CHAPTER 329: CHAPTER 19 NOW IT HAS THE ESSENCE_3

Such were the words of a jack of all trades.

Zheng Fan put down the bowl in his hand, cupped his hands in salute to the old man, and said,

"Your words have been instructive."

"Is there nothing the esteemed guest would like this old one to divine?"

"Didn’t you just do that?" Zheng Fan asked.

"That didn’t count."

Zheng Fan nodded but said, "There’s nothing I want to have divined."

Seek wealth? He had no need to. Seek talent? He had seven at home. Seek a higher official position? He was already an official, and the chests in the convoy ahead were filled with stepping stones for his career. Seek marriage? With Siniang by his side, Zheng Fan was quite content.

This was no exaggeration. The reason Zheng Fan didn’t touch the delicate little ladies at home was, firstly, those budding flowers weren’t to his taste, and secondly, with Siniang’s assistance, he was thoroughly satisfied in that department. It wasn’t because of Siniang’s image in the manga, making him fear the consequences of infidelity; rather, being on his second life, he had long since lost any obsession with matters of love and romance. Perhaps he might be moved by princesses or commandery princesses in the future, but that would merely be his masculine sense of conquest finding satisfaction in their noble statuses. On this point, Zheng Fan found his mentality seemed to be aligning with that of Demon Lords like the Blind Man and A Ming; they all seemed to be the type uninterested in women.

"There’s nothing good to divine," Zheng Fan answered.

In this life, for now, he just wanted to figure out how to enjoy himself. As for what to play or how to play it, he didn’t need anyone to teach him; the process of exploration itself was part of the enjoyment.

The old man looked somewhat wistful, apparently regretting that he couldn’t drum up some business. In the end, he could only ask,

"Where is the esteemed guest from?"

"That’s an interesting question, sir. This is the Yan State, so naturally, I am a man of Yan."

"No, no, no, the young master is not a man of Yan; the young master is from the heavens."

A flicker of light vanished from Zheng Fan’s eyes.

The bewildered Xiao Yibo scoffed, "You old coot! Just eat your wontons quietly. There’s no need for your pointless flattery."

Sucking up was his, Xiao Yibo’s, job after all.

The old man nodded and said,

"If a whole basket of flattery can be exchanged for a bowl of wontons, then it’s a worthy trade."

Zheng Fan handed the bowl to Xiao Yibo, who took it and returned it to the stall.

No third wave of customers came to the stall, but the husband and wife were making wontons, which were now ready.

The young couple, each with a bowl, were also squatting beside the road eating just like their customers, one feeding the other a wonton, then vice versa.

Xiao Yibo placed the empty bowl and small spoon on the stall. Watching this loving scene, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. A simple, impoverished life, yet they could face it hand-in-hand; that was truly a blessing.

Zheng Fan also noticed the situation here, but his perspective was different from Xiao Yibo’s.

From Zheng Fan’s perspective: Hmm... The husband and wife were both eating their own wontons. This proved the wontons were fine and safe to eat. This kind of thinking was probably conditioned by all the news about food safety scandals from later eras.

The traffic congestion seemed to have eased somewhat, and the convoy began to move forward slowly.

Xiao Yibo went to the convoy to organize the vehicles, instructing his men not to rest and to prepare to enter the city.

Zheng Fan was about to get up and return to the convoy when the old man suddenly spoke,

"Esteemed guest, there’s no rush. The front has only just started moving. This old one has lived by the principle that every cause has its effect; I never like to owe favors."

"Then what do you propose?"

"Since the esteemed guest doesn’t wish for a divination, if there’s anything you’d like to know, this old one can chat with you about it."

Zheng Fan indeed didn’t leave. He squatted down again and said,

"I’ve heard that the dignitaries of the Qian, Jin, and Chu States all like to keep ’clear-minded guests,’ and the way they are employed is much like this, right?"

The old man nodded and said,

"Indeed."

Dignitaries and nobles feared loneliness and a lack of cultural refinement, so they would specially keep some ’clear-minded guests’ to converse with. In reality, it was just boasting—competing to see who could boast more elegantly, on a grander scale, and with more style.

"I’m a crude fellow. You, venerable sir, have already said I possess a strong aura of blood and qi. I imagine you’ve discerned my profession then?"

Zheng Fan had been in the military for a long time. No matter how lazy he might be on a daily basis, content to be a hands-off leader, he was fundamentally a commander who had weathered campaigns, seen blood, and charged through city gates. It was only natural for others to perceive him as a military man. If the old man couldn’t even discern this much, then his many years would have truly been lived for naught.

"You ask, and this old one shall speak. Whatever this old one knows, I will tell you without reservation."

"Just for this bowl of wontons?"

"The wontons themselves aren’t worth much, but the sentiment within them is valuable. Anything in this world, once touched by sentiment, gains value. Just like the Chu Emperor’s paintings, Emperor Jin’s sword, the Yan Emperor’s saber, and the Qian Emperor’s calligraphy brush—these things are, of course, priceless. These wontons contain this old one’s homesickness; naturally, their price is high."

"Well said. In that case, let me ask: how many troops has the Qian State mobilized this time?"

Zheng Fan truly dared to ask.

The old man actually dared to answer,

"The West Army Division’s 150,000 troops should have arrived outside Mianzhou city yesterday. One hundred thousand Forbidden Troops were water-transported; however, due to delays at departure, they fell behind the West Army Division. It’s estimated they should also arrive today. The Wolf Land Soldiers are, of course, following behind the West Army Division, under their control and surveillance. Fifty thousand troops of the Zu family are approaching via the East Sea coast, which will take some more time. However, the Various County Auxiliary Soldiers from the prefectures along the three borders, numbering no fewer than 100,000, have already mobilized and entered the area much earlier."