Chapter 941

In the afternoon slanting sunlight, Liu Min Ji was like a patch of scab stuck on the earth where verdant green and red soil intermingled.

This city is not at all picturesque; it grows irregularly, here a corner juts out, there a hollow is gouged, even the wall itself is crooked, the materials piled up to build the wall are everything—stones from the mountains, stone slabs from the river, broken bricks, and so on.

Yet such a city, utterly unable to withstand an army's ravages, over these past years has attracted countless people, mostly refugees, not a few merchants, and later many Rivers and Lakes wanderers and literati recluses moved in.

It is a city of refugees, yet at some point it became a haven in the hearts of many.

After parting with Wang Yu, Guo Shuhan drank a pot of tea in a teahouse run by a one-armed Rivers and Lakes person, watched the varied passersby on the street to refresh himself, then immediately went out and slipped into the carriage already waiting under the eaves.

"Let's go to Xinglin Zhen and eat its apricots; I've heard Xinglin Zhen's apricots are as sweet as honey peaches and fragrant like plums, though I don't know if it's true." Guo Shuhan said with a light smile.

At the rear of the carriage, a dainty maiden with several platycodon flowers slantingly inserted in her hair was hunched over sorting books; various Bamboo Slips piled up everywhere at her feet, as if about to engulf her petite figure.

"Hmph, Brother, you're so leisurely—won't you glance back at me? These are your books, yours! Piled up all day like a dog's den; I don't know if you've finished reading them, anyway you just toss them aside!" The girl raised her eyebrows, hands on hips, and shouted angrily.

Just moments ago Guo Shuhan had been serene and elegant, likening people to apricots, but he instantly flared up; he hurriedly turned, clasped his hands, and apologetically said: "He'er, calm down, calm down—I haven't been idle lately! You don't know how truly harried I've been, but busy as I am, I still need to read; you've worked hard, worked hard."

The girl named He'er snorted again, "Come on, I've told you how many times—Nan Jun has produced something called paper, far more convenient than Bamboo Slips; when you read, you could casually copy it out and bring it along, much more handy than this. You just won't listen, won't listen; I don't know what your ears are for."

"With all those Bamboo Slips you have, you could have finished a whole book by now—look at what the carriage has become! You don't look like an Inspector at all; no wonder I've never managed to find you a sister-in-law—people glance at your carriage and turn away."

Guo Shuhan covered his ears, chuckling, "He'er, you're becoming more and more like your mother!"

"Saying I'm nagging like Mother? You wish I'd be willing!" The girl instantly flared up, glaring angrily at the Bamboo Slips at her feet, "You clean it up yourself—I'm not serving you!"

"No, no, no—I still need to compose myself and think about how to respond when I meet Commander Chen Jieshuai; He'er, if you don't tidy up, I truly will have nowhere to go." Guo Shuhan immediately gave in.

"I said you're like Mother in bearing, not in nagging."

Although what he said was indeed that meaning, admitting it is absolutely out of the question.

The girl rolled her eyes, "Your false words lack any sincerity—at least pretend a little."

"If I were to speak from the heart, I'd fear you'd drop your pearls again; I dare not now miss Mother's nagging." Guo Shuhan looked gently at He'er, his voice warm and mellow.

He'er's expression stiffened for a moment; she silently continued arranging the Bamboo Slips around her, then after a while she said, extremely displeased, "If you dare to use such talk as an excuse again, I'll bite you to death."

"It's not an excuse."

"I don't believe you!"

Guo Shuhan suddenly felt somewhat helpless.

Some words, no matter how true he says them, lose their truth when repeated too often.

Looks like it's time to consider a different approach—the silly girl has grown up; now she's really hard to fool.

"You're going to see Commander Chen Jieshuai?" He'er suddenly asked.

Guo Shuhan came to, nodded, and said, "If we don't set out soon, it'll be too late."

Why not see Uncle Wang?

He, he made a different choice from me.

He'er stared for a moment, "Given Uncle Wang's character, he certainly wouldn't collude with the treacherous Ruan Yuchang and his ilk; is he intending to die for his country?"

Faced with this exceptionally clever sister, Guo Shuhan felt somewhat helpless; nothing could be hidden from her, making him, as her brother, lose face. He let out a long, soft sigh and said: "So, when I reach Xinglin Zhen I still need to think of a way to save Brother Wang's life… and also, I've told you how many times to call him Brother."

For many years, the two siblings have each argued their own side in front of Wang Yu.

No matter how He'er tried to advise, she never listened, persistently judging people by appearance.

"He's older and looks old; calling him Brother makes me seem old too!" He'er muttered.

It's still the same old line as before.

Guo Shuhan: ……

After advising once with no effect, Guo Shuhan helplessly called off the effort.

Such scenes have played out countless times; since she won't listen, there's nothing else to do.

"I've heard that although Commander Chen Jieshuai treats the populace well, he himself is a ruthless, heartless person, especially cruel toward enemies. I've heard he often cuts off enemies' heads to kick as a ball, and when bored piles them up to build a memorial mound—is that true?" He'er asked.

Guo Shuhan shook his head. "He does indeed like building memorial mounds and likes to exterminate enemies completely, but I don't know whether he enjoys playing with enemies' heads as a fetish."

He'er lowered her head, arranging the Bamboo Slips, a faint gloom settling over her brow, and softly asked, "Brother, will our trip… be dangerous?"

"I don't know." Guo Shuhan had no idea either, "but there probably won't be any trouble—we're going to surrender, and as a local warlord he shouldn't turn away advantages offered to him."

"The only thing that might provoke him is probably Brother Wang, but I must do this!"

He'er whispered, "Brother, let's take a detour back to the ancestral home; I'm worried we won't have time later to visit Mother and Father."

"……Alright."

……

Chen Luozi came rushing from Nan Jun.

Accompanying him was also a long line of wagons.

"This journey has really worn me out!" Chen Luozi jumped off his horse, slammed his fists hard against his thighs, first left then right; after a furious pounding, his legs finally felt like his own again.

Chen Wuji personally went out to greet him at the town's edge; seeing Chen Luozi's appearance, he couldn't help teasing, "Jiu Shu, after sitting in office for a spell, your thigh flesh has grown back?"

"Not just that—I've gotten a whole lot fatter!" Chen Luozi braced his hands and showed Chen Wuji his indeed plump figure.

Chen Wuji deliberately remarked, "Looks like Uncle Nine hasn't been skimping on the people's fat and ointment."

"Hey, cut it out—this talk mustn't be spoken recklessly." Chen Luozi raised his hand and spoke solemnly.

"I'm just enjoying a leisurely life now—eating richer food, having fewer idle worries, heart at ease and body plump! For the first half of my life I devoted all my wit and effort to some fellow, and now I'm not even allowed to lightly enjoy blessings?"