Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 132 The Promise of the Pomegranate Blossom
Shen Tu Zhuo's first thought upon hearing such an unusual action from a wealthy merchant from Andu was that someone had become suspicious of Tan Huai Ke's identity and was secretly investigating him.

With this in mind, he decided to meet the wealthy businessman in person.

Shen Tu Zhuo came directly from Qianjin Canal to Huaqi Street, quickly changed into clean clothes, tied his hair up casually, wore a sun hat, and his boots were still covered in yellow mud.

This is a newly expanded street in Zhangye County. Since the roads and houses are not yet completed, it is still quite chaotic. Even so, one can already see the business atmosphere that will prevail here. Some gambling dens and brothels are busy setting up their venues, and a few slave traders have found secluded corners to bring out unidentified foreign slaves to sell for money. The business has already been secretly running for some time.

Shen Tu Zhuo sighed. He had taken over this mess, and not to mention whether he could still secure a spot as a royal merchant, the reputation of his business would likely be damaged. If Tan Huai Ke became the owner here, there would be no shortage of trouble.

Arriving at the five vacant shops, Shen Tu Zhuo wandered around them twice.

After acquiring these shops, Tan Huai Ke went to Andu to "trade as a merchant" and was unable to take care of them for the time being. So he asked his servants, A Shuo and A Hui, to come and inspect and manage the shops every day, keeping the front and back of the shops in good order.

Just as he stepped out of the alley, he heard someone shout at him: "Hey, who are you? You've been sneaking around in front of my shop for ages, do you think I can't see you?! Come on, come on, or I'll call the police!"

Shen Tu Zhuo looked over and saw a young merchant who was clearly a woman disguised as a man.

At first, he didn't recognize the other person, and the other person didn't recognize him either.

Tao Ying was waiting for Shen Tu Zhuo to come to her, but she never expected that the once pampered and spirited young man would turn into a slovenly peasant.

The two exchanged insults and scuffled for a while before figuring out each other's identities.

Shen Tu Zhuo frowned: "Tao Ying? What are you doing here? Has something happened in Andu?" The Grand Herald's daughter suddenly came to Hexi. Could it be that Tan Huai Ke accidentally revealed something?
Tao Ying lifted his straw hat, staring blankly for a long time, trying to reconcile the dark, thin, and unshaven face of the rough man in front of him with the handsome and dashing Xiao Zhuo in her memory.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she said in disbelief, "Are you really Brother Xiaozhuo? How... how did you change like this?"

"What happened to me?" Shen Tu Zhuo asked anxiously, confused. "Tell me first, has something happened in Andu? Is the marriage between the Third Prince and Princess Mohe going smoothly?"

"A marriage alliance?" Tao Ying calmed down a little. "What could a marriage alliance possibly involve? When I set off, I heard that the marriage alliance procession had just passed Louyang City. They should be entering Andu by now... My father is too busy with this matter to care about me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to sneak out so easily."

The two then sat down at Yanzhisi and chatted, eventually learning the general outline of what had happened.

At that time, the recommendation letter from Prefect Chi had just been sent to Andu. Tao Ying learned from her father-in-law that Shen Tu Zhuo was going to participate in the examination. After that, she couldn't stay at home and was determined to come to Hexi to find him. As the Grand Herald, Lord Tao was busy preparing for the marriage alliance between Da Xuan and Mo He, and inadvertently neglected to discipline her.

After listening to her story, Shentu Zhuo asked, "Then why did you buy these five shops from Tan Li? Were you tricked by him? These shops are a hot potato now, and it won't be easy for you to resell them."

Tao Ying said nonchalantly, "Aren't those five shops next door the property of your sister-in-law? They're practically part of the Shentu family's property. I'll buy a few shops and become your neighbor. We can make money together. What's wrong with that?"

“My sister-in-law was forced into this situation, what are you after?” “I just hope that you will become interested in me because of this.” Tao Ying sighed, “I just didn’t expect you to have changed so much, I almost didn’t recognize you… The border is still too poor, you should go back to Andu soon.”

"Look at all that mess outside, do you think this is some kind of lucrative business?"

"Of course I know this isn't a good shop. That Master Tan makes it sound nice, but he's not. He's probably the kind of person who would send his own daughter to be a widow." Tao Ying snorted coldly.

Born into a prominent family, Tao Ying had witnessed her father-in-law's deceitful dealings with others since childhood. Her eyes were sharp; from the moment she met Master Tan, she knew he was not someone to be trifled with, and eight out of ten of his words should not be believed. Moreover, as the daughter of the Grand Herald, she was familiar with foreign tributes, customs of different ethnic groups, and border trade. Daring to venture into Hexi under the guise of a merchant, she naturally wouldn't be easily fooled by a few words.

Knowing that she was aware of the situation, Shentu Zhuo stopped talking and kept urging her to go home.

Tao Ying wasn't unwilling to leave; she had simply made a plan to travel with Shen Tu Zhuo, who was going to the capital to participate in the imperial examinations. She pestered Shen Tu Zhuo for several days, even chasing him to the Qianjin Canal once. While searching for him, she fell from the paddy field into the ditch, getting up covered in mud but not giving up, demonstrating just how persistent she was.

Shen Tu Zhuo naturally didn't want to provoke her, so he left Zhangye alone the night before last. Who would have thought that as soon as he arrived in Wuwei, he would be stuck to this leech again.
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In the post station of Wuwei County, the two stared at each other.

Shentu Zhuo sighed deeply: "Tao Ying, ten years have passed, and you yourself said that I have changed too much. I am no longer the little Zhuo brother I used to be. Besides, your father is now a Grand Herald, while the Shentu family has long since declined. I am just a commoner from the border. We are not a good match. What do you intend to do?"

Tao Ying stubbornly said, "We have indeed been separated for a long time, and we almost didn't recognize each other when we first met. But after spending these days together, I feel that you are still my little Zhuo brother. Your family background has changed, but your spirit has not. Besides, didn't you come here to participate in the examination? You won't be a commoner forever."

"Then we're not a good match. I've only ever thought of you as a little sister."

“That’s because you haven’t seen how I’ve changed over the years.” Tao Ying said seriously, “Do you still remember the pomegranate blossoms you picked for me at the spring banquet that year? I knew you were the one from that moment on. Now that I’m all grown up, my grandfather is trying to find me a husband, but I don’t want to listen to him. I will find my own husband myself.”

“My father was convicted and demoted, which Lord Tao witnessed firsthand. Putting aside whether he would agree, how could I have the mind to think about such sentimental matters right now?” Shen Tu Zhuo advised. “Although I have made some achievements at Qianjin Canal, I still need to go through various assessments in Andu before I can be granted an official position. It is still unknown what difficulties the court will make for me. Why do you need to get involved in my mess?”

“If you submit to me, you will surely rise to great heights,” Tao Ying said earnestly. “I will earnestly ask your grandfather for his assistance.”

Seeing that he couldn't reason with her, Shentu Zhuo had no choice but to say, "Thank you for your kindness, but Tao Ying, I already have someone I like."

All those grand principles hadn't swayed Tao Ying's resolve in the slightest, but this seemingly casual remark threw her into a panic. She stammered, "...Who? Who is your sweetheart? I haven't heard of him in Zhangye."

Shen Tu Zhuo did not hide anything from her and said frankly, "It is my sister-in-law, Tan Huai Ke."

Tao Ying froze on the spot, thinking she had misheard: "Your sister-in-law? You, you...you..."

"Yes, since my brother is already dead, what's wrong with me falling for her?"

"No way!" Tao Yingxing said defiantly, her eyes wide. "I said no, and that's final! She's just a slightly pretty Hu woman, I want to see what's so great about her!"
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Next chapter: In the end, I didn't make it in time to send her off at her wedding.