Chapter 10: The Noble Person Sets Out

As soon as the words "Chinu" were spoken, the money box full of coins fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Yu Hen, who had been holding his head high with a proud little expression, suddenly crouched to the ground and hid behind the cart.

A Chou, meanwhile, clung to the large willow tree, repeatedly bumping into it while constantly saying:

"Chinu is coming...... Chinu is coming......"

No.

Who the heck is this Chinu!

Why do they all look like they've seen a ghost?

Du Shanü was full of questions, momentarily unsure whether to ask this foolish A Chou why he could suddenly speak, or to first ask about Chinu.

The carriage not far away did not halt its pace despite their little commotion.

The carriage proceeded at a steady pace, about to pass their still-unpacked jelly stall.

The leading guard glanced over the cart, the large vat, and the few people gathered together, his brow faintly tightening, but he did not shout to drive them away; merely, his control of the horses seemed to ease slightly, ensuring the carriage could pass smoothly through this somewhat chaotic area.

At the moment when the carriage's body was nearly parallel to the jelly stall, the long-hanging fine bamboo curtain was suddenly lifted at a corner by a hand from inside—pale, slender, with distinct knuckles.

The motion was light and quick, as if someone inside had merely glanced casually.

Du Shanü clearly felt a calm, scrutinizing gaze, tinged with aloof superiority, projected from the gap in the curtain, sweeping over her face like a tangible thing, passing over Yu Hen, Liu Wenyuan, and A Chou beside her, even brushing over the water stains and empty vat left on the cart.

The gaze lingered for an extremely brief moment, less than a breath.

Immediately, the bamboo curtain fell back into place, seamlessly, as if it had never been lifted.

The carriage did not pause, maintaining its original speed, escorted by a retinue of guards and servants, it sped straight down the long street toward the deeper part of the county town—perhaps the county office, or perhaps some grand manor.

In the long street only the rumbling of wheels and the fading hooves remained, along with the whispered gossip on either side that had yet to subside.

"They've gone, they've gone—quick, get up."

Du Shanü blinked blankly, then helped each person up one by one:

"What's this...... do you have enemies?"

In this world, having enemies is not strange.

But whose enemies would be called Chinu...... slave?

Judging by their status, it doesn't seem very high—could something be off?

Du Shanü muttered to herself, yet seeing Yu Hen, whom she had helped up, rush to A Chou and anxiously ask:

"Is it really Chinu coming? Was it just the sound of that passing carriage? Did you see him?"

A Chou did not respond, his expression remaining the same mad, dazed stupor; from beginning to end he only kept repeating, "Chinu is coming."

Yu Hen could get no answer, and being blind could not see for himself, so he sighed, pondered a moment, and explained to Du Shanü:

"They are not enemies, but close friends."

"My adoptive father once found five study companions for me, whose nicknames were Greedy Slave, Angry Slave, Foolish Slave, Slow Slave, and Doubtful Slave... Chinu, his temper is especially bad, so we all fear him a little."

"Originally, after my family was ruined and I was left alone, I let him go to find a new master; I never expected to run into him again."

"And the so-called A Chou is actually the former Tannu."

"Merely because I once rescued him from chaos, his appearance was completely destroyed, his mind addled, making speech difficult."

"He previously had no money to treat A Chou, and had long since given up hope; he never expected that, now that Chinu has appeared——"

"Eh!"

"Even the mute has been frightened into speaking!"

"Yu Hen's heart was a mix of five flavors; for a moment he didn't know whether to feel sorrow or joy."

"Du Shanü, lost in thought, withdrew her gaze that had been wandering between the carriage and Yu Hen; the usual smile at the corner of her mouth faded a little, gaining a hint of amusement."

"Liu Wenyuan, meanwhile, watched the carriage disappear into the distance, then mused:"

"This entourage is quite a 'noble person'; looking at the direction, they're not leaving the city, but heading into it."

"Du Shanü brushed off the dust on her hands, her tone light, but her eyes shone with a certain sharpness:"

"We're just little stallholders in a remote town; what business is it of ours to care about some heaven-shaking 'noble person'?"

"It seems our jelly business is doing well—even passing 'big shots' can't help but cast a glance."

"He glanced?" Liu Wenyuan asked.

"Du Shanü shrugged, then began to swiftly tie the ropes on the cart:"

"Who knows? Maybe they smelled the fragrance, or maybe they were just curious how a bustling stall suddenly appeared in this poor, remote backwater."

"She paused, looking at Yu Hen as he fumbled to pick up the money box, still clutched tightly to his chest, and her smile blossomed again."

"Never mind, whatever! Anyway, only the money you've actually earned is real."

"Come on, let's go find a clinic first to treat you all; once you're healed, we'll head home to count the cash! Tonight we'll have an extra snack—although it's still jelly, I can show you a hundred ways to eat it!"

"Said and done."

"The cart creaked over the stone slab road, the two empty jars on board lightly bumping with each jolt, emitting a dull thud."

"Du Shanü pulled the cart's rope from the front, Yu Hen sat at one side clutching the money box, Liu Wenyuan pushed from the rear, and A Chou was tightly led by Yu Hen, his dark, bright eyes still occasionally glancing fearfully in the direction the carriage had vanished."

"Dusk deepened, pedestrians grew sparse on the stone long street, and shops along both sides began to light their lamps one after another."

"First, find a clinic."

"Du Shanü's voice was not loud, but carried an unquestionable resolve:"

"Yu Baobao's eyes, A Chou's head—both need to be seen by a doctor. If the scholar feels unwell, have him checked as well."

"Liu Wenyuan heard this and merely replied lightly:"

"I merely caught a slight chill; it's nothing serious, no need to worry."

"His gaze fell on Yu Hen and A Chou, especially A Chou's face, which in the dim light showed even more ferocious scars, and his eyes, which had returned to their dazed state but occasionally flashed with panic."

"Yu Hen pressed his lips together, his grip on the money box tightening slightly."

"I've been visually impaired for nearly three years… I'm afraid it may not get better."

"Although that was the case, he felt a bittersweet, hard-to-describe feeling and a faint hope in his heart because Du Shanü remembered him and insisted on treating his eyes."

"\"Hard to cure doesn't mean impossible to cure. \""

"Du Shanü turned her head, glanced at him, and even though she knew he couldn't see, she habitually smiled:"

"\"We have to try. Money earned is meant to be spent; spending it on the right path—like treating your illnesses, like making our future lives easier—is called investment. \""

"\"Investment? \" Yu Hen blinked, tilting his head in confusion."

"\"It means putting down capital first, hoping to earn more later. \""

"Du Shanü gave a brief explanation, her eyes scanning up and down the street:"

"\"Look, there's a lantern over there—seems like a medicine shop. \""

"Sure enough, not far ahead, the door of a shop with a slightly wider frontage was half open, and one could faintly see the clerk weighing medicine at the counter and the doctor sitting inside."

"Du Shanü lifted her foot to step inside, but catching sight of the shop's sign in her peripheral vision, she exclaimed in surprise:"

"\"This medicine shop, why is it literally called the Black Shop!!! \""

"(No offense intended, dear (*▽^*); I'm just explaining this here alone, and I won't reply to such questions again!)"

"?? I really hope you all have a bit more patience, but having said that, if you were patient, the author wouldn't be forced to change the title... sigh."