Chapter 7

Chen Mo's affairs were settled, but Li Zheng and the others still had things to do. Compared to Chen Mo, they not only had to sell the furs they brought but also had to buy many items. Money, in the countryside, had limited uses. Apart from salt, cloth, and some tools and other necessities, they could basically be self-sufficient. Even if there was a need, as long as it wasn't a disaster year, the neighbors could exchange and make up for each other.

Of course, the prerequisite was to have a good year. If they encountered a disaster year, it would be a catastrophic disaster for ordinary people like them.

These principles, Chen Mo had only heard about. He had not experienced a real disaster year, only heard that it was terrifying, but had never seen it. Although he felt somewhat envious of the prosperity of the county, if he had to choose, he would still prefer to stay in his small place. At least there was land to farm, and it felt solid in his heart.

At noon, the two of them ate at a lodge on West Street, spending thirty coins. Chen Mo felt that Uncle Wang had saved his life, and this meal should be paid for by him. He paid the bill with some pain in his heart.

Thirty coins, if in the village, at the current prices, would be enough for his mother and him to eat for three days. Now it was just one meal. Chen Mo silently vowed in his heart that he would never come to the lodge to eat again.

Uncle Wang didn't stop him. Especially seeing Chen Mo's pained but determined expression when paying the bill, he found it somewhat amusing and felt a strange sense of emotion. A sensible child easily wins favor.

Unfortunately, he was born into the wrong family. If this child could be born into a wealthy family, perhaps he could achieve something in the future?

"Er Gou," seeing Chen Mo sit back and drink water silently, Uncle Wang suddenly asked, "Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"

"In the future?" Chen Mo thought for a moment and said, "After this year's harvest, I want to lease a few more acres of land, hire two tenant farmers, raise some chickens, and then..."

"I mean in the future, when you grow up a bit more," Uncle Wang said with a smile, shaking his head.

Although Uncle Wang looked rough, his smile gave a strange sense of reassurance.

"In the future?" Chen Mo was a bit lost. In his understanding, the future... wouldn't be much different from now. At most, he could lease more land. In this life, if he could acquire a hundred acres of good land, Chen Mo felt that he would have achieved a lot, but there would always be some regret.

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Mo suddenly said, "I want to read books."

Uncle Wang fell silent upon hearing this. Reading books was too luxurious for someone of their background. In this era, as long as one could read and write, even if they couldn't become an official, they could work in the government office, be a clerk, a village elder, or a village head, and live a decent life. If they had the luck to become a county magistrate, it would be something they could only dream of, something their ancestors would be proud of.

Most importantly, people of their background had no chance to access books. Even if they were given a book, they would need someone to teach them.

Scholars were the upper class, not just rich people could hire them. Scholars placed great importance on family background. What could ordinary people offer to make them teach? The reputation of a dung boy?

Seeing Chen Mo's eyes shining, Uncle Wang felt a strange sense of blockage in his heart. For people like them, they might never have the chance to read books in their lifetime.

"Is it that difficult?" Chen Mo couldn't help but ask when Uncle Wang didn't speak.

Not just difficult, but almost impossible.

Uncle Wang smiled bitterly and nodded. He didn't know how to explain to the child. Seeing Chen Mo about to ask more, he quickly changed the topic, "Then why do you want to practice martial arts?"

Chen Mo scratched his head. He didn't know how to explain the existence of the deity, but he knew he learned things quickly: "I thought reading books would be difficult, but if I could master martial arts and serve the country, it might be easier."

This was a path, but it was also bumpy.

Uncle Wang nodded upon hearing this. He didn't want to discourage Chen Mo's enthusiasm and asked, "So, are you planning to join the army? This path is not easy."

From Uncle Wang's perspective, this path was also very uncertain. Not to mention the strict recruitment standards of the Han Dynasty, even if one joined the army, out of the ten thousand soldiers, how many could truly rise to prominence?

"I haven't decided yet. I need to ask my mother. But this is not urgent. I asked Grandpa, and the Han Dynasty only recruits soldiers at the age of thirteen, so I have four more years," Chen Mo said with a smile.

Indeed.

Uncle Wang nodded and didn't say anything more. In his view, this might just be a fleeting fancy of a child. When he grew older, the pressure of survival might make him see reality and eliminate these unrealistic fantasies. He would settle down to farm and manage his life, leaving some land for his descendants. After three generations, perhaps there would be a chance to read books.

At the end of the afternoon, Li Zheng and the others returned with the donkey cart. Chen Mo, still a child at heart, swept away the previous gloom and happily welcomed them.

The things in the donkey cart seemed more than when they left.

"Everything done?" Li Zheng patted Chen Mo's head.

"Yes, thanks to Uncle Wang," Chen Mo actually wanted to talk about what happened earlier. He thought Uncle Wang looked very cool at that time, but Uncle Wang didn't let him say it, though he didn't know why.

"That's good." Li Zheng nodded and called everyone to drive the donkey cart out of the city.

On the way home, Chen Mo felt that everyone was tense, not as relaxed as when they came. This made Chen Mo very puzzled, but in such an atmosphere, he didn't dare to speak. It felt like the sky would fall if he opened his mouth.

"Uncle Wang, are we taking the wrong path?" Chen Mo approached Uncle Wang, poking him. He remembered the way and knew they wouldn't go around the mountain.

"No, there are still some things to do," Uncle Wang shook his head and said in a low voice, "No matter what happens, don't make a sound, just watch."

"Okay~" Chen Mo nodded somewhat confused, feeling that Uncle Wang meant something might happen soon.

This area near Xiaqiu was close to the Huai River, with many waterways and few mountains, but there were still some. On the road, they encountered a group of people, only four, but each one was very fierce. They gave Chen Mo the same feeling as when Li Zheng's dog was still unfamiliar with him, or like Uncle Wang and Zheng Tu before he knew them.

"Did you bring the goods?" A dark-skinned man glanced at Chen Mo and said, "Why did you bring a child?"

"He's coming along, this child is sensible, and might have to take this path in the future," Li Zheng looked around and then waved to Cai Shu.

Cai Shu and the other three village guards unloaded several bags from the cart and handed them to the other side.

"The goods are all here, take a look."

It seemed they were making a transaction. Chen Mo didn't understand why they didn't go to the city. He secretly peeked a few times and saw that the bags contained not only meat and salt but also a few knives.

After the transaction was completed and they left, Chen Mo clearly felt that everyone relaxed. The atmosphere was no longer as oppressive as before. He then approached Uncle Wang and quietly asked, "Uncle Wang, who were those people?"

Uncle Wang was silent for a long time before speaking, "Bandits! Don't tell your mother about this, or you won't be able to come out with us again."

These two words made Chen Mo feel dazed all the way back. Even when they returned to the village, his legs were still trembling...