Xing Honglang was back — and she was in a damn good mood.
Not long ago, she had bought a load of premium goods from Gaojia Village and trekked toward Xi'an Prefecture, selling little bits along the way.
Small towns got a sprinkle of illicit salt here, a pinch there — modest profit.
But once she stabbed her way into Xi'an proper, the real fun began: she started hawking the top-tier goods she bought from Gaojia Village.
Chocolate.
This otherworldly brown brick had confused everyone at first. Most folks stared at it like it might explode. But once they tasted it?
Game over. They fell into sugar-induced devotion instantly.
And like wildfire, word spread. Xi'an's big families and rich households came swarming in like locusts, snatching chocolate from her hands. One offered a high price, the next doubled it, and when the final piece was shown, two house-stewards of major officials nearly got into a fistfight.
Then there was the premium white sugar — clean, bright, sparkling like carved ice. Even the experienced steward of the Qin Prince's Mansion clicked his tongue in shock and bought the entire batch immediately to present to the prince's wives and concubines.
By the time she left Xi'an, Xing Honglang had sold out everything.
Her pouches were stuffed with gold and silver.
She swaggered back toward Gaojia Village with one intention: buy even more good stuff.
Watching from above, Li Daoxuan spotted her approaching and grinned.
High-quality drama inbound.
He looked over — damn. Cheng Xu and the militia were still training, running farther and farther away, Gao Chuwu with them. If they didn't meet Xing Honglang, how would the love story continue? If there was no new chapter, Li Daoxuan would start itching spiritually and writhing in existential torment.
He immediately called to Gao Yi-ye:
"Yi-ye, go! Fetch Chuwu back!"
Gao Yi-ye was in the middle of sketching with her brush — she'd been obsessed with drawing lately. But hearing the call of Dao Xuan Tianzun, she dropped her brush immediately.
"Yes! I'll go bring Chuwu back!"
She sprinted out — then mid-run couldn't help asking:
"Um… why do I need to bring him back?"
This was the classic "I'll obey first, ask later." People with more complicated brains would've asked before leaving. Not her.
Li Daoxuan chuckled mysteriously:
"Cannot say. Celestial secrets."
…
Meanwhile, Xing Honglang's arrival stirred the whole village.
"The lady hero is back!"
"Good! Last time she wanted my Wuliangye liquor but ran out of cash. This time I'll finally sell it!"
"I've got a jar of beer from Dao Xuan Tianzun! She'll buy that too!"
Villagers poured out like it was festival day.
Xing Honglang was delighted — she worried they might've run out of stock, but these people somehow always had more hidden treasures.
Her men shouted:
"Line up! One at a time!
Sugar? We'll take it.
Chocolate? Definitely.
…Eh? You're selling us salt?
Hell, are we the salt smugglers, or are you the salt smugglers?"
Another villager shoved a bottle forward:
"Lady hero, try this! It's called Fat-Otaku Happy Water. The bubbles are gone, but it still tastes great!"
Someone else held a massive jar.
"Lady hero, I've got a whole tub of pork lard!"
Her subordinate glared.
"This lard has spoon holes. Ugly. Hard to sell. No thanks."
The villager panicked:
"Wait wait! If I melt it, re-solidify it, it'll be smooth! No holes! Don't go! I'll fix it right now!"
Chaos, commerce, and general village-shenanigans bloomed everywhere.
Xing Honglang stood aside, hand resting on her knife, letting her men handle the details. She only needed to steer the situation overall — small annoyances were beneath her pay grade.
But then—
Footsteps thundered in the distance.
Cheng Xu and the militia returned.
At the front was Gao Yi-ye, sweating, hair stuck to her forehead from how hard she'd run, but eyes sparkling with pure gossip-driven joy.
Xing Honglang glanced at the militia. One look at Cheng Xu, and she immediately noted: dangerous man.
Cheng Xu also spotted the group of salt smugglers and thought: If I were still a constable, I'd have to arrest them — or at least pretend to. Now I don't have to bother. Dao Xuan Tianzun clearly brought us back here for a reason.
His mind raced:
If they attack the villagers, the militia must fight.
If it's just us 40 militia against their 30–40 smugglers… hmm… casualty rate extremely high. Possibly meet my ancestors.
But this is Gaojia Village. One shout brings hundreds of villagers charging out with sticks.
Ah. Zero risk then.
A guaranteed win.
Cheng Xu relaxed.
At that moment—
Gao Chuwu raised a hand and shouted:
"Hey! Girl! It's you!"
Xing Honglang glanced at him.
Who the hell?
Gao Chuwu sprinted over.
"It's me! Remember? I proposed to you last time!"
Ah.
Right.
The idiot who tried to propose to a woman built like a bear.
Hard to forget such a creature.
Gao Chuwu beamed:
"I still want to marry you."
She rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't fall out.
"I'll get you a gift!" he said, then dashed home at full speed, his big feet slapping the ground like wet fish.
Moments later he returned — carrying a colossal block of chocolate. Half a cabinet's worth.
He sprinted toward her, laughing like a happy ox:
"I know you like this! I made great contributions and begged Dao Xuan Tianzun for this reward! Look! It's huge!"
Xing Honglang actually blinked in surprise.
"That big?"
"Hehehe!" Gao Chuwu puffed out his chest. "All for you!"
Xing Honglang frowned.
"I don't accept gifts without earning them. I'll buy it. You don't give. My men, weigh it and pay him."
"No need!" Gao Chuwu shook his head wildly. "It's a gift!"
She glared, hand tightening on her knife hilt.
"When I say I'll pay — I'll pay. Think I'm some cheap woman who can be bought with expensive treats?"
Cheng Xu discreetly shifted closer. If she erupted and swung her blade at Chuwu, he'd intercept. Because Chuwu was absolutely too dense to dodge.
Gao Chuwu blinked.
"Huh? I'm not looking down on you. I just want to give my best thing to the girl I like. Why are you mad?"
Her grip loosened.
She hesitated.
Then she snapped a decision:
"Fine. Beat me.
If you win, I accept the gift.
If you lose, you shut up and take my money."
---
Footnotes
1. Chocolate frenzy — Historically, any new luxury item entering a major city often caused this effect. People in the capital fought over lychee shipments in the Tang dynasty, so chocolate meltdown is completely on-brand.
2. Salt smugglers — Salt monopolies were insanely strict. Smugglers were common, punishments harsh, and everyone still bought their salt anyway.
3. White sugar described as "like ice" — Before industrial refining, truly pure white sugar was rare enough to offer to royalty. Xing Honglang basically walked into Xi'an like a walking luxury boutique.
4. Gao Chuwu's proposal logic — Historically inaccurate but spiritually accurate for certain men.