The next day.
Zhao Hu dragged Lu Chang'sheng into Prefecture City, all mysterious, heading toward the "Xiao Market" and Hongyi Workshop.
This Hongyi Workshop was a well-known perfumery in the city.
It was quite popular with the ladies of wealthy households.
"Mr. Zhao, are you taking me to pay respects to some rich family?" Lu Chang'sheng asked, watching as Zhao Hu inquired about a famous rouge that cost a whole 100 copper coins, unable to hide his curiosity.
"Heh, you'll know when we get there! Once we're inside, you just keep quiet and stand aside! Those folks are sticklers for etiquette—people your age, best not to talk too much!"
Zhao Hu reminded him, brimming with confidence.
Just as the clerk was about to wrap up the "Charming Beauty" rouge, Lu Chang'sheng chimed in: "Mr. Zhao, do you know if we're meeting an unmarried young lady, or one already wed?"
"Of course she's married!"
"Well, then I'm afraid the gift you've prepared might not be appropriate!"
Zhao Hu's brow furrowed. If anyone else had said this, he would've shot them a hard glare, but with Lu Chang'sheng—
"Speak your mind!"
"You're a grown man, bringing cosmetic powders for a married woman. If the man of the house finds out, he probably won't be too pleased!"
Zhao Hu suddenly slapped his forehead, spun on his heel, and rushed off to Zicao Hall nearby, where he bought a vintage ginseng root and had it boxed up nicely.
"Good thing you reminded me!"
The two left Xiao Market and headed into the neighborhoods. Before long, they reached the gate of a wealthy residence.
"Would you let the lady know? I'm Mrs. Zhao Qing's relative."
Zhao Hu stepped forward, slipping each of the two gatekeepers a copper coin.
"No need, no need!"
The gatekeepers feigned protest but tucked the coins away all the same. Then, one of them said, "Please, wait here a moment."
Zhao Qing?
So it was her!
Lu Chang'sheng understood right away.
Also a Zhao, Zhao Hu must be counting on his connections with Zhao Qing here in the city.
As for why Zhao Hu hadn't come looking for Zhao Qing sooner, he must have his reasons.
"A relative?"
Inside the house, a young woman heard the servant's report and frowned slightly.
She glanced at the master, whose hair was already showing some gray, then nodded and said, "Have them wait in the side hall."
After quite a while, Lu Chang'sheng and Zhao Hu were greeted—not by Zhao Qing herself, but—
"Uncle Zhao!"
Zhao Xinghua wore a faint smile, nodding politely.
Her face was as delicate as apple blossoms, full and well-fed, her body more rounded than before. Still, Lu Chang'sheng felt she'd lost something good and picked up something bad along the way.
After Zhao Hu chatted with her for a bit, he finally understood what was missing.
"She has no idea—real innocence, that natural charm, is what men truly dream of!"
Lu Chang'sheng thought to himself.
Zhao Xinghua now knew how to dress up, but it came off as affected. Her act wasn't anywhere close to genuine.
Even Zhao Hu, insensitive as he was, could tell something was off after a few looks.
"Uncle Zhao wants Auntie to help get this one into the master's school, is that it?"
Soon enough, Zhao Hu handed over the gift and explained why they'd come.
"Yes, yes! Chang'sheng is also one of our Zhao—"
Zhao Hu suddenly felt someone tugging on his sleeve from behind, baffled.
Was there something wrong with what he'd said?
But just then, Zhao Xinghua caught on. "Also a fellow from Zhao Family Village, is that it?"
Lu Chang'sheng sighed quietly, already knowing this thing was probably dead on arrival, and let things play out.
Not that Zhao Hu's thinking was wrong.
If he could get them closer, that would be great. Who could have guessed this would involve Zhao Xinghua?
Even if she hadn't reacted just now, once she found out his background—found out he still had a brother named Lu Haozi—this was never going to work out.
Turned out his worries were unnecessary.
Because Zhao Xinghua just flat out refused them.
"Uncle Zhao, this is really difficult! Auntie's been living in fear lately, worrying the master might get tired of her. You know she's just a concubine—she can't mess with the master's business. If he found out, she'd get dragged down too!"
Zhao Hu's face went bright red in an instant.
"Madam says there's no need for gifts. This is her thank-you for you—it's a whole tael of silver! For the kindness you showed bringing her to Prefecture City back then, a tael's really generous! You've made a killing!" Zhao Xinghua smiled.
She almost congratulated him, but after seeing the murderous look in Zhao Hu's eyes, she immediately took a step back, terrified.
"Stupid bit—" Zhao Hu was about to leap forward but was yanked back by Lu Chang'sheng.
"Let it go, Mr. Zhao."
This wasn't the countryside. On the way in, Lu Chang'sheng had spotted some muscular guards working out in the side yard, their arms thicker than his thighs. If things got ugly here, they'd be dead before they could even run.
"Many thanks to Madam for her kindness. We'll take our leave now." Lu Chang'sheng shot Zhao Xinghua a deep look and smiled.
He snatched the dropped coin pouch from the ground, grabbed the boxed gift off the table, and pulled Zhao Hu away.
They'd barely left when Zhao Qing herself appeared, frowning as she looked at the shaken Zhao Xinghua.
"Zhao Hu's still the same as ever—loses his temper whenever something doesn't go his way. He's the last person we should get tangled up with. After Lin'Er passes the exams, who knows what trouble someone like him could bring us!"
"Waaah! Auntie, I was so scared!" Tears streaming, Zhao Xinghua collapsed into Zhao Qing's arms, quietly sobbing.
"There, there! It's just Zhao Hu! Once you land Young Master Xun, he'll be as scared of you as a rat is of a cat!"
Zhao Qing patted her back, comforting her.
Then she added, "And your expressions still need work. If it was me facing Zhao Hu, wouldn't give him a chance to get mad."
"Tonight, Auntie will drill you a bit more!"
"Okay, Auntie," Zhao Xinghua whispered.
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"Goddamn bitch! I brought her to Black Mountain Prefecture back when she was broke as hell. To keep her fed, I even worked as a night soil man! She swore up and down she'd pay me back if she ever made it!"
On the way home, Zhao Hu was seething, heart frozen over.
Lu Chang'sheng couldn't help but reflect.
So-called night soil man—sounds fancy, but all it really means is cleaning out toilets.
Knowing Zhao Hu's temperament, it must've taken real guts for him to do that kind of work.
"Back when we first got to Black Mountain Prefecture, we had it way rougher than you lot! Landing night soil work was like winning the lottery! Didn't last long before I got booted." Zhao Hu said, his voice low.
Lu Chang'sheng thought of the dead child he'd seen last winter—the one who'd come with their group.
God knows where that corpse ended up buried now.
That was the real story for most folks who first came to Black Mountain Prefecture.
Compared to that, people like them were honestly lucky.
"No point being mad. Sometimes, you've only got yourself to rely on." Lu Chang'sheng handed Zhao Hu the ginseng and the silver coins.
"Forget it! That ginseng makes me sick just looking at it. You keep it. Besides, studying isn't easy. You can use it to build up your strength. As for the silver—think of it as a loan. When you make it, just pay me back. Damn bitch—just do me a favor and study hard. Don't need much, just pass the Child Scholar exam. Next time I see that bitch, I'll slap her silly!"
"Deal!" Lu Chang'sheng smiled, accepting Zhao Hu's kindness.
He really did need those things.
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