Chapter 20

Qi and Lu region, Eastern Depot Prefecture, Pingshan Guard.

Li Miao's group of four rode their horses to the city gate.

The soldiers guarding the gate looked up; one of them saw that the group was travel-worn and, thinking they were merchants, prepared to step forward to solicit a bribe.

One with sharp eyes saw the section of sword scabbard exposed at Mei Qinghe's waist, knew they were Jianghu people, and hurriedly pulled back the one preparing to solicit a bribe, waving them through.

Jianghu people are all poor and fierce, having no money, loving to resort to violence, and caring about face.

With so many people passing through every day, there are always traveling merchants who are easy to manipulate and have money to squeeze; it's not worth asking Jianghu people for money.

Wang Hai saw this scene, turned his head, and said to Li Miao with a smile: "Brother, were they trying to ask us for money?"

"It has always been us raiding other people's homes; this is truly the first time someone has wanted to ask us for money."

In public, Wang Hai naturally could not call Li Miao "Battalion Commander."

Li Miao said indifferently: "If they really want it, just give it to them. How much can a soldier who takes advantage of a bowl of wontons without paying really ask for?"

This caused Xiao Si behind him to complain: "Master, we can't afford it."

"We have no money left!"

"Hmm?" Li Miao turned his head to look at Xiao Si: "Didn't we bring quite a bit of silver before we left? Did we spend it all?"

"You're still asking!"

Xiao Si stretched out her fingers and counted one by one: "Yesterday, you heard storytelling at the teahouse, and as soon as you were happy, you gave them five taels. The storyteller was almost scared to tears, thinking you wanted to buy his life!"

"And the wine you drank the day before yesterday, three coins of silver per pot, and you drank five pots."

"The day before that, you said the saddle was too hard and uncomfortable to sit on, and insisted on changing it for a soft one. As a result, after it was made, you said it was too soft and uncomfortable, and wanted them to make one that was soft yet firm."

"The master thought you were here to stir up trouble, and only after he made six did you become satisfied. Each one was three taels of silver, that's another eighteen taels."

"The key is that incident in Beizhili earlier, that group of refugees, you gave the local yamen runners one hundred taels of silver to help them settle down."

"And the day before that..."

Xiao Si counted them like family treasures, making Li Miao's head ache, and he hurriedly waved his hand.

"You also know I can't keep money; it's not just for a day or two."

"Just tell me how much is left."

He really had never managed money matters; when he was in Shuntian Prefecture, the money was kept by Xiao Si, and when he had no money, he would draw some from the Embroidered Uniform Guard's treasury, since part of it was his anyway.

It's not that he couldn't calculate the accounts, but he was accustomed to this lifestyle and had never kept it in mind, only using Xiao Si as a housekeeper.

People all have inertia, and Li Miao had long been spoiled by Zhu Zai and Xiao Si. Once Xiao Si gets married, he might learn to manage money.

Xiao Si spread her two small hands: "It's long gone!"

"The money for our meals these past few days was all paid by Sister Mei!"

Li Miao turned his head to look at Mei Qinghe.

Mei Qinghe closed her eyes, and with an expressionless face, took a cloth bag from her bosom: "I still have ten taels here..."

She turned her head to look to the side, stretched her hand out in front of Xiao Si: "That's all there is..."

Seeing her look of heroic sacrifice, Li Miao hurriedly said: "Fine, fine, take it back."

"I haven't reached the point where I need to take money from my subordinates to eat."

"Hai'er." He turned his head to look at Wang Hai.

Wang Hai smiled: "Brother, I am also your lackey. How can you have the nerve to ask me for money alone?"

"I'll return it to you when we get back to Shuntian Prefecture; it's all official business anyway, just grab two handfuls from the treasury and the account will be settled," Li Miao said.

Wang Hai spread his hands: "My money is all given to Xiao Si. Xiao Si has no money, so I have no money."

Upon hearing this, Li Miao glanced sideways at Wang Hai and then looked at Xiao Si: "Where is his money?"

Xiao Si tightly covered her waist pouch with her two small hands: "No!"

"Brother Hai's money is for serious business, it can't withstand your reckless spending!"

"Yo-ho." Li Miao smiled: "You haven't even married into the family yet, and you're already starting to manage the money; you won't even give it to your maiden family if they ask, right?"

"When the time comes for the bride price, aren't you afraid I'll open my mouth like a lion and take all this money away?"

Back in Shuntian Prefecture, Wang Hai and Xiao Si had secretly developed feelings for each other, but at that time Wang Hai couldn't always go to Li Miao's house, and even when they met, they couldn't say many words, so the two were a bit shy before.

But during this time out, Li Miao was either sleeping or dozing off all day, or running around looking for excitement, unable to look after them.

Mei Qinghe was also a person who didn't like to talk, following behind all day without a word.

The two were together every day talking, and with Li Miao always teasing them, their relationship was almost out in the open, and they wouldn't be as shy as before.

Hearing Li Miao say this, Xiao Si blushed and said in a low voice: "You don't even know how much money you have in your own hands; when the time comes, I'll just bring a bit more over..."

Li Miao smiled: "That's also a way; it seems I can't get it out of you."

"Little Mei."

Mei Qinghe had just stuffed the money into her bosom; hearing this, she closed her eyes again, took the money out, and handed it to Xiao Si.

Li Miao waved his hand: "Let's make do for today; tomorrow I'll go find the local officials to beg for some favors."

"There are Embroidered Uniform Guards who have been hacked to death in this world, but I've never heard of one who starved to death."

"An Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander showing up at their door just to ask for some money—I'm afraid they'll be so happy they'll cry."

The four of them, one sentence after another, talking and laughing, walked to a restaurant.

It was just past noon, and the restaurant was bustling with people, with few empty seats, clearly doing good business.

The group tied their horses in front of the door, Li Miao walked in first, and a waiter came over to greet them.

"Guests, how many of you, what would you like to eat?"

"Four of us, what good wine and—"

"Master!"

The voices of the three people overlapped.

Li Miao looked back; Xiao Si was looking at him angrily, her hands gesturing the shape of ten taels.

Looking at Mei Qinghe again, she was looking up at the ceiling, saying nothing.

He couldn't change his habit; just a moment ago he almost said "Bring whatever good wine and dishes you have," forgetting that he only had ten taels of silver, which he had forcefully gotten from Mei Qinghe.

Even if they ate openly here, it wouldn't cost ten taels of silver, but since the wallet had already hit bottom, it was better to be frugal with expenses.

Li Miao smiled and turned to the waiter: "Four of us, just a simple meal."

"According to our appetites, bring a few dishes and some tea."

"Understood, please sit this way."

The waiter agreed, led the four to their seats, first served them some tea, and turned to go to the kitchen to place the order.

The four sat down; Wang Hai and Xiao Si sat together whispering, Mei Qinghe closed her eyes to regulate her breath, her hands on her knees, her fingers occasionally gesturing, likely thinking about sword moves in her mind.

This left Li Miao out.

When they first left, it was Wang Hai and Xiao Si who were too shy to talk alone, and they would always look for Li Miao for small talk. Since the two had clarified their relationship, they were stuck together all day, and instead, it was Li Miao who had no one to talk to.

Mei Qinghe was not a good conversation partner; if you talked to her about martial arts, there was plenty to talk about. But if you talked about anything else, she could only listen for a long time and squeeze out a "Yes" or "I dare not agree."

Li Miao had no choice but to pour himself a cup of tea and use his ear skills to eavesdrop on others in the restaurant to pass the time.

Suddenly, Li Miao's eyes brightened, and he put down the teacup in his hand.

"Have you heard about the ghost haunting Squire Wu's house?"

"Pah, who hasn't? Haven't many servants been scared away?"

"My brother-in-law works at Squire Wu's house; he was patrolling a few nights ago, and he truly saw that ghost!"

"Disheveled hair, blood all over his body and face, his feet not touching the ground as he floated in the air. My brother-in-law was scared unconscious on the spot, lying in the courtyard for half the night before being discovered, and he's still taking medicine now!"

Li Miao stood up, ignoring Xiao Si's angry glare, took some silver, and went to buy a pot of wine.

He turned and walked to the table, sat down, and cupped his hands.

"Gentlemen, I was waiting for my food over there and accidentally overheard you talking."

"I have traveled north and south, and I love hearing local anecdotes. This pot of wine is just to moisten your throats."

"About this ghost haunting... would it be convenient to tell me about it?"

(End of chapter)