Chapter 44

The Chu family welcomed Mr. Li into the house. Without waiting for everyone to speak, Mr. Li already said, "Erlang, get ready, we're going to the city. We need to arrive before dinner. We'll have a meal there, and then your matter will be settled."

Mrs. Chu was very pleased and asked, "Big Brother, did you find a good job?"

"These past few days, I've been visiting some old friends in the city, but most of them don't need any help. However, when Master Han Yuan of He Sheng Quan learned about this, he remembered our long-standing friendship and agreed to introduce Erlang to work at He Sheng Quan." Mr. Li stroked his beard and smiled, "Early this morning, Han Yuan sent someone to find me, asking me to bring Erlang over. I've already sent an invitation, and we're having dinner with Han Yuan tonight. They've already agreed!"

Suniu couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, what does He Sheng Quan do?"

Mr. Li was taken aback, then said, "Suniu, you really haven't been out much and don't know anything. Do you know that our Yunshan Prefecture has the 'Three Cloud Mountains,' all of which are century-old brands, and He Sheng Quan is one of them. He Sheng Quan is... no, no, no, it's the top brewery in our Nanshan Circuit!"

"Is Erlang going to sell wine?" Suniu asked, puzzled. "Will he be a waiter?" Although she didn't know much, she knew that taverns had waiters.

Mr. Li shook his head, "He Sheng Quan isn't a tavern, it's a brewery. Let me put it this way, over the years, I've tasted many wines, but when it comes to aroma, He Sheng Quan's Bamboo Clear is the best." As he said this, the old man's throat moved, seemingly very fond of Bamboo Clear.

Suniu seemed to understand but didn't ask further.

Chu Huan thought for a moment and then asked, "Uncle, what will I be doing there?"

"I really don't know," Mr. Li shook his head. "But since Han Yuan has agreed, it will be fine. He will definitely find something for you to do." He stroked his beard and smiled, "Erlang, Han Yuan is a master brewer, a true master. When he was young, he was just a helper, but he was smart and is now a master brewer, envied by all, with no worries about food and clothing. He and I have a good relationship, and with him taking care of you, it's a great opportunity. Once you're in He Sheng Quan, follow him and learn well. Who knows, one day you might become a master brewer too, and then your mother and Suniu will have a good life!"

Chu Huan sighed inwardly, "Becoming a master brewer might be hard to achieve. But making sure my mother and Suniu have a good life is something I must do!"

Mrs. Chu, although she didn't know much about He Sheng Quan or Bamboo Clear, felt it was a good opportunity. She held Chu Huan's hand and said, "Erlang, your uncle has found you a good job. Don't let him down. Once you're there, work hard. I don't expect you to become a high official, just to live a peaceful and comfortable life...!" As she said this, her eyes welled up.

Chu Huan hugged his mother and said softly, "Mother, don't worry, I'll work hard. When I have money, I'll bring you to the city...!"

Mr. Li, hearing this, was full of satisfaction and stroked his beard, "Good, good, filial piety is a virtue, it should be like this, it should be like this!"

Suniu's expression was somewhat sad. She stood there for a moment, then turned and went back to her room. A moment later, she came out with a bundle and handed it to Chu Huan, "These are some clothes for changing. Take care of yourself...!"

Chu Huan took the bundle and said softly, "Suniu, take good care of Mother. I'll come back to see you as soon as I can!"

Mr. Li, already standing with his cane, said, "We have an appointment, we can't be late. Erlang, let's go!" Although it was still early, Mr. Li, being a scholar, placed great importance on etiquette and was afraid of being late.

Chu Huan helped Mr. Li out of the door and onto the carriage. Looking back, he saw Suniu supporting Mrs. Chu at the door, seeing them off.

The carriage turned, and Chu Huan stuck his head out, shouting, "Go back, I'll come back often!" As he said this, the carriage was already quite far from the Chu family. Suniu supported Mrs. Chu and took a few steps forward, watching the carriage disappear from sight.

...

...

Qingliu County is a county directly under the jurisdiction of Yunshan Prefecture in Nanshan Circuit, located about fifty miles south of Yunshan Prefecture. Although it is just a small county, its geographical location is excellent. Continuing south, it is less than a hundred miles to the border of Nanshan Circuit's Suxian, and less than sixty miles east to the border of Han Prefecture. It is a key transportation hub for the three prefectures, and thus, apart from the prefectural city, Qingliu County is the most prosperous in the entire Yunshan Prefecture.

In this era, a county town could not compare to the bustling crowds of later times, but it was still bustling with activity, with shops, pawnshops, taverns, teahouses, and oil shops all available.

When Mr. Li's carriage entered the city, it was still early. Following Mr. Li's instructions, the carriage stopped in front of a tavern. Chu Huan helped Mr. Li out of the carriage, and Mr. Li bowed to the driver, "Thank you, thank you!"

The driver, however, was very respectful and smiled, "Mr. Li, you're too kind. The young master said that whenever you need the carriage, just send someone to say, and no matter what, it will be available!"

Mr. Li chuckled, and the driver flicked the reins, and the carriage left.

Chu Huan then looked up at the tavern in front of him. It was a two-story building with an ancient and elegant style, with a black signboard hanging above the door, inscribed in blood-red letters, "Yipinxiang." Inside, it was bustling with activity.

Mr. Li said, "This tavern has been around for a long time and is quite famous in the city. I came here last year and drank Bamboo Clear here."

Chu Huan was surprised. Mr. Li had come here over a year ago, yet he still remembered it vividly, indicating that his life was quite frugal.

Suddenly, Chu Huan thought of something and said awkwardly, "Uncle, I don't have any money on me..."

Mr. Li knew what he meant and chuckled, "It's fine, I have some silver. Although it's not much, it's enough for a meal!"

Chu Huan felt a bit guilty. He had returned with no money at all. Thinking back to the night he returned home, Suniu's long face, he understood that being away for eight years and returning with nothing would disappoint people.

Mr. Li was about to take Chu Huan into the tavern when he suddenly heard a voice from the street, "Catch the thief, damn it, stop right there...!" Chu Huan turned to see a large man with a short stick running over. In front of the large man, a person was running frantically, hands clasped to his chest, looking very frightened.

Chu Huan could see clearly that the person being chased was wearing tattered clothes, a worn-out leather cap, and his face was as black as charcoal, very dirty, making it hard to see his features.

This person looked very thin and small, darting through the crowd on the street. Eventually, he collided with a man, who was much stronger, and was knocked to the ground.

The man cursed and walked away, ignoring him. The large man with the short stick caught up and stepped on the person with the leather cap, cursing, "Damn, run? Let's see how much you can do!"

The person with the leather cap showed a look of pain, lifting his hand to push the large man's leg, but his strength was too weak, and he couldn't push it away. Instead, two sweet potatoes fell from his chest.

The large man pointed at the person with the leather cap with his stick and cursed, "Look at you, with your thieving eyes, you're always stealing. Watch me beat you to death!" He raised his stick to strike the person with the leather cap.

Before his stick could land, he felt his wrist tighten as if clamped by an iron vise, unable to move. He turned to see a young man with a rustic appearance holding his wrist.

"Why are you hitting him?" Chu Huan asked coldly.

The person with the leather cap was lying at his feet, and seeing the large man about to hit him, Chu Huan naturally couldn't stand by.

"Let go!" the large man shouted angrily.

Chu Huan pushed him with force, releasing his grip. The large man was pushed back several steps, steadied himself, and raised his stick, pointing at Chu Huan, "A busybody has come." He pointed at the person with the leather cap, "This kid stole two sweet potatoes from me. I can hit him if I want. Mind your own business!"

Chu Huan said calmly, "Two sweet potatoes, how much are they worth? Why use such force? Look at him, he must be starving. Otherwise, who would steal your sweet potatoes? If he were a real thief, he would steal gold or silver, not something so worthless."

The large man said, "You make it sound easy. If this isn't stealing, everyone will take a share, and I'll be left with nothing."

Mr. Li came forward, leaning on his cane, "A gentleman uses words, not violence. In broad daylight, there is the law. If he really stole from you, report it to the authorities, no need to hit him!"

There were many onlookers, and seeing the situation, they all pointed at the large man, saying he was in the wrong.

The large man, knowing the crowd's anger, couldn't really report to the authorities over two sweet potatoes, cursed, "What bad luck...!" He pointed at the person with the leather cap, "Brat, if I see you again, I'll skin you!" He then left, muttering.

Chu Huan then squatted down, picked up the two sweet potatoes, which were very small, and could be held in one hand, and handed them to the person with the leather cap, saying gently, "Take them."

The person with the leather cap looked up, tears streaming down his face, washing away some of the dirt on his cheeks, revealing two white streaks.

Despite his thin and weak body, the exposed parts of his skin were tender and white.

"I... I didn't mean to...!" the person with the leather cap said, his face full of fear, "I... I need to eat to survive...!"

Chu Huan didn't say more, placed the sweet potatoes in his hand, and stood up to help Mr. Li into the tavern. He heard the person with the leather cap say, "Thank you... thank you...!"

Chu Huan turned to see the person with the leather cap standing up, holding the sweet potatoes tightly, as if afraid they would fly away.

Chu Huan just smiled and nodded, not saying more, and helped Mr. Li into the tavern. A waiter came forward, bowing, "Are you two here?"

Mr. Li stroked his beard, "Find us a quiet place first. We're waiting for another guest."

"Would you like a private room?" the waiter asked with a smile, "There's one upstairs, but it will cost you twenty copper coins more."

Mr. Li hesitated for a moment and nodded, "That's fine."

The waiter led them upstairs. At the stairs, Chu Huan thought of something and looked back, seeing the person with the leather cap still standing at the door, staring at him.

Seeing his pitiful state, if it were just him, he would have brought the person with the leather cap in for a meal. But since it was a dinner for someone else, he couldn't make the decision. A waiter had already seen the beggar at the door and waved, shouting, "Get lost, don't interfere with business!"

The person with the leather cap then took the sweet potatoes and disappeared from Chu Huan's sight.

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