At the dock, the wind whipped at their clothes, making them flap loudly, but Zhu Changning's countdown remained clear and distinct above the gusting sound.
The meat in the basket had surely gone cold by now, but he still held onto it without putting it down. Though he didn't understand Changle as well as his older brother did, he could guess at some of her intentions.
People tend to follow the crowd, and Changle's words had bound the forty-eight men together as one. They were no longer separate individuals, but a single unit. Whether or not they could eat this meat was no longer just about themselves; for whatever reason, as long as they had breath left, they would hold on.
Changle was openly counting on this very psychology.
Looking at the heads peeking out from behind the collapsed wall, Zhu Changning could imagine her secretly laughing. That girl had always been the one who most enjoyed watching others' excitement.
Just as he had guessed, Zhu Changle was grinning like a cat that had stolen some cream. "I never realized before how useful Second Brother could be."
Qiuli was also watching Zhu Changning. Of Zhu Maonian's four children, the second-born Zhu Changning had always found it hardest to find his place. With an older brother of outstanding talent above him and a doted-upon little sister below, he was neither needed to shoulder responsibilities nor indulged in pampering. If he tried to live freely as a prodigal son, forget about Zhu Maonian - Zhu Changwang alone could keep him confined at home. To have grown up in such a tight spot and become someone who, while not outstanding, at least didn't make mistakes, was a testament to the Zhu family's child-rearing methods.
"With a bit of polishing, he can still be useful."
Receiving this acknowledgment, Zhu Changle's eyes crinkled with her smile. Her second brother was certainly not lacking, after all.
"Miss, everything is ready."
Zhu Changle cocked her ear to listen to her brother's count - it had already reached seventy-six. She ran back to Aunt Feng's side and, pretending to be casual, took a thick slice of the prepared meat and popped it into her mouth. Mmm, delicious!
"Aunt Feng, roast some for me when we get home."
Aunt Feng smiled and agreed, "I'll stop by the apothecary later. You love spicy food, so I'll see if they have any chili peppers."
"Aunt Feng is the best to me." Zhu Changle hugged Aunt Feng affectionately. Though nominally mistress and servant, they were no different from family.
She instructed Xu Zheng to take the heavy bamboo basket to find her second brother, while casually flipping over the two fish roasting on the fire. One side was golden brown, perfectly cooked.
"Zero." As the countdown reached its end, people all over the dock collapsed to the ground. They sniffed the air, their eyes following Xu Zheng, but they had no strength left to stand up. They didn't know how they had managed to hold on until now.
Zhu Changning lifted the cloth covering the basket and looked inside. This portion was much thicker; compared to it, the previous basket seemed as thin as paper. He lifted the one in his hand and asked, "What about this one?"
"The Fourth Miss didn't say."
Zhu Changning looked at Xu Zheng, who only smiled.
After a moment's thought, Zhu Changning motioned for Zhou Zheng and Wu Jun to come forward and take the basket from Xu Zheng.
"You can share this among yourselves."
The two men swallowed hard, their outstretched hands trembling. Meat, real meat!
"This one has gone cold. Take it home to your families." Zhu Changning handed over the smaller basket he had been holding. Meeting their surprised gazes, he said, "Eat what's meant for you. You need meat to build strength, and strength is what you're lacking right now."
Worried they might save all the meat to take home, Zhu Changning added, "Today was only the first day, and you're already struggling. Knowing Changle, the training will only get harder. If you can't keep up, she might replace you."
While they might not care about other things, the mention of being replaced changed their expressions. It wasn't just about the meat; their responsibility was to guard the city gates, to stand against the people of Gu'an. How could they allow themselves to be replaced?
Having achieved his goal, Zhu Changning said no more. He waved them off and returned to his sister's side, feeling her gaze on him.
"Have some, Second Brother. I roasted it myself." Zhu Changle offered him the grilled fish, making no mention of anything else. This eased Zhu Changning's discomfort somewhat. He took it and ate slowly, his eyes still on the dock.
This was the first time he had been so close to ordinary people, and the first time he had truly experienced what was called the "hearts of the people."
It was different from everything he had known before. At the academy, factions were clearly defined. In that predetermined circle, he knew how to act, to what extent, who to choose and who to abandon, how to benefit the family most. For him, navigating those waters had been effortless.
But now he faced different people. These people wouldn't set traps for him; they even feared him because of his status. Yet in a place like this, seeing their eyes light up at the sight of a piece of meat, he felt a pang of sorrow before any sense of superiority could take root. He thought, if they hadn't eaten meat in so long, the other people of Yunbei must be in the same situation. If only he had the ability to let each of them eat meat - not as a handout from him, but of their own means, whenever they wanted.
If only it could be like that.
"Second Brother, why don't you oversee the training from now on?"
Zhu Changning turned to look at his little sister.
"I'll teach them how to train, and then I'll leave Aunt Feng to assist you."
"Where are you going?"
Zhu Changle watched the people holding the meat without eating, looking almost at a loss, and couldn't bring herself to smile. "I'm going hunting. Yunbei has many mountains, there should be plenty of game."
Zhu Changning was puzzled. "If everyone's short on meat, don't the people of Yunbei hunt?"
"These big mountains usually have fierce beasts. Ordinary people would only dare to venture around the edges. But am I an ordinary person?" Zhu Changle winked, waiting for praise.
But getting praise from Zhu Changning was never easy. "An ordinary person wouldn't ask that question."
Was that praise or criticism? Zhu Changle eyed her expressionless second brother suspiciously. Unable to tell, she decided to take it as praise. Nodding, she said, "That's why you'll oversee the training for me, and I'll go hunting."
"You're going alone?"
"Well, there's still Qiuli, isn't there?"
Oh! Zhu Changle realized she hadn't asked Qiuli if he would go. Afraid of losing a helper, she quickly turned to coax him, "Qiuli, let's go hunting together. How about we make it a competition? See who can catch more."
Qiuli saw right through her little scheme, but he didn't expose it. He only asked, "What does the winner get?"
"The winner is the most awesome, of course!"
"..."
Even Zhu Changning couldn't bear to watch such a feeble attempt at persuasion. Qiuli didn't even spare her a glance.
"I mean, the loser has to admit that the winner is the most awesome in the world!"
Seeing that Qiuli not only ignored her but turned his back on her, Zhu Changle quickly racked her brain. She scurried in front of Qiuli, clasped her hands over her heart, and continued to coax, "If you win, I'll grill fish for you."
Qiuli turned away again.
Zhu Changle scurried after him. "Then... I'll roast rabbit for you."
Qiuli turned away once more. Zhu Changle followed again.
"I'll make you a whole table of delicious food."
Qiuli simply closed his eyes to rest.
Still not enough? Zhu Changle twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, tentatively asking, "How about this: in the future, wherever you want to go, I'll go with you?"
"It's a deal."
"It's a deal, it's a deal!" Zhu Changle hadn't expected it to be so simple. She was instantly delighted. It was just about having fun, after all. She and Buttocks already ran all over the place. This was just adding another playmate. What a win!
Zhu Changning coolly remarked from the side, "You've already admitted defeat before the competition even started."
"..." For the first time in her life, Zhu Changle lost a battle of words to her second brother.
