Chapter 46: Are Nobles and Generals Born of Privilege?

The last rays of the setting sun still filtered through the dense canopy above. The missing farmers, who had vanished earlier, now emerged one after another from different corners of the forest, all unharmed.

Luo Gan saw Erhu collapsed beside him, reminiscent of when he himself had drifted into slumber only to be rudely awakened by Erhu’s vengeful slap. Now he returned the favor, slapping Erhu’s face rhythmically while shouting, “Erhu! Wake up! Erhu! Wake up!”

The slaps were almost musical, and Erhu suddenly snapped out of his dream. “What are you doing! Where’s my money? Where did it go?” he cried.

Luo Gan looked at him with a gentle, almost monk-like compassion. “Fool, you never had any money. How could you have lost it?”

With both hands, Erhu pounded his thighs, wailing miserably. “Oh—give me back my money…”

He was no longer the fierce tiger of his nickname, but a petulant child mourning a broken toy—a sorrow anyone could understand. Luo Gan’s heart softened. He wrapped an arm around the burly man, whose grief teetered on madness. The last light of sunset shimmered over them, quietly concealing the sorrow of a shattered dream, the cycle of a bittersweet experience.

Luo Gan took Erhu’s hand and draped it over his own shoulder.

“I think I had a dream,” Erhu muttered. “In the dream, it seemed like I—”

But Luo Gan cut him off, “It doesn’t matter. It was all just a dream.”

Erhu grinned foolishly. “But I haven’t even said what happened…”

Luo Gan met his gaze. Having a true friend by his side was a rare blessing in this game-like world; Erhu was one of the few he could truly rely on. Luo Gan patted Erhu’s chest with his free hand, reassuring him. Erhu fell silent, and the two of them, swaying slightly, followed the other farmers out of the forest. As they crossed the threshold, the dense woods collapsed with a thunderous roar, dissolving into the earth as dust, as if nothing had ever existed.

Outside, Uncle De and the other farmer waited anxiously for those still inside. When they saw Luo Gan and Erhu return, they rushed over to embrace them.

Nothing is more important than being alive.

Luo Gan asked, “Uncle De, I thought I saw you behind us. How did you get out of the woods?”

The other farmer was equally puzzled. “It’s strange—Uncle De and I entered together, but after a while, I found myself alone and somehow ended up outside.”

Uncle De added, “There were five of us. Halfway through, a fierce wind rose up, and one by one, people vanished from my side. Next thing we knew, we were all sent back to the entrance.”

Luo Gan and Erhu exchanged glances.

“Then how did the two of us get pulled in and caught up in all that?” Erhu wondered.

Luo Gan shook his head. “Maybe you just attract trouble, and I got dragged in with you.”

Erhu instantly perked up, full of vigor, and slapped Luo Gan on the head. Luo Gan yelped in pain.

“Who says I attract trouble? It’s your bad luck rubbing off on me,” Erhu retorted.

The four burst into laughter, not noticing that twilight had faded and the sky was now a tapestry of stars. The mysterious forest was gone, replaced by small rolling hills. There wasn’t a soul in sight nearby, but in the village, lanterns glowed everywhere, festive and lively, as if celebrating the safe return of families.

Later, Erhu, Uncle De, and the farmer gathered in Luo Gan’s house. Piles of tea leaves rose like little hills, and the tea cups had been changed countless times.

“So, Luo Gan, you’re thinking of starting a guild in Anping County? Becoming your own boss?” the farmer asked.

Patiently, Luo Gan explained, “It’s not really a gang—it’s more like a guild. We take commissions to help people with their problems, for a fee.”

Uncle De stroked his beard, calm and composed as if he’d seen through everything. “I always said since you were a child, Luo Gan, you were destined for great things. And sure enough, here you are.”

Luo Gan smiled, a little embarrassed. Erhu said nothing, preoccupied with his own thoughts.

The farmer lowered his voice, leaning in closer. “But…where did you get the money?”

“Just got lucky at a cuju contest,” Luo Gan replied. “Won some prize money, enough to start a small business. Nothing impressive, but it’s a start.”

Uncle De saw Erhu’s gloom and thought he was simply uncomfortable with Luo Gan going into business, worried he’d be left behind to farm alone. Uncle De clapped Erhu on the shoulder and gave him a playful kick on the thigh. “Erhu! Luo Gan is making something of himself. We’ll have a brother in town to look out for us! Why the long face?”

Erhu exhaled heavily. “It’s nothing. I’m glad for Luo Gan’s success. Really.”

Only Luo Gan knew the real reason for Erhu’s mood—the lingering regret for the lost riches in his dream. Luo Gan said, “Silly tiger, let’s do this together. We’ll earn our own money, and maybe one day we’ll become landlords, living a life of luxury.”

Uncle De and the farmer didn’t quite understand Luo Gan’s ambition.

“Money can never be finished,” said Uncle De. “An honest life of farming brings more grain than we can eat. Why chase after so much trouble?”

“And my relatives who became officials in faraway places?” the farmer chimed in. “They live in constant fear, never a day of peace!”

Their words were like cold water, but they couldn’t dampen Luo Gan’s determination. Erhu was deeply moved but too proud to show it.

“You become a landlord first, then talk about all that nonsense,” Erhu said.

“Alright,” Luo Gan replied. “Didn’t the ancients say, ‘Why should nobility be reserved only for the highborn?’ No one is born to greatness. We can carve out our own path—there’s no shame in that.”

Erhu grinned, finally seeing the light, grateful for someone who understood him.

Seeing his friend restored, Luo Gan returned to the matter at hand. “Uncle De, things in Anping have been strange lately—lots of odd happenings.”

Uncle De’s eyes narrowed in caution, his posture shifting back. “If you mean the cold spell, we’ve heard about it. Never seen such bitter snow and ice in all our years.”

The farmer nodded in agreement. “Yes! Just a few days ago, I was delivering grain through the county town—saw crowds of people leaving. The city must be nearly empty by now!”

Luo Gan looked troubled, and Uncle De was concerned. “What’s wrong? Is the frost hurting your business?”

Of course, Luo Gan couldn’t tell the whole truth. He quickly improvised. “I’ve heard that none of the women in town have been able to bear children lately—not a single successful birth in a month. I just got a commission to investigate the matter.”

The other three sighed in dismay.

“My guild is only just getting started,” Luo Gan continued. “We’re weak and understaffed. I need your help—will you join me?”

He bowed deeply in a gesture of respect.

Uncle De hesitated, the farmer looked uneasy, and Erhu was indifferent.

“We’re not clever men,” Uncle De said. “Just want a quiet life. I’m not sure…”

“My family keeps me busy enough,” the farmer added. “I have elders and children to take care of…”

Erhu grumbled, “Bad luck always follows you around! Stick with you, and it’ll follow us too!”

Luo Gan grabbed Erhu’s arm. “Hey! Didn’t we agree to face hardship together? If I’m going to deal with all this mess, you’re not running away!”

Erhu turned his head away. “Who’s your friend? I’m not going.”

Luo Gan grinned, pulling a small piece of gold from his pouch. Erhu’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Brothers stick together in good times and bad!” Erhu declared. “Through fire and water, I’ll follow you!”

Uncle De and the farmer grew animated, jumping to their feet.

“Let my years of wisdom clear the path for you!” Uncle De proclaimed.

“Leave it to us!” said the farmer.

They each placed a hand atop one another’s, and Erhu quickly joined, stacking his hand on theirs.

Satisfied, Luo Gan placed his own hand on top, rising to his feet.

In the deep quiet of night, Luo Gan’s house overflowed with lofty ambitions. The four of them, brimming with hope, were ready to pursue greatness together.