Book 1 - Chapter 2 – Facing imminent catastrophe (1/2)
Book 1 Chapter 2 – Facing iradually woke up
As soon as the city gate was opened at themerchants, peasants, all kinds of people fell over each other to enter the city The boats and shi+ps that arrived the previous day already unloaded their cargo on the docks; they also took this tioods into the city All at the saether; hence it was so noisy
Frotze River, one could sail to japan [lit dwarf country], Ryukyu Islands, and Southeast Asia, zhou one of the nation’s n lands; hence it wascompared to any other city
But today the ate number of officers and soldiers inside and outside the city The crossing checkpoints were also a lotqueues However, although everybody was burning with anxiety, nobody dared to open his ruhu could see thatuards Unless one did not value his life anyuards from the Capital?
There were a total of fiveone was the South Gate Market, which faced the Yangtze River There were at least a few dozens stalls offering all kinds of food or food products, big and small It was indeed an ideal place for the would-be travellers, ere ready to eet their breakfast
Other than being an izhou has been well-known across the country for its prostitutes [烟花 can either be prostitutes or fireworks] Whether it was young s of cash in his belt, or self-proclaimed literary talent, romantic scholar, or licentious swordsman, if they have not been here at least once, they could not be considered a romantic hero [Translator’s note: I don’t think these people cazhou to enjoy fireworks] Therefore, it was obvious why Yangzhou was flourishi+ng
Aetable and meat steamed bun [baozi] was the ’s young mistress, Zhen Sao [lit Sister-in-law Zhen], who had countenance of a flower, face like theboard to druht out a tray full of steaetable and meat steamed buns fro outside immediately scrambled forward to hand over the money in their hands
While Sister-in-law Zhen was busy and dripping ith fragrant sweats, suddenly a big head belonging to a teenager stuck out fro ‘brows raised in delight and eyes laughing’] he said, “Eight vegetable and meat steamed buns, please Zhen Sao, how are you?”
It was Xu Ziling Because he was afraid Ol’ Feng ht see him, he deliberately hunched over that he was half as tall as the other people; his posture looked quite comical, actually Fortunately his features were unusually charht and the bridge of his nose was quite high, his forehead wide, the corners of his ht as the sunshi+ne If not for his face was greasy and dirty, his clothes were shabby, plus he was beaten up by Yan Laoda that his face was blue and his lips swollen; so his appearance right noas quite unsightly, hence people did not have any reason to compliment hi she did was casting a worried look over at the Ol’ Feng and the evil first wife in the kitchen; seeing that they did not notice the situation over here, she was relieved While serving the other customers, she pretended to protest coquettishly, “Nostea said, “Just a bit of delay, none will be lacking, tomorroill definitely pay you back”
With the quickest rasped four steaht hesitation she picked twonicely in paper, and stuffed it into his hands, while scolding him in low voice, “This is the last time Ay! Look how bad you have been beaten”
Xu Ziling squealed in joy and withdrew fro up his back, his appearance looked a lot better instantly
Although he was very young, he had grown to be as big and tall as fully-grown men His shoulders ide, his waist narrow; it’s just that due to undernourishh a row of fruit and vegetable stalls, he burabbed a stea with hiswas a year older, but he was half a cun [a thumb, approx an inch] shorter His shoulders ide, his upper arh he lacked Xu Ziling’s elegance, he had a broad face and big ears All in all, he carried a strong o-lucky attitude, which was unusually attractive; his eyes were deep but looked quick-witted In short, he was in no way inferior to Xu Ziling,people believed that in the future this kid would definitely not be a nobody [orig an object in the pond] However, his clothes were ‘patched on the east and stitched in the west’, it was even ’s; in fact, it was just as bad as a little beggar
Xu Ziling was eating his third steamed buns Suddenly he frowned and said, “Don’t you say that Zhen Sao is basically a good person? Nowadays, how zhou are as kind-hearted as she is? Too bad her parents owed money, plus her old dad considered money as i as a mistress Laotianye [God, Heaven, lit old master of the sky] must be blind”
By this time the two of theled a out of the city via the South Gate
With his tu’s shoulder; glancing to the left and right, he said, “Fat sheep are especially eous clothes, walking alone, looks like he had a lot of loads in his mind, and won’t even know if he loses his wallet That kind of old idiot”
With a bitter laugh Xu Ziling said, “That ti, anted to find an old round and crying out to heaven, you pretended to pick it up and give it back to him, in the end I was beaten up by Yan Laoda”
Kou Zhong was unabashed, “Don’t forget that I only wanted to return half of that old man’s money; it was you anted make that inal plan and return the whole thing to hi me? Hey! But as thieves, we also have principles, so we can be considered good aze, and just happen to catch sight of a fifty-soate He ell dressed, but had an anxious look on his face, as he walked hurriedly with his head down He fit Kou Zhong’s description perfectly How could there be such a coincidence?
The two of them stared blankly at the old man, and then they noticed that the back of his clothes was bulging, apparently he carried his purse hidden on his lower back
Kou Zhong whispered in Xu Ziling’s ear, “Whether we’ll meet with the lady luck or not, we only need to see whether this fellow looks i anxiously said, “I really need to pay Zhen sobck”
As the two of them hurried run after the oldfroreatly shocked and quickly turned around and entered a small alley, and from there they run across toward another alley, which lead to another street big enough for sedan chair, which ran parallel to the southern wall of the city
The two of the for their bad luck, Kou Zhong ca the i fro Bai Lao Fuzi’s [see Chapter 1] lecture, at least it’s better than those good-for-nothing people in class who pay a lot of money to listen to stories If our names make the list, not only on’t need travel expenses any and difficult trek; we’ll be high-ranking officials”
With eyes blazing with fire Xu Ziling said, “Joining the militia is your idea, and now you want to enter i a peek at those young ladies fro Breeze Courtyard [ie brothel]? After all …”
Kou Zhong suddenly elbowed his ribs and winked Xu Ziling looked up toward the street, and saw the old scholar was actually also running away in panic just like them Even when he looked toward the toward the big street The two of the up and ran after him
Time for the operation
The old scholar was such in a hurry that he did not even notice the clothes on his back was cut Just noanted to leave the city via the South Gate, but was scared by the tight border security that he drew back He kneas not suitable for hi on a friend, he was even more afraid he would i, a shadow flashed, so his way
While the old scholar was shaking in shock, ht and seized hile step
The one blocking his as Yuwen Huaji and one of his men With a smile on his face this martial art expert from the Yuwen Clan walked over toward the old scholar After seizing him up from top to bottoentle poetry and literature scholar Tian Wen Laoshi+ [teacher]? I heard Laoshi+ is a good friend of shi+ Long shi+fu [simply a respectful form of address for olderan official call on Tian Laoshi+’s respected residence Unexpectedly, without suspecting anything, we e up shi+ shi+fu’s body from the bottom of the well And now Tian Laoshi+ seems to be in a hurry to leave; I wonder as the reason?”
Tianwen’s countenance was changed greatly; he could not find anything to say By this ti was not right, but seeing that a Tian Wen was their own captain of the local garrison, ould dare to be irabbing Tian Wen from both sides did not stay idle either; their hands were busy searching Tian Wen's whole body, but they were unable to find the book that was supposedly in his possession Zhang shi+he personally did the search Before long he discovered that the back of Tian Wen's clothes had been cut with a sharp weapon
”Not good!” his countenance changed, ”The book is gone!”