Volume One, Chapter 11: Entering the City

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The wild boar Liu Feng had caught was quite large; carrying it to the town was possible, but the town was so small that he wouldn’t get a good price there. So Liu Feng thought of going to the county seat, but the journey was long. If only he had an ox cart.

After some thought, he realized that in the entire Sewa Village, only Wang Changsheng’s family owned an ox cart. There was no choice but to make a trip.

Liu Feng arrived outside Wang Changsheng’s large residence and began talking with the steward, Wang San. Perhaps disturbed by the noise outside, the door to the room opened. At this moment, Madam Wang had already changed clothes, wearing a floral-patterned dress that gave her a unique charm. Her hair was somewhat damp, and the bruises on her neck were clearly visible—it seemed she had been beaten again.

But this woman getting beaten was nothing surprising, given her reckless lifestyle. When she saw it was Liu Feng, she hurriedly covered the bruises on her neck with her hand.

“Madam Wang.”

Liu Feng greeted her warmly and quickly approached. If Wang Changsheng had been home, this matter might have been difficult to handle, but Madam Wang was easier to talk to.

Though Wang Changsheng was stingy and nicknamed “Skinflint Wang,” he doted on his wife, willing to do anything as long as it didn’t cost much.

Madam Wang’s gaze toward Liu Feng was full of meaning; she was especially curious about Liu Feng’s legendary third leg and beckoned him inside.

“Come in and talk with me.”

As soon as he entered, Madam Wang closed the door, her eyes shimmering like autumn waters as she leaned closer to Liu Feng.

“Liu Feng, we’re all from the same village. Help your sister out today—take the ox cart and use it as you please, no charge.”

“Help out?”

“That’s right. Just promise me a small favor, and if you ever need anything later, just come to me.”

Seeing Madam Wang’s approach, Liu Feng understood immediately.

“What favor?”

“Liu Feng, my husband’s health is failing. I want to have a son for him.”

Still drawing close, Madam Wang exuded the scent of a mature woman—a sharp, intoxicating fragrance that made Liu Feng feel overwhelmed.

Originally from the pleasure house, Madam Wang’s beauty had faded over the years, and her figure was nothing remarkable now. A woman like this held little appeal to Liu Feng even if it was for free.

“Liu Feng, just this once.”

Seeing Madam Wang eagerly pressing closer, Liu Feng hurriedly dodged. The idea instantly formed in his mind.

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“Madam, how about this? I’m not one to rush things; let’s build some feelings first.”

Being from the pleasure house, she was well versed in such games. Her face, heavily powdered with cheap rouge, flushed red as she coyly replied, “I didn’t expect you to be so playful.”

“I’ll be waiting, hurry up.”

Madam Wang walked to the inner room, throwing him a flirtatious glance over her shoulder. Once she entered and pulled the curtain closed, Liu Feng let out a sigh of relief.

Without a word, he left immediately.

The steward, thinking the ox cart matter was settled, was already pulling the cart in the courtyard waiting.

Liu Feng snatched the reins from the steward and fled through the Wang family gate as if escaping for his life.

He didn’t care if Madam Wang found out he had tricked her. Even if she did, who cared? She was the one who had fun. If she wanted to be with anyone, she could do as she pleased—even if it was the steward.

After all, no one would dare to spread such rumors. Maybe they could even have a few more encounters in the future.

As the saying goes, between men and women, there’s only zero times or countless times.

Liu Feng drove the ox cart home and loaded all his goods onto it. His two wives managed the household affairs; his job was simply to earn money.

Even with the ox cart, the trip to the county seat would take until the next day.

Before leaving, he glanced at the dilapidated door and repaired it a bit—he didn’t feel at ease leaving two beautiful wives alone at home.

He set out in the afternoon.

Once in the county seat, unfamiliar with the place, he spent ten copper coins to hire a guide boy.

He sold the wild boar meat to the largest inn, and the polygonatum wine to the apothecary.

This trip earned him over forty taels of silver.

The remaining small items had no place to be stored and were about to frustrate him when a passing merchant bought them at a high price.

Just this one trip brought Liu Feng over fifty taels of silver.

He never imagined a wild boar could be so valuable, nor that his polygonatum wine would be so popular and fetch such a good price.

With all this money, he could easily set up a home in town.

After dividing his silver carefully, Liu Feng headed straight to the rice shop.

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There were pickpockets in the county seat, so he dared not keep all his silver in one place.

At the rice shop, he immediately purchased fifty bushels of mixed rice.

Then he went to a blacksmith’s shop. He needed many weapons, and since the prices were reasonable, he carefully selected several arrowheads.

The ox cart was soon full.

As night fell, Liu Feng was about to find a place to rest when he noticed a lively scene ahead. Upon closer look, it was the county government office.

A group of disabled soldiers from the battlefield had gathered there.

According to the laws of the Great Li Dynasty, if a soldier dies in battle, the county office must provide thirty taels of silver as compensation, with subsidies for the wounded and regular grain rations.

Those who survived the battlefield would go to the county office first thing upon returning home.

Liu Feng immediately spotted Mu Shaoguang among the crowd—his wives’ older brother.

Now he was in a sorry state: his leg broken, walking with difficulty on crutches, and having lost an eye—completely disabled.

Liu Feng recalled this from his memories: Mu Shaoguang had gone to war just four months before his marriage.

Truly, when a nation rises or falls, it is the common people who suffer the most.

With the frontlines growing intense, the war would soon spread here, so he needed to make preparations early.

Without delay, he hurried to the market to buy coarse salt and other supplies, then went to the livestock market.

Now that the Great Li government had relaxed regulations, ordinary people could freely buy and sell draft oxen, but to prevent slaughtering for meat, beef prices were kept very low.

The livestock market was a steady place for animal trade, helping to stabilize the market.

Liu Feng’s next goal was to buy oxen and chickens.

After years of famine, poultry was scarce, and even a lean, bony ox commanded a high price.

Liu Feng spent ten taels of silver to buy a skinny ox—an amount that could support an average family for three to five years.

He then looked at the chicks in a cage and bought them as well.

Lastly, he purchased a brand-new ox cart and settled the bill.

Perhaps the owner hadn’t seen such a generous customer in a long time, as he threw in a good deal of fodder for free.

Liu Feng didn’t linger and decisively chose to travel home overnight.

Early the next morning, when the Mu sisters saw the chicks outside, they were so overjoyed they were speechless. They embraced Liu Feng with kisses.

How could they not be excited? In such times of famine and chaos, chicks and oxen were the family’s hope.

The elder sister, Mu Wanqing, immediately went to cut grass to feed the ox.

The younger, Mu Wanqing, hurried to set up a home for the chicks.