An Unexpected Acquaintance

Seeing that his daughter-in-law had stopped fussing, Lü Zhuangyuan turned to look at his youngest son, who was trailing listlessly at the back of the wagon, his face pale and spirit broken.

“Xi Wazi, what’s wrong? Didn’t scare you, did it?”

Lü Xiucai forced a weak smile, his head drooping like a hen with a terrible sickness.

“Don’t be afraid. Those lousy soldiers are nothing—just paper tigers. If they were really capable, would they be robbing folks instead of fighting on the front lines?”

Despite Lü Zhuangyuan’s dry attempts at comfort, Lü Xiucai’s expression didn’t improve a bit. The memory of those pillaging soldiers was still vivid in his mind, the blades pressed against his own neck.

“Dad… why are we leaving the pass? Weren’t we supposed to go home first?”

Lü Zhuangyuan lit his tobacco pipe, taking slow, deliberate puffs. The white smoke veiled his eyes.

“I reckon this ain’t just some ordinary soldier trouble. The world’s about to fall into chaos. So our family’s going to lie low for a while.”

“Dad, if the Emperor lost the war… does that mean we’re going to be slaves to a foreign nation?”

A sharp crack from the pipe struck Lü Xiucai on the head, sparks flying from the blow.

“What the hell does who sits on the throne have to do with us? Is that any of your damn business?”

Seeing Lü Xiucai holding his head in委屈, Lü Zhuangyuan let out a soft sigh and forced himself to speak calmly.

“With this many defeated soldiers flooding the roads, it’s almost certainly a change of dynasty. Behind the soldiers comes greater chaos. So we’re going to get out of the way, lie low for a bit.”

“So what if the money got stolen? As long as we’re all alive, that’s what matters. So long as you’re alive, you can go anywhere.”

“Bu-but I’ve never been to Siqi before, Dad… I’m kind of scared…”

Seeing his youngest son’s pathetic state, Lü Zhuangyuan’s anger flared up again.

“Scared of what? Do the people in Siqi have two eyes and a nose, or did they sprout extras? It’s not much different from home—just a few more rivers and lakes, that’s all.”

At this, Lü Juren, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. “Dad, we don’t know this place either. I honestly think it’d be better to stay in the old hometown. Maybe it’s not as bad as you say.”

“You think a soldier rebellion is a joke? Not as bad? Your dad’s eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. Do you think I’d be wrong?”

He paused, then explained more gently to his son. “Relax. Your old man already has it figured out. Earlier, when the little Daoist was looking at his map, I snuck a few glances. They’re heading for Liang. It’s a long road. All we have to do is follow him. We’ll be as safe as can be beside him.”

“Wherever he goes, we go. He travels his road, we perform our plays. Nobody’s in anyone’s way.”

“Once the Emperor’s changed and the soldiers and locusts have passed, we’ll come back. See? Nice and easy, isn’t it?”

“Will he even let us follow, though? We’re strangers to him.” Lü Juren’s face showed some hesitation.

“Ah—see, that’s where that jar of salted duck eggs comes in!”

Lü Zhuangyuan’s face swelled with pride. “Remember what the little Daoist said when we were leaving the pass? ‘We’ll meet again—if fate allows it.’”

“Whether he meant it or it was just a polite dismissal doesn’t matter. He said it. When the time comes, we just lower our heads, you boys play up the pity, and with the debt of that jar of duck eggs… could he really have the heart to kick us out?”

Seeing the look of understanding dawn on his son’s faces, Lü Zhuangyuan’s smugness grew. “Heh heh. Old ginger’s still the spiciest. You lot learn from me.”

“Dad’s right. We’re opera folk—we can sing anywhere. Maybe people in other places will like our plays even more. We might even earn more money.”

With Lü Zhuangyuan laying out the full plan, the Lü Family Troupe’s mood lifted slightly. They began to chatter about their bright prospects.

As the wagons rolled on, they noticed several black balls rolling along the road ahead.

When they drew closer, Lü Zhuangyuan saw they were over a dozen fat nuns, walking alongside their own wagons.

There were six wagons in all, their wheel ruts cutting deep into the dirt. They seemed to be hauling something very heavy.

“These nuns stink so bad, Dad. Can we go faster?” Luo Juan frowned, pulling out a handkerchief to cover her daughter’s nose.

“What nonsense are you talking? Don’t you see all these Siqi locals are following them? Then we follow them too.” Lü Zhuangyuan nodded toward the other travelers walking beside the nuns.

Years of experience told him that if the people of Siqi could endure the stench and still choose to travel with these nuns, there had to be a reason.

“But… it’s just so foul…” Luo Juan muttered under her breath.

They kept pace with the nuns for less than an hour before Lü Zhuangyuan saw them stop and begin wolfing down dry rations.

Seeing others eat, the Lü family ate too. Honestly, after spending this much time near the nuns, the smell had become bearable.

As he ate, Lü Zhuangyuan suddenly stood up and, with some agitation, walked over toward the other travelers.

Among them was a man in a black gauze hat. He seemed to have trouble with his legs, propped against an old horse as he ate.

When Lü Zhuangyuan approached, the man clearly recognized him. “Troupe Leader Lü? What are you doing here?”

Hearing that familiar voice, Lü Zhuangyuan’s eyes lit up. “Aiyo! It’s you! You’re the little Daoist’s…”

Before he could finish, the man removed his black gauze hat, revealing Zhao Wu’s utterly ordinary face.

Meeting an old acquaintance in a strange land—neither of them could help but smile warmly at this unexpected reunion.

After exchanging stories, when Lü Zhuangyuan learned that Zhao Wu was heading to find Li Huowang, his face split into a grin.

“With your leg like that, traveling alone—it’s too dangerous. I’ll take you to him. Lucky for you, I’m heading the same way.”

Deliver this man to the little Daoist, and the little Daoist would owe him a favor. If he tried to refuse the Lü family’s company after that, he wouldn’t be able to get the words out.

Besides, this man was the little Daoist’s junior brother—he probably had some special powers too. A new bodyguard for the road.

Lü Zhuangyuan helped Zhao Wu over to the Lü Family Troupe with great enthusiasm, introducing him to everyone. He even kicked his daughter-in-law off the wagon so Zhao Wu could sit.

As they chatted warmly, a sudden question cut through the harmony.

“Zhao Wu-lang, I heard you went home? What made you come back out?”

Lü Xiucai’s innocent question wiped the smile off Zhao Wu’s face.

A strong emotion seemed ready to break through, but in front of strangers, he managed to suppress it. “Nothing. Just… something came up at home.”

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Lü Zhuangyuan immediately raised his pipe and brought it down on his youngest son’s head.

“Who told you to shoot your mouth off! I’ve taught you for years, and it’s all gone to the dogs, hasn’t it? Calling him Zhao Wu-lang? Is that how you address him? No manners at all! It’s ‘Master Zhao’!”

Seeing Lü Xiucai’s eyes well up from the blow, Zhao Wu quickly intervened with an awkward attempt to mediate. “Troupe Leader Lü, there’s really no need for that. ‘Zhao Wu-lang’ is fine.”

As he reached out to stop the beating, a gust of wind swept through, stinging everyone’s eyes.

When they opened them again, everyone froze. The curtain on one of the fat nuns’ wagons had been blown up, revealing a pale expanse inside.

Lü Zhuangyuan’s eyes went wide. “My god… That’s a lot of silver!”