"On behalf of everyone in the caravan, I thank you both for your tireless efforts and for braving the dangers to cross the snowfield to come here. Otherwise, if we had continued to be trapped here, the consequences would have been unimaginable." The Trade Team Leader, who was nearing fifty, wore a sincere smile.
"You’re too kind, Shopkeeper Li," Liang Xin’an replied.
Jing Rou, on the other hand, wasn’t focused on this; he was busy counting the supplies the caravan had brought.
Each wooden barrel was filled with kerosene, and besides that, there were some warm clothes and strong liquor, all of which were desperately needed at the moment.
"Sir, you don’t need to count; we’ve preserved all the goods very well, not even a bit was used during the days we were trapped," Shopkeeper Li said with a smile.
Jing Rou nodded and then asked, "So how do we get them in?"
To Jing Rou, it seemed certain that after this ordeal, the caravan couldn’t possibly continue forward.
So, this large amount of goods had to be transported in by himself and Liang Xin’an.
Unexpectedly, Shopkeeper Li said at this moment, "You two surely can’t carry so many things in by yourselves. Besides, having traveled so far, are we to turn back just because of this little danger?"
Jing Rou was taken aback. Clearly, he didn’t expect such a shrewd Trade Team Leader to say something like this.
"So, your meaning is...?"
"In business, the important thing is to see things through to the end. Besides, I’ve known Leader Kong for many years, and with your generous help, we must complete this journey through the snowfield no matter what," Shopkeeper Li said righteously.
This outcome couldn’t have been better.
Jing Rou and Liang Xin’an exchanged a glance, having no objection to this.
Then the caravan began to break camp.
Watching the silent, hardworking caravan members, Jing Rou couldn’t help but sigh, "It seems earning a living these days is really not easy. Such an excellent caravan, yet they have to take such risks to do business deep in the snowfield."
Liang Xin’an remained silent, his attention constantly drifting between these members and the distant escorts.
Although everyone acted normal, Liang Xin’an felt something was amiss, but couldn’t pinpoint what, so he buried the thought.
Soon, the caravan had everything in order and set off.
Liang Xin’an was at the front pushing the lighting cart, while Jing Rou observed the Compass to discern the road.
At this time, Shopkeeper Li and the caravan’s escort leader approached.
"Did you make this yourselves?" Shopkeeper Li seemed very interested in the lighting cart.
"Mm, sort of."
"What a genius idea!" Shopkeeper Li genuinely praised.
The escort leader stood by in silence.
Right then, Liang Xin’an abruptly asked, "May I ask what your name is, friend?"
"Oh, he is the escort leader of our caravan, named..."
Just as Shopkeeper Li was about to introduce him, Liang Xin’an interrupted, looking at the escort leader earnestly.
"May I know your name?"
By now, Jing Rou sensed something as well, maintaining composure outwardly but secretly gripping the hand cannon in his bag.
Although he didn’t know Liang Xin’an’s purpose, he trusted his fellow disciple; if something went wrong, he was ready to shoot.
At this moment, only to hear the escort leader speak.
"I am Jiang Qian, a native of Eight Hundred Li Mountain City. Is there anything else you’d like to ask?"
Liang Xin’an gave Jiang Qian a deep look, then shook his head, "No, I was just curious, that’s all."
"No problem!" Jiang Qian replied casually, and then said to Shopkeeper Li, "Shopkeeper, I’ll go inspect the team."
"Go ahead!" Shopkeeper Li said.
After that, Jiang Qian cupped his fists towards Liang Xin’an and Jing Rou and left.
"Don’t mind him, you two, Old Jiang is just like that, very quiet, sometimes not saying a word all day," Shopkeeper Li smiled.
"Not at all!" Liang Xin’an also smiled.
Then the two of them chatted cheerfully for a while before Shopkeeper Li took his leave.
After he left, Jing Rou softly asked, "What’s going on, Jiang Qian seems suspicious?"
Liang Xin’an shook his head, "No."
"Then why did you confront him?" Jing Rou wondered,
"It’s just an indescribable feeling. Something about him and many in this caravan seems strange," Liang Xin’an frowned.
Hearing this, Jing Rou relaxed and laughed, "People making a living in such dangerous places often act oddly, that’s normal."
"You don’t have to worry so much. Besides, even if they did have issues, with what I’ve got, even if all of them came at us, they wouldn’t stand a chance."
Jing Rou patted the bag at his waist and said confidently.
Hearing this, Liang Xin’an also relaxed, realizing he might have been making a mountain out of a molehill, and maybe it was just his paranoia, so he continued forward, pushing the lighting cart.
However, they didn’t notice that while they were fixated on traveling, back in the caravan, the smiling and businesslike Shopkeeper Li’s expression changed subtly, becoming exceedingly eerie.
"That younger fellow has an incredible sense of vigilance. If I hadn’t manipulated Jiang Qian’s speech in time, we’d have been exposed."