Chapter 91 - 90: Offering Grain
Chapter 91: Chapter 90: Offering Grain
The biting wind cut like a knife as it swept across the docks of Jingshan County.
To the right of the docks, on a stretch of open land, was the encampment of the thirty-thousand-strong bandit suppression army sent by the Court.
The sprawling rows of military tents resembled a dormant behemoth, and a palpable, deadly aura filled the air, striking fear into all who looked upon it.
Chen Li and Shouheng arrived outside the main gate of the military camp, from which they could faintly hear the shouts of drills and the clash of steel.
The Squad Commander guarding the camp glanced over and barked, "Halt! This is a restricted military area. No unauthorized entry!"
Chen Shouheng, neither servile nor haughty, cupped his fist in salute. "Pardon us, Officer. I am Chen Shouheng from Lingxi Village. We have an urgent matter and wish to see Mu Tisi of the Riverway Government Office and Miss Mu. Would you please announce our presence?"
Upon hearing the names Mu Tisi and Miss Mu, the Squad Commander sized up Chen Shouheng carefully, then glanced at the composed and dignified Chen Li behind him. After a moment’s thought, he gestured to a soldier at his side.
The soldier acknowledged the order, turned, and hurried into the camp to deliver the message.
Before long, a familiar figure in red strode out from within the camp. It was Mu Yuanying.
She still wore her practical, fiery-red combat attire, now covered by a dark cloak to ward off the cold. The wind had left her fair cheeks slightly flushed.
When she saw Chen Shouheng, a flicker of indescribable joy lit up her clear eyes.
"Chen Shouheng? Uncle Chen, what brings you here?"
She strode forward, her tone laced with surprise, her gaze lingering on Chen Shouheng’s face for an instant.
Chen Shouheng’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. With a barely perceptible mix of awkwardness and delight, he quickly cupped his fist. "Miss Mu, please forgive the intrusion. My father has an important matter and would like to see Uncle Mu. Is this a convenient time?"
Hearing this, Mu Yuanying turned her gaze to Chen Li. Seeing his calm yet grave expression, she understood at once and nodded. "It is. My father should be in his tent right now. Please, come with me."
She turned to gesture to the Squad Commander, who nodded to let them pass.
Mu Yuanying led the two of them past layers of sentries, and they soon arrived outside a large tent, bigger and much more heavily guarded than the rest.
Outside, two personal guards with hands on their hilts scanned Chen Li and his son with sharp eyes.
Mu Yuanying stepped forward to murmur a few words, then lifted the tent flap and led them inside.
The inside of the tent was as warm as spring, a world apart from the biting cold outside.
A middle-aged man in a Military Officer’s daily uniform, who bore a slight resemblance to Mu Yuanying and possessed a naturally imposing aura, sat behind the main desk reviewing documents.
This was Mu Yuanying’s father, Mu Hongyuan, the Tisi for Security in the Riverway Government Office.
Seeing the three enter, Mu Hongyuan set down his documents and looked up. His gaze swept over Chen Li as he rose to greet them. "Yuanying, who are these two gentlemen?"
"Father, this is Uncle Chen Li from Lingxi Village in Mirror Mountain, the one who I’ve told you helped me so many times. And this... is his son, Chen Shouheng."
Mu Yuanying said, then turned to Chen Li. "Uncle Chen, this is my father."
Chen Li cupped his fist in salute. "I, Chen Li, and my son, Shouheng, have taken the liberty of paying you a visit, Mu Tisi."
"Shouheng greets you, Uncle."
Chen Shouheng bowed as well.
Mu Hongyuan laughed heartily and returned the gesture. "Brother Chen, please, no need for such formalities. Sit down! After my daughter returned, she spoke often of your kind assistance. I must thank you for that."
His gaze rested on Chen Shouheng for a moment before he nodded. "So this is young Shouheng? He’s a fine-looking young man with a remarkable bearing."
After they sat and exchanged a few pleasantries, Mu Hongyuan smiled. "Brother Chen, what business brings you here today?"
Chen Li’s expression grew serious, and he decided to be direct. "Mu Tisi, you are a straightforward man, so I will get right to the point. I have indeed come to ask for your help with a certain matter."
He then recounted the whole affair: Fengyu Grain Store’s grain collection, the County Magistrate’s assigned quotas, and the urgent demand for the military levy. "Magistrate Zhang is displeased with me," he explained. "Therefore, I have taken the liberty of coming here to present these ten thousand bushels of grain directly to the army. I only ask that you, Mu Tisi, might speak to Magistrate Zhang and make it clear that the army has received this grain, and that I... have fulfilled his order as required."
The tent fell silent.
Mu Yuanying spoke up in anger. "Father, our army’s provisions are supplied directly by the Court! For that Zhang Heming to use our name to levy grain... his motives are sinister. This is outrageous!"
Mu Hongyuan waved his hand, silencing his daughter. He mused for a moment before speaking. "Normally, we wouldn’t interfere in local matters. However, Brother Chen, you have done my daughter a great service and have repeatedly provided valuable intelligence on the Sect, which has greatly aided our army’s strategy. What’s more, Zhang Heming is using our army’s name to levy grain. For reasons both public and private, I will not stand by and ignore this. I will take care of it."
A great weight lifted from Chen Li’s heart. He gave a solemn salute. "In that case, you have my deepest thanks, Mu Tisi."
"No thanks are necessary. By bringing this grain, Brother Chen, you’ve helped me immensely. I will be sure to report your contribution to the Court and request a commendation on your behalf."
Mu Hongyuan’s tone turned cold with a hint of disdain. "As for that Magistrate Zhang... I will make myself perfectly clear to him. I doubt he’ll dare to cause you any more trouble, Brother Chen."
With the official business concluded, they exchanged a few more pleasantries.
Chen Li then changed the subject, his expression turning serious again. "To be frank, Mu Tisi, beyond our official business today, there is another, more personal request I’ve brazenly come to make."
"Oh? Please, Brother Chen, speak freely."
Looking slightly surprised, Mu Hongyuan leaned forward.
Chen Li glanced at his son beside him and spoke slowly. "My eldest son, Shouheng, was smitten with your daughter from the moment he met her. They have since endured trials together, and their bond has deepened. Today, I am taking the liberty of proposing a marriage on my son’s behalf, to ask for your daughter’s hand as his wife."
The moment the words were out, the atmosphere in the tent changed completely.
Mu Yuanying’s face instantly flushed crimson. "Father, don’t listen to Uncle Chen’s teasing!" she protested hastily. "Chen Shouheng and I have only met a few times in the course of the bandit suppression. Where does this talk of a ’deepening bond’ come from?"
Chen Shouheng, blushing to the tips of his ears, opened his mouth to speak but fell silent under Mu Yuanying’s glare, lowering his head in embarrassment.
Mu Hongyuan was taken aback for a moment, then his eyes darted between his daughter and Chen Shouheng, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
Taking in his daughter’s reaction, a knowing smile flashed in Mu Hongyuan’s eyes. "Brother Chen, to be perfectly honest, I have only one son and one daughter. Yuanying, in particular, I have treasured since she was a child. Her marriage must be of her own choosing. If Yuanying herself is not willing, then I, as her father, will not force her in the slightest."
The tent fell silent again, the only sound the CRACKLING of the charcoal fire.
Seeing this, Chen Li’s expression remained composed. He cupped his fist and said, "If that is the case, then I will not press the matter. We shall leave it to the fate of the young ones."
With that, he rose to take his leave.
Mu Yuanying escorted Chen Li and his son out of the tent.
Outside, the cold wind rushed to meet them.
Chen Shouheng’s heart turned to ice. All the hope he had arrived with had just vanished.
"Let’s go. You can’t force matters of the heart. A love that is forced will never last."
Chen Li patted his eldest son on the shoulder and led him away.
Chen Shouheng pursed his lips, glanced back one last time at the military camp, and then followed in his father’s footsteps.