Chapter 278: with translation of chapter title

Han Chunshen, having been teased, pretended to be angry and scolded: "I'm old, I don't have Young Master Qian's good hearing, but now I actually heard it."

Perhaps my ears are bad because I'm really old, but it could also be that my carriage is of high quality, so I'm not disturbed by the outside chaos.

Young Master Qian burst out laughing: "I just love chatting with Shopkeeper Han; even if I fart, I can still exude a bit of a scholar's elegance. I'm humbled, I'm humbled."

Han Chunshen's face darkened; he was truly a bit angry at those words.

That little brat's talk really is like farting.

Young Master Qian rose from the donkey's back and looked toward the source of the sound.

Looking left and right, he saw nothing of note, then sat down resentfully, saying: "The wooden huts block my view, preventing me from seeing the gleaming weapons and armored horses; what a pity."

The donkey was very well-behaved, standing steady and firm, its gaze showing a bit of resolve.

Han Chunshen curled his lip, shook his head, and lowered the carriage curtain.

Things visible every day, yet this kid is still putting on airs here—who is he trying to impress?

He had just settled in the carriage when Young Master Qian's voice sounded again from outside: "Shopkeeper Han, Brigade Commander Chen is busy training troops; aren't we going to make a wasted trip?"

"You didn't come for the mountain goods' furs, so why talk of a wasted trip? Young Master, please stop teasing this old man—I'm the one who truly would make a wasted trip." Han Chunshen wearily rose, lifted the carriage curtain, and said.

Circumstances are stronger than the person; even though he's an old bag of bones, he still has to cope.

Young Master Qian seemed to suddenly realize, chuckling: "Seems so; then I can relax. Ah, the mountains are high and the road long—I really fear making a wasted trip."

A massive caravan stopped at Chen Wuji's doorstep.

Young Master Qian again stood on the donkey, raised his voice and shouted: "Is Brigade Commander Chen at home? An old friend boldly calls—please come out and meet me; I want to discuss a business as big as the sky."

At that time, Chen Wuji was enjoying dinner together with the clansmen helping to build the house.

While browsing military manuals, he discovered several useful little tricks, and successfully combined them with the films, novels, and classical works he had seen before, achieving a breakthrough of applying one principle to many.

Eating and living together, caring for the soldiers' bodies and morale, he thus truly went among them.

This is a major key to governing the troops and cultivating loyalty.

Loyalty born from the heart is far more reliable than that cultivated with money.

So, taking advantage of mealtime, he went through each clansman's belongings one by one—what they ate and used, their living conditions, how many people in their household, how they viewed the clan, and so on.

"Sir, a caravan has arrived outside, with many people, many vehicles, and lots of goods." Yuan Jinshi hurried over and reported.

Chen Wuji also happened to hear the shouting outside.

He greeted the clansmen to eat slowly, there was enough food, and then he came out holding his rice bowl.

Stepping out and taking a glance, it really was an acquaintance.

Indeed, it was the young master of Hengtong Business Business Business, Qian Fugui, whom he had gone several times without seeing the true appearance, and also the shopkeeper of Han Mountain Goods, Han Chunshen.

"Young Master Qian looks even more splendid than before." Chen Wuji held his rice bowl, clasped his hands, then turned to greet Han Chunshen: "Shopkeeper Han, long time no see—how's business?"

"Good, thanks to Brigade Commander Chen's blessing, my business is booming." Han Chunshen chuckled.

Qian Fugui jumped down from the donkey, walked over, glanced at Chen Wuji's bowl of food, and smiled: "Coming early is no match for coming at the right time; it looks like we're in for a treat tonight, Brigade Commander Chen wouldn't mind preparing a meal for us, would he?"

"I couldn't ask for better, please!" Chen Wuji stepped aside and made a gesturing invitation.

"Please, please, please." Qian Fugui, however, stepped aside to let Chen Wuji go first.

After a round of modesty, Han Chunshen was pushed to the front.

Because of construction, Chen Wuji's outer courtyard looked messy, with stones and dirt everywhere.

The big pot was set up not far from the construction site.

Although the aroma wafting out was tempting, this environment still affected one's appetite.

"Give me a tall bowl, heaping high—don't think I'm fat, but I have a big appetite." Qian Fugui darted to the big pot in a single stride and shouted at the two Yuan brothers guarding the pot.

Yuan Jinshi was a bit dazed, his pleading gaze turning to Chen Wuji.

With his limited experience, he thought this finely dressed young master certainly wasn't someone who would come here to eat.

"Young Master Qian, go inside—I'll personally cook to entertain the two of you!" Chen Wuji said.

Qian Fugui clicked his tongue and said, "This meat is so delicious it makes my stomach growl; what more does Brigade Commander Chen need to cook? I can't wait for him to fire up a separate stove for me—I'll just eat this."

"I also think it's not bad." Han Chunshen glanced at Qian Fugui and immediately agreed.

Seeing this, Chen Wuji stopped urging; Qian Fugui insisted on eating, and he had no objection.

This food is indeed good—stewed venison with wild mushrooms, not only fresh but also nourishing.

Just this big pot of dish, if sold at Li Si Fencha, would fetch several dozen taels of silver.

It's just that the environment here looks not so good, dirty and messy, which lowers the food's standing.

Yuan Jinshi fetched a bowl and gave each of Qian Fugui and Han Chunshen a large bowl, both heaping high.

Chen Wuji timely said: "Gentlemen, let the people outside come in and have something to eat as well."

"No need to mind them; we brought food, and for us two to come knocking for food and drink is already rude enough—how could we ask Brigade Commander Chen to also cover the servants' meals?" Qian Fugui said.

"There's plenty of food left over, no problem." Chen Wuji said.

Qian Fugui deeply inhaled the aroma of the food in his bowl, first praising it as truly fragrant, then said: "In that case, we elders will eat first; if there's any left after we finish, I'll let them take the pot out to eat."

After all, those people are Qian Fugui and Han Chunshen's servants; Chen Wuji merely made a suggestion, and the arrangements are entirely up to the guests.

Qian Fugui tugged at his splendid robes, then, like the Chen clansmen, squatted on the ground and began to pick at the food in his bowl, all the while praising Chen Wuji's cooking.

Han Chunshen was speechless, but could only follow suit.

The last time he ate like this was when he was very young, about eight or nine years old.

Back then he liked to squat by the doorway, eating while watching the neighbor's maid washing her hair by the river.

The maid swayed…

Oh no, it's that sway—it seems over forty years have passed.

He was almost forgetting the shocking scale of those maids washing their hair.

Chen Wuji naturally also squatted to the side; before Qian Fugui and his group arrived, he had been squatting like that.

"Chen Brigade Commander, need food?" Qian Fugui suddenly raised his head and said.

"Need!" Chen Wuji merely paused for a few breaths, then gave an affirmative answer.

"One hundred thousand stone, this is the maximum amount I can give Chen Brigade Commander within my authority, but I don't want silver; I only want to trade goods with Chen Brigade Commander, is that okay?" Qian Fugui said.