Volume One: Menial Duties in Changshui County Chapter Sixty-Five: Husband and Wife Join the Battle

“Manager Chen, what do you think?”

Although Lu Jiuzhang didn’t know why Chen Xuanfeng had inexplicably sent him to seek out Manager Chen that day, he knew all too well that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. For someone unfamiliar to offer help, Manager Chen must either owe a favor or be under someone’s thumb. The initiative, therefore, was not in Manager Chen’s hands, but in Lu Jiuzhang’s.

“Lord Lu, you must be joking. Since this is Director Yuan’s intention, I will of course comply,” Manager Chen nodded.

“I’ve collected several medicinal herbs,” Lu Jiuzhang said slowly, “let’s say I sell them to you as a bundle—six hundred taels of silver. What do you think?”

Six hundred taels?

Why not just rob me?

The price was far too steep! Manager Chen couldn’t possibly afford it. Not only would he earn nothing from this deal, but he might even have to pay out of pocket.

“Manager Chen, there are some things you simply can’t refuse. It won’t do either of us any good to tear off the mask,” Lu Jiuzhang threatened.

“Lord Lu, a humble man like myself still has to make a living,” Manager Chen replied bitterly. “Five hundred and fifty taels, no more. What do you say?”

Manager Chen felt a pang of regret; this was taking money that should have been his.

“Agreed. I brought the herbs with me. Let’s settle this now.”

Lu Jiuzhang did not push further on this matter.

…

When Lu Jiuzhang left the House of a Thousand Mechanisms, he had five hundred and fifty taels of silver on him. Adding to the small amount he already carried, he had nearly six hundred taels in total. With this maneuver, Lin Yi had essentially snatched away Manager Chen’s profit. There would be more herbs in the future, more chances to fleece Manager Chen, and the profits would overflow.

Nearly six hundred taels of silver was a handsome sum in Changshui County. It was enough to buy a large residence, take a few concubines, hire some house servants, and live the life of a wealthy gentleman. Tsk, tsk, tsk… If not for the looming threat of mortal danger, such a life would be rather enviable.

Returning home, Lu Jiuzhang was in high spirits, humming a little tune as he lounged in his chair.

“Brother Lu!” Zhao Chan’er pushed open the courtyard gate and came in. “My mother calls you to join us for dinner.”

Here we go again!

Lu Jiuzhang instinctively wanted to refuse.

“Brother Lu, come on, join us. My mother says adding another pair of chopsticks is no trouble at all,” Zhao Chan’er pleaded coquettishly.

“A pair of chopsticks? Little girl, that’s not enough! I’m still here, you know,” Guard Mo said with a laugh from the side.

“Then let’s add two pairs of chopsticks,” Zhao Chan’er replied.

“Come along, Lord Lu, let’s go eat together,” Guard Mo urged as well.

Madam Zhao’s cooking was quite good—the aroma of her dishes wafted all the way to Lu Jiuzhang’s own courtyard. Lu Jiuzhang’s culinary skills were nowhere near as good. Since even Guard Mo had spoken up, Lu Jiuzhang had no choice but to agree.

…

Naturally, there was wine at the table.

Zhao Chan’er’s father was a quiet man, not skilled at lightening the mood; he simply raised his cup and glanced at Lu Jiuzhang. Lu Jiuzhang quickly picked up his own cup, clinked it, and downed the wine in one gulp.

By the end, Zhao Chan’er’s father had drunk too much. His eyes were red, and he placed a hand on Lu Jiuzhang’s shoulder, his tongue loosened by drink. “Brother Lu…”

“Wrong, wrong!” Madam Zhao quickly interjected. “Lord Lu is a whole generation younger than you!”

Too much wine and he’d skipped a generation.

“Nephew Lu, I watched you grow up. When you were a child, I always said you and your brother would be the pride of our alley. Chan’er is my daughter—you know what kind of person she is. If you two were together, I could rest easy. This girl can cook and do laundry; she’ll keep your household spotless. And your uncle and I live right across the way, so it’s convenient. If Chan’er wants to visit home, she’ll be back in no time. When there’s nothing to do, we two old fellows can have a few drinks together…”

…

Lu Jiuzhang, not at all drunk, shuddered at these words.

Why had the conversation turned to this topic again? Good heavens—it seemed endless.

“Heh, it does sound pretty good,” Guard Mo chimed in.

That wasn’t what he’d said yesterday, but for some reason, tonight he was happy to watch the fun.

“Brother Mo is right. You and Chan’er grew up together; it’s the perfect match,” said Zhao Chan’er’s father, emboldened by wine, his usual reserve forgotten.

“Lord Lu, this is a great thing! If you wed early, maybe I’ll live to see the wedding feast. Sooner is better than later—let’s set it for next month!” Guard Mo added, fanning the flames.

What nonsense! This was getting out of hand.

“Uncle Zhao, Chan’er is still young. Besides…” Lu Jiuzhang glanced at Zhao Chan’er, not wanting to be too blunt. “I may be transferred to Anxi Prefecture soon.”

Lu Jiuzhang made up a fib; if he went to Anxi Prefecture, they’d hardly see each other.

“That’s all the more reason to act quickly! Let Chan’er go with you to Anxi Prefecture,” Guard Mo said with a smile.

At this, Zhao Chan’er blushed furiously, almost wanting to crawl under the table.

Madam Zhao was quick-witted. If Lu Jiuzhang were transferred to a larger, more prosperous place, their daughter would enjoy a better life, and perhaps they themselves would rise along with her—marrying off her daughter to a well-to-do man. If they missed this chance, there might not be another.

“Why are you saying so much? Eat less, drink more,” Madam Zhao urged, pressing her husband and Lu Jiuzhang to clink cups again and again, hoping to get Lu Jiuzhang drunk and settle things tonight. Once the rice was cooked, even if Lu Jiuzhang regretted it, he’d have no choice. And if he dared back out, she’d make a scene at the office of the Demon Slayers and leave him no way out.

“Nephew Lu, we’ll be family—drink up!”

Zhao Chan’er’s father raised his cup once more.

Fortunately, Lu Jiuzhang had reached the ninth rank in martial arts, and his physical constitution was far beyond ordinary. This much wine couldn’t lay him low. Instead, Zhao Chan’er’s father drank himself under the table, and Madam Zhao, seeing this, tried to take matters into her own hands, but even the two of them together were no match for Lu Jiuzhang.

In the end, the house was a complete mess, and Madam Zhao and her husband were both dead drunk. Lu Jiuzhang helped them to bed, then turned to Zhao Chan’er.

“Chan’er, we’ll be going now. The house is yours to tidy up.”

“Brother Lu, you’ve had quite a bit to drink as well. Go home and get some rest,” Zhao Chan’er replied sweetly.

Lu Jiuzhang nodded, then left Madam Zhao’s house with Guard Mo.

It was already deep into the night, the moon bright and the stars few. Early summer was warm, and the night breeze sobered Lu Jiuzhang considerably.

“Guard Mo, you really did me in tonight,” Lu Jiuzhang said bitterly. “You know full well that nothing could ever happen between me and Chan’er, so why did you stoke the flames?”

“To tell you the truth, I actually think Chan’er is a good girl,” Guard Mo replied with a smile. “While you were at the Demon Slayers’ office these past days, she’s been tidying up your place for you—truly a virtuous girl.”