Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 52 Warm Invitation

In order to avoid any further complications, Tan Huaike found out the address of the Zhong brothers and sisters at the Yunhe Xiangjie, and in the evening he went to the shacks built for refugees in the north of the city to look for them.

There wasn't much errands to run today, so Zhong Ming only brought back two pieces of cold, dry naan, which he and his sister drank with cold water. Zhong Yun seemed to have caught a cold, coughing slightly, her face flushed, and she looked listless.

Zhong Ming was very surprised to see Tan Huaike: "Madam, why are you here?"

Tan Huaike stepped forward and touched Zhong Yun's forehead, frowning and saying, "You have a fever. This won't do. You need to see a doctor."

Zhong Ming lowered his head: "I, we..."

"If you don't have enough money, I can cover it for you first. Whether you're willing to work for me is another matter. At worst, you can run a few more errands for the cloth shop and you can pay it back. But your sister is too young and she's sick, so we can't delay."

"I understand. Thank you, madam." Zhong Ming carefully counted the small bag of silver in his hand and promised, "We will definitely find a way to pay it back."

"That's not urgent. I came here this time because I want to ask you something." Tan Huaike never treated them as children who could be easily perfunctory and coaxed. He said solemnly, "I want to know why the human trafficker who brought you to Zhangye County died? Do you know who killed him?"

Hearing this, panic flashed in Zhong Ming's eyes, and the sick Zhong Yun also looked at his brother helplessly.

Zhong Ming stammered, "It was...it was done by the Sand Bandits..."

This was obviously a lie, and it also showed that the two siblings were intentionally covering up for the person who rescued them, even though the group's motives in doing these things were not pure.

Tan Huaike didn't press the issue hastily. After careful consideration, he said, "A Ming, Xiao Yun, I know you have concerns, but I hope you understand that I'm not trying to report the murderer to the authorities, nor am I looking to cause trouble for your benefactor. This matter is extremely important to me, and it concerns my life."

Zhong Ming wavered. Caressing his sister's burning forehead, he pursed his lips and said, "My apologies, Madam. Those two have done us a favor, and I won't be ungrateful." He took out the small bag of silver he had just received and returned it. "If Madam is unwilling to help us because of this, that's perfectly reasonable, but we can't say..."

What a good kid with backbone.

Tan Huaike was helpless. She refused the bag of silver and said, "No, this is a different matter. Even if you don't tell me the truth, I will still help you. And the offer I made before still stands. I welcome you to come to my pharmacy and cloth workshop as apprentices at any time. I will pay you the same wages."

Being able to meet such a boss is a blessing earned through several lifetimes.

Zhong Ming was torn between his conscience and his desires, and asked anxiously, "Madam, if you don't want to help the government arrest them, then why are you asking about them?"

Tan Huaike admitted: "Because I was also a slave abducted by that human trafficker."

"You too? How could that be?" Zhong Ming asked in confusion, "Aren't you the daughter raised in the countryside by the Tan family?"

"No, that was an identity Mr. Tan forced upon me. I was brought into the interior by Wu Chou, and Lady Fu bought me to replace her in marriage to Shen Tuheng, who died unexpectedly in battle. These things are too filthy, and you may not understand them..."

Zhong Ming opened his mouth in shock as he thought of something.

Zhong Yun also widened her watery eyes: "Madam, did you lose a shiny bracelet made of many blue stones?"

"How do you know?" "Your brother, he, he is looking for you..." Zhong Ming said in a daze.
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Meanwhile, Aisha was about to go to Tan's house for a banquet.

On the way, Badan reported to him that the Zhong siblings seemed to be looking for other ways to make a living recently and were less interested in tracking the Tan family. Aisha was not surprised by this. He had not expected the two children to be of any help. After so many days of surveillance, he still had no results. Ultimately, he had to go and investigate personally.

He was also well aware of Zhong Ming's motives. While seemingly out of gratitude, he actually just wanted to earn a reputation for himself, leaving a way out for himself and his sister. So, he allowed the two children's clumsy assistance. As long as it didn't cause him any trouble, having more help was fine.

Now that they want to give up working for him and find another way to make a living, that doesn't matter. He is in danger now anyway, and he didn't intend to keep these two little burdens for himself.

Aisha just casually asked, "What way did they find?"

Badan said, "She seems to be the eldest lady of the Shentu Mansion, a young widow from a declining powerful family, who runs her own business."

Aisha nodded and put the matter behind her.

Fortunately, he had already set up the plan, so he could finally go there in person to find out the details of the Tan family.

A few days ago, Aisha had a very pleasant conversation with Tan Anfeng.

The two met in a gambling house. Tan Anfeng took this "Mohe businessman who entered the customs for the first time" to experience the fun of small gambling. Aisha returned the favor and helped him pay off two gambling debts that had caused him to lose money.

Aisha also gave Tan Anfeng a box of valuable Anzhi incense, saying it was the most popular fumigation pill among the Mohe nobles, and asked him to give it to the women in his family for trial.

Seeing that he was generous and elegant, Tan Anfeng immediately made him a close friend.

When we met today, he said familiarly, "My sister really likes the incense you gave me last time. She uses it to fumigate her clothes and the house every day, and she even asked me to bring some home."

"Since you have won the favor of Mrs. Tan, I will give you a few more boxes."

"Haha, you're so polite." Tan Anfeng's face was flushed as he extended a warm invitation. "My father-in-law was very interested in my story of your business venture into the customs, so he asked me to treat you to a family dinner. We hope to have more exchanges in the future."

"This...your father really flatters me." Aisha pretended to refuse.

"Brother Aisha, don't be so modest. I really want to befriend you," Tan Anfeng advised. "You know, my family's businesses are spread across the four counties of Hexi. We're one of the wealthiest merchants here. Connecting with us will be a huge boon to your business. Furthermore, our Tan family is interested in competing for the title of Imperial Merchant of Daxuan, and we need to expand our trade routes across the Western Territory. We've invited several other Western merchants to this family dinner, but you're the one I'm most optimistic about."

To get closer to the Tan family, Aisha had already thoroughly investigated their situation. While the Tan family might have been considered one of the richest families in the four counties a decade or so ago, they were now a rotten lot, with many businesses struggling to survive. Without their deep pockets, they would have been wiped out long ago.

However, he was not a real businessman and had no intention of seeking business with them, so he did not expose the truth. He just nodded in agreement and agreed to attend the family dinner.

So today, Aisha brought a generous gift and walked into the Tan family openly.

Looking around——

My beloved sister, where are you?
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　Next chapter: Has Lady Fu ever bought a Hu slave?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)