Chapter 129: Off to Get Grandfather
Upon hearing that Liu Yun would be bringing Grandpa Ling over tonight, Jin Sui couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned in bed until midnight. Gu Changxiao, who had been pretending to sleep on the small couch, couldn’t help but say:
“If you really can’t sleep, we can go wait outside the city.”
Jin Sui sat up abruptly from the bed, nodding her head like a chick pecking at rice: “Okay, okay! Wait, I’ll go to the kitchen and get some cooked meat.”
She also took two gold ingots from her space. She had exchanged them specifically with Yan Shiyi.
When picking up children, you bring food; when picking up elders, you bring gold.
Gu Changxiao watched her busy herself with a smile. For some reason, his heart felt warm. He had never experienced this kind of care between family members.
He had many close relatives, but each one wanted him dead. Instead, it was on the road, from Daoist Ji, that he experienced what true elder’s care was like.
“Should I prepare some gifts too?” Gu Changxiao was infected by her enthusiasm.
Jin Sui smiled and said, “Whatever you like! We’re going to pick someone up, so it’s better to bring a gift.
Let me tell you, there’s a knack to bringing gifts. For women, bring flowers and desserts, and I guarantee she’ll be happy.”
Speaking of desserts, Jin Sui took out two energy bars. Unlike the rewards she usually gave Hei Hu and the others, these were whole, not cut into pieces. She had just torn off the wrapper and wrapped them in lotus leaves.
Unexpectedly, when Gu Changxiao saw the energy bars, his expression instantly froze. He asked tentatively, “This kind of brown sugar, I’ve seen Brother Ji often give it to Hei Hu and the others. Where did it come from?”
Overwhelmed by the joy of being able to pick up Grandpa and Jin An, Jin Sui didn’t think much of it and casually replied, “I made it. The raw materials are very simple, just sugar and some dried fruits and cooked powder.”
Gu Changxiao pretended to casually say, “I’ve never seen this kind of pastry anywhere else. Can only Brother Ji make it?”
Jin Sui was about to say yes, but she had taught Chen Yunniang, and an improved, simplified version was already being sold in the market.
But she inadvertently saw the look in Gu Changxiao’s eyes and had a sudden realization. This guy never dwelled on such small matters or asked too many questions, yet today he kept asking about the energy bars.
She suddenly remembered something. The last time she and Grandpa rescued Gu Changxiao from the reed marsh, they had hastily given him medicine and bandaged him simply. But when they left, she had stuffed a whole energy bar into his hand!
And he had torn off half of her sleeve.
Jin Sui’s mind raced. This person was intelligent and meticulous. Although he was unconscious at the time, he could still pull at her sleeve and must have heard the sounds.
If he recognized her or Grandpa’s voice, and then made a deduction, it was hard to guarantee he wouldn’t guess she was a woman!
Her eyes darted, and she blurted out, “How could that be! This is a common pastry-making method in the Central Plains. I saw it and taught myself in a small town near Luocheng.”
The light in Gu Changxiao’s eyes dimmed. Jin Sui deliberately asked in a teasing tone, “Brother Gu, why are you so concerned about a pastry? Did your beloved make it for you?”
Gu Changxiao chuckled, “Not a beloved, but a savior.”
“I was once saved by a woman. She left me a pastry exactly like this. If it weren’t for her, I would have died in the wilderness long ago.”
Jin Sui exclaimed, “Wow, then you must thank her properly. Didn’t you look for her to express your gratitude?”
Gu Changxiao shook his head, “It was impossible to look for her before, and later I couldn’t find her. I didn’t even see her appearance, only vaguely remembered her voice.”
He took out that half-sleeve from his embrace: “By the way, this is the token she left behind. Does Brother Ji know where this material is commonly found?”
Jin Sui: …What do you mean the token she left behind? You forcefully tore it off, okay?
“This is very ordinary linen from a peasant family. You can’t find someone with this. But Brother Gu, if you find this savior, how will you thank her?”
Jin Sui eagerly awaited his answer, feeling like she had saved a CEO and was waiting for him to write a check.
“The kindness of saving a life naturally deserves a great reward! With my current abilities, I dare not exaggerate. I can’t grant a noble title, but I can afford gold, silver, and good farmland.”
Jin Sui tentatively asked, “If it were ten thousand mu of fertile land and a thousand taels of gold, would you give it?”
“Of course!”
Jin Sui felt a pang of heartache, as if she had lost ten thousand mu of fertile land and a thousand taels of gold. If I hadn’t pretended to be Li King and found the border city with Grandpa using Ling JinSui’s identity, I could have been a rich woman!
Can I say that the one who saved him was my sister? Gu Changxiao probably wouldn’t believe it…
“Fortunately, you met me!” Jin Sui said decisively.
Gu Changxiao asked with surprise, “Will Brother Ji help me find her?”
Jin Sui nodded heavily, “I will definitely help you find her!”
Fortunately, you met me. Otherwise, you definitely would have found her. Now, you won’t.
Gu Changxiao, not having found a gift for picking someone up, followed Jin Sui’s example and got a lotus leaf chicken from the kitchen for Jin An. He then thought about taking a jade pendant from his chest pouch to give to Daoist Ji.
As soon as Jin Sui saw the jade, she knew it was extremely valuable and quickly said, “This isn’t appropriate, it’s too precious!”
Gu Changxiao smiled, “Daoist Ji saved my life. No matter how precious, it’s hard to repay such great kindness. This jade also has other uses. My secret guards recognize it. The border city is unstable. If Daoist Ji takes Xiao An and has this, it will be a form of safety assurance.”
This time, Jin Sui accepted and thanked Gu Changxiao solemnly on behalf of her grandfather.
Gu Changxiao then instructed, “Before the Imperial Court’s reward edict arrives, Daoist Ji and Xiao An must absolutely keep the secret of their identities.”
Jin Sui guaranteed, “Don’t worry, they definitely won’t let it slip.”
They traveled with you for a long time, and they didn’t tell you I was a woman. This ability to keep secrets is reliable.
Since they had fish oil, although most of it was used in making firearms, a small portion was still used for lighting, especially with the reconstruction of the border city, where they often had to work overtime late into the night.
Because Li King offered high wages, working overtime late into the night also came with overtime pay and a midnight snack with meat. The workers were very willing to work overtime.
After all, in the past, when they worked for the powerful people, they ate plain broth and watery meals, received little pay, and were beaten if they were slow.
Serving corvée labor for the government required them to bring their own food, and they often worked day and night, with death from exhaustion being common.
Therefore, the new border city lord had street lamps hung high every ten meters. One didn’t need to carry torches or lanterns when going out.
Gu Changxiao carried the food, and Jin Sui held two new cloaks. They didn’t bring anyone else and walked leisurely towards the outskirts of the city under the orange street lamps.
Occasionally, when they encountered patrolling soldiers or passed by construction sites, Jin Sui would wave in greeting. She also taught Gu Changxiao:
“I’ve done a great job with Li King’s persona in the border city – approachable, treating soldiers like brothers. You must do the same in the future.”
Gu Changxiao chuckled and asked, “Then should I also be arrogant towards the gentry, disrespectful to imperial officials, and decisive in killing enemies? Should I learn that too?”
“Of course! The persona cannot collapse.”
Gu Changxiao nodded heavily, “Thank you, Brother Ji, for your guidance! I will never let Li King’s persona collapse.”
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Jin Sui sighed in her heart, if this person didn’t carry so much on his shoulders, working for such a boss would be quite good.
And Gu Changxiao thought, if he could keep Brother Ji by his side, how much joy would his life gain!
Since his birth, he had never met anyone as vibrant, intelligent, carefree, and bold as Ji Sui.
As they passed a street lamp, Jin Sui heard a faint clicking sound. She threw her cloak into Gu Changxiao’s arms, rolled up her sleeves, and stepped forward to open the switch panel of the street lamp.
While repairing the gears of the pulley, she said to Gu Changxiao as she worked, “In the future, education in the border city should not only emphasize humanities but also science.
Look at the Black Feather Camp. They can force themselves to study the Thirty-Six Stratagems and understand them, but when it comes to physics, I’ve explained myself hoarse, and they can’t even install a simple pulley. A street lamp breaks every few days, and only a few people there know how to fix it.”
“Science?”
“That is, investigation of things, mathematics, chemistry, and so on.”
“Brother Ji knows so much. At your age, to have mastered so many subjects, you are truly a genius!”
Jin Sui was immune to this kind of probing and directly blamed the biggest scapegoat: “I come from a Taoist sect! Our Taoist sect has a spirit of research and needs to understand a little bit of everything.”
“You missed one thing. My medical skills are also extremely brilliant.”
After speaking, she pointed to a construction site where a huge pulley was operating: “Look, in our border city, investigation of things is much more useful than the Four Books and Five Classics!”
“Just this pulley moving heavy objects saves so much manpower.”
Gu Changxiao pondered, “Brother Ji is right. In the future, when I recruit talent for the border city, I will also emphasize talent in science.”
As far as Jin Sui knew, science was not highly valued in this era. In Chang’an, even if you were a mathematical genius with excellent mental calculation skills, at most you could be a minor official or clerk in the Ministry of Revenue or Ministry of Works, and it would be difficult to get promoted.
Someone who could be an architectural master in later generations would only be a minor official in the Ministry of Works in this era.
She said mysteriously, “If we could bring in people from the Mohist school, our border city would develop even faster! By the way, don’t overlook the civilian fireworks makers either. They are all talents for improving firearms!”
As she spoke, she finished repairing the street lamp, which no longer flickered or made strange noises.
She clapped her hands, “Done! How about that, your Prince is a jack-of-all-trades!”
Gu Changxiao chuckled, “Your Highness is a rare genius in this world!”
Jin Sui chuckled twice, “Lord Gu speaks the truth!”
Gu Changxiao’s gaze fell on her face: “Don’t move.”
Jin Sui touched her face: “What’s wrong?”
Gu Changxiao’s smile deepened: “I told you not to move, but you’re smearing it more by touching it.”
It turned out that some oil ash from the street lamp had gotten on her face, and she hadn’t even noticed.
Gu Changxiao placed all the items in his left hand, took out a handkerchief with his right, and gently wiped her face.
The early autumn night wind suddenly picked up, bringing a chill. But at this moment, under this street lamp, it was as bright and warm as spring.
The stray hairs on Jin Sui’s forehead brushed against Gu Changxiao’s fingertips, and the flying hair tie wound around his arm.
He could have wiped it clean in a few strokes, but he was reluctant to let go. Through the thin handkerchief, he used his fingers to feel the warmth of her skin.
The scene of Daoist Ji sleeping on his shoulder that night kept replaying in his mind. His fingers had also gently caressed his cheek like this.
Jin Sui followed the movement of his handkerchief with her neck, her gaze shifting upwards to Gu Changxiao’s face. The alternating light and shadow cast overlapping shadows on his face.
His phoenix eyes, with slightly upturned corners, sparkled with a clarity like a deep spring. When he looked at you seriously, it made one believe it was deep affection.
His gaze clearly held no other desire, yet Jin Sui felt inexplicably nervous. Just being looked at like this made her heart race.
This is wrong! This feeling is very wrong!
She snatched the handkerchief, wiped her face haphazardly a few times, and threw it back into Gu Changxiao’s arms. She took back her cloak and walked ahead first.
“Hurry up, don’t let Grandpa wait.”
Gu Changxiao stood frozen, holding the soiled handkerchief, the corners of his mouth curved upwards, and his eyes and brows filled with smiles.
Daoist Ji, are you shy?
Upon seeing the lights of the border city, Liu Yun lifted the carriage curtain and said to the inside, “Prepare yourselves, we’re almost there.”
Jin An, who had been dozing, woke up instantly. He opened the window and saw that at the end of the road was a light like a brilliant galaxy.
Jin An was admiring the scenery, but Grandpa Ling became flustered: “What, what is this? Could it be that the Tartars have come again?”
During his time with the Imperial Commissioner Group on the outskirts of Yanzhou City, he had heard many legends of Tartars attacking the city. The most common story among the common people was that Li King, in his rage, had burned the city, incinerating thousands of Tartars in the border city.
There were also stories that Li King could summon heavenly lightning to burn enemies, and the fires were accompanied by thunder.
In any case, no matter which version, it was related to fire. This made Grandpa Ling remember it vividly. Seeing the distant specks of light, he immediately panicked.
The soldier driving the carriage quickly smiled and said, “Daoist, don’t panic. It’s not the Tartars attacking the city. This is our border city’s unique lamp oil. For the construction of the new city, we’ve been working day and night, so this light will only shine for one night.”
Grandpa Ling stroked his beard and leaned out to look closely, unable to help but praise, “How much lamp oil must this take! Your Prince is truly generous.”
He couldn’t figure out whether the current Prince was Gu Changxiao or his own audacious granddaughter, so he spoke vaguely.
Liu Yun understood and remembered that he hadn’t briefed the Daoist yet. He got up and entered the carriage. Under their surprised gazes, he said in a low voice:
“Whether it’s the Prince or Daoist Ji, this matter must be kept from everyone. Don’t say the wrong thing.”
Jin An asked confusedly, “Didn’t Brother Gu come?”
Liu Yun shook his head, “He did. Due to some matters, their identities haven’t been switched back yet. In short, don’t let it slip.”
“Then, what should I call my brother?”
Liu Yun looked at him as if he were an idiot and said, “Call him Prince!”
He added, “When we reach the border city, you can play with Hei Hu. You two will definitely become good friends.”
Jin An said happily, “Hei Hu, the name sounds powerful. Is he a general?”
Liu Yun added, “You can also become friends with Young Master Yan Shiyi.”
Jin An immediately looked forward to life in the border city, unaware that Liu Yun had labeled him a fool.
Grandpa Ling was very calm: “Don’t worry, this old Daoist won’t make a mistake. What about Young Master Gu now?”
“He is the Prince’s old guard.”
As they were speaking, the carriage stopped, and the soldier driving called out loudly, “Your Highness!”
Grandpa Ling quickly pulled aside the curtain and saw the girl he had been thinking of day and night, standing by the roadside with teary eyes.
At that moment, Grandpa Ling’s old tears flowed. The journey of these past few months had been more eventful than ten years of wandering the Jianghu in his youth!
First, he was captured by bandits when he went out alone, then he traveled with his granddaughter to find his grandson. After finally finding his grandson, his granddaughter was lost again.
He leaned on the door frame, and the word “Sui Sui” almost escaped his lips. He opened his mouth and called out, “Your Highness.”
Jin Sui rushed forward to help him out of the carriage, but without any regard, she called out, “Grandpa!”
Grandpa Ling nervously looked around. Seeing that the coachman had already walked away, and that Young Master Gu and Liu Yun knew the inside story.
He no longer held back, stroking his granddaughter’s head, and said emotionally, “Good Sui Sui, you’ve suffered! Why have you lost so much weight? And you’ve gotten so dark.”
Jin Sui’s tears flowed endlessly: “Grandpa has also lost weight, and his hair is even thinner.”
Jin An jumped down from the carriage and threw himself into Jin Sui’s arms: “Brother!”
Liu Yun behind him coughed lightly. Jin An remembered his instructions and shouted again loudly, “Prince Brother!”
Liu Yun: …
Daoist Ji is so intelligent, I didn’t expect her brother to be such a fool.
