Aoyama

Chapter 256: Yellow Flour Steamed Bun
Chen Ji silently looked at the handful of yellow soil and ashes on the ground, holding the corner of the yellow paper talisman in his hand.

Whose spell is this... White Dragon? Not sure.

Chen Ji had seen the yellow paper talisman in Bai Long's hand, but Bai Long was not the only official who used the yellow paper talisman. Meng Ji also used the Dao Court. All the official branches that branched out from the Dao Court used the yellow paper talisman.

But for some reason, he had a feeling that the owner of this yellow paper talisman must be the White Dragon.

When I first came to Guyuan, the postman said that the people from the Secret Service had withdrawn because the life here was too harsh... This was not reasonable at all.

How could a city of spies with all kinds of people be without such an important role as the Secret Service? The spies were like crazy after seeing the credit, wishing they could catch Jingchao spies every day. There should be a lot of spies here!
In order to make the Liu family let down their guard, the Imperial Household Department deliberately allowed Jiaotu and Yunyang to be exiled.

Isn’t the situation in Guyuan today very similar to that before?

When Chen Ji realized that Bai Long "might" be behind this incident, his heart sank.

He subconsciously looked around, worried that when he turned around, he would see "Mr. Feng" looking at him with a smile in the distance.

Fortunately not.

But there is still a question: Who killed the thirty-four members of the Chen family?

Is it the White Dragon? Definitely not.

If the border troops had not delivered mutton that day, Chen Ji and others might have been caught. Bai Long had managed to get him to sneak back to the Chen family, so how could he kill him again?
If it wasn't Bai Long, who else could it be? Who would benefit if the Chen family was killed?

While he was thinking, he heard footsteps outside the alley, and someone said from a distance: "My fellow soldiers, that's where the wailing was just coming from. It sounded very creepy!"

An old man led a group of border soldiers and walked quickly towards them. When they turned the corner, they saw only ashes on the ground.

The soldier squatted on the ground, picked up a little soil and rubbed it carefully in front of his eyes: "It's ashes."

The old man asked in confusion: "Sir, even if you put a person on firewood for a whole day, he may not be burned to ashes."

The soldier stared at the white ash mixed with the yellow soil in his palm and said, "It can't be wrong."

……

……

Chen Ji was in a heavy mood.

Guyuan, ah Guyuan, what kind of mood was Old Wu in when he said these five words before he died?
Why did the other party say that he had guessed all wrong?
What is the truth?
He walked and stopped on the street, looking up for the plaque until he saw the three large characters "Yuan Caotang", and then he walked into the shop.

The deer antlers, bear bile, bear paws, snow frogs, and ginseng smuggled in from the north were first transported from Changbai Mountain to Longhuazhou on Tokyo Road, then from Longhuazhou to Zhongjing Road, and then south from Fengshengzhou on Xijing Road to Guyuan.

Finally, they were transported to Yuancaotang for brokers and merchants to choose from.

As soon as Chen Ji stepped over the threshold, he saw a familiar figure: the other person was wearing a lambskin coat with a striking leopard sleeve, standing in front of the counter and talking to the shopkeeper.

Mr. Hu!
Mr. Hu San turned his back to Chen Ji and said calmly, "Boss, Guyuan has been besieged by the Tiance Army. The city will be captured soon. Your ginseng is worthless."

The shopkeeper smiled calmly: "Third Master, don't scare me. I have been traveling around for decades and have seen many storms."

Uncle Hu San stroked the stubble on his chin and said, "Let's not talk about the destruction of the city for now. Now the granary has been burned and every family is short of food. Everyone is rushing to buy food, and no one will come to buy your ginseng. You might as well sell it all to me at a lower price."

The shopkeeper said with a fake smile: "Third Master, there is no need to say these empty words. Seeing that Guyuan is isolated and helpless, the Tiance Army may break into the city at any time. There are many officials who want to buy ginseng to improve their realm. How can I sell it to you at a low price?"

Chen Ji frowned slightly. Mr. Hu Sanye actually had the same idea as him. If there was competition, the price would naturally go up.

He didn't come forward, but just listened quietly from behind.

At this time, Master Hu San said, "If you want to digest a ginseng, you need to spend at least five days to simmer it. After five days, the ginseng may be broken. What's the point of cramming at the last minute? Besides, one or two ginsengs can't improve your realm. Shopkeeper, the one who has food in hand is the boss now. Ginseng can't be sold at a high price."

The shopkeeper raised his eyebrows and said, "Even so, you just said that ordinary wild ginseng is eight taels per catty, and fifty-year-old ginseng is ten taels per piece. I'm sorry that I can't accept this price. Even if I burn it all, I won't give it to others at such a low price."

Mr. Hu Sanye smiled and said, "Boss, don't say such harsh words. You can't bear to burn those ginsengs... Your family of more than 30 people need to eat. If there is no food, your seven precious sons and more than ten concubines will starve to death. I have food in my hand, and I guarantee that your family will not starve to death."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Third Master, you have a good calculation. I am also an old man from Guyuan who has lived through Jianing for 25 years. How can I not understand the market? My family of 60 can survive on one tael of grain per person per day. If I find the right source for these dozens of kilograms of grain, it will cost at most 200 taels of silver. Even in the most difficult times, I will stop at 1,000 taels. Third Master, you want to use 1,000 taels of silver for grain to take advantage of my tens of thousands of taels of silver? This is not good."

The shopkeeper continued, "Besides, as an old man who has experienced Jianing for 25 years, who wouldn't leave some tricks for himself?"

"Oh?" Mr. Hu San asked with interest, "It seems that the shopkeeper has hidden some food?"

The shopkeeper shook his head: "Third Master, there is no need to test my opinion."

Mr. Hu San laughed and clasped his fists, saying, "Then I won't bother you anymore, boss. I'll come back to ask you in a few days."

The shopkeeper casually bowed and said, "Third Master, please do as you please."

When Mr. Hu San turned around, he saw Chen Ji standing not far away. He was slightly startled, then pretended not to know him and went out.

The shopkeeper looked at Chen Ji with a smile: "Sir, what do you need?"

Chen Ji asked, "How much is the fifty-year-old ginseng?"

The shopkeeper held up three fingers and said, "Thirty taels of silver per piece, no cheating, young or old."

Chen Ji turned and left. There was no need to bargain at this price.

He turned into the alley calmly, waited quietly at the corner, and slowly pulled out the dagger from his sleeve. The next moment, Mr. Hu turned in, and Chen Ji put the dagger to the other's neck and asked calmly: "Why are you following me, Mr. San?"

Mr. Hu San slowly raised his hands and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I mean no harm."

Chen Ji thought for a moment, but did not put down his dagger: "What do you want from me, Third Master?"

Mr. Hu San asked, "You also want to buy ginseng? For cultivation? What is your current level of strength?"

Chen Ji was confused by this series of questions: "Why does Third Master care about these things?"

Mr. Hu was silent for a moment: "If you want to buy ginseng, I can help you."

Chen Ji looked Mr. Hu up and down and said, "Mr. Hu, you also want to buy ginseng, why are you helping me?"

Mr. Hu San smiled and said, "I travel a lot and I have plenty of opportunities to get cheap ginseng. If you are in a hurry, I will give it to you first. It will just be a good relationship."

Chen Ji became alert; the kindness from Mr. Hu San came too suddenly.

Uncle Hu ignored his vigilance and asked directly, "How much ginseng do you want to buy?"

Chen Ji held the hilt tightly and asked, "How many ginsengs are there in Yuancaotang?"

Uncle Hu thought, "That's a lot. Ordinary wild ginseng weighs several thousand kilograms, and there must be eight or nine hundred old ginsengs that are over fifty years old. They are all stockpiled goods waiting to be shipped to the heartland of Ning Dynasty in the spring."

Chen Ji replied: "I want all the ones that are over fifty years old, but his price is too high. I can't afford it."

Uncle Hu's pupils shrank slightly. "Why do you need so much? Although old ginseng is good, it also requires a gradual approach. Cut the old ginseng into slices and divide it into thirty portions. Put two slices in a jar and steam water to drink in the morning, noon and evening. Don't rush for quick results, otherwise your meridians will not be able to bear it."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Seeing that Chen Ji didn't answer, Mr. Hu San slowed down his tone and said, "Since you want to buy it, I will help you. Come to Yuancaotang again in five days and you will get what you want. Remember, pretend not to know me when the time comes."

He backed away slowly, his neck gradually free from the dagger, and retreated into the passing crowd.

Chen Ji leaned against the brick wall of the alley alone, thinking: A person like Mr. Hu Sanye would never give up the fat meat at his fingertips for no reason. This is a business worth nearly ten thousand taels of silver. The other party must have a deep relationship with him.

But where does this connection come from? There are not many people in this world who are willing to have this kindness towards him.

Master.

uncle.

mother.

Chen Ji looked up, his eyes passing through the eaves of the alley, at the narrow sky above his head, which was dark and gloomy. The ashes from the Guyuan fire flew up into the sky, condensing with water vapor above the sky, and heavy snow could fall at any time.

Good intentions?

Chen Ji rubbed his cheek, stood up and left the alley.

……

……

Chen Ji returned to Longmen Inn and lifted the heavy cotton curtain. He saw several middle-aged men carrying bags gathered in front of the counter and said anxiously, "Boss, please arrange for us to leave Guyuan quickly. We can't stay in Guyuan for a moment."

The shopkeeper said slowly, "You all know the rules of sending people away at our Longmen Inn, right?"

The middle-aged man patted the bag on his back and said, "I understand! I understand!"

The shopkeeper squinted at one of them and said, "Li Laoqi, I remember that you still have a wife in Guyuan. Why don't you take her with you?"

Li Laoqi shrank his neck and said, "She can't have children, so why keep her around? If you have money, you can find another wife anywhere."

The shopkeeper rubbed the abacus beads at his hand and said, "I see you don't want me to earn an extra 200 taels of silver, stingy guy. You earn so much money but you are not willing to spend 200 taels of silver to buy your wife's life?"

Li Laoqi straightened his neck and said, "Second Master, why are you meddling in my family affairs?"

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Okay, I don't care. You can stay in the bunk bed and I'll send you off the day after tomorrow."

Li Laoqi was stunned: "Why is it a "人" (person) room? A "地" (room) room will also do."

The shopkeeper said impatiently, "The Di-shaped rooms are all full, and the Ren-shaped bunk beds were just vacated last night. Do you want to stay here? If not, get out of here."

Li Laoqi quickly took out a string of Buddhist Tongbao coins and stuffed it into the shopkeeper's pocket: "Stop, stop, stop... Can you give me some food? Even bran rice will do. I'm really starving."

The shopkeeper sneered, "I don't have any food left in Longmen Inn, so you have to find a way out. You are so stingy, you can just eat some of your own feet."

Chen Ji: "..."

At this time, Wang Gui came in from the backyard carrying a tray with more than ten yellow flour steamed buns on it.

He saw Chen Ji head-on and turned around in panic, worried that Chen Ji would see what he was holding.

(End of this chapter)