Uncle, I Cherish You Dearly Too

After listening to Ly Muc's lengthy recruitment pitch.

Tran Mac gleaned two pieces of information: the northern rebels would attack Thanh Chau in early spring next year, and their momentum was formidable.

Secondly, rather than calling it a recruitment, it was more like asking him to be a bodyguard for the Ly family, with his family members being merely an incidental addition.

The two of them had only met twice so far, barely more than acquaintances. Whether he could be trusted was also an issue.

Moreover, leaving Binh Dinh County meant heading to an unfamiliar place, without even a place to settle down. If Ly Muc turned hostile after they arrived and abandoned him, he would have no recourse.

And being a bodyguard for a very wealthy family in chaotic times was a dangerous affair.

Once targeted by rebels or bandits, he himself might be fine alone, but at that time, he would also have his sister-in-law with him, which would be troublesome.

Therefore, Tran Mac was unwilling to agree.

But he couldn't refuse too directly either; he was still counting on selling the furs for a good price. He said, "Shopkeeper Ly, what you've said is too sudden, and this is a major matter. Let me go back and think it over carefully, and discuss it with my wife."

"Certainly. There's still time before spring begins, no rush. Once you've thought it through, just let me know here," Ly Muc said.

Perhaps due to his intention to recruit him, Ly Muc offered a price of four strings of cash for this bear skin.

The marten pelt, because it was a Grey Marten and not a white one, was of slightly inferior quality; Ly Muc offered five strings of cash.

Nine strings of cash were cumbersome to carry, so Ly Muc settled the payment with silver ingots.

Nine one-tael silver ingots.

After leaving the Ly Family Cloth Shop, Tran Mac put Ly Muc out of his mind.

As for taking advantage of Ly Muc because of this...

Don't be ridiculous. If Ly Muc took that marten pelt and bearskin, he would definitely profit, perhaps even earning several times what he paid Tran Mac.

The two were merely in a buyer-seller relationship.

Afterwards, Tran Mac went on a major shopping spree.

Soybeans, chicken eggs, tooth powder, soy sauce, salt...

Tran Mac also bought a pair of shoes for himself.

The ones he was currently wearing were cloth shoes; aside from being cold, they also got wet easily and were somewhat uncomfortable for his feet.

He also bought Han An Nuong a pair of embroidered shoes.

Tran Mac knew her foot size very well; after all, he admired them almost every night.

There was also ointment for chapped skin; he had noticed that Han An Nuong's hands were already showing some signs of frostbite.

With the remaining six taels, Tran Mac went to the blacksmith's shop.

Tran Mac had visited the blacksmith's shop once before.

Entering the blacksmith's shop, Tran Mac spoke directly, "Shopkeeper Truong, I want to custom-order a dao."

"Custom-order a dao?"

Shopkeeper Truong, who was hammering iron, his eyes lit up, knowing this was a big customer. He hurriedly stopped his work and said with a grin, "And what is this esteemed customer's surname?"

"Humbly, surnamed Tran."

"What kind of dao does Boss Tran want to customize?"

Tran Mac saw paper and a brush nearby and sketched the appearance of the Tang Dao he had in mind.

Before he transmigrated, he had bought an unsharpened Tang Dao for his collection; it simply couldn't have been cooler.

"Is this... a sword?" Shopkeeper Truong, seeing this type of blade for the first time, couldn't help but be stunned.

"You can think of it that way if you like. Anyway, I want it forged in this style, eighty centimeters long," Tran Mac said.

"Then what materials does the esteemed customer require? Would you like to add clay-tempering and laminated steel?" Shopkeeper Truong asked.

This touched upon a blind spot in Tran Mac's knowledge. He really didn't understand this aspect. After inquiring with Shopkeeper Truong, he learned that these were forging techniques that could enhance the quality and strength of the weapon.

The more complex the process, the higher the fee.

Shopkeeper Truong usually crafted agricultural tools, for which the process was simple.

"Add all of those. What's the price?" Tran Mac asked.

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Truong extended two fingers: "At least twenty taels of silver."

Tran Mac: "..."

In the end, Tran Mac could only skimp a little, using ordinary materials, but the clay-tempering and laminated steel were essential. After some haggling, it came to about five taels of silver.

He first paid a one-tael silver deposit.

"Rest assured, my large shop is right here, and it's registered with the authorities. The monk can't run away, nor can the temple. I wouldn't cheat you out of a mere tael of silver," Shopkeeper Truong said with a smile, seemingly noticing Tran Mac's concern.

Tran Mac pondered for a moment, then took out a silver ingot from his bosom: "How long?"

"Pick it up in three days."

Tran Mac nodded, took the receipt issued by Shopkeeper Truong, shouldered his sack of grain, and left the county town.

This time, no one was tailing him.

He returned straight to the homestead.

Tran Mac put down the sack outside the room and shook the snow off himself.

Han An Nuong had heard the commotion early on and came out from the kitchen: "Uncle is back."

Saying so, she helped Tran Mac brush the snow off his clothes.

Han An Nuong must have been cooking just now; her hands had been in cold water, and Tran Mac saw they were somewhat swollen and red.

But Han An Nuong paid it no mind. After brushing the snow off Tran Mac, she was about to turn and go to the kitchen to fetch hot water for Tran Mac to wash his face and hands.

She hadn't taken two steps before Tran Mac grabbed her hand.

Tran Mac pulled, and Han An Nuong let out a small cry, stumbling and falling into his embrace.

Tran Mac picked her up, one arm tightening around her, holding her waist, the other hand lifting the sack, and entered the room.

Seeing her uncle put down the sack and carry her into the house, Han An Nuong was a bit flustered, struggling and saying, "Uncle, don't, I... I have my period."

Tran Mac placed Han An Nuong on the bed, smiled, and pinched her nose: "What are you thinking? I bought you ointment, to treat and prevent chapped skin."

Saying so, Tran Mac released her, took out the chapped skin ointment, and applied it to Han An Nuong's hands.

"Ah... Uncle, apply it later, I haven't finished cooking yet," Han An Nuong struggled and said.

"Don't move. I'll do the cooking. If you have your period, you should rest well, don't touch cold water." Saying so, he took her hands and helped warm them.

"Uncle..." Han An Nuong hugged Tran Mac's waist tightly, holding on so firmly. Her eyes, for some reason, began to moisten.

"There, there, why are you crying?" Tran Mac wiped away her tears.

"I... I don't know. Uncle, why are you so good to me?"

Women in mountain villages weren't like the daughters of wealthy families in the city; husbands often treated their wives as "labor."

Tran Mac's actions, to Han An Nuong, seemed like something that could only happen in dreams.

"Because I like sister-in-law."

"Uncle." Han An Nuong actively offered a kiss.

After their lips parted, her face flushed red as she said, "Uncle, I cherish you dearly too."

...

The next day.

Truong Ha arrived with the five fishing rods he had made, along with dug-up "Earth Dragons," which were earthworms.

There were earthworms in winter too, but they hid deep, requiring one to turn over a lot of soil to find them.

"Brother Mac, when are we going to Dai Dong Lake?"

"I'll go in a couple of days. You go first to scout the situation, see which spots have many fish, and whether ground bait is needed. Also, any fish you catch, don't bring them back; just sell them to the Thanh Ha Bang and see what price they offer."

Tran Mac gave Truong Ha ten wen.

"Right away, Brother Mac."

...

As dusk fell, Truong Ha returned.

In three watch-hours (six hours), Truong Ha had caught a total of four herring and two Black Carp, along with some small fish not counted in the weight, totaling sixteen catties, which fetched sixty wen...