Chapter 6: Neighbor
She turned her head and saw that Old Huang, surprisingly, had come again. The two men with him were both wearing standard-issue Fine Leather Armor, a far cry from the simple leather armor worn by the Garrison Soldiers. Having lived in the Northern Border for many years, even as a woman, she could still tell the difference. Only a Centurion of the City Guard Army was qualified to wear this kind of armor.
She noticed one of them in particular. Wasn’t that the same young man who had been drinking with Old Huang?
The one who had just called out was Lu Yuan. Widow Li didn’t dare to slight him; after all, he was asking for meat dishes, which meant he was bringing her business. She immediately called back, "Coming!"
With a shout, she first brought a plate of cold appetizers and a jar of wine out from the back kitchen, placing them on the table. "Please, start drinking, you three. The hot dishes will be right out."
Taking the opportunity, she sized up Lu Yuan.
There was no mistake. He was indeed wearing the standard-issue armor of a Centurion.
He wasn’t just young, but also had a masculine and rugged handsomeness. He was countless times better looking than the other rough-looking men of Icefield City.
But the most important thing was his age. This was the first time she had ever seen a Centurion so young.
However, she still had her doubts. After leaving their table, she made a point of going over to Wei Yong’s table. As she poured them wine, she asked quietly, "That young man over there... he was with Old Huang just yesterday. How is he in Fine Leather Armor today?"
She looked as if she were just making casual conversation. Beside her, Zhang Gun took a swig of wine and muttered, "That Centurion position was supposed to be Wei’s. Who the fuck knows how it ended up with that newcomer."
His words were laced with a hint of resentment.
Widow Li’s expression didn’t change. She just smiled and walked away.
But she felt a little uncomfortable inside. ’The Centurion position was supposed to be Wei Yong’s, and now it’s gone just like that.’
However, the thought that he was a local with family savings and a storefront on the street made her feel a little better. Besides, Wei Yong had also reached the Entry Level.
Compared to a Centurion from out of town, perhaps he wasn’t any worse off.
Lu Yuan, however, was unaware of these intricacies and just continued drinking with Zhou He and Old Huang.
By the time the meal was over and the three left the restaurant, they had become quite familiar with each other.
They each headed back to their own homes.
Back in Ice Valley Lane, Lu Yuan looked at his shattered gate. He found the carpenter next door and spent three hundred copper plates to get a new door panel, which he then reinstalled.
By now, he didn’t have much silver left in his pocket, only about seven taels. It was enough to live on, but buying Elixirs was out of the question.
Although he could exchange military merits for Cultivation Resources at the barracks, the main problem was that he didn’t have any military merits yet.
Therefore, if he wanted to speed up his cultivation, he had to find a way to make money.
Just after he finished installing the new gate.
"CREAK!"
The gate to the neighboring courtyard opened, and a young woman came into Lu Yuan’s sight. She was about his age, quite tall—only half a head shorter than him—and her snowy-white skin seemed to reflect the sunlight.
She had large, dark eyes, a small, delicate nose, and features so exquisitely beautiful they looked as if they were carved.
She wore a simple cotton dress, paired with a snow-white sheepskin Vest.
But even that couldn’t hide her perfectly developed figure.
Her long hair was casually tied up.
Upon seeing Lu Yuan, her face first blushed, and then she stammered, "Sir, my family’s stove keeps smoking. Could you please help take a look?"
She and her mother relied on each other; there were no men in their house.
Usually, when small problems arose, their neighbors would help.
But many families in the lane had just lost someone, so the only person she could ask for help now was Lu Yuan.
"Oh, I’ll take a look for you."
He didn’t refuse and walked toward the girl’s house.
As he entered the courtyard, his eyes widened. The small yard was immaculately clean.
Sounds of coughing came from inside the house.
"My mother is in poor health and can’t bear the smell of smoke. I had no other choice," the young woman said, wringing the corner of her clothes in distress.
"It’s no trouble. Neighbors should help each other," Lu Yuan said as he pushed the door open and went inside.
A faint smell of medicine filled the room. A middle-aged woman lay on the bed, her face pale. She didn’t look that old, but her hair was already streaked with white.
From her features, one could guess that she must have been a beauty in her youth.
Although she was a sick woman, Lu Yuan felt a faint pressure emanating from her, for reasons he couldn’t explain. It wasn’t related to cultivation, but was the kind of aura cultivated by those in high positions. He had met people like that in the past.
"We’re really troubling you," the woman said in a hoarse voice, trying to sit up.
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
But the moment she moved, she couldn’t stop coughing.
The young woman could only help her mother lie back down.
Lu Yuan waved his hand. "Please, don’t be so formal. I’m young, you can just treat me as a junior."
He then began to inspect the stove.
A moment later, he smiled. "It’s not a big problem, the chimney is just blocked. I’ll go check the roof."
As he spoke, Lu Yuan went outside. With a single leap, he was on the roof, where he found his guess was correct. But then his brow furrowed. A tattered piece of clothing had been stuffed inside. It was clearly done on purpose.
He didn’t say anything, however, and just threw the cloth away.
Then he jumped back down.
Seeing his hands were covered in soot, the young woman quickly brought out a basin of water.
"Quick, wash your hands."
Lu Yuan didn’t stand on ceremony. After washing his hands, he asked, "Is it still smoking?"
"It’s all better now. Thank you, sir," the young woman said cheerfully.
"As long as it’s fixed. If you have any small chores like this in the future, you can always ask me." Lu Yuan said, preparing to leave.
But then, the young woman grabbed his sleeve. "It’s getting late. Please stay for dinner. I hope you don’t mind."
With her saying that, it was hard for Lu Yuan to refuse.
He glanced at the woman lying in the room and saw that she was also gesturing for him to stay. He had no choice but to agree. "Alright, I’ll stay for dinner."
A smile appeared on the young woman’s face. "My name is Xiao Hua. You can call me by my name from now on, sir."
"I’m Lu Yuan." With that, the two were formally acquainted.
"Please, have a seat, Yuan. I’ll go get dinner started. It won’t take long."
As she spoke, the young woman turned and went into the inner room.
He could tell that she was very well-mannered, poised and graceful in her actions. She was not the kind of person an ordinary family could raise.
A moment later, she brought out a cup of tea for Lu Yuan to drink.
She then started to get busy.
「Meanwhile, at the Zhang Family estate in Yunzhou.」
Zhang Hong sat in the living room, his face expressionless, but a hint of joy glinted in his eyes.
He looked at Zhang He, the steward of the second branch, and said, "The General of Yunzhou has agreed. We can get Zhang Zhe a promotion this year. Our family has enough influence locally, but we’re lacking in the military. If we continue to develop according to the family’s plan, Zhang Zhe’s generation might produce a General. Then the path will be much smoother."
He took a sip of tea as he spoke.
"It’s all thanks to your planning, Big Brother. Otherwise, forget a promotion, that boy Zhe might not even be able to keep his position," Zhang He said softly.
"How is Yuan now? Do you have any news from your end?" Zhang Hong didn’t respond directly. He lifted his teacup for another sip before changing the subject to Lu Yuan.
"None. I’ve sent people to inquire, but it’s as if he vanished after going to the Northern Border. We don’t know which Sai City he was assigned to, and no one says they’ve ever heard the name," Zhang He replied quickly.
"The General of Yunzhou’s son has been asking about Yuan recently.
His father, after all, sees the bigger picture and has ordered him not to mention this matter again.
Since he can’t go after Zhe now, the boy is taking his anger out on Yuan again."
Zhang Hong sighed.
This was a critical moment for Zhang Zhe’s promotion, and their Zhang Family desperately needed support from the military, so they were powerless to intervene.
"Big Brother, what are you trying to say?" Zhang He’s heart tightened, terrified of jeopardizing his son’s promotion.
"What do you think I mean? It’s come to this. We can’t let Yuan stand in the way of your son’s career. Just... look after the third branch more in the future."
"Understood." Zhang He breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhang Hong said nothing more.
He just consoled himself with the thought, ’It’s all for the family.’