Zhao Qingyan didn't participate in how the caravan members discussed things, since they were seasoned merchants and certainly knew more than she did.
Logically speaking, the pig that Zhao Qingyan killed should belong to her, but she refused, saying she couldn't eat much of it.
"Uncle, gentlemen, it's not that I'm being polite."
I'm all alone. Even if I eat a lot, a whole pig would go bad before I even finish eating it.
That's such a pity. It would be better to trouble your uncles to slaughter the pig.
When you're eating meat, just give me a bowl.
Everyone burst into laughter and stopped being polite to Zhao Qingyan.
Upon reaching another water source, the caravan indeed processed all the meat there, cooking a large potful.
They then rubbed salt particles onto the leftover pork and hung it on the edge of the cart.
Zhao Qingyan was delighted; the wisdom of the ancients was truly not to be underestimated.
I wonder what this dried salted meat tastes like.
For the next few days, we were able to eat meat; every meal consisted of a piece of salted pork cooked with a pot of wild vegetables.
It can be served with flatbread, or a pot of dough balls can be cooked in it.
Zhao Qingyan, as always, ate her own flatbread and drank water from her water bag. She basically didn't touch the food prepared by the caravan.
In their eyes, Zhao Qingyan's appetite was about the same as that of an ordinary young man, or even smaller, which explained why she looked like a weakling.
What they didn't know was that Zhao Qingyan was actually a glutton, and she was just afraid that if she ate freely, it would scare them to death.
Of course, Zhao Qingyan would never allow herself to go hungry.
Aside from the little food he ate in front of others each day, he would always find an excuse to leave the group for a while before going into his private space to eat and drink his fill.
Once you leave Lingnan, you'll reach Xiangzhou. That day, we arrived at Tan County.
The caravan is resupplying here today, and will also deliver some goods to the restaurants and other shops here.
The caravan members had a place to stay, so Zhao Qingyan naturally couldn't go with them and found an inn to stay in.
She found cured meat in the inn.
Since she had the chance, Zhao Qingyan ordered a plate of stir-fried cured pork with garlic, a stewed chicken, and a plate of blanched bok choy.
The dishes were served, and Zhao Qingyan tasted them. How to describe the taste...?
The cured pork tasted alright, probably because the pork wasn't castrated, so it was just so-so.
The stewed chicken had hardly any seasoning and smelled very fishy.
After a few bites, he put down his chopsticks.
Having known how precious food was since she could remember, how could she possibly bear to throw away this whole table of dishes?
After thinking it over, Zhao Qingyan asked the waiter to help her move the dishes into the guest room.
After the waiter left, Zhao Qingyan quickly moved the dishes into the pot in her space, preparing to add more seasonings and cook them again later.
As for this meal, let's just have some takeout for now.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, they reheated the two meat dishes in the space, took a shower, and changed their clothes before coming out of the space.
Taking advantage of the fact that it wasn't too hot outside, Zhao Qingyan decided to go out for a stroll.
At the very least, we should see what local specialties are available here.
Also, observe how the girls here dress and style themselves, and you should also visit the jewelry store.
Zhao Qingyan stepped out of the inn and walked straight ahead. Since it was on the same street, even someone with no sense of direction wouldn't get lost, and besides, she wasn't bad with directions.
If they see anything delicious or fun on the roadside, they'll pick it up and take a look, especially if it's a toy for little kids, they'll definitely buy a few.
Zhao Qingyan thought she was spending very little money, only a few coins or ten coins at a time, but even so, she caught the eye of someone with ulterior motives.
Several ordinary-looking boys, the kind you wouldn't recognize in a crowd, but dressed rather well, followed Zhao Qingyan.
Zhao Qingyan walked ahead, looking around as she went, and soon she realized she was being followed.
So she slowed down a little, before she could even turn around.
Two boys grabbed her arms, one on each side, while another reached out to slash at her waist.
Zhao Qingyan laughed, and with a forceful shove, she knocked the two boys supporting her together, and then kicked the one who was reaching for her purse.
Passersby were also drawn by the thieves' screams and stopped to watch.
"What's going on? Why is that young master acting so suddenly?"
An older woman said.
An old woman on the side said,
"Oh dear, old lady, you didn't see what happened ahead. Those three were together, trying to steal that young master's purse, but they ran into a brick wall and got beaten up by him."
"Oh, so they're just a bunch of thieves."
The old woman who spoke first was surprised.
"Yes, yes, those thieves are always hanging around our streets, and quite a few people have been robbed."
I heard that they have connections in the county government, and they can get out after a few days in jail.
Reporting it to the authorities won't do any good either.
Those in the know, or those who enjoy hindsight analysis, quickly formed a circle around the group, offering their opinions.
Zhao Qingyan called out loudly, "Could someone please help me report this to the authorities?"
When no one answered, Zhao Qingyan spoke again.
"Could someone please report this to the authorities? I'll offer a reward of twenty copper coins."
Immediately, a young man said,
"Is what you say true, young master? Then I'll go."
"Wait, let me see who you are first, so I don't give you the wrong money," Zhao Qingyan said.
The young man who had just spoken jumped up outside the circle, letting Zhao Qingyan see his face, and then headed straight for the yamen.
Soon, the officials arrived. The crowd parted to make way for them, and the officials, carrying swords and chains, came.
Upon seeing the few lying on the ground,
"Hey, I was wondering why it's you guys again? Why can't you change your petty thieving ways?"
What's wrong? Do you think our prison food tastes better?
"Get the hell out of here! What are you doing, playing dead?"
Without waiting to see if the boys on the ground had the strength to stand up, he first put chains on them, and then with a forceful pull, he dragged and pulled the boys up.
Perhaps because they had just been beaten, these men still felt a bit dizzy and disoriented. They were dragged to the county government office like dead dogs.
As the aggrieved party, Zhao Qingyan naturally had to go to the county government office as well.
Zhao Qingyan was extremely annoyed by the fact that she had to kneel before an official, but she still had no choice but to kneel down when she met the county magistrate.
An hour later, Zhao Qingyan was released.
She felt that it wasn't those petty thieves who had made a mistake, but rather she herself.
She was interrogated by the county magistrate for a long time, including having her household registration documents checked. Sigh, this forced Zhao Qingyan to admit she was a girl.
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