Chapter 6: Empress Lü

  The fleet arrived outside Pei County in the late afternoon.

  Qian Wei then took Liu Qian and bid farewell to the Lv family in advance. Although Lv Weng was kind and tried to persuade them to stay, Liu Qian's mother and son had already understood his intentions and would not agree. After thanking Lv Weng for taking care of them on their journey, Qian Wei returned the horse carriage to Lv Weng and slung her bundle over her shoulder.

  "Qian, bring that black bear skin bag from the car, let's find a place to settle down first."

  Liu Kan immediately responded to the order, jumped onto the carriage, and grabbed the long rectangular bear skin pouch placed on the carriage shaft.

  This pouch has been in the car all along, but Liu Jian's wife kept a close eye on it and didn't even have a chance to touch it.

  As a result, Liu Quan's heart thudded as he pulled on the rope of the sack, and he secretly cried out: What is this thing, so heavy?

  The bag is about 13 feet long and nearly 3 feet wide.

  Roughly tried it out, this thing's weight is no joke, almost around 100 catties.

  However, Liu Jian's strength was not small either. Although the sack was a bit heavy, it wouldn't have too much of an impact. After picking up the sack, he naturally slung it over his shoulder. After jumping off the carriage, he didn't dare ask his mother about it, fearing that he would reveal his weakness. He just smiled and said, "Mother, let's go."

  Kong Nu nodded and bowed to Lü Weng, "Thank you, Master Lü, for taking care of us on the way. We'll take our leave now. Once we find a place to settle down, we'll naturally let you know. If you need anything in the future, my mother and I will be there at your beck and call, without any hesitation."

  "Sister-in-law, why must you...?"

  Anyway, Liu Jian and his mother spent a considerable amount of time at the Lü's house and made great efforts to help them.

  Lü Wēng was somewhat apprehensive about Liú Jiān, but when it really came to parting ways, he couldn't help feeling a bit regretful.

  Only his wife disagreed with Liu Kan following him, and their two sons also disapproved. As for the slaves who followed them, many were quite afraid of Liu Kan.

  Liu Quan was indeed brave and fierce, but after settling down with a family, he could no longer rely solely on his bravery to make a living.

  Lü Wēng felt a bit reluctant to part with them, but he also had to consider the thoughts of others. After trying to persuade them to stay for a while, seeing that Liu Shan and his mother were determined to leave, he didn't say anything more.

  Lü Cuì brought a bundle of cloth, and Lü Wēng said: "If it weren't for Gān Zhí the other night, I'm afraid my whole family would have been hard-pressed to survive. Since Eldest Sister has decided to set up her own household, I have nothing much to say. Here are two thousand taels of cloth and one thousand cash, consider them a gift. Don't decline, Eldest Sister, or it would be impolite."

  What is referred to as "knife-shaped currency and ant-nose coins" were the currencies of that time.

  The Qi state used knife-shaped currency as its medium of exchange, while the Chu state used ant-nose coins, also known as copper shells. Although the Chu state had been destroyed, in many places, ant-nose coins were still usable. At least in Pei, the circulation of ant-nose coins was even more widespread than that of knife-shaped currency.

  Liu Jian deeply knew that after leaving the Lyu family, there would be no lack of places where money was needed.

  Although she had some savings, they were far from sufficient. Rather than having no choice but to return empty-handed when the time came, it was better to accept this gift.

  At least in Liu Jian's view, this money was the blood and sweat earned by him and his unfamiliar old father with their lives, nothing to be ashamed of.

  Qian's wife gave Liu Qian a somewhat reproachful look, but didn't say anything.

  As for Lü Zhi, her bright eyes sparkled again, and a hint of a smile appeared on her face. She nodded lightly, seemingly very appreciative of Liu Jian's actions.

  "Alright, settle down and just give a shout. We're staying in that house at the southwest corner, there are two pagoda trees at the entrance, easy to find!"

  "Got it!"

  Liu Gan carried a sack on his back and stuffed a bundle of cloth into his bosom.

  He bowed to Lü Weng and his daughter, then turned around with his mother and left.

  Looking at the back of his mother and son, Lü Weng couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy, standing still for a moment before softly saying: "A Ju, let's go too."

  A team of vehicles, accompanied by a string of shouts from the drivers, slowly entered the gate of Pei County.

  Pei, literally means abundance and fullness.

  In fact, this place is indeed lush with grass and trees, and the land is extremely fertile. On the vast expanse of land, there are large and small lakes and swamps scattered about. The rainfall is abundant, and the vegetation along the water's edge is exceptionally luxuriant. It can be said that this is a land of rich harvests.

  The Bo was used as a boundary, with the Qi people to the north mainly growing dryland wheat and wearing long shirts and large jackets.

  In the south lived people who ate rice, wore Chu-style short clothes and spoke the Chu dialect. Two groups of people with completely different living habits and even huge differences in language and writing coexisted in Pei County City, seemingly very friendly to each other.

  Generally speaking, Pei is not a prosperous place.

  At least compared to other areas, it's quite secluded here, but also very peaceful.

  Many declining six national nobles lived in the county town. The remote small county town also became much more lively for this reason.

  Plop, plop, plop...

  Liu Jian and his mother found an inn in the county town, which was also the only one, and temporarily settled down.

  To be honest, the food of this era is very hard to eat.

  There aren't many seasonings, mostly just putting food in boiling water and then sprinkling a pinch of coarse salt inside. At first, Liu Jian really couldn't stand this kind of crude food. But he also knew that this was just one of the difficulties he would face after coming to this time and space, a tiny insignificant trouble. If he can't even overcome this...

  Forget it, might as well just die!

  In this era, there is no way to take a hot bath, and even when going to the toilet, there isn't even any toilet paper to wipe your butt.

  The four great inventions... Sometimes Liu Jian thinks, at least transport me to an era with toilet paper. Now it's not just that the toilets stink, after a big bowel movement, I can only use grass stalks to clean myself. My goodness, the lives of these ancient people are really tough.

  His mother, Kuai, was a straightforward woman who didn't have many worries and fell asleep as soon as she lay down.

  But Liu Jian couldn't sleep, leaning against the wall, looking at the simple room, his thoughts became particularly chaotic.

  The state of Qi had just been destroyed, which means that Qin Shi Huang had not yet proclaimed himself emperor. The so-called reforms such as the standardization of carts and tracks should also have not started yet.

  If I were to go and advise Qin Shi Huang at this time, would it have become prosperous?

  This thought flashed through Liu Guang's mind. Not to mention whether he could see Qin Shi Huang, even if he saw him, how could the other party possibly look at him highly just because of his words? The heart of an emperor is the most difficult to fathom, and if not handled properly, it may cost one's life.

  Besides, after Qin Shi Huang became emperor, he didn't live for many years and seemed to have died.

  At that time, one can't help but get involved in a game of calling a deer a horse. Hmm, it seems like the Qin dynasty collapsed not long after Qin Shi Huang's death. Indeed, I admire Qin Shi Huang very much, but to let him go die because of this, Liu Quan absolutely won't agree.

  Wait!

  Lü Zhi... Liu Bang...

  Liu Jian's mind suddenly flashed with a gleam of insight, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Could it be that Ah Chui is actually Empress Lü?"

  This shout, suddenly woke up the sleeping Liu Qian. She turned over and looked at Liu Qian, dazedly opening her mouth to ask: "Qian, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet? What about Empress Lü... what were you just saying? What about Ah Jiu being Empress Lü?"

  "Ah!"

  Liu Jian's quick wit kicked in and he laughed, saying: "What Empress Lü? Mother, you must have misheard me. I was just saying that Ah Jiao will be fine later on."

  "Who knows what's going on in that head of yours? You've been acting strange ever since you got better..."

  She yawned and said, "However, to say that Ah Chu is quite good, smart and pretty, just a bit older than you. En, Ah Jia is not bad, it's just a pity that she's not the same kind of person as us, what a shame."

  Liu Kan couldn't help but laugh awkwardly.

  What's all this about... But didn't ancient people attach great importance to this matter between men and women, and pay attention to etiquette?

  It seems that things are not as Liu Jian thought they would be in these two days.

  It was also an interesting era!

  Liu Jian couldn't help but smile, got up and walked to his mother's side. The moonlight shone in from the window, and Liu Jian's mother was sleeping very sweetly, with a smile still on her face.

  Calling this woman mother was initially out of helplessness.

  But under the brief get-together, Liu Jian could feel her heartfelt care for him. At least in Liu Jian's eyes, Qian Wei's motherly love was not a bit less than what his mother from another time and space had given him. He couldn't help but stretch out his hand to cover Qian Wei with a quilt.

  Since heaven has given me a second life through your son, let me fulfill the duties of a son.

  Liu Jian's gaze became somewhat dazed, and after a moment, he finally got up, put on his shoes quietly, and walked out of the room. He should think carefully about what he could do and what he should do. Since heaven brought him to this era, it wouldn't be just to let him live a mediocre life. At least, he should make sure that he and the nominal mother in the room lived a better life.

  The moonlight outside is very bright and pours into the small courtyard.

  Liu Jian sat down on the porch, leaning against the pillar, staring blankly at his thoughts.

  Suddenly, Liu Kan felt as if someone was approaching. He jumped up with a start, turned around, and shouted softly towards the shadows: "Who's there? Come out!"

  Before he had finished speaking, a young man walked out slowly.

  He wore a long gown and cloak, apparently dressed as a Qi person. He was about twenty years old, with a face like powdered jade, exceptionally handsome.

  Young man bowed his hands and said, "Little brother, sorry for disturbing you!"

  Liu Kan stood seemingly at ease, his hands spread open and hanging down behind him, vigilantly asking: "Who are you? What do you want to do with such a sneaky attitude?"

  "Ah, little brother, don't misunderstand!" The young man hastily waved his hand and said: "The owner of this inn is my father. Tonight the moonlight is beautiful and moving, I love it very much, so I came out to appreciate the moon. Unexpectedly, I startled you, little brother... Hehe, unexpectedly, little brother and I are alike, both connoisseurs."

  After finishing speaking, the young man cupped his hands together and said, "Let me introduce myself, I am Xun Shi Qi. May I ask your surname and given name, little brother?"

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  Updated six chapters today.

  Starting from tomorrow, there will be an average of two updates per day, with occasional three or four updates at irregular intervals.

  New book, new beginning...

  Here is the translation:

  "Welcome new and old readers here, if you think this book is still okay, please give more support... Recommend collection click, thank you all for your applause."