Chapter 73 Playing the Wolf: One Day I'll Know Your Name
Guan Ye squatted on the steps beside the shop, holding a fried cake wrapped in lotus leaves. She blew on it and looked at it with care. She took a bite with her pearly teeth, and the fragrant bean paste burst out. Guan Ye burned her tongue and kept breathing out. The fried cake was sweet and glutinous. Once she took a bite, she couldn't stop. No wonder Xiao Ma was thinking about it.
"Today is the fifteenth of the month, the night market is open, I'll be busy until midnight." Song Mian said, turning his head as he fried cakes. "The shop closes on the twentieth of the month, so I'll have a free day. If we want to catch up, we'll have to wait until that day."
"Can't we eat fried cakes if we don't catch up?" Guan Ye swallowed the last bite.
This stubbornness made Song Mian pause. "Hearing you say that, I'm sure I didn't mistake you. You had the same stubbornness back then, and you haven't changed at all."
Guan Ye got up to leave, but Song Mian's voice came from behind her again, "I'm so glad you came. Next time, I'll take you to the East Market. There's a steamed bun shop there that I guarantee you'll love."
Guan Ye's expression softened. He still remembered how he had been eating the steamed bun with his mouth full. Guan Ye didn't turn around. He held up the empty lotus leaf in his hand and said, "It's not easy to live to this day. The road ahead is long and arduous, so we must cherish it."
— "Yes, it should be so."
At the other end of West Street, Xiao Ma never expected that Mei Xiaojing, a young girl, could walk around for several hours without even breaking a sweat. He originally planned to eat some fried dough sticks to get by, but Mei Xiaojing insisted that there was a night market that night with countless delicious foods. She said that one fried dough stick would only fill her up halfway, which would be a waste. Xiao Ma found it amusing, but he couldn't shake off this little burden. They wandered back and forth on West Street several times, and the two of them ate a lot of delicious food: fried meatballs from Xizhiqiao, chicken breast skewers from Old Xia's shop, and sugar-coated sweet rice wine made by the old man from the Western Regions... Mei Xiaojing's appetite was no less than Guan Ye's. Xiao Ma was burping from eating so much, but she even bought a candy, saying it was to cut through the richness. Seeing her grinning from the sourness, Xiao Ma's mouth watered, as if he had eaten it himself.
Looking at the crowded fried cake shop not far away, Xiao Ma was already full and thought to himself, "Next time, next time I must have some."
"The West Street Night Market isn't far from the Mei family's place. You must come here often, right?" Seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Ma thought it best to send this young lady home as soon as possible.
Mei Xiaojing took another big bite of fruit. "My cousin brought me to Rongdu more than three years ago, and I've only been here a few times."
Xiao Ma glanced at her. "Young Master Mei won't let you go out? I don't think you're someone he can control."
Mei Xiaojing chewed on a sour fruit with a blank expression, "My cousin said he wants to learn how to do money lending, so that if he's not around anymore, I can take his place."
Xiao Ma's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm. "Young Master Mei doesn't seem like he'll die young, so why would he need to scheme like this? Besides, the Mei family is a large household, and there are still some uncles and relatives around... Why go to such lengths?"
Mei Xiaojing smacked her lips; she had eaten too much sour food and her mouth had lost its flavor. “There’s no need to worry about business in the neighborhood, but some things can’t be accounted for in the books. My cousin said that when the time comes, I’ll always be there for you.”
Xiao Ma knew that if he continued to ask, he could still get more information out of her, but the girl's words were innocent and her thoughts were clear in her eyes. Xiao Ma was curious about the old stories that the Mei family's bank ledgers could not contain, but he could not bear to ask Mei Xiao Jing any more questions.
"You're so stupid." Xiao Ma blurted out uncontrollably, "You've only known me for a few days, and you came out to the market with me. Aren't you afraid I'll kidnap you? The Mei family is extremely wealthy. You shouldn't trust a stranger so easily."
Mei Xiaojing raised her eyebrows and spat out the sour fruit seeds far away. "Xingguofang came to my house to exchange silver. So much loose silver, and you trusted us without even checking it. Why can't I trust you?"
"Gongcheng Money House has a century-old reputation, of course I trust you." Xiao Ma looked down at the stone pavement of the market street, polished smooth by the footsteps of passersby. "I am just a stranger, not someone you can trust completely."
Mei Xiaojing's eyes reddened, and she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, saying, "My father said that if a person can't even tell his real name, he can't be trusted. You said your name is Xiao Ma, but you just won't tell me your name yet. One day, I will find out."
Xiao Ma, unaware that the girl's eyes were red, was at a loss for what to do. He picked up his sleeve, but was afraid of hurting her delicate face, so he raised his hand and hung it in mid-air, looking quite comical. Mei Xiaojing peeked through her fingers, biting her lip to suppress her laughter.
"Where is your father?" Xiao Ma blurted out, "Why are you staying at the Mei family's house instead of with your father?"
“My father’s surname is also Mei.” Mei Xiaoqing stopped laughing, a look of melancholy in her eyes. “Mei Changfeng, have you ever heard of this name?”
Xiao Ma shook his head. He had been exiled to Lingnan for many years. After escaping, he was kidnapped and taken to Canglang Island. He didn't know anything about the long winds or short winds. It wasn't that he was ignorant; he simply had no way of knowing.
Mei Xiaojing continued, "My uncle told me that my father was a peerless archer, the bravest in the army. At a young age, he could command a crossbow battalion of several thousand men. He could shoot down three larks in the sky with a single arrow. Have you ever seen that, Xiao Ma?"
Xiao Ma picked up the sword in his hand: "I am a swordsman, not an archer."
Mei Xiaojing was taken aback at first, then understood and laughed. After a moment of silence, she said, "It's a pity that my father died before he could see me born and grow up."
"Dead?" Xiao Ma stared at the girl beside him, somewhat regretting that he had tried to make conversation. What would he do if she started crying?
“He’s dead.” Mei Xiaoqing seemed to have already accepted this outcome. “He died in the Xiguan Rebellion and the Eagle Ridge Ambush.”
"Blood Crossbow!" Xiao Ma bit his lip and uttered the word. He knew about this shocking case that had taken the court by storm. His father had also told him about it. Not long after the Blood Crossbow case, his family was implicated in the case of counterfeit copper coins and followed in the footsteps of the Blood Crossbow.
Mei Xiaoqing clenched her fists. “I heard from the survivors who came back from Eagle Ridge that my father died a heroic death. A crossbow exploded and blinded him in one eye. He pulled out the crossbow and drew his sword to fight the enemy, vowing not to retreat even half a step. He killed more than a dozen rebels by himself. It was also the crossbow battalion’s steadfast defense that bought time for the army on the mountain, allowing them to break through the encirclement and avoid total annihilation.”
So that's how it is. Xiao Ma looked at Mei Xiaojing, who was engrossed in her conversation. No wonder Prince Mu You was able to escape unscathed back then. In that case, Mei Xiaojing was also the orphan of a meritorious official.
"Little Ma?" Mei Xiaojing saw that he was stunned and nudged his arm with her elbow. "Are you listening?"
"Let's go," Xiao Ma said, at a loss for what to do. "It's getting late. If you don't go back soon, I'm afraid Young Master Mei will report us to the authorities."
Mei Xiaojing swung her arms and skipped a long way like a little deer. She turned around and winked at Xiao Ma. The tip of her nose looked just like the round onions that her parents planted in the fields of Lingnan. Xiao Ma stared in disbelief and forgot to chase after her.
"Who in Rongdu dares to mess with me? Little Ma from Xingguo Ward, one day I'll know your name."
It was nearly 7 PM, but the streets were still bustling. Xiao Ma was still worried about Mei Xiao Jing, so he followed her a few feet away. He saw her delicate pink figure fluttering like a butterfly in the bustling market. She turned into the street corner where Mei's family lived. The moment Mei Xiao Jing turned around, Xiao Ma suddenly hid behind the street corner. Mei Xiao Jing was a little incredulous that he hadn't followed her. She started to walk as if she was looking for someone.
The gate of the Mei family was pushed open, and several servants rushed out to greet her. Mei Xiaojing looked disappointed and even stomped her foot lightly. The subtle movement was noticed by Xiao Ma, who was hiding in the corner. Xiao Ma finally smiled. In the dark night, it was as if a light was shining on his face. Xiao Ma raised his hands to shield his eyes. In the hazy light, he saw a black wooden carriage driving towards the Mei family. Two hexagonal gilded lanterns hung from the front of the carriage. The lights were lit, and with the gentle sway of the horse's hooves, they dazzled Xiao Ma's eyes.
The familiar scent of sandalwood wafted closer, and Xiao Ma took a deep breath of it. He stood with his hands behind his back, sword in hand, staring at the carriage approaching him. The curtain was lifted, revealing Mei Shiyu's pale face. Exhausted, Mei Shiyu was too weak to greet anyone, only nodding slightly to Xiao Ma, his deep-set eyes filled with unfathomable worry.
Xiao Ma couldn't help but reach out and touch the jade pendant on his chest. He parted his lips slightly, but still didn't say anything.
In Xingguo Ward, a large quantity of iron ore has been arriving in recent days. It is said that the Emperor ordered Cui Jin to oversee the project, and these materials are all prepared for Xingguo Ward. A messenger also came to convey that the Emperor will personally visit Xingguo Ward to witness the completion of the Heavenly Furnace. The entire Xingguo Ward is elated. Some wondered how losing the sword-test could bring such benefits. Pei Bi explained, "This is a case of honor even in defeat. Although the sword was lost, the people have stood tall. Most importantly, Xingguo Ward has forged the Meteor Sword, unprecedented and unlikely to be surpassed. For the sake of the Meteor Sword, Xingguo Ward can maintain its foothold in Rongdu."
Everyone agreed with the reasoning and praised Manager Pei for his insightful observations.
"In my opinion," Ji Fang spread his hands, showing his youthful strength and good health. His wounds had almost healed in ten days, though they were so deep that the scars on his palms resembled centipedes, a sight that horrified all who saw them. "It is the Emperor's keen mind that knows we have been framed. The iron ore sent by the Grand Preceptor Cui is so abundant that the storeroom can't hold it all, and the shopkeeper is grinning from ear to ear."
Lou Cangyu stared intently at the deep scar on Ji Fang's palm for a long time, unable to look away. Ji Fang noticed his guilt, lightly clenched his palm, and said with a relaxed smile, "This way you can't see it. I'll just hide it."
Guan Ye had been taking inventory in the courtyard since early morning, A Jiu was recording it, and the rest of the people were busy putting it into storage. They worked together in an orderly manner, and Pei Yuan watched for a long time, secretly admiring them.
As the last truck was towed into the yard, Guan Ye breathed a sigh of relief, finally seeing the end of the line. Then she noticed that the man escorting the last truck looked familiar, so she nudged A Jiu with her elbow and raised an eyebrow to let him take a look.
On the oxcart sat a Westerner with dreadlocks, a red turban tied around his forehead, a thin, narrow face, and a broad, cold chin. He hunched his neck and moved his head slightly, his two familiar eyes darting around the neighborhood. When he realized he had been discovered, he showed no embarrassment, a fake smile on his lips, and his hawk-like eyes revealed a ruthless glint that was hard to detect.
—Wan Qixi? Guan Ye recognized the Western Region man in the car. In the Ghost Market, his face was covered with a dirty cloth, only revealing a pair of eyes covered with eye boogers. Now that he had wiped the dirty cloth and washed his face, she still couldn't quite recognize him.
Mu Chenbi was right. Wan Qixi wasn't bad-looking. Looking at him closely now, Wan Qixi's chin was slightly raised, making his features appear sharper. His eyes were half-closed as he glanced at Guan Ye, and the corners of his mouth curved into a slight smile, revealing a hint of unruly arrogance. After seeing him several times in the Ghost Market, Guan Ye thought Wan Qixi was well past middle age. But seeing his true face, she realized he wasn't old at all, looking even younger than Pei Bi.
Wanqi was delighted to be recognized. He jumped off the oxcart and laughed heartily, "Thanks to your esteemed establishment, I'm able to make a big deal. What are you talking about? We meet again."
"Wan Qixi?" Ajiu recognized him too. "Long time no see."
Wan Qixi flicked his nose, his eyes rolling across the man's face as if he were an idiot. "What are you pretending for? Didn't we meet a few days ago? You borrowed my sword, and I haven't even asked you for money yet."
Ajiu knew he must be implying that Mu Chenbi had mistaken her for someone else, so she calmly asked, "How was my wielding of your sword?"
Wan Qixi stepped on the cart floor and pointed at Guan Ye, saying, "You even cracked the tiger's mouth of this girl's hand, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. I think you did it on purpose, hurting her first so you could coax her, right? That made my teeth ache."
Guan Ye blushed with embarrassment and picked up a pebble to throw at him, saying, "If you dare to shortchange me on the goods you deliver, I'll smash your stall."
Wan Qixi nimbly dodged, "You blockhead, I was just speaking up for you, and you hit me? You've done too many shameful things, and you've been blinded by greed."
Ajiu, with a sullen face, held his pen and buried himself in recording. Wanqixi peeked over and looked at the lines of numbers. He counted on his fingers, “1,500 catties of iron stone, 200 catties of brass, 100 catties each of tin, cinnabar, and alumina. This is a business deal run by a high-ranking official of the court. I would only cheat you out of this if I didn’t want to live.”
Seeing that A-Jiu ignored her and his brows furrowed with gloom, Wan-Qi-Xi leaned close to his ear and chuckled, "Did that girl Guan upset you? I saw you two getting along well when I left that day. Women, even the toughest of them are made of water, and I think you... are quite good at coaxing people..."
"Wanqixi!" Guan Ye almost grabbed him, "Don't talk nonsense in front of Ajiu!"
“Let him speak.” Ajiu lazily raised her eyes. “What he said makes some sense, and I want to hear it.”
Wan Qixi gave Guan Ye a provocative smile. In several business dealings, Guan Ye not only refused to suffer any loss, but also wanted to take advantage of him. Wan Qixi had never suffered such a humiliation before. Relying on the fact that he had come to Xingguo Fang today, he was determined to get his money back with interest.
"I'm not going to say anything more." Wan Qixi wasn't going to let anyone have their way today, not one of them would do. As she spoke, she looked around Xingguo Ward and stood on tiptoe to look at the backyard. "Everyone says that Xingguo Ward has the Heavenly Furnace. Where is the Heavenly Furnace? Show me around and let me see it. If you're happy with what you see, then I'll tell you slowly."
Ajiu snorted, "You think you can see the Heavenly Furnace? The Emperor will personally come to Xingguo Ward on the day the Heavenly Furnace is rebuilt. The Emperor hasn't even seen it yet, and you want to be the first to get there?"
Wanqi Xi tilted his head and looked at Ajiu's face again and again, as if he felt that something was wrong. He chewed on his fingers and recalled the scene, and came to a conclusion - the people in Xingguo Fang are not very normal.
"It has the word 'heaven' in it, but it's just a stove. Does it even go to heaven?" Wan Qixi said arrogantly. "I heard that the former owner of this place was incredibly powerful back then. Didn't he make room for you? Don't be so arrogant that you don't know your own limitations, or you'll be laughed at behind your back without even realizing it."
"Who dares to laugh at Xingguofang behind its back!" Feng Shisan was so angry he wanted to draw his sword. "Then let's see if you can find my sword, Young Master Shisan."
Wan Qixi laughed loudly, "Don't use me as a test subject. I'm not laughing behind your back, I'm laughing to your face, hahahaha." He then deliberately laughed loudly again, and while laughing, he quietly moved his feet. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, he darted straight into the foundry of Xingguo Workshop.
"Bringing a wolf into the house! Bringing a wolf into the house!" Feng Shisan roared, drawing his sword and chasing after the wolf.
Apart from the people of Xingguofang, no outsiders had ever set foot in the foundry. Wanqi Xi put his back on the door panel and swiftly bolted the door shut. When he looked up again, he was stunned into place by the furnace in the center of the foundry. The furnace was vermilion in color and several feet high, like a mountain rising from the ground, or a sharp sword piercing the sky.
Around the furnace, there were piles of utensils and objects that hadn't yet been arranged neatly. One item caught Wan Qixi's attention: a spiral-shaped blower. The blower was old and worn, with obvious signs of repair. The repairman's skills were clumsy, but it was remarkable that he recognized it. Wan Qixi picked up the blower and fiddled with it a few times with his rough hands. The spiral spun around, much like a windmill sold in a night market. Wan Qixi was so engrossed in watching it that he didn't even hear the loud banging on the door.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
