Chapter 007: You Need to Become Fairer

Whence does that person come?

In the yard, several caretakers living in the quarry have sent their wives to prepare breakfast for the employer, and the aroma of the food wafts through the air. The rural women may not be able to prepare exquisite dishes, but at least the portions are generous. The golden millet porridge, the steaming white bread buns, and the fragrant scrambled eggs are all served in large bowls. There are six big men living in the yard, each of whom has a tremendous appetite.

When Xia Xun arrived, the local villagers had already helped the injured man, Ma Zhiyuan, down the hillside and performed basic first aid. Xia Xun offered him kind words of comfort and instructed Manager Wang to provide him with an additional month's wages. He also asked his fellow villagers to take him home to recuperate. At the same time, he issued instructions that the newly hired workers were not yet familiar with quarrying, so they should start with transportation and the later processing of the stone materials. Seeing the employer's generosity, the workers were immensely grateful. After expressing their heartfelt thanks, the worker who had injured his partner collected Ma Zhiyuan's wages and, along with another villager, accompanied him back to the village.

Manager Wang walked while saying that the workers were quarrying on the hillside. One worker's heavy hammer missed the steel pin and instead struck the hand of the worker holding it. Both of them were new immigrants, having only worked for a few days, and their skills were still unrefined, which led to this mishap. The worker's palm was severely injured, rendering him unable to work for the time being, and it was necessary to provide some money for his recovery. Manager Wang continuously lamented his misfortune along the way.

The two men spoke in unison: "Fourth Brother, rest assured, we will take care of things at home."

Of course, when spring arrives tomorrow, there will still be many people resigning from their jobs to return home and farm. No matter how much one earns from working, it cannot compare to the peace of mind that comes from tending to one's own three acres of land. However, by that time, this quarry may not necessarily require so many workers, as there are not many families like the Qi Wangfu that need a massive amount of stone all at once

"How many people were injured? What are their injuries like?" Xia Xun and Zhang Shisan asked as they followed Manager Wang out.

On that afternoon, a sudden downpour began, enveloping the world in a haze of gray

Zhang Shisan stood under the dripping eaves with his arms crossed, his gaze wandering over Xia Xun. His usually critical eyes revealed a rare hint of appreciation: "I didn't expect your body to be this strong. Hmm, quite impressive..."

An accident has occurred, an accident has occurred, someone has been injured by a rolling stone

Xia Xun chatted idly with the foreman and others from hetushu.com for a while. Zhang Shisan then gave Xia Xun a glance, stood up, and said: "Alright, the young master is quite tired from the journey. You all may return now. The young master will be staying here for about ten days to half a month, resting and recuperating to avoid the summer heat. As for you, put in more effort and work diligently, and the young master will certainly not shortchange you on your benefits"

With a creak, the door opened and then closed again. Zhang Shisan stepped out, and Xia Xun smiled faintly, reminiscent of Kasyapa holding a flower

Fortunately, apart from resembling Yang Xu in appearance, Xia Xun's voice is also quite similar. Although Zhang Shisan does not understand vocal techniques and cannot perfectly imitate Yang Xu's speech, he is able to guide him. After multiple adjustments and imitations, the resemblance in voice has become remarkably close. If one were to hear only the voice, especially for those who are familiar, it might still feel somewhat unfamiliar. However, if one first sees his appearance, under the influence of prior impressions, it becomes quite difficult to detect any flaws.

Zhang Shisan poured a basin of cold water over their heads: "Do not be too pleased too soon. These people have only seen Yang Xu once; if even they can spot the flaws, what use are you? It would be better for you to rest early. Tomorrow, rise at five in the morning to begin training"

At this moment, Xia Xun's attire, hairstyle, and even mannerisms are identical to those of the real Yang Xu, with his gestures, actions, and accent being imitated to perfection

"Brother Ma, I truly apologize; it was my carelessness..." said the man who caused the trouble, filled with remorse

Xia Xun is originally from the Jianghuai region and has a foundation in the Fengyang dialect. When he shouts on the street, "My child is coming, the lantern has fallen, the black nose is shining, hurry up and cover it!" with perfect pronunciation, immediately there will be Fengyang locals approaching him, recognizing him as a fellow townsman. Although the Fengyang dialect at this time is slightly different from that of several hundred years later, he has already lived in the Jiangnan region, where the Fengyang Mandarin is most prevalent, for a year, so there is no problem.

Xia Xun's expression also turned unpleasant: "What should we do?"

In the morning, under the shade of a large tree in the backyard, Zhang Shisan was detailing everything about Yang Wenxuan to Xia Xun. In the courtyard, there were low tables with tea, as well as paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones. From time to time, Zhang Shisan would spread out a sheet of paper and take up his brush to draw a portrait, urging Xia Xun to carefully remember the appearance of the person being depicted

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Zhang Shisan pondered for a long time, suddenly slapped his forehead, rushed to the table, spread out a sheet of white paper, and began to write hurriedly with a brush. Xia Xun curiously approached to take a look, only to find that Zhang Shisan was not drawing but writing. Xia Xun, who was currently pretending to be illiterate and blind, although very eager to know what Zhang Shisan was writing, felt it inappropriate to continue watching and had no choice but to step aside and wait.

Zhang Shisan finished writing the letter and then called out loudly in the corridor. After a moment, a guard living in the side room hurriedly walked over along the porch. Zhang Shisan handed him the letter and instructed, "This is a letter from the young master to Mr. An of the An Silk Shop. You must hurry back to Qingzhou, personally deliver it to Mr. An, and return only after obtaining his reply. You are not allowed to delay along the way."

Another man shook his head and said: "Not yet. After we were relocated to Shandong, we were assigned to various prefectures and counties. As for where Master Tang's family is now, we have not been able to find out for the time being"

The guard glanced at Xia Xun, who nodded slightly. The guard immediately tucked the letter into his bosom and turned to leave. Moments later, he donned a raincoat, put on a bamboo hat, saddled his horse, and hurriedly set off into the pouring rain.

Xia Xun's body was not originally this strong. After arriving in this era, he realized that he had nothing to rely on, which made him pay even more attention to physical training. With modern fitness methods, combined with learning martial arts and practicing swimming with Hu Liujiao, his exercise volume was ten times greater than when he was in the police academy. Although life in Xiaoye Village was quite difficult, the village is located in the Jiangnan region, and he made a living by fishing and catching frogs. He had plenty to eat, including small fish, shrimp, and various types of frogs, ensuring that his nutrition was adequate. His current physique is exceptionally outstanding.

Zhang Shisan shook his head and said: "This is indeed a reason, but just a few days of exposure cannot cause such a degree of damage to the skin; it is rather too obvious. If your skin were a bit whiter and more delicate, this reason could have been used to cover it up..."

Upon hearing that they were newly relocated immigrants, Xia Xun and Zhang Shisan suddenly realized. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, over the past thirty years, the court has successively relocated immigrants from Shanxi, Hebei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and other regions to Shandong more than ten times. There was no other choice; during the late Yuan Dynasty, natural disasters were incessant, and Shandong was a heavily affected area. When Zhu Yuanzhang launched his northern expedition to expel the Northern Yuan, Shandong was again the main battlefield. The combination of natural disasters and human calamities led to a sharp decline in the local population and a significant amount of land lying fallow.

To be frank, the population in our village is indeed limited. However, not long ago, the court relocated several dozen households from Huaixi to settle here, so we naturally have enough manpower now

After brushing their teeth and washing their faces, as well as reading books, combing their hair, and changing clothes, they left the quarry together with Zhang Shisan, heading towards the desolate grassland at the foot of the Stone Unloading Mountain to practice equestrian skills under the morning light. At 2:15 AM, they returned, as the novice equestrian Xia Xun, who had not yet mastered the technical essentials, was exhausted, with sore waist and back, and drenched in sweat

Qingzhou is not a key resettlement area for immigrants, but there is still a considerable population of outsiders. Now that it is summer, the immigrants who have moved here have already missed the planting season. Although they have been allocated land, there is little to cultivate this year. The stone quarry in Xiaxun provides them with an opportunity to work and earn money to support their families, which inadvertently assists the government significantly and is beneficial for the stability of the immigrants.

Ma Sige sighed and said, "If we cannot find the sect leader, it seems that our group of brothers will be scattered. Just right, taking advantage of the opportunity to rest at home due to my injured hand, I will go out for a while and inquire about the whereabouts of the sect leader. At home..."

"Ah, we are all brothers here, why say such things? You did not mean it." The injured man, enduring the pain, patted him on the shoulder and smiled in comfort, then turned to ask another person: "Where has the master been transferred to? Have you found out?"

He noticed this issue the moment he first saw Xia Xun; at that time, he almost believed that Yang Wenxuan had truly come back to life. It was precisely because of this obvious difference that he began to pay attention to the greater distinctions between the two. This obvious difference was Xia Xun's skin. Xia Xun often worked under the sun with his chest exposed, and his skin was much darker than that of the pampered Young Master Yang. This issue was originally the most apparent, but because it was too obvious and visible every day, it became a case of overlooking the obvious, and he ended up ignoring it.

However, Xia Xun did not rush to have a meal; instead, he went to the backyard to bathe, feeling quite uncomfortable due to the sweat. The people in the courtyard understood the rules; without permission to enter, no one dared to intrude. In the backyard, there were two large water tanks located under the corridor. During that time, almost every household had such water tanks, primarily for the convenience of fetching water and, in case of a fire, to have nearby water available for extinguishing it.

As an outstanding secret agent, Zhang Shisan is a competent teacher, and Xia Xun possesses a strong ability to imitate. The success of their endeavor is a matter of life and death for Zhang Shisan, while it holds even greater significance for Xia Xun. Therefore, both are earnest in their roles, with one teaching and the other learning. However, to avoid arousing Zhang Shisan's suspicions, Xia Xun initially did not display too high a level of comprehension. It was not until two days later, when engaging with the materials, that he gradually began to immerse himself in the role.

Zhang Shisan furrowed his brows and said: "Skin, your complexion is a bit darker than Yang Xu's."

Xia Xun stood by the water tank, wearing only a pair of shorts, pouring water over himself with a large wooden basin. As a basin of water was poured down, droplets splashed lively, and his wheat-colored skin shimmered under the sunlight. His physique was athletic, with a slender waist and broad back, smooth curves, muscular arms, a firm chest, and six-pack abs, all showcasing the masculine beauty of a man

Zhang Shisan laughed and scolded, "You really are out of breath after being called fat. Hurry up and take a bath, then have a meal. After dinner, I will start to explain matters concerning Yang Wenxuan to you."

Zhang Shisan felt very gratified. Xia Xun's accent was fine, her language was fine, her attire was fine, and her demeanor was also fine. As long as she could formally enter Yang Xu's social circle and maintain the same calm demeanor as now, then... what other issues could there be

Xia Xun suddenly noticed that Zhang Shisan's expression was unusual, and immediately stopped his actions, humbly asking, "Is there something wrong?"

Standing in the hall and looking outside, the rainwater dripping from the eaves fell densely like a curtain of pearls, making it impossible to see even ten steps beyond the hall. The workers had all gone to take shelter under the cliff cave from the rain, and Xia Xun and Zhang Shisan also moved from the backyard into the main hall, continuing to imitate Yang Xu

Originally, accent and language are the most difficult aspects to disguise a person beyond their appearance. It is relatively easy to cover up some inappropriate gestures and expressions; you can say that you have not been feeling well lately or that you are in a bad mood. You can come up with a plethora of excuses for your behavior that differs from the past. However, if you are clearly a loud person, it is impossible for you to suddenly have a soft voice just because you tripped and fell. Or if you are someone who speaks Minnan dialect, after catching a slight cold for two days, you cannot suddenly start speaking Shandong dialect; who would believe that?

When a sudden exclamation came from afar, Manager Wang rushed into the courtyard, shouting loudly, and spoke to Xia Xun, who had hurried out from the back courtyard upon hearing the news

As for the language aspect, it is a fortunate coincidence that Young Master Yang Wenxuan is not speaking the Shandong dialect, but rather the most popular Fengyang Mandarin of today. Mandarin is the standard form of the language as prescribed by the authorities. Ordinary people naturally hold a nonchalant attitude towards Mandarin; they have spoken their local dialects for generations, and their descendants will continue to do so. They are fundamentally indifferent to whether outsiders from different regions can understand them, as most of them will never venture more than ten miles from their homes in their entire lives.

After they exited, Xia Xun leaped up from his seat and excitedly said, "Shisanlang, I deceived them, and not a single person noticed my flaw"

In the early hours of dawn, when the sky was still dark, Zhang Shisan appeared at Xia Xun's bedside like a ghost.

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However, those who wish to enter the officialdom must be proficient in Mandarin; otherwise, even if they pass the imperial examination and become a jinshi, due to language barriers, they will have no chance of being appointed to official positions. They would be relegated to the status of a poor official in the capital, with very little opportunity for promotion in the future. Therefore, students and the sons of wealthy families must learn Fengyang Mandarin from a young age. Yang Wenxuan speaks with a standard Fengyang accent.

After Zhu Yuanzhang established the dynasty, he sought to rapidly change the population decline in Shandong through immigration policies. However, the Han people were deeply attached to their homeland; the elderly emphasized returning to their roots, while the young valued staying close to their parents. Forcing them to relocate was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. They would rather beg in their hometown than leave their native land. Emperor Zhu, feeling helpless, could only enforce immigration, managing to uphold this policy to some extent.

Those who can be depicted for portrait recognition are all individuals closely related to Yang Wenxuan, including the trusted stewards, servants, visiting friends, business partners, and key figures from the Qi Wangfu. After studying for a while, the two stood up and, under Zhang Shisan's guidance, imitated Yang Wenxuan's manner of speaking, expressions, gestures, and common phrases used in social interactions.

Indeed, indeed. Xia Xun also smiled, and another basin of water was poured down from above her head

Xia Xun pondered and said: "What if I have been traveling outside for more than ten days, exposed to the scorching sun?"

Upon hearing Zhang Shisan's words, Wang Guanshi couldn't help but protest, saying: "Thirteen, how can you say such a thing? I wouldn't dare. Tomorrow morning, you should go to the foot of the mountain and take a look. The ones working here are all exceptionally strong farmers."

Xia Xun proudly said: "Life in the countryside is tough, I do all kinds of work, so my physique is as strong as an ox. I'm not bragging like you, Shisanlang. When I go fishing, I wear little, and when those young ladies pass by, they can't help but steal glances at me, their eyes shining with admiration."

Zhang Shisan slowly broke into a satisfied smile, but just as the smile began to unfold, he realized an important issue that he had overlooked all along, and his expression immediately turned grim

Xia Xun and Zhang Shisan were unaware of the small story unfolding at their own quarry; both were focused on how to quickly step into the role of Yang Xu.