinyi frowned, thinking of a reason to decline, when she heard him ask, "Could it be that Madam Song actually has someone she likes?"

She subconsciously raised her eyes and met Yang Xiu's gentle gaze. Her lips moved and she finally uttered two words, "No."

"Why don't you spend some time with me, my lady?"

Song Jinyi looked at him, and suddenly an idea came to her mind: maybe she could forget that person.

She nodded stiffly and agreed to Yang Xiu's proposal.

In the days that followed, Yang Xiu did not disturb her too much. He just came to Juxing Tower occasionally to sit for a while, occasionally asked her to go out for a walk, and occasionally went to the theater to send her home.

******

Before I knew it, the New Year was drawing near, and the wind, wrapped in the uniquely cold northern wind, penetrated my bones. The crabapple tree outside the courtyard had long since lost all its leaves, its bare branches piercing the leaden sky.

The heavy cotton curtain hanging on the door was lifted up, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, causing the sparks from the stove inside the door to jump.

"Sister Jinyi, two letters came from Yunzhou!" Li He walked quickly to the inner room holding the envelopes.

Song Jinyi raised her hand to take the letter and slowly opened it. Li He leaned over, his chin almost resting on her arm. "What did Sister Ruolan say? Should I agree to come and help you?"

The rice paper carried a faint scent of ink as it was unwrapped. She read through it word by word, gently pinching the corner of the paper with her fingertips as she concluded the letter: "She's living a stable life in Yunzhou and is used to the work there. She'll come and celebrate the New Year with us this year."

"Ah..." Li He's voice immediately dropped, and she tightened her grip on the handkerchief: "What does she mean? Doesn't she want to come? Doesn't she miss us? The capital is so lively, it would be great if the three of us could get together..."

Just like at the beginning.

Song Jinyi raised her hand and patted the back of her hand, her eyes falling on the light snow drifting outside the window, her voice soft but steady: "Li He, don't blame Sister Ruolan, everyone's path will always lead to different places.

"Just like the trees in this courtyard, they sprout together in spring and shed snow together in winter, but in summer, their branches still stretch out in their own directions. She must be thinking of us in her heart, but she feels more at ease in Yunzhou.

"We can't force her to abandon herself and follow us just for our own selfish desires. Instead, we should be happy for her to be able to live the life she wants."

Her fingertips traced over the words "Be well, don't worry" on the letter. "Besides, how can there be a companionship that lasts forever? Today she is staying in Yunzhou, and tomorrow someone else might be going somewhere else. But as long as we remember each other in our hearts, even if we are thousands of miles apart, we are still close."

"Things in this world are inherently impermanent. Learning to say goodbye is the path we must take."

After hearing this, Li He's eyes turned red and she asked hurriedly, "Sister Jinyi, will you leave in the future?"

"Of course I won't leave. I have my business in Shengjing and my family in Yunzhou. I will only go back and forth between these two places."

Li He said, "Anyway, from now on, wherever Sister Jinyi goes, I'll go with you!"

Song Jinyi just smiled and said nothing. She put away Xu Ruolan's letter and opened the second letter. When she unfolded it, she found that it was written by her brother.

"Sister, the seasons change, winter comes and goes, and it has been a long time since I last greeted you. I just wish you well.

"Business in Yunzhou is going well...

"I heard that silk and porcelain are the best sellers in the capital. I'm thinking of coming to Yunzhou in the spring to find a good shop, and then shipping silk to the capital to buy it. Once the business stabilizes, we can settle down in the capital and reunite with our family there."

Song Jinyi's eyes fell on the words "family reunion", and the corners of her mouth slowly rose. The slight sadness caused by separation just now was actually warmed by these lines of words.

The snow was still falling outside the window and the cold wind was still knocking on the window lattice, but the fire in the fireplace in the room was burning brightly, and even the air was filled with a bit of hope.

In the evening, Zhang Yao brought the newly learned dishes to Song Jinyi for inspection. The dining table was placed next to the stove, and the three of them sat around it.

Zhang Yao heard that Song Jinyi's brother wanted to transport goods to the capital, and her eyes lit up: "I heard from Ah He a long time ago that Master has a younger brother. If he can come to the capital next year, our place will be even more lively!

"When the master's family comes, we can make an appointment to play polo. It will be more fun with more people."

Song Jinyi smiled faintly and said, "How can it be that easy? The transportation of goods has not been finalized yet. I originally thought of going by water, but in the cold winter in the capital, the rivers are frozen for too long, and shipping is impossible for half a year."

"The water route is blocked, so what about carriages?" Zhang Yao put down his chopsticks and immediately asked, "But most of the horses in Daxia are short-legged horses. They are fine for carrying goods over short distances. But if we go from Yunzhou to the capital, the road is long and difficult, so I'm afraid the journey will take a long time.

"The only ones are the tall horses from the Western Regions. They have good legs and can carry heavy loads, but they're hard to find."

When Song Jinyi heard her say this, she was moved and asked, "Is there a place in Shengjing that sells this kind of horse?"

"Yes, I do," Zhang Yao thought for a moment, "I went to the horse market in the East Market a few years ago and saw one or two shops selling Western Region horses. But those horses looked expensive, so the price must be quite high. Master, if you want to buy in bulk, I'm afraid it will take some effort."

The next morning, Song Jinyi went to the horse market in the East City.

In the cold wind, several tall horses were tied to wooden stakes, their manes glossy and almost a head taller than the shorter horses beside them. When I asked the price, I found out that the price of one Western Region horse could buy three Central Plains horses.

If you buy ten horses to pull the goods, the money for buying the horses alone will almost be as much as the cost of half the goods, which is really not cost-effective.

She had no choice but to go home.

She returned to the theater with a lot on her mind. She was often distracted while looking through the account book. Even Ru'er, who was usually calm, noticed that she was worried.

After Ru'er found out what was going on, she said to her, "So that's what happened. I really can't help you with buying a horse, but I know there are a few people in our building who often go to the border to do business. Maybe they have a way to buy a horse."

After hearing this, Song Jinyi asked Huo Changqing to inquire for her. Within three days, she got the news: horse dealers often gathered in several cities in Hexi County, specializing in the trade of Western Region horses. The price was nearly 30% lower than that in the capital. If you buy in large quantities, you can save a lot.

Someone was going west, and if Song Jinyi wanted to go, he could give him a ride.

So, Song Jinyi set off with Li He before December.

********

A yellow wind blew sand and gravel across the Gobi Desert outside Yanxing Pass. Tuoba Jun pulled on his horse's reins, his knuckles white from the strain. The cavalry behind him formed a neat formation, like a black cloak draped behind him.

The war horses kept stamping their hooves on the frozen ground. The sound was instantly swallowed up by the strong wind, but it could not cover up the tiny collision sounds of armor.

"Your Majesty," Sui Yun urged his horse forward and spoke in a clear voice, "Daxia is in civil strife. Our spies among the officials report that the Emperor has not attended court for half a month, and that Empress Jiang is now in control of the government."

"There's also Jiang Chen, who guards the northern border. He returned to the capital without an imperial edict, and his ambitions are clear. Now that the northern border is deserted, it's a good time for us to advance."

Tuoba Jun looked at the skyline in the distance towards the Central Plains. The lead-gray clouds were so low that they seemed to be about to crush the city walls.

As long as Yanxing Pass is taken, the nine counties in the northern border will be as easy as taking candy from a baby, and half of Daxia will belong to Xirong... An irrepressible excitement surged in his heart, but reason tugged at his nerves.

"The Daxia people are extremely cunning. We must not underestimate them. The 300,000-strong Rongxi army in the north is no pushover. We don't know the current situation in the city... If there's an ambush, we'll suffer heavy casualties."

He narrowed his eyes, staring at the prey so close, "Send a message to Wusun, saying that my Xirong tribe is willing to join forces with them to test the situation inside the pass first."

The cavalry behind him remained in a state of silence, no one daring to speak. They all knew the king's temperament; the more readily available an opportunity seemed, the more cautious he would be, hoping only to kill with one blow.

*****

There are nine cities in Hexi County.

As soon as Song Jinyi's carriage entered Jincheng, the wind blew sand into the curtains, making a rustling sound.

Looking through the curtains, there were no red walls and green tiles like those in the capital. The low walls were mostly made of rammed earth, and the roofs were covered with coarse pottery tiles. When the wind blew, the dried goods hanging on the eaves swayed.

Most pedestrians on the street were wrapped in dark coarse cloth sacks with thick cotton quilting sewn on the collars and cuffs. Many people had light-colored scarves on their heads, which could block some dust when the wind and sand were strong.

Occasionally you can see merchants wearing exotic costumes, some wearing long robes with narrow sleeves and belts with silver bells around their waists, some wearing pointed leather hats and carrying bulging leather bags in their arms, bargaining with the stall owners in their broken Chinese.

The stall on the corner of the street was selling dried grapes, walnuts, and sesame oil in coarse earthenware jars. The stall owner was a man from the Western Regions with a high nose bridge. He was playing a strange tune on the huqin, attracting several children to watch.

"Sister Jinyi, this place is too dry!" Li He touched her chapped lips. After only two days in Hexi County, her lips had gone from moist and tender to the bumpy, lumpy skin of fish scales. She sighed, "If I were a grape, I'd be dried into a wrinkled raisin!"

Song Jinyi was amused by her words and pointed to a stall selling dried goods on the street: "You are right, the raisins are produced here. Look at the raisins on that stall, they are so fresh. I will buy some later, so that it will not be a wasted trip."

As they were talking, the carriage stopped at the door of an inn. The driver jumped out and led a middle-aged man over. "Madam Song, this is Old Man Chen. He has lived here for thirty years. He is very familiar with the horse market. If you want to buy a horse, you can go to him."

Song Jinyi looked up at Old Man Chen, who looked to be in his forties. His skin was a sallow yellow from years of wind and sun exposure, with several deep wrinkles on his face. He was wearing a short brown shirt that was washed white, with a hemp rope tied around his waist and an old cloth towel in his hand. He looked very ordinary.

"My lady, you've arrived at an unfortunate time." Old Man Chen sighed after hearing her purpose. "A few months ago at the horse market, a large horse from the Western Regions could be taken away for thirty taels, and a good one would only cost thirty-five taels. But it's only been a short while, and now you're asking for fifty taels, not a penny less."

"Fifty taels?" Song Jinyi paused, her hand holding the tea bowl, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She had calculated the cost when she came here, and thirty taels per piece was still within her budget. Now the price had increased by nearly twenty taels, which was really abnormal.

Old Man Chen rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice, "Who says it's not true? Just a few days ago, some people dressed like officials came and bought up more than a dozen horses. Then, a few more groups who looked like caravan leaders came and scrambled for the horses. The competition drove the prices up like crazy."

Song Jinyi said nothing more. The officials and the merchant caravans were suddenly buying a large number of horses. What had happened? A hint of unease rose in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face. She just said to Old Man Chen, "Please take us to the horse market to see the quality of the horses first."

Old Man Chen said "Okay" and stood up to lead them out. As soon as they left the inn, the wind picked up again, carrying dust and sand into their faces. She and Li He quickly pulled up their scarves to block the wind and sand.

Not far from the horse market, the smell of livestock could be smelled. As soon as he turned the corner, the scene before him made Li He exclaim "Ah" -

The tall horse in the fence looked even more majestic than imagined. It was six feet tall at the shoulders, and its mane was like black silk. When blown by the wind, it hung down along its neck, shining with an oily luster.

Their hooves were larger than those of ordinary Central Plains horses, and when they trod on the ground, they made a thud, stirring up a layer of fine sand. Several horses were completely red, their coats pure without a single speck of other colors. When the muscles in their necks were tense, the powerful undulations beneath their skin could be seen, and each one exuded a heroic air.

Seeing their interest, a horse dealer came forward to sell them horses. "Madam, you want to buy horses? These are fine horses from the Western Regions. They have good legs and great endurance."

Song Jinyi stepped forward to take a closer look. They were indeed different from the horses of the Central Plains. Seeing her interest, the horse dealer rubbed his hands and said, "My horses are genuine fine breeds from the Western Regions. If you really want them, I'll give you seventy taels each. If you want more, I can give you another two taels!"

"Seventy taels?!" Li He couldn't help but interrupt, "Seventy taels for a horse, why don't you just rob it?"