Chapter 163 Do you like me more?
The sudden heavy snowfall had Zhao Xiping incredibly busy. As the youngest and least experienced of the ten commanders, transporting food and fodder and patrolling the city fell on him, often leaving him busy until dark. This day was no exception. Remembering Sui Yu was still at the guesthouse, he rode back to the guesthouse as fast as he could, just before nightfall.
Sui Yu walked out and passed by the slave trader. She whispered, "I'll give you an answer tomorrow."
Through the gloomy dusk, the slave trader looked at Zhao Xiping. He was a little confused. In his opinion, Sui Yu's ability to make money was far superior to Zhao Xiping's. Why should he look at his face when buying a few slaves?
"Are you back?" Zhao Xiping supported Sui Yu. "Have you eaten?"
"Not yet, let's go back and eat." Sui Yu looked around and said to Gan Da, "After we clean up here, you can take Sui Liang back."
"Hey." Gan Da nodded, "Don't worry, Madam Shopkeeper."
"The military horses should stay here and be fed with fodder first. When you send Sui Liang back, take the horses with you." Zhao Xiping said.
Gan Da nodded. He was just about to get a torch when Gan Erji brought it to him with a tactful look.
Zhao Xiping held a torch in one hand and supported Sui Yu with the other as they walked into the city. It had snowed a few days ago and the wind was very cold at night. He walked on the west side to block the wind slightly, talking about the new things he had seen during the day.
Sui Yu used to listen attentively, but today she seemed perfunctory. Zhao Xiping noticed this and asked while they were cooking at home, "Are you worried about something?"
"Well, I want to buy a few private slaves." Sui Yu said frankly.
"Buy a private slave? Aren't they short-staffed at the guesthouse?" Zhao Xiping asked. "How about hiring a helper? Or do you have other needs?"
"It has another use."
"Then buy it." Zhao Xiping had no objection. The money was earned by Sui Yu, and she could use it however she wanted.
Now it was Sui Yu's turn to remain silent.
Zhao Xiping noticed something was wrong. He stood up and said, "I'll roll the noodles. You go back to the house and rest. I'll call you when the meal is ready."
"good."
Sui Yu returned to her room alone and let out a long sigh. She leaned against the headboard and thought secretly, wondering whether to be honest with Zhao Xiping or to fool him with an excuse and then tell him everything after she made her own decision.
There were footsteps outside the door. Zhao Xiping came over to get the wooden basin. He leaned over and asked, "Do you want to go to the toilet first? I'll get you some water to soak your feet later."
"want."
Zhao Xiping put down the wooden basin, came in and took the oil lamp to light it for her.
Just as he came out of the toilet, he heard the sound of horse hooves outside the door. Zhao Xiping went to open the door and saw Sui Liang riding back on a horse with a cash box in his arms.
"Sir, the person has been sent back. I'm going over there." Gan Da said.
"Okay, no torch? Go slowly on your way."
"Okay."
"Brother-in-law, take it." Sui Liang handed the cash box to Zhao Xiping, and he jumped off the horse.
"Brother-in-law, is my sister asleep?" Sui Liang led the horse into the house and said, "It feels really good to ride a horse. Brother-in-law, you can leave the military horse at the guest house tomorrow night and I will ride it back for you in the evening."
"Is it not possible to ride a camel?" Sui Yu asked while standing in the yard.
"Camels are heavy and can't run as lightly as horses." Sui Liang laughed, "Sister, you go to sleep first. I'll take the horses to the pen in the backyard."
"The weather has been nice these past few days, so move all your things to the backyard." Sui Yu instructed, "You'll live in that yard from now on, and you can decorate it however you like."
"Okay." Sui Liang was happy.
Zhao Xiping helped Sui Yu into the house. He took a basin to fetch water. As he entered the house, he heard Sui Liang's footsteps coming. He said, "There's hot water in the pottery pot. Go wash your hands and feet."
Sui Liang went back to the house to get the wooden basin, ran quickly into the kitchen, and returned to the house with water. Passing by his sister and brother-in-law's room, he said in a light voice: "Sister, brother-in-law, I'm going back to the house."
Zhao Xiping hummed and said, "He seems to be happy every day."
"He doesn't have much to worry about at his age." Sui Yu handed him the cloth for wiping his face, picked up a lump of camel oil from the table, and wiped his hands and face with it.
After pouring the water for washing face into the foot basin, Zhao Xiping first took off Sui Yu's shoes and washed her feet, massaging the soles of her feet while washing her feet.
"That's enough." Sui Yu reminded, "The water is getting cold, you can wash now."
Zhao Xiping threw away the cloth he used to wipe his feet, raised his hands, picked her up sideways, and shook her.
"Is it heavier again?" Sui Yu asked.
"No."
Sui Yu raised her hand and hooked it around his neck, leaning up to cover his face hidden in the darkness. His lips were slightly cold, and seemed to have the taste of wind and snow.
The belt slipped off, Zhao Xiping leaned against Sui Yu's shoulder and took a deep breath, his straight nose sinking into the white and tender flesh. The smell of Sui Yu made him angry.
"I'll go cook." He buried the person in the mattress and strode out with a basin of cold water.
Sui Yu took a deep breath, and the emptiness somewhere in her abdomen made her grab the bed sheet in frustration.
The lamp oil was running out, and the flame on the candle wick gradually became smaller, only able to illuminate a small area.
The wooden bed was hidden in the darkness. Sui Yu tilted his head to look at the door that was ajar and vaguely heard footsteps in the yard.
"Zhao Xiping." she called out.
Zhao Xiping walked over quickly, pushed the door open and asked, "What's wrong? Oh, the lamp oil is out."
He hurried to buy lamp oil. The oil lamp was full of oil, and the fire in the room was bright, half of the room was covered with a dim light.
"The bed is not warm enough." Sui Yu said again.
Zhao Xiping went out to wash his hands, went into the house, took off his clothes and lay down on the mattress. As soon as he lay down, Sui Yu came over to him.
"You're so warm." Sui Yu reached out and hugged him, "I'm satisfied just holding you."
Zhao Xiping smoothed her hair and asked with a smile, "Tell me, what bad things are you planning?"
"What?" Sui Yu pretended to be stupid.
"If you don't tell me, I'll go cook." Although he said he was cooking, Zhao Xiping closed his eyes. His hand under the mattress touched her belly and tapped her belly with his index finger, trying to wake up the sleeping baby.
One, two... eight, nine... When his index finger tapped for the ninth time, the baby in the belly moved. Through the belly, Zhao Xiping's fingers touched the baby's little feet.
Both couple laughed.
"I've decided not to hide this from you. You're my man, the father of my child, and we're a family. I shouldn't lie to you anymore." Sui Yu spoke slowly. "I mentioned forming a caravan to you last year, and I haven't given up on the idea yet. I want to buy slaves so I can form a caravan with them and travel the world with them."
Zhao Xiping stopped what he was doing and was speechless for a moment.
"Although I have this thought, it may not be possible to implement it. I still have a child. Maybe after he is born, I will not be able to bear to leave him."
"Are you willing to leave me?" Zhao Xiping asked.
Sui Yu shook her head, "How could I bear to leave? I don't know how happy I am to have you by my side."
Zhao Xiping didn't believe it and felt a little angry.
Sui Yu smiled and looked up and said, "A few years ago, when you were away fighting or on a mission, I waited for you at home for several months or even half a year. I could wait for you at home, but you couldn't wait for me?"
Zhao Xiping said nothing.
"You're so selfish."
"Yes..." Zhao Xiping said in a hoarse voice.
"Then I take back what I said before." Sui Yu patted his hands.
Zhao Xiping sighed and said, "It's okay inside the pass. It's difficult for the private slave to defect. But if you go outside the pass, the private slave's escape is a sure thing. Why bother?"
Sui Yu was delighted. After hearing what he said, she found that he actually had no objection to her forming a caravan to trade! She hurriedly explained, "I've thought about this as well. I plan to buy private slaves with family ties, preferably those with children born to slaves. People born into slavery have the strongest slave mentality, and with the added concern, their desire to run away will be much less. Another thing is that I promise them wages and then share the profits. They will make money, and the possibility of running away will be further reduced. When a woman reaches the border, she is free from the shackles of slavery. If she is left alone, she may very well become a tool for others to make money again. As long as I explain it clearly to them, they will weigh the pros and cons themselves. Even if some of them run away, there will be others willing to work with me. There is no business without risks. If three out of ten people run away, I will make money."
Zhao Xiping pinched her angrily and asked bitterly, "Have you been thinking about this for a long time?"
Sui Yu sneered at him.
"But for women to lead a caravan out of the border is like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth." Zhao Xiping was still worried and said, "If you are determined to buy a private slave, then buy a male slave."
"Let's buy a male and female in half. Only by comparing can we tell the difference." Sui Yu nudged him flatteringly and said delicately, "After I buy my private slave, I'll ask Captain Zhao to help me train him. My safety is in your hands."
Zhao Xiping had no choice but to agree.
Sui Yu kissed him excitedly, "Why are you so easy to talk to? I thought you would disagree and then we would have a big fight."
"Isn't it me who finally gave in?" Zhao Xiping said, his hand resting on his pillow. "I don't understand you, but I understand myself. When I was in my teens, I wanted to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy. My parents, brothers, and sister-in-law all disagreed, but in the end, no one stopped me, and I joined the army anyway. After retiring from the battlefield, I realized that some things, no matter how much others advise, are not as effective as experiencing them yourself. You have to hit a wall yourself before you know what is good and what is bad."
Sui Yu was silent.
"You think it's beneficial to go into business, and I think it's beneficial too, but I'm worried that you will be in danger. You are my former self, and I am your former parents. I think I can follow your advice. Although I am reluctant, I don't want to stop you." Zhao Xiping said again.
Sui Yu was shocked. She had to admit that she had underestimated this man's mind.
"You can buy a private slave. Go ahead and buy it. We will make good preparations. You can set off when everything is ready." Zhao Xiping said.
Sui Yu's eyes were a little sore. He did not question her decision, respected her ideas without asking the reason, and did not use emotions to hold her hostage. She actually met a man who loved her so much.
"I'm so lucky to meet you." Sui Yu murmured softly.
Zhao Xiping was proud and secretly pleased with himself, thinking that he had been charmed by him again.
"You don't ask me why I want to go into business?" Sui Yu was curious.
"Don't ask. I understand any reason. I wanted to join the army because I believed that men who have seen blood and killed enemies are considered brave and not lived in vain," Zhao Xiping said. "You might be jealous of the caravans' profits, or want to explore the outside world, see the rich Dayuan, or see the end of the desert. Any reason is fine."
Sui Yu hugged him tightly and gave him two big kisses.
"Do you like me more?" Zhao Xiping couldn't help but ask.
Sui Yu nodded frantically, her chin hitting his chest like a woodpecker pecking at a tree.
Zhao Xiping smiled like a rotten persimmon again. He held her forehead and kissed her, saying with relief: "Not bad, your stone heart has warmed up. This time you didn't try to trick me."
"You are the one with a heart of stone." Sui Yu refused to admit it.
Zhao Xiping lifted the mattress and sat up, saying, "The bed is warm now. You can sleep for a while while I go make some noodles. Do you want some eggs? I'll cook you two."
"good."
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