Chapter 1786: Chapter 1724: Probing for Information

Upon hearing Liang Bang mention Wufu, Ah Jiu’s gaze instantly softened, filled with warmth.

Wufu, his wife, how he missed her.

Liang Bang noticed Ah Jiu’s eyes, a slight smile curled on his lips, it seemed that the yet-to-appear Princess Consort had indeed become the center of attention, truly the Cinnabar Mole in his heart. Well, being someone who has been through this, how could he not understand what that gaze represented.

He must love that Princess Consort very much!

"Looks like I guessed right." Liang Bang couldn’t help but chuckle.

Ah Jiu snapped back to reality, curled his lips and said, "You’re so talkative, raising a newborn baby, how can it take so much effort?"

"My daughter is quite a handful. What does it matter that she’s just born? She takes after me, ready to play, she’s very amusing." Liang Bang thought of his daughter, unable to hide a bit of pride.

Ah Jiu felt a pang of sourness in his heart, saying, "I see you’ve changed shape, but not personality, still love to boast, how interesting can a newborn be. Just now you said she’s a handful, even keeping you busy enough to lose weight."

"You’re just saying that because you don’t have grapes to eat. I’m not arguing with you, wait until you have kids, you’ll see." Liang Bang snorted lightly.

Kids, Ah Jiu couldn’t help but fall into fantasy, imagining his and Wufu’s, their soft and fragrant child, surely very playful and beautiful.

Liang Bang wanted to tease him a bit more, but seeing the Tea House owner bringing tea and a few porcelain bowls, he halted his words, putting on a stern face again.

"The flatbread is still cooking, would the sirs please wait a while. Today you’re in luck, the flatbread’s filling is fresh from a fat sheep, tastes delicious, my wife’s craftsmanship is excellent, once you’ve eaten, you’ll want to wrap up a few to take along." The old man chuckled warmly.

"That sounds great." Ah Jiu pointed at a small stool beside him, saying, "Old man, if you’re not busy, why not sit for a chat? Along the way, we’ve seen plenty of tea booths and Tea Houses, you must make quite a bit."

"Oh, compared to you big traders making big money, what can we small tea booths earn? Just a few Copper Coins to help out the household." The old man glanced at the large carriage parked close by, the deep ruts indicating it held quite a load of goods. Since the trade routes opened, he’d seen many such merchant carriages passing by, it no longer surprised him.

"But it’s better than before, right?"

"Indeed. Since the trade route to Nanyue opened, more merchants come and go, more people means someone’s bound to stop for tea, like you folks." The old man made a gesture towards the Beiyan Imperial City, saying, "The Emperor did well with this move, now us common folks have something to eat!"

Ah Jiu and Liang Bang exchanged glances.

"With better days, comes peace. Old man, I heard last year in Gu County, several heavy snowfalls crushed houses and killed many?"

The old man sighed, saying, "What can be done? When Lord Yama demands you at third watch, can you stay alive till fifth? These are natural disasters, who can resist them?"

"You’re quite philosophical, old man. Though it’s a natural calamity, given the magnitude of the snowstorm, surely the imperial court allocated funds for recovery, to help rebuild homes!" Ah Jiu prompted the conversation.

The old man groaned again, "Just talk to listen to, in small places, even if funds are allocated from above, how much actually reaches? Between us, my wife has a distant cousin who was a victim of that disaster, they said funds were granted, but by the time they were about to freeze, they hadn’t seen a Copper Coin appear. What’s to be done, how can one reach the ears of the heavens? People must live, in desperation, they all head to Yanan, even a beggar can scrounge a meal."

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