Chapter 578: Group Leader

Outside Xuanchun Gate in Wuhu County, a hollow-cut "double happiness" character was pasted on the door of the east wing room of a large three-courtyard residence, and red candlelight flickered on the window leaves.

Two wine cups sat on the table in the center of the room. A thin man with a goatee stood beside the table pouring wine, glancing back from time to time toward the bedside. On the edge of the bed sat a woman in a true-red, wide-sleeved robe, her face covered by a red veil.

A smile spread across the man's face. "Miss Mo, the old saying goes, 'A thousand lifetimes of cultivation earn a shared pillow.' Today you and I are wed. Though it was arranged by Master Yuan, fate has brought us together all the same."

Both cups were now full. He set down the wine pot and walked toward the bed.

Hearing the footsteps approach, before the man could reach out his hand, the woman in red had already lifted the red veil herself, revealing the face of Mo Delivery to Capital.

The man's hand hung in midair. After a pause, he awkwardly withdrew it. He clasped his hands behind his back and looked down at Mo Delivery to Capital on the bed's edge. "Your master is somewhat tired. If you're hungry, eat a little of the late-night snack. If not, let us drink the joint wine and retire early. An assignment is an assignment, but continuing the family line is still necessary."

Mo Delivery to Capital's face was utterly indifferent. Her gaze did not even linger on the man. She slowly rose and paced about the room, sweeping her eyes over its furnishings as she did.

The man stared at Mo Delivery to Capital in astonishment until she took a seat at the table and reached out to pick up a wine cup from the tabletop. The man assumed she meant to drink the joint wine and was just about to go take his cup when Mo Delivery to Capital tilted her head back and drained the wine in one go.

"I am not here to continue your family line. From now on, you sleep on that end of the bed. If you are unwilling, you may also stay at the first wife's quarters. We'll each have our peace and quiet."

The man said angrily, "What is the meaning of this? When that gentleman spoke with me, he made it clear that you would be my concubine. I am a Provincial Graduate of proper standing. Bringing you into my household and letting you live in this three-courtyard residence — have I wronged you somehow?"

The man's voice and expression were fierce. Mo Delivery to Capital did not look at him. She drank the other cup of wine as well, then, as if no one else were present, picked up the wine pot and poured herself another. "Wang Calm Demeanor, you mortgaged this residence to a gambling den long ago. If Anqing Battalion had not taken an interest in you, this house would have already been seized. Your parents probably don't know that, thanks to their son, they nearly ended up homeless. And as for this Provincial Graduate title — you passed the Licentiate exam at twenty, but only won the Provincial Graduate degree this year. How you managed that, others may not know, but do you think I don't?"

Wang Calm Demeanor froze for a moment, then said viciously, "So what if you know? I'm still the one who gets to be the Provincial Graduate. Why didn't Anqing Battalion let you do it? I'll be a Presented Scholar in the blink of an eye. No matter how it's done, a Presented Scholar is a Presented Scholar. A mere woman like you couldn't dream of it in a lifetime."

Mo Delivery to Capital calmly took a sip from her cup. "Even your Licentiate was bought."

A deathly silence filled the room. Wang Calm Demeanor's face alternated between red and white. Ignoring him, Mo Delivery to Capital continued, "I did not come here to be your concubine. You are here to carry out assignments for me. The Hidden Sentinel Battalion has its rules, and this lady here has her own rules as well."

Wang Calm Demeanor suddenly jabbed a finger at Mo Delivery to Capital's face. "Surnamed Mo, who do you think you're scaring? You're with Anqing Battalion, and I'm with Anqing Battalion too. Today you've married into the Wang family. You'll submit whether you like it or not. If not... ah."

Mo Delivery to Capital suddenly reached out and grabbed the finger wagging before her eyes. Wang Calm Demeanor was caught off guard. Before he could even cry out, Mo Delivery to Capital twisted her wrist, bending his index finger back toward the back of his hand. Wang Calm Demeanor's body lurched sideways involuntarily. At that moment, Mo Delivery to Capital rose with a whoosh, her right hand clamping onto Wang Calm Demeanor's throat, and shoved him violently toward the bed.

Wang Calm Demeanor had already lost his center of gravity. The searing pain in his finger left him utterly incapable of resistance. Pushed by the throat by Mo Delivery to Capital, he stumbled backward repeatedly until, with a bang, his right leg struck the bed frame and he crashed heavily onto the bed.

His head spun instantly. Before the scream could leave his mouth, Mo Delivery to Capital was already straddling his chest, her full weight pressing down on the hand clamped around his throat. Her fingers tightened, and Wang Calm Demeanor's breath was cut off completely.

Wang Calm Demeanor's breath was cut off. His tongue protruded from his gaping mouth. His other hand slapped feebly at Mo Delivery to Capital's hand, but those slender, delicate fingers did not budge a fraction.

Mo Delivery to Capital's eyes stared coldly into Wang Calm Demeanor's eyes, without the slightest ripple of emotion. In his agony, Wang Calm Demeanor could not breathe. The red of his face gradually deepened, nearly turning purple. Wang Calm Demeanor's entire body had gone rigid, his gaze beginning to scatter. On his flushed face, his features were contorted, his eyes filled with terror.

The hand on his neck suddenly released. With a rasping gasp, Wang Calm Demeanor's upper body shot up, his mouth wide open as he sucked in air, drool streaming continuously from the corners of his lips.

Mo Delivery to Capital withdrew her hand, wiped the drool from it onto Wang Calm Demeanor's trousers, and looked indifferently at the wretched Wang Calm Demeanor.

After a moment, Wang Calm Demeanor laboriously turned over, crawled slowly to the corner of the bed, and curled up there for a while before turning around. His chest heaved violently as he stared at Mo Delivery to Capital before him, his face full of terror.

Mo Delivery to Capital slowly turned around, sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to Wang Calm Demeanor. "Wang Calm Demeanor, I don't want to kill anyone. But if you wish to die, this lady doesn't mind."

Wang Calm Demeanor panted rapidly, not daring to utter a single word.

"Wang Calm Demeanor, remember this well. You are a member of the Bamboo Grasshopper Group. My name is Mo Yixin, the leader of the Bamboo Grasshopper Group. I am not your..."

At that moment, two knocks sounded on the door panel. A woman's voice came through the door. "Why haven't you retired yet?"

Silence filled the room for a moment. Wang Calm Demeanor had no idea what to do. Mo Delivery to Capital said in a low voice, "Answer."

Wang Calm Demeanor's mouth twisted. His voice came out hoarse involuntarily. "Mother..."

Mo Delivery to Capital turned her head and cast a cold look back at him. Wang Calm Demeanor pursed his lips, cleared his throat, and called out toward the door again, "We're retiring now, Mother."

The voice outside spoke again. "Is the concubine accustomed to things?"

A sweet smile spread across Mo Delivery to Capital's face. Her voice gentle, she replied, "Mother has been so thoughtful. I'm quite accustomed."

"Good that you're accustomed. You've both had a tiring couple of days. Retire early."

"Understood. Mother has worked even harder these past two days. Please retire early as well."

The footsteps outside departed. Mo Delivery to Capital put away her smile and turned her head to look at Wang Calm Demeanor. Wang Calm Demeanor shuddered all over, his back pressed flat against the wall.

"You sleep on the outside."

Wang Calm Demeanor hastily scrambled on all fours to the outer side of the other end. Mo Delivery to Capital drew her legs up to the inner side, grabbed both cotton quilts, hesitated a moment, then put one back.

"Put out the lamp."

Mo Delivery to Capital lay on the bed. She heard only a puff of breath, and then everything was pitch black.

Wang Calm Demeanor got into bed with a faint rustling sound, arranging his quilt for a long while, barely touching Mo Delivery to Capital in the process.

Faint voices came from outside, as if Wang Calm Demeanor's mother was saying something in the back courtyard by the light well, carrying a slight echo. It sounded like she was arranging tomorrow's breakfast. Amidst it came a few barks of a dog, from somewhere farther away.

Suddenly, from the other end of the bed came a fit of sobbing. Then the sound grew lower and more muffled, likely covered by a quilt. Following that, the bed board began to tremble slightly.

In the darkness, Mo Delivery to Capital kept her eyes open, staring at the blackness before her. Her lips moved softly. "Where are you?"

"Mr. Spit wants my information. What benefit can you offer me?"

Huai'an Prefecture in Nanzhili, the garrison seat of the Phoenix Governor and also the distribution center for Huai Salt. Most of Lianghuai's sitting merchants and transport merchants were concentrated here.

In the inner room of a hat and shoe shop by Wen Canal south of the city, Cui Yongda was observing the woman before him.

"Naturally, there are benefits for you."

"This lady would like some clarity."

Cui Yongda said slowly, "You've been a filler maid for many years. The first wife has always been fierce and overbearing. Now the second wife who brought you here is gravely ill. The first wife wants to pick her own filler maid. Your days ahead will likely be even harder." Cui Yongda looked at her earnestly. "I can make your days ahead easier. That is the benefit I offer you."

The woman hesitated a moment, tilting her head to look at Cui Yongda. "Was it Old Woman Zhou who told you this? You shouldn't believe everything those old matchmakers say, Mr. Spit. The household isn't one of great wealth and rank. My man just helps the master manage affairs. Even if I truly became a concubine, it might not be much better."

"His master is a major transport merchant of Huai'an. Your man helps manage his affairs. It still counts as a household of modest prosperity."

"But in the end, he is my own man. Giving you this kind of information — who knows what you intend to do..."

Cui Yongda raised a hand to interrupt. "I am the only one you can find who can truly get this matter settled. Once you leave this shop today, this matter is dropped. You'll just have to slowly endure the days ahead."

The woman hesitated, saying nothing. Cui Yongda smiled and said, "The first wife has no heir. If she were to die, and you had a child, this modestly prosperous household would be yours to run."

The woman stared at Cui Yongda. "How do you know I am with child?"

Cui Yongda said unhurriedly, "I imagine your affair with your cousin is not as secret as you think."

The woman's expression shifted for a moment before she finally said, "Every ten days, that first wife goes to Zhuang's Medicine Shop south of the city to get her blood-nourishing medicinal paste. On the way back, she stops at White Robe Nunnery to worship the Bodhisattva."

Cui Yongda gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment. "That makes it even more convenient."

The woman gritted her teeth. "I want a son."

Cui Yongda said without a moment's hesitation, "As long as I arrange the Steady Woman, I guarantee you'll have a son."

The woman stared at Cui Yongda. "And where would the daughter be sent?"

"First find a decent family to raise her. Later, send her back to your household as a Maid. You just treat her like a daughter, and she'll still be right before your eyes every day."

"But raised in your household."

"She has another Destination." Cui Yongda shook his head. "I detest children."

"Don't kill the man of my house."

"He works for the Hui Gang. We only deal with his master. Your man is timid by nature. As long as he doesn't draw a Sword on me, I won't take his life."

The woman thought for a moment, then said, "Last night he came back from the master's house and ordered two sets of Clothing and Belongings prepared, with ten taels of silver. He didn't check any water or land routes, but he was arranging a Head of Livestock."

"Only two sets of Clothing and Belongings, and he needs a Head of Livestock. Could it be near Huai'an?"

"He also sent a servant to his third uncle's house. The third uncle's two sons do business in Xuzhou. Every time he's going to Xuzhou, he asks the third uncle if he needs anything brought along."

Cui Yongda nodded. "Then it is Xuzhou. But this bit of information is not enough for me to handle your affairs."

"Several of the Hui Gang's big Transport Merchants are not convinced by Master Wang. This time the Banknotes they pooled are not just Twenty Wan, but at least three hundred fifty thousand taels. They've found out clearly that the Xuzhou Silver Bank only has one hundred fifty thousand taels, and they need to transport two hundred thousand taels in cash from Huai'an. They've bribed the Slip Gates along the way to block the Silver Bank's Boat from passing, forcing you to take the land route. What happens on the road, this humble woman does not know."

Cui Yongda's eyes narrowed slightly, then instantly returned to normal. "Are the Banknotes in Huai'an or Xuzhou?"

"Huai'an. The master fears capsizing at the Slip Gate. If the Banknotes get soaked, they're ruined. He won't allow them to take the water route, which is why they need a Head of Livestock."

Cui Yongda stood up, looked at the woman, and said calmly, "Prepare to be head of the household."