Chapter 53

“How is the customs duty?”
Huo Xu returned more than half an hour later. Originally, they were supposed to wait for him to return together and have a meal, but he went and didn’t show up for a long time.
Thinking that everyone had traveled for a day and was hungry at this time, Tao Yu called everyone to eat first after the inn’s kitchen dishes were cooked.
After eating, those who needed to wash up washed up, and those who needed to rest rested. This way, everyone was rested and would not delay the journey tomorrow.
Waiting for one person to delay everyone’s rest time.
He left some dishes for Huo Xu, keeping them warm in the pot.
Seeing that the person had finally returned, Zhao immediately asked the waiter to deliver the dishes to the room.
“It didn’t take much effort. We paid the money and passed the documents to leave. However, the customs duty increased suddenly this year. Many merchants complained at the post station, causing some trouble and delaying the time.”
Tao Yu’s eyes widened when he heard this: “It increased again? How much is the customs duty?”
Huo Xu said, “One thousand two hundred wen per laborer.”
This means that their group of more than ten people would have to pay more than ten taels of silver.
“Last year, the customs duty in Tongzhou Prefecture was only eight hundred wen. In just one year, how did it increase so much!”
Not to mention the merchants yelling, Tao Yu wanted to make a fuss.
“With such high customs duties, independent peddlers probably won’t be willing to do business!”
Huo Xu said, “The customs duties of each prefecture are set according to local conditions, high or low. Lianping Prefecture is not only adjacent to the prosperous Tongzhou City, but several prefectures to the south must pass through here to enter the capital or go north. Lianping Prefecture has no famous industries outside, so it can only use customs duties to make money.”
The waiter brought the food, and Tao Yu served it to Huo Xu.
He took out his small ledger and recorded today’s expenses.
“According to the route, we still have to pass through Yuchang Prefecture, Baiyunjian, and finally arrive at the prefectural capital of the Northern Territory. This is the route with the fewest prefectures we have passed, but it still spans four prefectures.”
“We don’t know how much the customs duty will be in the remaining prefectures.”
The more the cost increased, the less the profit.
Huo Xu ate his food and said, “Yuchang Prefecture is still unknown, but the customs duties in Baiyunjian and the Northern Territory are not high. The two places are on the edge, and there are not many merchant caravans going from the south and the central plains. Things are valuable because they are rare. In order to encourage merchant caravans to go there, they will not hinder merchant caravans with customs duties.”
Tao Yu felt a little relieved after hearing this.
The next day, the merchant caravan departed a little later than before, setting off only when it was bright.
Lianping Prefecture was larger than Tongzhou, but Tongzhou was a circular area, while Lianping Prefecture was a horizontal plate.
They traveled north longitudinally. If there were no accidents on the road, they should be able to pass in ten days.
The journey was quite smooth. The routes they passed were mostly filled with human activity, and there were many villages and county towns, all of which were quite peaceful.
Unknowingly, it was already March. The plants along the road had grown out of their withered yellow state, and green grass shoots and leaves began to emerge.
Although the wind blowing on the face was still a bit cold from the early spring, the weather was clear, and spring was approaching, which made people feel more comfortable than on days of continuous rain.
Tao Yu had been sitting or lying in the carriage for almost half a month. Seeing that the weather outside was good, he could no longer sit in the carriage.
On the flat official road, Huo Xu picked him up and put him on the horse.
After more than ten days of getting along, they had already become familiar with each other.
Seeing the two riding together, they still looked surprised, as Tao Yu had not come out during these days.
They were all rough men, and their mouths were loose. They teased, “Does Master Ji get seasick on horseback? Wen Liang’s cart is probably more stable.”
Ji Wenliang drove the ox: “But even if it’s stable, it’s not as stable as Brother-in-law’s arms, right?”
Everyone laughed at this.
Tao Yu’s face turned slightly red, and he threw the new branch that Huo Xu had broken for him at Ji Wenliang.
“You’ve learned to be bad too. When your mother arranges a marriage for you later, don’t expect me to go and introduce you in advance.”
The laughter of the crowd grew even louder.
“Speaking of which, it’s already March. Time flies so fast. In the countryside, it should be time to sow seeds and raise seedlings and beans. In a few more days, it will be time to plant rice seedlings.”
Someone sighed and muttered, which inexplicably made people homesick.
It was good in the countryside. At this time of year, everyone was busy with spring planting, and the fields were the liveliest.
Looking up and down, they saw familiar neighbors, bragging and chatting, and they didn’t feel tired after working all day.
What was important was that young men in the fields might even see their favorite girls or boys. A glance and a word could make them more motivated for the day’s work.
Thinking of home, their hearts were filled with warmth.
But homesickness was homesickness, and no one regretted the hardship of coming out.
Although home was good, life was difficult. If they could earn some money this trip, their lives would be a little easier.
Thinking of this, everyone became more spirited.
Tao Yu saw that it was only March and everyone was wearing light clothes. He still reminded them: “The temperature difference between morning and evening is large now, and the early spring cold is severe. If you catch a cold from the wind and don’t pay attention, you are prone to catch a cold. Everyone should wear more clothes.”
“We are rough men, it doesn’t matter. Master Ji should take good care of himself.”
Ge Liang laughed and cursed: “Wear more clothes if you are told to wear more clothes. If you catch a cold, no one will care.”
“But speaking of which, it’s strange. There were quite a few people along the way in Lianping Prefecture, but after Liu Family Village, we haven’t met anyone today.”
“We are almost at the border of Lianping Prefecture. In two more days, we will enter Yuchang Prefecture. According to the map, there are no towns in this area, so it is normal for there to be fewer people.”
Tao Yu listened to everyone’s conversation and stretched his neck to look around.
He said to Huo Xu behind him, “There really aren’t many people in the fields in the distance.”
“When villages hold banquets, there aren’t many people in the fields either.”
Tao Yu thought about it, it seemed so. After all, it was the same in their village, so he didn’t think much about it.
There were no more post stations or inns in this area. To maintain good energy for entering Yuchang Prefecture in one go tomorrow, Huo Xu found a flat area near the river in the afternoon and set up camp.
This was the first time they had camped outdoors since they had been out for so long. When they reached Yuchang Prefecture, where the population was sparse, camping outdoors would be common. It was good to get familiar with it in advance.
Everyone worked in shifts. Some people set up tents, two people went to pick firewood together, and someone had to guard the goods and livestock.
Tao Yu was responsible for making dinner for everyone.
Ji Wenliang moved out the pots and pans prepared before the trip and built a stove with stones.
“Brother Tao, what should we do?”
“We have a long way to go tomorrow, so we have to eat well tonight to have energy tomorrow.”
Tao Yu took out a piece of cured and smoked meat, as well as some dried cabbage, radish, and beans from the box, and soaked them with cold water from the river.
Although there were quite a few dishes, they were all dried and preserved. It would be better to have some fresh vegetables.
Fortunately, spring had arrived, and everything was growing. It was the season to dig for fresh wild vegetables.
There was moisture around the campsite, and a lot of water celery and water shepherd’s purse grew there.
He took a small sickle and waited for those who went to pick firewood to return. While waiting, he and Ji Wenliang dug up a lot of fresh and tender water celery and water shepherd’s purse.
Later, the water celery would be chopped and stir-fried with fatty cured meat, and the water shepherd’s purse would be used to make porridge. It would taste even better.
“There’s too much water celery and water shepherd’s purse here. It’s easier to dig than in our village.”
Ji Wenliang squatted by the river, cutting water celery with a sickle: “Every spring, who doesn’t have a plate of wild vegetables on their table.”
Wild vegetables were almost only available in spring. Wealthy families enjoyed them for their elegance, wanting to taste the flavor of spring.
Peasant families were more practical. Wild vegetables were free, and they tasted special. They could dig them themselves, which was a rare convenience.
For this reason, wild vegetables in spring always had a good market. They could be eaten or sold for money. As long as there were women or young men with free time, they would go to dig wild vegetables.
They could find them on any hillside or in any depression.
“Perhaps there are fewer people in this area, so the wild vegetables haven’t been dug up yet.”
Tao Yu said, “Let’s dig up everything we can. If we don’t finish it today, we can take it on the road and eat it when we camp tomorrow.”
“We still have Brother Tao who knows how to manage things.”
As the two were talking, there was a splash, and a huge spray of water rose from the river.
Tao Yu shivered and looked over when he heard the sound. Plop, a grass carp was thrown at his feet.
Huo Xu surfaced from the river: “Master, add a dish.”
Ji Wenliang held the fish, which had been stunned by the impact on the stone, and it weighed at least two to three jin. He looked at Huo Xu in the river with admiration: “Brother-in-law, you are too amazing!”
Tao Yu wiped his face and looked at Huo Xu, who was dripping all over: “Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?”
“A bowl of fish soup to warm you up won’t hurt.”
Tao Yu said, “A two-jin fish isn’t enough for more than ten people to have even one bite. Since you’re in the water, why not look for more?”
Huo Xu did not answer, but leaped into the river again.
Ji Wenliang happily cleaned the fish by the river, and Tao Yu dug up some more wild vegetables, but the people who went to pick firewood had not returned for a long time.
Seeing that the tents were almost set up, Tao Yu was afraid that they would not be able to start a fire, and Huo Xu had caught fish in the river and was all wet. He would catch a cold if he didn’t dry off.
Just as he was about to ask someone to go and look for them, they returned.
“I’ve brought back some easy-to-burn firewood. I’ll go again later. There are big tree trunks over there that will burn for a long time and turn into charcoal, which can be used at night.”
Tao Yu looked at the farmers who had returned and asked, “Didn’t two people go to pick firewood? Why is only one of you here?”
“I went to pick firewood with Tian Fu just now. We met an old man halfway. He seemed to be ill and was sitting by the roadside in a daze. It was getting dark, and he looked so pathetic. When I asked the old man, he said he was from a nearby village.”
“Tian Fu carried him there. Later, when he shouted on the village road, the old man would go back by himself, which would be better than being here.”
Tao Yu responded. It was only right for strong young men to help the old and weak, especially since they were not in a hurry to travel.
“Okay, I’ll start the fire and cook here.”
Tao Yu cooked some rice and boiled hot water to wash the dried meat clean.
With fish, meat, and vegetables, he cut the fatty and lean cured meat into pieces. After salting and smoking with pine, whether stewed or stir-fried, it would have a rich flavor.
The iron pot was heated up, and as soon as the cured meat was put in, the sound of oil melting could be heard. The solidified pork became soft and transparent, and the aroma immediately came out.
The few idle farmers smelled the aroma and gathered around: “The aroma of cured meat is rarely tasted in the countryside. Today, we really have good fortune.”
Tao Yu poured chopped garlic, peppercorns, and ginger into the pot, making the aroma more layered. He also stir-fried the soaked dried vegetables until fragrant, added water to make a soup base.
“Tonight, let’s keep it simple and have a home-style stew.”
When the soup boiled, Tao Yu put the processed and marinated fish into the pot.
He brought over the washed wild vegetables piled in a small sieve and shouted, “Dinner is almost ready! Everyone put down what you’re doing!”
The aroma of the food had already whetted everyone’s appetite.
Without Tao Yu’s call, they took their bowls and chopsticks and sat around the campfire and stove.
A large pot of fish, meat, and vegetables was steaming hot. Eating such a dish on a spring night, which was still chilly with a cold wind, warmed their hearts.
“These wild vegetables were dug fresh. They can be eaten after being cooked in the soup for a while, and they are the most delicious.”
“Yes!”
Everyone stirred their chopsticks. The soup base stir-fried with cured meat was fragrant. The river fish was simmered in the rich soup, and the meat was firm and flavorful. Not a single dish was not fragrant.
“This fish is not fishy at all. Master Ji’s cooking skills are too good, no wonder Brother Huo wants to tie him to his belt.”
“We haven’t eaten such a delicious meal even during festivals at home. This trade trip is really worthwhile.”
The farmers praised the food. Tao Yu also liked to dip the tender water celery leaves into the pot and cook them.
Huo Xu gave Tao Yu a lot of dishes. He was afraid that his chopsticks would move too slowly and elegantly, and that these old men would lick the pot clean later.
Seeing him eating the hot dishes, he said, “When we get to the Northern Territory, we can eat hot pot lamb.”
“Lamb is so expensive!”
A farmer exclaimed.
“There are more cattle and sheep in the Northern Territory than in the south, so the price will be more affordable.”
The farmers’ mouths watered: “Then when we get to the Northern Territory, we must have a good meal.”
Tao Yu looked at Tian Fu, who was eating with his head down opposite him, and asked, “I heard that Brother Tian sent the sick old man home. How is the old man?”
Tian Fu was stunned. Since the last time he said that Tao Yu was not a good person, he had been silent and inconspicuous these days. He felt a bit embarrassed and avoided Tao Yu and Huo Xu.
When Tao Yu suddenly spoke to him, he felt very uncomfortable.
“I didn’t go into the village. I sent him to the village entrance and came back.”
Tian Fu held his bowl and said, “It’s strange to say, but when I reached the village entrance, I saw that there was no one farming in the fields. The farmers here finish their work quite early.”
“Perhaps they live a good life and are optimistic, so they don’t have to work in the fields day and night.”
…
The dishes in the pot were always hot. They thought they had dug too many wild vegetables and wouldn’t be able to finish them, but they turned out to be not enough.
Everyone sat around the campfire chatting. The dishes didn’t get cold. Although their stomachs were full, they couldn’t help but take a few more bites. The meal was long.
Tao Yu ate until he was a little full and felt sleepy. He walked along the riverbank twice. His body felt warm. He went back, washed his feet with hot water, and then crawled into the tent.
There was a lot of dry thatch spread on the ground in the tent. A thick mattress was spread on it, and the quilt from the carriage was brought over to cover him.
This was his first time sleeping in a tent, and he was a little curious. He crawled into the quilt. The tent blocked the wind outside, so it wasn’t cold.
However, in a moment, before he could warm the tent, a tall figure crawled in.
The tent was dark. The moon was not bright tonight, only the campfire gave some light. The person who entered had a dark face and had to bend over to get in.
“Aren’t you going to sit with everyone? Are you going to sleep so early?”
Huo Xu did not answer. He first took off his outer clothes, then lifted a corner of the quilt and crawled in.
He leaned against the warm young man, and his tense shoulders unconsciously relaxed.
“Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at by everyone?”
Huo Xu stretched out his arm and pulled the person into his arms: “I’m a little cold after being in the river.”
Tao Yu felt that this person was pretending to be pitiful. His body was as hot as a hot water bottle.
Huo Xu reached out and rubbed Tao Yu’s slightly bulging belly: “Are you full?”
“I ate vegetables, I didn’t eat much meat, so I won’t be full at night.”
Tao Yu leaned against Huo Xu’s chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. He was no longer afraid of the sound of the wind blowing against the tent outside.
“We’ll soon reach Yuchang Prefecture. I’ve heard my mother talk about the local customs and traditions before. Although the terrain there is complex and vast, and there are few people, the food is abundant. There are many fresh bamboo shoots and wild vegetables. When we camp on the road, I’ll cook for everyone in different ways every day.”
Huo Xu said lightly, “You are so good to everyone.”
“Of course, who told everyone to praise my cooking so much?”
Huo Xu raised his eyebrows: “Haven’t I praised you?”
Tao Yu hummed softly: “You didn’t praise me tonight.”
“Didn’t you also not praise my fish-catching skills?”
Tao Yu nudged Huo Xu and stopped arguing with him.
He had gotten used to sleeping early and waking up early during the journey. He passed the time with his medical skills during the day, which was quite fulfilling.
As he was feeling a little sleepy, he felt the hand rubbing his belly move up a bit. The calluses on his fingertips were rough, and they felt a bit itchy when they brushed against his body, but it was still bearable.
Tao Yu was half-asleep and half-awake, not sure if it was his hallucination or reality, so he ignored it and didn’t bother to move.
However, in a moment of carelessness, a tingling sensation like an electric shock shot through his body, and he immediately woke up.
“No!”
Tao Yu gritted his teeth, his voice a little fierce but trying his best to suppress it, and pushed the hand on his chest away: “This, this is outside!”
Huo Xu pulled the young man, who had suddenly sat up, back into his arms.
“I haven’t done anything.”
Tao Yu bit Huo Xu in shame and anger, and he was still quibbling. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t done it at home before. He knew what this implied.
“If you don’t sleep obediently, you can sleep in another tent.”
Huo Xu seemed to be intimidated by this and did not continue.
However, a part of his body seemed to speak for him.
In such a wilderness, if nothing was done, it always felt like a waste.
Tao Yu leaned against Huo Xu’s back. He could faintly hear voices outside, but they were doing this in the tent, making his face hotter than if it were roasted by the fire.
How could this person be so shameless and not blush at all? It was one thing to stay in an inn a few days ago, but now, outdoors, he was even more so…
“Can we not make any noise?”
A slightly hoarse and pleading voice sounded in his ear, making Tao Yu’s heart beat even faster.
“Hmm?”
Tao Yu had never heard Huo Xu beg so persistently for something. He felt the veins on his arm bulge. He don’t know why, but he lowy agreed.
As soon as he agreed, he immediately regretted it. Even though his voice was as small as a mosquito’s, it was still captured by the person beside him in time.
Tao Yu had no chance to regret it. His face turned red, he bit his lip tightly, and he was as nervous as if it were a wedding night again.