Volume One: The Menial of Changshui County Chapter 126: A Visit to Apologize

Seeing Mother Zhao, Lu Jiuzhang felt a twinge of disgust.

"No need," Lu Jiuzhang said, his face cold. "I have no interest in your cooking."

Her food tasted mediocre at best; he would rather dine at an outside tavern or inn. If things were truly dire, he could go to the Yi Hong Pavilion or the Bliss House, where he could enjoy a meal while listening to music—wouldn't that be far more delightful?

"And don't come bothering me again," Lu Jiuzhang added.

"Nephew Lu! Don't be like that!" Mother Zhao said hastily. "I realize my previous behavior was indeed excessive. Here is two taels of silver; please accept it as compensation."

"If you are still dissatisfied, tell me! Whatever grievances you have, voice them, and I will strive to change!"

Hardening her heart, Mother Zhao pulled two taels of silver from her robe and held them out to him.

"Not needed," Lu Jiuzhang waved her off. "I am not lacking for two taels of silver. And do not call me nephew; our families have no blood relation—we are merely neighbors."

Lu Jiuzhang’s tone was icy. Before him, Mother Zhao was like a weathercock. When he had influence, she was sycophantic; when he lost it, she distanced herself immediately. At times, even when he stood up for her family, she had repaid him with insults and slander.

"Lu Jiuzhang!"

From a distance, the voice of Bai Xiaosu rang out. She was carrying several large bags, having bought quite a lot. One never realizes how expensive the daily necessities of life are until one has to earn the money for them. He estimated that more than half of the tael of silver he gave her had been spent; there were at least a dozen or two roasted chickens alone, plus other food—altogether, it must have cost several hundred wen.

Lu Jiuzhang’s current salary was equal to that of a deputy department head: one hundred taels of silver per month. Averaging that out to three taels a day, he thought, good heavens, he had just worked for several hours for nothing. Fortunately, he had saved up a good amount of silver previously; otherwise, at the rate they were eating, they might actually eat him into poverty.

"Mother Zhao, please return home," Lu Jiuzhang said. "I expect nothing else; just treat Chan'er better in the future, that is all."

"This..."

Mother Zhao wanted to say more, but Lu Jiuzhang had already turned and walked toward Bai Xiaosu.

"Seductress!"

Mother Zhao stomped her foot, spat a curse at Bai Xiaosu, and retreated into her home.

"Bang!"

As she shut the door, Mother Zhao slammed it with great force, creating a thunderous noise.

"Mother, is Brother Lu still unwilling to come over?" Zhao Chan'er asked, looking at the table full of food.

"Come over? Why would he? That ungrateful wretch! I treated him so well, feeding him and giving him drink when he was young, yet he treats me like this—it makes me want to die of rage!" Mother Zhao fumed.

"Mother, perhaps Brother Lu is just angry for the time being; it will pass in a while," Zhao Chan'er tried to persuade her.

"Angry? Angry about what?" Mother Zhao glared at her. "It’s all because of you, you useless girl. Look at that seductress—she moved straight into Lu Jiuzhang’s house and bewitched him with a few words."

"And you? All you do is eat! What use are you to me?"

"Such a good opportunity, and you let it slip! Can’t you be more ambitious and save me some worry? I’ve heard that Lu Jiuzhang is now a Demon Slayer, with a monthly salary of fifty taels of silver!"

"Some say the department head intends to promote him, granting him the pay of a deputy department head—one hundred taels a month! Even if it’s only fifty, that’s still a significant sum!"

"Your father works hard for a whole year just to earn six taels to keep our family fed."

"If you were married to Lu Jiuzhang, our family wouldn't necessarily be wealthy, but we would at least live much better than we do now!" Mother Zhao raged.

"But Mother, one moment you tell me to associate with Brother Lu, and the next you forbid it. I don't know what to do!" Zhao Chan'er said, feeling wronged.

"Are you trying to kill me? You dare talk back? Do you want a beating?" Mother Zhao cursed. "If it weren't for you being such a useless girl, would I be in this position?"

After a barrage of insults, Zhao Chan'er could not help but weep. She sobbed softly; her mother wasn't as kind as she used to be. Though she had always been fierce, her temper was never as volatile as it was now, changing several times a day.

"What are you crying for? You still have the nerve to cry? Eat the food quickly and don't waste it! If you keep crying, go to your room; I’ll starve you for a meal and see if you can still cry then!" Mother Zhao shouted viciously.

Her voice was so loud that Lu Jiuzhang heard it clearly from outside.

"Young Master Nine, that girl Chan'er is truly suffering. Shall we take her away?" the big black dog asked, looking toward the Zhao residence with pity.

She was such a good girl, constantly being scolded; even the dog couldn't bear it.

"There is nothing urgent at the moment, but we can give her mother a lesson," Lu Jiuzhang said slowly. "I shall begin handling this tomorrow."

"How will you handle it?" the dog asked. "Don't go easy on her, Young Master Nine. Beat her just as you used to beat me—don't be soft-hearted!"

"You have a thick hide, so a few punches only cause a bit of pain. If I were to punch her, I might just kill her," Lu Jiuzhang shook his head, rejecting the dog's suggestion.

Mother Zhao might be a terrible person, but her crimes were not worth a life. Besides, she was Zhao Chan'er's mother; if she were truly dead, how much would poor Chan'er weep?

"Let's just give her a taste of suffering; that will be enough," Lu Jiuzhang said.

The three returned to their own residence. Smelling the fragrance of the medicinal herb porridge, the big black dog drooled. After finishing the roasted chicken they had bought and drinking the porridge, their bellies were round and full. They simply lay in the courtyard, watching the moon and enjoying the cool air.

It was already mid-May, and the temperature was climbing steadily. Even at night, it was no longer as cold as it had been before. Bai Xiaosu lay on a lounge chair, finding the moonlight soft and gentle, as if silver frost had been scattered across the earth.

"In the ruins, one can never see such a scene," Bai Xiaosu remarked with emotion.

"The world is vast; this is but a corner of it. I have heard that the Great Zhou Dynasty has countless magnificent places and peerless scenery," Lu Jiuzhang said. "If there is an opportunity in the future, we can travel across the Great Zhou, perhaps even to the Western Deserts or Southern Yue."

"Those lands have their own unique wonders."

"Changshui County is located to the north and covers a vast territory. Even here, the local customs differ greatly from the southern end of the Great Zhou. It is said that the people there eat savory zongzi."

"What is a zongzi?" Bai Xiaosu asked.

"Er..." Lu Jiuzhang paused. How was he supposed to explain that?

"It's a type of food," Lu Jiuzhang said.

"Is it better than roasted chicken?"

"Each has its own merits."

"Then we must taste it when we have time!" Bai Xiaosu nodded.

Without realizing it, Bai Xiaosu had become a foodie! She had developed a unique pursuit for food. At this stage, she was still in the first phase of being a gourmand—as long as it didn't taste bad, she would devour it with gusto, happier than anyone else.