231 Captain Ren Xiaosu (1/2)

Even though they despised it, everyone still felt obligated to put up the couplets since they had begged Grandpa Hu Shuo to write them, and this was especially so after he had already written them down.

Actually, couplets were only a representation of hopes for the New Year. It didn't matter what they were as long as everyone was happy.

A basic wooden house had already been built. To keep the inside of the house warm, everyone skinned the wild animals the wolves had sent over and washed them clean. They then line the outside wall of the house with the skins after drying them so the wind wouldn't get in.

After the house was completed, the duo of Ren Xiaosu and Li Qingzheng wanted to drive back to town. They were going there to bring Wang Fugui, Yan Liuyuan, Jiang Wu, and the rest over to the outpost.

But Hu Shuo stopped them this time. ”It's no longer the same outside of town. If you two go back there to bring your friends back, something could go wrong. Wait another two days before going.”

Ren Xiaosu was startled. ”Did something bad happen?”

”The Li Consortium lost an entire combat brigade,” Hu Shuo replied.

This time, everyone else at the outpost was startled. ”There should be several thousand people in a combat brigade, right? How could they be lost just like that?”

Hu Shuo was amused. ”But they really were lost just like that. Therefore, full martial law has been enforced outside of Stronghold 108, and even trenches have been dug too. If you two go back at this time, you might not be able to get out of the town even if you got in.”

Ren Xiaosu frowned. ”Then what can we do?”

”Wait a day.” Hu Shuo laughed. ”I'll handle things for you.”

When Ren Xiaosu heard that, he did not say anything else. He was curious to see how Hu Shuo would resolve this matter.

As it got closer to the New Year during these two days, Hu Shuo started speaking less.

Everyone would often see Hu Shuo sitting on the cliff next to the outpost all day without doing anything other than looking out into the distance.

Ren Xiaosu walked up to Hu Shuo and asked, ”Are you thinking of your family?”

Hu Shuo ignored him, but Ren Xiaosu asked again, ”Other than that grandson of yours, don't you have any other family?”

Hu Shuo gave him a look. ”No, why?”

”I've seen you in a strange mood of melancholy these past few days.” Ren Xiaosu said in worry, ”If you don't mind, we can become blood brothers. Since I have another younger brother, we can recreate something along the lines of the Oath of the Peach Garden.”

”Get lost!” Hu Shuo snapped at him. ”Are you trying to take advantage of me? My grandson is older than you!”

Ren Xiaosu said rather sadly, ”It's almost the New Year, but he isn't reuniting with you?”

”He has something more important to handle,” Hu Shuo said.

All of a sudden, Ren Xiaosu felt that Hu Shuo could be planning something big. That grandson he was talking about was probably a key figure in this entire plan. ”Wait, is your grandson a Li?”

Hu Shuo looked at him with a half-smile. ”Lots of people share the surname Li. Which one are you talking about?”

Ren Xiaosu froze. He should have thought of this long ago. If that grandson was the person he was guessing it to be, much of Hu Shuo's behavior would be explainable.

…