Whenever he saw his former comrades wearing armor in the style of the Tang Dynasty's military garrison, he couldn't help but show a look of envy on his face.
After all, he was once one of them.
If I hadn't lost my mind, I'd at least be a captain or brigade commander by now...
If Heaven could give me another chance to choose, I would definitely not be so impulsive and would cherish my identity as a soldier!
Once Xue Shisan led the group of Hu merchants into the Golden Light Gate, the contract was considered complete. He then left the group, leaving them to conduct business and sell their goods in the West Market on their own.
"Boss Xue, when we go back, we'll ask you to be our team leader again!"
Upon hearing this, Xue Shisan waved his hand impatiently.
"Let's talk about it later!"
When Hadzan saw Xue Shisan's attitude, he immediately felt a bit resentful and complained to a few small merchants in a low voice.
"We pay him a hundred strings of cash every time, and he acts like a big shot. He's so damn hard to please!"
"Who says otherwise? Others only need fifty strings of cash for a trip, why should he need a hundred?"
"And they never even try to save us any money when they come in and out..."
Although a few shrewd merchants echoed his sentiments, most of them chose to remain silent.
They were very grateful to Xue Shisan, because it was thanks to Xue Shisan's care that they were able to reach Chang'an safely all the way.
Moreover, Xue Shisan's demands were not excessive; otherwise, the toll he paid to bandits and government soldiers along the way would have easily amounted to three to five hundred strings of cash!
Xue Shisan only accepted 100 strings of cash, and the gifts given upon entering the house were left to them to decide, which already saved them a lot of money.
Anyway, they'll need to find Xue Shisan on their way back; they don't trust anyone else!
Hadzan was complaining to a few small merchants when he happened to see a beggar by the roadside. He stared at him for a few moments and, seeing that the man was a genuine Tang Dynasty person, immediately threw two copper coins into the bowl on the ground.
This is his favorite thing to do, bar none.
He was, after all, a prince from a small kingdom in the Western Regions, but this identity was of no use whatsoever in the Tang Dynasty. Instead, it caused him to suffer all the way to Chang'an.
Therefore, whenever they encountered a beggar from the Tang Dynasty, the leader would give him a few copper coins, not for any other reason than to see the Tang people's profuse thanks to him.
Just as Hadzan was expecting the beggar to kowtow and thank him, the beggar sitting on the ground unexpectedly threw the money Hadzan had put into the bowl back out.
Upon seeing this, Hadzan immediately flew into a rage, pointing at the beggar and jumping up and down, cursing.
"What do you mean? Is it too little?"
The beggar curled his lip in disdain upon hearing this.
"What kind of Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to give me alms?"
"I may be poor, but I cannot lose face for the Tang Dynasty!"
"Even if I'm begging, I only accept charity from the people of the Tang Dynasty. It's not my place to give charity to a Western Region merchant like you!"
Upon hearing this, Hadzan flew into a rage and threw out a handful of copper coins.
"Hmph!"
"I don't believe you're really that principled!"
Seeing this, the beggar spat at Hadzan, grabbed the chipped porcelain bowl from the ground, and left without looking back.
Hadzan stared blankly at the beggar's departing figure, lost in thought. Although the beggar's clothes were tattered and covered in filth, for some reason, a sudden sense of fear arose in his heart.
He finally understood what his father often said...
The Tang Dynasty is invincible, the Tang Dynasty cannot be humiliated, and the Tang Dynasty cannot be violated!
No wonder the Tang Dynasty could sweep across the Western Regions, with no country able to withstand it. Even a beggar from the Tang Dynasty was so proud. How could those small, insignificant countries in the Western Regions possibly stand against the proud Tang Dynasty?
When Xue Shisan returned home, he threw the money he had worked so hard to earn along the way to his wife and then lay down on the bed to sleep.
Seeing this, Xue Shisan's wife, Meng Sanniang, could only help him take off his shoes and socks while ordering the servants to boil water for him, intending to give her husband a good hot bath.
As for the money bag lying on the ground, Meng San Niang didn't even bother to look at it.
The men of Guanzhong are many heroes, and the women of Guanzhong love heroes.
Money is only necessary when you have enough; no amount of money can compare to the glory of military merit and noble titles.
Although her husband had lost his path to promotion in the military, he had taken care of his comrades, wife, and children for nearly ten years, and he was still a true and upright man!
“Husband, Madam Hu said last time that her eldest son has already taken his father's place in the army, so they don't need us to help them anymore…”
"oh……"
Xue Shisan was very gratified to hear this, but the thought of having one less family to take care of made him feel empty and even a little lost.
"I'll just focus on making money; you can handle the rest!"
"promise!"
"This humble servant will help my husband change his clothes..."
Just as Xue Shisan was being stripped down to only a pair of trousers by his wife, he suddenly heard a roar from the courtyard that sounded like a bear.
"Xue Shisan, your grandpa's here to see you! You son of a bitch, get out here right now!"
Upon hearing the sound, Xue Shisan jumped up from the bed as if by reflex and ran naked into the courtyard.
When he saw that the person who came was indeed the former general, he immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed, tears streaming down his face.
"This humble servant pays his respects to the Great General! Waaah!"
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