Chapter 45: Foolish King Xīn (Third Update)

  There is still one more, estimated to be after midnight.

  A new week is about to begin, thank you for your continued support... click recommend, Xiao Xin thanks you!

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  At the corner of the street, there is an ancient locust tree.

  It's probably several years old, with a thick trunk that requires two or three people to surround and hug. The branches stretch out like a big umbrella.

  A woman in her thirties with a pretty face is standing under the tree.

  Beside her stood a child who looked around ten years old, with a robust build and a bronze complexion. His eyes were dull and lifeless as he stared blankly ahead, standing beside the woman.

  The corner of his mouth, a string of sparkling saliva, but didn't know how to wipe it away.

  This pretty woman was known to Liu Quan. She was the female owner of the wine shop where he and Shi Zu first drank together when they came to Pei County, Wang Ji.

  However, Liu Jian and this charming female shopkeeper didn't have much interaction.

  Apart from the beginning and having a couple of drinks with her when she left, I basically hadn't seen Wang Ji again, not even exchanging a few words.

  Liu Kan pointed at himself in confusion, meaning: Are you calling me?

  Wang Ji used a very clean handkerchief to wipe the saliva from the corner of the child's mouth, holding the child's hand and walking in front of Liu Kan.

  "Little brother, it's been ages!"

  Wang Ji's appearance was somewhat slender, and at this moment, she didn't have the same boldness and charm as she did in the tavern that day. She looked steady and elegant, with a different flavor to her.

  It's been ages since we last met!

  It's been over a year since Liu Jian was sentenced to hard labor, how could he have possibly met Wang Ji? The large prison in Pei County is located in the south of the city, while Wang Ji's wine shop is on the other side. Even if he were to pass by the wine shop every day for his labor, it would be rare for him to have had the opportunity. Liu Jian smiled slightly and glanced at the young servant beside Wang Ji.

  "Sister just called me?"

  Wang Ji was older than Liu Kan, and at that time, there was no title of "boss's wife". So she was called "sister" along with the name of Shan Shi.

  Wang Ji nodded, "I saw Ah Kan brothers going to find Ah Qi just now. I wanted to say hello, but I was worried that it would delay my brother's affairs, so I waited here... Brother Ah Kan, won't you be delayed by anything? If so, we can talk about it later."

  This woman speaks with a soft and gentle tone unique to the water towns of Wu.

  Liu Quan knew that Wang Ji must have something on her mind, otherwise she wouldn't be waiting here specially. But what could it be?

  "Sister has something to say but it's nothing serious, I don't have anything important going on right now either."

  Wang Ji looked embarrassed and hesitated for a long time before saying timidly: "Ah Gan brothers, my wine shop is no longer in business."

  "Oh?" Liu Kan was taken aback, "Why did it suddenly stop working?"

  The princess smiled wryly, "It's not that I don't want to do it, but we really can't go on. Brother Ah Guan, you may not know... since your Sui water flower carving came out, who would still be willing to drink our rough and coarse wine? It's not just me, many wine shops in the city have also gone under. The wine shop on Wu Jie's side closed down half a year ago, taking her daughter with her, saying they were going out to find business together."

  Is it Wuji?

  Liu Jian really had no impression at all.

  No wonder, he rarely drinks on weekdays, even if it's occasional twice, they are all with Shi Zhi and Wang Ji's wine shop. He has only heard of Wu Ji's name, but never been there. Not to mention that Wu Ji, Liu Jian is not very clear about what she looks like either.

  Can't help but feel a little relieved.

  Only thinking of getting rich himself, he forgot about others.

  Liu Jian said in a low voice: "Sister, although Suishui Huajiao is good, it's expensive and ordinary people can't afford to drink it."

  Wang Ji smiled wryly, "It's not that we can't drink it, but your fragrant and mellow flower carving wine is hard to resist. Some places even buy the flower carving at a high price and then dilute it with water, although it can't compare to the original flavor, it's still better than our own brewed inferior wine. As a result, the price has also become cheaper."

  Diluted fake liquor?

  Liu Kan was a bit stunned. He didn't expect that in this era, there would be fake wine.

  "Alright, I'm not blaming you." Wang Ji saw Liu Jian's changing expression and hastily said: "Actually, there is something I want to ask of you."

  "Ask me?"

  Liu Jian didn't quite understand what Wang Ji wanted from him. Moreover, to say that they had a relationship would be an exaggeration - it wasn't even as good as his with Shen Shi. This inexplicable sentence left Liu Jian somewhat perplexed, and he looked at Wang Ji in confusion, waiting for her to continue.

  Wang Ji seemed a bit embarrassed, and said in a low voice: "Actually, I also know that I shouldn't have come to ask Brother Ah Kan... but asking others, I'm not too reassured. I know that you, Brother Ah Kan, are a man of your word, and in this city of Pei County, whoever mentions you will praise you as a good fellow... The tavern is no longer viable, but I still need to find some work. I heard that Xiang County is recruiting."

  "Summon?"

  The princess nodded, "Yes, recruit some women, saying they are washing clothes and cooking. But what exactly is being done, I'm not clear yet. So, I want to go to Xiang County to take a look... If it's good, in three to five years, we can accumulate some money and silk, and in the future, we'll have a foothold."

  It's just...

  At this point, Wang Ji smiled slightly and looked at the child beside her with a loving gaze.

  "This is my son, Wang Xin, he's only eight years old. He's quite honest and can do chores, very obedient... When I used to run the wine shop, he often helped me out. It's just that... he's a bit foolish. I'm going to look for work, but I couldn't bring him with me, so I was wondering if brother could take care of him."

  Are you stupid?

  Obviously a fool... But this kid's height is comparable to Liu Jian's. Only eight years old, but looks like he's in his teens. Liu Jian squatted down and found that the foolish Wang Xin instinctively shrunk back, grabbing the corner of Wang Ji's clothes even tighter, refusing to let go.

  "This is he..."

  Wang Ji hastily said: "Ah, brother Gan, don't misunderstand. Xìn isn't hiding from you, it's just... you also know, for a woman like me, it's not easy to make a living. Xìn sometimes doesn't understand things and gets beaten up by people... children of the same age also bully him. Actually, Xìn is very honest and won't cause too much trouble for you. As long as you give him something to eat, he can do whatever you want."

  A sudden pang in my heart.

  Liu Gan stretched out his hand and touched Wang Xin's head.

  "Sister, why is Xiang County recruiting women?"

  "It's unclear, supposedly going south to get a stipend... but what exactly is being done, I'm not quite sure, so I went to take a look."

  The southern expedition must be the conquest of the Hundred Yue!

  If Liu Jian was still a bit uncertain before, then now he can be completely certain.

  The Qin army's expedition against the Hundred Yue did not leave much ink in historical records. Liu Kuan only had an impression, vaguely remembering that many people died. If Wang Ji were to go to the Hundred Yue with this body of hers, wouldn't it be... Not to mention other things, just the climate of the Hundred Yue is terrifying.

  In his previous life, Liu Kan had read a book about the development of the Lingnan region.

  The Lingnan region was originally known as the Hundred Yue, with many indigenous people and ferocious wild beasts. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the Hundred Yue was still a vast barbarian land. Towering mountains and dense forests... The most frightening thing was the miasma there, if you weren't careful, you would lose your life.

  "Sister, I advise you not to go!"

  Liu Jian stood up and said in a low voice, "This time the government has summoned us, it's not just a small matter. Yesterday they even escorted a batch of young and strong prisoners to Xiang County, who knows what will happen, there might be fighting. If you go, whether you can get the money or not is one thing, but whether your life can be guaranteed is another."

  Liu Jian's voice was very small, but Wang Ji heard it clearly.

  Her face suddenly lost its beauty, and she couldn't help but take a deep breath. She also knew that Liu Jian was not an ordinary person now... That's the 'scholar' recognized by the imperial court. To say such things, it's absolutely not groundless. But if she doesn't go, how will she spend her future days?

  Liu Kan thought for a moment and looked at Wang Xin again.

  Suddenly, he said: "Sister, my mother is already old, and she's busy with household chores every day. As a son, I really can't bear it. You're a diligent person, and your hands and feet are quick, why don't you come to my house and help take care of my mother's life? Mending and washing, cooking, and helping to take care of the fields. On my side, I'll probably be very busy later on, so when I'm not around, I'll have to trouble you.

  I'm still young and can't leave you yet.

  You can bring him to live at my place... Don't worry about food, I'll give you 500 yuan as your annual salary. Whenever you want to leave, it's up to you."

  Five hundred coins is equivalent to a peasant household's annual income.

  Wang Ji was overjoyed and pulled Wang Xin's hand, wanting to kneel down on the street to kowtow to Liu Kan.

  Liu Jian stopped the mother and son, saying softly: "Sister, you take the letter to my home first, see my mother, and tell her I let you go. Settle down first, other things wait for me to come back and say... I still have a little thing here, forgive me for not being able to accompany you back."

  Wang Ji nodded repeatedly and thanked him again before taking her foolish son Wang Xin and heading out of the city.

  Who would be willing to leave their family and go out to make a living if they didn't have to? Oh, maybe some people would, but Liu Jian couldn't agree.

  The war of conquest against the Hundred Yue is about to begin.

  How much longer will it be before the world falls into great chaos and Qin loses its deer?

  Liu Jian was unclear, but the pressure in his heart became even greater. Seeing off Wang Ji and her son, he couldn't help but let out a sigh, turned around and headed towards Cao Wu Shang's house.

  Forget it, one step at a time...

  When a cart is pushed to the front of a mountain, there must be a road. The best way now is to accumulate strength. When the great chaos appears, we can also have the power to protect ourselves.

  Wait!

  Liu Kan suddenly thought of something and his eyes lit up as he calculated in his mind.