Chapter 753

"Commandant Yan, do you think this is enough?"

"Would you like some water?"

"Old man here has one more sharp tool—I give it to you!"

The morning sun fell from the east, harsh and hazy.

Looking east from the blacksmith's shop, beyond the dirt roads flanking either side, wild grasses stretched barren, dry and yellowed.

Autumn had come; winter was nearly here.

Every year, Master Kong had to surrender a portion of the ironware he forged to the imperial court.

Of course, the iron used for these items was issued by the court.

"Hmm… Master Kong, you've got style—tea? High-class stuff, shipped all the way from Jiangnan? This isn't cheap!" Commandant Yan sipped his tea and laughed heartily: "Boys, weigh the iron—just get it close enough!"

"I remember we gave Old Kong four hundred jin of iron at the start of the year—check if that's right?"

Commandant Yan's four or five subordinates began weighing the ironware.

Commandant Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Master Kong: "Old Kong… I heard you have a daughter—pretty, they say, the most beautiful girl in Matou Town!"

Master Kong trembled and stammered: "N-no… Commandant Yan, you're joking—my eldest girl's rough, raised right here!"

"Hehe… don't worry!" Commandant Yan slapped Old Kong's shoulder: "I've no interest in your daughter—always at war, taking a wife here's a hassle. But if she's truly a beauty that could turn heads, why not send her to the palace?"

"The Emperor is gathering beauties from across the land—if he notices her, your family's fortunes will improve!"

"Don't waste your daughter's beauty!"

"Enough!" Commandant Yan slapped Old Kong's shoulder again: "I won't scare you—think it over. If you're willing, I can petition the General to send your daughter to court!"

"N-no, no, no!" Master Kong waved his hands: "My girl's crude, never seen the world—if she angers the Emperor, everyone suffers! Old man dares not!"

Meanwhile, the soldiers had finished weighing the iron.

"Commandant, total is three hundred and eighty-eight jin—twelve jin short!"

Someone reported to Commandant Yan.

Commandant Yan waved his hand: "Fine, I know. Pack it up. Forging iron? It's always getting less—four hundred jin of raw iron yielding three hundred eighty-eight jin of finished goods? That's decent!"

"Old Kong's still reliable!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

A few men pushed a cart, rumbling past the entrance of Kong's blacksmith shop.

Master Kong exhaled deeply.

An old man shuffled slowly past Kong's door, smiling: "Old Kong, your corvée labor waived again this year?"

Old Kong chuckled: "Waived, waived…"

"Good!" The old man looked envious: "Running a pharmacy and a forge—never busy, never booming. There's wisdom in that. Forging iron? That's the best trade!"

"Need an apprentice? I'll send my son to you!"

Master Kong shook his head: "Old Yuan, I can't take on another apprentice. Tomorrow's a happy day—don't forget to come drink some wedding wine!"

…

Terrified, Master Kong hurriedly married off his daughter and apprentice.

The next day, a simple wedding was held; neighbors and local merchants were invited to drink wedding wine at home.

He Pingsheng and Jiaojiao were officially married.

"The main room's yours two," Old Kong, drunk and beaming, said to his daughter and son-in-law. "I'll sleep in the west wing!"

He Pingsheng replied: "That won't do—you're the elder. You should sleep in the main room. Jiaojiao and I will take the west wing."

Unable to persuade his son-in-law or daughter, Old Kong returned to the main room.

Night fell!

In the humble bridal chamber, a large red double happiness character was pasted on the wall.

The red candle burned dimly, stretching the two figures into long shadows, some even casting onto the cracked ceiling beams—flickering with the flame, the shadows danced.

He Pingsheng took a deep breath, took Jiaojiao's hand, and sat on the edge of the bed.

From his angle, the red double happiness character seemed to turn black.

The room was simply too dark.

"Lamp… lamp… lamp…" Jiaojiao trembled: "Pingsheng, blow out the lamp first!"

The candle went out.

Strange sounds came from inside the room.

Jiaojiao panicked: "Dad's still in the main room… Brother, be quieter!"

After about half a stick of incense passed.

He Pingsheng's voice came again: "Dad's still awake, Jiaojiao, keep it down…"

…

Dad had long left the main room!

Old Kong, dragging his pipe, ran to the back of the house, and under the moon and stars, climbed a low hill behind the property, sitting there to smoke.

A cool breeze blew; the old man sobered up considerably.

He kept smoking, his gaze drifting past the hill, toward the north.

Deep autumn; the air was chilly.

"Damn Tartars…" Master Kong paused his pipe, cursed bitterly: "If only they never came—what a perfect place this is!"

Papatapa…

After finishing his pipe, Old Kong slammed the ash out hard.

In the distance, a massive dark shape crouched low on the ground, slowly crawling toward the old man.

Old Kong seemed to sense it—he froze, eyes locked on the hollow below.

There, on the ground, lay a huge, crouching form.

"Monster?" Old Kong's pupils shrank; he went instantly alert.

Legends said monsters and wild beasts often appeared near this border town; many neighbors had been injured—or killed—by them.

Cold sweat poured down Old Kong's body.

At that moment, his drunkenness vanished completely.

Then he screamed, grabbed his pipe, and sprinted toward home.

Though an old man, he moved like the wind.

"Roar…" Behind him, the beast bellowed and charged after Old Kong.

"Help! Help! Help!"

Old Kong ran, screaming for help.

The hill was close to Kong's house, and in the silent night, his cries reached the west wing quickly.

He Pingsheng and Jiaojiao scrambled into their clothes and burst out.

Running to the back, they saw the monstrous beast chasing Old Kong.

Old Kong's pipe was gone—lost somewhere.

"Brother, what is that thing?" Jiaojiao trembled, weak with fear.

He Pingsheng's eyes flashed: "Don't fear—it's just a dog!"

"Watch me save him—stay back!"