Pulling back his hand, Chen Zhao leaned against the door, raised an eyebrow, and looked at the man scooping rice into his mouth from a large bowl. "What's up? Envious? Envy won't get you anywhere. It's not my fault I was born so handsome!"
The man just swallowed the last spoonful of rice from the large bowl, slurped, and swallowed the bits of cabbage leaves at the corner of his mouth. "Being good-looking doesn't help. With my wife weighing over two hundred pounds, where's the sense of security?"
Setting down the large bowl on the doorstep, casually wiping the soup from the corner of his mouth, the man with slightly yellowed teeth grinned and said, "Young Chen, let this experienced man give you some advice. You can't handle a pretty young wife. With your small house, you're out of luck!"
"I'm asking about that girl. Which family does she come from? How did she end up choosing this broke guy?"
The man's gaze swept back and forth across Xie Nandu, conveniently glossing over some parts and discreetly lingering on others.
Xie Nandu, holding a hot steaming sweet potato that he hadn't finished eating, glanced at the man. There was no hint of disgust in his eyes, just curiosity as he observed this shabby man who was destined never to be seen at home.
"Get lost!" Chen Zhao cursed, flipping the middle finger at the man. Normally, he would have sat down and argued with this old man, but today, for some reason, he lost interest right after starting.
Chen Zhao considered himself fairly articulate, but for some reason, whenever he argued with this middle-aged man in front of him, he always ended up at a disadvantage. It seemed like this old guy knew exactly what he was thinking. Every time, he could deliver a lethal blow with precision. But unfortunately, they lived opposite each other and often bumped into each other, inevitably leading to an argument.
Guess I need to improve my skills.
Gritting his teeth, Chen Zhao shouted toward the other gate, "Auntie, your man said he wants to take Widow Li as his concubine. What do you think about that?"
Hearing this, the man, who had been tilting his head up with his nostrils flared at Chen Zhao, suddenly weakened as his expression changed slightly. He lowered his voice, "You unscrupulous dog. Be careful not to end up without a wife..."
Before he could finish, a very loud voice came from inside the gate, "Zhou Gouqi, get your butt in here!"
Looking toward the man, Xie Nandu could vaguely see a sturdy woman in the courtyard holding a rolling pin in her hand.
As soon as this voice sounded, the alley erupted into laughter, instantly lightening the atmosphere.
Hearing the noise inside the gate, the man, who was still lounging with his legs crossed on the doorstep, glared fiercely at Chen Zhao but still shouted with indifference, "So what if I want to marry Widow Li? I prefer Princess Daliang. It's not like I'd enjoy living with someone like you, sniveling all day! What's wrong? Can't be a prince? Don't I have the right to dream?"
The man's words were full of vigor, but obviously, the neighbors present had heard such words so many times that they were immune to them, merely waiting to watch the show.
Suddenly, a gust of wind, and the rolling pin flew out of the yard, hitting the man on the back of his head. He exclaimed, fell off the doorstep in a somewhat embarrassed manner, and sat on the ground, cursing, "You fat woman, I'll hang you up and beat you later!"
At this moment, a woman of ordinary appearance but sturdy build with a dark face had already arrived at the gate. She didn't say anything, just grabbed the man by the collar and dragged him into the house.
It didn't seem like their first time doing this.
Laughter echoed through the alley once again.
"Chen, you better wait for me!" The man, who reluctantly entered the house, grumbled coldly before disappearing from Chen Zhao's view.
Watching this scene, Chen Zhao grinned broadly. That was satisfying!
...
...
"Disperse, disperse, everyone!"
Chen Zhao waved his hand, uncaring whether the neighbors truly intended to disperse. He swiftly opened the door and stepped into the somewhat modest courtyard.
The yard was modestly arranged, with nothing but a moss-covered water basin beside a stone table. A thin layer of snowflakes adorned the rim of the basin, while the ground was blanketed with snow. Some withered wild grass peeked through the crevices of the bricks near the eaves, dormant yet seemingly ready to sprout vigorously after this winter.
"Get lost!"
Snatching a handful of snow, Chen Zhao accurately aimed at a black stray cat under the eaves. The cat meowed and swiftly climbed onto the roof, glancing back at Chen Zhao before vanishing into the heavy snowfall.
The young girl followed quietly, maintaining a steady distance from Chen Zhao.
After these actions, the two finally reached the front of the main hall.
The entire courtyard showed its age; the wooden pillars, with bits of peeled paint, were victims of decay and insect infestation.
Pulling out an old wooden chair and a bench from the hall, Chen Zhao scratched his head. Just as he was about to speak, he watched Xie Nan Du directly head for the chair and sit down.
"How considerate," Chen Zhao muttered. He had intended for Xie Nan Du to sit on the bench.
Consequently, he found himself sitting on the bench, squirming uncomfortably.
"Aren't you the local town guard? They don't seem to fear you much," Xie Nan Du spoke as she sat down, her breath forming mist in the cold air.
She observed the significant change in this young man's demeanor between this setting and their previous encounter in the ruined temple. There, he had been resolute and composed, but here, he exuded a rogueish aura from head to toe.
This transformation intrigued the girl.
Leaning against a pillar, Chen Zhao nonchalantly picked at a peeling layer of paint, "If they aren't afraid, then they aren't. What more can I do, pull out a sword and threaten them?"
As he spoke, Chen Zhao's palm continuously rubbed against the hilt of a broken blade, the calluses on his hand telling their own story.
Xie Nan Du smiled, "In truth, with your abilities, if you were to join the military and train in the north for a few years, you might become a captain, and later..."
"In a few more years, I'll end up dead at the hands of those flesh-devouring demon troops from the north, and the court won't even know who to compensate," Chen Zhao remarked, casting a seemingly foolish look at the girl before him. "Do you think even if I earn military merits in that haunted place, I'd receive what I'm due?"
Xie Nan Du shook her head, knowing the answer to that question.
In the Great Liang Dynasty, those who believed that effort always led to reward were either naive or foolish.
"But I am curious about how you became this town guard. Are you from a lesser-known family in the north?" This had been her lingering question, finally spoken aloud.
However, Chen Zhao paid no attention, lost in thought while leaning against the peeling pillar.
Observing the snow outside, Xie Nan Du refocused and asked earnestly, "Where do I stay?"
"There are two rooms; the one on the east side hasn't been occupied for a long time. There's a bed with old quilts, but I can't guarantee it'll be warm. If you dislike it, pay up, and I'll get something for you. But remember, you can't take it when you leave," Chen Zhao replied, rubbing his reddened nose. His eyes carried a hint of cunning.
A quilt wouldn't cost much, yet every coin was crucial to Chen Zhao. He wasn't willing to spend unnecessarily.
"Also, how many days are you staying? Regardless of the duration, it'll be ten heavenly coins per day, your daily expenses," he added.
"You seem greedy. Ten heavenly coins could sustain someone for months here," she remarked.
Although from a noble family, Xie Nan Du wasn't one to demand luxuries. Earlier, when buying roasted sweet potatoes, she had handed over a heavenly coin, and the vendor struggled to find change in the form of Great Liang coins.
Heavenly coins were the currency circulated within the higher echelons and among cultivators of the Great Liang Dynasty, while the commoners used copper coins stamped with 'Great Liang Treasury' for their daily transactions.
"One must make the most of opportunities," Chen Zhao grinned, resembling an ordinary citizen.
At the mention of ordinary citizens, Xie Nan Du recalled the conversation between Chen Zhao and the man at the door. These words might have provoked anger in scholars preaching moral values, but to her, who had never encountered such expressions, it was neither offensive nor appealing.
"I don't mind, but as for daily expenses, one heavenly coin per day," she declared.
Unbeknownst to her, the rapport between her and this young man seemed to be deepening.
Her thoughts were increasingly focused on this mysterious black-clad youth. But curiosity often leads to unexpected developments.
As dusk fell, Xie Nan Du walked toward the room in the east, while Chen Zhao watched from under the eaves.
Before long, Xie Nan Du returned, tossing a money pouch from afar.
"Go buy a quilt. Here's the money."