Griffin Commander in the Late Ming Dynasty

A few days later, in Anping City, inside the Zhao Mansion, Zhao Pu was entertaining guests. As for the guest being entertained, it was naturally the Shanxi merchant, a branch of the Cao family.

Logically speaking, a scholar like Zhao Pu could completely ignore these merchants' sons, but now that he needed help from them, he had to build good relationships with them. Only when the relationship was good could he make a killing from them.

At this moment, the meal at home had been prepared, but the businessman had not shown up yet. Zhao Pu was undoubtedly in a bad mood.

The housekeeper couldn't stand it any longer. "Master, this Cao guy clearly doesn't give you face and is deliberately humiliating you. Do you think he will not come?"

Zhao Pu naturally thought of this: "He won't do that. I am a scholar and I personally invited him to negotiate. He has to accept this honor. Otherwise, it will be difficult for his Cao family to do business in Northern Zhili."

"Master, then...should we wait now?"

"Let's wait for him to come. The later he comes, the more comfortable it will be for me to cut him."

Not long after, he heard the doorman outside announce, "Cao wants to see you!"

Before seeing the person, I heard his voice first. Accompanied by a hearty laugh, Cao Sheng walked into the gate.

"Oh my, I am so honored to see you in person, Your Excellency. I am sorry for the delay due to some things. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."

Zhao Pu took a closer look and saw that Cao Sheng was wearing a tall hat and had an easy-going face. Years of living a life of luxury had made him plump and white. He always had a smiling face, which made people like him at first sight. Of course, this person did not include Zhao Pu.

"Glad that you're here, please take a seat. I'm worried that you might run into trouble in Anping City."

Zhao Pu smiled slightly and gestured for him to sit down.

"No, no, Your Excellency, the city of Anping is peaceful and happy. How could there be any trouble? Besides, I, Cao Sheng, am not here to eat and do nothing. Trouble will never come to me."

Cao Sheng waved his hand, sat down, and then mentioned the purpose of this trip.

"I wonder what important matter the county lord has summoned me for? If there is anything you need from me, just let me know! As long as I can make the decision, I will definitely do my best to help you!"

Zhao Pu patted his chest to show his loyalty, but his words left room for maneuver and were full of tentative intent.

"Brother Cao, this is serious. I don't have any problem that I need your help with. I came to you this time because I want to do business with you."

"Oh? I'd like to ask what business it is?"

When it comes to business, Cao Sheng is no longer sleepy. As a businessman, his favorite thing is to do business.

"Don't worry, this is good business. Today, I received a batch of war horses, no more, no less, exactly ten. I happened to hear that Cao's business spread all over the north and south, so I wanted to borrow your help to sell these horses and exchange them for food to help the people of Anping City get out of danger."

Cao Sheng's heart suddenly shuddered, and his expression froze for a moment. However, after he observed that Zhao Pu's expression did not change, he slowly let down his guard.

"May I ask where this warhorse came from? Can I go and take a look?"

"This is nature, come and follow me"

Cao Sheng was taken by Zhao Pu to his own backyard, where ten war horses were munching on dry food in the stable.

Cao Sheng walked forward, carefully examined the horses, and could not help but touch them. He sighed, "These horses are really good. They must be from Liaodong. I wonder, sir, how much do you want them for?"

Zhao Pu smiled slightly: "No more, no less, seventy taels."

Cao Sheng frowned slightly. Seventy taels was not impossible, but if he did that, he would earn less after taking into account the shipping fee.

“Pay with food of equivalent value”

Cao Sheng frowned even more tightly. "My Lord, it's not that I don't agree, but I really can't get so much food at the moment. I'm away from home, and I have to inform my family to raise a large amount of food. It will take more than ten years, or even more than a month. I'm afraid it's not appropriate. Let's trade with silver and money."

Are you kidding? Who would trade grain with you? The price of grain is rising every day. Holding it in your hand is a proof of getting rich overnight. Do you think I'm a fool? You are selling it now?

In his heart, he despised Zhao Pu as a fool, and Zhao Pu also despised him. It turned out that this businessman had a stupid brain and was easily fooled.

Chinese people are always good at compromise. If you want to open a window and he refuses, you can change your mind and say you want to remove the roof. Then he will allow you to open the window.

If you hesitate to pay me seventy taels, then I will ask you to pay with grain. Then he agreed to the price of seventy taels. But from the beginning to the end, Zhao Pu's goal was just the price of seventy taels.

The transaction was successfully concluded harmoniously and with laughter. Both parties exchanged views frankly on the issue of the war horse transaction. Both parties to the transaction felt that the other party was a pushover, which showed that both parties had reached a consensus on each other and achieved constructive results.

After Cao Sheng left, Zhao Pu sat contentedly on his armchair, drinking tea and feeling very happy.

As soon as Cao Sheng returned to his temporary residence, his face turned gloomy. His stinky face looked like the rag used by the old lady to wipe the table. People would want to hide when they saw him, not wanting to offend him.

At this time, the role of the little henchmen was reflected. Cao Sheng's lackey Erde earnestly brought Cao Sheng tea for him to rinse his mouth, and helped Cao Sheng take off his shoes, and then he asked hesitantly: "Master, what's the matter? Did the county magistrate embarrass you?"

"That's not the case. How dare a mere county magistrate embarrass me?"

"So what are you doing?"

"The county magistrate sold me a batch of war horses, all of which were grassland horses from Liaodong."

"Oh, sir! This is a good thing! If we sell it to Liaodong, a horse can be sold for more than a hundred taels!"

"Idiot! What do you know! That's a horse from Liaodong!"

At this moment, Erde's expression suddenly changed, and he looked at Cao Sheng in horror: "No way, sir? Could it be that the county magistrate found out?"

"I don't know if he found out or not, but this matter has always been a knot in my heart. I have to find out where the county magistrate got his warhorse from. Also, check for me if the county magistrate has any place to move around."

"Master, what are you doing...?"

"I want him dead!"

Cao Sheng took off his hat and slammed it on the Eight Immortals Table beside him. Without the restraint of the hat, the hair behind his head was exposed, and it turned out to be a rat tail!

"So, what is this?"

Jiang Han looked at the scene in front of him and his temples began to throb. I had just gone out to help you with the lawsuit, and now you have found a new job for me?

"Human?"

45's answer was justified. Yes, at this moment, there was a pair of children in Jiang Han's yard, a boy and a girl hugging each other, looking at Jiang Han with vigilance and pleading eyes.

45 seems to have some kind of system for picking up children. He always picks up children whenever he goes out for a walk. He is obviously a professional spy in information espionage, but he acts like a mama-san in an orphanage, including this time.

The two children were skinny, and the mottled rags on their bodies could not cover their protruding ribs. Due to lack of nutrition, their hair looked like a withered bird's nest and looked dirty no matter how you looked at them.

"I know it's a human, but the question is, where did this person come from?"

“What I saw outside, I brought with me.”

45 is not a person who is good at expressing her feelings. It is better to say that she hides her feelings very well. If she did not do well, she would not be alive today.

She said it lightly, "I brought them here when I saw them," but in fact, she found these two unlucky guys when she was scouting the area nearby.

45 is a person who cannot sit still. It is better to say that many humanoids cannot sit still. Just like M4A1 often prepares combat plans, going out for reconnaissance is also part of the preparation. Before, M4A1 had to protect Jiang Han's safety, so he could not leave too far. Now with 45, he can finally survey the situation nearby and have a clear idea of ​​the terrain.

This is the habit of the humanoids after years of fighting outside. It can be said that it is engraved in their DNA. Can the soldiers guarding the city on the city wall find the old spy chief 45? Obviously, it is impossible. 45 quickly found the blind spots of these soldiers' surveillance, and walked out of the city and conducted an investigation of the surroundings. The two children were the ones she saw near her home.

The refugees who were able to enter the city were lucky. Even though they were still hungry and cold and still had no clothes to wear, their situation was much better than their companions outside the city.

There are more soup kitchens in the city, so there are more chances to survive, and occasionally, special luck will come: wealthy families throwing away garbage.

Jiang Han's living habits still follow those of the 21st century. The living habits of people who have experienced disasters and those who live in peaceful and prosperous times are completely different. Just like people who come out of the desert will especially like to drink water, and drink a big glass at a time, while people who come out of the famine years will be very particular about every grain of rice and every leaf of vegetables. But people who have not experienced these will not be able to develop such habits.

Jiang Han would not waste food, but when he cooks, he will pick up the vegetables and remove some of the yellowed and wilted leaves, as well as the parts that have been gnawed by insects. When he eats meat, he will pick out the bones and throw them away.

These very normal actions are completely incomprehensible to people of this era. And these kitchen wastes have become a chance for some people to survive.

Chuyi and his sister Chuwu were such a pair of little refugees. Their names had no other meaning, because he was born on Chuyi and his sister was born on Chuwu, it was that simple. Their parents starved to death during the migration, and considering their young age, the soldiers guarding the city reluctantly let them into the city.

Life in the city was much better than in the outside world. Occasionally, he would get to eat porridge distributed by people from the county government. It was a very plain porridge, just a few grains of rice soaked in plain water, but he and his sister drank it very carefully.

A kind old man from the same hometown advised them that if they wanted to survive, they had to use all their brains and put aside all their face, even if it meant competing with dogs for food. But for the young Chuyi and Chuwu, face was a very abstract concept and staying alive was the most important thing. However, the dogs raised by the wealthy families were all ferocious and Chuyi was afraid that he would not be able to compete with them.

The old man disappeared not long after and was never found again. People said that he froze to death on the roadside and was taken outside the city by people from the government to be buried. Chuyi and Chuwu were a little confused. At their age, they could not feel parting and sorrow, or perhaps after their parents left, they had become numb to parting.

Chuyi found a place that was a godsend. It seemed that a master had come there. He was generous and lived a luxurious life. He could even afford to eat meat! He could smell the aroma of meat from outside the yard, and soon, a surprise came. The man of the house put a sack outside the yard, as if he was going to throw it away. Chuyi took the opportunity when the man went back and quickly opened the sack. There seemed to be a treasure inside, which shocked Chuyi completely.

Green vegetable leaves, remaining green vegetable stalks, and some fruit cores. Although they had been eaten clean, some of the fruit flesh was still missing. What surprised Chuyi the most was that there were bones inside!

He lifted up his clothes, poured everything in the sack into it, wrapped it up and put the sack back where it was.

That night, the brother and sister had the most sumptuous meal they had ever had since they were little. Chuwu held the cooked bones that were smashed by stones and sucked the marrow inside. Even though the marrow was already clean inside, Chuyi did not look much better.

The next day, the day after...their food was quietly getting better. Although they didn't have bones to eat every day, the two were already very satisfied with it. Chuyi guarded this secret very carefully. With this secret, he and his sister would definitely be able to survive.

But, he was just a five or six-year-old kid, how could he hide anything? The aroma of the food from that silly young master's house could be smelled by more than ten households in the neighborhood, how could he not be exposed?

The little secret of the brother and sister was discovered. Someone followed them all the way to their residence, took away all their things, and beat the brother and sister severely. Chuyi had been protecting Chuwu and endured the fists silently.

How many punches can a five or six-year-old child take? Maybe he will die, he thought.

At this time, he heard a voice: "Yoho, what are you playing? Can you take me with you?"

He was taken to the yard, the yard that symbolized beauty and surprise. Everything here was so good. Maybe it was because the brother and sister’s fan filters were too thick. Everything in the yard looked like heaven, especially on the fifth day of the New Year. He looked at the bacon on the eaves, as if Columbus had discovered the American continent.

"I just brought you here. It's not up to me whether to take you in or not."

When she and Chuwu knelt down and kowtowed to ask to stay, the person who looked like the female general in the play said that she had a scar on her eye. Maybe Mu Guiying also had such a scar? General Qin also had such a scar. In short, in the eyes of Chuwu who was rescued by 45, everything about 45 was equal to handsomeness and good looks.

But now they are told that there is someone else who will decide their fate, and they begin to feel uneasy again. Can they be kept?

Would my chances be better if I kowtowed more often?

Almost at the same time as he was thinking this, facing Jiang Han, Chuyi pulled Chuwu and quickly knelt on the ground, knocking their heads against the floor loudly.

After hearing about their experiences, Jiang Han's expression became even uglier.

"Stand up, don't kneel!"

The two were roughly pulled up. The owner of the house in front of them didn't seem to have a very good temper.

"No one in this world is worthy of your kneeling! I am not worthy of your kneeling either!"

Jiang Han looked at the two people who were still cowering and said, "Take them to take a shower, change clothes, and eat something."

"Is that so, Commander? A kind-hearted person?"

45 teased with a smile on his face, "This woman was the one who brought the people here, how shameless of her."

"I have seen a lot in this city and outside. I have always been thinking, what should I do? What can I do? Now I think I understand. Thank you, Sister 45"

"Hmm? What do you want to do? Is it something fun?"

"Yeah, it's fun. What I want to do is, fair, fair, or fucking fair!"

Volume 13: Chapter Chapter : Raising a child is a hassle

"So, can you take care of kids?"

Jiang Han looked at the M4A1 on the side, then looked away.

What does that expression mean? M4A1 was immediately furious! Am I not reliable enough?

You are so reliable. Jiang Han turned his head and looked at the two children who were looking at him timidly. He felt a headache.

Now the question is, who should give the two little ones a bath?

It was definitely inappropriate for him to do that. There was a little girl among the two children, so it was wrong no matter how you looked at it. If he really did that, I'm afraid the book would be gone on the spot.

That was not possible for him. He had to give the M4A1 away. He was afraid that the two children would bleed from being rubbed. Jiang Han could only look at the 45 on the side.

"Why are you looking at me? I don't know how to give people a bath."

"You have to take full responsibility for the child you picked up. This glorious mission is now handed over to you. I believe that the omnipotent Sister 45 will not have any problem dealing with such a small matter, right?"

"...For the sake of your nose, I hope you will carefully consider what you are going to say next."

"Don't do anything if you have something to say!"

In the end, Jiang Han still got involved. He washed the boys, while M4A1 and 45 washed the girls. Don't ask why they got involved. The answer is that they loved working.

Giving a child of this age a bath is actually a physical job, especially since there are no bath towels these days, so one can only use a loofah. The little guy is very obedient and cooperates very well without saying a word, which makes Jiang Han worry less. The only thing is that he is too dirty.

The big bucket of water almost turned black after washing, and he rubbed off an unknown amount of black mud on his body. My goodness, Jiang Han was sweating.

When I scrubbed the child's body, I found that he actually had quite a few wounds, both large and small, and some bruises that must have appeared recently. This must be the reason why 45 said he was rescued from someone else.

He tried to communicate with the little guy: "Little boy, what's your name?"

"......younger one"

"My son, how old are you this year?"

"Can not remember"

....This is going to make you talk to death.

The clothes worn by the two little guys were too dirty, with stains of grease from leftovers, juice from rotten vegetables, a mixture of mud and water, and all kinds of strange things on them. Jiang Han just threw them away.

I don't have any spare clothes for the children at home, so I can only roll up my own clothes to adjust the size and use them for the child temporarily. I will go to the tailor shop to get a suitable one later.

The child said nothing and let Jiang Han manipulate him like a puppet, but his eyes drifted towards his sister from time to time, and he was obviously very worried.

After some tidying up, the little guy now looks much better, but he still looks skinny, and his dry and yellow hair looks frizzy and not round at all, which makes Jiang Han want to comb his hair.