Traveling back to ancient times to get rich

Chapter 337 The First Wave of Liaoning Merchants

The group sat quietly in the open space, lost in thought. The only sounds were the occasional gentle breeze rustling the withered grass. In the distance, the rolling mountains, bathed in sunlight, formed an undulating silhouette, like a tranquil ink painting. They decided to make do here for the night; they were unfamiliar with the area and would find an inn tomorrow.

Just then, the faint sound of approaching hooves broke the silence. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of people approaching. From a distance, the group's attire was unusual, unlike ordinary travelers. As they drew closer, everyone realized they appeared to be merchants, a small group of about seven or eight, each driving a carriage loaded with goods, seemingly from the Jibei region. Upon arriving, they saw Gu Mochen, Ye Qingchen, and others setting up camp. The camp was sparsely populated, with only Gu Mochen, Ye Qingchen, Bai Yufei, and Song Ming present, yet it contained two rather luxurious carriages and six sleek, powerful horses leisurely swishing their tails. This sight immediately piqued the curiosity of the newcomers.

Without hesitation, this group headed towards the camp, eager to join the fun. At the same time, Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen also keenly noticed the approaching group. They were all dressed in Liao attire, their hair meticulously braided, each braid seemingly carrying a unique ethnic charm. Despite the unbearable heat, they wore distinctive civil and military-style sleeves; the thick clothing did not make them appear bulky, but rather accentuated their exceptionally strong and tall stature. Their arm muscles bulged, and their gait exuded a confident and bold air, seemingly unconcerned about the sweltering heat.

In contrast, Gu Mochen, Bai Yufei, and Song Ming appeared as thin as sticks compared to the Liao people. Fortunately, their height was similar to the Liao people, so the disparity wasn't too stark. Gu Mochen stood tall and straight, his eyes revealing composure and vigilance as he intently watched the approaching Liao group. Bai Yufei frowned slightly, unconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword, seemingly prepared for any unforeseen event. Song Ming's face showed tension, his eyes scanning the Liao people, his hands clenching unconsciously in front of him.

Leading the Liao people was a tall, rugged-looking man with a curious smile on his face. He strode up to Gu Mochen and the others and said in broken Chinese, "Young masters and ladies, where do you come from? What important matter brings you to this place?" After speaking, his gaze lingered on the two carriages for a moment, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes.

Gu Mochen bowed slightly and replied politely, "We came from the south of Great Xia to travel to Great Liao. We passed through this place and, seeing that it was getting late, decided to stop here for the time being. May I ask where you gentlemen come from?" His voice was steady and powerful, neither humble nor arrogant, displaying his demeanor.

The Liao leader laughed and said, "We are Liao people, doing some small business, traveling around. When we saw your carriages and horses, we thought you were in the same trade." As he spoke, he paced around the carriages, his eyes constantly examining the carriages and horses.

Ye Qingchen stood aside, quietly observing the Liao people. She noticed that the others in the Liao group were also looking around, their eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of wariness. One young Liao man, in particular, had bright eyes. His gaze swept over the group, finally landing on Ye Qingchen. He paused slightly, seemingly surprised by her appearance.

At this moment, Bai Yufei stepped forward and said, "We are not merchants, but ordinary travelers. These carriages and horses are merely our means of transportation." His tone carried a hint of wariness, clearly indicating that he still harbored doubts about these suddenly appearing Liao people, especially after this group of Liao people looked around. Bai Yufei gave off an impression of keeping everyone at arm's length.

The Liao chieftain seemed to sense Bai Yufei's wariness, and waved his hand with a smile, saying, "Don't be nervous, we mean no harm. It's just that when you're traveling, it's natural to want to chat with fellow travelers." As he spoke, he took a leather pouch from his waist and handed it to Gu Mochen, saying, "Here, try some of our Liao wine. It's homemade and has a unique flavor."

Gu Mochen hesitated for a moment, then took the wine pouch and tilted his head back to take a sip. The wine was spicy as it went down his throat, but it carried a rich aroma that instantly spread throughout his stomach, invigorating him. "Good wine!" Gu Mochen exclaimed.

Seeing that Gu Mochen had drunk the wine, the Liao leader's smile grew even brighter. He said, "Since it's good wine, then drink more." He turned to the Liao people behind him and said a few words in Liao language. The Liao people took some dry rations and water bags from their horses, put them on the ground, and invited Gu Mochen and the others to sit down together.

Seeing this, the others couldn't refuse any longer and sat down. The atmosphere in the camp immediately became relaxed. The Liao leader ate his dry rations heartily while chatting with Gu Mochen and the others. He described the customs and traditions of Liao, its unique customs and magnificent scenery, which Gu Mochen and the others listened to with great interest.

Gu Mochen then recounted their journey to the Liao leader, from bustling towns to treacherous mountains, from wisps of smoke rising from chimneys to lone plumes of smoke rising from the desert. Ye Qingchen and her two companions would occasionally chime in, their voices clear and melodious, like mountain springs, drawing occasional glances from the young Liao leader, much to Bai Yufei's displeasure. He looked at Gu Mochen and Song Ming; the two seemed alright, their expressions indifferent.

During the conversation, Gu Mochen learned that these Liao people were a small caravan, and they were out on a trip to sell local specialties to earn a living. They traveled all year round, enduring countless hardships, but they always maintained an optimistic and open-minded attitude.

The sky gradually darkened further. The merchants in the camp lit a campfire, its light casting flickering shadows on their faces. The Liao chieftain stood up, patted Gu Mochen on the shoulder, and said, "It's getting late, let's rest. It's truly fate that we met today." As they were about to lie down to sleep, Gu Mochen said, "Wait a minute, sleeping on the ground, even in summer, will easily make you catch a cold. I don't think the nights on this grassland are very warm."

The Liao chieftain said, "That's why we all wear thick clothes. We can just put on our thick clothes now, and it won't be too cold. We're used to it."

Gu Mochen also stood up, cupped his hands again, and said, "It is our honor to meet you all today. How about this, we have set up three tents, but we'll give you one today, and we'll squeeze in." After saying that, he gave up his larger tent and took out his things.

The Liao leader was deeply moved, seemingly overwhelmed by even this small gesture. He said, "Then thank you, young brother. Our men will guard your horses and carriages." Gu Mochen declined, saying, "No need. My two brothers will rest in the carriages later. You should rest as well." With that, Gu Mochen went straight to Bai Zhi and Bai Yufei's tent, and Ye Qingchen followed. Needless to say, Bai Yufei was the one sleeping in the carriages tonight.