"I asked you to go back." You Miao said seriously, "I wanted you to leave this sad place, the Central Plains."
Li Zhifeng glanced at You Miao, and You Miao said, "Won't you feel homesick if you go back to the Central Plains?"
Li Zhifeng shook his head.
You Miao said, "It's okay if you don't feel homesick. Just follow me in the future."
Li Zhifeng took out something from his arms and handed it to You Miao. It was still his indenture. You Miao said, "You saved my life. If you hadn't come, Zhao Chao and I might have died. From now on, we can just call each other brothers. You are no longer a slave."
You Miao didn't take the thing, so Li Zhifeng handed it to him again, saying, "It's my duty to protect you. No matter how much, it's not too much. The Quanrong people originally had no hometown to speak of, and there was no such thing as homesickness."
You Miao nodded, hugged Li Zhifeng's waist, and buried himself in his arms. Li Zhifeng's hat was very strange, like a wolf with half of his head cut off, and two fangs covered his resolute and handsome face. He was completely different from the past.
You Miao curled up in his arms and fell asleep in a daze, with his hands around his waist, and Li Zhifeng held him with his strong arms. The last thing You Miao thought before falling asleep was: Li Zhifeng is a good guy, two hundred and fifty taels, it's really a treasure.
The carriage traveled for a day and arrived at Daliang City. The soldiers went to find the government and found the Beijing caravan stranded in Daliang City. Hao Sanqian escaped by chance. The caravan had lost the young master of the You family and was already in chaos. However, the situation was chaotic at the time, and many drivers died. Those who could save their lives fled. What's the use of having more money if you don't have a life to spend?
When escaping to Daliang, Hao Sanqian stuffed money into the government and asked people to find the whereabouts of You Miao. Daliang City, Zhengliang Pass, and Yanbian City are three places that are several days away by car. The news came and went, and they were delayed on the road for a long time. The merchants were all anxious. When they saw You Miao return, they were quite embarrassed.
You Miao didn't care much, just smiled and said: "It's good to be back, don't worry, I'm sorry to have caused you trouble this time."
The merchants were all relieved. Hao Sanqian kept coming to complain, saying how much goods were lost this time, and that the young master had gone through so many storms. He was afraid that he would be finished if he went back. You Miao comforted him with kind words, knowing that it was the nature of merchants to seek profit and avoid harm, and he couldn't blame them all.
The convoy rested in Daliang for a day that day and prepared to set off again the next day.
Although Daliang was not as prosperous as Yanbian's foreign trade, it was also an important place in Guandong. You Miao ate half a catty of hand-pulled mutton, two taels of beef liver, and a large bowl of mare's milk tea in the inn. He finally came back to life, carrying a bunch of grapes, crossing his legs, eating and watching the scenery.
Li Zhifeng was holding a bowl with a large bowl of mutton soup steamed buns in it, squatting outside the restaurant and concentrating on eating.
Merchants all called him a loyal servant. Daliang was the last battle before the border crossing. Merchants from all directions gathered here. You Miao heard about things from various places from time to time. Most of them said that the northern Hu tribe had risen up. In recent years, the border has become more and more chaotic. I am afraid that I can't do business for a few years.
You Miao stood up with his hands in his sleeves. Li Zhifeng put the half-eaten bowl aside and stood up. You Miao said, "You continue to eat."
Li Zhifeng said, "No more."
You Miao smiled and said, "Eat, you can accompany me when you are full."
Li Zhifeng took the bowl again and started eating. You Miao bowed and touched the wolf hat on his head. Li Zhifeng looked up at him and You Miao smiled.
You Miao took Li Zhifeng through the muddy market to buy clothes. The Shu silk and Su brocade here are complicated and the price is more expensive than that of Jiangbei, but the ready-made clothes have many styles and are not restricted to one style. Going further south, the weather will be warmer, and you don't have to wear brocade fur all the time. Li Zhifeng can't wear this wolfskin and wolf head with a wolf tail behind his jacket. He must change his clothes.
"This one." You Miao took a fancy to an indigo robe with sky blue cloud pattern, all embroidered with secret needles. It doesn't look obvious, but it looks energetic when worn. You Miao himself is wearing brocade and jade robes, so the people following him can't be too shabby.
Li Zhifeng said nothing, folded up his battle skirt, took off his jacket, revealing his bronze and strong skin. His muscles were thin and hard, as if made of iron. He put on a single coat and tied a belt, attracting the attention of the women around him.
"Slave..." Someone noticed the tattoo on Li Zhifeng's neck and whispered.
"Is he a Hu person?"
"He is so brave, bringing a Hu slave into the border without tying his hands and feet..."
"I wonder whose young master he is..."
You Miao turned a deaf ear to him, stretched out his hand to straighten Li Zhifeng's collar, covering his tattoo, and said: "Don't say the wrong thing when you get to my house."
"Hmm." Li Zhifeng nodded.
You Miao: "When the time comes, let's collude and tell him that you were sent to me by Li Yan, and don't say anything else."
"Got it." Li Zhifeng said obediently.
You Miao said again: "If they ask you who you are, just say you are a Han."
Li Zhifeng didn't say anything. You Miao suddenly thought of something. Even the Han people said that they should not forget their ancestors and recognize the enemy as their father. It seems that this is also true for the Quanrong people.
Li Zhifeng should not want to say that he is a Han person. After all, he has the blood of the Quanrong people flowing in his body. Besides, his eyebrows and eyes are really not like those of the Han people.
Just when You Miao was about to say something else, Li Zhifeng said, "Okay."
"Forget it." You Miao said, "Just tell the truth, I'll go find a way with my dad."
You Miao held Li Zhifeng's index and middle fingers, shook them, left the clothing store, and went back to the caravan. All expenses in Daliang City were recorded in the caravan's account. After a few days, the caravan set off again and headed for the last stop of this winter trade - Jiangbei.
Jiangnan and Jiangbei are divided into Liuzhou, Yangzhou, Suzhou and other places. As they are close to the Yangtze River, the weather gradually warms up. It took another ten days on this journey. Although it would snow from time to time, it was mixed with rain, fluttering among the hills and green mountains. Compared with the angry snow outside the Great Wall that covered the sky and the cold wind was as sharp as a knife, the winter in Jiangbei is simply a beautiful sight on earth.
"When you get home, you have to call my father Master, understand?"
"Yes."
"You'll only stay for a month, don't quarrel with the servants..."
"Hmm."
"The You Mansion is not like the one in the capital. Some servants can't enter the room. You are my man, you can enter my room, but you can't enter the hall, and you can't walk around anywhere else..."
"Got it."
You Miao repeatedly told Li Zhifeng all the way, and talked about a lot of family matters. You can't show off to those playboys in the capital, you have to hide your wealth, but you can show off to your own servants.
"In short," You Miao concluded, "Even the emperor can't see the food, clothing and expenses. Following me is also a blessing you have cultivated in your previous life."
"Yes." Li Zhifeng's mouth twitched slightly, looking out of the car happily.
"Have you been to Liuzhou?" You Miao asked again.
Li Zhifeng shook his head.