Chapter 20: Visitors from the Capital

Chapter 20: Visitors from the Capital

When Zhao An vaulted over his courtyard wall and approached Hu Sheng, the wolf lay subdued at Hu Sheng's feet.

Zhao An reached out to stroke its head, and indeed, narrowly avoided a bite. However, Zhao An was quick to react, and the wolf, having just endured a beating, lacked the strength to land a successful snap.

Still defiant, it staggered to its feet, intending to pursue Zhao An, who had instinctively recoiled. But a single, fierce glare from Hu Sheng was enough; the wolf immediately cowered, slinking back to its original spot.

Zhao An shook his hand, grumbling, "It looks so sleek, but who knew it would feel so prickly to the touch."

Hu Sheng chuckled, "Wolf fur has never been considered a premium pelt. If you fancy, I can venture into the mountains for some fox or deer hides, though there are no sables in these parts."

Zhao An waved a dismissive hand. "I dislike wearing fur—it's heavy and ill-fitting. Cotton and silk are far more comfortable against the skin. When winter arrives, I'll have a heated kang built indoors. I doubt I'll have any need for such things then."

In the era of spiritual energy resurgence, the concept of animal protection was nonexistent. During his harshest times, Zhao An had even donned armor crafted from mutated mantis carapaces. This experience made him prefer industrially produced fabrics, even the simplest handicrafts.

Heated kangs had long been popular among the affluent in the northern regions of Dawn Country. However, in Changxi County, located in the south, people were more accustomed to burning open hearths in winter, which often left the walls of their homes stained black and gray. Zhao An had no intention of blackening his own home, nor did he wish to spend money on charcoal braziers like his ancestors. He believed a heated kang was a more economical and practical solution for warmth. The only inconvenience was the substantial investment required for fireproof bricks and the need to hire skilled masons to ensure the kang was airtight and safe.

But it was still early, and the weather was growing warmer; there was no immediate urgency to address heating. The pressing matter at hand was dealing with Zhao Fuxiang's attempted theft.

The scene unfolding in the courtyard was witnessed by the hunters perched on the wall and the villagers clustered around the gate. They already held a deep impression of Zhao An's companion, who had once punched a hole in Zhao Tongming's wall. Now, with just a few swift blows, he had tamed a wolf. Their awe of Hu Sheng deepened, and consequently, so did their apprehension of Zhao An.

When Zhao An retrieved a rope, re-secured the wolf to a pillar beneath the eaves, and stepped out through the gate, those peeking from outside immediately retreated several yards. As Hu Sheng's gaze swept over the crowd, they recoiled further. Some, in their haste, accidentally trod on the feet of those behind them, eliciting a few startled yelps. Yet, no one dared to quarrel; instead, they quickly silenced themselves, their eyes fixed intently on Zhao An and Hu Sheng.

Hu Sheng remained silent, standing behind Zhao An with his arms crossed, a dutiful bodyguard.

Zhao An soon noticed Zhao Tongming and his sons standing apart by the courtyard wall. Changing course, he approached them, glanced at Zhao Fuxiang lying on the ground, and then addressed Zhao Tongming, "Breaking and entering, caught red-handed. What do you propose we do?"

"Keeping a wolf at home? You clearly have no regard for the safety of the entire village!" Zhao Tongming attempted to deflect the blame.

But Zhao An had no patience for his sophistry. Pointing at Hu Sheng, he declared, "My friend here introduced me to someone new today—Feng Shaoping, the fourth son of the County Magistrate. Perhaps you've heard of him? The three of us shared drinks at Ruyi Restaurant just this afternoon. What do you think the authorities would do if I asked my friend to report a burglary at my home?"

Hu Sheng, playing along with Zhao An's words, offered Zhao Tongming a chilling smile.

"You—you—we are of the same clan! If you drag your nephew to court and expose our family as having a thief, your own life won't be easy either!" Zhao Tongming's plump face quivered as he blustered, but under Zhao An's cold, unwavering stare, his words faltered. He was acutely aware of his own status as the son of an executed criminal.

Zhao An completely ignored Zhao Tongming. Turning to the assembled villagers, he asked, "Can you truly tolerate a family involved in human trafficking and burglary living in our village? Living alongside such people, you'd constantly worry about your family being abducted and sold, or your property being stolen. Therefore, I propose we expel their entire family from the village."

Some villagers instinctively recoiled in fear at Zhao An's words, for in this era, ostracization often meant a struggle for survival. The proverb, "Goods gain value when rare, but people lose worth when displaced," aptly illustrated this harsh reality.

Yet, others who had suffered at the hands of Zhao Tongming's family appeared excited. Regardless of their inner thoughts, no one stepped forward to voice an opinion; they remained in watchful silence.

However, Zhao Tongming's family clearly refused to accept such an outcome. Four pairs of eyes glared fixedly at Zhao An, yet they dared not speak, intimidated by his threat of reporting them to the authorities. Finally, Zhao Tongming stepped forward and declared, "If you drive our family from the village, what will become of our house and land? Are you trying to seize our property? Eldest Young Master Zhao, you truly have seen the world—your underhanded tactics are utterly despicable!"

Zhao An dismissed his accusations, stating calmly, "The land and house can be sold. I can ask Young Master Feng for assistance; he will introduce you to suitable buyers. Take the money and relocate elsewhere. Let us simply be rid of each other."

Zhao An felt he was being excessively lenient, perhaps even appearing weak. Whether it was human trafficking or theft, every one of the four adult males in Zhao Tongming's family was guilty and, by law, deserved imprisonment. However, ancient society was governed by individuals, and conflicts between relatives were often overlooked. In such circumstances, even if Zhao An reported them, achieving the justice he sought would be difficult.

But how could someone like Zhao Tongming, whose family had been leeching off Zhao An's family since his father's generation, easily relinquish such a lucrative opportunity? He had no intention of conceding defeat. A sudden thought struck him, and he seized upon Zhao An's vulnerability: "Treating your relatives so harshly—does Consort Li know? If you drive me away, I will go to the capital and complain to Her Highness. Let's see what she has to say."

What would Zhao Qingcheng say? Zhao An sifted through the original body's memories, finding fragmented comments Zhao Qingcheng had made about Zhao Tongming's family. To his surprise, she had considered her father's act of "righteousness" in executing his own brother as inhumane. She harbored considerable sympathy for Zhao Tongming's family and had even suggested that her father purchase more land for them.

It seemed that when Zhao Qingcheng and Zhao An were children, Zhao Tongming's father would always bring them many gifts during his visits. Consequently, Zhao Qingcheng was quite fond of her uncle. She believed that even if he had made mistakes, as family, he should be forgiven.

Zhao An was not at all surprised by Zhao Qingcheng's peculiar perspective, as she herself was an unusual person. She always remembered even the smallest kindnesses shown to her, repaying them with overflowing gratitude. Yet, for those who had genuinely helped her and shown her immense benevolence—such as her parents or her cousin-husband who willingly became her convenient spouse—she never expressed gratitude.

Zhao Tongming had only met Zhao Qingcheng twice in his life, and that was over a decade ago. He did not possess a deep understanding of her character. He invoked Zhao Qingcheng's name to threaten Zhao An simply because of the treatment Zhao An received upon his return from the capital. He shrewdly surmised that Zhao An was likely out of favor with the nobility in the capital.

Zhao An, of course, could not show weakness in front of Zhao Tongming. Crossing his arms, he scoffed, "What a joke. You're going to complain to my own sister? Whether she'll side with you or me—isn't it obvious?"

At this point, Zhao Tongming refused to back down. With a stubborn set to his jaw, he declared, "One can only know by trying."

Hearing this, Hu Sheng had already made up his mind. Whether Zhao Tongming intended to lodge a complaint or admit defeat and move away, he would arrange for the Jiaozhou Commander to dispatch soldiers to escort the entire family to Nanyue Country.

Just then, Zhao An spoke, "Suit yourself. Since you reject my proposal, I'll report this to the authorities first and have your son arrested. His breaking into my home to steal is an undeniable fact, witnessed by so many eyes."

Just as Zhao Tongming was contemplating whether to reluctantly allow his second son to serve a few years in prison, the sound of a galloping horse approached from afar. Zhao An looked up to see Feng Shaoping riding swiftly towards them. Feng Shaoping didn't notice Zhao An at first; his eyes landed on Hu Sheng, and he called out from a distance, "Visitors from the capital are here!"

Feng Shaoping had specifically rushed over to notify Hu Sheng. Hu Sheng's official status was still under the military administration of the Jiaozhou Commander. He certainly couldn't allow visitors from the capital to see him absent from his post without permission—otherwise, he would truly have no choice but to become a bandit in the mountains.