Gou Zi’s smile was sunny and attractive, always revealing eight teeth. Not many people in Guanzhong had such fine teeth—most were somewhat yellowed, perhaps due to the water and soil. This pattern didn’t apply to Gou Zi. His teeth gleamed like white jade. Over a year of abundant nutrition had transformed the thin, small child into a handsome young man.

“Mizhi women and Suide men, need not ask nor look around. Young fellows ride horses like the wind, marrying Mizhi women brings endless joy. Stone lions guard gates but can’t stop cats, Suide men each better than the last.”

These were lines from a Guanzhong folk tune. The world-renowned beauty Diao Chan and the peerless warrior Lu Bu both came from these two places. Everyone in the Yun household liked Gou Zi. Every time the Old Matriarch passed the tea stand, she would stop to drink a bowl of tea, chat with Gou Zi’s blind old mother, and conveniently praise Gou Zi’s filial piety and obedience. This was the blind old woman’s happiest moment. Even the titled Old Matriarch praised her son—what was there to be dissatisfied about? She would only occasionally complain, saying her blind eyes dragged the child down. Otherwise, this child should have married by now.

She also said this child had spent all the money he’d risked his life earning on the grasslands on treating her illness. No girls’ families were willing to marry into this poor household. It was all because of her, this great burden, making the child’s life unsatisfactory.

Gou Zi most hated hearing these words. If he wanted to marry, it would be easy. There were even girls willing to marry down. The household was simple—just mother and son. Hadn’t he noticed the maids serving the Old Matriarch practically had water dripping from their eyes?

Yun Ye didn’t like Gou Zi. Every time they met, he wanted to kick him a couple times. What was a man doing growing into such a ghostly handsome appearance? Most infuriating was that he kept growing more handsome. The wretched child from the grasslands was more to his liking. So every time they met, Yun Ye would bring up how Na Rimu had pressed his face with her bottom. Each time it drew loud laughter from the household guards, hostility from the maids, and Gou Zi’s utter embarrassment.

Yun family members going out all had the habit of carrying water bottles, but arriving at the tea stand, they would all stop. Not for any other reason but to help support Gou Zi and his mother with a few extra coins for tea. This had become customary. Gou Zi lived with dignity and didn’t want charity. Otherwise, the auxiliary soldiers who returned with him would have helped him long ago. Apart from asking the Marquis to register his household, no matter how bitter or difficult, he never uttered a word of complaint.

Old Qian and Old Liu chatted with the blind old woman. Gou Zi efficiently poured tea for the servants and maids. The male servants didn’t react much, but the maids’ faces flushed red, becoming as proper as could be. Each one became a refined young lady.

Gou Zi had long grown accustomed to the maids’ behavior. He was quite confident in his appearance. Some days ago, the Marquis forced him to study, saying if he couldn’t recite his lessons, his legs would be broken. A roomful of little children, and he the only big fellow—so embarrassing. He wanted to return home and stop studying, but the old soldier whose family had moved here along with them gave him a thorough beating. Even his usually doting old mother didn’t speak up for him.

In the old soldier’s words: “You, a bitter soul who grew up in bitter waters, now have a noble person looking after you, and you still don’t treasure it? Who gets to study? All wealthy families’ children. The Marquis hired a teacher for you. Once you recognize a few characters, in the future he’ll elevate you to official position. Such a glorious opportunity to honor your ancestors, and you don’t seize it—what more do you want? If you don’t study properly again, never mind the Marquis breaking your legs—I’ll do it myself.”

With only his mother at home, the thirty mu of land—the old soldier farmed it in passing. He only needed to study well and look after the tea stand.

The male servants pitifully watched Gou Zi, fearing he’d make a move on the goddess in their hearts. The Yun family didn’t much interfere with such matters. As long as feelings were mutual and not incestuous, they would eventually marry their favored maids. At that time, they’d be released from servitude. Yun Ye believed that having eight generations of ancestors as slaves was a human tragedy that shouldn’t happen. When servants and maids married, the children they bore in the future would still be servants and maids. If it were him, he’d have hanged himself long ago. What kind of life was that?

Gou Zi was very experienced with such situations. He absolutely never looked twice at the maids. After pouring tea, he sat before the sand table to practice characters. Though his writing looked like dog scratches, his bearing was impressive. Little did he know this made the maids’ hearts practically leap from their chests.

Gust of Wind slowly caught up. Seeing the tea stand with the Yun family convoy all drinking tea, he also stopped. Gou Zi, seeing a customer arrive, hurried forward. Taking the rope from Gust of Wind’s hand, he tied the ox to a tree outside the stand. There was sun-warmed water in the trough. He added some for the old ox. The ox lowered its head to drink, very docile.

The ox was good—a yellow castrated ox unique to Guanzhong, excellent for plowing fields. Gou Zi had long wanted one. During the busy farming season, it could plow fields. During slack season, hitched to an ox cart, he could take his old mother to tour Chang’an. Unfortunately, money was tight. This wish had never been fulfilled.

He took a brush, preparing to brush off the mud from the old ox. The owner didn’t cherish it—the ox was covered in mud spots. Who knew before he could start, he heard the ox’s owner say: “Hurry up and pour water. I still need to get to market. Hurry.”

Gou Zi paused slightly, then smilingly poured tea for the ox’s owner. The tea was golden yellow, but Gust of Wind drank it with a furrowed brow—somewhat bitter, not quite used to it. Gou Zi asked with a smile: “Elder Brother, where are you from? Looking at your dusty journey, you’ve traveled far, right? Rest a while longer. This spring sun is already so fierce—setting off later would be better.”

Gust of Wind said: “A bitter soul’s life—when is there time to rest? Wanted to see the Yun family estate, see if there’s any work to do, earn a few coins to feed the whole family. How far is it from here to the Yun estate?”

“Elder Brother, having such a good ox, you count as a prosperous household. Why speak such bitter words? From the capital, this place is exactly thirty li. Just a few households here, so we took the name Thirty Li Post. Less than twenty li to the Yun family estate—about an hour’s time and you’ll arrive.”

Gust of Wind smiled without answering. He casually laughed twice and evaded the question. He sat on the left side of the stand, not far from Old Qian and Old Liu. He heard the blind woman say the Yun family’s Old Matriarch inspected the estate every three days. Tomorrow, she might even come to the tea stand to drink tea.

Looking at the surrounding environment—a hundred-some paces from the tea stand were just a few households. His heart formed other thoughts. Rather than going to the Yun family estate to find opportunities, better to find them here. Yun Ye was a Martial Marquis—how could his household lack skilled martial guards? In single combat, naturally he didn’t fear those military brutes. But once they formed ranks, even someone like him, a wandering knight, wouldn’t have enough lives to spare. Killing the Yun family’s old ancestor here would be enough for half a lifetime’s expenses. His mind made up, he appeared leisurely. He only needed to finish off this youth and the blind old woman—no pressure whatsoever for him. Just a pity about this handsome young fellow.

Gou Zi diligently refilled everyone’s tea, smiling even more brightly. Every time he looked at the lone customer Gust of Wind sitting to one side, he smiled even more happily. Passing by him, his hand trembled, and remaining tea accidentally spilled on Gust of Wind.

He apologized profusely, using a cloth to wipe Gust of Wind down, saying he was careless and would waive his tea fee. Gust of Wind was always magnanimous toward those about to die. He only cursed twice, then fell silent.

Gou Zi brought him fresh tea. At this time, the Yun family convoy bid farewell to Gou Zi and his mother, slowly driving toward the Yun family estate. Those maids kept turning back to look at Gou Zi standing outside the stand waving to them.

Gust of Wind lay in that comfortable chair, resting with closed eyes. The tea was indeed good to drink. Though slightly bitter at first, the aftertaste was sweet and fragrant. No wonder Yun family people always came here for tea. Such fine tea could never be had again. Gust of Wind felt some regret. He raised the tea bowl and drank another large mouthful. This time the tea’s flavor was even stronger. Presumably that handsome young fellow was making amends. The young man was talking with his mother, waves of conversation entering his ears. This chair was truly comfortable. He lazily only wanted to lie a while longer.

“Gou’er, Mother just heard several girls talking. From their speech, they’re all proper, well-mannered good girls. Have you taken a liking to any? Soon, Mother will speak with the Old Matriarch. The Old Matriarch is kind—perhaps she’ll approve. It’s just our family is too poor. Afraid those girls won’t be willing to come.”

Gou Zi looked at Gust of Wind resting with closed eyes, then at the ox cart tied under the tree. His heart filled with happiness. He said to his mother: “Mother, don’t worry. Heaven is looking after us—our family will soon not be poor. Your son will get you an ox cart and an ox, exactly the same kind of good ox as that elder brother’s. When the wheat is harvested, your son will hitch the ox cart and take you to see Chang’an. Old Uncle said Granny Cao’s meat pies and cheese are the most delicious. Your son will buy them back for you then, let you have a good taste.”

Hearing her son say this, the blind woman happily nodded repeatedly, also telling her son to buy more and bring them back to share with Old Uncle and the others. These years, without Old Uncle’s family’s care, mother and son wouldn’t have survived until now.

“That’s for certain. Old Uncle was injured on the battlefield in earlier years. Even now his shoulders and back still aren’t right. Doctor Sun says this is an old ailment—must be treated slowly. We’ll not only treat Old Uncle to meat pies but also buy him medicine. Wine we don’t dare buy—Doctor Sun says with his illness, he can’t drink alcohol.” Gou Zi readily agreed, as if he were about to strike it rich immediately.

Gou Zi gently fanned his mother with a fan. Doctor Sun said Mother’s body most couldn’t tolerate heat. Otherwise, fire poison would be bad for Mother’s eyes. Though she couldn’t see, it still couldn’t worsen.

In his heart, Gust of Wind laughed until his intestines nearly knotted. Someone who couldn’t live past an hour was dreaming of eating Granny Cao’s meat pies and cheese—quite expensive! The poor boy was deceiving his mother. Too funny.

The sun had shifted somewhat westward. Seeing Mother dozing off, Gou Zi helped her back to the small room behind the stand to sleep awhile. The suffering endured in earlier years had worn down her body.

After Mother fell asleep, Gou Zi gently and quietly closed the door. He rubbed his hands together. It had been some time since he’d killed anyone. His hands were extremely itchy.