"We're setting off now. It'll take several days, so you youngsters better be patient!"
Hu Ma and the other youths followed Second Master on the journey, gradually catching glimpses of scenery unseen in their village.
The cart was pulled by a sturdy yellow ox, its coat sleek and shiny.
The wooden-wheeled cart swayed and creaked along the rugged mountain path, moving at a leisurely pace.
In fact, the boys could probably run faster than the ox if they got off the cart.
But since they had left a few days early, there was no rush.
They enjoyed the scenery along the way while listening to Second Master's tall tales.
After a day or two, they gradually left the territory of Old Yin Mountain and entered the official road.
Though the road was somewhat smoother, it was still uneven and bumpy.
Throughout the journey, Hu Ma gained a lot of knowledge.
In this world, traveling long distances was a significant undertaking.
The first and foremost fear was encountering evil spirits.
However, their cart was filled with young men who had lit stoves, and with Second Master, a seasoned veteran with sixty years of experience, they traveled smoothly without any trouble.
Of course, they were cautious.
Every evening before dark, they found a place to rest and stuffed the ashes from their village stoves into their chests.
Ordinary evil spirits found it difficult to approach them.
Though they didn't encounter any evil spirits, they did run into a group of bandits.
There were no dramatic declarations like "This mountain is mine, this tree is mine."
Instead, they were met with a pile of scattered rocks and a fallen tree blocking the path.
A group of shabbily dressed men emerged.
Some held pitchforks, others carried pickaxes, and a few even had sticks or stones.
From a distance, they bowed to the people on the cart, pleading, "Fellow travelers, please be kind..."
"Our village has suffered a disaster and won't last until spring. Please, give us some food to feed our children."
"After next year's harvest, we'll repay you double the amount of grain..."
The boys on the cart were at a loss, but Second Master waved his hand and jumped off the cart.
With a tearful voice, he said, "Fellow villagers, our village is poor too. We're even planning to sell our children in the city."
"But we do have some dry rations on the cart. If you don't mind, take some."
"Times are tough. We villagers of Old Yin Mountain rely on each other to survive..."
He poured three large bowls of coarse rice from a sack for them.
Though the bandits saw there was still half a sack left, they didn't ask for more.
They even helped move the rocks and fallen trees, advising, "After this fork, go straight for twenty miles. There's a mass grave with wild dogs that dig up corpses and restless ghosts. Be careful and don't venture there at night..."
"Thank you, thank you. We'll meet again."
Second Master clasped his fists in farewell, watching as the bandits reset the rocks.
Hu Ma carefully observed Second Master's every move.
His intuition told him that these experiences in the jianghu might be just as valuable as the martial skills he had learned.
As the cart moved further away, some of the boys grew eager, saying they should have fought the bandits.
Though there were only six of them, they believed they could have taken them on.
Second Master smacked one on the head, saying, "Don't ever say that again."
"If you rely on fighting and killing in the jianghu, when will it ever end?"
As they continued their journey, gaining more experience and knowledge, they arrived at the gates of Mingzhou City on the fourth day.
From a distance, Hu Ma saw a large city rising abruptly from the flat land, looking quite impressive.
But up close, the city walls, though large, were shabby, with patches and marks from axes and fire.
The sun was still a finger's width above the horizon, but the city gates were already closed, leaving only the side gates open.
Second Master got off the cart early, leading the ox to the city gate.
The disheveled and listless gatekeeper, seeing an old man and a few kids, waved them off impatiently, "It's too late today. You can't enter. Wait outside!"
Second Master quickly put on a smile, presenting the token left by the steward, "Sir, we're here to pay respects to the Red Lantern Lady at the Red Lantern Society."
"These kids are all workers needed by the Red Lantern Society."
"The Red Lantern Society?"
The gatekeeper's expression changed.
He glanced at Hu Ma and the others, then pointed, "Stay close to the roadside, make sure the ox doesn't leave any droppings. Head to West City's Dropping Pole Alley, and you'll find the Red Lantern Society's lanterns."
Second Master eagerly agreed, driving the ox cart into the city.
As night approached, in their village, folks would have already returned home, perhaps even finished dinner and engaged in their limited entertainment.
But the city was different.
The streets were lined with lit lanterns, bustling with people.
Merchants in brocade robes either rode in sedan chairs or on tall horses, parading through the streets like mountain gods.
Vendors loudly hawked their wares, attracting customers.
The boys from the village, including Hu Ma, were wide-eyed.
While Hu Ma had seen such scenes in movies, this felt more genuine and raw.
Especially when they saw a burly man carrying a petite, lazy woman with bound feet, rushing past the cart, the boys were stunned.
Hu Ma also looked over.
Second Master noticed their expressions and sneered, flicking his whip, "What are you looking at? That's a pimp carrying a prostitute to serve the wealthy in the taverns."
"Remember, until you've learned real skills, none of you are allowed to dabble in such things..."
"Even this has delivery service?"
Hu Ma felt like he had gained new knowledge, while the boys grew excited, "Second Master, how do you play this game?"
Second Master perked up, boasting about listening to music, feeding wine, playing games, and even the unwashed bound feet of a month, describing it all in vivid detail.
But when it came to the crucial part, he abruptly stopped.
One boy, unsatisfied, asked, "And then? After getting into bed..."
Second Master's expression turned awkward, and he smacked the boy, scolding, "Why ask so much?"
"Don't learn bad habits."
They moved slowly through the city, taking nearly an hour to reach West City's Dropping Pole Alley.
The place was indeed different, with people dressed in black and wearing wide belts.
Red lanterns hung at every corner, but unlike festive ones, they carried a sinister aura.
Second Master stopped the cart at the alley entrance, looking around.
Soon, two men in black approached, asking their business.
Second Master explained, and the men's expressions softened, pointing to a house ahead, "Go there."
They drove the cart over, and Second Master had the boys get off, tidy their belts, and wipe the dust off their faces.
Then, with a smile, he cautiously peeked into the courtyard.
Inside, an old man in a short jacket with a thin mustache sat under a pomegranate tree, smoking a pipe.
Seeing Second Master, he was about to ask when Second Master hurried over, explaining their purpose and presenting the steward's token.
"The ceremony to honor the Red Lantern Lady is still a few days away. Why are you here so early?"
The mustached old man glanced at the token, his demeanor lazy.
"The mountain roads are tough. We didn't want to be late."
Second Master smiled, then took out a coarse cloth bag from the cart, opening it to reveal three dried pieces of cured meat.
The old man, initially disdainful of the dirty bag, was surprised upon seeing the meat.
He let Second Master hand it over, pinched a piece, and popped it into his mouth.
His eyes lit up as he savored the flavor.
He quickly took the bag, stood up, and bowed with a smile, "You're too kind, old friend!"
"These are your own people. Why go through such trouble?"
"This... this cured meat, I can't finish it all. I'll keep it for now and distribute it to everyone later..."
"Of course, of course."
Second Master didn't show any suspicion, agreeing readily, "Our village is poor. We don't have much to offer."
"Just some cured meat. Please don't mind its simplicity."
The old man accepted the meat and called out a young boy in a green tunic to store it in a vat inside.
He then straightened his clothes, took a key, and led the way, smiling, "We've prepared a place for you. I'll take you there now."
"We'll be following the incense master on the 29th to honor the Red Lantern Lady. It's her birthday."
"After the ceremony, we'll assign you kids to different places. But don't worry, I'll make sure you get good positions with good bosses, where you can earn wages and learn skills..."
The group agreed, and the old man personally led them to a house a street away.
Though it looked old and neglected, it had a decent main hall, side rooms, and even a stable, clearly property of the Red Lantern Society.
The steward didn't take them to the main hall but opened the door to the west wing, revealing simple furniture and a brick kang bed against the wall.
"Well, looks like we're back to sleeping in a communal bed..."
Hu Ma thought to himself, but after a glance, he was satisfied, "At least it's more spacious than Second Master's place."
He watched as Second Master escorted the steward out of the courtyard, thinking, "We came to the city to pay respects, and after that, we'll be sent off to work somewhere. That Second Brother, with his great influence, must be a powerful figure in the Red Lantern Society."
"I wonder if we'll get to see him in the next few days..."
(End of Chapter)