bookrandom Chapter 195 Reunion with an Acquaintance
Chapter 195 Reunion with an Acquaintance
Everyone ate quietly, while people at the next table started chatting.
"Did you know? I heard the other day someone dug up a century-old human-shaped marijuana plant in Hongyashan!"
“I’ve heard about this before. It’s said that a hunter got lost while hunting in the mountains and found it in a secluded valley.”
At this moment, a group of people nearby chimed in, "Yes, when that hunter came out, he was covered in sores, but he still held on to his last breath and walked to the edge of the forest. He rolled down the mountain and was found by villagers who needed him and carried him out."
"Yes, yes, I heard she's still unconscious. Her family is poor, and they desperately need to sell that gastrodia elata!"
"Alas, who can afford this? Our place is poor to begin with, and no one has extra money. In addition, we are surrounded by mountains, and there are many bandits in the mountains. Very few merchants are willing to come here. It is said that five years ago, that human-shaped gastrodia elata sold for a high price of 500 taels of silver. That gastrodia elata was not as big as this one!"
"Hey, old Lin, have you ever seen what this Gastrodia elata looks like? How do you know it's not as big as that one?" the shrewd-looking man asked.
Old Man Lin was taken aback, his expression changing slightly. "I've never seen it before, but that's what everyone says."
…………
Listening to the conversation, Song Jiaojiao thought to herself, 'A human-shaped gastrodia elata... I guess I'll have to go check it out. It seems there aren't any gastrodia elata seeds in my space.'
After dinner, the rain subsided a bit, and Song Jiaojiao took Zhou Dayong out, first going to the security escort agency.
As soon as they entered, they encountered an acquaintance of Zhou Dayong.
"Old Yan?!" Zhou Dayong exclaimed in surprise.
The person standing behind the counter heard the familiar voice and suddenly looked up.
"Dayong, what are you doing here?" The person behind the counter came out excitedly, and the two hugged and patted each other on the shoulder.
Hearing the popping sound, Song Jiaojiao couldn't understand it at all. Didn't it really hurt?
"Old Yan, how have you been all these years?" Zhou Dayong asked excitedly. They hadn't seen each other since they left the army. They knew Old Yan was from Mozhou, but they didn't know exactly which place. They never expected to meet him here.
"Alright, alright, what about you? How did you end up here? Didn't your brother Dadan come with you?" Old Yan was quite surprised; he had been recruited into the escort agency by the general as soon as he left the military camp.
“Boldly, at the inn. Oh, by the way, the person who came here today is my employer, Madam Song, who wants to hire some people. Madam, this is Yan Tian, Old Yan. This is my employer, Madam Song.”
Zhou Dayong introduced the two to each other.
"Greetings, Madam. What kind of person would you like to hire, and for how long?" Yan Tian asked Song Jiaojiao with a smile. This was certainly not the time for catching up.
"Just like Zhou Dayong and his group, that should be fine. We'll probably need two more people. The timeframe is uncertain, it could be a few months, or it could be a year or two. But don't worry, we'll pay whatever it costs, and I'll cover all the travel expenses," Song Jiaojiao said with a smile.
Upon hearing Song Jiaojiao's request, Yan Tian knew it was a good job. As for the dangers on the road, those in their line of work were already risking their lives; if they were afraid of danger, they wouldn't be in this line of work.
"Madam, what do you think of me?" Yan Tian asked Song Jiaojiao with a smile. He had been guarding Wangmo County for three years and had long been tired of it. Last year, his only elderly mother passed away, and he was now all alone. Fortunately, Zhou Dayong and his brother were both there, and he wanted to go out and see the world.
Song Jiaojiao looked at the man in front of her. He was shorter than Zhou Dayong and the others, but his bulging biceps showed that he was no ordinary man.
Zhou Dayong hadn't expected Lao Yan to want to come along, but thinking that with his old buddy behind him, he could relax a bit, he looked at Song Jiaojiao with anticipation.
Looking at Zhou Dayong's expression, Song Jiaojiao nodded speechlessly, "Okay, one more person is needed."
Yan Tian beamed with joy when he heard Song Jiaojiao agree. "I'll go get him right away. Tang Qin is here too, I'll go call him over."
Zhou Dayong was even happier to hear that Tang Qin was there too. Back then, they were a team together and had been through countless life-and-death moments together.
Countless times they teetered on the brink of life and death, escaping time and time again thanks to their tacit understanding.
Song Jiaojiao looked at the man Yan Tian brought out and said, "Madam Song, this is Tang Qin. Don't let his thin appearance fool you; he's incredibly strong. None of us can match him."
The man was indeed very thin, and it was hard to believe that he had been a soldier. If he were wearing a long robe, he would look more like a pale-faced scholar.
He had a fair and clean appearance, but he was in great spirits. When Tang Qin heard Yan Tian's words, he scratched his head shyly, showing that he was not a talkative person.
"Alright, let's sign the contract first. I need to buy some servants later, but I'm not very familiar with Wangmo County, so I'll have to trouble you, Yan Tian, to show me the way." Song Jiaojiao said with a smile, then suddenly remembered something.
"Zhou Dayong, you and Tang Qin go to the horse market later and buy two more horses."
“Yes, madam,” Zhou Dayong replied with a grin.
After everything was settled, Yan Tian led Song Jiaojiao through a maze of twists and turns to the slave trader.
Upon seeing the words "Fengtang," Song Jiaojiao thought to herself, "What a coincidence! We can meet like this anywhere."
"Mei Niang. Mei Niang, open the door!" Yan Tian knocked on the door and shouted loudly.
"They're here." The courtyard gate opened, revealing a woman not much older than Song Jiaojiao's child. The woman wore a plum-red long dress with plum blossoms embroidered on the collar and cuffs. She was a strikingly beautiful woman; if she went out on the street, she would undoubtedly attract countless men.
"Oh, that gust of wind blew Master Yan here," Mei Niang said with a smile.
"Oh, Mei Niang, I've brought you a guest today. This is Madam Song, who needs to buy a few maids," Yan Tian said with a fawning smile.
Mei Niang glared at him fiercely, then looked at Song Jiaojiao with a smile and said.
"Madam Song, please come in. May I ask what requirements Madam Song has for her maids?" Mei Niang asked, leading the way.
"Someone clever, who can cook, and can endure hardship. There are no age requirements." Song Jiaojiao thought that they would be on the road for most of the time, so someone who couldn't endure hardship was obviously not suitable. After all, she bought the person mainly to help Shang Xiaoxiao with her chores, not to hire a prostitute to take home.
"Yes, Madam Song, please wait a moment." Mei Niang finished speaking and left, while Yan Tian was still staring in the direction Mei Niang had left.
Looking at the two of them, Song Jiaojiao could tell at a glance that something was amiss.
A moment later, Mei Niang brought out about ten women, some older and some younger. Song Jiaojiao carefully inquired about their situations and chose two who were quiet.
One was around sixteen years old and would mainly serve her, while the other was an aunt who was a little older than Song Jiaojiao. From now on, cooking and boiling water would be handled by her.
After completing the formalities, Song Jiaojiao led the two out of Fengtang.