Chapter 38: A Distant Return

"Young Master, Li Gaoyuan and his group have finished packing everything up."

Xiao Cui’er’s distinct Beijing accent rang out from outside Yan Manxiang’s room. With a creak, the dilapidated, drafty door was pushed open by her.

"You... what is this? Do... do you want me to leave first?" Xiao Cui’er asked in a low voice, her dark, nimble eyes wide with curiosity.

She had walked in to see Yan Manxiang and Meng Yuxi sitting side-by-side on the floor, as if sharing deep secrets. Having never seen Meng Yuxi sit so close to anyone, she couldn't help but feel intrigued.

Meng Yuxi smiled slightly at Xiao Cui’er, then turned to Yan Manxiang. "Manxiang, since you have agreed and signed the papers, you are now one of my people. If anyone bullies you again, just use my name."

After saying this, Meng Yuxi winked at her. Yan Manxiang, blushing, lowered her head and whispered, "Understood, Brother Yuxi."

"That’s it, little sister. Call me that from now on."

*‘No way, no way. Meng Yuxi, are you serious? You’re going after such a scrawny little girl? What do I have that’s less than hers? Although I don’t necessarily want anything to happen! My pride is a little hurt, though.’*

Xiao Cui’er slammed the old door shut with a loud clatter and ran off, pretending she hadn't seen a thing.

"You’re crazy, Xiao Cui’er! I know you can hear me! Go to the nearby town and buy a few sets of new clothes for my sister, and get her all the supplies you girls use!"

Outside the door, Xiao Cui’er arched her brows and shook her fist. *‘All he knows how to do is order me around!’*

"You won't even pick them out for your sweetheart yourself, and you want me to do it? How insincere!"

Hearing this, Meng Yuxi jumped up from the floor and ran to the door, intending to grab Xiao Cui’er and give her a piece of his mind. But she was too quick, leaving him no chance to catch her.

"That maid would tear the roof down if I didn't discipline her every three days. Don't mind her, little sister. You’ll find that your brother is actually quite easygoing once you get to know him."

Ignoring the eccentric little maid, Meng Yuxi turned back to Yan Manxiang. "Sister, we think alike, but without ability and strength, everything is just empty talk. You should understand this from your own experiences. Now, as for what you need to do and how to do it, I believe you know, and I trust you will do it well."

Yan Manxiang stood up and nodded firmly; she was determined to use every gold leaf she possessed for the refining and production of salt.

"Also, the people of Li Village will never bother you again. Furthermore, you should not stay in Li Village anymore. I have already arranged for a clearing to be cut in the dense forest east of the village, and there are simple wooden huts there. Sister, can you endure hardship?" Meng Yuxi asked with a smile.

Yan Manxiang brushed off her dirty, tattered clothes and laughed. "Brother, besides being able to endure hardship, I have no other merits."

Meng Yuxi nodded. "If there is anyone you trust in Li Village, give me their names now. It will be too late later. Only those you truly trust."

Yan Manxiang understood. She tore off a piece of her ragged sleeve, gathered some black soot from the stove, and used her finger to scrawl several names on the fabric.

Meng Yuxi didn't ask any more questions. He believed in the principle of not doubting those you employ, and not employing those you doubt. He called out, "Zhao Hu!"

"Subordinate is here!"

"Take these names, go collect their belongings, and bring those whose families are willing to the forest. For those who are not willing, hand them over to Zhang Long to deal with. And tell them: their lives were spared by Yan Manxiang."

Meng Yuxi pulled a hundred taels of silver from his robes and handed it to Zhao Hu. "Reward those who need rewarding, intimidate those who need intimidating, and register their household information."

"Understood." Zhao Hu bowed and left.

"Sister, I live at the Meng Mansion in Su City. If you have any situation, come find me. You can follow Brother Zhao Hu to the forest in a while," Meng Yuxi said with a smile.

***

"Young Master? Didn't you tell me to go buy things? Why is Manxiang gone after I came back? And why is the entire Li Village empty?"

Xiao Cui’er, riding on horseback, followed behind Meng Yuxi, Zhang Long, and Zhao Hu as they galloped toward Su City. "Did you hand them over to the authorities?" she kept asking, her mouth never still.

Meng Yuxi didn't want the little maid to know the details of his private salt production. Even if the imperial court turned a blind eye, it was still an illegal trade, and Xiao Cui’er’s background remained unclear; knowing too much would do him no good.

Now that the situation with Yan Manxiang was settled, and since the source of production had been resolved with a better alternative, there shouldn't be any other random villagers popping up to cause trouble. Besides, having too many people meant too many loose lips.

"Zhang Long, you explain it to Xiao Cui’er."

"Yes, Young Master. The head of Li Village and his followers refused to listen to reason and stubbornly refused to surrender. They have all been thoroughly dealt with," Zhang Long replied coldly from his horse.

Xiao Cui’er was so shocked she nearly fell off her mount. That was an entire village of people! Was Meng Yuxi’s method really so ruthless? If he couldn't close the deal and didn't want to turn them over to the city, he just wiped them all out? Her face turned deathly pale.

"Haha, Zhang Long, don't make it sound so terrifying. You’re scaring Xiao Cui’er into thinking the village was massacred. Xiao Cui’er, you didn't see a single corpse, so how can you believe that? Tsk, tsk, do you have a lot of opinions about your master in your heart?"

Xiao Cui’er wanted to laugh, but her face felt stiff; she couldn't manage even a smile.

Zhao Hu laughed heartily. "This kid—it's fine to joke around with the Young Master, but don't be so formal with us. We’re too distant! We should drink together when we have time."

Xiao Cui’er laughed as well. "Fine, but you’ll have to teach me how to drink while wearing a mask!"

"You won't be able to learn that. No, wait—you could learn it, but you wouldn't want to!" Zhang Long joked.

Amidst the laughter, the group soon entered Su City. As for the whereabouts of the villagers of Li Village, the clever Xiao Cui’er didn't ask again, and neither Zhang Long nor Zhao Hu brought it up.

"Yuxi! Yuxi, my child!"

Meng Yuxi, still on horseback, heard a familiar voice and looked toward its source. Meng Hongchang was standing outside the gate of the Meng Mansion, gazing eagerly at him. The moment he caught sight of Meng Yuxi, he began waving his hand, unable to stop himself.

Seeing Meng Hongchang, Meng Yuxi jumped off his horse from a distance and hurried forward. Even though Meng Hongchang was heading to the capital, he had arranged much help for Meng Yuxi before his departure, which showed how deeply he cared. A sense of intimacy blossomed in Meng Yuxi’s heart for him.