147 – A Young Man that Looks Like Qin Mian

Several coachmen made the same choice without prior discussion – stopped the carriages. Everyone hurriedly got out of the carriages and stretched their legs.

Before dark, the procession entered a county town and stopped in front of an inn.

Two very bookish, scholarly youths walked out of the inn side by side. Upon seeing Lei Xiangzhi, Huo Sirui, and the others, the youths gave them a friendly smile. Presumably, they also must be going to the Capital for the exam.

After settling down in the inn, Qin Mian and the others went downstairs to the lobby to have a meal.

The two scholars were also eating. When they suddenly saw a giant wolf standing beside the table, they were both surprised and scared. Then, upon seeing a cute little child feeding the wolf with a chicken drumstick, they could not help crying out in alarm for fear that the child would be bitten.

Manman turned his head and made a wry face at them. His crisp voice sounded naughty, “Making a fuss about nothing!”

Lei Tie shot him a glance, “Manman.”

Manman stuck out his tongue, yet toward the two scholars, he showed a sweet smile. With his small hand patted White Spot’s head, he said in a proud tone, “Uncles don’t have to be afraid, White Spot is raised by our family, very well-behaved.”

Yuanyuan solemnly cupped his fist in another hand and said in deadpan earnest with a soft childish voice, “My Didi is still young, please excuse him, uncles.”

Lei Xiangzhi, Qu Zongwen, Escort Zhang, and the other guests in the inn couldn’t help laughing heartily and praising their adorableness.

The two scholars’ eyes were opened wide, almost petrified. Uh, are these two children truly only three to four years old?

Qin Mian rubbed the heads of the two little boys and then cupped his hands at the two men from a distance. “My son is naughty, please forgive him.”

The two scholars waved their hands, “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

After they finished eating, Escort Zhang and his three men came to Qin Mian’s table. Qin Mian and Lei Tie ate slower than the others because they had to take care of Yuanyuan and Manman at the same time.

“Qin-gongzi and Lei-gongzi.”

Qin Mian stood up and said, “Big brothers, have all of you eaten well?”

“Yes. Qin-gongzi, take a seat.” Escort Zhang sat down on the empty bench beside him and said without being long-winded, “If everything goes according to plan, we’ll pass by the Burial Flower Mountain Ridge tomorrow afternoon. Burial Flower Mountain Ridge is one of the most dangerous places to encounter bandits along the way. In the past, seven out of ten times we would encounter trouble there. Tomorrow, you two must take good care of the children.”

Qin Mian calmly said, “Thanks for Escort Zhang’s reminder. A-Tie and I will take good care of them.”

Lei Tie nodded to Escort Zhang; the look in his eyes was calm and his breath was still like a mountain.

Yuanyuan and Manman, the two clever kids, thanked in unison, “Thank you, uncle!”

Escort Zhang didn’t know of Qin Mian and Lei Tie’s skills at all. In fact, he was very worried that the existence of the two children would delay them, but it was not good to say that. Now, looking at the two lovely little boys again, he put down some worries. If Qin Mian and Lei Tie had no real skills, how would they dare to take risks with their own sons?

He happily touched Yuanyuan’s little head. “You’re welcome. The uncles will protect you in due course.”

The night passed without incident.

The next day, after everyone was ready, they set out again. A trade caravan that lived in an inn with them was also packing. The two scholars they met yesterday were with the caravan.

Qin Mian knew that the two scholars probably had some scruples, which was why they traveled together with the caravan.

The two groups left the inn one after the other and went out of the town.

Taking advantage of the good weather, Qin Mian’s procession stopped once in the middle of the journey to make it convenient for everyone. Later, they never stopped. Lunch was also solved in the carriage. Qin Mian and Lei Tie each carried Yuanyuan and Manman to ride on their horses and then played games, so that the boys didn’t feel bored.

It was unknown as to why the procession at the back always maintained a fixed distance from the front procession. When the front procession stopped, they also stopped.

As per Escort Zhang’s expectation, approximately at the end of the goat hour¹, a mountain ridge appeared in front of them. The two mountains were like two parallel vertical lines, sandwiching the public road in the middle. When they raised their heads to look up, they saw that the two mountains were covered with flowers in spring; the garish display of flowers eagerly bloomed, splendid in many postures that nothing more beautiful could be imagined. The spring breeze blew unhurriedly as the petals of every color under the sun floated and fell, accumulating a thin layer on the ground. However, the silence and gray shadows around the valley added a frightening mood. Those brightly-colored flowers also seemed not so beautiful, but instead permeated with the breath of death. It was no wonder that this place was called the “Burial Flower Mountain Ridge”.

The four carriages slowed down, unknowingly.

“Stop!” Riding on horseback at the front of the procession, Escort Zhang’s sharp eyes flickered with a glint as he surveyed both sides without batting an eyelid.

Intending to let Lei-Qin Shun and Lei-Qin Zhong display their strength, Lei Tie shot them a glance.

Lei-Qin Zhong and Lei-Qin Shun nodded, steered their horses to Escort Zhang, and said in a low voice, “Escort Zhang, we will lead the way with you.”

Escort Zhang had a good opinion on Qin Mian and Lei Tie at the bottom of his heart. If Qin Mian and Lei Tie only let them, the four escorts, clear the way, they would feel uncomfortable at the bottom of their hearts.

“Lei-Qin Le, our carriage will be the last [in line],” ordered Lei Tie.

“Yes.”

Lei Tie kneaded Qin Mian’s hand. “Wife, you take care of Yuanyuan and Manman.”

“Rest assured.” Qin Mian let Yuanyuan and Manman sit astride on his two thighs respectively. He and Lei Tie had already caught the presence of many people in the trees on the mountain. Escort Zhang’s skill was only average to them, but his instinct for danger was highly commendable.

Yuanyuan and Manman were not afraid at all; they clapped their four little hands as to play.

“Sons, some bad people will try to bully us later. Scared or not?” Qin Mian first forewarned the two children so as not to be frightened by the clamor on the outside.

Yuanyuan and Manman shook their heads without showing a sign of fear and simultaneously looked at Lei Tie.

“Old Dad is very powerful. He can drive the bad people away,” said Manman with pride.

Yuanyuan nodded his head in agreement.

Lei Tie’s lips were slightly curved as he looked at Qin Mian with a little meaning of showing off.

Qin Mian coldly stared at him and asked the two children with a grievance, “Dad isn’t powerful?”

Manman hesitated for a moment, “Dad is also powerful… Dad can cook, but neither Manman nor Gege can.”

Lei Tie laughed in silence.

Stabbed by his son, Qin Mian ruthlessly glared at Lei Tie and muttered while fuming with rage between gritted teeth, “Afterward, I’ll teach the children skills, and you’ll be responsible for cooking!”

Lei Tie’s face turned rigid. “Wife…”

Qin Mian ignored him.

Lei Tie took advantage of Yuanyuan and Manman’s inattention to get closer and kissed the corner of his wife’s mouth, “Wife, you are more powerful, you understand that.” You, who can conquer me, how is that not powerful?

The temperature on Qin Mian’s face suddenly rose.

“First, don’t be anxious,” said Escort Zhang to Lei-Qin Zhong and Lei-Qin Shun as he took a faint glance at the group behind them. Between the two processions, the bandits would know at a glance that the caravans had more benefit to earn from, so the caravans were in a more dangerous situation than them. Under this kind of situation, if the other party looked on without lifting a finger, they should not expect to get help later on. If the caravan people were smart enough, they should take the initiative to cooperate.

After a while, a man trotted over on horseback. Sure enough, he came to discuss cooperation.

After the discussion, the two groups became one. The people with combat capability were evenly distributed around the procession to protect all the carriages.

Escort Zhang told the scholars not to panic and run away all over the place no matter what happened.

It was impossible for scholars not to be nervous. Lei Xiangzhi, knowing that his Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law were powerful, comforted others without looking scared in the slightest. On the whole, everyone was very composed.

Escort Zhang was very satisfied before he and the man named Feng Cheng from the caravan led the procession in the front and entered the narrow passageway.

When the procession arrived at the middle of the narrow passageway, there was a loud rallying cry sounded on the mountain. More than 40 mountain bandits rushed down the mountain and surrounded the procession like wrapping a dumpling.

To one surprise, these mountain bandits’ skills were not weak. However, Escort Zhang and his men didn’t blindly escort them, and Feng Cheng’s eight guards were also experts. Although the fight was fierce, the mountain bandits not only didn’t get the benefit but also lost seven to eight men.

Lei Tie didn’t even get off the carriage as he hit the leader with an arrow right in the middle of his brow.

The mountain bandits’ morale was completely destroyed; they quickly fled without leaving traces.

Escort Zhang looked toward Qin Mian’s carriage with admiration and felt even more at ease for the next journey. He raised his voice and asked, “Is anyone hurt?”

Bu Qingyun poked his head out of the carriage, “Brother Zhang, there’s none. We’re all fine. Thanks to all of you.”

Lei-Qin Le also said in a loud voice, “It’s all right over here.”

Two people from the caravan were slightly injured, but it was not a big deal.

Without delay, everyone immediately went out of the passageway, lest the mountain bandits swung around and caught them off guard.

Not a while later when the procession rushed out of the passageway, several more rapid horses’ hoofs suddenly sounded from behind.

Lei-Qin Zhong took a look back and reported to the carriage, “Eldest Master and Little Master, it’s a small caravan of five men.”

Lei Qinshun snorted, “These people are so close to us. I’m afraid that they had deliberately waited until we killed and scattered the mountain bandits before coming here.”

Lei-Qin Zhong also had this thought, but nothing could be done about it. “It’s a good thing that we’re not hurt. We can’t deal with so many of them.”

The sound of the horses’ hooves came nearer and nearer. In a short time, the horses came to the front of the procession and galloped past.

Lei-Qin Shun casually glanced at the people on the horses, and his whole body expressed surprise as he looked at the back of those people in astonishment.

“What’s the matter?” asked Lei-Qin Zhong casually.

Lei-Qin Shun lowered his voice and spoke in an uncertain tone, “The man on the leading horse… He looks like Little Master. I should be mistaken.”

Qin Mian and Lei Tie had good hearing. They overheard him and looked at each other in surprise.

The world was so big and people had similarities. Besides, Lei-Qin Shun might have been mistaken. Therefore, Qin Mian didn’t pay it any mind.

The fleet of carriages and caravans went northward. After they got familiar with each other, they learned that the caravans were going to the Capital. However, Qin Mian and his party had less load, so they traveled fast. After traveling with the caravans for a day, they separated.

Five days later, the fleet of carriages arrived in Jinshui City. Jinshui City was a big city. Escort Zhang proposed to have a good rest here for a day and everyone had no objection. It was only two or three days away from the Capital, so there was no need to rush as before.

The closer to the Capital, the stronger the atmosphere of the spring exam. The streets of Jinshui City were full of scholars and most of them were resting in Jinshui City just like Qin Mian’s party.

Escort Zhang led the procession to stop in front of the Good Luck Coming Inn’s entrance.

Yuanyuan and Manman couldn’t wait to get off.

“Dad, I want to go down!”

Lei Tie easily picked up the two little boys at the same time. “Wife, I’m taking them down first.”

“Alright.” Qin Mian took out a bundle and handed it to Lei-Qin Zhong before locking the carriage’s door and windows.

“Dear guests, please come inside!” The waiter came out to welcome people and was astonished as he took in the two impressive carriages. He greeted them warmly and upon seeing two children that were exactly alike, his mouth spoke good words, “These little gongzis look cute and smart. The two gongzis are so blessed.”

Lei Tie slightly nodded.

“Thank you very much.” Qin Mian smiled at the waiter and straightened the hats on the boys’ heads.

As soon as he got to the door, a young man came face to face.

Qin Mian unintentionally faced the other person, and both of them were stunned.

Several bystanders were also stunned because the two men were so alike that they looked almost identical except for the eyebrows and eyes. Qin Mian’s eyebrows and eyes were good-looking; his eyebrows were thick but not messy and looked very heroic, while his eyes were large and round, and seemed bright and sharp, in short, they were nice to look at. The young man’s eyebrows were rather light and his single eyelids matched with a pair of long and narrow red phoenix eyes²; his slightly squinting appearance looked rather gloomy. On top of that, they both were not similar in age; the young man appeared to be four or five years older than Qin Mian.

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