Chapter 9: Searching for Money
Gao Feng nodded slightly, seemingly uncertain about whether to trust her, but he couldn’t help but take another glance at the crossbow in her hands.
Noticing that she had hidden it from view, he chose to look away tactfully and commented, “The lady is quite kind-hearted. Those two really deserved their fate.”
“Since they are no longer alive, may I take half of what they have with them?” Gu Yundong wasn’t opposed to the idea of taking possessions from the deceased, a sentiment that was quite common in this world.
Gao Feng expressed his distaste, “I have no need for it. The lady can take whatever she wants.”
Gu Yundong had meant to ask if he, this Mister Gao, wasn’t in need of money.
With his agreement, Gu Yundong squatted down and rummaged through the money pouches on the two bodies.
Gao Feng turned and went back inside his house, while Gu Yundong, with fluid movements, continued to search the clothing of the deceased as if what she was doing was the most natural thing in the world.
Their possessions were substantial: five taels of silver, a jade pendant, a couple of daggers, and three small packets of a drug that induces sweating.
Gu Yundong only took the silver and the jade pendant. After a moment’s contemplation, she decided to also take the packets of sweat-inducing drugs with her.
Just as she was about to leave, Gao Feng reappeared, holding a cloth bag in his hands.
“I appreciate your assistance today. Here are some steamed buns for you, please take them,” he said.
Gu Yundong was momentarily taken aback before looking up at him with a sense of surprise.
She gratefully accepted the bag and said, “I’m touched by this, but truthfully, with your abilities, sir, you’d have been more than capable of dealing with them on your own even if I hadn’t turned up.”
A twitch of amusement played at the corner of Gao Feng’s mouth. “If you hadn’t been collecting their things so adeptly, I might find your words more convincing.”
“Could you please close the courtyard gate on your way out?”
“Of course.” Gu Yundong gathered her takings and turned to depart.
She didn’t inquire about what to do with the two bodies left behind and didn’t even exchange names with Gao Feng. It was merely a fleeting encounter on her journey, one not likely to be repeated.
Once back at her small courtyard, Gu Yundong noted that the steamed buns and pancakes in the cloth bag were already cold. They could be reheated tomorrow and would provide an additional meal for her and others.
The three people asleep in the bed were huddled together for warmth.
Gu Yundong frowned; the substantial temperature drop between day and night was a challenge. Days were hot, but the nights could become chilly by more than ten degrees, and they only had one thin quilt, which wasn’t even long enough to cover Yang’s feet. Despite layering all available clothing on top, it was clear they were still cold, evident by their shivering in their sleep.
She almost took a quilt from her personal storage—but froze, remembering someone was next door, and decided to exercise caution instead.
She opted for lighting a fire with the ample dry firewood stacked against the courtyard wall.
With the flames coming to life, the room’s temperature began to rise rapidly.
The warmth released from the fire allowed the three people in the bed to relax and continue sleeping, cozy and undisturbed.
Yet Gu Yundong remained vigilant, her senses alert. It hadn’t been more than half an hour before she heard a noise outside the door.
She stood swiftly, stepping up onto a sauce jar to peer out.
A carriage was approaching, and in the yard next door, Gao Feng was helping a boy into it.
He noticed Gu Yundong observing, looked up, and nodded to her, saying, “I hope I didn’t disturb the lady.”
“Are you leaving?” she asked.
“Yes.” With that brief reply, Gao Feng got into the carriage as well, flicked the reins, and the vehicle began to rumble away into the night, gradually disappearing under the moonlight.
Once she could no longer see the carriage, Gu Yundong climbed down from the jar.
She sat inside her home for another quarter of an hour before moving over to the bed and gently lifting the sleeping little girl, Gu Yunke, into her arms.
