Chapter 125: Official Slave

Chapter 125: Official Slave

The tamed female camel looked in the direction Sui Yu had run and hurried to pick up the dropped bean stalks from the lactating camel. The frenzied male camel charged towards where it was.

Sui Yu circled around to the back of the camels, drew her bowstring, and released an arrow. Having not shot an arrow for a long time, her aim was off, and the arrow landed in a sand dune. She took a deep breath, calming her racing heart, and pulled out a second arrow, aiming at a spot five steps away. Wooden and iron arrows flew back and forth as she retrieved them, practicing her feel on the spot.

The pursuing male camel mounted the female camel, and Sui Yu quietly approached, circling east to get to their side front. She drew an iron arrow, placed it on the bow, pulled the leather string, and aimed at the male camel's neck.

The sun's rays reflected off the iron arrowhead, blindingly bright. Sui Yu adjusted her angle repeatedly, took a deep breath to steady herself, held her arm still, and aimed before releasing the arrow.

The arrow pierced the camel's flesh, causing it to cry out in pain, but it didn't flee.

Sui Yu lowered her bow. With an arrow in its neck, unless the camel had two lives, it couldn't escape. She walked further away, climbed a sand dune, and watched the two camels from a distance. Blood trickled down, staining the yellow sand. The female camel... yes, the female camel!

Sui Yu anxiously scanned the area. The lactating female camel dragged her calf southward. She abandoned watching the amorous male camel and chased after the other pair.

The young calf moved slowly, and once it fell, getting back up would take considerable effort. The mother camel, despite her urgency, could only nudge it with her head. Smelling the blood in the wind and hearing the distant hunters, it watched Sui Yu approach.

The wounded male camel collapsed. Sui Yu and the lactating female camel turned to look. Sui Yu continued forward, while the female camel stared at her, suddenly motionless.

The calf moved under the mother's belly to feed, and the mother bent down to lick the salt brick.

Sui Yu, panting, approached and offered two pieces of bean cake to bribe the sensible camel, saying, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. You've seen the other tamed camels; they follow people and get good food, never wanting to leave."

The female camel ate the two pieces of bean cake and stood still, feeding her calf.

Sui Yu waited by the side until the sandy calf finished eating. She then offered another piece of bean cake, extending her hand a few steps away, saying, "Do you want some? Follow me."

The mother camel moved her hooves, and the calf wobbled behind her.

Sui Yu led them back, walking a few dozen feet, breaking half a bean cake and throwing it for them to eat. Using two pieces of bean cake, she guided the pair to another sand dune.

The mother camel knelt down to rest, and the calf curled up beside her, looking at Sui Yu with clear, large eyes.

Sui Yu went to retrieve the water pouches and dry rations left by the men, observing the fallen male camels from a distance. Their legs were tangled, and the ropes around their necks and legs were intertwined. She couldn't understand how one camel had managed to bite through the ropes and escape.

Ensuring the four camels wouldn't escape again, Sui Yu took a water pouch and a chipped bowl, which she used to give the camels water. She poured half a bowl near the female camel. Hearing the water, the camel got up, drank it all, and looked at Sui Yu again.

Sui Yu refilled the bowl, whistling to her own camel and pouring another bowl for the tired camel.

After drinking, both camels lay down to rest. Sui Yu climbed a sand dune and looked far into the west, where smoke billowed—indicating the men were returning with the camel herd.

Camels were generally docile, and the aggressive males had been captured. Other camels, when cut off and intimidated, would submit if given some treats.

As the sun rose overhead, the men arrived at the sand dune where Sui Yu stood, returning with a full herd. They were exhilarated, but their excitement faded upon smelling the strong scent of blood.

"What happened?" Zhao Xiping asked.

Sui Yu pointed at the fallen dead camel, saying, "Someone identify this camel. It somehow bit through the ropes and escaped. If not for my camel, I might not have escaped."

"Impossible," Wan Xingshan immediately responded. "Everyone I brought is experienced. There's no way they could have failed tying the camels."

"Go see for yourself. Apart from shooting the camel, I didn't touch anything else." Sui Yu looked at the group below, saying, "I'm curious who had ill intentions, leaving me with a frenzied wild camel when everyone else left."

"It can't be," Old Wan interjected. "We have no grudges or enmity. There's no reason for anyone to do that."

Wan Xingshan personally checked the ropes. The camel had indeed bitten through them, leaving a circle of abrasions on its neck. The knots hadn't broken, suggesting the tying method allowed the camel some movement.

"Intentional harm is unlikely, but the technique was flawed," Wan Xingshan admitted, pointing to the herd. "On the way, I discussed with Zhao Qianhu. Apart from the lactating camel for you, he can choose another. The male camel's escape was due to my oversight. Thus, the camel you killed belongs to you, and you can choose another."

With the camel dead and difficult to move, Sui Yu declined. She pointed to two young, strong wild camels in the herd, saying, "I'll take these two. You have more people, so moving them will be easier. The dead camel is yours."

This way, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping could divide five camels. Wan Xingshan, though pained, reluctantly agreed.

They dismembered the dead camel, removing its legs, head, and entrails. Wan Xingshan and his men carried the meat, tying it to a camel's back.

Sui Yu walked over and used a wooden arrow to lift the intestines, asking, "You don't want these?"

Old Wan waved his hand; without containers, they had to discard the entrails.

Sui Yu wrapped the intestines and liver in an old cloth and handed them to Zhao Xiping, whispering, "It's not too hot yet. By the time we reach Yumen Pass, they shouldn't be spoiled. We can cook them and bring them home."

Zhao Xiping complied, and as the group prepared to leave, he helped her onto a camel, praising her, "Your archery is impressive."

Sui Yu felt a bit guilty, having grown rusty.

The newborn calf was also placed on a camel's back, and Sui Yu held it, with the mother camel following closely behind.

Some men led the herd ahead, while the others untied the ropes from the camels' legs, looping them around the males' necks. Each person held a rope, leading the four camels southward.

As night fell, the travelers continued, driving the herd through the dark.

Without rest, at dawn, Old Wan distributed salt bricks and bean cakes to the camels, sparing a water pouch. Each camel licked a few sips, maintaining a state of neither fullness nor hunger.

The calf fed, and Sui Yu dozed on the camel's hump.

On the road again, Sui Yu held the calf, leading the lactating female camel, occasionally napping. Zhao Xiping rode alongside, watching to prevent her from falling.

Old Wan and Wan Xingshan whispered for a moment, slowing their pace. When Zhao Xiping caught up, Old Wan scratched his head and said softly, "Qianhu, I'm sorry."

Though unspoken, all three understood the reason for the apology. Zhao Xiping remained silent, his face stern.

"I'll keep a tighter rein on them. They're just a bunch of lowlifes who deal with livestock. Don't take it personally, Qianhu," Wan Xingshan added.

"These people are now known to me. They should not appear at Sui Yu's shop anymore," Zhao Xiping said. "Uncle Wan, please take care. If you can't control them, I'll find someone to help."

Wan Xingshan nodded, bowing in apology.

Sui Yu heard this but kept her eyes closed. After the Wan family left, she pretended to continue sleeping. On the journey to exile, she had learned some men were worse than beasts. Her experience in the brothel reinforced this. Zhao Xiping's good character was her luck, but not everyone was like him. Once she started selling on the street, she had mentally prepared herself for such behavior.

Previously, Sui Hu protected her; now Zhao Xiping protects her. Sui Yu let out a silent sigh, feeling a mix of bitterness and warmth.

After another day and night of trekking through the desert, both people and camels were exhausted. Always half-starved, they would feed a little when hunger became unbearable, and the wild camels gradually got used to this pattern as their resistance was repeatedly thwarted.

Upon reaching a stream winding through the desert, both people and camels rushed down to drink. After drinking their fill, they filled their water skins. Some went to watch over the camel herd and forage for food.

Sui Yu walked to the stream to wash camel intestines. A young camel came and lay down beside her, having stayed in her arms for two days and nights, showing great dependence on her.

"Zhao Qianhu, we're about to leave. Are you traveling with us or resting a bit longer?" Old Wan asked.

Zhao Xiping got up to select some camels, saying, "You go ahead; we'll rest a bit longer."

"Alright." This was exactly what Old Wan wanted. Since there was tension, it was better to part ways.

Three strong female camels were separated from the herd, while Wan Xingshan and his group led the rest forward.

The three camels called out as the herd left. Zhao Xiping took out a handful of beans to feed them, telling Sui Yu, "We should be going too."

Sui Yu agreed. She rinsed her blood-stained clothes in the water, scooped up the organs, and continued on their journey.

The young camel lay on the back of a larger one. Its mother, perhaps accustomed to it, no longer watched it closely. The mother camel walked alongside the other three.

After a day's travel, the walls of Yumen Pass came into view. Outside the city were scattered villages. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping sought lodging, buying two bundles of bean stalks and a basin of radishes for the six large camels. This was the first time the four wild camels had such a good meal.

The next day, before leaving, Zhao Xiping bought another basin of radishes from a farmer. With these radishes, the four wild camels no longer resisted and obediently followed the couple back to Dunhuang.

When they left Dunhuang, the Lantern Festival had not yet passed; upon returning, it was late February. The city was bustling with merchants and travelers, and the sounds of vendors filled the air. On their way home with the camels, a merchant caravan stopped them, wanting to buy the camels. Sui Yu refused without hesitation.

Arriving home, Zhao Xiping found the door locked from the inside. He knocked and called, "Xiaomi, come open the door."

The door opened, but a stranger stood there. Zhao Xiping stepped back, looking around. It was indeed his house.

"Whose house is this?" Sui Yu asked.

The woman who opened the door spoke hesitantly, "This is Zhao Qianhu's home. May I ask if you are the master and mistress?"

Zhao Xiping and Sui Yu exchanged a glance, deciding to enter first. Inside, they discovered three new servants: a woman and her two sons.

"We were sent here by Captain Qu. We are official slaves, previously working at the ranch. We hope the Qianhu and his wife will allow us to serve in your household," Yin Po explained, pointing to her sons. "In spring, they can help manage the crops in the fields, and I can work in the fields too."

Sui Yu suddenly had an idea, asking, "Can we buy and sell slaves? There are official slaves and private slaves?"

Yin Po nodded, explaining, "Official slaves' contracts are held by the government, while private slaves' contracts belong to their masters."

Sui Yu felt elated. If she planned to form a women's trading caravan, she could buy female slaves, achieving two goals at once.