On the second day, Li Dalang pulled the mule cart down the mountain early. After the villagers loaded the charcoal, the three of them immediately rushed to the West City camp.
Li Dalang drove the mule cart, braving the biting cold wind as they advanced. After they had walked for a while, Old Man Zhao pointed to the towering city walls ahead and said to Li Dalang, "It's just ahead!"
Li Dalang stopped the mule cart in front of the West City Camp and walked up to the guard with his neck hunched. "Hey, young man, we're here to deliver charcoal to Young Master Qin in the camp. I hope you can help pass the message along!"
The soldier looked at the cart of charcoal behind Li Dalang and said, "You wait!" After saying that, he asked his colleague beside him to stand guard for him while he ran to the door to pass the message!
The captain on the tower saw the soldier trotting in and called out to him, "What are you doing?"
The soldier stopped and walked up to the captain and whispered, "He said he was here to bring charcoal to Young Master Qin!"
The captain couldn't help but frowned: "Didn't the commissary send any coal over?"
The soldier shook his head. "These young men from the capital can't stand the hardships we endure here. I think that eunuch from the capital is very picky. He either dislikes our bedding or our food! I think he wants to call all the chefs from the restaurant over here!"
The leader patted the soldier on the head and said, "Alright, even though we're on our own territory, you still have to be careful with your words. Don't let anyone catch you doing anything wrong!"
The soldier shrank his neck and responded with a smile on his face.
The captain waved his hand, and the soldiers who received the instructions quickly ran towards Qin Yue's residence.
The soldier ran to Qin Yue's residence, only to hear Eunuch Xia's shrill voice: "What kind of food is this? Are you sending beggars away? Everyone, take them away!"
The soldier took the white flour buns and stewed mutton with a sympathetic heart, feeling very angry. "This is already the best food in the camp. Even the general doesn't have such food, and he is still being picky!"
At this time, Qin Yue said, "Since you have followed the Fourth Prince to the northwest, you must be prepared to endure hardships. How can you behave like this?"
Eunuch Xiao Xia was scolded by Qin Yue with a cold face. He shrank his neck in fear and muttered, "Isn't it that I feel wronged for the Fourth Prince?"
Frightened by Qin Yue's glare, he dared not say a word.
This Young Master Qin grew up with his master since childhood. Eunuch Xiao Xia had been serving the Fourth Prince for many years and often could not figure out this man's character. Although he was not his master, Eunuch Xiao Xia felt a chill on his back when Qin Yue looked at him with such a sharp look.
At this time, the soldier outside the door came to report: "Master Qin, there are three men outside who say they are here to bring you charcoal!"
Qin Yue couldn't help but straighten up and asked, "Is there a girl?"
The soldier shook his head.
Eunuch Xiao Xia became more alert when he heard what Qin Yue said. He glanced at Qin Yue with sparkling eyes, but the sharp-eyed Qin Yue noticed it immediately and waved at him: "You have been complaining about being cold, so I bought you another cart of charcoal. Go and get it!"
Eunuch Xiao Xia was very happy to hear this. The weather in the northwest was really cold right now. The people in the military supply station were so stingy that every time they gave him some charcoal, it would be gone before he could use it for long, making the whole room freezing cold!
Eunuch Xiao Xia happily followed the soldier to the outside of the camp, and indeed saw three farmers with their hands in their pockets, their necks hunched, and eagerly waiting.
Eunuch Xiao Xia walked forward, took a look at the six baskets of charcoal on the mule cart, and said pickily: "These three baskets look good, but the other four baskets seem to be of lower quality than the first ones! Don't be perfunctory to me!" Although his words were full of doubt, Eunuch Xiao Xia also understood that these charcoals looked better than those provided by the army.
Li Dalang hurriedly stepped forward to explain: "What you said is not true, sir. How dare I fool you? These charcoals were produced in batches, and the good quality ones were sent to you. They are all burned the same way!" After saying that, he looked at Eunuch Xiao Xia with a smile on his face.
Eunuch Xiao Xia waved his hand. It wasn't that he really didn't want it, but he had stayed in the wealthy nest of the capital for too long, and the habit of being picky seemed to have been engraved in his bones: "How much is this charcoal?" After saying that, he took out a purse from his arms.
Li Dalang hurriedly said, "The first three baskets are three cents per catty, so three hundred catties is nine hundred cents. The remaining four baskets are two cents per catty, so four hundred catties is eight hundred cents. The total is one thousand seven hundred cents!"
Eunuch Xiao Xia took out two taels of silver coins and threw them to Li Dalang who was standing opposite him: "Okay, the extra money is your hard work fee. Follow me to pull the charcoal in!" The weather was so cold that people's cheeks were aching from the cold in just a few moments of talking!
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