Chapter 136: Truck

After delivering the letter and having a meal, Old Zheng insisted it was time to go home.

Although it was just a tea stall, it still brought in a few extra coins each day, enough to keep him from starving.

Besides, what if the young Master Huang returned while he was away?

He had to go back and keep watch.

After receiving recognition from the Kaifeng Prefecture, Old Zheng felt an unusual sense of mission arise within him. Strength surged through his withered limbs, as if his entire mundane life had suddenly changed.

Frankly speaking, Ma Bing did not want him to return.

Firstly, winter was approaching, and the old man, already so advanced in years and with impaired vision, lived in a very humble dwelling—described by himself as barely better than a grass hut.

Would he survive the winter?

Secondly, regardless of anything, he had already been drawn into this murky affair. Just because there was no danger now didn’t mean there wouldn’t be danger later. What if…

Yet if they didn’t let him go back, and young Master Huang really returned, wouldn’t he miss the chance entirely?

Ma Bing had considered substituting someone else, but Master Huang was so cautious. If he saw that the tea stall had changed personnel from afar, he might suspect Old Zheng’s hideout had been discovered, which would ruin everything instead.

Just as she was struggling with this dilemma, Tu Yao returned from court.

Ma Bing first calmed Old Zheng down, then hurried to inform Tu Yao.

Upon hearing the news, Tu Yao was delighted and immediately examined the drawing carefully.

Then, pinching the bridge of his nose, he said tiredly, “Could this be some kind of secret code among their circle?”

Despite his vast learning and having read countless strange and rare books, he had never seen anything like it!

Trying not to laugh, Ma Bing stepped forward to explain. Finally, she added, “That young Master Huang probably can’t write.”

Tu Yao looked again, blushed slightly, and couldn’t help laughing too, “So that’s how it is.”

After laughing, he grew serious again.

“What you’re worried about makes sense. In that case, I’ll assign two cautious men to escort Old Zheng out of the city. They won’t enter the tea stall but will lurk at a distance.”

This way, they could protect Old Zheng without interfering with young Master Huang making contact.

If young Master Huang really showed up, they could pass on information and provide support immediately, avoiding the current situation of being completely in the dark and relying solely on guesswork.

Mainly because they couldn’t even guess correctly!

Ma Bing nodded, “That sounds good. However, my lord, we should still try to decipher the symbols on the drawing.”

After all, there might be important clues hidden in there.

Tu Yao agreed wholeheartedly.

But this matter would probably still need the help of Gao Laoliu and others.

He issued an order and sent someone to find Xie Yu, asking him to return as soon as possible.

After all, nowadays, Gao Laoliu only recognized Xie Yu as his master.

Before Ma Bing left, Tu Yao also had someone bring two five-tael silver ingots. Thinking for a moment, he swapped one of the ingots for smaller silver pieces and put them into a small, unassuming sachet.

“That Old Zheng truly has a sense of righteousness and the spirit of ancient knights. We absolutely cannot let him live in hardship in his old age. Miss Ma, you can tell him that this letter is extremely important and that the government office has offered a ten-tael reward… After this matter is resolved, we should also find a proper place to settle the old man.”

Ma Bing hadn’t expected such unexpected joy and quickly thanked Tu Yao on behalf of Old Zheng.

Since Old Zheng had poor eyesight, giving him banknotes would actually be inconvenient.

Giving him too much money at once might also attract trouble.

Ten taels was just right—not too much, not too little.

When she returned and told Old Zheng, he was both surprised and delighted, yet couldn’t quite believe it.

“Are you not just teasing me? That won’t do, that won’t do at all!”

How could such a simple errand be worth so much silver?

Ma Bing replied, “Elder Zheng, you’re mistaken. You see, many antiques are just rusty scrap and old paper to us, but to those who appreciate them, they are worth a fortune. What you see as a simple errand has actually solved our urgent problem.”

After she said this, Old Zheng indeed found her reasoning convincing.

Still, he felt ten taels was too much. His aged face turned bright red, and he didn’t know where to put his hands.

With this money, he could repair his thatched roof, buy a new set of warm clothes, and get a thick, soft quilt this winter…

“That young Master Huang is truly my benefactor,” he thought to himself.

Shortly after, two constables in plain clothes indeed escorted Old Zheng back home.

No sooner had the three left than Xie Yu returned, bringing with him a chill from outside.

Ma Bing quickly explained everything and showed him young Master Huang’s secret letter.

Xie Yu frowned as he read it, then fell silent for a moment before turning to his attendant and saying, “Call Gao Laoliu.”

Ma Bing couldn’t help but laugh.

Young Master Huang was indeed impressive—his single letter had stumped a whole group of people.

After putting down the letter, Xie Yu warmed his hands by the small stove to dispel the cold before reaching for Ma Bing’s hand, “You’ve worked hard.”

Seeing both of his hands slightly frostbitten and even redder after warming up, Ma Bing felt a pang of heartache. “Why didn’t you wear gloves?”

He lowered his eyes slightly, watching her gently rub his fingers, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

“I didn’t expect it to get this cold so quickly.”

Since entering the ninth lunar month, the weather had changed day by day, and frost would soon fall.

Ma Bing gave him a sidelong glance, “Didn’t expect? There are still many things you haven’t expected yet.”

After saying that, she turned and walked inside.

In broad daylight, Xie Yu couldn’t follow her into the house, so he stood by the window watching her crouch on the floor rummaging through boxes, “What are you looking for?”

Without lifting her head, Ma Bing pulled out a small porcelain jar from the bottom of the box and tossed it out the window, “This ointment made from bear oil prevents frostbite. Apply it and you won’t get frostbitten.”

Many people thought frostbite was simply caused by the cold, but that wasn’t the case.

In late autumn, early winter, and early spring, when the air was damp and the weather cool, people often didn’t pay enough attention, making frostbite more likely.

Xie Yu caught it and then pretended to struggle, “My hands are too stiff from the cold to apply it myself. I’ll just waste the good medicine.”

Ma Bing gave him a look of disbelief.

This guy!

When someone who looks really good knows they look good and then gives you that innocent, pitiful gaze on purpose…

In the end, Ma Bing still went out to apply the ointment for him.

As she rubbed it in, she muttered, “…What’s the use? So delicate, can’t even apply your own ointment…”

Xie Yu smiled, watching her sharp tongue but gentle hands, confirming once again that she was all bark and no bite.

She was bent over, revealing the slender, graceful curve of her neck, like a wild and elegant crane.

Her hair was still loosely tied up, with some strands escaping rebelliously, catching the afternoon sunlight like golden threads, gently swaying with her movements.

They were very close. A few loose strands kept brushing against Xie Yu’s cheek and nose, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance, making his heart tingle.

He couldn’t help leaning in closer.

Along with the medicinal scent came a faint, delicate fragrance of hers.

Xie Yu suddenly tensed.

His heart was pounding fast, and he felt a little hot.

No good, this was getting too reckless.

His reason told him he should step back or, better yet, just man up and give his beloved girl a hug.

But before Young Lord Xie could make a decision, Ma Bing suddenly lifted her head, “Alright, done!”

Her head bumped into Xie Yu’s chin with a thud, and both of them winced in pain.

Xie Yu immediately forgot his own pain, “Did that hurt?”

Ma Bing held her forehead, tears welling up from the pain, and gave him a hard slap, “What were you sneaking up so close for!”

Of course it hurt!

If she had hit any harder, she might have turned into Gao Kuai Tui!

I…

The young lord was instantly at a loss for words, feeling both guilty and embarrassed. A suspicious red flush quickly spread across his handsome face.

Ma Bing slowly opened her eyes wide, her ears also turning red, stammering, “You… you were thinking of something bad, weren’t you!”

Xie Yu: “…”

He really wanted to say no.

But he wasn’t quite sure whether his thoughts just now counted as “bad” or not. He stole a quick glance at her and then honestly murmured, “I’m sorry.”

Ma Bing: “…”

She immediately jumped up from the stool, her face flushed with embarrassment, and lunged at him, ready to hit him.

Xie Yu obediently took the hits, afraid she might fall and also worried that the ointment on his hands might dirty her clothes. He could only awkwardly keep his hands up, half-heartedly shielding her from behind.

When Gao Laoliu was led in a little later, he saw the young lord and Ma Bing both panting slightly, their faces flushed, and their hair a bit disheveled.

The gray-market entrepreneur, Gao Laoliu, couldn’t help but imagine something unsuitable to say out loud in broad daylight, and couldn’t help but sigh, youth is truly wonderful.

At this rate, maybe in a few years, he would have a young master to serve?

“Your Young Lordship, Miss Ma.”

He quickly composed his wandering thoughts and went over to bow properly.

Incidentally, this was his first time visiting the medicine garden.

He had heard that previously, only those trusted by the young lord and Miss Ma could come here…

Did this mean he was now approaching the inner circle and could be considered half one of them?

Gao Laoliu instantly felt delighted.

After looking at young Master Huang’s letter, Gao Laoliu remained silent for a while.

Xie Yu and Ma Bing exchanged glances.

Surely he didn’t fail to recognize it too?

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Gao Laoliu carefully said, “What young Master Huang probably means is that he noticed a suspicious cart frequently transporting many things outside the city, but strangely, there don’t seem to be that many people around.”

Xie Yu and Ma Bing were both confused.

They exchanged glances and grabbed the drawing together, their heads leaning close to examine it.

Actually, now that Gao Laoliu mentioned it, they could kind of see it.

The little cart was full to the brim, yet there were only two stick-figure people next to it…

Just to be safe, Xie Yu still asked Gao Laoliu, “Are you certain?”

Gao Laoliu paused for a moment and honestly replied, “Frankly speaking, I can’t be entirely sure either.”

Xie Yu: “…”

Ma Bing: “…”

Gao Laoliu glanced at them and whispered, “But once, when young Master Huang went with me to watch grain being unloaded at the dock, he drew a similar little cart afterward.”

Besides, one could easily tell the difference between a cart for carrying people and one for carrying goods.

Xie Yu rubbed his temples, then forced himself to focus on the drawing again, “Are there any suspicious places outside the city’s southeastern area?”

He had been staying at the military prison for the past few days and hadn’t slept for two days straight—he was starting to get a headache.

Ma Bing suddenly asked, “Inconspicuous? How inconspicuous?”

If the number of goods being transported truly didn’t match the number of people, perhaps the places that seemed too small to be significant at first glance were actually more suspicious.

Gao Laoliu thought carefully, “According to this drawing, young Master Huang has already scouted that area quite thoroughly. Beyond it lies the Bian River. There are two small villages on the riverbank.”

Xie Yu paused mid-rub, “The Bian River…”

Yes, the Bian River directly connected to the two water gates, Shangshan Gate and Tongjin Gate. Goods from the southeast all passed through there. Because so many cargo ships traveled back and forth, many villages and farms had gathered along the riverbank.

Ships had to be inspected before entering the city, and with so much cargo, they often had to queue. Nearly every day, large ships would dock along the riverbank to rest and stock up, so many local farmers came to trade nearby.

If that was the case, if people nearby had any needs, they could probably be met locally. Why go through the trouble of transporting goods all the way from inside Kaifeng City?

Unless…

Unless what was produced locally couldn’t meet the demand.

So, what made goods inside Kaifeng City superior to those outside?

Faced with this question, almost everyone would give the same answer:

Refinement.