Chapter Fifteen: Hou Junji

Not far ahead of Qin Qiong, a group of ragged children was hiding behind a large tree, peeking out with little heads, staring dazedly at him. Though young, their eyes brimmed with resentment as they looked at Qin Qiong—clearly, they were in league with the little thief.

"Yesterday, I saw this man giving them some cakes. Those children must be wandering beggars. Someone who feeds these little ones can’t be all bad. Even if he’s a thief, if he has a chivalrous heart, he should be called a gallant thief," Yun Hao whispered in Qin Qiong’s ear, glancing with admiration at the thief at Qin Qiong’s feet.

"Haha, boy! Yesterday you played the judge of hell, and today you’re a Buddha. I really don’t know how your little head works. For your sake, I’ll let this kid off. But don’t let me catch him again, or he’ll have to answer to the law," Qin Qiong gave Yun Hao a playful slap, though his voice was filled with good humor.

Having served as an officer for many years, Qin Qiong had seen all sorts. He knew this thief must be the ringleader of those children. With no decent means of livelihood, stealing was their only way to survive. The little thief could barely feed himself, yet shared his meager food with the other beggar children—he couldn’t be all that bad. Lifting his foot, he folded his arms and returned to his yellow horse, ready to bask in the sun again.

Yun Hao reached out and helped the thief up, only now getting a close look. The boy’s face was dark and thin, his arms and legs like sticks. Yun Hao worried that Qin Qiong’s throw just now might have broken his bones. In their circumstances, even a simple fracture could mean death.

"Are you alright?" Yun Hao dusted off the thief as he asked with concern.

"I’m fine, just a bit dizzy," the thief replied, shaking his head and struggling to stand. He checked himself, flexed his limbs, and seeing people all around watching, quickly pulled Yun Hao to a secluded corner.

"Brother, you saved my life today. From now on, we’re brothers—just say the word, and I, Little White Ape Hou Junji, will follow you through fire and water without hesitation." The thief slapped his ribcage, which sounded with hollow thumps. Yun Hao half-feared he’d break a bone.

"Hou Junji? You’re Hou Junji?" Yun Hao looked him up and down in surprise—what luck, a celebrity! So this was the so-called Little White Ape Hou Junji. He didn’t look white at all—more like he had African blood...

"That’s right, I am Hou Junji, known as Little White Ape. Brother, have you heard of me? By the way, may I know your name? You helped me today, and I’d like to repay you one day." His gaze was full of hope.

"Ah, so it’s Brother Monkey! I’ve long heard of you. My name is Yun Hao, from Yanmen Mountain. I’m just passing through Luzhou, and it’s my great fortune to meet you, Brother Monkey." Only now did Yun Hao notice Hou Junji’s protruding lower jaw—perhaps the origin of his nickname.

"Brother Yun! You’ve really heard of me, Hou Junji?" Though he’d hoped for this, hearing Yun Hao say "long heard" made Hou Junji’s nose run with joy. Brothers from Yanmen Mountain knew of him! His fame was clearly growing.

Yun Hao shook his head helplessly, unable to meet Hou Junji’s excited eyes. Just then, the two boys who had pretended to fight earlier came running up. They were covered in mud, looking like a pair of clay monkeys. Their faces were so smeared, it was impossible to make out their features.

"Brother Yun Hao, let me introduce you. These are my brothers—Qi Biao and Lai Shun. They’re true men, loyal and righteous. Qi Biao, Lai Shun, come greet Brother Yun Hao. If not for him today, I would’ve lost my life to that yellow-faced man," Hou Junji said, glaring fiercely at Qin Qiong, who was warming himself against the wall.

"Greetings, Brother Yun Hao!" The two, both a head taller than Yun Hao, bowed as Hou Junji introduced them. Clearly, Hou Junji commanded respect among them.

No sooner had he finished introducing the muddy duo than the children hiding behind the tree came running over. Hou Junji introduced each in turn, and suddenly Yun Hao felt as if he were surrounded by ten thousand ducks—their chatter was deafening, making his head ache. With several dozen copper coins on him, he sought out a vendor selling soup noodles and called, "Boss, a bowl of soup noodles for each!"

Yun Hao personally disliked that mushy stuff—he’d rather have millet rice—but the children’s eyes lit up. Soup noodles, made from white flour, were a rare treat; last New Year, Monkey Brother had bought two bowls, and they had each shared a mouthful, savoring every bite. Now, this kind fellow was buying a whole bowl for each of them. Their shouts of gratitude nearly drowned Yun Hao out, making his ears ring.

The noodle vendor, seeing Yun Hao take out a fistful of coins, beamed and lost all his former disgust for the beggar children. His old face blossomed like a chrysanthemum as he hurried to seat the children and, with his wife, began cooking.

In the Tang Dynasty, soup noodles were simply dough cooked with water, meat, and vegetables. Yun Hao guessed that the later "lump soup" had evolved from this. The meat was pre-cooked pork, and the vegetables cooked quickly. Soon, steaming bowls were served, and Yun Hao was again enveloped in the slurping sounds.

He sent one of the children to deliver his bowl to Qin Qiong and watched the others wolf down their food. Hou Junji ate half a bowl, then pushed the rest to Qi Biao and Lai Shun.

"Not to your taste?" Even for someone so thin, half a bowl would barely fill him. Yun Hao asked curiously.

"My appetite’s small—I’m full," Hou Junji lied, his eyes hungrily glued to the bowl.

Perhaps to change the subject, Hou Junji asked Yun Hao why he was here selling livestock.

Yun Hao recounted the events at the Wang’s inn in Taiyuan, omitting any mention of Qi Guoyuan and the other mountain bandits. Befriending thieves was a grave crime—if someone reported it, not only Qin Qiong, but Yun Hao’s own mother and he would be in deep trouble.

"So, you and your mother are stuck in Luzhou for now?" Hou Junji asked after hearing his story.

"I suppose so. But I believe things will turn around soon!" Yun Hao was still thinking about how to get to the Two Sages Manor to seek Shan Xiongxin’s help.

"Money is no problem. Today, you saved me and bought us soup noodles. Let us help you get some money today!"

"You can get money?" Yun Hao looked Hou Junji up and down. He was so poor he’d become a thief, yet he could get money?

"What, you don’t believe me? Qi Biao, Lai Shun, let’s go. Let Brother Yun see our skills," Hou Junji said, rising to leave. Lai Shun and Qi Biao gulped down a few mouthfuls and followed.

Curious, Yun Hao wondered what method they’d use—hopefully not theft again. If Qin Qiong caught them, given his temper, there would be trouble. With that thought, Yun Hao followed to see what they would do.

The three led him to the main road beside the cattle and horse market. Since it was a marketplace, many carriages passed by. After a whispered discussion, Lai Shun and Qi Biao remained by the roadside while Hou Junji crossed to the other side.

Soon, a carriage approached. Lai Shun and Qi Biao began roughhousing again, this time running onto the road as they scuffled. At the perfect moment, Qi Biao flung himself into the path of the carriage.

Before Yun Hao could react, Hou Junji was already running over, wailing and clutching Qi Biao, crying, "My brother! Why is your life so hard? Which blind fool was driving? If you don’t compensate me two strings of coins, how can I go on living—"

Yun Hao’s jaw nearly hit the ground—Hou Junji’s way of making money was… insurance fraud!