Fish Meat – Chapter 49

The Ninth Year of Shenchu

Collecting Grains in Sudu (Part 1)

When Zhen Wenjun was massaging Wei Tingxu’s waist, she couldn’t say a word, and Wei Tingxu also remained silent. The already quiet tent became even more stifling.

Zhen Wenjun continued to press tirelessly, while Wei Tingxu lay prone on the soft couch without making a sound. However, she knew that Wei Tingxu definitely wasn’t asleep.

This person could no longer be described as merely unpredictable. Her heart was deeper than the sea. One moment, she felt she had become a trusted confidante, and the next moment, it wouldn’t be surprising if she were dragged out and sliced to death by a thousand cuts.

So, any feelings of reluctant parting were best forgotten.

After two sticks of incense time, Wei Tingxu finally spoke, “Little Sister, you must be tired. Go and rest.”

Zhen Wenjun responded with a sound of acknowledgment, grabbed a blanket, and started to leave. Wei Tingxu called out to her, “Little Sister, where are you going?”

“Nowhere, I’m just going to sleep here,” Zhen Wenjun replied, pointing to the spot where she was standing.

“How can you sleep on the ground in this early spring chill? Aren’t you afraid of your soul flying away and your spirit scattering?¹ Come over and sleep with your elder sister.”

Zhen Wenjun gave an “oh” in response, returned, tossed the blanket next to Wei Tingxu, and then unceremoniously burrowed in after extinguishing the oil lamp.

Xiaohua truly has skillful hands; the bedding was soft and warm, making her whole body feel comfortable. Zhen Wenjun rubbed her nose, which was cold from the chill, and thought that Wei Tingxu really knew how to enjoy herself. Did she hide in such a cozy place every night during those bone-chilling winter nights?

As she pondered how Xiaohua had arranged the soft couch, a burning hot body suddenly pressed against her.

Zhen Wenjun froze for a moment. In the darkness, the back of her hand touched a patch of soft, delicate skin. Gathering her courage, she deliberately moved her wrist, and the back of her fingers slid over what felt like flawless, warm jade. The fragrance of the body wafted from the bedding, making her heart race uncontrollably.

Could it be that Wei Tingxu was only wearing a heart garment?²

That heart garment would only cover the chest, with two thin straps crossing over the body, tied at the exposed back and waist— the most intimate of undergarments. Usually, when she slept with Lingbi, she also preferred to wear only a heart garment, as they each had their own blanket and didn’t touch. But now, she and Wei Tingxu were under the same quilt, and Wei Tingxu was so unconcerned about modesty.

“What is it, Elder Sister?” Zhen Wenjun stared at the pitch-black canopy, and the “Nine Methods of the Mysterious Woman” taught by Lady A Jiao of the Yue clan flashed before her eyes.

“Cold.”

Hearing her softly and weakly hum the word “cold,” Zhen Wenjun felt a warmth spread through her heart. She turned over to look at her. She saw a smooth, narrow shoulder exposed outside the blanket, and a sliver of moonlight happened to shine in through the small ventilating window, casting a faint blue glow from her shoulder to her eyes. Wei Tingxu also looked at her, and her eyes shone brightly in the darkness, as deep and brilliant as if they contained the entire universe.

Zhen Wenjun propped herself up and moved closer.

Wei Tingxu’s lips parted slightly from her lower lip, her breath as faint as the scent of orchids.

Zhen Wenjun raised her hand, pinched the edge of the blanket, and covered Wei Tingxu’s shoulder, then pulled her gently into her embrace through the blanket.

“Is this warmer?” Zhen Wenjun asked.

When Wei Tingxu spoke again, all emotion had disappeared from her voice, and she merely gave a faint “mm.”

Zhen Wenjun’s chin rested against the nape of Wei Tingxu’s neck. She smiled silently and released her. As she let go, her earlobe brushed unintentionally against the side of Wei Tingxu’s ear, without the slightest hint of reluctance, and she lay back down.

The sweltering night ended in a silent battle between ice and fire.

Although they shared the same blanket, the two never touched each other again.

Zhen Wenjun’s breathing was steady, as if she had fallen asleep.

Wei Tingxu turned over and quietly reached for the heart garment that had long been tucked into the corner of the blanket, slipping it on quietly. Once the heart garment covered her bare body again, she closed her eyes, which were simmering with anger, and tried to find sleep.

The next morning, as soon as Wei Tingxu woke up, she softly called out for Xiaohua, and someone immediately responded at the door. It turned out that Xiaohua had kept watch outside the tent all night. As the door curtain was lifted, Lingbi entered, carrying hot water alongside Xiaohua, to attend to Wei Tingxu’s morning wash.

Zhen Wenjun naturally reached out to take the outer robe that Xiaohua was holding, gave it a gentle shake, and draped it over Wei Tingxu’s shoulders, speaking with a clear sense of disappointment:

“I have only been close to Elder Sister for a few days, and now I must leave. Although I am reluctant in my heart, I would not refuse even ten thousand deaths to ease Elder Sister’s burdens. My only worry now is that there will be no one to care for you. As for the back pain, I have a folk remedy that might be of some use. Elder Sister could try it. Before going to bed each night, wrap extinguished charcoal in fireproof cloth and place it on your waist to keep it warm. This can promote blood circulation and alleviate the pain. If I were not afraid that my inexperience might delay this mission, I would have left Lingbi behind to care for you.”

After Zhen Wenjun helped her dress and tie her sash, the cool pads of Wei Tingxu’s fingers brushed against Zhen Wenjun’s cheek. “I have long grown accustomed to this back pain over the years, and besides, Xiaohua and Master Xu with his disciple are here. You need not worry, Little Sister. However, regarding the fifty thousand cartloads of grain for this journey, do you have any ideas on how to gather them?”

Everyone knew that within the borders of Da Yu, there was no longer any grain to collect. If there was any, it would be the rare private reserves stored by the noble families. In times of war and disaster, grain had long since become more precious than gold and silver; it was unthinkable that these families would be willing to part with it. If there was still any land in the world untouched by the ravages of war and disaster, it would likely be only the land of the Guqiang clan in the southeastern part of Da Yu—Sudu.

Sudu was exactly where Xiaohua hailed from. The area was rich in rainfall, with a consistently hot climate, lush vegetation, and diverse species. It also had vast tracts of fertile farmland, where every autumn, the grains ripened abundantly, filling homes with prosperity. Zhen Wenjun’s knowledge of this wasn’t due to her mother’s teachings, but rather from the gossip and rumors Lingbi had shared with her at night during their journey. Among these stories was a mention of the Wang clan in Sudu. Years ago, when the Guqiang clan was defeated in battle, their leader came to Da Yu to present a letter of surrender, pledging allegiance to Da Yu. At that time, Da Yu didn’t regard this tiny land with much importance, so they left a small army stationed there, while some side branches of noble families from Da Yu’s Nanya County moved there, drawn by Sudu’s fertile land and abundant resources, including a branch of the Wang clan from Nanya. The Wang clan’s branch thrived in Sudu, occupying thousands of acres of fertile land, and this year, they even sent ten thousand carts of grain to their main family.

The rumors and gossip that Lingbi had shared didn’t seem particularly significant at the time, but now, in hindsight, they were extremely clear clues. Could this also have been Wei Tingxu’s intention? Could it be that she wanted to ensure that the fifty thousand cartloads of grain currently hanging over her head had a source?

However… the Wang clan wasn’t aligned with the Wei family faction. No matter how powerful the Wei family was in Da Yu, could they really influence Sudu?

Wei Tingxu had only given her a direction; how to accomplish the task was something she had to figure out on her own.

With these thoughts in mind, Zhen Wenjun said, “I have a plan in mind, Elder Sister. Please wait patiently for good news.”

Wei Tingxu nodded, “I believe you won’t let me down. But if you do encounter difficulties, don’t forget to try using the Wei family’s talisman.”

Zhen Wenjun’s face showed a hint of emotion, and she was just about to say something complimentary when she noticed Wei Tingxu’s playful smile:

“If you can’t collect the fifty thousand carts of grain, it’s no big deal. I’ve already thought of a way to punish you.”

Zhen Wenjun: “…”

“Alright, it’s time to set off. Lingbi has already packed your things. The sooner you go, the sooner you’ll return. I’ll be waiting to catch the wind and wash away the dust for Sister.”³

She was probably already prepared to watch her make a fool of herself—Zhen Wenjun thought to herself. Since Wei Tingxu had decided that she would be unable to accomplish her task, it indicated that this trip to Sudu would definitely be fraught with difficulties and obstacles.

However, at least she didn’t have to go to Suichuan anymore, which made Zhen Wenjun greatly relieved. She had even prepared a mask to conceal her identity, so not needing to go there was a piece of good news.

After getting the carriage ready, Zhen Wenjun set off again with three attendants and a coachman, traveling south with Lingbi.

After nearly half a month of continuous travel, they finally reached the edge of Nanya County. Zhen Wenjun felt a bit anxious; at this pace, she hardly had a few days left to collect grain. The time spent on the road alone would take a month round trip. They casually ate a meal and fed the horses once they entered Nanya County, taking half an hour to regroup before continuing toward Sudu.

They had rushed so much along the way that there was hardly any time to rest and find accommodations. Without Xiaohua, no one prepared delicacies or fine wines for them; they could only nibble on steamed buns that were as hard as burlap and jerky that was tough like tree bark to get by. Lingbi had been worn down significantly, her face darkened by the sun, and she was constantly pestered by Zhen Wenjun to teach her martial arts. Even at night, while setting up camp, they couldn’t sleep. Zhen Wenjun dragged her to ask about various sword techniques. Often, while Zhen Wenjun was sweating and practicing, when she turned to ask Lingbi for guidance, she would find that Lingbi had already fallen asleep, carried away by the Duke of Zhou to wander in the land of dreams.⁴

After presenting the pass documents and leaving the borders of Da Yu, the flat road faded into the distance as the carriage traveled along the narrow and rugged mountain path.

On the left were towering, perilous peaks, while on the right was a sheer cliff. Thick fog lingered in the mountains, obscuring visibility to only ten steps ahead on the narrow path. The experienced coachman tightly held the reins, cautiously controlling the speed and direction of the horses. The hooves struck the wet, slippery stone steps that barely allowed a single carriage to pass. Occasionally, a hoof would slip, sending cold sweat down the spines of those in the carriage.

After walking for three hours on the mountain road, they finally reached the summit at noon. At this moment, the thick fog dissipated, and from the peak, the view revealed the alternating yellow and green of terraced fields below. In the distance, flocks of wild geese were heading north. Zhen Wenjun stepped down from the carriage and stood at the edge of the cliff, facing the mist that had been whipped into white waves, her clothes fluttering in the wind. In her moment of elation, she thought of her hometown, thousands of miles away, and felt a pang of longing.

Mother, now I find myself in a foreign land, wishing to share this beautiful scenery with you, yet I do not know where you are. It has been three years since I was forced to leave Qixian, and I will continue to forge ahead.

The descent from the mountain was still difficult, but the fog had cleared, and the road was now visible ahead. The coachman cracked his whip more vigorously, and the horses finally could stretch their legs and gallop a bit faster.

After an hour, they descended the mountain and stepped onto a long ridge between the fields.

On both sides of the ridge were vast rice paddies. The farmers, wrapped in yellow headscarves, exposing their upper bodies and wearing narrow trousers, were diligently tilling the land. The sight of such vibrant life and exotic scenery, which Zhen Wenjun hadn’t seen in a long time, made her curiously peek around. She noticed a young farmer’s wife straightening up to wipe her sweat. Although her face was reddened from years of sun exposure, her features were still beautiful, and her figure was graceful. Zhen Wenjun couldn’t help but sigh, realizing that Lingbi hadn’t exaggerated; the women of the Guqiang clan were indeed attractive. Any random farmer she saw had such looks. She wondered if Xiaohua had once looked similar.

After crossing the ridge, they entered a village. The houses in this village were built low along the only long road, with each family having their own poultry pens and granaries. Zhen Wenjun observed closely; the chicken and ducks were plentiful, and the cattle and sheep were robust. Even the most crucial and private granaries of Da Yu had their doors wide open, without a hint of concealment.

Zhen Wenjun was delighted; there were indeed grains to be harvested here.

After passing through three small villages, they arrived at their destination, the largest city at the edge of Sudu—Tajiang. The Wang family they were searching for was located within the city of Tajiang.

As they approached the city gate of Tajiang, the soldiers guarding the entrance refused to let them pass, even attempting to detain them and take them to the government office. Lingbi stepped forward and spoke a few sentences in the Guqiang language to temporarily stall them.

Lingbi said, “Da Yu has fought against Sudu for a long time, and both the court and the common people here hold hostility toward Da Yu. They won’t recognize your passage documents.”

“What did you say to them?”

“I said that I am a descendant of Sudu. They seem to have no intention of binding us, but I estimate they won’t let us into the city easily either.”

“How do you know how to speak Guqiang?”

“Of course, Xiaohua taught me. I love studying these Hu languages the most.”

“What should we do now? Can Lingbi persuade them?”

Lingbi thought for a moment and said, “What about the talisman that Sister gave you?”

Zhen Wenjun handed the talisman to her. Lingbi took the talisman and stepped forward to speak a few sentences to the soldiers, and surprisingly, they really opened the gate and let them through.

Zhen Wenjun couldn’t believe it: “Is Sister’s family really that impressive? The documents from the Da Yu court are useless, yet the talisman from the Wei family can actually get us through?”

Lingbi sat in the carriage, smiling somewhat stiffly: “Hurry up and get in. We need to make good time.”

After entering the city, they headed straight for the Wang family. The coachman had been to Tajiang before, and the Wang family was a very famous noble family in the area, so it was easy to find. On the way to the Wang family, Zhen Wenjun saw the money shop of the Zhangsun family, which had a sign hanging above that read “Qiankun Bank.” According to Ah Liao, all the calligraphy on their money shop was written by her, and as long as they recognized her work, they could exchange their banknotes for silver.

Once Zhen Wenjun found the place to exchange money, she felt more at ease about going to the Wang family to collect the grains. Upon arriving at the Wang family, she presented twenty thousand silver notes, and the head of the Wang family immediately came out to welcome them personally.

The head of the Wang family introduced himself as Wang Jin. He was an old man in his fifties, not taller than Zhen Wenjun, with a round face and a bushy beard. His high forehead was particularly prominent, and he smiled at everyone, resembling the longevity deity from New Year paintings.

Zhen Wenjun briefly explained her intention to collect grains—twenty thousand taels of silver for fifty thousand loads of food. Wang Jin agreed on the spot and took her to tour the granary. Wang Jin owned more than a dozen granaries that resembled fortresses. He asked Zhen Wenjun to pay half the deposit first, and three days later, he would have someone deliver all fifty thousand loads to her designated location. If the delivery was to be made outside Sudu, an additional five hundred taels of transportation fees would be charged.

“No need, I will come to collect it myself once the grains are ready,” Zhen Wenjun said, remaining cautious. The fifty thousand loads of grain, if transported using large military supply carts, would likely amount to about two thousand carts. When she arrived, she saw that the granaries were filled with large carts, as Wang Jin must have many available for transporting grains and fodder year-round. It would be best if they could be delivered directly to her sister, but although Wang Jin wasn’t exactly cold, there was a hint of disdain in his words. Perhaps he looked down on her because she was young and a woman; if she didn’t keep a close eye on the grains, he might not adhere to their agreement to deliver. Although it would be a bit of a hassle, Zhen Wenjun decided to transport the grains herself.

She paid the deposit and handed over an additional five hundred taels, requesting to borrow the Wang family’s large carts and manpower, promising to return in three days to collect the grains.

On the appointed day, the two thousand carts of grains were all loaded. After inspecting everything, Zhen Wenjun paid the remaining silver and asked Lingbi to inform the messenger to tell Wei Tingxu that she had completed her task and requested her sister to inform her where the grains should be delivered next.

The two thousand carts required a large area to park, so Zhen Wenjun pulled the carts to an open field and settled down outside, waiting for the messenger’s return.

While Lingbi and Zhen Wenjun gathered around the fire to cook soup, Zhen Wenjun poked at the dry wood with a branch, feeling that something was amiss; everything was going too smoothly, and it didn’t feel quite right.

If it were this easy, why would Wei Tingxu make her come in person? With the Wei family’s prestige in Sudu, she could have easily had Wang Jin deliver the grains to her directly, couldn’t she?

The more Zhen Wenjun thought about it, the more anxious she felt. She grasped the dagger she had taken from Madam Hongye tightly and ran toward the carts.

“What are you doing?” Lingbi exclaimed, startled by the sudden appearance of the dagger. She followed closely and saw that Zhen Wenjun was using the dagger to slice open the bags filled with grains one by one, spilling the contents everywhere as she examined them.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

Zhen Wenjun didn’t have time to respond to her. After checking over twenty carts without finding any issues, she climbed up onto a cart, threw aside the outer layer of burlap bags, and pulled out the middle layer to cut it open. A strong musty odor wafted out.

As expected.

Aside from the outer layer being good, all the grains buried inside were severely damp and moldy, completely inedible.

Zhen Wenjun hurried back to find Wang Jin overnight. Wang Jin, while stroking the warm, lustrous ring in his palm, said sarcastically, “In this day and age, the young lady should understand. With just twenty thousand taels of silver, it’s only fair to buy five thousand carts of moldy grains.”

The attendants were so furious they wanted to draw their swords, but Zhen Wenjun pushed them back.

“Lord Wang, the way of doing business is based on honesty. Without honesty, how can one stand firm? I ask Lord Wang to take back the moldy grains; the price can be discussed further.”

“Discuss further? Do you still have any money left?” Wang Jin laughed mockingly, having seen through that twenty thousand taels was all Zhen Wenjun had. “Moreover, you checked the goods and signed the contract at that time. If we’re not talking about honesty now, it’s you who wants to back out, not me.”

Zhen Wenjun’s temples throbbed; she said nothing more, cupping her hands in farewell and directly pulled Lingbi and her attendants out.

“You can tolerate this?” At the door, Lingbi was furious.

“Of course not.” Once outside the Wang residence, Zhen Wenjun’s calm expression suddenly changed, her brows furrowing coldly as she turned back to look. “That old Wang Jin is cunning and treacherous like a rat, making me sick. I not only want five thousand carts of good grains, but I’ll also make him return all twenty thousand taels of silver. Today, let me teach that old fool the meaning of ‘cherish what one has while one still holds it.’ Let’s go!”

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1. Your soul flying away and your spirit scattering (魂飛魄散): A way to describe being extremely cold or scared, to the point where one feels like their soul has left their body.
2. Heart Garment (心衣): A traditional Chinese undergarment that covers only the chest, typically secured with thin straps at the back and waist. It’s considered very intimate wear.
3. Catch the wind and wash away the dust (接風洗塵 ): the act of greeting and honoring someone after their travels.
4. Duke of Zhou (周公): a historical figure often associated with wisdom and dreams in Chinese culture, suggesting a state of peaceful sleep or dreaming.