novelAbuy Chapter 24 "This glass of wine is for you."
Chapter 24 "This glass of wine is for you."
Song Jiang walked on the deserted streets of Yuncheng County.
The watchman's clapper sounded from afar, one after another, irritating him.
One hundred taels of gold.
This number, like a mountain, weighed heavily on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
He was Song Jiang, known as the Timely Rain, for his generosity and righteousness.
But those were all favors and benefits he received on a regular basis.
He would give two taels from the east and three taels from the west, and little by little, he would distribute them to the heroes of the martial arts world who came to him for help.
He earned a good reputation.
But he never kept such a huge sum of money in his possession.
He walked to a crossroads and stopped.
What should I do?
Looking for Lei Heng?
Even if he were willing to give up everything he owned to help him, he still wouldn't be able to raise that amount of money.
Moreover, how is he going to explain why he needs this money?
He said a woman had something on him.
He claimed he was colluding with a notorious bandit and offered to escort him across the border?
A gust of cold wind blew by, and Song Jiang shivered.
He suddenly remembered someone else.
The Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, Chao Gai.
The thought stirred up a mix of emotions in Song Jiang's heart.
Just two days ago, he was still putting on an act of unwavering loyalty and righteousness in front of Chao Gai, appearing as someone who would go to great lengths for his brothers.
But now, he has to turn the tables and beg others.
This is tantamount to slapping oneself in the face.
But he had no other choice.
……
The official granary in the west of the city.
As dawn broke, the scene here was already bustling with activity.
The refugees that Liu Bei took in were all in high spirits.
Some of the men were repairing the damaged walls, while others were cleaning the accumulated dust from the warehouse.
The women set up several large pots in a corner of the courtyard, rinsing rice and washing vegetables, preparing breakfast for everyone.
The aroma of rice porridge wafting from the pot brought life back to this long-abandoned courtyard.
Liu Bei stood atop a granary, his hands behind his back.
Wu Yong stood beside him.
"Brother, Zhang Shi is indeed a capable person."
Wu Yong pointed to a corner in the courtyard.
The accountant, Zhang Shi, was holding a booklet and directing several men to sort and stack bags of grain that had just been collected from nearby villages and towns.
"All the grain entering the warehouse must be weighed and registered. Different types of grain must be stored in separate warehouses, and the purchase price and date must be recorded. Everything is done in an orderly and efficient manner."
Liu Bei nodded.
"It's truly remarkable that a rice shop accountant possesses such insight. By the way, have you booked a private room at Zuixianlou?"
Wu Yong said, "It's booked. It's the No. 1 private room on the third floor, by the window, with an excellent view."
Liu Bei laughed and said, "Alright, I'll head over there once I've finished arranging things here. Once Commander Lei brings Sun Sheng, you can go there to find me."
……
It was soon afternoon.
A mule cart stopped at the entrance of the official granary.
Lei Heng jumped out of the car and shouted at the closed gate, "Sun Sheng, we're here, get out!"
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a tall, thin man poked his head out.
The man was about thirty years old, with a long, thin face, a mustache, and small but bright, clever eyes.
He is Sun Sheng.
Sun Sheng jumped out of the car, followed by three men.
The three men, dressed like scoundrels, stood beside Lei Heng, timidly surveying the imposing courtyard.
Sun Sheng bowed and scraped to Lei Heng, smiling, "Captain, what place is this? It looks like a government office."
Lei Heng kicked him in the butt.
"Enough nonsense! You think you're here to sightsee and enjoy the scenery when I've invited you to pay respects to such an important person?"
Sun Sheng let out a soft "Ouch," but his face remained smiling.
Just then, the gate of the official granary creaked open from the inside.
Wu Yong, dressed in a scholar's robe and holding a feather fan, stood inside the door.
He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Lei Heng: "Commander Lei, you've worked hard."
Lei Heng quickly returned the greeting: "Scholar, you're too kind."
Wu Yong then turned his gaze to Sun Sheng.
Sun Sheng felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze, as if the scholar's eyes could see right through him.
"Are you Sun Sheng?" Wu Yong asked.
Sun Sheng quickly bowed and said, "This humble one, Sun Sheng, greets you, sir."
Wu Yong nodded: "My brother has booked a private room at Zuixianlou. Please come over and have a chat."
Sun Sheng was stunned.
Zuixianlou?
That's the best restaurant in Yuncheng County; one meal there could feed him for half a year.
On ordinary days, he would at most order a plate of pig's head meat and drink two bowls of turbid wine from a street food stall.
"Sir... this... how could I possibly accept this..." Sun Sheng stammered.
The three hooligans behind him were also shocked.
Wu Yong smiled faintly: "My brother said that if we're going to talk business, we should do it properly. Let's go."
Lei Heng, standing to the side, patted Sun Sheng on the shoulder and chuckled, "You little rascal, what good luck you've had! Hurry up and thank the scholar!"
Sun Sheng then realized what was happening and quickly bowed and thanked Wu Yong.
The group walked through several streets and alleys and arrived in front of Zuixianlou.
This three-story restaurant is decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, with flying eaves and brackets, and two huge red lanterns hanging at the entrance.
The waiter at the door, dressed in a brand-new silk robe, greeted Lei Heng with a beaming smile as soon as he saw him.
"Commander Lei, what brings you here today!"
Lei Heng pointed at Wu Yong: "This is Chao Baozheng's distinguished guest from Dongxi Village. Which room is Chao Baozheng in?"
Upon hearing that the waiter was Chao Gai's guest, his smile became even more respectful.
"Room Number One, please come upstairs!"
Sun Sheng and his three men followed behind, feeling their feet wobbling.
They had never been treated like this before.
On ordinary days, wherever they go, they are met with disgust and avoidance.
Today, however, I am being treated as a distinguished guest.
Once you reach the private room on the third floor and open the window, you can see the entire view of half of Yuncheng County.
Liu Bei was already waiting inside.
He changed into a dark silk robe, tied his hair up with a wooden hairpin, and carefully combed his bushy beard.
He didn't sit in the main seat, but stood by the window, looking at the street scene outside.
He turned around only after hearing footsteps.
"Brother Lei, thank you for your trouble."
Lei Heng clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother, you're too kind."
Liu Bei's gaze fell on Sun Sheng.
Sun Sheng's heart skipped a beat. He quickly stepped forward, lifted his robe, and was about to kneel down.
"You scoundrel..."
Before his knees even touched the ground, they were firmly supported by a hand.
"This isn't customary here," Liu Bei said gently.
Sun Sheng straightened up, a thin layer of sweat already appearing on his forehead.
Although he was unable to kneel, he felt that the man in front of him had even greater official authority than Magistrate Shi in the county government.
Liu Bei pointed to the seats at the table: "Please sit down, everyone."
Lei Heng sat down to Liu Bei's right, while Sun Sheng and his men sat down cautiously at the end of the table, barely touching the bottom of the chair.
Liu Bei walked to the main seat and sat down, saying to Wu Yong, "Scholar, let's order."
Wu Yong picked up the menu, didn't even glance at it, and said directly to the waiter outside the door, "Bring me your restaurant's signature dishes. Also, brew two pots of your best Daughter's Red wine."
"Okay!"
The food and drinks were served quickly and in a continuous stream.
Roast chicken, roast duck, steamed sea bass, and braised pork knuckle were laid out on the table in abundance.
Sun Sheng and his three men stared wide-eyed.
Liu Bei picked up the wine pot and personally poured Sun Sheng a full cup.
"I heard from Chief Lei that you are the leader of a group of idlers in this city."
Sun Sheng was flattered and quickly raised his wine glass, saying, "I don't deserve it, I'm just trying to make a living."
Liu Bei also raised his wine cup and lightly clinked it with his.
"This glass of wine is for you."
Sun Sheng was stunned.
Liu Bei looked at him and said slowly, "I respect you for being able to gather so many idle people under your command in Yuncheng County, keeping them from starving to death and preventing them from causing any major trouble."
"That's a skill in itself."
Just this short sentence.
Sun Sheng then felt a surge of heat rush from his chest to the top of his head.
He was a scoundrel; in other people's eyes, he was just a local ruffian and a scoundrel.
Has anyone ever said that he has any ability?
What's more, this is the famous Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King in the martial arts world right in front of us.
His eyes immediately welled up with tears.
"elder brother……"
He picked up his glass and drank it all in one gulp. The pungent liquor made him cough repeatedly.
Liu Bei didn't say anything, but simply refilled his cup.
"Eat your vegetables."