The Road to Glory

Chapter 10 "Who did you call a wolf in sheep's clothing?"...

Later in the evening, the wind picked up and sparse snowflakes began drifting down from the sky.

Wen Yu sat at the tea stall, propping her chin on her hand as she waited for Xiao Huiniang and the man who had gone to fetch her... now she should call him Xiao Li.

A delicate snowflake fell into the earthenware tea bowl, creating tiny ripples on the water's surface.

She gently swayed the ten copper coins strung together on a thin cord hanging from her fingertip.

Li - in ancient times it meant a whetstone for sharpening blades, now meaning to temper and sharpen a blade's edge.

Xiao Huiniang seemed to dote on him greatly, so why would she give him such a fiercely aggressive name?

The market was nearing closing time, but Xiao Huiniang and her son hadn't returned yet. She couldn't help but peer back in their direction when she overheard some vendors packing up their stalls discussing: "That Liu lackey at East Third Stall finally got what he deserved! Usually he's always rushing to report to those Three Thugs, thinking he's close with them. Whenever someone's business was better than his, he'd go whisper poison in the Three Thugs' ears. Serves him right - the stone he threw ended up hitting his own feet!"

Someone who didn't know the details couldn't help asking: "My stall wasn't over there today, I didn't see what happened. Tell me quickly!"

The speaker laughed: "Today those Three Thugs flew into a rage for some reason, went after that lackey and smashed his stall to pieces! They beat him up too, left him bruised and swollen all over. So satisfying!"

Someone else chimed in: "That's not all! You left early and didn't see - after the Three Thugs finished beating him and left, that lackey was picking up whatever goods were still usable. Just as he packed them into his basket, another rogue showed up, looking even fiercer than the Three Thugs. He kicked over the basket with one foot! That lackey was crying for his parents and begging for mercy - too funny!"

Wen Yu raised an eyebrow at this. East Third Stall? Wasn't that where the three thugs had said that peddler set up his stall?

Could it be that those three thugs had met their match this time and went back to take it out on that peddler? As for the second rogue the vendors mentioned who went to cause trouble, it sounded quite like Xiao Li. His mother's business in the market had been sabotaged - he probably went to warn the culprit?

While pondering this, she spotted Xiao Huiniang and her son emerging from the crowd. Xiao Huiniang had apparently bought more things, as both were carrying large and small packages.

Wen Yu stood up to greet them: "Auntie!"

Seeing Wen Yu, Xiao Huiniang immediately began fussing: "I heard from Huan'er that someone caused trouble. Were you frightened?"

Wen Yu said: "Fortunately Second Master arrived in time, it was just a scare..."

Still embarrassed about calling Xiao Li by the wrong name in front of the three thugs earlier, she consciously avoided looking in his direction.

As Xiao Huiniang said "That's good," Xiao Li's gaze swept briefly over Wen Yu before he looked away and said: "I'll go hail an oxcart."

Putting down what he was carrying, his long legs carried him away in a few strides.

While helping Xiao Huiniang place the packages on the table by the tea stall, Wen Yu couldn't help asking: "Auntie, why did you buy so many things?"

Xiao Huiniang smiled: "You're wearing my old padded jacket, which looks too old-fashioned. I bought you a new padded coat, plus some cotton and velvet cloth. I'll make you a pair of shoes later."

Wen Yu once again felt somewhat overwhelmed by Xiao Huiniang's kindness toward her. Her hands paused slightly as she set things down: "You shouldn't have spent so much."Xiao Huiniang shot her a reproachful look. "Child, what kind of words are these!"

After Xiao Huiniang finished a bowl of tea, the ox-cart arrived. Xiao Li loaded all the goods onto the cart and asked the cart owner to give Xiao Huiniang and Wen Yu a ride back.

However, the rear of the ox-cart was rather cramped, and Xiao Huiniang had purchased many items. With two passengers aboard, space became quite tight, requiring those seated to hold additional parcels in their laps.

This was Wen Yu's first time riding in an uncovered, open ox-cart. Unlike Xiao Huiniang who immediately grasped the low guardrail upon boarding, Wen Yu failed to secure herself. When the cart driver cracked his whip and the wooden wheels jolted into a pothole, she felt herself lurch forward violently, the new padded jacket in her arms tumbling out.

In her panic, she flung out one hand seeking support while stretching the other to retrieve the falling garment.

A shadow seemed to flicker before her eyes as an iron-strong hand clamped firmly around her outstretched arm, steadying her elbow to provide support. Simultaneously, the other hand that had reached for the jacket found the dropped clothing bundle thrust back into her grasp, followed by the same hand seizing her wrist to prevent her from falling off the cart.

In that dazed moment, Wen Yu felt as if she had collided with a bronze wall. Yet the faint but unmistakable scent of soapberries drifted into her senses, and the weight of the grip on her arm was particularly pronounced.

She lifted her gaze and met the man's pitch-black eyes—sharp yet restrained, with something unreadable swirling in their depths.

"Be careful," he said.

Snowflakes had settled on Wen Yu's long lashes. She blinked uncomfortably, freed her arm from his firm grasp to clutch the cart's guardrail, and properly seated herself. Only after withdrawing her other hand from his five-fingered restraint to rest on her knees did she finally look up and say, "Thank you."

Xiao Huiniang had also been startled by the sudden incident, though she hadn't reacted in time. Now with lingering fear, she grabbed one of Wen Yu's arms saying, "A Yu, hold tight to the rail! Don't fall!"

The cart driver cracked his whip again, explaining when he had a moment, "This road's rough with many potholes. It'll be better once we reach the main road ahead."

Xiao Li watched Wen Yu who met his gaze composedly. He handed over the bundle containing the new clothes, his handsome features betraying no emotion as he said, "Sit properly this time."

His stature was exceptionally tall, his approach feeling like a wall moving closer.

Wen Yu accepted the bundle with a slight nod.

As the ox-cart started moving again, the rogue had diminished to a distant speck. Clutching the bundle, Wen Yu still felt as if invisible bands constricted her arm and wrist, the sensation of that tight grip lingering.

She frowned slightly.

Xiao Li stood watching the ox-cart recede into the distance before glancing down at his hand, murmuring in puzzlement, "Her arm's as thin as a bamboo stick. Did Chen Lai Zi not feed her before?"

A lanky youth appeared from somewhere, a flatbread dangling from his mouth as he chimed in, "Who didn't eat? Second Brother, haven't you had morning meal either?"

He pulled another flatbread from his robe and offered it to Xiao Li. "Here, have this one. I'll buy another later for Third Brother to bring back."

Xiao Li wiped the strange expression from his face and declined the youth's flatbread. "Keep it for yourself. Zheng Hu left my place earlier and went to eat wontons by the street."The young man stuffed the pancake back into his clothes, grumbling discontentedly, "You're having a feast without me!"

Xiao Li was amused by the boy's words and tossed him a few copper coins, saying, "Buy whatever you want to eat yourself."

The boy's eyes immediately lit up. Clutching the pancake in his mouth, he caught the coins with both hands, wiped them on his sleeve, and then tucked them into his pocket like treasures, flattering, "Thank you, Second Brother! Second Brother truly lives up to being the handsome, dashing, wealthy, and... beastly-hearted..."

Before he could finish, he got a smack on the head and yelped, "Ouch! Second Brother, why did you hit me?"

Xiao Li bared his teeth in a grim smile. "Who did you just call 'beastly-hearted'?"

The boy looked confused. "Huh? Isn't 'beastly-hearted' a compliment? It means you look like a person but have the ambition of a wild beast—isn't that the same as phrases like 'dragon's grace, phoenix's poise' or 'tiger and wolf's might'?"

Xiao Li rubbed his forehead. "You squat by Old Ge's storytelling stall every day, listening to all those tales—haven't you learned anything?"

The boy retorted indignantly, "I have! Look how many compliments I came up with for you!"

Xiao Li didn't want to revisit the "compliment" of "beastly-hearted" and said, "Enough chatter. Did you finish the task I gave you?"

The boy grinned broadly, patting his chest. "Of course I did, Second Brother! For years, this street in the market has been controlled by Wang Qing's bunch of scoundrels. After Big Brother stepped down, they even tried to take over all the eastern city lanes. This time, they had the nerve to bully Auntie. Now that you've had the brothers seize the market, even if Wang Qing complains to the Proprietor, he's in the wrong!"

Xiao Li casually plucked a withered grass stalk from the roadside and chewed on it, indifferent. "Tell the brothers to keep it clean. Don't act like Wang Qing's cowards who only pick on small vendors."

The boy chuckled. "Of course! Our brothers aren't that pathetic! If we're collecting tribute, we'll get it from the crooked merchants and arrogant lackeys!"

At this point, the boy took a bite of his pancake and suddenly changed the subject. "The maid that Chen Lai Zi tricked into giving to Auntie—was she the one harassed by Wang Qing's thugs? I heard from vendors on Grocery Street that she's really clever. At first, she and Auntie sold handkerchiefs at a grocery stall, but there were too many vendors there, and they weren't selling. So, she took Auntie to the cloth merchants' area, picked out some fabric, and managed to sell a whole basket of embroidered handkerchiefs to the women buying cloth. That's what made the peddler at the eastern stall selling embroidery jealous."

Xiao Li, walking ahead, showed little reaction to this and simply tossed another copper coin to the boy. "From now on, when my mother brings her to this market, tell the brothers to look out for them. Don't let anyone cause trouble."

Delighted by the extra coin, the boy grinned widely. "Absolutely, Second Brother! You can count on it!"

—

Wen Yu and Xiao Huiniang returned home, unloaded the goods from the ox cart into the yard, and began putting everything away one by one.Xiao Huiniang took out a small box from the bundle she had brought back after buying fabric and handed it to Wen Yu, saying, "I noticed the red bumps on your face have faded, but the rash marks are fading slowly. I sought out a familiar physician at the tile market and got you this ointment. Apply it morning and night, and the marks will disappear completely in no time, without leaving scars."

Although Wen Yu had intentionally caused the rash, Xiao Huiniang's thoughtfulness in even considering this detail warmed her heart like a gentle stream. Clutching the exquisitely packaged ointment box, she asked, "This must be expensive, right?"

Xiao Huiniang, busy organizing the silk fabric she had bought, replied without looking up, "Never mind the cost. What matters is that your rash heals without scars. Your parents blessed you with such fine features. After all you've suffered at the hands of those traffickers, if they ever find you and see your face marred like this, how heartbroken would they be?"

These words struck a sudden ache in Wen Yu's chest. She said sincerely, "Thank you, Auntie."

Xiao Huiniang chided gently, "Silly child, always so formal..."

Faced with such pure, unadulterated concern, Wen Yu—usually so quick-witted—found herself at a loss for words. She fell silent and stepped forward to help Xiao Huiniang continue unpacking. When she discovered several tinders in one of the bundles, she exclaimed with a mix of surprise and curiosity, "Auntie, you bought so many tinders?"

Xiao Huiniang glanced over and said, "It was Xiao Li who insisted on buying them. He said they're more convenient, so we don't have to fumble in the dark when getting up at night..."

As she rambled on, Wen Yu recalled that morning when she had struggled to use the flint at the hearth, clattering it loudly enough to wake him. A faint guilt crept into her heart.

Was he buying these just to avoid being disturbed by her again?

Just as this thought crossed her mind, noises came from outside the courtyard gate—the rogue had returned.

Xiao Huiniang turned to look and exclaimed, "Good heavens! Did you buy out the entire butcher's shop?"

Author's Note:

Congratulations to Xiao Li, who after being dubbed "Xiao the Badger," has now earned a new title—Beast in Human Form (applause).