Chapter 1234: TangNing Bullying (1/2)

Lele showed no fear nor rage, but laughed out loud. “Father, I won’t bother you now. I’m going to set off fireworks!”

By now, Ning Cheng had already gotten Shaoqiu fully drunk. He leaned down and prepared to rip open her clothes before suddenly recalling something. Rising up, he used sword qi to tear Shaoqiu’s clothes to shreds and tossed the covers over her without another glance. Then he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes to sleep.

But soon enough, the fireworks outside woke him up. He looked at their unremitting flames before falling into deep thought. Le Zheng wouldn’t go so far to probe him, so this Shaoqiu was probably sent by the eldest young Miss Lele. Uncle Gong had already passed away, but he was in charge of big business when he was alive. Only Le Zheng knew the full details of his accounts. If Jin Zi’s identity was a complicated matter, then Le Zheng would definitely remember! Until he fully gained the man’s trust, Ning Cheng wasn’t planning to startle the snake in the grass. He knew that the upcoming days would involve running circles around Shaoqiu and her true master Lele.

On New Year’s night, he suddenly thought of Jin Zi. If that cold fellow knew what he was doing for him here now, would he be touched? Actually, he wouldn’t have hung around so long if it wasn’t for the wine.

Naturally, Jin Zi had no idea what Ning Cheng was doing for his sake, much less that the man was in his dearly-missed Wintercrow Country. On this chilly night, he was still rushing elsewhere. Northern Li needed grain from the south to pass through this especially bitter winter. Multiple blizzards had buried Northern Li’s prefectures in snow, blocking much of their roads. Even with ample grain, it was difficult to deliver the goods to the disaster victims. Han Yunxi had already delegated crack troops from the western prefectures, Baili Clan, and southern generals to hurry into Northern Li and help the Ning Clan and Black Clan troops. She also said there was a generous reward for those who aided with the disaster.

Although the various army factions were secretly vying against each other, everyone still cooperated up north. However, it was impossible to avoid complaints when soldiers were send to clear roads on the first day of the New Year. Jin Zi had exhausted himself for days to get a wink of sleep on New Year’s eve, but when he heard complaints coming from the Baili Clan soldiers and even rumors of soldiers running rogue, he couldn’t sleep anymore.

Jin Zi knew about Baili Yuanlong allying himself with the southern generals as well. After following Ning Cheng for over a year, he thoroughly understood the shadowy struggles between the various Great Generals. He was clear that if he didn’t show himself tonight, they would make a mountain out of a molehill and cause a giant racket.

The new spring would be lively in the army!

With Jin Zi personally taking up the shovel to get rid of snow with the soldiers, personally delivering the grain at the head of the caravans, who would date utter a word of complaint?

After crossing the hills, everyone stopped to rest. A soldier came to deliver hot water and said, “General, use it while it’s hot! It’ll cool before long!”

Jin Zi drank a few sips before letting the soldier drink as well. He immediately left, not daring to linger by the general for long. They would be on their way after a brief rest, so they didn’t bother starting a fire. It was hard to do so in this weather too, so everyone huddled together for warmth. Only Jin Zi stood far from the crowd, leaning against a horse carriage as he drew his cloak tight around himself. His lowered head and shoulders were covered in snowflakes. He was extremely thin and quiet, looking lonely and mysterious as he stood there. There was no resemblance to a general at all.

In truth, people in the army avoided him even more than Ning Cheng. If Ning Cheng was here, there would still be people claiming seniority to speak up about matters. But nobody dared to speak out against Jin Zi, because none of them knew him well enough to guess his thoughts. He had raised a tiger army out of ten or so beasts all by himself. Although they didn’t show themselves often, everyone remembered and feared the sight. No one had the guts to get close to him.

As the bone-piercing winds rose again, they brushed away the snow on Jin Zi’s hair and shoulders while flapping his cloak. Everyone felt frigid and drew closer to each other, but Jin Zi didn’t react to the winds. He was playing with a gold card in his hand--the same one that Mu Linger had returned. He wanted to forget about that girl, but the very reason he was staying in Northern Li to clean up Ning Cheng’s mess was for her sake. How could he forget her, the origins of everything, in this annoying environment?

I probably bullied her too hard in this life, which is why she’s tormenting me so much now.

If…

If I keep bullying her in this lifetime, will we get to reunite in our next life?

Jin Zi suddenly laughed at the thought. He called over a guard and gave him the gold card with covert instructions. “Send someone to buy harvests at high prices. Get as much as you can, no matter how expensive it is!”