Chapter 339 Not a Good Match

Chapter 339: Not a Good Match

As old acquaintances, the messenger went over to greet the newly arrived caravan at a post station sixty miles away from Chang'an. He said, "Commandant Zhao Zhonglangjiang, how about I travel with you to Hexi?"

"Don't you need to hurry? Our caravan is carrying a lot of goods, so we can't move quickly. Once we enter the mountains, the roads will be difficult, and our pace might slow down even more," Zhao Xiping explained the situation first.

"I do need to hurry, but there are many wild beasts in the mountains during winter. Traveling alone on horseback is quite risky. I'll travel with you until we cross Hongchiling, and then I'll go ahead," the messenger explained.

Zhao Xiping readily agreed, "As long as it doesn't delay your business."

The messenger sighed. What's the delay? The decree he carried was related to Commandant Zhao Zhonglangjiang. He would arrive in Hexi half a month earlier, and even if the camp courtesans were released, they would have to wait for Commandant Zhao Zhonglangjiang to return before they could be settled. There was one thing he only dared to complain about in his heart, not openly: why make him travel thousands of miles? Why not just deliver the decree directly to Commandant Zhao Zhonglangjiang?

After resting at the post station for the night, the messenger left with the caravan the next day.

They left the capital on the second day of the second month and entered the Qinling Mountains on the fifth day of the second month. The snow in the mountains had melted, making the roads muddy and difficult to traverse. The caravan wandered in the mountains for more than half a month and only emerged from the Qinling Mountains in late February.

Once out of the Qinling Mountains, the road became much easier. They crossed rivers and climbed mountains, and after crossing a large river and climbing the snow-covered Hongchiling, Sui Yu encountered a caravan coming from the west.

"Jade Merchant? Dunhuang was quite lively last year. Why did your whole family go to Chang'an?"

"Was it because of the cotton?" Sui Yu asked.

"Yes, your inn was full, everyone went there hoping to get close to you, but they ended up disappointed," the merchant said, holding the reins to stop the camel from moving. He exhaled white breath and asked, "What price did the cotton quilts sell for in Chang'an?"

"Sixteen hundred coins per quilt," Sui Yu replied honestly. "Did you manage to buy any quilts?"

"No, I got five quilted jackets," the merchant patted the quilted jacket inside his wolf fur coat and said, "They're more comfortable than jackets filled with reeds. This year, the caravans that managed to buy cotton quilts and jackets have already left the pass, planning to exchange them for fine horses outside the pass while the cotton supply is low. I didn't get many quilted jackets, only enough for my wife and children, so I can only head inland and miss out on this opportunity."

"In a couple of years, there will be more cotton. The cotton seeds won't leave the pass, but the caravans can still make a fortune," Sui Yu said. She then inquired, "When you left Dunhuang, were my servants cultivating cotton seedlings?"

"I didn't hear about that. I left Dunhuang on the second day of the second month."

"Last winter, nothing happened at my inn, right?" Sui Yu had been worried about home.

"Nothing happened. Song the Head of the Household moved into the inn, and there were soldiers stationed there. It was even more stable than when you were home. Any news from Chang'an?"

Sui Yu thought for a moment, then pointed at herself and smiled, "Does our family qualify? I was granted the title of Lady of Cotton by the Emperor, and Zhao Qianhu was promoted to Agricultural Commandant. From now on, the four counties in the Northwest will lead the way in cotton cultivation compared to Longxi County, Taiyuan County, and Bashu County. Big boss Wang, if you want to buy cotton products in the future, you'll have to come to our Hexi."

"Congratulations," Big boss Wang clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and joked, "We were all guessing what rewards you would receive in Chang'an. I was just wondering why you didn't mention it, so I didn't dare to ask. Jade Merchant, since I came from Dunhuang, I'm like half a family member, right? Are we the first caravan to hear the good news this year? Won't you share some celebratory money? Leave me more cotton this year, and I'll bring the caravan to get it in winter. How about it?"

There was plenty of cotton this year, so Sui Yu generously agreed, "Alright, I'll save sixty or seventy jin for you. Then we can discuss a business deal, see if you're interested."

"What kind of business?" Big boss Wang asked curiously.

"We'll discuss it later," Sui Yu flicked the reins and said, "Let's not chat anymore. See you later."

The three caravans then stopped their conversation, nodded to each other, and went their separate ways, each carrying the exchanged news.

Three days later, on the way down the mountain, Sui Yu encountered the second caravan entering the pass. From them, she learned that on the fifth day of the second month, Ding Quan had taken the servants to dig river mud to prepare for making mud bricks.

After descending from Hongchiling, the messenger entered Wuwei County ahead of the caravan. The decree he carried was handed over to the magistrate of Wuwei County, and within half a day, the inspector in Wuwei County received the order. He retrieved the slave contracts of the 127 camp courtesans from the camp brothel and arranged for his subordinates to go to the camp brothel to collect them.

It was already mid-March, and the garrison troops in Wuwei County were busy preparing the fields for spring planting. In the wasteland at the northwest corner of the city, the debauchery in the camp brothel subsided as the clients left.

When the soldiers in black uniforms stormed into the camp brothel, the camp housing 114 camp courtesans fell into complete silence. Over a hundred women stood or sat in a daze, or were busy with mending and sewing, apparently indifferent to the soldiers' arrival, assuming they were being taken out to entertain the troops or laborers.

"...Thirteen have died, just this winter. I haven't had the chance to report their deaths to the authorities yet," the female manager with bright red rouge said awkwardly. "Officers, what brings you here today? Are you taking them out for official duties? There are 112 camp courtesans here, besides the two young ones, there are also two old cooks in the kitchen. We can make up the count."

The soldier, carrying a wooden box, covered his nose in disgust and said gruffly, "The court has ordered the release of the camp courtesans to live as free citizens. After their release, they will follow the arrangements of the Agricultural Commandant to marry and work in cultivating cotton."

As soon as these words were spoken, it seemed as if even the sound of breathing had vanished in the camp women's quarters. The hollow-eyed women raised their heads, the sunlight from above made them dizzy, their minds seemingly in a daze. They heard the soldier's words, but it was like listening to a foreign language; they were unable to react and dared not believe.

After half an hour of chaos, the camp women were driven out of the high walls built with their flesh and blood. They vaguely realized that this filthy life seemed to have an end.

"Go to the post station, Commandant Zhao is still staying there. Go and ask him how he plans to arrange things," the soldier said, covering his nose, his voice muffled. These filthy women were more repulsive than maggots in a cesspit.

One hundred and fourteen women of all ages were driven eastward. Passing by farmland, everyone, young and old, showed expressions of disgust; some even spat and threw mud at them.

"I'm not going to sleep with men anymore, I'm clean, I'm not a camp woman—" a woman smeared with mud suddenly came to her senses, shouting in excitement: "Don't hit me! I didn't seduce your man! I'm not a camp woman! I'm not a slut! I won't be raped by those stinking bugs anymore hahaha—"

Amid eerie laughter, tears fell into the dirt. Some fell to the ground crying, some jumped into the water-filled ditches despite the cold, scrubbing themselves desperately, while more ran towards the east of the city, asking everyone where the post station was, if it was still the same one from eight years ago... afraid that if they were slow, they would be dragged back into the camp.

When a group of women, having lost their shoes, panting heavily, and with tears streaming down their faces, stood outside the post station, they still felt as if this day was a dream.

Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping came out to meet them. She couldn't bear to look closely, nor did she want them to be ridiculed and spat at outside. She asked the Messenger if they could be temporarily settled in the post station's stables.

"No, smell them, they all have diseases," the Messenger waved a large broom, "Hurry up, don't dirty our place."

"It's almost dark; I can't find a place for you now. Return to the camp for the night," Zhao Xiping negotiated with them.

"No no, we'll sit on the wasteland for the night, we'll wait for daylight."

"Yes, yes, we won't go back there."

"Sir, can you really save us from the camp?"

"It's the Emperor, the Emperor has pardoned you," Zhao Xiping corrected them, "The camp will no longer exist."

Finally receiving a definite answer, the eighty-nine anxious women outside the post station finally felt at ease. These tortured and enslaved women almost instantly forgot their hatred. They knelt and kowtowed eastward, forgiving the past and themselves with gratitude.

Thirteen more women arrived sporadically, not understanding what the kneeling, weeping women were doing, but instinctively choosing to follow.

After another half a cup of tea, two women with children, six soaking wet women, and two elderly women were driven over by six soldiers. The inspector, who had been waiting under a jujube tree not far away, walked over. He took the slave contracts of the one hundred and fourteen camp women, listened to his subordinates explain the situation, and then walked over to Zhao Xiping with a wooden box.

"Commandant Zhao, these are the slave contracts of these camp women, a total of one hundred and fourteen people. It will take some time to change their household registration. How do you plan to settle them?"

"We will stay in Wuwei County for two days. Spread the word that men willing to marry these women can register within these two days. Marrying them will allow them to buy cotton seedlings and plant cotton in the coming years," Zhao Xiping said.

The inspector's mouth twitched in a sarcastic smile, and he accepted the order: "Yes, I will arrange for the message to be spread."

Zhao Xiping saw this and paused, then immediately changed his attitude, speaking in an official tone: "Find some nearby old houses to settle them, just for two days. We will take them with us when we leave."

With that, Zhao Xiping reached out and took the wooden box containing the slave contracts. The women's eyes followed the heavy box as it moved.

The inspector saluted and accepted the order. The slave contracts of the camp women were handed over, and the rest was no longer his concern. After he left, he arranged for his subordinates to find some abandoned houses.

The sky turned from dim to pitch black, and the curious villagers left with their farming tools. Sui Yu, with her servants, carried pottery cauldrons, wooden basins, buckets, and food towards the west of the post station.

The desolate abandoned houses were shrouded in the thick night. The courtyard walls collapsed, the house walls tilted, and the roofs caved in. Each of the three abandoned houses had its own issues, neither windproof nor rainproof, even the rats avoided the drafty structures. But the newly freed camp women cherished them as treasures. They cleaned inside and out in the dark, pulling weeds from the yard to use as bedding at night, and moving the stumbling soil blocks to the base of the walls.

When Sui Yu arrived with her servants, she heard their voices from afar, a mix of crying, laughter, and talking, sometimes low, sometimes high.

"I've brought you some things," Sui Yu stepped into the smelly, abandoned courtyard in the dark, saying, "I've brought you some food and utensils. Make do for tonight, boil some water tomorrow to clean yourselves, and I'll have someone bring you clean clothes later."

"Thank you, madam, you are a good person."

"Thank you, madam... thank you, madam..."

Sui Yu accepted their thanks calmly and continued, "Clean up tomorrow. The day after, I'll bring some doctors over. Don't hide any illnesses you have."

Amidst the repeated thanks, Sui Yu didn't stay to listen any longer. The servants put down the items, and she left with them.

The next day, Sui Yu arranged for Xiao Chunhong to go to the market to buy clothes. A new set of padded jacket and trousers cost twenty to thirty coins, and for 114 people, it would amount to over three thousand coins. Buying new clothes for the camp women who had reformed in this prefecture, and the same would be required in the next prefecture, plus the four prefectures including Yumen Pass and Yang Guan, the total would exceed ten thousand coins. Sui Yu was hesitant, as she had no family or friends, and she didn't want to spend so much money. So, she gave Xiao Chunhong three hundred coins to buy some cleaner used clothes in the city.

After they bathed and washed their hair, and changed into clean padded clothes, the musty smell from the women's winter clothes dissipated.

They also cleaned up the overgrown abandoned houses.

Subsequently, Sui Yu called in doctors to check the pulses of these unfortunate women. They all had various hidden ailments, with frostbite, emaciation, and poor digestion being minor issues. Except for two young girls who were still virgins, one hundred and ten women, along with two elderly women, had unspeakable issues in their lower bodies.

Sui Yu registered them and then spent another two hundred coins to buy over three hundred pounds of mugwort. The mugwort was distributed to each of them, and she told them to boil mugwort soup every day for steaming and washing.

"I've already spent five hundred coins on clothes and medicine for you all, and that's all I can do for you. The rest is up to you. When you start earning from growing cotton in the future, take good care of yourselves," Sui Yu said.

After she spoke, Zhao Xiping and the local Agricultural Official brought in forty-six disheveled and aged-looking men.

"You two groups talk it over among yourselves, and if you find a match, form a partnership and start a family. You've all come here by your own choice, and at this stage, no one should look down on anyone else. Pack up tomorrow and come with me to Dunhuang," Zhao Xiping said.

"Aren't we staying in our local area?" an old man asked.

"No, you'll be moving around. Dunhuang Prefecture will be the first to grow cotton, and it will probably extend to Jiuquan Prefecture and Zhangye Prefecture next year. At that time, you can choose where to go, or rather, where people are needed, you will go there," Zhao Xiping explained. "Since everyone is here, I'll also explain the cotton share. The cotton seedlings are lent to you, and the seeds are considered as your own purchase, with a 40-60 split with the government. After the cotton harvest, 40% is handed over to the government, and if you rent land from a landlord, another 30% of the remaining cotton is paid as rent. For example, if one mu of cotton land yields two hundred catties of cotton, eighty catties are handed over to the government, and thirty-six catties are paid as rent, leaving you with eighty-four catties."

There was a stir among the men, with someone asking how much a catty of cotton was and whether they could sell the cotton seeds themselves.

"Private sale of cotton seeds is not allowed. Cotton and cotton seeds are collected by us uniformly, and the cotton price is unified. Lady Diehua will teach you how to grow cotton, and the cotton from the first two years must be sold to her," Zhao Xiping frowned and pressed his hand down, signaling them not to pick and choose. He raised his voice, "Now think it over again, those willing to marry them and leave their homeland, step forward. Consider carefully, once you make this decision, there's no turning back."

After some commotion in the crowd, eight old men left, not wanting to die in a foreign land.

With the matter settled, the next day, the caravan left Wuwei with one hundred and fifty-two cotton growers.

At this time, the Messenger entered Zhangye Prefecture, and overnight, the tormented camp women were liberated.

The caravan headed west, and the Messenger's horse continued westward. The news of the camp women's pardon spread throughout the Hexi region with the sound of hooves, and Sui Yu's caravan followed, picking up people along the way, and the westward-bound team continued to grow.

On April 17th, the caravan with four hundred and sixty-two cotton growers arrived in Dunhuang.

One hundred and seventy-two camp women who had been lingering near the east gate for eight days, like lost geese finding their flock, excitedly welcomed them.

Censor Hu received the news and rushed to the east gate with the changed good household registers. As he got closer, he recognized Sui Yu at a glance.

It had been over a decade since he had last seen her face to face, and today, he clearly remembered the scene outside the camp fourteen years ago.

Sui Yu noticed the scrutinizing gaze and turned her head to look. Censor Hu had aged a lot, and she almost didn't recognize him.

"Lady Diehua, how are you?" Censor Hu dismounted from his donkey, stepped forward to greet her, and then said, "Your subordinate has seen the Commandant. Eight days ago, upon learning of the court's decree, I have changed the slave contracts of one hundred and seventy-two camp women to good household registers, all here, please review."

Zhao Xiping did not take the wooden box, nor did he speak.

Censor Hu nervously wiped his sweat. He knew well how Sui Wen'an, Sui Hui, and Sui Ling had changed from slave to good household registers, and the two before him were also aware. The biggest leverage was still kept in his residence. Coincidentally, Sui Yu was in contact with Sui Hui, which made him unable to kill or move, holding onto evidence that could lead to his execution, he had to serve them well.

"Lady Wen..." Sui Yu spoke, "How is Lady Wen?"

"Very well, with An Ge'er filial by her side, her days are extremely smooth," Censor Hu breathed a sigh of relief. Sui Yu had affection for Sui Hui, so his life was safe.

"Mother and son have moved to a larger courtyard. When you have time, Madam, I will have Lady Wen come to visit."

The conversation was disjointed, but Sui Yu understood. An Ge'er was back under Sui Hui's care, and mother and son had moved to a larger courtyard. Sui Hui could now go out freely.

At the bustling city gate, it was not appropriate to say more, so Sui Yu nodded.

Zhao Xiping then took the wooden box and said, "I still have some servitude contracts here. In a couple of days, I'll have someone send them to the government office. You can cancel the contracts and send them back to their original places. These people will temporarily stay in Dunhuang County."

Censor Hu quickly agreed and, seeing no further instructions, led his donkey to the city wall's base to make way for the caravan.

The Sui family's caravan and the Song family's caravan then parted ways, one heading into the city and the other turning at the city gate, following the city wall northward, planning to detour through the wilderness back to the inn to avoid causing a stir in the city, lest the cotton farmers following behind get spat on again.

When rows of houses came into view, those who had been away from home for half a year collectively sighed in relief. Fancy mansions and silver nests are nothing compared to their own humble homes. No matter how beautiful the landscapes within the passes, the desert scenery of Dunhuang was still the most moving.

"We're home," the little boy exclaimed excitedly, "Mom, uncle, we're finally back."

With that, he drove his camel next to the one carrying the bones and shouted, "Grandpa, we're home. Look north, this is the estate my parents and uncle have built."

After nearly fifteen years, Sui Hu finally settled in Dunhuang with his children.

"Meow—"

A large tabby cat, holding a nearly dead field mouse in its paw, called out to the long-unseen acquaintances.

"Big Flower, you came all this way to hunt? Did you catch all the mice at our inn?" Xiao Chunhong asked.

Big Flower meowed again, picked up the field mouse, and ran back with the caravan.

In the distance, two well-fed and strong black dogs pricked up their ears and watched warily. Sui Liang, with his fingers in his mouth, blew a loud whistle. Before the whistle faded, the dogs' tails wagged joyfully.

"Woof—"

"Woof woof woof—"

The two strong black dogs leaped forward, their glossy black fur rippling in the wind, more lustrous than the finest satin.

"Big Black! Little Black!" the little boy shouted joyfully, "Did you miss me? I missed you so much."

The dogs ran up, ignoring the moving camel hooves, excitedly circling the camels, jumping up and down to get close to their masters on the camels' backs.

Four people and two dogs, the dogs were overwhelmed, trying to attend to everyone by rubbing and whimpering.

Sui Liang and the little boy jumped off the camels and ran with the dogs, calling out to their Red Sun and Golden Wheat as they ran. The two horses, leisurely grazing, sprang into action at the sound, their hooves kicking up grass and dust, leaving even the swirling dust behind.

The youngsters working in the cotton fields recognized the caravan coming from the east and cheered in unison.

"Why are there so many people? How many caravans have merged?" Huaniu muttered to herself, "We've got a big order coming. I need to go back and tell Yin Po and Cui Sao to prepare food."

Song Xian stood at the edge of the field, looking carefully for a while, but didn't see Lvya'er or her family's caravan. She walked to the river to wash her hands and said, "A’shui, tell your sister-in-law I need to head back first. My girl is home, I need to go see her."

"Alright, tell Lvya'er to rest at home for a few days before coming back to class. I'll visit her tomorrow," A’shui said.

Song Xian had already crossed the river, smiling as she said, "That girl can't sit still; she might show up tonight."

Song Xian called over a drinking camel, waved to Sui Yu from a distance, and rode the camel away.

Lvya'er was already home, but aside from the servants, the place was empty. Upon learning that her mother had moved to Changgui Inn after last winter, she immediately took a camel and went out of the city to find her.

Mother and daughter finally met at the end of South Water Street. At the sight, Song Xian explained, "I rushed back as soon as I heard, but I was still too late. I thought you would return in the evening, so every evening I'd wait at the city gate."

"Also coming with us are the camp followers from three eastern counties. Because of Auntie Sui, they were pardoned. With them in tow, the caravan slowed down, managing only about forty miles a day. We rested twenty miles outside the city last night," Lvya'er dismounted from the camel, clung to Song Xian's arm as they walked back, letting out everything she'd been bottling up about Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping's titles, the shops in Chang'an pushing them out, and how it took her three months to sell all the goods.

Before she could finish, mother and daughter arrived home, and Song Xian led Lvya'er back to the main house.

When Lvya'er brought up her and Sui Liang's search for the Huo family's performers, Song Xian cut her off.

"Lvya'er, there's no one else around now, tell me what's on your mind. When we left Dunhuang last year, I told you that if you had feelings for Liang Ge, I would help you test the waters..."

"Mother," Lvya'er interrupted her, thinking about how Sui Liang had treated her coldly throughout the journey. She stared at the wood grain on the table and calmly said, "I don’t feel anything for him, and he doesn’t feel anything for me either. Please don't try to match us up."

Song Xian was disappointed. She murmured, "Liang Ge is good-looking, kind, and has no bad intentions. You still have no feelings for him? Then what kind of man do you like?"

She suspected her daughter was blind, with a piece of beautiful jade right in front of her, yet she couldn't see its value or beauty.

"I don't like someone with the same temperament as my father..."

"You must be blind!" Song Xian couldn't help but scold, "How could Sui Liang be like your father? The difference between them is as vast as the distance from Chang'an to Dayuan."

Lvya'er was amused. She calmed her agitated mother and said, "Mother, don't get worked up. That's not what I meant. Listen to me."

"Alright, go ahead," Song Xian suppressed her disappointment and forced herself to calm down.

"Sui Liang likes a stable life. He enjoys having his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew close by. If I were to start a family with him, he likely wouldn’t want to go out trading with me..."

"Isn't that great? He could stay home and take care of the kids. With him around, you wouldn't have to worry about both business and child-rearing like I did. Wouldn’t it be great to be like your Aunt Sui? She travels, comes back, and her child is a year older, yet she still misses them all the time." Song Xian couldn't help but interject.

"Yes, but I have you. You could help me take care of the children," Lvya'er almost relented, but thinking of Sui Liang's attitude and temperament, she quickly cooled down. "I want to find someone who can trade with me, not someone who stays home living like a king while I kill myself working outside."

Song Xian understood. Lvya'er wasn’t unhappy with Sui Liang; it was because of her parents’ example that she hated the idea of a wife working outside while the husband stayed home. She despised her father.

So no matter how good Sui Liang was, he didn't suit her temperament.

Song Xian fell silent. Her troubled relationship with Huang Ancheng had driven her son away from home and kept him from starting a family, and it had also warped her daughter’s personality.

"I had you and your brother with him, and we almost ruined you both because of it. What a mess," Song Xian said helplessly. "Won't you reconsider? You'll regret missing Sui Liang."

"No, Sui Liang and I aren’t a good match. Forcing it would only lead to resentment. Mother, let's not bring this up again. Please help me look for someone else," Lvya'er spoke firmly. Her gaze caught a servant peeking in from the door, and she quickly left, "What is it? Why are you peeking?"

"Erlang from Yang Qianhu's family is here, looking for you."

"What does he want?" Lvya'er was a bit distracted. "Tell him to come back tomorrow. I’m all dusty... Never mind, I’ll go see him."