“I absolutely can’t touch alcohol again, or something bad will really happen!”
After Guan Xiaorou left, Jin Feng silently warned himself.
In his past life, he had a low tolerance for alcohol, and in this life, his host had never drunk, making his resistance to alcohol even lower, getting drunk after just a little.
High-proof liquor might have been better, knocking him out after a couple of glasses, but last night’s sweet, low-proof Dakang liquor led him to overdrink unnoticed.
The only relief was that he hadn’t completely blacked out, and now he could recall the events.
It started with just drinking, then he sang “The Internationale,” and to persuade Tie Chui and the others, he recited Li Bai’s “Bring in the Wine.”
Later, while critiquing the inn’s food, he thought of modern hotels and accidentally mentioned air conditioning.
Even drunk, his rationality didn’t fully vanish.
He knew he’d slipped up and quickly used his drunkenness as an excuse to return to his room.
From Guan Xiaorou’s reaction this morning, his memory seemed accurate.
Given her shrewdness and care for him, if he’d mentioned anything about transmigration, she would have questioned him relentlessly, not acted as she did.
Lost in thought, Guan Xiaorou returned with a tray, followed by Qing Mulang and Tang Dongdong.
“Dear, have some sour soup to sober up.”
Guan Xiaorou placed the tray on the table.
Besides the soup, there was plain porridge and small dishes.
“Hm.”
Jin Feng took a sip of the soup and looked at Qing Mulang, “Running over several times this morning, are you that eager to mock me?”
“Sir, do you think I’m in the mood to mock you now?”
Qing Mulang said, “You nearly caused a disaster, you know?”
“You mean the song?”
Jin Feng sighed helplessly.
When Guan Xiaorou mentioned he sang “The Internationale,” he already knew.
Dakang was a feudal dynasty, “The Internationale” was a rebellious song, and if the court found out, it would be considered treason, a crime punishable by clan extermination.
“It seems you’re aware, sir.”
Qing Mulang said, “You must never sing that song again, no matter when.”
“Luckily, no outsiders were there, or we’d all be done for,” Tang Dongdong added.
“I understand,” Jin Feng nodded, “I won’t drink again.”
In both lives, he lacked professional training to stay clear-headed like a spy, so the only solution was to avoid such situations.
“Don’t say that, sir, you were quite fun drunk, I didn’t even know you could sing and dance,” Qing Mulang said with a sly grin, “Shall I help you recall?”
“Get lost!” Jin Feng snapped, “Mention this again, and you’ll get no weapons from me.”
“Sir, I won’t dare,” Qing Mulang quickly backed down.
“Have you informed Tie Chui and the female soldiers?” Jin Feng asked.
“The female soldiers went to wash clothes during the drinking,” Qing Mulang said, “Tie Chui and the others were drunk too, I subtly asked this morning, except for Tie Chui, who has the best tolerance, no one else remembers you singing or reciting poetry.
Tie Chui was scared too, he tried to stop you from singing and said no more drinking, but you recited poetry and pulled him to drink more.”
Jin Feng’s tongue was slurring then, many parts weren’t clear, Qing Mulang and Tang Dongdong, beside him, missed much of it, let alone the drunk veterans.
Moreover, Jin Feng only sang a few lines before Qing Mulang, Tang Dongdong, and Tie Chui, alarmed, stopped him.
“That’s good,” Jin Feng nodded, relieved, “Have you eaten?”
“We ate earlier,” Tang Dongdong said, “We’re waiting for you to finish so we can go to the brokerage.”
Jin Feng quickly finished the porridge and stood, “Let’s go.”
Outside, Tie Chui approached, “Sir, you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Jin Feng patted his shoulder, “Don’t talk about last night.”
“Sir, don’t worry, I know what’s at stake,” Tie Chui assured.
“Tell everyone, let’s go to the brokerage, get things done early, and head back.”
Jin Feng had no mood to linger in the county city.
To avoid attention like yesterday, no one rode horses, and the female soldiers wore no armour.
The group, like a wealthy household outing, entered the county brokerage together.
The brokerage was a place for merchants to trade, similar to a wholesale market in his past life, dealing in daily goods, mules, horses, cattle, and sheep.
Jin Feng’s group didn’t linger, following Tang Dongdong to the deepest part of the brokerage.
In Dakang, slaves had a status akin to goods but were distinct, so the brokerage built a circle of thatched huts to hold unsold slaves.
It was the busiest time, groups of men and women stood tied with ropes at the hut doors, including young adults, elderly, and children.
These were usually people whose families committed crimes or couldn’t repay debts to landlords, sold off by the authorities.
Some were sent by owners needing quick cash.
Passersby inspected them like livestock, checking appearances, teeth, or lifting clothes to assess strength.
New slaves, unaccustomed, resisted when their mouths were checked or clothes lifted, but the brokers’ overseers whipped them harshly.
Over time, newcomers grew numb, like seasoned slaves, doing whatever was asked.
Besides those sold by authorities, some had straw markers in their hair, mostly children.
These were from families unable to survive, selling children or themselves for a chance at life.
But such people, adults and children alike, were skin and bones, rarely bought.
Many children didn’t understand the straw markers, looking at passersby with hopeful eyes.
Their parents had said being bought meant they could eat their fill.
Though Jin Feng had prepared mentally, the sight unsettled him.
Especially the children’s longing gazes, which made his heart ache.
But he knew this was a system entrenched for millennia, beyond his power to change.
Relatively, being bought by him might be their fortune, as he wouldn’t treat them like animals, at most like workers.
Lost in thought, Jin Feng saw Tang Dongdong rush to a girl with a straw marker, calling excitedly, “Xiao Yuan?”
The girl, head down, looked up, stunned to see Tang Dongdong.
Then, more excited than Tang Dongdong, she grabbed her sleeve, “Miss, why are you here?”
