MLMD -Chapter 46 Borrowing Mules and Horses

When Yue Yang saw Yulong already brimming with excitement, and Yuling also looking eager, he smiled faintly. He pulled Yulong over to sit on the edge of the bed and fastened the necklace around her delicate jade-like neck. The ivory-white pearls complemented Yulong’s soft pink skin, making her appear even more radiant.

“Little sister, you’re truly beautiful.” Seeing Yulong glow with newfound charm under the adornment of the pearl necklace, Yuling, standing beside her, couldn’t help but notice her sister’s transformation. Her eyes shone with envy, and she genuinely praised, “She looks amazing!”

Noticing the admiring look in Yuling’s eyes, Yue Yang smiled slightly and reached for another brocade box, revealing a pair of crystal-clear emerald bracelets inside.

Picking up the bracelets, Yue Yang smiled at Yuling. “Ling’er, these are bracelets made from emeralds. I specially picked them out for you. Try them on and see if you like them.”

Upon seeing the bracelets, so green and translucent, Yuling’s heart leapt with joy. Forgetting that she was still undressed, she sat up and hugged Yue Yang tightly from behind. Her beautiful eyes glistened with tears, and she said, moved, “Young master, you are far too kind to us sisters!”

Yue Yang gently kissed her cheek and said softly, “What’s the big deal? Since you two sisters have entrusted yourselves to me, I must take responsibility. A few pieces of jewelry are nothing. Alright, Ling’er, get up and help me get dressed!”

“Alright!”

Yuling nodded obediently, then sat up and began dressing. She didn’t try to hide herself from Yue Yang, instead openly displaying her flawless beauty before her beloved. Clearly, once the final barrier between a man and woman is broken, a woman no longer keeps anything hidden from her man.

Soon, with the sisters’ help, Yue Yang had finished dressing and washing. He called for Yuelaifu and instructed him to prepare mules, horses, and carts. He also ordered Hu Laosan, who had arrived, to select a thousand soldiers to accompany him beyond the border.

With Yue Yang’s orders, the entire Yue family estate became bustling with activity. Many servants began preparing rations, dry food, and goods to be transported to the grasslands. During this time, Yue Yang even took the opportunity at night to visit the modern world, delivering antiques and jewelry he had collected recently to Zhao Santong of the “Treasure Hall” jewelry shop for auction. Yue Yang agreed to share five percent of the proceeds with Zhao Santong. Naturally, Zhao Santong didn’t refuse such an easy profit and agreed immediately.

After all this the previous night, Yue Yang had also purchased large quantities of daily necessities in the modern world, sending them through the time portal to the courtyard on the west side of the Yue estate before returning to the Ming dynasty.

However, upon returning, Yuelaifu brought an urgent problem to him: the Yue estate didn’t have enough mules and horses.

It turned out that Yue Yang needed to transport too many things for this journey beyond the border. Aside from a large quantity of salt, tea bricks, clothing, cloth, and daily necessities, there were also supplies for the thousand militia soldiers acting as guards—food, tents, and other equipment. Altogether, these required over two hundred large carts.

Here’s the problem: there were enough carts, but not enough draft animals. The Yue estate had always been primarily an agricultural village, and they didn’t have many animals for pulling carts. In the rush, they couldn’t gather enough animals, yet the departure date with the Li family caravan was approaching. Yuelaifu, responsible for preparations, was frantic.

After hearing Yuelaifu’s report, Yue Yang also felt troubled. Rubbing his temples, he asked, “Uncle Laifu, how many more mules and horses do we still need?”

Without hesitation, Yuelaifu replied, “At least a hundred more.”

“A hundred? That many?” Yue Yang was shocked by the sheer number.

Yuelaifu sighed helplessly. “Young master, our Yue family has never had a trading caravan. We rarely need mules and horses. Gathering over a hundred now is already very difficult.”

“I see.” Yue Yang pondered for a moment, then asked, “Then can we go to Yingzhou Prefecture to buy them right away?”

“I’m afraid not,” Yuelaifu shook his head. “We agreed with the Li family to depart the day after tomorrow. Yingzhou Prefecture isn’t a big place—we simply can’t buy this many mules and horses in one day.”

“Damn!” Yue Yang couldn’t help but curse. After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and muttered, “I refuse to believe it. Live people can’t be killed by holding it in! Uncle Laifu, prepare the horses. You’re taking people with me to Yingzhou Prefecture.”

Yuelaifu was surprised. “Young master, you want to go to Yingzhou Prefecture to buy livestock? I thought that was impossible!”

Yue Yang snorted coldly. “Buy? No. I’m going to borrow some animals from the Li family, that’s all. The Li family trades all year—there must be extra livestock to lend me! If they dare refuse, I’ll make them regret it!” At this moment, Yue Yang’s face showed a complete rogue-like smirk.

“This… this…”

Looking at Yue Yang, Yuelaifu felt his worldview crumble. Could this young man, who used to be dull, honest, and bookish, really have changed? Or had Wang Chenglin’s blow at the Wan Hua Lou truly damaged his mind? From participating in street fights, organizing militias, leading troops against bandits, to expelling the Wang family from Yingzhou Prefecture, Yue Yang had completely overturned Yuelaifu’s previous impression of him.

Although Yuelaifu grumbled inwardly, Yue Yang was still his young master and boss. He dared not disobey, so he prepared the horses, and Yue Yang once again rode to Yingzhou Prefecture.

What happened next completely surprised Yuelaifu. Li Yuan, without any hesitation, actually lent over a hundred mules and horses to the Yue estate—astonishing everyone. When had the Li and Yue families become so close? It seemed almost unbelievable.

The reason was simple. When Yue Yang approached Li Yuan, he only said one thing: “Lend me over a hundred mules and horses. I’ll return them later. If you agree, I’ll also sell you two thousand catties of fine salt.”

For such a nearly free offer, Li Yuan would have been a fool to refuse. The Li family specialized in trade beyond the borders; livestock like mules and horses were abundant. A hundred animals were nothing to them.

“Yue, my nephew, next time you want to borrow mules and horses, just come to me. I have no other treasures, but I do have some animals for hauling. I’ll even give you a discount on the price!” Li Yuan said to Yue Yang when he left.

Having interacted with Yue Yang for some time, Li Yuan realized that although Yue Yang was ruthless and cunning, he was also reasonable. His fierce battle with the Wang family was due to their greed and the personal feud with Wang Chenglin. Privately, Yue Yang was quite reasonable; even if someone tried to take advantage, he wouldn’t be angry—provided he wasn’t truly provoked.

Yue Yang, however, merely rolled his eyes and mounted his horse, paying no attention to the old man. He spurred forward along the route he had come from…