Chapter 27

Shen Qing took a swig of wine and sighed—maybe even women don’t truly understand women. Madam Zhang’s advice hadn’t helped at all. He was just grasping at straws now.

Seeing how quiet he was, the older man felt more certain of his suspicions. He raised his cup and said, “A real man should achieve something in his life. As the old saying goes, ‘A beauty deserves a hero.’ That young Madam Xiao is one in a million.”

Hearing someone praise Xiao Wanling, Shen Qing felt like he had found a kindred spirit. “She’s gentle, kind, and capable. Marrying her must be the greatest blessing I earned in my past life.”

At some point, only Shen Qing and the older man were left under the canopy. They drank cup after cup. The man finally set down his massive bowl, thumping his chest. “Brother Shen, my surname is Lu. I’m older than you but thick-skinned enough to ask you to call me Brother Lu. War’s on the horizon—if we brothers can serve our country, it won’t be a life lived in vain!”

Shen Qing was roused by his words, tilted his head back, and downed his wine in one go. “Alright!” He had thought he’d have to wait a year before going to war, but only a few days later, more refugees arrived—men, women, and children fleeing the chaos.

The elders in the village whispered rumors—war was imminent, and all men above ten years old might be asked to join the battlefield.

One night, a group of barbarians appeared from the back mountain. They looted every bit of food they saw. Shen Qing heard cries and rushed outside, bow in hand, standing tall in the courtyard.

Xiao Wanling flung open her door, her voice filled with worry. “It’s coming from the back mountain—there are women and children crying, and sounds of fighting!”

Shen Qing’s fists clenched, veins bulging. He turned and said, “Stay inside!”

She nodded and quickly fetched a pouch of insect-repelling powder, stuffing it into his hand before shutting herself in and opening the window to observe.

Under the moonlight, Shen Qing stood still as a pine. Footsteps echoed—tension mounted. A wild man clad in animal skins and with tangled hair crept toward the bamboo fence, attempting to climb in.

The moment his feet hit the ground, an arrow struck him in the foot. He howled in pain and collapsed, scaring the others into hesitation.

Another barbarian tried sneaking in from the side. But Shen Qing, almost as if he had eyes on his back, shot him square in the hand or foot every time. His skills were honed from years of hunting—wounding but not killing, as injuring someone in a hunt bore a lighter sentence than murder.

Seeing they couldn’t break in, the wild men let out strange whistles. More emerged from the shadows behind trees and ran downhill—straight toward Qishan Village.

Lu Dahai, leading the surviving villagers, fled toward the Shen house, still chased from behind. The women were too shaken even to cry. The fire from the back mountain lit up the sky like a burning inferno.

Shen Qing strode to the gate, drew an arrow, and loosed it—striking one barbarian in the chest. The brief delay allowed others to catch up.

“Quick, get in!” he shouted, throwing open the gate.

Bloodied, clothes torn, hair disheveled—men and women staggered into the courtyard and collapsed.

A woman cupped her face and wailed. Everyone was gone—the elders, children, all dead.

Lu Dahai dropped to his knees. His machete clattered to the ground as he clenched his fists, teeth grinding to keep his tears from falling.

Yan Sheng was gasping for air, his chest heaving with pain from overexertion.

Xiao Wanling came out with a basin of water.

Just then, a man with his head down and hair covering his face lunged at her with a knife. In panic, she splashed the water and smashed the basin, but her wrist was grabbed, and the blade came stabbing toward her.

An arrow whistled through the air, piercing the man’s chest. He spasmed, eyes wide, and fell dead.

Shen Qing pulled her behind him, bow still drawn and aimed at the new arrivals.

Lu Dahai snapped out of it, picked up his blade, and hacked at the fallen man several times before kicking away the rest of the bodies. He wiped blood off his face with the dead man’s clothes and examined them.

A woman curled up, trembling. “He’s one of the people who moved into the back mountain recently!”

The fire was eventually stopped by the river’s natural barrier. Black smoke billowed as men from Qishan Village rushed out to fight.

The fleeing barbarians turned back toward the Shen home. Shen Qing, Lu Dahai, and Yan Sheng met them midway.

Supervisor Cha arrived with reinforcements, quickly slaughtering the barbarians on the spot. He looked at the survivors and asked, “Anyone else alive?”

Lu Dahai choked up. “Only eight of us are left…” His parents, children, and brothers were all gone—his heart felt like it was being carved open.

Supervisor Cha was silent for a moment. “My condolences.” Then he waved a hand. “Put out the fires.”

After they left, Supervisor Sang arrived with others to clean up. The bodies were gathered, and families were called to identify them. Those left unclaimed were buried in a mass grave after being burned.

Qishan Village had a few injuries, but the worst hit was the new settlement on the back mountain. Homes destroyed. Families wiped out. It took the whole night to contain the fire—but thankfully, the river stopped it from spreading to the endless mountains beyond.

Fear took hold of the people. Managers Cha and Sang and the farm supervisor gathered everyone to re-register household records.

The village head was wracked with guilt. He blamed himself for letting in troublemakers. He also resented the city officials who had turned a blind eye. Despite his exhaustion, he insisted on going to the city for answers.

At the village gate, old men murmured among themselves.

“They say the barbarians disguised themselves as refugees, snuck in, and tried to burn our food, tea, and mulberry trees.”

“Despicable! “They can’t win against the Prince of Jin’s army, so they resort to sabotage!”

These words made Xiao Wanling even more worried. These people weren’t just cruel—they were schemers. Then the village head brought back news: recruitment.

Representatives from nearby Dayan village had also arrived—their tea plantations and pastries burned, lives lost.

The village head read aloud, “Every household with males over ten must send one man to the eastern front.”

Old Lady Liu sneered at Shen Qing and Xiao Wanling. “No one escapes now.” Gone were the days of paying tax in exchange for exemption.

Families with only one son looked devastated. On the battlefield, lives hung by a thread. Big families, with multiple sons, breathed a sigh of relief.

The Xue family had three sons. Only one needed to go—not much of a blow. Old Lady Liu fanned herself smugly. “Haha, meeting’s over!”

“Hold on!” Supervisor Cha interrupted. “Let the village head finish.”

The village head sipped his tea. “Households with more than six people must send two men. More than eight—three men. Children excluded. No exceptions.”

Old Lady Liu’s face turned pale. Three sons? Her husband still had a bad back—sending them all was a death sentence.

The village head lifted the scroll higher. “After the recruitment, any remaining males over ten must send one person to the southern front for road and bridge building.”

The crowd erupted. Some families were losing four adult men at once. Who would take care of the elderly and children?

Supervisor Cha clapped his hands. “Anyone who disobeys the Prince of Jin’s orders will face five years of forced labor! You have half a month to prepare. Dismissed!”

Old Lady Liu turned ghostly pale and dared not utter a word. The villagers all dispersed, heavy-hearted. Only Lu Dahai, Yan Sheng, and a few others looked strangely delighted.

Shen Qing and Xiao Wanling walked back up the hill. Lu Dahai caught up. “Brother Shen! Our time has come!”

Xiao Wanling said, “You two go ahead,” and hurried off. She guessed the recruitment was tied to the recent earthquake and the infiltration of spies. But with the men gone, over half the village’s population would vanish.

“Miss Xiao!” A call came from a girl in orange with twin buns—Chun Zhi, Madam Zhang’s maid. “My lady is waiting for you in the carriage!”

Xiao Wanling turned back down the mountain, nodded to Shen Qing and Lu Dahai in passing, and approached the waiting carriage.

Madam Zhang stood beside it and quickly pulled her up. “Did Madam Ji make things hard for you?”

Xiao Wanling replied, “Did you come all this way just for that?”

Madam Zhang poked her arm playfully. “Smart guess. Grain prices have doubled again. The Han family is hoarding supplies to drive up prices. Their restaurants and teahouses are raking in black-hearted profits.”

Xiao Wanling frowned. “So what do you want from me? The Han family’s ‘Hongyun Restaurant’ makes a fortune. What’s the endgame?”

Madam Zhang didn’t answer. She lifted the curtain and looked outside. Chun Zhi boarded the carriage. It began to climb the winding path.

Xiao Wanling was puzzled. Where were they going?

Madam Zhang grinned slyly. “Aren’t you curious what I owe to Shen Qing?”

“If you want to talk, you will,” Xiao Wanling replied.

Madam Zhang began her story. The Zhang family once ran successful inns and cloth shops. But one year, while returning home for ancestral rites, they were ambushed—bought off by the Han family. Their carriage was pushed off a cliff. The goal was total annihilation. Luckily, a hunting Shen Qing happened by and drove off the disguised bandits, saving the Zhangs.

Her tone turned sorrowful. “My brother, sister-in-law, mother, nephew—and the unborn baby—they were all killed by the Hans. My father donated to build roads and bridges. My brother and sister-in-law helped refugees. What did they do to deserve that?”

If it was true, the Han family was more vicious than she imagined.

Madam Zhang wiped her eyes. “So—do you still want to work with me?”

Chun Zhi’s eyes were red from crying. “Miss!” If you ask like this, will they agree? She looked at Xiao Wanling nervously.

Xiao Wanling thought, even if I don’t take the Han family head-on, once I threaten their profits, they’ll retaliate regardless. “Of course. By the way, how are ice creams selling?”

Madam Zhang lit up. Her voice choked with emotion. “But the Hans are connected to the Ji family by marriage. I can’t help you if it comes to a fight with Madam Ji.”

Xiao Wanling was already thinking of ways to break free from Madam Ji. “Madam Ji isn’t the ruler. Above her, there’s still the Prince of Jin.”

Madam Zhang agreed in theory, but she didn’t know how to make the prince take her side.

Xiao Wanling said, “Just focus on making money. Be a proper merchant. I’ve found a precious food crop. Merchants and food—those are the foundation of the nation.”

Madam Zhang was thrilled. She didn’t know what crop Xiao Wanling had found, but she’d support her fully. “The village is too small. No matter how good your food is, you won’t make much money. Let’s attract merchants to Qishan Village.”

At that, Xiao Wanling had an idea—she could use the tea and pastries Madam Ji liked so much to build a name.