Chapter 219: Abandoned Outside the Pass

Chapter 219: Abandoned Outside the Pass

The naan bread of Kuqa was crispy and fragrant, with lamb stuffed inside. The lamb, minced and seasoned with pepper, was wrapped in dough and cooked until the flavors of the lamb and pepper were completely locked inside the crispy crust. When broken open, the rich, mouthwatering aroma of the lamb immediately filled the air, tempting the taste buds.

This was the most authentic lamb Sui Yu had ever tasted. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the lush grazing grass in Kuqa that made their lamb fresh and non-gamy, or if the difference in sheep breeds inside and outside the pass made the lamb of Dunhuang less tender than that of Kuqa. Perhaps it was the difference in cooking techniques?

"If the journey weren’t so long, I’d want to buy dozens of sheep and drive them back," Song Xian said.

Sui Yu nodded, still chewing the naan. The distance wasn’t the issue; the problem was the sandy terrain. From Loulan to Jade Gate Pass, there was almost no vegetation, and bringing a flock of sheep along would likely cause them to starve on the way.

After eating a naan larger than her face and finishing a bowl of vegetable soup, Sui Yu felt full. Noticing another stack of lamb-stuffed naan in the clay pot, she spoke to the male servant with a big appetite, "If you're still hungry, keep eating. Don’t save any. These won’t taste as good by the next meal if we don’t finish them today."

"Being full is enough. They taste good even when cold," Gan Da said, not being picky.

Sui Yu smiled and said, "These aren’t costly. I can afford to let you all eat your fill without worry. I’m not sure if we’ll find the same quality elsewhere once we leave Kuqa. For the next few days, I’ll buy a fresh batch of naan for every meal. Let’s enjoy ourselves thoroughly; otherwise, it wouldn’t justify the hardship of the journey."

"What hardship? It’s just a longer walk," Zhang Shun reached for another baked naan and said, "Since joining our master, we haven’t suffered."

The speaker had a purpose, and the listener was attentive.

As the naan supply dwindled, Sui Yu and Song Xian packed up to head into the city to look for a caravan. Before they could leave, they heard the tinkling of camel bells. A caravan was approaching.

Sui Yu and Song Xian exchanged glances, set down their packs, and walked out. This time, three small caravans were traveling together. These caravans traveled out of the pass every early spring and returned in early autumn, stopping in Dunhuang for a few days to sell their goods before heading back inside the pass.

Sui Yu greeted them, and upon learning her identity, the caravan people were quite shocked.

"Jade Merchant? I’ve heard of you. The guest house north of the city is yours?" an elderly merchant asked, sizing her up. "Your husband is the thousand-household officer of Dunhuang, right? Why are you traveling for trade?"

"To earn a bit more money," Sui Yu said half-truthfully.

The merchant chuckled and ceased prying, instead asking, "How many days have you been here?"

"Five or six days."

"Oh."

Sui Yu thought for a moment and asked, "Where are you heading next? Can we travel together with you?"

"We’re heading back inside the pass," the merchant said, surprised. "It’s almost May. Aren’t you planning to return? We need to enter the pass before August and leave the Northwest before it snows at Hongchiling."

Sui Yu planned to return before September. Having gone through so much trouble to get here, she wanted to visit one or two more places.

"The thing is, it’s our first time in Kuqa, and we’re afraid of being cheated. Can we follow you when you go to purchase goods in the next few days? We won’t interfere or ask too many questions," Sui Yu got straight to the point.

At this moment, a man busy unloading goods walked over. He introduced himself as a man from Sishui County and said that he planned to settle in Dunhuang next year for convenience while traveling out of the border. However, he didn’t have a place to live.

Sui Yu understood his intention. This man wanted to buy a civilian house in Dunhuang, but houses and land in Dunhuang were government-owned. Each person was allocated a house to live in but couldn’t sell it. Unless locals bought wasteland and built houses with their own money, no one would spend extra money to buy land and build houses unless the government-assigned houses were insufficient.

"I don’t know if you’ve stayed at my guest house before? Haven’t stayed? Oh, you can go to the Long Return Inn north of the city when you return this year. One guest room comes with a large storage area and a livestock pen. It’s only one qian per night, and someone will take care of the camels for you—letting them out to graze during the day and driving them back into the pen at night. If you want to buy a house for convenience in storing goods and accommodating people, you can rent a room from me for 300 qian a year. That room won’t be rented out to others. No one will touch your goods in the storage area, and someone will guard them when you’re not around, so there won’t be any theft," Sui Yu explained slowly.

"This is more cost-effective than buying a small courtyard in some village. At my guest house, there’s food and drink available. No matter when you return, you can buy a bowl of hot soup cakes for just ten copper coins, without needing to light a fire, boil water, and cook yourself."

"I understand. You want to use Officer Zhao’s name to buy a house in Dunhuang. If you plan to settle in Dunhuang permanently, buying a house would indeed be more economical, and I’d be willing to help. But if you’re only staying for a few years and leaving after that, buying a house means you’ll have to buy furniture. If you don’t return for a long time, the house will accumulate dust, and it would take two days of cleaning to make it livable again. It’s really not worth it."

"I want to bring my wife and children to live here for a few years. I still want to buy a small courtyard," Hua Sui Chun found an opportunity to interject.

Bringing his wife and children? Sui Yu hesitated for a moment but still didn’t want to lose the deal. She asked, "Once your wife and children come, will you stay with them, or will you continue to travel out of the pass?"

"Gotta make money. If I don’t travel out of the pass, what else can I do?" Hua Sui Chun said with a smile.

"I suggest you rent my guest house. People in the village can be somewhat xenophobic. Everyone there works the land for a living, and if your wife and children don't work but still live comfortably, just imagine what might happen." Sui Yu said.

Hua Suiyun looked deep in thought.

"My guest house is always occupied. Besides the hired help and servants, there are cats and dogs. Oh, and my family lives there too," Sui Yu added. "It won't be too quiet, nor too lively."

"No need to rush this decision. Think it over," the elder merchant interrupted their conversation. He spoke to Sui Yu, "Well, since you're such an enthusiastic person and have already spent much effort explaining, it's possible Hua here might need your assistance in the future. Bring him into the city with us tomorrow."

"Alright," Sui Yu smiled.

Song Xian also smiled. Sui Yu really had the nerve to strike up conversations and get close to people; she was somewhat impressed.

"We won't disturb you unloading your goods anymore." Having achieved her goal, Sui Yu took her leave. She told the merchant, "I know a place that makes especially delicious baked nang. I'll bring you a batch tonight, so you don't need to prepare any dry rations."

The merchant nodded, and once Sui Yu returned to her room, he also turned and went inside.

Sui Yu and Song Xian left Ah Gu Lane with light steps. This time, Sui Yu had brought five male servants, all of whom she had requested from Officer Hu.

After a tour around the city, Sui Yu encountered another group of Hu merchants she knew. This group had come from Wusun and had bought seven fine celestial horses to sell in Chang'an.

"So, you won't be staying in Dunhuang this winter?" Sui Yu asked.

"That's right. We'll leave Kuqa the day after tomorrow and aim to reach Chang'an before winter sets in," the Hu merchant nodded.

Sui Yu circled the celestial horses, inquiring about the price and comparing them to the blood-sweating horse Song Xian had bought. The blood-sweating horse was a Ferghana horse, while the celestial horses were from Wusun. Ferghana horses had a larger frame and were more ornamental, but also more expensive.

"By the way, do you happen to have any crop seeds? I'm looking to buy some," Sui Yu remembered the matter of the seeds. Seeds from the Kuqa Kingdom were available in the Han Dynasty, but now, to find new seeds, you'd have to travel farther.

The Hu merchant shook his head; they didn't deal in crop seeds.

After parting ways with the Hu merchants, Sui Yu and Song Xian headed to their usual spot to buy baked nang. It was in a somewhat secluded alley, where an old man with a goatee beard and his wife ran a nang-selling business. Most of their customers were local residents. The two had followed the scent and found the place two days ago, following the locals who were buying baked nang.

The old woman making the nang smiled when she saw Sui Yu and Song Xian.

"We'd like two batches of baked nang," Sui Yu held up two fingers.

The old woman understood and pointed to a carpet in their home, indicating they should sit and wait for a moment.

Sui Yu and Song Xian sat down, and the five male servants also found spots to stand nearby.

With blue stone as the base, earthen walls, and a large jujube tree planted in the yard, grapevines climbed the walls. An old cat lay on the wall, lazily swinging its tail. It was a small courtyard full of vitality. Sitting under the jujube tree, Sui Yu rested her chin on her hand, watching the customers coming and going to buy nang. The women here were tall and fair, truly beautiful.

A brown-haired youth with small freckles under his eyes approached. Sui Yu and Song Xian silently watched him as he looked them over for a few moments before stopping in front of Sui Yu.

"You Han people are really good at business. Even your women go out to earn money," the brown-haired youth said in a Han dialect with a sheep-like accent.

Sui Yu nodded. "Yes, people in the Han Dynasty are very bold, daring to think and act."

Otherwise, how could we have taken control of the Western Territories?

The brown-haired youth seemed to understand her implication, and a hint of annoyance appeared on his face.

"You speak our language," Song Xian interjected, teasingly asking, "Do you plan to do business in the Han Dynasty when you grow up?"

"No, I plan to bring our music and dance to Chang'an," the youth said excitedly.

Sui Yu and Song Xian couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked.

Sui Yu shook her head; she didn’t understand why she felt like laughing either.

"Can you take me with you?" the brown-haired boy murmured.

Sui Yu felt like laughing again; he’s quite bold and straightforward, not afraid that they might sell him.

"How old are you? Do you ask every Han merchant caravan this? How did you grow up to be so adventurous?" she asked.

"Fifteen. You're the second caravan I've asked. Oh, and my name is Kurban," he said.

"Why didn’t the first caravan agree to take you?" Song Xian was curious.

"They were traveling west and said they’d take me to the Han Empire when they returned, but after they left, I never saw them again. I don’t know if they died in the West or simply forgot about me," Kurban shrugged.

The old woman baking the naan poked her head out and spoke rapidly in the Kucha language, and Kurban responded in the same language. No one knew what they were saying, but the old woman brought out two naans and ushered Sui Yu and her companions out.

Kurban tried to follow them but was pulled away by another customer buying naan.

"Isn’t your teahouse short on musicians? Why don’t you take this boy back with you?" Song Xian suggested.

"He has a family. Why would I take him away?" Sui Yu shook her head.

As they approached Ah Gu Lane, Sui Yu gave Song Xian a glance and said, "Go to the pasture and call everyone back for dinner."

"Okay, got it."

Song Xian left, and Sui Yu continued on with the five male servants.

But none of the male servants spoke until they returned.

"Sui Yu, I've made up my mind. I'll go back and stay at the guest house north of the city for a few nights to check out the situation. If everything is as you described, I’ll bring my family to Dunhuang next year and rent your house long-term." Hua Suichun came out upon hearing the commotion.

Sui Yu signaled the male servant to send a tray of baked naan to the other side and said, "I won’t disappoint you. There will be no discrimination or exclusion at my place. If your family stays at my house, you won’t have to worry about going on long trips."

"Alright." Hua Suichun looked at Sui Yu and asked, "Where are you heading next? Are you planning to continue trading beyond the border?"

"I’ll leave Kuqa for Wusun in three to five days, then return to Dunhuang. Next year, I'll enter the pass to Chang’an, and the year after, I'll head out of the pass again in spring." Sui Yu sensed some meaning in his words; this man seemed to want to join her caravan.

Hua Suichun didn’t say anything more, and Sui Yu didn’t press him.

The next day, Sui Yu and Song Xian each brought two bolts of silk with a small caravan into the city to buy goods. One bought silverware, and the other bought copperware, directly exchanging all the silk.

One bolt of silk exchanged for ten silverware items or twelve copperware items. After some bargaining by Sui Yu, the Kuqa merchant additionally gave them each a bucket of sand-tempered pottery bowls and a heating stove.

For the next few days, Sui Yu and Song Xian followed the small caravan around Kuqa City to check the actual prices and get familiar with the Kuqa merchants.

Five days later, three small caravans packed up and left Kuqa heading east. Sui Yu and Song Xian led the team, leaving Kuqa to head for Wusun.

"Er’hei, you stay." Sui Yu stopped Er’hei from leading the camel. "Don’t you want to escape? If you don’t want to be a slave with an owner, I’ll give you this opportunity. You can stay beyond the border from now on."

Er’hei was stunned, and the others also stopped and fell silent.

Sui Yu looked at the others. Flashing eyes, questioning looks, calm expressions, and tight lips all revealed their thoughts.

"I know some of you have the same thoughts as him. You don’t want to be slaves or servants; you want freedom. But you are more sensible than him. You understand your abilities and know you can’t survive beyond the border on your own. Or perhaps you have some conscience and still feel grateful to me, willing to ensure my safety on this journey." Sui Yu said calmly, "I was once a convict laborer, so I understand your feelings well. Today, I’m granting Er’hei his freedom. In two years, when we return, we’ll see how he fares. Whether he’s starved to death beyond the border, or been killed, or sold himself again as a potter to make ends meet. If he can survive and establish himself beyond the border, without you having to worry or help him escape, I’ll be willing to pay for your freedom."

The others had many thoughts in their minds. Those who were clear-headed realized that a Han person living beyond the border, without family support, unable to speak the local language, and without legal protection, would be like a sheep among wolves. However, some still held out hope, believing they could survive. With Sui Yu’s promise, their minds were more at ease.

In merely two years, if Er’hei can survive and make it on his own, they too could gain their freedom.

"Alright, that's it, let's go." Sui Yu said no more.

The camel started moving, and the camel bells jingled. Er'hei watched the familiar people leave. His ears were filled with the unfamiliar Kuchean tongue. He panicked, realizing he had no idea where his next meal would come from. How was he to survive?

Er'hei ran after them and fell at Sui Yu's feet, pleading. "Master, I know I was wrong. My foolish greed got the better of me. I know I was wrong, please, take me with you."

"Impossible." Sui Yu said coldly, "Leave before I reconsider. If you anger me, I'll sell you."

"You ungrateful scoundrel! Ptooey!" Xiao Chunhong spat on his face. "Master shouldn't have saved you in the first place."

Er'hei halted, standing there in panic, torn between advancing or retreating.

The camel caravan moved far off. Er'hei suddenly realized he had no way back, and no way forward. He crumpled to the ground, face down, and wept bitterly.