Chapter 105: Rumors of War
Song Liyun also knew that she had walked too many times, which aroused suspicion. Han Ming happened to be driving a car to find her.
"Boss!" There were two big baskets on Han Ming's cart, filled with bulging grain bags, obviously he had already bought grain.
"Thank you for your kindness, my employee is here." Song Liyun picked up the basket that had just been filled with 30 kilograms of flour and walked out.
I have already been to this store three times, and put an extra hundred kilograms of food into the space, so I will go to another place to buy more.
When Han Ming saw Song Liyun coming out with a basket, he thought she had just bought these things.
He hurried forward to lift the basket onto the cart, and without even catching his breath, he said, "Boss, I heard a fight really broke out."
When he was buying grain just now, he saw a merchant who had just come from Hecheng buying a large amount of grain, so he asked the merchant carefully. Compared with everyone's guesses, the merchant's words were naturally more detailed.
What he said was: fighting broke out on the Dilu grassland, and several towns on the border began to become chaotic, and the villagers who had places to escape crowded into the local county town.
He came here to buy food because he was afraid that the border of Wu Dynasty would be in chaos and he would not be able to buy food even if he wanted to.
The people of Yunzhou are already experienced in avoiding the invasion of the Di tribe. Whenever the Di people come, they take their families to hide in the county town. After the Di people leave, they go back to do what they need to do.
The Zhenbei Army will drive the Di people out like herding sheep.
Hearing Han Ming say this, Song Liyun started buying without hesitation.
When the war broke out, everyone else ran to the city, but as a military household, she must have hidden in the garrison.
Supplies are more important than anything else.
She would go into every shop to buy grain, oil, rice, flour, tea, cloth, cotton, except for the jewelry store.
Even the rouge shop was not spared.
It's also a good idea to buy a few boxes of scented bath powder and hand cream just in case.
It took half a day to go shopping, and the cart was fully loaded before it was pulled back to the inn.
After the store sealed the car with tarpaulin, Song Liyun took Han Ming straight to Tianxiang, the most famous restaurant in Qili County.
She had only eaten wontons on the street at noon, and then was busy shopping, so she was starving.
When in Suijin Town, what Song Liyun heard most from Boss Mu was Tianxianglou, where there were delicious food, beautiful women and fine wine.
Song Liyun was not very interested in beautiful women and fine wine, but she had to try the delicious food.
Tianxiang Tower is a two-story building. It is evening now and the building is full of guests.
Qili County is far away from the border, and the rumors all over the city and the skyrocketing food prices have not affected the entertainment of the rich.
The lights were on, the music of stringed instruments was pleasant, and the hall of Tianxiang Tower was full of people. Song Liyun paid for a private room on the second floor and without saying anything, asked the waiter to bring the signature dishes first.
Tianxianglou’s signature dish is grilled lamb chops, which are naturally expensive, costing one tael and five cents of silver per plate.
Not only do you have to pay first and then bake it, but it also takes time.
Song Liyun was not in a hurry and asked the waiter to bring some food to fill her stomach first.
During his time at the Song family, Han Ming had officially become a servant, sitting obediently at the lower position near the door.
He would not object to any of Song Liyun's decisions, including sitting in Tianxianglou and eating grilled lamb chops.
At this time, there were many people in the hall, all talking loudly while drinking and chatting.
As long as the door of the private room was opened, the voices would reach Song Liyun's ears.
Taking advantage of this free time, Han Ming also told Song Liyun the news he heard outside.
"Boss, I heard that the Dilu people started fighting inside, and many tribes fled. Now several villages on the border are suffering."
Song Liyun put a peanut in her mouth and said lazily, "Doesn't the Wu Dynasty have border troops? With them, we can fight back any tribes that come our way. How could we let the village suffer?"
After living in Suijin Town for a few months, she realized that the Di people on the grassland were not a country or a tribe, but scattered small groups.
It is common for cattle and sheep to fight and kill each other for pasture on the grassland.
The Wu Dynasty always had border troops stationed at the border to prevent those tribes from crossing the border at will.
Before Han Ming could speak, an excited voice shouted from a distance: "We have the Zhenbei Army here, we are not afraid at all.
"Henan was the worst off. The soldiers from the Ying Camp didn't care about the lives of the civilians. They retreated as soon as they encountered the Di people. They were the ones who gave away those villages." This is a well-informed person.
"Yes! Yes! I heard too. Now the Dilu people are occupying the village and won't leave. Many people have sneaked out. Oh! It's freezing cold, and I didn't bring anything with me."
Then, some people were talking about how cowardly the Ying Camp was and how brave the Zhenbei Army was.
However, some people disagreed: "If the Zhenbei Army was capable, why would the court send the Wuwei Army to Yunzhou again?
I heard from my brother's uncle that the Wuwei Army is guarding the imperial city and they are very good at fighting."
"Tsk!" This remark drew a burst of laughter. "It's amazing that they have been in the village for so long and haven't been driven out. In the past, the Zhenbei Army was chasing the Di Lu people all the time and didn't even dare to stop."
Some people naturally disagreed: "In my opinion, those soldiers are all good-for-nothings who treat the people like wood and abandon them whenever they want.
If you don't believe me, just look at Suijin Town. Wasn't it because the Zhenbei Army was incompetent that the town was ruined? They only built a useless garrison. It's just eating rice for free."
As soon as these words were spoken, several people started arguing again. Some spoke for the Zhenbei Army, while others scolded the Zhenbei Army for being incompetent.
But no one can explain what exactly happened on the Dilu grassland and why those tribes were running around in the middle of winter.
After a round of chatting and talking, Song Liyun's grilled lamb chops were finally served.
The grilled lamb chops at Tianxianglou are really good, golden in color, and you can smell the burnt aroma before you even eat it.
Song Liyun used the small knife sent by Tianxianglou to cut off a piece of meat. When she bit through the crispy outer skin with her teeth, the meat inside was fresh and tender, chewy in the mouth, and the rich flavor of cumin powder was even more mouth-watering.
Han Ming didn't use a knife, but directly grabbed a piece of lamb chop and ate it with confidence and without hesitation.
He volunteered to be a slave just to have food.
The three brothers and sisters of the Song family wore old clothes and used a few old furniture. They never saved on food and ate until they were full every day.
Now when I go out, I go straight to Tianxiang Tower.
Being able to eat the grilled lamb chops at Tianxianglou makes me feel that being a slave is really worth it.
Seeing Song Liyun biting on the lamb chops and eating slowly, Han Ming swallowed the lamb in his mouth and said, "Boss, how is it? The barbecue at Tianxianglou is unique, especially the spices. The taste is unique here."
"Well, it's good." Song Liyun's compliment was sincere.
Although she had roasted rabbit meat in the mountains, she could only use some salt and chili powder, and did not prepare seasonings like cumin and fennel.
Song Liyun thought the food tasted good, so she asked Han Ming to go to the counter and ask him to grill another portion of lamb chops for her to take away when she left.
Two lamb chops, plus other dishes, cost a total of five taels of silver for a meal, which she could afford.
The door of the private room was pushed open.
The waiter from Tianxianglou came in and bowed, "Sir, we're out of lamb chops. Can we have roast chicken instead?"
(End of this chapter)
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