Free Web NovelChapter 16: Gushui Village
It was dusk by the time they finally arrived.
A village lay nestled between several low hills. Before it stretched an endless sea of wheat, while a tributary of the Wei River curved past the village. It was clearly a place blessed with excellent geomancy. Beneath the setting sun, golden waves of grain rolled in the wind, painting a tranquil pastoral scene.
“This is Gushui Village,” Sha Lifei said, leading the horse at the front. “There’s an ancient spring up in the hills; that’s where the name comes from. The biggest master here is Master Lu. He’s no ordinary man. I heard he used to be a wealthy merchant in the capital. After making his fortune, he came back home and bought land. See all this? It’s all his.
“The main point is, the man is generous. Plenty of people here have their eyes on this fat piece of meat. If it weren’t for my connections, you lot would be fighting the wheat cutters from Longxi County for scraps.”
There were wheat cutters in the Guanzhong Plains, but there were even more from Longxi County. The people there could endure hardship, worked tirelessly, and weren’t picky about food, making them the most sought-after workers. They were the true overachievers of the trade.
“Hero Sha really delivers!”
“Told you we wouldn’t lose out by following him!”
The crowd burst into praise, and Sha Lifei grew even more pleased with himself.
***
Master Lu’s estate stood at the eastern edge of the village. Just as Sha Lifei had said, it was a true manor of wealth.
The compound was laid out in a square formation, built from brick and timber, with four courtyards and three successive halls. It was surrounded by high walls, and even the base bricks were adorned with intricate carvings. Gatehouses, archways, hitching posts; it had everything!
Under the setting sun, it exuded an imposing, ancient grandeur.
The largest residence in the Li Clan’s Fort was nothing but a two-courtyard residence in comparison. None of the villagers had seen such luxury, and they couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
“Good heavens... How rich is this man?”
“This trip’s really opened our eyes...”
Also, they weren’t the only group hired. Outside the estate was a wide clearing, even larger than a threshing ground. It had been watered and compacted smooth with stone rollers. Willow trees lined the edges, lending the place an air of grandeur.
Several groups had already gathered there. Men with bedding on their backs and sickles at their waists were squatting on the ground, chatting or smoking from long pipes.
After telling the villagers not to wander around and cause trouble, Sha Lifei headed over to the main gate where a thin elderly man stood. He was neatly dressed and he wore a small cap. His hair was white, and a pair of black-framed spectacles rested on his nose. A few attendants stood behind him.
Sha Lifei clearly recognized him. He bowed deeply with clasped fists, his face all smiles. “Steward Lu, these are my men.”
“Why are you a day late?”
“Ran into a bit of trouble on the road.”
“Enough. Wait until the master finishes speaking to the rest inside, then we’ll assign you the tasks.”
As they spoke, Li Yan scanned the surroundings. With his sharp eyes and knowledge of jianghu ways, he quickly sized things up.
The group on the right was from Longxi Country; their accents gave them away. Their leader was an older bladesman, wearing a sheepskin jacket despite the heat. Though his hair was white, his arms were thick with muscle. Judging by his hands, he had trained in the Eagle Claw Art.
The attendants behind Steward Lu looked relaxed, but they had broad shoulders and sharp eyes. They were clearly well-trained guards. In jianghu terms, they were the support pillars of the escort trade, men who could truly fight and understood the rules of the jianghu.
They were servants who were hired for life, not temporary hires. It seemed that the Lu Clan was far wealthier than any ordinary landlord...
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“Master Lu has arrived!”
A servant’s announcement rang out.
A group emerged from within the estate, led by Master Lu himself. He was tall and plump, with a kind face and gentle eyes. His black beard hung down to his chest, and his fine robes made him look every bit the dignified gentleman.
Behind him followed a group of guards and two women.
One of the women wore white, with refined and elegant features. The other wore red, her beauty more alluring, with fair skin and a beauty mark beneath her chin. Both of them were young, and they almost looked like Master Lu’s daughters. However, anyone could tell they were likely his concubines.
Most of the men in the square were simple farmers. Even the bladesmen who frequented brothels had rarely seen such beauty. Their eyes widened in shock and some nearly forgot themselves.
Sha Lifei gulped and turned, scolding quietly, “Behave yourselves! Don’t look, don’t even think about it! Anyone who makes a fool of himself and loses this job, I’ll deal with him personally!”
The villagers immediately lowered their heads. Not far away, another group’s leader stared openly, drooling, not even bothering to control his men.
Seeing their reactions, Li Yan felt something off. In wealthy households, concubines rarely appeared in the front courtyard, especially before so many strangers. Yet, Master Lu seemed unconcerned about the entire fanfare. Instead, he even seemed proud of it.
Facing the crowd, he stroked his beard and smiled. “Fellow villagers, I have returned to my roots. Though I’ve acquired some wealth, I am not a heartless man. During the summer harvest, if you work hard, my household will not treat you unfairly. You can eat your fill of white flour buns and lamb offal soup! For each mu of land you harvest, I’ll pay with two sheng of wheat![1]
“The more you work, the more you earn!”
The workers were stunned. In the past, harvesting one mu of land had earned only one sheng of wheat, barely over two jin. And even then, wages were often docked. But Master Lu was offering double, and unlimited food with meat while they worked! Even if it was offal, it was still meat!
“Master Lu is benevolent!”
Everyone present bowed repeatedly in thanks.
“Haha, no need, no need,” Master Lu replied with a smile, before turning and heading back inside.
When the old man was gone, Steward Lu stepped forward, his expression turning stern. “The master is generous, but rules must still be followed. You may eat all the buns you want, but you may not take any away.
“No one is to enter the inner courtyard without permission. If you have business, report it first. If anyone crosses that line, don’t blame me for being harsh. Those who slack off or steal will be handed over to the authorities.
“Work begins at the hour of Yin. Only after the harvested wheat is stored may you rest.”
His arrangements were meticulous and the workers nodded in agreement. The rules were strict, but they paid well! Opportunities like that didn’t come often.
Soon, they were led to the edge of the village, where makeshift shelters had already been set up. For the coming days, that was where they would live, working from dawn to night, with no rest beyond eating and sleeping.
It was hard, but that was the nature of the harvest season.
Large iron pots had already been set up beside the shelters. White lamb bone broth boiled vigorously, chunks of offal rising and sinking in them. Towering wooden steamers released clouds of fragrant steam carrying the scent of wheat.
After days of travel, living on cold water and coarse grain cakes, the workers nearly drooled at the smell. They rushed to line up, squatting with large bowls, devouring the food like starved wolves.
An attendant laughed. “Eat your fill, but don’t overdo it. You still need to work tomorrow.”
An old villager chuckled. “Don’t worry, lad. We may be farmers, but we know the difference between one full meal and eating every day.”
Laughter erupted all around. They were truly satisfied by the treatment. Their employer left nothing to complain about.
Li Yan was no exception. He had eaten lamb offal soup at temple fairs before, but those were made for the poor. They were sloppy and unclean, sometimes with bits of wool or even flies floating in the grease. This, however, was different. It was clean, fragrant, and topped with chili oil, scallions, and a bunch of herbs. Paired with white buns, it was simply delicious.
Young men had big appetites. And Li Yan, who trained constantly, needed even more. After eating five large buns and drinking four bowls of soup, he finally wiped his mouth, set down his bowl, and walked toward Sha Lifei.
In the distance, Sha Lifei was bragging loudly with a few bladesmen. Seeing Li Yan approach, he seemed to guess his intention, but instead changed the subject, grinning. “Friends, let me introduce someone. This is Li Yan. His father was a famous man. You’ve surely heard of him, the Sick Tiger of the Guanzhong Plains!”
Li Yan felt a flash of irritation. He hadn’t come out to make a name for himself. And even if he did, it wouldn’t be by riding his father’s reputation. Still, he forced a smile and cupped his fists. “Greetings, seniors.”
The Longxi County veteran bladesman in the sheepskin jacket nodded, his voice rough. “I’ve heard of Li Hu. He was a righteous man, what a pity.”
Others chimed in with polite praise.
“That bearing... This young man will surely make a name for himself someday.”
That was how the jianghu worked. A few words of kindness cost nothing. As long as there were no interests involved, people were more than happy to flatter each other.
However, that wasn’t how everyone operated. In the distance, a young man who was squatting sneered and spat. “Li Hu’s son, huh? Already out in the jianghu at this age? Aren’t you still wet behind the ears? The winds are fierce in the jianghu, careful you don’t break yourself.”
1. Modern Definition: In mainland China, one 升 is defined as exactly 1 liter (1 L). Traditional Meaning: Historically, a sheng was a traditional Chinese unit of volume, used mainly for grain, which varied over time, but is now standardized to the metric system. ☜
