Chapter 34: The Bandit’s Wife

Chapter 34: The Bandit Chief's Wife

On the way back to the village, Zhao An informed Liu Hu of the authorities' stance on privately training militia, helping him understand Feng Shaoping's good intentions. He also gave Liu Hu two taels of silver as payment for helping transport the bodies.

Only then did Liu Hu cheer up, agreeing to follow Zhao An's instructions: first, to temper the enthusiasm of the villagers who had grown restless after repelling the bandits.

For many villagers who had never experienced major events in their lives, this incident was indeed enough to become a lifelong talking point. Zhao An didn’t mind the villagers, in their old age, recounting tales of fighting bandits to their sons. But for now, he needed to cool their excitement.

He told Liu Hu, "Gather the most boisterous ones and explain to them the city's prices and the officials' attitudes. Make sure to be very clear."

After returning to the village, he returned Scholar Zhao's donkey cart, then took out the remaining silver and asked Scholar Zhao and Liu Huan to discuss its distribution. Only then did he head home, his heart filled with trepidation.

Although he had been conversing with the villagers, one thought persistently lingered in his mind: upon returning home, he absolutely had to ask Hu Sheng if he was willing to marry him.

The primary concern wasn't just marriage itself, but the intimate activities that could only follow it. Having found a partner who perfectly suited his heart, how could he continue to abstain?

Entering the courtyard, he saw Qintong sweeping fallen leaves. Haibo was likely supervising at the kiln. Zhao An tiptoed over to Qintong and whispered, "Is Hu Sheng awake?"

Qintong, infected by Zhao An’s mysterious tone, shook his head and whispered back, "Mr. Hu didn't wake up even for lunch. Haibo saw how exhausted he was and didn't disturb him. We kept the food warming over hot water, so he can eat whenever he wakes up."

Zhao An nodded, took a few candies from his pocket, and handed them to Qintong. "Hu Sheng and I have something to discuss. Go out and play for a while." Zhao An was utterly frank, with no intention of deceiving the child, and was rewarded with an ear-to-ear grin.

Not bothered by the child’s teasing smile, Zhao An waved his hand and said, "Go on, quickly."

Qintong pocketed the candies and happily ran off, remembering to close the courtyard gate behind him.

Zhao An tiptoed to his door, intending to sit by Hu Sheng’s side and observe his sleep before deciding whether to wake him. But upon opening the door, he saw Hu Sheng already sitting up in bed. After a nap, his complexion had improved significantly. His disheveled hair fell across his forehead, his gaze was dazed from just waking, and the stubble on his chin gave him a rugged handsomeness.

Zhao An stood frozen at the door until Hu Sheng walked over to him and touched his cheek. "You make me feel irresistible."

Zhao An nodded and said, "So, are you willing to be with me?" He decided to seize the moment and ask all the questions weighing on his heart. "If you want to be with me, we must get married. It will be just the two of us—no one else. You can’t flaunt your charm in front of others."

When faced with Zhao An’s question about marriage, Hu Sheng immediately blurted out, "You want to hold a wedding ceremony? Let’s find someone to pick a lucky date and invite the whole village to a banquet."

In truth, he had always been worried. Zhao An was so young—what if he was merely infatuated now but would later desire a family of his own when he saw others surrounded by children and grandchildren? So, he had restrained himself, not allowing their relationship to progress further. But today, hearing Zhao An say they would always be just the two of them, even if it was said impulsively, Hu Sheng no longer wanted to push him away.

Hearing Hu Sheng talk about choosing a date and holding a banquet, Zhao An felt as if a huge weight had been lifted. Before his courage faded, he reached out and touched Hu Sheng’s chest, then quickly fled outside. "You clean up first. I’ll go warm up some food for you."

Only after running to the kitchen and closing the door did Zhao An begin to savor the sensation in his palm—it was as firm as he had imagined. Smiling, he felt as if he had missed out on millions before, all because he had been too shy to place his hands on Hu Sheng during their kisses.

He decided to make up for lost time as soon as possible. So, when Hu Sheng had washed up, shaved, tied his hair, and returned to the living room, Zhao An not only set out the food but also brought out a jar of wine that smelled delicious even from a distance.

Zhao An, as if having forgotten his earlier bold move, said very seriously, "I heard you like wine. I have some homemade grape wine here—it tastes pretty good. Would you like to try it?"

"Yes," Hu Sheng replied, though he wasn’t looking at the wine but at Zhao An, as if unsure what exactly he wanted to taste.

Not wanting to back down, Zhao An smiled back and poured the fragrant wine into a ceramic bowl. "I’ll join you for a drink." Lunch at Magistrate Feng’s house hadn’t been as enjoyable as a meal at home.

Whether it was the wine or the emotions that were more intoxicating, Zhao An ended up saying many things to Hu Sheng over the meal. He learned about Hu Sheng’s background and past, the insulting meaning behind the name "Hu Sheng," and why he refused to change it: his mother had been whipped to death by the head of the Shang family while protecting him.

Zhao An’s heart ached. He gripped Hu Sheng’s hand tightly, hoping to offer some comfort. Just as his emotions were about to be overwhelmed by compassion, Hu Sheng told him many stories from his time in the military—how he could hunt wild geese with a slingshot, how he could take down the toughest troublemakers.

He had also used his hunting skills to save a starving scholar, who became his strategist, Li Dake—an unfortunate soul related to the deposed empress dowager’s family. He had saved many others on the battlefield, people who were nearly killed by enemies, and now had many loyal followers.

Hu Sheng laid bare almost everything about himself. But after two cups of wine, Zhao An, feeling dizzy, became fascinated by Hu Sheng’s *Lightness Kung Fu*. He wrapped his arms around Hu Sheng’s neck and cooed, "Can you take me flying? I want to fly, fly, fly!"

How could he refuse his beloved’s cooing? Hu Sheng carried the wine-scented Zhao An onto their wall, then leaped up to the bamboo treetops on the back mountain.

The rushing wind sobered Zhao An up a little. He looked down at the bamboo forest passing beneath his feet and exclaimed, "Wow~ oh~"

This encouraged Hu Sheng to leap even faster among the treetops. He bypassed the site of last night’s fight, crossed the stream where Zhao An had once caught fish to stave off hardship, and climbed over a remote mountain to a flat valley.

The valley was filled with blooming cornflowers, their blue-purple petals trembling in the wind, making one’s heart sway along with them. It was unclear who reached for whose lips first, but once they were entangled, they were inseparable.

When their clothes disappeared unnoticed, leaving them bare, Zhao An’s foggy mind finally cleared a little. One hand pressed against Hu Sheng’s honey-colored chest, the other wrapped around his neck—unsure whether to resist or invite. His chest heaved violently, sweat trickling down his neck. "Be gentle. It’s my first time."

He hadn't expected his first time to be in the wild—it was quite unbridled. Without proper preparation, it would be easy to get hurt. But now, at the point of no return, there was no turning back. Even as he spoke, his body writhed, and he leaned in for kisses.

After another brief, shallow kiss, Hu Sheng’s hand found its way to his private parts. As he pleasured him, he whispered, "Don’t worry, I’ll make you feel good."

Then Hu Sheng used his own natural lubrication. By the time the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased, Zhao An was sober, though his mind was blank. He lay on Hu Sheng’s arm amidst the flowers, gazing up at the white clouds slowly drifting across the sky.

Zhao An suddenly turned and kissed Hu Sheng’s cheek. Hu Sheng had been so gentle in taking care of him that the memory made his toes curl. "Next time, when we’re prepared, you won’t have to be so careful."

Hu Sheng covered Zhao An’s eyes with his hand. "Alright, don’t tempt me anymore. Rest a bit longer, and I’ll take you back."

But Zhao An had deeply felt Hu Sheng’s care and affection. Mischievously, he blew into Hu Sheng’s ear. "I’m not going back. Didn’t you say you’re a mountain king? I’m your bandit chief’s wife now. I want to see your stronghold."

"Alright~" Hu Sheng replied readily.

Then Zhao An, wearing only an outer garment—his inner clothes having been used for cleaning and discarded—saw thousands of people crowded on a hillside, some standing, some lying down, all so thin they looked like refugees.

"Didn’t you tell me there were only five people in your stronghold?" Zhao An felt a strange mix of betrayal and having gained an advantage.

Hu Sheng looked at Zhao An cautiously. "I forgot to tell you—this time, I brought back thousands of defeated stragglers."

Fortunately, Zhao An wasn’t frightened, only deeply concerned. "How will you provide food and clothing for so many people?"

Zhao An had heard from Hu Sheng about these people’s plight—they were ordinary peasants forced into rebellion, at least better than the Half-Slope villagers who seized opportunities to kill and loot.

But with Hu Sheng taking in so many people at once, supplies were indeed a serious problem. Zhao An didn’t want Hu Sheng to become a real bandit who robbed and plundered.

Hu Sheng took Zhao An’s hand again, half-carrying him as they flew over the crowd to the only wooden pavilion on the back hill. "My men bought a batch of grain from Nanyue Country through the Jiaozhou commander. It should be enough to feed these people for two months. Once they’ve settled, I’ll have them clear land on the mountain to grow sweet potatoes and potatoes. I’ll also organize horse caravans to trade with Nanyue Country and Tibet. With enough manpower, we should even earn some extra money."

Hu Sheng wanted to wield power, and before taking in these people, he had already planned a way out. So, seeing Zhao An’s worry, he immediately laid out his plans.

But this didn’t ease Zhao An’s concerns. The weather had been poor for the past two years—farming downhill was already struggling with water shortages, let alone farming on a mountain. Cross-border trade could make money but also meant high risks. Privately, Zhao An didn’t want Hu Sheng to take such risks, but feeding thousands of mouths was no easy task.

After much thought, Zhao An finally remembered his *Supernatural Power*. He lifted his chin and looked into Hu Sheng’s blue eyes. "Haven’t you noticed I’m special?"

"Of course you’re special," Hu Sheng said, touching Zhao An’s earlobe, his voice full of allure.

Focusing on serious matters, Zhao An’s emotions settled. He pushed Hu Sheng’s hand away. "I’m being serious."

Hu Sheng’s expression turned serious to match Zhao An’s mood. "Are you talking about the strawberries and grapes that appear out of nowhere? They do taste very good, but the quantity is far from enough."

Clearly, Hu Sheng had already noticed his peculiarity but hadn’t paid it much mind—the amount of fruit was too small to make a difference for thousands of people.

Hu Sheng assumed Zhao An had a secret planting ground somewhere, much like how he had hidden in the Great Green Mountains with a few men. With so many mountains nearby, there were plenty of places to hide secrets.

But Zhao An took a strawberry seed from his sleeve and demonstrated his plant-ripening spell for Hu Sheng. He plucked all six strawberries from the plant, popped one into his own mouth, and fed another to Hu Sheng. "When I left the capital, I was once on the brink of death. Then I met an old immortal who taught me this plant-ripening spell. That’s how I survived."

After his shock, Hu Sheng numbly chewed the strawberry, swallowed the sweet-sour juice, and regained his composure. "But the amount of plants you can ripen must still be limited, right?"

Zhao An didn’t deny it. He nodded. "I can only ripen eight plants a day, but I can improve the seeds. If each mu of land can yield 2,000 jin of potatoes, these thousands of people shouldn’t have to worry about going hungry."