The two of them returned to their room.
Fu Tian, with tomorrow’s matters weighing on his mind, went straight to the table, poured two cups of tea, and sat down, his eyes shining as he looked at Chu Xiangtian.
“What’s your plan?”
Chu Xiangtian:
He had originally wanted to tease the young master a bit, but who would have thought the young master was so oblivious, not feeling the slightest awkwardness at the two of them sharing a room, and even inviting him, with a clear gaze and upright expression, to discuss matters together.
Putting away his mischievous thoughts, Chu Xiangtian accepted his fate and sat down. He asked, “Tomorrow morning, let’s have Chang Xi go keep watch at the Fu Family Rice Shop.”
Fu Tian didn’t understand, not seeing the point of keeping watch at their own rice shop so early in the morning.
Seeing his confusion, Chu Xiangtian decided to lay it all out for him.
“The Rice Shop has been losing money year after year because the prices are set too high, so fewer people are buying. But the amount of rice delivered from the Zhuangzi hasn’t decreased at all.”
“So… where do you think all that rice has gone?”
Fu Tian suddenly realized, his eyes slowly widening. “Where did the rice go…?”
“You mean?” Disbelief showed on his face. “How could they dare?”
Chu Xiangtian lightly tapped his forehead, his expression a bit cold. “Men die for wealth, birds die for food. In the face of such huge profits, there’s nothing they wouldn’t dare do.”
The Fu Family Rice Shop had been losing money for years, yet the grain delivered from the Zhuangzi not only hadn’t decreased but had increased year after year.
Before, they’d assumed it was just the stewards embezzling, but now it seemed it was far more than that.
They’d deliberately raised the price of rice, and the shop assistants would direct customers to the Zhao Family Rice Shop.
The whole process was carried out so skillfully, it was clear this had been going on for a long time.
Normally, the unsold rice at the Fu Family Rice Shop should have piled up in the warehouse, but every year the deliveries from the Zhuangzi never decreased. So where did all that unsold grain go?
***
This was a question worth pondering.
Chu Xiangtian already had a vague guess in his heart. Today, Fu Huo had ordered a hundred shi of Japonica Rice from the Zhao Family Rice Shop, so they would definitely have to transfer stock.
If Chang Xi kept watch at the Fu Family Rice Shop early, they might make an
After the events of the day, his emotions had calmed considerably, and hearing this speculation didn’t even make him very angry anymore.
He only thought they must root out these parasites as soon as possible.
If things really were as Chu Xiangtian guessed, then Fu Huo would have at least half a chance to catch them red-handed.
After thinking for a while, Fu Tian went next door to speak to Chang Xi, asking him to help keep watch early the next morning.
After instructing Chang Xi, Fu Tian finally felt at ease. He turned to return to his room, but found it empty. From behind the screen came the faint sound of water.
Curious, Fu Tian walked over, but as he got closer, he suddenly realized—that sound… could it be Chu Xiangtian was bathing?
Only then did he belatedly react, his ears turning a little red. He lightened his footsteps, retreating like a thief.
“What are you doing?”
Chu Xiangtian stepped out from behind the screen.
He had just finished bathing, his jet-black hair loose, droplets of water trailing down his bare chest, following the contours of his muscles and disappearing into his waistband.
He looked like a wolf at ease, his posture lazy but exuding a constant, dominant aura.
And Fu Tian was like a little rabbit caught in the wolf’s gaze.
His attempt to sneak away failed. Fu Tian tried to pretend nothing had happened, but his gaze kept darting back to Chu Xiangtian’s chest, not knowing where to look.
In the end, he could only stare awkwardly at his own toes, his voice barely above a whisper.
“N-nothing…”
Throwing the towel he’d used to dry his hands into the wooden tub, Chu Xiangtian stepped closer to Fu Tian. Instinctively, Fu Tian stepped back, eyes wide in alarm. “W-what are you doing…?”
Water.
Chu Xiangtian narrowed his eyes, his gaze unreadable as he looked at him.
Fu Tian felt his scalp tingle under that gaze, an urge to turn and run.
“Aren’t you going to bathe?” The predatory look faded, replaced by a harmless smile. “I had the shop assistant prepare hot water for you.”
Fu Tian looked at him, completely bewildered, his face still dazed from the scare.
Reaching out, Chu Xiangtian pinched his cheek, shaking it gently. His voice was clearly amused. “Why are you so silly?”
Fu Tian slapped his hand away, but immediately felt he’d overreacted, and tried to cover it up. “D-don’t pinch my face!”
“…15.” Chu Xiangtian couldn’t help laughing. Seeing how flustered he was, he licked his lips and rang the small copper bell at the door.
There was always a shop assistant on duty in the Capital’s guesthouses. If a guest rang the bell, someone would come in shortly.
When the shop assistant arrived, Chu Xiangtian had him change out the tub for fresh hot water, then urged Fu Tian to go bathe.
Fu Tian, clutching his inner robe, fled behind the screen with a flushed face. The screen blocked out the suffocating heat in the air, letting him breathe a little easier.
He patted his face hard, feeling he’d been acting very strange today.
They were both men. Chu Xiangtian was just a bit taller and stronger—what was there to be flustered about?
Burying half his face in the water, Fu Tian poked at his own chest. His skin was pale and thin, with only his ribs sticking out.
He blew a frustrated bubble, then quickly finished washing up. After drying his hair and neatly putting on his inner robe, he finally went back out.
The shop assistant came in to carry out the tub. Fu Tian locked the door behind him, and when he looked over, saw Chu Xiangtian half-reclining on the bed, unconsciously swallowing.
Chu Xiangtian had put on his inner robe, but hadn’t bothered to tie it properly. The wide-open collar revealed his muscular chest at a glance.
The little rabbit, sensing the wolf’s presence, perked up his ears, hesitating and not daring to come closer.
Chu Xiangtian had been reading a book, but when he saw Fu Tian standing there, he called him over to sleep, “Come on, get in bed or you’ll catch a chill.”
He said this, but his long legs were stretched out right across the bed, blocking the way. If Fu Tian wanted to get to the inside, he’d have to climb over him.
“Move over.” Fu Tian pursed his lips, the tips of his ears tinged red.
Chu Xiangtian looked up from his book, bent his legs a little, and made a tiny space. “Come on up.”
Fu Tian eyed the tiny gap, knowing he couldn’t fit, and had to mutter again, “Move a bit more.”
Chu Xiangtian, still focused on his book, stretched his legs out straight, his face perfectly serious. “Just climb over. We’re both men, what’s there to be embarrassed about?”
Fu Tian was so angry he wanted to hit him. Who’s embarrassed?! You’re the one who’s embarrassed!
Puffing up his cheeks, he climbed over Chu Xiangtian and rolled into the inside of the bed, wrapping himself tightly in the quilt like a ball.
“Wrapped up so tight, aren’t you hot?” Chu Xiangtian put down his book and tugged at the outer layer of the quilt.
“Not hot!”
The muffled voice came from inside the quilt. Fu Tian was still annoyed and didn’t really want to talk to him.
“Want to read a storybook?” Chu Xiangtian tugged at the quilt again, inviting him to read together.
A storybook? The bundle of quilt rustled as Fu Tian poked his head out, curious. “You’re reading a storybook?”
Chu Xiangtian looked as if it were obvious. “What else would I be reading?”
Fu Tian:
Thinking about it, it did make sense. If a bandit leader liked to read proper books, that would be more surprising.
His eyes drifted to Chu Xiangtian’s legs, and Fu Tian grew curious. “What are you reading?”
Chu Xiangtian moved the book a little closer to him, but not quite enough, so Fu Tian would have to lean over to see.
Tossing the quilt aside, Fu Tian did indeed scoot over, craning his neck to look.
The book was mostly pictures, with only a few words here and there.
The story was about a scholar who took shelter from the rain in a temple and met a demon. The scholar was quite bold, showing no fear of the demon, and even wrestled with it…
Fu Tian eagerly flipped a few pages to see who would win in the end, but the further he went, the stranger it got. The scholar pressed the demon down, took off its clothes, and then…
Fu Tian:
Finally realizing what was going on, Fu Tian slammed the book shut, face red, and glared fiercely at Chu Xiangtian. “Pervert!”
To think he’d openly read this kind of book in front of him, and even invite him to read together—he was just… just shameless!
Huffing, Fu Tian hid under the quilt, fuming.
Having been inexplicably scolded by the young master, Chu Xiangtian picked up the book and flipped through it.
The more he read, the darker his expression became—this wasn’t some strange tale at all, it was obviously a dirty book.
He’d found it on the shelf and only flipped a couple of pages, really just to tease the young master.
When the young master was reading, he’d been so focused on him that he hadn’t even noticed what was in the book.
Clicking his tongue in his mind, Chu Xiangtian tossed the book under the bed, then looked over to see the young master curled up with only the top of his head showing, and found him even cuter like that.
Blowing out the candle, Chu Xiangtian lay down next to the young master. In the darkness, he couldn’t see, but his sense of smell became sharper.
A faint floral scent lingered at the tip of his nose, and Chu Xiangtian sniffed—it seemed to be coming from Fu Tian.
He curled his lips, wanting to ask what the young master used, but thought if he did, the young master would probably ignore him even more, so he just rested his arms under his head and fell asleep to the gentle scent.
***
Fu Tian didn’t sleep well that night, plagued by all sorts of strange dreams. When Chu Xiangtian woke him, his expression was still dazed.
Chu Xiangtian brought in the washing set and, seeing the dark circles under his eyes and his listless look, wrung a warm towel for him to use.
Fu Tian shot him an angry look as he took the towel. If it weren’t for that messy book last night, he wouldn’t have slept so badly!
After washing his face, he finally felt a bit more awake. After getting himself ready, he went downstairs with Chu Xiangtian for breakfast.
Chang Xi, who had gone to stake out the rice shop before dawn, had already returned and was wolfing down his breakfast. Fu Tian sat down and slowly sipped his porridge.
After finishing, Chang Xi wiped his mouth and began to share what he’d found.
Afraid he’d miss someone, he’d snuck out of the Guesthouse before the rooster crowed, and after reaching the Fu Family Rice Shop, he found a thick tree to climb and hide in.
He waited until the hour of the rabbit before there was any movement at the shop.
The shop assistant they’d seen yesterday directed several sturdy men to carry out nearly twenty sacks of rice from the back door and quietly load them onto a cart.
Chang Xi followed all the way and found they’d actually delivered the rice to the Zhao Family Rice Shop.
“Those guys, they’re really bold!” Chang Xi spat, clearly displeased.
Fu Tian and Chu Xiangtian exchanged a glance—what Chang Xi found matched their suspicions exactly, and the whereabouts of the unsold grain became clear.
Chu Xiangtian watched his expression, expecting the young master to be angry at the news, but instead, he didn’t seem mad at all—if anything, he seemed a little pleased?
“What are you smiling about?” Chu Xiangtian asked, confused.
Fu Tian smiled mysteriously, called Fu Ji over, and whispered a few instructions. Fu Ji nodded and left, his own expression relaxed.
Zhou Chuanqing was also curious, seeing Fu Tian look so confident. “You’ve found their weakness already?”
Fu Tian smiled, hands clasped behind his back as he strolled outside. “Mm, let’s go catch some thieves first.”