The two of them walked into Jieku's courtyard.
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Jieku was chanting scriptures.
At five years old, Jieku was much bigger than when Zhu Xiaosuo first met him, but he was still just a child.
Zhu Xiaosuo rubbed Jieku's little bald head as he asked, "Qigao, Sixiu is gone, but I still need someone to lead when I go out. Do you have any candidates?"
"I discussed this with Zhu Liude before. There are two candidates. One is Zhu Siyou, who was with Zhu Liude when they killed Zhu Liucai. He's now the Zhu Clan's instructor. The other is Zhu Sanmeng, an old hand under me who has been with you from the start. Recently, with Sixiu gone, I've entrusted him with many tasks, and he's been quite efficient."
Zhu Xiaosuo nodded after hearing this.
He had impressions of both candidates, and Zhu Liude and Zhu Qigao were indeed diligent in their work.
"Who do you two think is suitable?"
"In terms of seniority, Zhu Siyou is the most suitable. He's capable, was one of the earliest to join, and has never made a mistake. However... when you lost your power before, he seemed to have some inappropriate ideas and met with people from the Niu Clan, which is why Zhu Liude and I are a bit uneasy. Sanmeng, in comparison, is more straightforward, a bit like a naive Zhu Sixiu."
Zhu Xiaosuo thought for a moment and said, "I understand your concerns. But I still vividly remember Zhu Siyou being covered in blood after being cut by Zhu Liucai. He's been through life and death with us, so he deserves a chance. Let him be the chief steward. Zhu Sanmeng is still young and can be the deputy steward to gain some experience."
"Yes, Master, wise decision."
Mentioning Zhu Sixiu, who was killed on his wedding day, dampened the mood of both master and servant.
Zhu Qigao took his leave first.
Zhu Xiaosuo patted Jieku's little bald head and said, "It does feel a bit prickly. Sixiu shaved it much cleaner."
Jieku stopped chanting and looked up at Zhu Xiaosuo, "Master Zhu, I'm not a three or four-year-old kid anymore. You can't keep bullying me like this."
"Heh, the way you say it, one might think you're not five, but fifty."
"Five is quite old. When I was four, I thought five was so far away, that it would take forever to reach. I may only be five, but I've lived nearly two thousand days, which is impressive."
Zhu Xiaosuo couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, yes, very impressive! I remember when I was four, I also thought five was particularly distant, that I'd never grow up in this lifetime..."
The day came to meet the two daughters of the Ma Clan.
That morning, Zhu Qigao brought Zhu Xiaosuo some news.
"Master, this morning, when Zhu Sanmeng went out, someone slipped him a piece of torn cloth."
Zhu Xiaosuo took it and saw only six words on it: "Shen Ma vying for County Constable."
Zhu Qigao said, "This cloth is the unique yellow dun cloth from the Ma Family Cloth Shop, so it should be a message from the Ma Clan. This Shen Ma is quite bold, wanting to vie for County Constable. Master, your foresight is remarkable, having planted an informant in the Ma Clan! Otherwise, Shen Ma might have fooled us."
Zhu Xiaosuo thought for a moment and shook his head, "I don't have any acquaintances in the Ma Clan. The only Ma Clan person I know is Shen Ma."
"Then this message on the torn cloth is?"
"It must have been sent by Shen Ma. He didn't come himself but used this method to send a message, probably because he's being controlled by the Ma Clan."
"This... tonight is the meeting with the Ma Clan. Shen Ma sending this message now..."
"He probably just found out. As a member of the Ma Clan, he can't refuse their push for him to become County Constable. The reason he told me is to let me know it's not his intention. But he's good at timing. If he had sent this message after our meeting with the Ma Clan tonight, it wouldn't be worth much."
"Then the Ma Clan must pay a hefty price for this."
After the Black Snow Ridge spirit collapse incident, Zhu Xiaosuo was no longer worried about food and drink, with strong backing, and didn't care much about the Ma Clan's price.
Once the Immortal Sect's punishment for the Black Snow Ridge spirit vein was announced, and the whole story made public, he would be the sole ruler of Mountain Chicken County.
But with the Ma Clan's underhandedness, he had to teach them a lesson.
"Indeed. When I transferred Dogged Luck here, all three families tacitly agreed. Who would have thought the Ma Clan would quietly plot behind our backs? But it's understandable; the Ma Clan is known for shady dealings."
"Master, should we postpone tonight's banquet to prepare how to make the Ma Clan compensate for this?"
"No need, proceed as planned."
"Yes."
Zhu Xiaosuo felt a twinge of regret in his heart.
Shen Ma was truly a rare talent.
In both conduct and work, he far surpassed the vision of a typical arrest warrant officer.
From the beginning to now, the impression he left on Zhu Xiaosuo was summed up in one word: outstanding.
Even delivering a message, he did it so aptly.
Whether Shen Ma just learned of this news or knew it earlier and deliberately held it until this morning to gain favor, Zhu Xiaosuo owed him a debt of gratitude.
Shen Ma's talent was indeed remarkable.
He finally understood the mindset of those rulers in history who would go to great lengths to welcome talented individuals.
As long as the Ma Clan stood, Shen Ma couldn't be used by him.
With his strength, he could start planning to annex the Ma Clan.
Night fell, and the Red Pavilion was reserved.
Around the banquet, a group of young women played music, the melodious sounds filling the air.
"Master Zhu, such a grand occasion, meeting the two of us, and you specially chose the Red Pavilion."
"Master Ma, don't overthink it. The only banquet my Zhu Clan can present is at the Red Pavilion."
"Master Zhu, you're too modest. Though our Ma Clan doesn't have brothels and teahouses, we've heard of the Red Pavilion's great reputation."
Zhu Xiaosuo smiled slightly, "Master Ma, you're too modest. While the Ma Clan doesn't have brothels and teahouses, you do have quite a few businesses related to them."
Ma Baoying wasn't ashamed, instead giving a charming smile, "Master Zhu, you haven't even looked at us properly since we arrived, instead focusing on these ordinary women. I really don't see the appeal."
"What, Master Ma, are you trying to persuade me tonight?"
"If I could persuade Master Zhu, even if it means me and Xin'er together, it wouldn't be out of the question."
"Not impossible. But I have yet to experience such matters between men and women, so my body is quite precious. If Master Ma wants to persuade me, I'm afraid you'll have to compensate with more spirit stones. If Ma Weixin joins in, it might require even more."
Ma Weixin was so angry she wanted to slam the table, but Ma Baoying stopped her with a look.
They were here tonight to plead.
Because of the heart oath made that day, the Yellow Dog County business was entirely handed over to the Zhu Clan.
The next day, Zhu Xiaosuo sent people to seal the Ma Family Cloth Shop, only letting Ma Clan members out and detaining all the cloth.
The two Ma daughters came to the Red Pavilion tonight to reclaim the cloth business in Yellow Dog County within reasonable losses.
"Alright, since Master Zhu has no intention, we won't insist. We want to redeem the Ma Clan's cloth business in Yellow Dog County. Name your price, Master Zhu."
"Hold on. Before discussing this, there's another matter to address. If this matter isn't settled, I'm afraid the cloth business won't be returned to the Ma Clan."