Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Gui Qi, a secret guard, along with his ten subordinates, changed their names and posed as ice-carving artisans to enter the North Country.

Looking at the houses weighed down by heavy snow, Gui Qi felt a bad feeling settle in his gut, fearing that this village might be pretty much empty.

The petty officials of the North Country wanted no part of freezing their asses off outside; in this weather, going out was pure torture.

However, they held the lowest positions in the yamen, and currently, there were no lower-ranking people for them to boss around. To wrap things up quickly, they gave Gui Qi and his men a hard time.

Anyone who lagged even a step was given a hard shove from behind.

To avoid blowing their cover, the secret guard who was pushed took a real face-plant into the snow.

The official who did the pushing didn't budge. He stood his ground and snorted, "You Wu Country people are truly barbarians, total idiots. Looking for people to learn a craft—so many folks in the city you don't pick, yet you insist on coming to this godforsaken shithole. You trying to screw with us on purpose?"

Gui Qi helped the man up. As the leader, his cover identity was that of a minor official from the Ministry of Works, so he didn't have to play the meek commoner like his men.

The North Country officials were rude, and Gui Qi gave as good as he got. "Official Zhao told you to cooperate properly. Some North Country backbone you've got—all nice agreement to our faces, and shady tricks behind our backs. Your own emperor agreed to this! You dare go against it? We're here to help your poor folks, and now *we're* the problem? If you're so capable, you shouldn't have invited us in the first place!"

The officials' faces went white, then red with anger. Gui Qi even muttered under his breath at the end, "Ask us here, then trip us up? Pathetic."

"What nonsense are you spouting!" the official who had done the pushing snapped. Gui Qi stood his ground, meeting the man's gaze head-on.

The two glared at each other, and it seemed things were about to get out of hand. Finally, another North Country official pulled his colleague back. "Alright, alright, enough. If we waste time arguing here, we could've found the people and headed back by now. The roads are bad at night here. The houses in this village aren't just without charcoal, they're drafty—you might as well be sleeping outside. If you want to sleep in this frozen wasteland, fine, but I don't."

He urged, "Let's just get in there and find some recruits."

With this out offered, the expression of the official who had done the pushing eased up a bit.

The guy from Wu had a point—the North Country had agreed to this beforehand. Although the task was a pain, they were stuck with it.

Since they couldn't exactly do anything to the Wu Country men, the clerk who'd done the shoving was the first to look away, heading into the village. Gui Qi and his men followed closely behind.

Inside Liujia Village, the villagers huddled in their homes against the cold heard movement outside. Not only did they not dare to go out and look, they quietly used heavy objects to brace their doors and windows.

Since the cold set in, the village had been robbed by countless bandits. With the heavy snow blocking the roads, getting to the authorities to report it was hard enough.

Even if they could get out, the yamen wouldn't send anyone until the weather warmed up.

If they were caught by bandits on the way, they would be taken into the mountains as slaves.

The villagers hid in their homes, whole families huddled together, praying that the people outside would leave quickly.

Anyone showing up at a time like this was either a bandit or a soldier from the garrison several miles away.

Bandits robbed them; soldiers also robbed them.

The soldiers were a slight improvement over the bandits—they didn't take people or kill them.

They didn't clean the villagers out as thoroughly either, but they called it "borrowing," not robbing.

Not that they ever paid anything back. To the villagers, it was no different from robbery.

No matter which side came, it never ended well for them. They could only hope the outsiders would take less this time, leaving them enough to last till the thaw.

Liu Sanshui lived at the head of the village. He had heard the commotion early on and routinely piled up tables, chairs, and benches with his family to block the door.

The furniture was all rickety, missing legs or arms and unable to stand without support, so they were all heaped behind the door.

After a long time without hearing any banging on the door or yelling, nor any sounds of searching, Liu Sanshui signaled his family to keep quiet. He went to the window to take a peek.

Carefully removing the wood bracing the window, Liu Sanshui didn't dare stick his head out. He hid to the side, trying to see as much as possible.

The fences in Liujia Village were mostly wattle, and many had collapsed under the snow, making it easy to see out.

The more Liu Sanshui looked, the stranger it seemed.

The group outside were neither soldiers nor bandits. A few wore familiar clothing—they were petty officials from the city yamen.

Liu Sanshui saw someone from outside glance in his direction and was startled, his heart skipping a beat. He immediately ducked back and shoved the wood back against the window.

Just as he was crouching, creeping back to join his family in the main room, they heard a knock.

Liu Sanshui's heart leaped into his throat. The whole family, like startled hamsters, huddled together, looking at the door with terror.

He felt both terrified and guilty, certain his peeping had been spotted and had brought them right to his doorstep.

The knocking continued, each thud pounding on Liu Sanshui's heart.

Usually, robbers went straight to the kitchen where they kept their grain, stripped it clean, and left.

If there was no grain to find, they would break down the door and demand it.

It was basically a trade: grain for your life; no grain meant death.

But this group hadn't gone to the kitchen. From the footsteps, they were coming directly to the main room.

Liu Sanshui's mind was reeling. He gritted his teeth, ready to fight to the death to buy as much time as possible for his family to escape.

Even if it meant dying out there, it was better than being butchered like trapped animals inside.

Before he could speak, a voice called from outside, "Is anyone inside? We are Wu Country ice-carving artisans and officials from the North Country yamen. We've come to Liujia Village to recruit people to learn ice carving from us."

The Liu family's looks of terror hadn't faded, now mixed with confusion.

What did that mean? They weren't here to rob or kill?

Ice-carving artisans? They knew what artisans were, but what was ice carving?

And why were artisans from Wu Country coming to the North Country?

If Liu Sanshui hadn't spotted the North Country officials earlier, he wouldn't have trusted a word of it.

The family members exchanged bewildered glances. The words made sense, but the meaning didn't.

Were the bandits now tricking people out to kill them?

Gui Qi had spotted someone earlier and was sure there were people inside. He called out several more times, but there was still no movement.

The North Country official couldn't stand it any longer. He kicked the dilapidated wooden door, swearing loudly, "Get your asses out here! Making me wait out here freezing—who the hell do you think you are?!"

The Liu family couldn't keep up the "nobody's home" act any longer. Liu Sanshui signaled his family to help clear the barricade while calling out in a placating tone, "Please, sir, don't be angry. This lowly one is at fault. Truly, there were too many things behind the door; moving them takes time. Please bear with the cold a moment longer, sir."

Hearing someone speak, the official didn't say anything more, just snorted and urged them to hurry up.

It was freezing outside, and Gui Qi really didn't want to stay out there any longer.

The Liu family opened the door as quickly as they could. With a creak, what met Gui Qi's eyes were seven people—sallow, gaunt, and scarcely clothed in tattered rags.

The patriarch at the head of the family had coarse hair streaked with white and leathery, deeply lined skin.

Trembling, he stepped forward and bowed unsteadily to apologize. "It was all this old man's fault for not opening the door promptly and letting you officials freeze out here. Please, sirs, come in quickly to shelter from the wind and snow."

The Northern clerk entered first, picking out a long bench to sit on.

But the bench was missing a leg; he had barely sat down before he crashed to the ground. The Liu family was so startled they didn't dare breathe, sure they were going to die right there in their home that day.

Before the Northern clerk could explode, Gui Qi said, "If you don't want to finish the business early and go back, then go ahead and make a scene."

The clerk, his weak point exposed, glared fiercely at Gui Qi and the Liu family, then simply plopped down on their table instead.

Though the table was rickety and its legs were uneven, at least it wasn't missing a leg and wouldn't cause a fall.

Seeing the clerk say no more, the Liu family heaved a great sigh of relief, simultaneously casting grateful glances at Gui Qi.

Gui Qi took in the Liu home at a glance. The house was practically bare, with the roof letting in drafts and obvious damage to the walls. No way to heat the place was visible; the temperature inside wasn't much different from outside, only that the wind wasn't as strong.

However, the cold wind seeped in from all sides, making it just as much of an ordeal to stay inside.

Gui Qi could tell Liu Sanshui was the head of the household. Worried that the other villagers might not understand, he explained things more clearly than he had outside.

"Wu Country and the Northern Country are working together. Our Wu Country is providing master ice carvers, and we are here to select suitable people to learn the craft from us." Gui Qi pointed at the Northern clerks sitting on the table and continued, "They are your Northern clerks; you should recognize their uniforms. Everything we do will be accompanied by officials from the Northern *yamen* throughout; everything will be above board."

Liu Sanshui's eyes widened. Was he understanding this correctly?

"You Wu Country people want to teach us a trade? A real trade? The kind a family keeps to itself and never passes to outsiders?"

People with a trade only passed it down within their clan; they would never teach it to outsiders.

That was why if your ancestors were farmers, you were doomed to be a farmer too.

There was no choice. They didn't know how to do anything else, and without farming, they would starve.

Gui Qi nodded. "We will select the people. Liu Family Village is a big place, and the villagers might be wary of strangers, so we're troubling you, old uncle, hoping you'll help by taking me around to spread the word, so anyone interested can come to your yard."

As he spoke, he produced two steamed buns. "We'd like to borrow your yard for registration. This is for the use of your yard."

Steamed buns!

The Liu family's eyes grew wide, staring in disbelief at the buns in Gui Qi's hand.

Taxes were high every year. They toiled hard all year round, but they were left with very little grain.

Winters were long, and bandits or soldiers would come to seize their grain from time to time. No matter how much the family saved, there was never any surplus food at home.

Two buns boiled into a soup with snow could give each person a couple of mouthfuls to quiet their hunger.

For the Liu family, these weren't just two buns; they were food that could save their lives.

"Yes, of course!" Liu Sanshui hurriedly agreed, no longer caring about the danger. If they meant to kill people like them, why waste two buns?

Afraid Gui Qi might regret it, Liu Sanshui quickly declared, "I'll take you through the village right now to tell everyone."

Having a local speak for him would put the others more at ease. Gui Qi handed the buns to Liu Sanshui. "Please, lead on."

Everyone else stayed in the courtyard. Liu Sanshui handed the buns to his wife and, under his family's worried gaze, led Gui Qi out.

Liu Sanshui walked ahead. Gui Qi went with him alone, not wanting to scare the villagers with a larger group.

"Official, if you want to recruit people, it's best we go to the village chief's house. The village chief has more sway than I do."

Gui Qi nodded. "Just call me Manager Seven. Then please take me to the village chief's house."

Liu Sanshui saw that Gui Qi, though he looked a bit fierce, was actually quite reasonable, so his initial fear lessened. He even reminded Gui Qi to watch his step as the path was slippery.

Having received two buns, Liu Sanshui was doing his utmost.

After bringing Gui Qi to Village Chief Liu's house, he knocked and explained their purpose.

Village Chief Liu reacted the same way Liu Sanshui had initially—with total disbelief.

Even if there was cooperation between the Northern Country and Wu Country, how could a craft, something not passed to outsiders, possibly be taught to them?

Even if it were taught to Northern people, it would be the nobles who learned it. How could it ever reach farmers like them?

Learning of the chief's doubts, Liu Sanshui acted as messenger to inform Gui Qi.

Gui Qi stepped forward a few paces, staying far enough from the door so as not to frighten the man inside. "Our Prime Minister Xie sympathizes with the people's hardships. He knows the high officials live in extravagance and don't lack such a craft. But the common people might, through having a trade, be able to make a living and support their families. Therefore, Prime Minister Xie repeatedly emphasized that the craft must be taught to those who truly need it. Moreover, we charge not a single coin. This matter is known to and agreed upon by both the Northern Emperor and Official Xu."

Liu Sanshui nodded, corroborating to the person inside, "Yes, Village Chief, the *yamen* clerks are sitting on my table at home right now. Manager Seven isn't lying to us."

Inside, Village Chief Liu was shocked. He had many questions, but the one he was most curious about was: Could the prime minister of Wu Country really be so concerned for the people?

The elderly village chief tremblingly opened the door.

Whether it was true or false, experience told him not to hesitate or say more, or there would be no good outcome.

The village chief was advanced in years, hunched over and supporting himself with a smooth, worn walking stick.

He followed Liu Sanshui's lead in addressing Gui Qi. "Manager Seven, could you explain in more detail to this old man?"

Gui Qi explained carefully once more. Village Chief Liu, now certain this was truly about passing on a craft, felt immensely excited.

This was an opportunity to change one's fate!

"I wonder what requirements Manager Seven has for the people."

The reason he was the village chief was because his insight and planning were superior. Once he confirmed Gui Qi wasn't deceiving them, he thought about signing up eligible members of his own family.

Gui Qi stated the requirements, "Ice carving requires considerable strength, so young adults are best. Men or women, no restriction, as long as they have the strength and are of suitable age."

Upon hearing this, Village Chief Liu hesitated.

Young men and women were indispensable labor for farming. If they went to learn a craft, what would happen to the family's land?

If women went, they probably couldn't get pregnant while learning. He had been hoping the family could have more children when it was warmer; more people meant better farming.

Should they not learn it?

The thought was quickly dismissed. They already knew how to farm, but they didn't know ice carving.

If they missed this opportunity, it might be generations before they encountered such good fortune again.

After all, in all his years, he had never heard of anyone passing down a craft to those outside their own clan.

Besides, signing up didn’t guarantee they’d be chosen.

"Steward Seven, my second son, third son's wife, and fifth son are all strong and sturdy. Do you think they’d be suitable?"

With the village chief taking the lead, recruiting others would be much easier. Gui Qi immediately agreed.

They had all heard Liu Sanshui helping to explain and call out earlier while they were inside.

Guessing they had been selected to learn the craft, the three exchanged glances with their father. After receiving his confirming nod, they could barely contain their overwhelming joy.

A craft! They actually had a chance to learn a craft!

And without spending a single coin!

Could it be that pies really do fall from the sky?

Whether pies fall from the sky or not, Gui Qi didn’t know, but he did know that Liu Family Village had been successfully won over.

With Village Head Liu setting an example, the remaining villagers required little persuasion.

Liu Sanshui’s small courtyard was packed with people. The covert guard responsible for recording names stood with a brush and bamboo slips, slowly taking down information.

The North Country clerks, who had been hogging the table inside, couldn’t stand their slow pace. They simply carried the table outside for them to use.

They also drew their swords to maintain order, and the chaotic courtyard quickly quieted down.

Snowflakes drifted in the air, settling on everyone’s heads and shoulders. People hugged themselves tightly, shrinking their necks as they lined up.

About half of Liu Family Village’s able-bodied youth had been selected.

Those who weren’t chosen were filled with resentment. If it had required payment, they might not have felt so aggrieved.

But learning this craft was free for those selected. How could they accept missing out on such a huge opportunity?

This group stood outside Liu Sanshui’s house. If not for their fear of the armed clerks inside, they would have rushed in to demand to sign up.

The eager youths outside were watching intently. Fearing they might lose control and charge in, Gui Qi had to go out with his men and ask them to leave.

In the courtyard, the clerk who had pushed people earlier saw Gui Qi and his men surrounded by the villagers. He rolled his eyes, thinking to himself that they deserved this mess for not knowing how to handle things properly.

Teaching people a craft without charging a single coin? They were just asking to be pestered to death by those who weren’t selected.

It had to be said, the Wu Country people were truly foolish. If they charged, think of all the money they could make.

They weren’t charging anything, and apart from the physical strength required for the labor-intensive work, there were no other requirements.

The number of people wanting to learn the skill would only keep growing. Let’s see how they handle that.

When some clerks wanted to go help, he stopped them.

"They won’t die anyway. What are you going out for? Better to manage things here in the courtyard and finish recording the names quickly so we can get back earlier."

Hearing his words, the clerks gave up the idea of going outside.

Surrounded, Gui Qi and his men explained repeatedly that they were full and not taking any more people. But with so many people outside, their pleas and cries left Gui Qi and the others sighing helplessly.

Everyone spoke of their family’s hardships, saying several had already frozen to death since winter began.

But was freezing to death in winter unique to Liu Family Village or even the North Country? Apart from You Country, where temperatures remained high year-round, which of the other countries didn’t have people freeze to death in winter?

It was just a difference in numbers.

The villagers’ reactions were exactly as Gui Qi had planned. Seeing the atmosphere was ripe and the villagers sufficiently anxious, he shot a sidelong glance toward the courtyard. Noting the North Country clerks showed no intention of coming over, Gui Qi dropped his voice.

"It’s not that I don’t want to teach you, but we really can’t take too many people. Your emperor wouldn’t allow it."

Hearing "emperor," the villagers didn’t even dare to plead anymore.

Could it be they truly had no chance to learn the craft?

Despair showed on everyone’s faces, their resentment reaching its peak.

Then, Gui Qi lowered his voice even further. "However, seeing your difficult lives, my heart goes out to you. If you truly wish to learn, you can come secretly later. Just be careful to avoid being discovered by your North Country clerks."

Like a long drought meeting sweet rain, the villagers looked at Gui Qi with gratitude. To them, these words were a lifesaver!

Overjoyed after their deep despair, the villagers nearly burst out cheering but held back at Gui Qi’s warning shake of the head.

Right, they had to be secretive.

The clerks were right there in the courtyard. They couldn’t act too obviously. If they were discovered trying to learn secretly, they’d surely lose the chance.

The clerk who had pushed people earlier thought Gui Qi would be tied up for some time. He was surprised to see the villagers leave so quickly.

"What did you tell them?" the clerk asked Gui Qi as he re-entered the courtyard.

"I just said the number of spots is limited, set by your emperor. If they’re unhappy, they can go complain to the Northern Emperor. So they left."

The clerk was stumped. After hearing that, of course they’d leave.

"I’ve never heard His Majesty set a limit on numbers," the clerk said, seizing on the flaw in Gui Qi’s words.

Gui Qi feigned distress. "We only have so many ice carving masters. Too many people, and we can’t manage them. This is just one village; there are many more to come. If I didn’t say that, how would we recruit people in the later villages?"

Hearing this, the clerk snapped, "You used His Majesty’s name to deceive them! That’s a grave disrespect to His Majesty!"

"Go report it to your superior. When the time comes, I’ll tell him too—that all of you disobeyed orders and didn’t follow us every step of the way." Gui Qi smiled slightly, looking as if to say, "Let’s see what you choose to do." "When I went into the village, not a single one of you came with me."

"You!"

The clerk glared furiously at Gui Qi. Because they didn’t want their faces slashed by the biting wind, they indeed hadn’t followed the orders to the letter. This matter could be big or small; he didn’t dare gamble on the consequences.

"Shameless Wu Country people!"

Gui Qi retorted, "Lazy North Country people."

The clerk, displeased, made a move to hit him. Gui Qi stood his ground, waiting for him.

The other clerks, fearing things would escalate, quickly stepped in to hold him back.

"Take it easy! If you really hurt him, who’s going to teach ice carving?"

Someone else whispered, "Wait until they finish teaching. Then we can tie them up and beat them to vent our anger."

"Yeah, just bear with it for now."

The clerk who had pushed people earlier forcefully pulled his arm free from his colleagues’ grasp, glaring at Gui Qi. "You just wait, kid!"