After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 889 - 875: Known to All

Elder Li couldn’t help but glance at his sons and then asked with a smile, "Who is it, and what are they saying?"

Elder Li’s smile became somewhat strained after A Wei spoke up. He thought seriously for a moment and then asked, "What is the relationship between Gu Qilang and Miss Zhao?"

A Wei replied earnestly and sincerely, "We are friends."

A Wei meant it literally. After all, the relationship between Bole and Thousand-Mile Horse was just his own conjecture. He would tell his family but wouldn’t speak carelessly outside.

But Elder Li inferred from the context, thinking that Zhao Hezhen and the Gu Family of Wusui County had formed an alliance. Now that they’ve come to find him, is it to explain the previous matters or discuss other issues?

Moreover, he doesn’t know the Gu Family of Wusui County, but since the lady chose to ally with them, their influence must be significant, at least for now.

Maybe, like Wu Yongfu, there’s someone capable among them who gathered some refugees.

Elder Li wants to gather more information, but A Wei is tight-lipped (not entirely) about Zhao Hezhen, unwilling to say even a word more, yet leaked quite a bit about the Gu Family.

The Gu Family should be a large family, thriving with many brothers.

In Elder Li’s mind flashed Zhao Hanzhang’s cold eyes when she looked at him. Before she killed Wu Yongfu, they exchanged a glance, and he didn’t know what she thought at that moment. He had no intention of allying with her to kill Wu Yongfu.

He just couldn’t bear to see innocent people persecuted by Wu Yongfu. He was worried that Wu Yongfu’s power was growing uncontrollably, posing a danger even to those who came from the same county.

Yet, just that glance, Zhao Hanzhang was certain that if she brought Wu Yongfu’s head, he would surely protect her and not let Wu Yongfu’s remaining forces trouble her.

It was difficult to suppress the dissatisfaction with the Wu surname, temporarily setting aside the matter. Should he take the risk and associate with Zhao Hanzhang again?

Elder Li hesitated briefly before making up his mind. He looked up and smiled at A Wei, saying, "Please trouble Qilang to send a message, saying the old man will go, and ask Miss Zhao to wait a little longer."

A Wei, assured, immediately took his leave.

He eagerly returned to find Zhao Hanzhang, who was leaning against Fu Tinghan, both eating locusts.

The young man shivered and hurriedly approached, saying, "I brought some food."

He took out a bean cake from his pocket, apologetically saying to Zhao Hanzhang, "I meant to give this to you, I just forgot for a moment."

He tried not to look at the grasshopper in her hand, handing over the cake, "Have a taste."

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the bean cake carefully wrapped in a handkerchief, knowing his food was hard-earned, she shook her head and declined, smiling, "I’m not short of food, keep it."

A Wei: "Not short of food but you eat insects?"

Zhao Hanzhang raised the roasted locust in her hand, saying, "This is meat, high in protein, a good thing. Want to try?"

A Wei stiffened, shaking his head repeatedly, "No, I can’t eat it. Locusts are brought by plague gods, embodiments of misfortune. We can step on them, beat them dead, but we just can’t eat them."

Zhao Hanzhang paused and then regretfully said, "What a pity. The ancestor insect indeed cultivated under the seat of a god, and its billions of descendants likely carry some Divine Power. Eating it only brings benefits."

She earnestly spoke nonsense, "It might make one smart and clever, strong and healthy, prolong life, or increase virtue benefiting the next life."

Anyway, it’s all benefits, no harm.

A Wei heard such saying for the first time, "Really? Isn’t it misfortune?"

When the deceived person asks "really?", they are halfway deceived.

Zhao Hanzhang casually replied, "Of course it’s true. It’s not misfortune, just ordered to bring it. When the locusts arrive, the misfortune already spreads."

Zhao Hanzhang got talkative, smilingly asked, "Do you know why locust plagues occur?"

A Wei said, "Because of drought."

He continued, "A long drought must bring locusts."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, humans are indeed peculiar, speaking superstitious words about plague gods bringing misfortune; yet also acknowledging the natural law that a long drought must bring locusts.

Deciding to learn from them, she said, "Locusts are just one of many things in the world. They exist reasonably, nesting on riverbanks and fields. Normally, if weather is favorable, they’d perish as eggs by water or sun. But in drought, they survive when they should die, causing disaster."

She playfully winked, "Or perhaps the ancestor locust seized the imbalance of heaven and earth during great calamity, with immortals experiencing trials on earth, neglecting others, thus sneaking down to plague people."

A Wei still absorbed in the earlier explanation suddenly pulled into the divine theater, dazed, he asked, "So immortals descended?"

Zhao Hanzhang leaned against Fu Tinghan, smiled, "Who knows?"

A Wei hesitated, then leaned closer, whispering, "The imbalance of heaven and earth, is it because of an incompetent ruler?"

Upon hearing, Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, intrigued, "Why do you say that?"

A Wei whispered, "My father forbids us from saying, but my grandfather often said, today’s chaos is because the emperor’s family came to power unjustly, punished by heaven."

"What about your grandfather?"

"My grandfather passed away a couple of years ago."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "How is your family, your wealth?"

"Family? I don’t have much, just a farmer. I learned some words and martial arts from my grandfather and father," A Wei said proudly of his martial arts, "My skills are great, far better than my brothers."

Zhao Hanzhang remarked, "Your grandfather had such insight, showing how unpopular they are."

Upon hearing, A Wei’s eyes sparkled, leaning closer, "So Miss Zhao, will you follow Zhao Hanzhang from Xiping and raise troops to seize the world?"

Zhao Hanzhang: ...I didn’t, I am not.

Zhao Hanzhang appeared doubtful, "I remember Zhao Hanzhang was a loyal and righteous person, how is she associated with seizing the world?"

"That’s all fake," A Wei said, "My father said, if she wasn’t interested in power, how could a woman achieve what she has today? She’s a prominent lady, not short of food."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "She... is quite loyal to the throne and the country."

A Wei: "Just a temporary measure, like the Cao Family back then."

Zhao Hanzhang felt dazed, realizing her motives were known to all?