Liu Bei time-travels to become the Heavenly King Chao Gai

Chapter 22 Inside the Wulong Courtyard, Yan Poxi

The convoy continued on its way.

The sounds of soldiers' horses' hooves and mule cart wheels mingled together.

Wu Yong sat in the back of the cart, his hand holding the feather fan tightening slightly.

Liu Bei, however, still wore a warm smile.

He seemed oblivious to the probing intent in Lei Heng's words, and instead burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! What a coincidence! The world is full of wonders. It's not surprising that people look alike."

He turned to look at Lei Heng, his eyes calm.

"Besides, I, Chao Gai, am the head of Dongxi Village. The villagers usually give me face. Why would I give up a peaceful life to do something that could cost me my head? Brother, do you think I'm that brainless?"

Lei Heng stared into Liu Bei's eyes.

There was no panic or evasion in those eyes, only openness and sincerity.

After a while, Lei Heng also burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Brother is right! I was just overthinking it!"

"Brother is a respected and virtuous man, how could he associate with such bandits! Come, let's drink!"

He took a wine flask off his saddle and threw it to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei took it, tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful, then threw it back.

An invisible confrontation vanished amidst the laughter and the smell of alcohol.

Wu Yong, standing behind, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at Liu Bei's broad and generous back, he felt even more admiration for him.

He remained unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

Such magnanimity and temperament are not something that ordinary people possess.

The group entered Yuncheng.

Lei Heng, along with his officers and soldiers, bid farewell to Liu Bei at the street corner.

"Brother, we still need to return to the yamen to report, so we'll leave you here."

Liu Bei cupped his hands and said, "Thank you very much for your escort today, brother."

Lei Heng waved his hand, about to turn his horse and leave.

"Brother Lei, please wait."

Liu Bei suddenly called out to him.

Lei Heng reined in his horse and looked back at him with a puzzled expression.

"Is there anything else you need, brother?"

With a smile on his face, Liu Bei jumped off the mule cart.

He walked up to Lei Heng's horse and lowered his voice.

"Brother, I'm new here and wanted to ask you about a few people."

Lei Heng asked curiously, "Who does brother want to find out about?"

Liu Bei looked around and lowered his voice.

"Do you know any of those scoundrels in Yuncheng County?"

A scoundrel?

Lei Heng was stunned.

He looked Liu Bei up and down, his eyes full of confusion.

"Brother, why are you asking them?"

"Those guys are idle all day long, stealing chickens and dogs, doing nothing but causing trouble. I kick them a few times whenever I see them."

"Brother, you are a respectable businessman. Getting involved with them will only tarnish your reputation."

Liu Bei smiled and patted Lei Heng's horse's neck.

"Brother, you are mistaken."

He looked at Lei Heng and said slowly, "Everything in this world has its use. Even a lump of mud by the roadside can be used to plaster a wall."

Lei Heng was stunned.

Is there such a saying?

Liu Bei continued, "These rascals are certainly not good at getting anything done, but they do have one advantage."

"What are the benefits?"

"Well-informed."

Liu Bei's gaze swept over the pedestrians coming and going on the street.

"They spent their days mingling in the streets, teahouses, taverns, casinos, and brothels; wherever there were crowds, there they were."

"They know better than anyone which wealthy family has run into trouble, which official has taken a concubine, and which merchant has made a fortune."

"I need someone like this to help me find out news from the north and south and to keep an eye out for useful people. I'm going to do business in the city now."

Lei Heng stared with his mouth agape, unable to utter a word for a long time.

He's a rough man who only knows about good people and bad people, and about catching thieves and arresting people.

Who would have thought that even a scoundrel, whom everyone hates, could be so useful?

This Brother Chao Gai, his thoughts and perspectives were indeed different from those of ordinary mortals.

"Brother's insight is brilliant!"

Lei Heng exclaimed in sincere admiration.

"This is what scholars mean by 'making the best use of everything and giving full play to everyone's talents'!"

Liu Bei nodded: "That's exactly right."

Lei Heng slapped his thigh, his confusion vanishing and replaced by excitement.

"Okay! Brother, leave this to me!"

"I know a scoundrel named Sun Sheng. Although he steals chickens and dogs on a regular basis, he is quite clever."

"I'll go find him in a bit, tell him to wash himself clean, and then come here to pay his respects to my brother!"

Liu Bei cupped his hands in greeting: "Then I'll have to trouble you, brother."

"polite!"

Lei Heng laughed loudly, turned his horse around, and led his men away in a great hurry.

Wu Yong got out of the cart and walked to Liu Bei's side.

He watched Lei Heng's departing figure and said softly.

"Brother, this winged tiger is indeed someone worth befriending."

Liu Bei hummed in agreement.

He is brave and strong, loyal and righteous, and not stupid. It's just that being in the public service, he has too many concerns, and ultimately he will not be able to achieve great things.

He turned his head to look in the direction of the west of the city.

"Let's go, our new home still needs to be taken care of."

Wu Yong followed behind him and asked, "Brother, can Sun Sheng... be trusted?"

Liu Bei's steps did not stop.

Whether someone is reliable or not is not important.

"The important thing is whether he's useful."

"If he's useful, it's worth befriending him."

As they spoke, the two walked one after the other into the gate of the western granary of the city.

The tall walls of the courtyard shut out the noise of the outside world.

Wu Yong walked to a warehouse and reached out to touch the wall.

The walls were built with huge bluestones, and the gaps were filled with a mixture of glutinous rice juice and lime, making them exceptionally sturdy.

"Brother, this is no granary, it's clearly a small fortified village."

Liu Bei remained silent.

He walked to the center of the courtyard, where the stone slabs under his feet were covered with moss because no one had walked on them for many years.

His gaze passed over the high wall and looked toward the dock not far away.

There is a waterway that leads directly to Liangshan Marsh.

"pedant."

"I'm here."

"Send a message to the Lin brothers and the Ruan brothers, telling them to hurry up and act."

Liu Bei's tone was very calm.

"Tell them we've found our new home."

Wu Yong waved his fan, looking at the spacious and sturdy courtyard, his eyes lighting up.

This place can not only store grain, but also troops.

It could also serve as a secret stronghold of Liangshan Water Village within the city.

The gift that Shi Wenbin gave was quite substantial.

……

Inside the Wulong Courtyard.

Yan Poxi sat in front of her dressing table, idly fiddling with a red gold hairpin.

A beautiful face was reflected in the bronze mirror.

With willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and a small cherry-like mouth, she possessed an indescribable charm and elegance.

But at this moment, his face was full of frustration.

She threw the hairpin on the table, making a crisp sound.

"It's boring."

This house was bought by Song Jiang.

The silk and satin fabrics worn by this woman were provided by Song Jiang.

The jewels and ornaments adorning her head were all gifts from Song Jiang.

That dark-skinned, short man transformed her from a street performer into a pampered concubine.

But she wasn't happy.

Song Jiang treated her very well.

However, he would spend twenty days a month either staying at the county government office or drinking with his cronies.

She was left alone, guarding this empty house.

She was only eighteen years old.

What she wanted was more than just money.

"Xi'er, what are you thinking about?"

A flippant voice came from behind.

Yan Poxi didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

She looked in the mirror at the man slowly approaching.

The man was dressed in white, with a handsome face and a faint smile on his lips.

It was Zhang Wenyuan, a clerk in the county government office.