Chapter 666: Prelude to the Dragon-Slaying Scheme (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
First day of vacation, sleeping in bed.
Second day of vacation, staying home.
Day three of vacation, just lounging around like a couch potato.
Day four of vacation...
Shen Tang has been sleeping until late morning these past few days, a rare moment of comfort for her throughout the year. She doesn't have to worry about how much unfinished business there is left in the government offices, nor does she have to fret about whether Xun Zhen has incurred another huge debt for her.
Every day when I open my eyes, I only need to think about three things—
What to eat, what to drink, what to do!
If she had no interest in any of these things, she could hide under any roof beam for a whole day. Her entire demeanor was languid and relaxed, like a cat basking in the sun with its soft belly exposed. On the fourth day, Shen Tang was taking a nap and being lazy in the county government office.
Unfortunately, some people don't want her to be so comfortable and at ease.
"My lord, my lord, my lord..."
Lin Feng's stubborn voice drilled into my ears as it drew nearer.
Disturbed from her sleep, Shen Tang made a soft "hmm" sound, raised her hands above her head, and stretched vigorously. She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and waited until most of her sleepiness dissipated before she grabbed her blanket, rolled off the roof, and landed right in front of Lin Feng.
With the blanket on her head and her hands gripping the corners of the blanket to gather it in front of her, Shen Tang looked as if she were wearing a wide, pale yellow robe with a hood.
Only his face was visible.
Startled by her "attack," Lin Feng tilted his head back, forcing a double chin. Only after recognizing Shen Tang did she breathe a sigh of relief, patting her chest lightly as if still shaken: "My lord is getting more and more wicked; why are you deliberately scaring people like this?"
Shen Tang yawned: "How can you say I'm getting worse? It's clearly your virtuous one who disturbed my sleep first. How many days a year can your lord sleep soundly? Isn't today the fourth day of the month? Why are you looking for me instead of going out to play?"
"Naturally, I'd like to go out with my lord," said Registrar Qi. He added that it wasn't good for the lord to stay cooped up in the prefectural government office all the time. These few days were a rare annual leave, and he should participate in some recreational activities appropriate for his age to completely relax. So Lin Feng came to find Shen Tang.
"No, I won't go out."
Shen Tang childishly pulled the blanket over herself, covering her face, and turned to walk into the room. She considered herself a mature and composed adult, and felt there was a generation gap between her and a youthful and handsome boy like Lin Feng. However, Lin Feng was no longer the soft and cute little girl he once was.
Her waist tightened, and her vision suddenly spun around.
"Your virtue is admirable!"
"Hey, that's not up to you, my lord. Clerk Qi said you should go out more, lest you get moldy if you stay cooped up too long." Lin Feng grabbed the man and carried him away, using a [Wind Chaser] to leap onto the roof, then using the momentum to dodge, he was already outside the prefectural government.
Shen Tang, wrapped in her beloved pale yellow silk quilt: "..."
On the fourth day of her fifth New Year, she almost died.
After much persuasion, Lin Feng finally agreed to return the blanket. Seeing Lin Feng's persistent stare, Shen Tang's last vestiges of sleepiness vanished: "Go away, go away, I'm scared of you."
Xiaocheng is in dire need of reconstruction and there aren't many places to visit.
But for these busy office workers who toil year-round, everything was new and exciting. Yes, just a few. Besides Lin Feng, there were Chen Zhi, Bai Su, and several mid-level female officers. Lin Feng waved to them from afar.
Shen Tang smiled helplessly and followed.
Who calls their boss over when they go shopping with their girlfriends?
But clearly, her position as superior held a completely different meaning for these "girlfriends." Not only did they not refuse, they were eager to have her. Especially the female officers in charge, who normally rarely saw Shen Tang because their direct supervisor was Bai Su. They hadn't expected Lin Feng to actually bring her; they were nervous and excited, unsure what to do with their hands.
"My lord..."
"My lord, may you have a peaceful and healthy new year..."
Looking at the several flushed faces, Shen Tang scratched her nose, thinking about what to say: "Today is the fourth day of the month, not the eighth, so don't be too reserved. You don't need to treat me like a lord or a princess. Having fun is the most important thing. Don't worry about me."
As it turns out—
Shopping alone is different from shopping in a group.
Although Xiaocheng had suffered from war several times, it was still the most prosperous capital of Sibao County. With the added festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, all sorts of shops were open for business. Shen Tang followed them as they strolled through the shops, browsing everything from cosmetics and fabrics to clothing, hairpins, ornaments, sachets, writing brushes, ink, paper, and even folk tales and ghost stories…
The group was still looking at the swords and knives in front of the blacksmith shop.
Bai Su chatted with the old blacksmith for a long time, haggling over the price and buying a few pieces of ore, her expression filled with secret joy.
They shopped and browsed, while Shen Tang accompanied them and ate.
Since leaving the house, Shen Tang hasn't even sat down. Watching Lin Feng and the others diligently selecting fabrics and discussing what to make, she thought to herself, "If I still had my WeChat steps, I'd definitely be in the finals today..."
"My lord, how is this color?"
Lin Feng grabbed a piece of silk cloth and asked her for her opinion.
"This color is too gaudy and flashy, it doesn't suit your personality. I reckon only someone like Shao Mei (a show-off) would like it." Shen Tang took a sip of her fragrant hot milk and gave her serious advice, "...I've never seen you wear this color before..."
Lin Feng blushed slightly: "Of course, my lord can't see it."
Shen Tang: "???"
"I bought it to make a waistband..." If there were female elders in the family to help, Lin Feng wouldn't need to buy these things himself. Although his teacher Chu Yao was an elder, he was still a man and couldn't concern himself with such details, so it wasn't convenient for him to get involved.
Shen Tang: "..."
Aside from Lin Feng and Bai Su, who were all alone, the others bought a lot for their families, which they could have the messenger take back later.
I shopped until my purse was empty and my stomach was rumbling.
We found a restaurant to eat at.
The taste was naturally not comparable to that of a chef from the government office, and the ingredients weren't very fresh, but when people are tired, everything tastes like a delicacy. The group also had excellent appetites, and the two waiters couldn't keep up with their consumption.
Since Bai Su was paying the bill, Shen Tang felt at ease and ate heartily.
"belch--"
Shen Tang wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
Lin Feng thoughtfully brought over a bowl of warm water.
The others were chattering about what they still needed to buy, a topic that didn't interest Shen Tang, but it gave her an idea: "Sigh, there are still too few entertainment options these days. If only there were a stage for a performance, we could spend the whole day doing that."
Lin Feng, however, misunderstood.
"Does my lord wish to see a variety show?"
However, the special skills of acrobats are utterly uninteresting compared to those of a martial arts master with the ability to fly and escape.
I wonder why my lord would be interested in this.
Shen Tang shook his head and said, "It's not a circus act, it's a drama..."
This era had song and dance, but generally only high-ranking officials and nobles could afford it, because ordinary people couldn't afford to support dancers and musicians. Folk music and dance also existed, but their quality was low, let alone forming a systematic organization and performance style. Shen Tang rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
Lin Feng didn't disturb her.
I pulled out a small booklet that I had bought that morning.
Before I could even take a second look, it was snatched away by a hand.
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat; he almost mistook it for his teacher, Chu Yao. Only when he looked up and saw it was his lord did his tense nerves relax. Shen Tang glanced through the booklet and asked, "Is it good?"
"The content is quite bizarre..." she said vaguely.
Shen Tang murmured, "If someone could portray this..."
It should enrich people's lack of entertainment.
Before Lin Feng could understand his lord's meaning, the pamphlet was shoved back at him, and he sighed, "I feel this is a good idea, but it's not the right time. Entertainment prosperity needs economic support. Longwu County can be a pilot area, but Sibao County should focus on feeding its people first... Lingde, how many of these pamphlets do you have? Collect them carefully, they'll be useful."
There is no awareness of film and television copyright in this era.
Even if we were to talk about it, the original author probably wouldn't know whether he'd been weaned or not.
Lin Feng, holding the booklet, asked, "My lord, is it true?"
Does she no longer need to hide from the teacher when buying storybooks?
"Yes, but you are only allowed to collect it, not to look at it too much."
Lin Feng replied listlessly, "Oh."
Just then, a female battalion officer who was leaning against the window enjoying the breeze and the view called out, "Come and see, there's something interesting to see!"
Others gathered around in twos and threes.
Several heads were crammed into one window.
Shen Zhi squeezed into a prime spot and watched for a while, only able to make out that two men were fighting over a courtesan, one of whom had brought several friends. The friends didn't support the man; instead, they were leaning against the door, watching the spectacle with the woman in their arms. She watched for a while, but found it all rather boring. The other officials, however, clearly didn't see it that way, pointing at the men and whispering amongst themselves, exchanging glances.
One person said, "What do you call this? Going against the grain..."
Another person: "You even know the phrase 'going against the wind' now?"
The man said smugly, "That's right, I'm a lieutenant officer after all, how can I be illiterate? If word gets out, wouldn't my sisters laugh at me? Hehe, I still want to command troops and fight battles in the future, so once I can read more, I'll study military strategy with the strategist..."
Shen Tang established an army and has been working on literacy campaigns ever since.
Initially, literate soldiers taught others numbers and names to complete this stage of "learning." The next step involved using military law as a textbook for literacy, ensuring soldiers memorized discipline while learning to read. If soldiers who had reached this stage wished to further their studies, a military advisor or scribe would come to the camp every ten days to give lectures on simple military formations and tactics.
These subordinate officials are either about to pursue "advanced studies" or are already on their way to doing so, which will facilitate the future expansion of the women's camp.
Their clustered together was too conspicuous, attracting the attention of Bai Su and a few others. Shen Tang, who loved to join in the fun, asked, "What are you looking at?"
The group looked at each other speechlessly, none daring to speak first.
Shen Tang has good hearing and can hear what's going on downstairs.
"Move aside, let me see."
As the lord, she deserves the golden perspective.
Several subordinates tacitly stepped aside, but a closer look at their eyes revealed a hint of schadenfreude and a secret excitement at the spectacle. Shen Tang glanced down and saw that the petty squabbles below had escalated from verbal arguments into a physical confrontation.
Two faint beams of martial energy appeared.
Shen Tang: "Wow, two brave martial artists!"
Bai Su: "..."
The two men's martial arts skills were clearly inherited from the same lineage.
Shen Tang: "Wow, the flood washed away the Dragon King's temple!"
Bai Su: "..."
Seeing the two locked in a fierce battle, they both called for reinforcements. One man's companion rushed out of the building, while the other's companion watched from nearby. The balance, which hadn't shifted much in the fight, fell into a stalemate again, with the prostitutes and brothel owners in a panic, and tourists making way for them.
Shen Tang: "Wow, they even got into a brawl while ordering takeout!"
Bai Su: "..."
As more and more people joined in, even though most of them were ordinary people and there were only three or four martial arts experts, the commotion they caused was considerable. Nearby shops closed their doors one after another, and some people cautiously leaned out of their windows. Shen Tang tapped on the windowsill, adding fuel to the fire under his breath, saying, "They're fighting, they're fighting! Haven't they eaten? Or haven't they slept? If they're so bad, why don't they go to a dance hall for a dance battle... Don't they know that this won't kill anyone?"
Dogs fight, chicken feathers fly everywhere.
Bai Su: "..."
She glanced at her subordinates, who avoided her gaze.
At this moment, Lin Feng looked at one of the people downstairs.
He exclaimed, "Why does this look so familiar?"
Shen Tang's small hand, which was tapping on the window, froze. Bai Su leaned close to her ear with a troubled expression and whispered, "My lord, these people, they are... they should be our soldiers. I guess they sneaked out because the guards weren't strict during the New Year."
After she finished speaking, she looked at her lord's expression.
Wow, it only took a moment for white to turn black.
Shen Tang clenched her fists tightly, her anger level soaring to new heights.
He said in a low voice, "Shao Xuan, bring them all up. Don't let them continue to embarrass themselves. Although it's the New Year and I don't want to see blood, it's not that I can't bear to see blood. If they really lose all face, I don't mind killing them!"
Every word and phrase was filled with murderous intent.
Bai Su clasped his hands in obeisance and replied, "This humble general obeys!"
As she turned around, her subordinate handed her the veiled hat he had just bought.
They weren't sure if the common people knew the identities of those below them, but if Commandant Bai continued like this, it would likely attract unnecessary malicious speculation and damage his reputation. Wearing the veil, whether it had any real effect or was just self-deception, was better than nothing.
Bai Su put it on and hurriedly went downstairs.
Shen Tang didn't want to watch the farce anymore.
She felt the pain move from her toes to her head!
My head is buzzing!
She never expected her soldiers to be completely incorruptible. After all, they were originally bandits who killed without shedding blood. What integrity could bandits possibly have? Only a small portion were slaves bought with money, and their lives were entirely in her hands.
If it's just a matter of "minor transgressions but no major breaches," she can turn a blind eye for now. After all, rectification isn't something that can be accomplished overnight, and iron discipline isn't formed in a day. She can deal with them one by one when she has the time, and settle accounts later.
But she never expected—
These people are capable of causing a brawl in front of a brothel!
Fuck your mother!
I'm tempted to curse their ancestors for eighteen generations!
Bai Su knew Shen Tang's feelings at the brink of explosion. Even before leaving the restaurant, she exuded an aura of power, overwhelming the group fighting. They hadn't expected someone to interfere, and were about to threaten her when they looked up to see Bai Su lift the curtain, revealing half of her icy face. Ordinary soldiers might not have seen her before, but the few low-level martial artists with martial arts skills recognized her face. Their legs immediately went weak, and they nearly collapsed to their knees, their faces turning deathly pale.
"You lot—" Bai Su sneered as she glanced at the group, taking in their disheveled appearances and varied expressions, and said sarcastically, "You know how to pick your time and place."
Because Bai Su was dressed as a woman today, and the common people of Xiaocheng were unaware of the Women's Camp's reputation, her appearance caused the fighting guests to freeze in place as if they had been struck by acupuncture points. They were sweating profusely and trembling, and the common people couldn't understand what was happening.
But their intuition told them—
This show is exciting!
There's some juicy gossip!
Shen Tang rubbed her temples, her head aching. She was just a bystander, and this was the first time someone had eaten her food. How could she save face like this?
Thinking about this, the knife-wielder's thoughts became even more intense.
Bai Su asked them, "Just the few of you?"
After a long pause, one of the underlings finally spoke up tremblingly: "It's just... just a few of us... there's no one else!"
"Really? Do you know that there are no lies under the power of words?"
"Is it really true?!"
The other soldiers also realized the gravity of the situation, and though they still retained some semblance of rationality, they nodded vigorously. If it were just the few of them, the disturbance wouldn't be large-scale, and their superiors might be less angry. But if there were more people…
For no apparent reason, a cold wind began to blow into my neck.
This matter absolutely needs to be minimized!
Bai Su snorted disdainfully.
"Should we be loyal to each other at a time like this?"
Her ears twitched, and she keenly heard several footsteps muffled by the surrounding noise. She raised her hand, conjuring two swords, and leaped onto the roof. With the swords raised high, she unleashed several swift sword strikes.
Several cries of pain rang out, followed by the heavy objects hitting the ground. Moments later, Bai Su threw the men off the roof. They were all disheveled, their clothes hanging loosely on their bodies; one of them had his belt undone, revealing a crooked gray trouser. Several young officials upstairs in the restaurant cried out in pain, covering their faces with their hands, afraid of getting styes.
Bai Su looked around at everyone and grabbed one person's hair.
He dragged her towards the restaurant with one hand: "Keep up!"
Hopefully, our lord can still control his temper.
_(:з」∠)_
I happily bought a few keyboards during the Chinese New Year. Today I got my hands on the Dareu Little Sugar Z82. I have to say, the review on Xiaohongshu (a Chinese social media platform) is very accurate: this keyboard is a beautiful but useless product, all it has is its looks.
but--
Beauty is enough.
Oh my god, it's so beautiful.
P.S.: This is a double update! Does it feel like today's is a little longer than yesterday's? It's 500 more words because I didn't want to run into writer's block. The normal update will end when Bai Su says, "You really know how to pick your time and place." (Praise me! Praise me! Praise me!)
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
