CHAPTER 366: CHAPTER 11: THE DOWN-AND-OUT MAN

After leaving the tavern, Dongdong went to a stall by the road to buy some fresh bread, then slipped into a narrow alley resembling a sheep’s gut, walked past a filthy sewage pit, and stopped at the door of a wooden house at the end of the alley.

Before entering, Dongdong carefully combed her hair and washed off the heavy makeup on her face with a wet cloth outside the house before stepping inside.

Even though it was spring, the simple wooden house without a fire was damp and cold. On the walls facing north, which didn’t see any light, one could still spot the traces of moss that had grown.

This was a typical dwelling of the poor in Five Saints Town.

A small fire was kindled, and the house gradually warmed up.

There were no lights on in the house, and in the darkness, one could see the crude furniture and a bed heaped with blankets. There was a person lying on the bed.

Upon hearing the noise, the person on the bed did not move at all.

"I’m back. Today I met a very generous client," Dongdong prattled on as usual, though she knew she was still greeted by a chilly silence.

Silently, Dongdong set aside the bread in her hand, heated some water, and wiped down the man’s body in the misty steam.

When touching the man’s sharply defined features, a tear welled up in Dongdong’s eyes, "I’m sorry."

The tear fell on the man’s face, and the man in the bed moved his lips and tried to lift his hand. But his stiffened, scar-covered hand could not muster any strength.

There was silence in the room. Dongdong wiped away her tears, warmed the bread, tore off a small piece, and carefully fed the man.

In the following days, Yue Jinghua and Shalman continued to frequent Helen Tavern, calling on Dongdong as usual and giving her five gold coins.

As such, Dongdong’s attitude towards the two improved quite a bit, and she started to talk more. However, their luck hadn’t been great; they still hadn’t encountered Yan Bao or Qin Dongting.

Until the third day, just as usual, as soon as she entered the tavern, Dongdong signaled towards the bar with her eyes. Yue Jinghua glanced over and saw a middle-aged woman with gray hair at the bar.

That woman seemed to be in her forties, well maintained, with a Jade Plate face where one could only discern a few fine wrinkles upon closer inspection. Even at her age, she remained a beauty.

Seemingly noticing Yue Jinghua’s gaze, Helen smiled in their direction, then the matter dropped. Clearly, with so many people coming in and out of the tavern daily, she simply had no time to take special note of unfamiliar faces.

Yet, Yue Jinghua stood up and walked over to Helen.

Dongdong choked on her drink, wanting to stop her, but it was already too late.

"Boss Helen, I’d like to discuss a business deal with you," Yue Jinghua inquired about Helen not just out of curiosity. As a diligent and competent Lord—ahem—she always had to be ready to seek welfare for her domain.

"Young man, what are you selling?" Helen was somewhat surprised. This seemingly green youth actually came directly to discuss business.

"Meat," replied Yue Jinghua. Following her response, Helen let out a chuckle – her eyes curving delightedly, leaving the bartender beside them startled.

Women of any age, as long as they are women, will not refuse handsome and humorous men.

Yue Jinghua imitated Xie Yu’s tone and demeanor, and really resembled him quite a bit.

Helen laughed with such joy that her whole body shook, casting glances at Yue Jinghua. Upon noticing the Medicine Gourd he deliberately wore today, she finally stopped laughing: "You little rascal, don’t you dare show off in front of me without weighing your own capabilities."

Helen has run Helen Tavern for more than a decade and has seen all sorts of slippery characters. This young fellow, barely sprouting facial hair, had the gall to try his moves on her. Were it not for the sight of the Danlu gourd on Yue Jinghua, Helen would’ve probably kicked him out long ago.

"I won’t hide it from you, Boss Helen, I sell pork. Your tavern’s drinks are decent, but the roasted meat is terrible, gets stuck in the teeth. Back in my hometown, there’s some top-quality Xiang Pig, with tender and juicy meat, and we even deliver to your doorstep, shipping included," Yue Jinghua said, deftly pulling out a pack of roasted Xiang Pig meat and eagerly offering it to Helen.

The Moxiang Pig, developed through the breeding of the Stone-eating Fragrant Pig, was initially planned to be exported only (to the Ruison Federation), but soon Yue Jinghua realized the long and arduous journey from Fengdan County to the Ruison Federation meant even the hardy Stone-eating Fragrant Pigs would suffer significant damage.

It would be better to switch from exporting to domestic sales. After scouting out Helen Tavern for a few days and discovering the enormous consumption of meat, Yue Jinghua immediately approached Helen.

Before Yue Jinghua left her house, she brought a modified Blue Snow Stove and a few Xiang Pigs, initially just for the occasional indulgence, but today, it turned out to be useful.

Helen elegantly pinched a piece of pork and took a bite. Just one bite, and her beautiful brows arched with pleasure.

The evenly-sized pieces of roast pork were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and even though the pork had cooled down, each bite carried a honey sweetness that tasted a hundred times better than any roasted meat made by her chefs.

Even though she was very satisfied inside, Helen didn’t show much change on the surface. "Kid, you’re looking quite unfamiliar to me, I’m not Lin Dong, I won’t let you bamboozle me as you please."

In Helen Tavern, all seemed like patrons, but it also appeared that spies were positioned everywhere, and there was little that could truly escape Helen’s astute eyes.

Just as Yue Jinghua was about to speak, a man walked over. Upon seeing the man, Helen’s face revealed a teasing demeanor, one that was all too familiar to Yue Jinghua, the expression of someone waiting to watch a good show.

As the man entered, at least half of the opposite sex in the tavern turned their gaze towards him.

This included flirtatious prostitutes as well as bold female mercenaries.

A man that could attract the attention of so many women was undoubtedly very charming.

Without being able to help it, Yue Jinghua also turned her gaze towards the man.

He was a cold man, and also a handsome man, his face void of any superfluous expressions, with sword-like brows flying into his temples, a high nose and piercing eyes, not too tall nor too short, neither thin nor fat, with wide shoulders and a narrow waist, quite out of place among the overly burly mercenaries.

"Boss, Qin Dongting has come again," the bartender whispered to Helen, "probably here about work again."

"Don’t say anything; just give him a drink, and put it on that person’s tab," Helen seemed quite familiar with Qin Dongting, her beautiful eyes glittered as she glanced at the curious-looking Yue Jinghua.

Just as Yue Jinghua was pondering whether to continue discussing business or to go strike up a conversation with Qin Dongting, a pungent smell of perfume wafted over from behind.