Chapter 5: A Bao

Liu Mu intentionally misheard: "So it was Brother Su." Liu Mu deliberately mispronounced "uncle" as "Su." Qin Qiong did not correct him, as it was unnecessary; he was merely passing through.

Rolling up his sleeves, Qin Qiong squatted beside the willow tree, which was quite unceremonious, pulling Qin Qiong to assist it. It directed Qin Qiong to work, moving those heavy ceramic jars, while saying to Qin Qiong: "Brother Abao, in just one or two more hours, you will be able to see the fine products that have been made."

According to historical records, Qin Qiong's mother, wife, and children all died in Luoyang. Now, Qin Qiong is all alone.

Of course, even if it is just one percent, Liu Mu intends to take a gamble. This may be a chance bestowed upon him by heaven for arriving in the Tang Dynasty. Missing it might lead to ten years of regret

En! Liu Mu nodded slightly, considering this expenditure to be of little concern.

Liu Ruyan said softly: "If I could exchange some money, I would send two dou of millet to Old Man Zhao's family in Qinghebei, and then send three dou to the Li family in Yukou, as they have children waiting for milk at home"

Qin Qiong, intending to change the subject, pointed to the busy activities in the room and asked, "Young master, what are you doing?"

Qin Qiong was extremely surprised; the Liu family was already so impoverished that they could barely make ends meet, yet they were still thinking of helping others

From the moment he appeared here, Liu Mu noticed the change in the expression of his elder sister, Liu Ru Yan, as she looked at Qin Qiong. At this point, Qin Qiong had already been labeled, and the label was "brother-in-law." Of course, if there was a mistake, Liu Mu was not in a hurry to further probe.

Therefore, Liu Mu immediately brought up the issue, stating that being rejected for marriage due to poverty was not a reflection of his elder sister's character. Given their family's financial struggles, he felt compelled to work hard to earn a dowry for his sister.

However, these words from Liu Ruyan made Qin Qiong very fond of her

Qin Qiong, however, was unaware that this young man, Liu Mu, was quite wicked, and not just in an ordinary way

Qin Qiong is concerned with peculiar matters rather than titles

Book treasure

When it comes to Da, although he is merely a soldier, he is nonetheless a true hero. The person Da admires the most is that green forest hero who once fought with a knife in each side...

In the past, there was a brave man from Shandong... As he passed by Liangli Village, he remembered his elderly mother, wife, and children at the fork in the road. One path led to Runan, another to Dengzhou, and one back home. He hesitated... but ultimately, out of loyalty, he chose to face death and went to Dengzhou. This is the essence of loyalty, akin to having a knife inserted between the ribs for a friend, a testament to enduring loyalty through the ages. I have not read much, yet I have recounted this tale of the fork in the road and the knife for many years!

Liu Mu said somewhat awkwardly: "I apologize for making you laugh, Brother Abao. I once lived in the green woods and later joined the army. I died in battle in Luoyang, but my elder sister is right; since I have spoken, it is as if I have driven a nail with a single spit."

How extravagant, this bow, at the price of one hundred guan in the Tang Dynasty is not considered expensive

At this time, people believe in the existence of gods and spirits

The man scrutinized the willow wood, dressed in tattered clothes, with a frail physique and not yet of age, yet he was a person of propriety. The words of reprimand that were originally on the tip of his tongue could not be uttered, presumably because that egg held great significance

According to the same historical records, Qin Qiong's eldest son, Qin Huaidao, was born in the 8th year of the Wude era, which means that at this time, Qin Qiong was undoubtedly single.

Liu Mu raised his head sharply, Shu Bao? Uncle Bao? Qin Shu Bao?

"Please accept my condolences." Qin Qiong remained taciturn.

Liu Mu gestured at his waist and said: "I have mentioned before that even if a knife is thrust into my side, I will prioritize loyalty and honor, and I will act on my words."

Hiss... Liu Mu took a deep breath. He had seen this before at the Shaanxi History Museum; it is called a sinew-backed recurve bow. Not to mention the labor and cost involved in making this bow, the man before him used gilded inlays, a deer skin grip, and the golden-yellow bone riser of the bow. Liu Mu believed it was highly likely made from tiger bone.

A few days ago, I was struck on the head by a piece of wood and, in a daze, I was guided by an old man riding a blue ox, receiving a wordless book. Due to our family's poverty, my sisters have been jilted, and I only wish to do something proper to earn a dowry for my sisters. Liu Mu spoke sincerely, and Qin Qiong had no doubts.

Qin Qiong inquired: "It is what was owed before"

Ah, Xiaomu

After Liu Mu finished speaking, Qin Qiong was initially taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter

However, this small sound made Qin Qiong feel somewhat awkward. At this moment, Liu Mu had already started to continue his work, his hands busy while he said, "I have spent all the money in the house; this winter and my elder sister's dowry depend on this."

Then, the next question is, how did we deceive Qin Qiong, and how did we facilitate this marriage

Looking at this outfit again, although it appears ordinary and is somewhat covered in dust. Not to mention the clothes, just this bow and this knife.

The two families used to share military provisions with me. I have mentioned that as long as there is one breath from him, these two families will be included. After all, my family still has a thousand acres of land, and moreover, the promise made by Da is still valid as there are living people in the Liu family, and that is a fact.

"Certainly," Liu Mu replied confidently.

Liu Mu's head was spinning as he lowered his gaze to quietly assess the man's entire outfit, while the man also returned a greeting: "I am Uncle Bao, here to offer assistance upon encountering you on the road"

Mu is the self-designation of willow wood; during the Tang dynasty, men often referred to themselves by just one character of their name

Switch to corn, it is estimated to be enough for our family to eat for ten years

Qin Qiong became even more interested, especially in the confident demeanor of Liu Mu

Because this statement aligns with Qin Qiong's worldview, which places great importance on loyalty and righteousness

Liu Mu was indeed sizing up the man before him, estimating that he was no older than thirty years of age

After receiving it, Qin Qiong asked Liu Mu, "Dalao, can this item really be exchanged for money and silk once it is made?"

Liu Ruyan brought a bowl of hot water to Qin Qiong. The family is poor, and when guests arrive, they should at least prepare some sweet egg soup, but all they have at the moment is plain water

Liu Mu thought again about the horse, the knife, and the bow. These were certainly not items that an ordinary family might possess. Recalling the descriptions of Qin Qiong in historical texts, it seemed that the person before him had at least a 30% chance of being Qin Qiong

This thousand acres of land can be said to be, yet can also be said not to be

Words may be few, but the heart is different. In those years, Qin Qiong also came from the green forest and was a man of loyalty and righteousness

It is said that Qin Qiong knows that Liu Huo Zhang has over ten acres of land, but in reality, none of these ten acres can truly be considered arable land; they are all rocky wasteland. Half of it consists of riverbank land, which is mostly submerged in water during the spring. The portion that is not flooded, even twenty acres, cannot compare to a single acre of ordinary farmland, let alone good quality land.

Upon hearing about the wordless book, Qin Qiong became intrigued

Upon noticing Qin Qiong's interest, Liu Mu immediately seized the opportunity: "Brother Abao, is it alright if I address you this way? Let me tell you, this matter is truly remarkable; it is a good thing. You can just call me Xiaomu."

For instance, Qin Qiong knew a person named Yuan Tiangang, who once claimed to have received guidance from an immortal in his dreams. Similarly, his disciple Li Chunfeng was specifically chosen by the immortal to be his apprentice