Chapter 18: The Two Worthies Manor Eight Miles Away

Yun Hao studied the old man, who was intently inspecting the yellow dun horse. His lips moved as he muttered to himself, but the surrounding noise was too loud and his voice too low for Yun Hao to catch any of it, even though he strained his ears.

This old man was named Su Kui. Though now he looked frail, gaunt, and devoid of energy, in his younger days he had been a notable figure in the horse trade out west, commanding a team of dozens. Had he not suffered a devastating ambush by horse bandits, which cost him both his fortune and his men, he might never have returned home to Luzhou, where he now survived by chopping and selling firewood.

Years of trading horses had given him a discerning eye. He could tell a mule from a horse, and judge their quality without needing to see them run. Unfortunately, good horses were rare in Luzhou, or Su Kui might have returned to his old trade.

He circled the yellow dun horse twice, feeling its bones with his hands. The horse, sensing a kindred spirit, snorted twice. Su Kui turned to Qin Qiong and asked, “How much are you selling this horse for?”

“Eighty taels of pure silver!” Qin Qiong answered with gritted teeth, naming his price.

Laughter erupted from the crowd again. Eighty taels could buy a sturdy ox; who would spend so much for a horse that was little more than skin and bones?

“Hmm! That price is too low. I can see you’re an honest man,” Su Kui said, nodding, while the others kept laughing.

“Old Su, have you lost your wits? If this horse is worth eighty taels, that lame donkey over there must be worth fifty!” A livestock broker pointed at a nearby donkey tied to a post, triggering another round of laughter.

Su Kui waited for the laughter to die down before speaking again. “What do you know? In all these years, Luzhou has seldom seen a horse like this. Look, there are patches of white hair on its belly and flanks, and more importantly, a round patch of white on its forehead, as full as the moon. This horse is what’s called a Western Dry-Grass Yellow. It’s naturally lean, nicknamed the ‘Bone-Piercing Dragon.’ This is a horse that can cover a thousand li by day and eight hundred by night.”

Some still doubted him, but his steady manner made it hard to accuse him of lying. Watching the way he looked at the horse, suspicion began to take root among the crowd. Could this really be a fine steed? Those who knew Su Kui’s background started to regret not snapping up the horse at a bargain just days before—they saw a golden opportunity slipping through their fingers.

Among the onlookers, some disbelieved, some doubted, and some were quietly beating their chests in regret. Su Kui, for his part, looked pleased with himself.

“I’ll tell you this,” he continued. “This horse isn’t just worth eighty taels—even eight hundred would be fair. But since you want to sell it for eighty, let me help you. I’ll sell it for a hundred taels, and you can give me the extra twenty as a commission—what do you say?”

The crowd burst into a frenzy. Was the old man mad, claiming this scrawny horse was worth eight hundred taels? Those who knew his reputation regretted not buying it on the spot, but these were all seasoned traders; they knew if anyone made an offer, the price would only shoot higher. They suppressed their urges, thinking: If Su Kui can’t sell it today, we’ll snatch it up later.

Yun Hao stared blankly at the old man, tugged at Qin Qiong’s sleeve, and whispered, “Are we selling it too cheap?”

“A man’s word is his bond, and not even four horses can chase it back. If you can sell it for us, old sir, you can have the twenty taels commission,” Qin Qiong replied firmly.

Yun Hao beat his chest in frustration. Business was business—why the need for such gentlemanly conduct? A twenty percent cut was outrageous. But Qin Qiong had spoken, and Yun Hao could only keep silent, cursing him as a fool in his heart.

“Good! Since you’re straightforward, let’s be on our way!” Su Kui shouldered his carrying pole, leaving his firewood behind, and set off with Qin Qiong and Yun Hao toward the west side of the city. As they exited the city gate, Hou Junji, accompanied by Qi Biao and Lai Shun, had just returned to the livestock market.

Seeing that Yun Hao, Qin Qiong, and the skinny horse were gone, the three were at a loss. When they tried to ask about them, the others, seeing they were young, paid them no mind.

“Big brother, what do we do if Brother Yun isn’t here?” Lai Shun asked, glancing at the empty hitching post.

“What do we do? How should I know?” Hou Junji had not expected Yun Hao to leave without a word, nor for Qin Qiong and Yun Hao to pack up by midday.

“Big brother, Brother Yun said he and his mother, along with Lord Qin, are staying at the Taiyuan King’s Inn. Why don’t we go there and look for him? Once we give him the money, we’ll have repaid our debt to him,” Qi Biao suggested promptly.

“Ha! You’re the sharp one. I’d forgotten he was staying there. Let’s head over and give him the silver—then our minds will be at ease!” Hou Junji said happily, and limped off with Qi Biao and Lai Shun toward the inn.

Yun Hao, Qin Qiong, and Su Kui headed west. After traveling seven or eight li, they saw a massive manor ahead. A moat encircled the estate, with the Hu Manor Bridge spanning the water. From a distance, the place looked like a fortress, its buildings layered upon each other, impossible to count the number of courtyards within. Rows of weeping willows lined the perimeter, their shadows making it hard to see inside, though figures could be glimpsed moving about. At the main entrance stood two immense wooden doors, above which hung four lanterns, and a plaque inscribed in bold, flowing script: Two Worthies Manor.

Su Kui strode confidently over the bridge. The gatekeepers, recognizing him, let him pass without question, nor did they stop Yun Hao and Qin Qiong. Clearly, Su Kui was a regular visitor.

He led them to a vast hall, so large Yun Hao reckoned it could easily host three or five hundred guests at once—perfect for banquets and celebrations.

Under the eaves stood a burly man, a full head taller than most, with the fierce visage of a temple guardian. He wore a gold-trimmed black cap and a finely pleated robe, with black-soled shoes on his feet. When he glared, it was as if a lion roared. Even from afar, his presence was commanding and awe-inspiring.

Seeing him, Yun Hao’s heart skipped a beat in alarm: What a close call!