AWB Chapter 571 Han Xin
Chapter 571 Han Xin
Looking at the huge pot, the boiling broth was bubbling and churning, with thick white steam rising in billows. The enticing aroma emanating from it could be smelled clearly from a great distance.
Seeing this, Lin Xi roughly understood why Fan Kuai was so furious today—it must be because he went to find Liu Ji but was ruthlessly rejected by Lü Bo, right? Sure enough, not long after, Fan Kuai's resentful and angry shouts reached everyone's ears again.
"Damn it! This Qin law governs everything, even when I'm slaughtering animals and bleeding them, they still complain!" Fan Kuai grumbled loudly as he chopped a thick leg bone.
Lu Wan, who was helping to collect money and look after the business, could only smile wryly upon hearing this. He skillfully pocketed a few Qin Banliang coins and whispered, "Third brother, be careful what you say. Things are not like they used to be. Be careful that someone overhears you." He was not as burly as Fan Kuai, and his face was more scholarly. His eyes always carried a hint of cautiousness as he assessed the situation.
"Be careful what you say? Be careful my ass!" Fan Kuai's eyes widened, but his voice involuntarily lowered. "My elder brother has been lying there for over two years, and we don't know if he's dead or alive! That old man, Uncle Lü, seems polite, but he's kept my brother confined to his mansion. Even when you and I wanted to visit him, he made excuses! And that little...that girl, Lü Zhi..."
He swallowed back his vulgar words, "What kind of official are you going to Xianyang to become? Don't you even care about your elder brother? I don't think the Lü family has any good intentions!"
Lu Wan sighed and stuffed a handful of loose change into her purse: "Third brother, you can't say that. Eldest brother's illness came on strangely. If the Lü family hadn't been willing to take care of him, it would have been even more difficult for you and me... sigh, as for sister-in-law, she's in Xianyang, I'm sure she has her reasons. In this world, it's already difficult enough to live a peaceful life."
He thought more deeply than Fan Kuai. Whether Lü Zhi's official position in Qin was a blessing or a curse for them, the former subordinates of Liu Ji, was still hard to say. At least on the surface, the newly arrived Qin officials were relatively polite to them and didn't deliberately make things difficult for them.
"Consider? I think she's gotten too big for her britches!" Fan Kuai was still indignant, but he stopped shouting and just brought his knife down harder.
At the east end of the market, a tall, slender young man with an exceptionally straight back stood with his hand on his sword, his brow furrowed as he stared at the newly posted Qin law on the bulletin board. His clothes were worn but clean, and the longsword at his waist, though old, was in excellent condition.
"Han Xin, studying Qin law again?" an old man with gray hair, who was selling bamboo baskets at a stall, shouted. "You, who can't even afford to eat, are still concerned about these things all day long."
Han Xin didn't turn his head, his voice cold: "Although Qin law is strict, it is well-organized. The newly promulgated amendment to the 'Field Law' last month reduced taxes by 30%. Aren't you concerned?"
The old man's lips twitched upon hearing this: "Why should I care about that! I'd rather use that time to weave a few more bamboo baskets."
Several familiar vendors around exchanged meaningful glances. Han Xin, this guy who recently appeared in Pei County, is indeed an oddball. He's clearly penniless, yet he always puts on the airs of a general; he clearly lives off free meals, yet he never bows his head or speaks softly.
"I heard he really angered Granny Wang the other day. She kindly invited him to stay for dinner, but he started giving her son pointers on military strategy, saying something like 'Setting up an army is like setting up a game of chess, you have to see the whole picture,'" Old Li, the pottery seller, whispered to the person next to him.
"That's right. The blacksmith Li asked him to repair a sword, but after he finished, he said that the man was 'more than brave and strong but lacked strategy,' which made the blacksmith very angry, and he didn't even pay him the full amount of his wages."
Han Xin seemed completely oblivious to the discussions; his gaze remained fixed on the proclamation, his lips moving silently as he analyzed the military implications behind each decree.
After reading the proclamation, Han Xin turned around and accidentally bumped into a few people. Instantly, they began to yell in dissatisfaction, "You little brat, can't you watch where you're going?!"
A burly man angrily shoved Han Xin. Han Xin staggered but quickly regained his balance. He frowned slightly and was about to explain when the man became enraged and gestured to his accomplices to quickly surround Han Xin.
From the group stepped forward a man with shifty eyes and a sleazy face. He was a notorious rogue and scoundrel in Pei County, and everyone secretly called him "Bastard San." This guy was idle all day, causing trouble everywhere, especially liking to bully the weak. When he encountered someone powerful, he would immediately tuck his tail between his legs.
At this moment, he actually stood on tiptoe, stretched his neck, pointed his index finger straight at Han Xin's nose, and kept spitting out mouthfuls of saliva as he shouted at the top of his lungs: Hey! You brat, how dare you offend me? Are you tired of living? If you don't want to live, you'd better kneel down and beg for mercy! Otherwise, you'll be sorry today!
His hysterical shouting immediately attracted the attention of passersby, and many people gathered around to watch the spectacle.
"What's all that commotion over there?" Fan Kuai stopped what he was doing and craned his neck to look. Lu Wan also frowned. Pei County had just undergone a change of government, and any disturbance made people wary.
Lin Xi was also drawn to the crowd. Pei County now belonged to the Qin state, and there was no way to prevent trouble. Lin Xi hurriedly went downstairs and followed the crowd, intending to go and see what was going on. If anyone caused trouble, she could help stop them.
Passing by Fan Kuai's dog meat shop, Lin Xi greeted the two men with a smile and casually asked, "Brother Fan, Brother Lu, do you know what's causing all this commotion?"
The two turned around and saw Lin Xi walking calmly towards them. Today, he was dressed in an indigo brocade robe, covered with a black fox fur coat, wearing a jade crown and a brocade belt, looking every bit the elegant and wealthy merchant.
"Brother Lin!" Fan Kuai greeted him, "You've come at the right time. I wonder what kind of trouble has been going on up ahead."
Lin Xi walked closer, her gaze also falling on the gathering of people, her face showing just the right amount of curiosity: "Let's go, let's go take a look together."
The three followed the flow of people forward and soon saw the center of the commotion—a group of slovenly-looking teenagers surrounding a young man and mocking him wantonly.
Seeing the growing crowd, Lai Tou San became even more smug, his voice unconsciously rising eight octaves: "Hey, you guys, listen up! I know this kid! His name is Han Xin! Haha, that brat who always carries around a tattered sword, swindling and cheating people, thinking he's all that! I heard he always brags that he's read a few so-called military books, and he even dares to shamelessly claim he can command a million-strong army! It's a complete joke! Bah!"