Chapter 179 Captain Hu is defeated
"My name is Qingshan. I chose it myself."
"What's your last name?" Sui Yu asked again.
"I don't know my last name. I don't have one."
Sui Yu understood that Qingshan was a slave's son, and perhaps he didn't know who his father was, or perhaps his parents were both nameless slaves.
"I'll think of a way, just wait." Sui Yu raised her eyes, looked at the faces behind her without seeing the eyes, and quickly looked away.
Her abilities are limited, and saving just one person is already a struggle for her. She cannot bear the expectations and fate of too many people.
Zhao Xiping noticed something was wrong here. He turned around on his camel and saw Sui Yu winking at him. He looked deeply at the male slave crawling on the ground, then followed Sui Yu's camel and left.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Sui Yu recounted the conversation and said, "Do you think we can buy him from Captain Hu?"
"He's a ruthless man, but he also knows what's good for him." Zhao Xiping pondered for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll make a note of this and bring it up when I get the chance. Whether it works or not is another matter."
Sui Yu nodded. If he wanted to buy a slave with an owner, he could only ask for it when Captain Hu was in a good mood. Otherwise, he would end up making things worse and the slave named Qingshan would most likely lose his life.
After leaving the west gate, there was no sign of Gan Da and Gan Er outside the city. Zhao Xiping and Sui Yu rode their camels around but still didn't see anyone.
The sky gradually darkened and the kid was hungry, so Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping had to go into the city.
"I'm going to the training ground, you should go back too." Zhao Xiping handed the child to her.
Sui Yu glanced back outside the city, still unwilling to give up, and said, "I'll take the cub to Xiaomi's house, and you can come pick us up in the evening."
"That's fine." Zhao Xiping retracted his gaze and said jokingly, "If these twelve people run away, or all die in the desert, your business will be ruined."
Sui Yu glared at him, "Can't you just hope for the best for me?"
Zhao Xiping laughed a few times, waved to the kid, and ran away on his camel.
Sui Yu looked outside the city again. She took her little cub to Zhao Xiaomi's house. Xiaomi's in-laws lived near the west city gate, and they arrived there in less than half a cup of tea.
Sui Yu went into the house to feed the child, and Zhao Xiaomi lit a fire and steamed a bowl of egg custard for the baby. The baby ate the milk until he was half full, and then continued to eat the egg custard.
After the cub had eaten his fill, Sui Yu took him on a camel out of the city. She didn't return to the city until the sunset faded, the sky darkened, and the city gates were about to close.
"Who are you waiting for? Your servant?" Huang Ancheng asked.
"Yeah." Sui Yu nodded.
"Escaped?" Huang Ancheng asked. "They have no household registration. If they don't leave Yumen Pass and Yangguan Pass, evade the patrolling guards, bypass the city gates through the desert, and head west or south, they can escape. But they won't survive, and they'll die of starvation if not exhaustion."
"That shouldn't happen. Even if someone has this intention, it's impossible for everyone to escape." Sui Yu still had this confidence. She changed her arms to hold the child, and said with a smile, "They should be on their way back. I'll come back tomorrow."
"Are you alone? Going back to the guesthouse or the Qianhu Residence?" Huang Ancheng was worried about her carrying a fairy-like child on the road at night, but he couldn't send her back, so he said, "I'll wait here with you until Brother Zhao comes to pick you up."
"I'm going to my child's aunt's house and having dinner there," said Sui Yu.
After watching her walk away, Huang Ancheng also walked back.
After the evening training on the training grounds, Zhao Xiping rode a camel to pick up Xiaomi from her home. As he left, he said, "I'm going back to my hometown at the end of this year and will be back before New Year's Eve."
"I made clothes and shoes for my parents. Please bring them back for me when you go back. When I have a baby, I will bring the baby back to wish my parents a happy new year." said Zhao Xiaomi.
Zhao Xiping nodded.
"His third uncle, go back and bring your parents here. Xiaomi will be born at the end of the year, so let your in-laws come and see their grandson." Huang's mother said.
"It's too cold to travel, so my parents can't come." Zhao Xiping looked at Huang Lianzheng and said, "If my brother-in-law is willing, he can go pick them up to see their daughter and grandson after the spring planting next year."
Huang Lianzheng nodded repeatedly and said, "Next year I will invite my parents to come and stay for a while."
"Uncle, aunt, you guys are busy. We're leaving now. It's getting late." Sui Yu said, "Sorry to bother you tonight."
"That's too formal." Father Huang stepped forward and asked, "Do you want a torch? It's getting dark."
"The moon is beautiful tonight, and the camels know the way, so we don't need torches to light the way." Sui Yu continued, "Let's go."
Zhao Xiping followed closely behind, holding the cub.
After the sound of the camel's hooves faded away, the Huang family of four closed the door and went into the house.
Huang's mother went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. As she was emptying the slop, she asked, "Xiaomi, is your third brother unhappy tonight? I didn't mean anything by that; I was just being polite."
"My third brother is right. It's right for Lian Zheng to pick up my parents from far away and pick them up." Zhao Xiaomi rubbed her belly and continued, "My third brother didn't mean any harm. He's just that way. He doesn't have a warm attitude when talking to me. He's only barely considered a human being in front of my third sister-in-law."
Huang's mother: ...
She laughed dryly and said, "It's quite scary."
…
The next morning, after training, Zhao Xiping took his camel and headed for the west city gate. Suddenly, he saw Captain Hu and went over to greet him. "Captain, I crossed the river this morning to help you check. The guesthouse you paid for is being topped out. I estimate it will be finished in two days."
Captain Hu waved his hand and said, "It's not mine. My brother-in-law built it. I just lent him some money."
Zhao Xiping sneered inwardly. He was indeed cautious.
Captain Qu saw them talking from a distance and sent his servant to fetch them. When they came closer and greeted him, he looked them over and asked, "What are you talking about?"
"About half a month ago, I met Captain Hu who went to the north of the city to check on the progress of the house construction. Coincidentally, I crossed the river this morning to take a look. I just reported to him when we met. The guesthouse will be completed in two days." Zhao Xiping spoke first.
Captain Hu cupped his hands, looking unhappy, but remained silent. He assumed Zhao Xiping was unhappy and was taking the opportunity to have Captain Qu teach him a lesson.
"You..." Captain Qu nodded at Captain Hu, "Why do you have to go against your own subordinates when you can't do anything else? Aren't you making a fool of yourself for others?"
"Your Excellency has wronged me. It's my brother-in-law who's useless. Seeing Captain Zhao making so much money, he's envious and wants to build a guesthouse. He's a complete idiot. He just wants to build a house next to Captain Zhao's guesthouse to take advantage of it and attract some guests." Captain Hu sighed deeply. "I've scolded him, but he won't change his mind. I'm really helpless."
After saying this, he turned sideways and bowed to Zhao Xiping, saying, "I'll apologize to Captain Zhao on his behalf."
"The guesthouse belongs to my wife, not me." Zhao Xiping followed suit and did not take the blame on himself.
Captain Qu coughed lightly, signaling Zhao Xiping to quit while he was ahead. It was no use continuing the stalemate like this. Not only would it be a laughing stock for outsiders, but the higher-ranking official would crush the person, and Zhao Xiping himself would not be in a good situation either.
Zhao Xiping lowered his eyes, clenched his hands, and asked, "Are the slaves building the house in the north of the city in the captain's name?"
"Maybe, I'm not sure. It should be that my wife sent him." Captain Hu stood up straight and looked at Captain Qu. He had apologized, but it was Zhao Xiping who was tactless.
"A few days ago, I sent my servants out of the city to search for a herd of wild camels, but none have returned since. I don't know if they escaped or died. My family is short of manpower. How about you, Captain, give me some servants?" Zhao Xiping said frankly, "My family is poor. If the business of the guesthouse is affected, my wife may have to leave home and become a merchant. Captain Hu, why don't you give me some visible benefits so that I can take them back to please her."
Captain Qu almost choked on his saliva. He covered his mouth, coughed twice, and turned his head away, pretending not to hear.
Captain Hu gritted his teeth secretly, his face dark and he said nothing.
"I'll go pick ten?" Zhao Xiping said to himself, "My family has lost twelve slaves, and ten more will be enough."
"I'll have someone send you two more slaves tomorrow to make up the difference," Captain Qu said.
Captain Hu had no choice but to agree. He pretended to be generous and said, "Okay, I'm in the wrong, so I should compensate you."
"Thank you, Captain." Zhao Xiping smiled.
Captain Hu bowed to Captain Qu and walked away quickly.
"Thank you, Captain." Zhao Xiping bowed and stood up straight, then said with a refreshed look, "I finally got some relief."
Captain Qu patted him on the shoulder and warned him with a smile, "If you accept the reward, the matter will be over. If you really confront them, you will suffer."
Zhao Xiping nodded and explained, "I understand what's right and wrong. Although I've been choking for the past six months, I simply haven't treated Captain Hu well. I wouldn't dare to pick a fight. Furthermore, my wife has taken on the job of delivering meals to the slaves at the Captain's Mansion." He took the opportunity to tell Captain Qu about what's been going on at the guesthouse: "The slaves are treated like livestock and not fed properly. When they're hungry, they can only drink water. In the summer, when it was hot and hungry, a slave went to the river to drink water and fell into the water and drowned. I had to lead the men to drag the body out and bury it."
The smile on Captain Qu's face disappeared.
"Sir, if everything is alright, I'll go back." After making his complaint, Zhao Xiping felt relieved and wanted to leave. He explained, "I still have to go out of town to see if I can find those twelve servants."
"Okay, you can go back." Captain Qu nodded.
Zhao Xiping led the camel away and rode it back after they had walked a long way.
When he returned to the guesthouse, he found that Sui Yu and Xiaozai were not at home. They must have gone out of town to wait for someone.
"Qingshan, who's Qingshan?" Zhao Xiping was crossing the river. He glanced around and saw a male slave with his hair tied with straw ropes approaching. He asked again, "Your name is Qingshan?"
"Yes, sir, I am Qingshan." Qingshan's hands were shaking with excitement. "Are you here to buy me?"
"Captain Hu gave you to me. You choose nine more people from among the slaves who rescued people that day," Zhao Xiping said. "Captain Hu gave me ten slaves. Those who rescued people that day, please stand up."
"I'm here."
"I went..."
"I went too."
A group of people rushed over, and the five male slaves standing on the roof were so anxious that they wanted to jump down. They shouted loudly that they had also gone to rescue people that day, and two slaves even cried in anxiety.
"I know who they are." Qingshan stepped forward, "Sir, I will help you choose."
Zhao Xiping nodded, walked across the river and watched from the other side.
The slave on the roof pulled the rope and slid down, but he let go before he hit the ground and jumped down, then limped towards the river.
Nine slaves were selected, and Qingshan led them across the river. However, before they reached the other side, the unsuccessful slaves swarmed over with ferocious looks on their faces, pushed these people into the river, and beat and scolded them.
These people themselves are stuck in the mud and can't bear to see their companions climb out.
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