Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 647 - 602 Enter the Village First

Lou Chengye finally understood, he scratched his head and smiled awkwardly, "Still, Second Brother thought it through thoroughly."

Li Xingsheng picked up the rattan box by his feet and shoved it into Lou Chengye’s arms, "This is my luggage, let’s go, we’ll set off now."

Li Xingsheng wore a scholar’s hat on his head, a light-blue summer shirt, and held a white paper folding fan with poems written on it, resembling a graceful young gentleman.

He rode a horse, while Lou Chengye rode a donkey.

Amid the farewells from Li Yu En and Liu Er’s family, the two set off.

The ten skilled guards sent by Prefect Lou wore plain everyday clothes, keeping dozens of steps away, quietly escorting them.

If they moved fast, the guards moved fast, and if they slowed down, the guards slowed down.

Feihu Village was about a hundred miles away from the Prefecture of Zhen An Prefecture. They rested for a night at a market halfway, and by the next morning, they had arrived at White Tiger Mountain, where the village was located.

Just as the refugees said, White Tiger Mountain, where Feihu Village was located, was sparsely populated.

They passed through two villages, both devoid of human life.

Most of the houses in the villages had collapsed. Judging by the spiderwebs inside and the trees growing in the middle of the houses, these two small villages had been abandoned for more than five years, as the trees were as thick as a bowl.

Nearby the village, there were large tracts of divided land with small paths between, overgrown with wild trees and grass.

It was vaguely visible that this was once farmland.

At the village entrance was a well, but its edge had collapsed, and the water had dried up.

"The people of Feihu Village are truly detestable. A perfectly good village ruined by them like this." Lou Chengye snorted angrily.

"Chengye, we’ve already entered Feihu Village’s territory, we must be careful with our words. If anyone from the village hears us, we won’t gain anything and might cause trouble." Li Xingsheng cautioned him.

Lou Chengye took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, "I understand, Second Brother."

"It’s Second Young Master." Li Xingsheng tapped his head with a fan.

Lou Chengye scratched his head, "Got it, Second Young Master."

Li Xingsheng patted his horse’s back and continued on their journey.

Zhen An Prefecture is located in the southern part of Zhao Country, where summer comes earlier than in the Northern Land.

In the bright sunny weather of April, the heat was intense, and the mountains and valleys were lush.

Amid the varying greens were patches of purple, white, and red mountain flowers.

Birds chirped joyously in the mountains, while butterflies fluttered leisurely among the flowers.

"Man of letters and poetic charm" Li Xingsheng cleared his throat and began reciting poems.

Lou Chengye didn’t understand poetry, but grinned widely as he listened.

They passed through villages and entered a grove of locust trees.

The snow-white locust flowers were lively in bloom, with a fragrance that overwhelmed the senses.

Li Xingsheng praised the beauty of the flowers, talking to Lou Chengye about the benefits of locust flowers, mentioning that they could be used in medicine and cooking.

Never having tasted them, Lou Chengye eagerly asked about different recipes.

The two talked in harmony, resembling a master and servant pair indulging in pleasures and scenery with a carefree attitude.

In the locust grove, besides the two of them, there were two young women with bamboo baskets on their shoulders, wearing bamboo hats, picking locust flowers.

The two sat on branches thick with bloom, staring unblinkingly at Li Xingsheng as he walked by.

After Li Xingsheng passed, one round-faced girl said to the thin-faced girl, "Ah Qing, what do you think of that young gentleman in white as a match for our young lady?"

Ah Qing hooked her foot around a branch, held onto a branch with one hand, and shaded her eyes from the sun with the other, squinting ahead, "He’s about the right age, not bad-looking, and recites poetry. He’s a good match for our young lady."

"Ah Lan, let’s capture him and take him to the mountain stronghold!"

The two girls leaped down from the tree and dashed after Li Xingsheng.

As Li Xingsheng rode his horse beneath the locust trees, he had already noticed the two girls in the trees.

The two of them had climbed almost to the tips of the branches, an uncommon feat.

Either they were bold or skilled in martial arts.

Moreover, their attire did not resemble village girls.

Having traveled half a day without seeing anyone, yet encountering these two oddly dressed girls, Li Xingsheng felt a sense of suspicion.

He intentionally recited sour poems and discussed ways to eat locust flowers with Lou Chengye.

Just as he suspected, these two girls were not ordinary; they caught up with Li Xingsheng and blocked his horse, "Young Master, we heard you say you could make locust flowers into food?"

The sudden appearance of the two startled Lou Chengye.

Thinking this was Feihu Village territory, he immediately thought, could these be people from the village?

Lou Chengye became vigilant, steering his donkey to stand beside Li Xingsheng.

Li Xingsheng shook his folding fan with a graceful smile, "I have some research on eating, particularly interested in locust flower dishes. Though my skills are inferior, I’ve only come up with a mere ten recipes."

Only ten and still mere?

The two girls exchanged glances, and the slim-faced Ah Qing cupped her fists towards Li Xingsheng, "Young Master, our master also has some interest in flower cuisine but does not know as much as you. If you don’t mind, could you come with us to the village to teach our master how to prepare flower dishes? Our master will certainly reward you handsomely."

Village?

Feihu Village people?

Lou Chengye’s expression changed.

Li Xingsheng, however, remained smiling and even seemed a bit excited, snapping his fan shut, "I am willing to give it a try."

The two girls were overjoyed, exchanging another glance.

Ah Qing nodded to Li Xingsheng, "Young Master, please follow us."

"Please." Li Xingsheng tucked his folding fan into his belt, flicked the horse’s reins, and followed them.

Lou Chengye glanced at the two women ahead and quietly tugged on Li Xingsheng’s sleeve, mouthing the words, "Feihu Village."

Li Xingsheng nodded, pointing to the two women in front with his eyes, signaling him to follow them.

Lou Chengye shook his head, closing his eyes in disbelief.

Is Li Er insane, following them into the village?

Just the two of them?

What if they couldn’t get out?

Li Xingsheng saw his flickering eyes and guessed he was worried about being trapped.

Li Xingsheng patted his shoulder, indicating not to be afraid.

He dared to boldly enter, not fearing being trapped, "Act according to the situation! This is an excellent opportunity!"

Li Xingsheng also mouthed back.

After thinking it over, Lou Chengye realized that they had already caught the girls’ attention, so they should enter first and see.

If they didn’t follow and enter the village and ran away, they wouldn’t have another chance to investigate nearby.