Chapter Seventy-Nine: This Old Fox

Chu Yun nodded and said, “So that’s how it is! Boss, thank you for mapping out this route for me—how much do I owe you?”

But the shopkeeper waved his hand. “Count, there’s no need! You treated us to a meal, taught us how to make fluffy leavened bread, fried dough sticks, and tofu. Helping you with this little matter, how could I possibly accept your money?”

But Chu Yun set down five taels of silver. “Take it. If anyone from the Witch Doctor Sect investigates how much grain we bought from you, or which way we’ve gone west, I hope you’ll help us.”

Still, the shopkeeper shook his head. “Count, rest assured, I won’t betray you. And among those leaving with you are my own relatives and friends. I wouldn’t harm them, nor would I harm you! Besides, if I take your five taels and the Witch Doctor Sect finds out, they’ll be suspicious and interrogate me—I might not be able to hold out and end up betraying you.”

Seeing the honest sincerity on his face, truly unwilling to accept the silver, Chu Yun put the five taels away and instead offered fifty knife-coins. “Then at least take these, will you?”

This time, the shopkeeper couldn’t refuse and accepted the fifty knife-coins.

Chu Yun then purchased eighteen hundred rations’ worth of grain.

He planned to take three hundred people from Chu Family Town with him.

With this amount, three meals a day would last two days.

The next stop on his planned route was Pingba Village, just over a hundred li from Chu Family Town—if they hurried, they could reach it in a day. Even if something went wrong there, the second stop was Nanhuai Town, about one hundred sixty li away. So, with eighteen hundred rations, there wouldn’t be much of a problem.

Having bought the grain, Chu Yun immediately called for people to haul it back home.

Along the way, everyone saw him with the grain.

They couldn’t help but marvel, “Lord Chu bought so much grain! Looks like he intends to provide for all those following him.”

But the folks at Fragrant Inn, Celebratory Restaurant, the gambling house, Crimson Pavilion, and Wu’s Pharmacy remarked, “How much grain is that, really? A hundred jin per sack, six sacks is only six hundred jin. How many people can that feed all the way west to his fief? They’ll probably starve before even getting there.”

Many who had been tempted to follow Chu Yun west, seeing him buy so much grain, now gave up the idea. Even some who had already decided to go changed their minds after hearing these words, for various reasons.

With departure set for the next day, Chu Yun and Yang Liu’er didn’t return home, opting instead to stay at Chen Ping’s house for the night. This way, they could leave together with Chen Ping’s family.

But as they were preparing dinner, the sudden sound of neighing horses came from outside.

Chu Family Town was not a wealthy place. Though some possessed horse carts or rode horses, the clamor of so many horses at once was rare indeed.

Everyone couldn’t help poking their heads out to see.

What they saw was a squad of fifteen cavalrymen, and the townsfolk began to murmur.

“Why would soldiers suddenly come to Chu Family Town?”

“Is the war coming here? What’ll we do then?”

“Or are these men sent by the Witch Doctor Sect to deal with Chu Yun?”

“The Witch Doctor Sect wouldn’t come so quickly…”

Chu Yun vaguely heard the voices outside, and with a hint of concern, put down his chopsticks and went out.

Chen Ping followed, grumbling in a low voice, “Yun’er, it seems you really shouldn’t have let Boss Wu go! He must have sent a pigeon message to the Witch Doctor Sect—that’s why they’ve come so quickly.”

But Chu Yun’s expression was calm. “Uncle, don’t worry. Let’s see whether these newcomers are friend or foe before we jump to conclusions.”

With that, he strode forward to the courtyard gate, looking toward the cavalry squad.

Then, unable to help himself, he burst into laughter.

Chen Ping, puzzled by his reaction, asked, “Yun’er, what’s so funny?”

Chu Yun replied with a smile, “I know this squad—they’re here to help us.”

He raised his voice and called out to them, “Captain Bai Hao! Captain Bai Hao!”

Hearing his name, Bai Hao turned his head and, spotting Chu Yun, was momentarily surprised. “Doctor Chu, isn’t your home over that way?”

Chu Yun replied, “This is my uncle’s house—I’ve been staying here these past two days.”

“Oh, I see.” Bai Hao nodded, then ordered his men to halt and led the horses into Chen Ping’s backyard.

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” Chu Yun said. “We’ll cook for you right away—fluffy leavened bread and fried dough sticks.”

“Leavened bread I know,” Bai Hao said, “but what are fried dough sticks?”

Chu Yun laughed, “Heh, I guarantee you’ve never tasted this delicacy before—it’s delicious.”

“Then we must try it,” Bai Hao replied.

Chu Yun then asked, “Captain Bai Hao, what brings you to Chu Family Town?”

Bai Hao answered, “Doctor Chu, the countermeasure you suggested to Prince Qi about finding a scapegoat worked. The Witch Doctor Sect won’t trouble you openly now.”

“But Prince Qi is still concerned for your safety. He fears the Witch Doctor Sect may act against you in secret. And the journey from Chu Family Town to your fief is long, with bandits rampant in those parts—it’s bound to be dangerous.”

“So Prince Qi ordered us to accompany you for a year as your protection, then return to the royal city.”

Hearing this, Chu Yun laughed heartily. “Excellent! With your protection, we needn’t worry about this westward journey. Convey my thanks to Prince Qi for his thoughtfulness.”

Though he spoke this way, inwardly Chu Yun mused that Prince Qi was a sly old fox.

Bai Hao’s cavalry squad appeared to be there for his protection, but in truth, they were also there to keep an eye on him. Or rather, Prince Qi still hoped to win Chu Yun’s service one day.

Nevertheless, Chu Yun did not refuse Prince Qi’s goodwill—he had no way to decline. And with the Witch Doctor Sect’s threat looming over their westward journey, he genuinely needed the protection of Bai Hao’s squad.

“I wonder if Bai Hao is as loyal to Prince Qi as Luo Feng was—or perhaps I could find a way, step by step, to win him over to my side. That would make things much easier,” Chu Yun thought, quietly plotting how to bring Bai Hao over.

Aloud, he said, “Captain Bai, you and your men rest up. We’ll get dinner ready.”

Chu Yun and Chen Ping’s family went to knead the flour, and once the dough had risen, they steamed fluffy leavened bread and fried dough sticks for the cavalry.

After eating, the soldiers couldn’t stop praising the food, saying they’d never tasted such soft bread nor such delicious fried dough sticks.

As Chu Yun had guessed, after the meal, Bai Hao immediately wrote down the recipes for the leavened bread and fried dough sticks on hemp paper and sent them by carrier pigeon to the royal city.

Clearly, Bai Hao was indeed reporting to Prince Qi, keeping Chu Yun under surveillance.

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Chapter Seventy-Nine: This Old Fox (Free to Read)