Chapter 47: Chapter 47

The carriage clattered onward. Instead of heading east, it raced south, traveling along official roads the entire way.

After crossing several mountains, the road became flat. They passed through several county towns along the way, but neither Lu Wenyu nor Zhao Jiu left the carriage. The Carriage Driver took Lu Wenyu’s waist token into town to replenish their supplies, while the two men leisurely drank tea and read books to relieve the boredom of the journey.

The carriage traveled by day and rested by night. It felt less like a hurried journey and more like a spring outing. After more than ten days of traveling in fits and starts, the beginning of March when they had departed had nearly become the end of the month by the time they saw another city wall.

Zhao Jiu did not know the city’s name, nor did he care to ask. According to their plan, they were only stopping at the city’s docks to board a boat. From there, they would travel straight down the Yangtze River and reach Jiangzhou in less than seven days.

A fine rain drifted beyond the carriage. Since ancient times, people had said, “Spring rain is as precious as oil.” Through the hazy veil of rain, the distant mountains were emerald green, looking as though they had truly been soaked in oil. Their green was almost unreal. Not far away, numerous farmers braved the drizzle to plow their fields. The whole year’s work depended on a good start in spring, and this was the perfect season for it.

Lu Wenyu lifted the curtain and reached outside, letting the threads of rain sprinkle across his hand. They were fine and faintly tingling, like a delicate hand brushing across white gauze.

“The grass is short, the flowers just opening; the moss is green, the willows half yellow.”

“Beyond the curtain, the spring rain falls fine; from a high pillow, the dawn oriole’s song lingers.”

When his superior began reciting poetry for pleasure, Zhao Jiu naturally could not remain indifferent. Unfortunately, he barely had a drop of scholarly ink in his belly, so he could only respond awkwardly, “Fine poetry! What refined taste, Fifth Master!”

Lu Wenyu was in high spirits and naturally paid no attention to Zhao Jiu’s empty flattery. He narrowed his eyes and savored the drizzle against his palm. True Qi circulated through him, and when he drew his hand back inside, it was perfectly dry and clean.

“Pockface, do you know which line of Liu Zhongyong’s poetry I like best?”

Before Zhao Jiu, who was petting Zhaocai, could answer, Lu Wenyu recited to himself, “All through spring, white snow returns to Green Mound; for ten thousand li, the Yellow River winds around Black Mountain. The emotion is true and the sentiment heartfelt, sorrowful as a sob. No one without all under heaven in his heart could have composed it!”

Zhao Jiu obediently agreed, “A brilliant interpretation, Fifth Master.”

Lu Wenyu smiled and patted Zhao Jiu on the shoulder, mocking him for not even knowing how to flatter someone properly. It was truly pathetic.

Zhao Jiu repeatedly murmured his agreement, but inwardly, he grumbled without end.

What would a Human Relations Harmony Maintenance Specialist like me need to learn flattery for? Could it be that before sticking a blade into someone, I first have to coax him into a good mood?

That costs extra!

Fortunately, Lu Wenyu remained quiet for the rest of the journey, sitting cross-legged and reading his book. This spared Zhao Jiu a great deal of trouble.

The carriage creaked into the city. The moment it came to a stop, Lu Wenyu gave Zhao Jiu a few instructions, then impatiently set down his book and climbed out.

Zhao Jiu had the mutt Zhaocai with him, so he could not leave as easily as Lu Wenyu. He first changed his clothes, retrieved an umbrella from his Storage Space, then climbed out of the carriage with the dog in his arms and the umbrella held overhead.

The rain was not heavy, but everyone coming and going around them carried an umbrella. Out of habit, Zhao Jiu also walked slowly beneath his.

The street was not wide. Although it had been paved with stone slabs, mud was still visible everywhere. Zhao Jiu could only pick his way forward, taking one deep step and one shallow step. His most pressing concern was finding an inn or restaurant where he could eat and drink, wash up, and recuperate. After more than ten days on the road, his mouth was so starved of flavor that it was driving him damn near insane!

He walked through the rain to the end of the street and turned a corner, where he spotted a reasonably pleasant-looking restaurant. It had few customers, but at least the surroundings were peaceful.

Zhao Jiu was not picky. Food in this era could only taste so good, which made the surroundings far more important.

He closed his umbrella, entered, and found an empty table. With a grand flourish, he slapped several taels of silver onto the tabletop. The Waiter’s expression instantly transformed, and he eagerly agreed to Zhao Jiu’s request for a full table of fine wine and dishes.

The dishes soon arrived, and the wine had been warmed. Zhao Jiu set aside a portion for Zhaocai, then began devouring the rest, alternating between a cup of wine and a mouthful of meat.

You truly could not judge a man by his appearance—or a dish by what people said. The food at this pitifully empty restaurant was actually quite good and suited Zhao Jiu’s tastes nicely.

Just as he was happily enjoying his meal, several heavily bearded men sauntered in through the door. The moment they entered, they shook the rain from their hands and shouted angrily at the Shopkeeper.

“Old man, you’ve prepared the silver, right? I’ve already given you several days’ grace!”

“It’s ready, it’s ready…” The Shopkeeper tottered out to meet them, his back bent and his face filled with terror.

The leading bearded man paid no attention to the Shopkeeper’s reaction. He waved a hand listlessly and said in an indifferent tone, “You old bastard are sensible enough. Pay early, and you can rest easy. It’s not as though we’re determined to make trouble for you. All right, all right. Bring us a table of fine wine and dishes first. We brothers will help check the quality for your establishment!”

Without waiting for the Shopkeeper’s response, he found a larger empty table and sat down. He swept a smug gaze around the restaurant. When he saw that Zhao Jiu was the only customer who had not fled in fear, he sneered twice before ignoring him.

Before long, their dishes arrived as well. The group drank wine, ate meat, and traded increasingly outrageous dirty jokes. Even Zhao Jiu, sitting off to the side, felt that his horizons had been greatly broadened.

Damn. These people could take a joke from below the belt and somehow work it all the way up above the shoulders.

True masters!

“Third Master, look at that mutt. Its coat is so sleek and glossy, and it’s even bigger than a wolf cub! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the owner butcher it and add another dish?” The skinny man glanced toward Zhaocai, who was gnawing on a bone on the floor. “Let fragrant meat roll three times in the pot, and even immortals lose their footing. Let fragrant meat stew, and even a nun starts yearning for a bachelor!”

“How big can one dog be?” the bearded man called Third Master muttered.

He turned to look, and his brows immediately curved with delight.

Now that was a fine-looking dog.

Abandoning his food and drink, he walked over to Zhaocai, the craving in his eyes nearly spilling over. Ignoring Zhao Jiu as he ate, the man bent down and reached for the dog’s neck.

His hand had only made it halfway when Zhao Jiu raised a foot and stopped him cold. With a light kick, he sent the man staggering back two steps before he fell to the floor.

“Get lost!”

“You bastard! You dare knock Third Master down? Are you tired of living?”

The skinny man hurriedly helped Third Master up, then roared, “You bastard, you really must never have met anyone vicious before!”

Once he was back on his feet, Third Master clutched his backside, drew his saber, and brought it down on Zhao Jiu’s table.

“You bastard, are your fucking eyes blind? Listen carefully! My uncle is the sworn brother of the second son of the younger paternal cousin of the father-in-law of the son-in-law of the younger paternal cousin of the sworn brother of the second paternal uncle of the elder brother of the fourth concubine of the Third Chief of the Canal Gang! If you know what’s good for you, leave some silver behind and don’t ruin my pleasure!”

By the time he finished, Zhao Jiu was dumbfounded.

That relationship was not even as close as being neighbors, yet the man had used it to put on airs. Sure enough, when someone was out making his way in the world, his status was whatever he bestowed upon himself.

“Heh. Silver, is it? Fine.”

Zhao Jiu was so furious he nearly laughed. He had seen people raise tiger skins as banners, but he had never seen anyone turn pigskin into an imperial robe.

He reached into his robes, took out ten taels of silver, and tossed them onto the table. Then he provocatively arched an eyebrow at Third Master.

Third Master did not understand the provocation. The sight of the silver made his eyes shine. His murderous expression instantly vanished, replaced by a beaming smile.

“This brother knows how the world works. If anything happens in the future, just invoke Third Master’s name!”

He reached for the silver, but Zhao Jiu stopped him with one hand and said lightly, “The silver can wait. I dropped something. I’ll have to trouble Third Master to pick it up for me.”

As he spoke, he pointed to a token on the floor.

Third Master thought nothing of it. He bent down and picked up the waist token, but the moment he looked at it, cold sweat broke out across his entire body.

Carved on the front of the modestly sized token were the words: Northern Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Carved on the back were the words: Pacification Commissioner Zhao Muzhi.

“Take a good look. What is this? Make sure you see it clearly!” Zhao Jiu said with a smile.

Third Master held the waist token in both hands and tremblingly presented it to Zhao Jiu.

“M… my lord, this lowly one… this lowly one failed to recognize Mount Tai. I truly…”

Before he could finish, Zhao Jiu lashed out with a backhand.

SLAP!

Several yellow teeth flew from the man’s mouth.

“Scum!”