Chapter 163: Alliance of All (Part III)

Ultimately worried about bringing trouble upon themselves, several of them sat down to discuss countermeasures.

Yanshan: "Since we aren't pocketing it privately ourselves, what should we do with the money?"

Luo Gan noticed a hint of awkwardness in Azhen's expression. Although they were a team, there was no such thing as a permanent alliance, a truth Luo Gan knew all too well in reality.

Luo Gan: "All of you step outside first, and leave Azhen behind."

Once everyone had dispersed, Azhen crossed his arms and let out a helpless expression.

Azhen: "What a pity, what a pity! A whole pile of good things just wasted like this."

Luo Gan: "Azhen, it's just the two of us now, so we can speak frankly. First of all, your actions must be commended—they were both courageous and resourceful, cutting the ground out from under Sima Ge's feet. Secondly, these items are indeed somewhat special; what I said earlier was just my overall consideration. For everyone else, windfall gains naturally have other uses, but as for you, I think I can let you take a portion."

Azhen: "Is this appropriate? I went through the trouble of bringing them, but didn't keep them for myself, and now you're letting me take a share alone. Won't that make people resentful?"

Luo Gan: "How could that be? They were items you brought back in the first place, so there's nothing wrong with you taking a share. Besides, I'll handle the others. Just take your share."

Luo Gan had already separated a portion of the gold bars, purposely taking a bit extra to appease Azhen's mood.

After a moment of hesitation, Azhen accepted the generous gift. To prevent any suspicion from others, Luo Gan specifically fetched a burlap sack from the All-Things Shop to wrap it up for Azhen, ensuring no doubts would arise. After all, although the matter had nothing to do with the All-Things Shop, once the gold bars were wrapped in its sack, even if investigated, some connection could be traced, which would give Azhen a greater sense of ease.

Erhu returned from working outside to take care of Uncle De, who had yet to regain consciousness. Luo Gan brought along some medicinal herbs and fruit to visit them.

Covered in sweat, Erhu had no idea what to do after arriving in Chang'an City. Apart from doing odd jobs for others to make a living, he would come straight to Uncle De's place, bringing the herbs prescribed by the physician and boiling the medicine himself for Uncle De to drink.

Even so, life did not show Erhu much kindness. Luo Gan suggested that Erhu come help out at the All-Things Shop, but Erhu repeatedly declined, saying he possessed no extraordinary skills and could not gain a foothold there. In truth, Luo Gan understood that Erhu did not want his pride to be wounded; at the very least, he wanted to be self-sufficient and not cause trouble for his friends. That a man as solidly built as a mountain could be so sensitive inside left Luo Gan somewhat at a loss for what to do.

Erhu: "It's nothing! With me looking after Uncle De, he certainly won't die."

Luo Gan: "Who curses their own people like that? Just keep a close eye on whatever Uncle De might need and let me know immediately."

Erhu: "A-luo... I feel like the two of us aren't as close as we used to be."

Luo Gan was quite puzzled, sensing that Erhu wanted to say something, hesitating on the verge of speaking.

Erhu: "I keep thinking about those days when we used to run together in the fields as kids. I'd run in front, you'd run behind, and then you'd take a tumble straight into the mud. I'd stand in front laughing heartily and pull you right up."

Luo Gan quickly checked the system for this embarrassing memory, but there was no record of it. After all, it happened before he time-traveled back here—how could the system possibly have it? Besides, it was an embarrassing memory anyway, and it was better forgotten. Mentioning this, however, made Luo Gan understand Erhu's inner thoughts even more: he simply wanted to return to a simple pastoral life, but such a lifestyle offered no progress toward completing his mission, nor was there any possibility of going back.

Luo Gan: "I miss it too, but people can't always dwell on the past. We have to move forward and live in the present, don't we?"

Erhu fell silent once again, a grown man unable to utter a single word.

Yanshan and Xiaozhi, having just left the All-Things Shop, closely monitored the movements of their enemy, Sima Ge.

Yanshan: "How did your master manage to make such a huge fuss?"

Xiaozhi: "How would I know he has this kind of temper? Even people who spend a long time together don't necessarily fully understand each other."

Yanshan: "Now that they've suffered such a disaster, I'm really curious how they'll handle it."

Sure enough, almost everyone had gathered at Sima Ge's residence. Lively and animated, they assumed Sima Ge had some incredible major event to share with them, and everyone was in high spirits.

Sima Ge: "Today, I've gathered you all here, and there isn't really any major matter."

Fruit Grower: "If there's nothing major, we might as well disperse. We still have work to do back in the fields."

Sima Ge furrowed his brow; the fruit grower was practically here to wreck the event, and he felt quite dissatisfied.

Sima Ge: "I originally wanted to bring out the fine wine I've treasured in my courtyard for years to share with everyone, but unexpectedly, it can no longer be found."

Naturally, the crowd burst into a buzz of discussion, and many who were unaware felt deeply regretful.

Yuniang: "What a pity. Otherwise, I thought we might all get to taste wine as famous as my family's Ganjiang and Moye."

This sour remark made Sima Ge sneer and clap in response.

Sima Ge: "It seems we lack the fortune to taste it. The fine wine has actually been stolen—truly utterly detestable!"

Fruit Grower: "Stolen right inside the home? And buried in the ground at that? It looks like the thief must be one of our own! Otherwise, how could they have targeted it with such precision?"

Sima Ge nodded, but gave no definitive reply.

Among the crowd, the jeweler was filled with burning resentment and shouted aloud: "What fine wine or no fine wine! What was buried in the ground was clearly my family's gold and silver! To put on such a hypocritical act here! Disgusting!"

Sima Ge was shocked to find that someone had actually stepped forward to confess! How could they have known about this unless they had prior knowledge? Sima Ge's household staff hurriedly rushed out, attempting to subdue the jeweler, but the gathered merchants immediately pulled out their weapons—some wielding wooden sticks, others small knives—and stood in a standoff against Sima Ge's men.

Wearing a fake smile, Sima Ge told all his subordinates to step back.

Sima Ge: "How have I usually taught you? Be polite when guests arrive! Why do you have to reach for weapons the moment a minor issue arises? What kind of behavior is this?"

Baozi, in disguise, dropped all pretense, pulled off his cap, and glared fiercely at Sima Ge with his round face.

Baozi: "I worked my fingers to the bone for you for so long, thinking I could do some good deeds and accumulate some merit, but I never expected you to be such an ungrateful wolf! Not a single one of my subordinates could be mobilized to work, yet you still pushed me relentlessly and finally issued a wanted poster! What kind of person would do such a thing?"

The situation had far exceeded his expectations, and Sima Ge could no longer remain calm. Zimu emerged from the house, looking at the confrontation between the two sides with utter dismay.