“Who do you think will take first place at this Poetry Meeting?”
Lin An Yuan suppressed his emotions and said lightly, “If no one interferes, Master Zhang’s victory is basically assured.”
Zhang Fuhu stared greedily at the handsome face, a smile squeezing its way onto his plump features. “It’s all thanks to you, Brother Lin. You truly are a thoroughbred horse. By the way, that woman I gave you last time is about to breathe her last, isn’t she? Shall I send you another one?”
A thoroughbred horse ought to be paired with a discerning judge of talent like him.
Lin An Yuan clasped his hands in a salute and distanced himself. “Master Zhang jests. My body is a bit too frail to handle it.”
“Hahaha.” Zhang Fuhu couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the dark circles under Lin An Yuan’s eyes. He spoke with a lewd expression, “Brother Lin, I have plenty of good medicine. I’ll have some brought to you later.”
“How could a pig like Zhang Gui produce a poem like this?”
In another private room, Magistrate Wu’s face was filled with suspicion as he looked at Zhang Gui’s poem.
He just couldn’t believe it. If Zhang Gui were truly that talented, he would have taken the imperial examinations long ago. What scholar didn’t want to pursue an official career?
A servant spoke up, “Your Honor, not long after Zhang Gui posted his poem, his men brought a man inside. I suspect this poem…”
“Go investigate that man.”
Just as Magistrate Wu finished speaking, he heard a commotion on the first floor.
“Aiyo, Young Master Liu, you’ve come as well! This humble one will prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for you right away.” The manager personally greeted him, his enthusiasm boundless.
This Qingfeng Lou belonged to the Liu family, and the one who had just arrived was the young master. How could he not be enthusiastic? It was just that most people didn’t know this.
“No need. A private room and a pot of tea will suffice,” Yantai said.
“Someone from the Liu family?”
Also on the second floor, Chu Xiujie saw Liu Wenshu and tugged uncomfortably at his long robe.
He had come to Min County to find someone, so naturally, he had thoroughly investigated the local powers.
That Zhang Gui was, at most, a slightly larger insect in this place.
“Boss, do you think it’s possible the Liu family is also looking for someone? Should I have someone keep an eye on them?” Chu Jiu asked in a low voice.
“No need. The Liu family is definitely looking for someone. By the way, how is that idiot Wang Dagang?”
Chu Xiujie put down his teacup. He had to find the token first.
The Emperor’s men had searched for three years without finding it. How could he possibly find it overnight, unless the person revealed themselves willingly?
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Shi arrived. “Boss, Wang Dagang snuck off yesterday. We estimate he went into the mountains. There’s been no news for a whole night.”
Chu Xiujie slammed a fist on the table.
“Idiot! Didn’t I just say yesterday that another power has arrived in Min County and we must act with caution? What’s he called, Dagang? I think he should just be called Big Hammer instead.”
Just as he was about to leave, the waiter came in with a smile. “Sir, you’ll have to pay for the broken table.”
Chu Xiujie was speechless.
…
…
The westernmost part of the town was dirty and chaotic. The people who lived here were essentially those with no money at all. If they had any better option, they wouldn’t live here.
In a small, low, and dilapidated courtyard lived an old couple.
“Old woman, time for your medicine.”
A stooped, white-haired old man entered the room, coughing as he carried a bowl of medicine. On the kang bed inside lay a scrawny old woman.
“I really don’t want to drink it anymore. Drinking medicine every day leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I want to eat meat congee today.”
The old woman’s hair was also white, and her breathing was heavy, but she spoke quite fluently.
“Cough… cough… You drink the medicine first, and I’ll go make the congee.”
The old man’s hands trembled slightly as he placed the medicine on the table, suppressing a cough.
The old woman turned her head away. “I’ll drink the medicine after I’ve had meat congee.”
“Cough, cough… You, at your age, you’re still throwing a childish tantrum at me. Fine, fine, I’ll go make you congee.”
The old man got up, holding back his coughs, and looked at his old wife on the bed. “Old woman, I’ve wronged you. I failed to give you a good life.”
“You’ve been saying that since you were young. A whole lifetime has passed, and we’re about to be buried. What’s the point of saying all this? Hurry up and go. I want to eat meat congee,” the old woman urged.
“You just lie down and rest. I’ll go out and buy some meat to cook you meat congee.”
The old man, with his stooped back, had just stepped out of the courtyard when he began to cough violently, as if he were about to cough up his internal organs.
“Coughing Old Man, heading out? Is your wife feeling better? The family I introduced you to has saved up a lot of clothes that need mending. They haven’t given them to anyone else, saying your wife’s skills are the best.”
A woman from the opposite door came out to throw out water and happened to see the Coughing Old Man.
They didn’t know the old man’s surname. He just coughed often, and over time, everyone started calling him Coughing Old Man. They thought his surname might be Ke.
“Not yet. It’ll be a while longer, cough, cough…”
“You’re coughing so badly. You should hurry and get some medicine for yourself,” the woman thought. She hoped it wasn’t a serious illness.
This old couple was pitiful, without even a single child.
The Coughing Old Man didn’t reply, but walked unsteadily towards the butcher’s stall.
He thought about the handful of rice he still had at home, and the ten wen he had to buy some meat. It should be enough to make a bowl of congee.
The Black Butcher was about to close his stall when a big customer arrived, a pretty young lady at that.
“You want all of this? Young lady, I have to give you a heads-up. In this hot weather, if you buy it and can’t finish it, it’ll be spoiled by the next day. Don’t come back then and say I sold you spoiled meat!”
Seeing that the young lady was pretty, well-dressed in clothes without any patches, and so generous with her purchase, the Black Butcher’s attitude was also enthusiastic.
Ye Wan nodded. “I’ll take it all, but you’ll have to wait a moment for me. My man is coming to get it. I can’t carry it.”
“Cough, cough… This meat… cough, how much is it?” the Coughing Old Man asked, panting as he pointed at a liang of meat.
“Twenty wen.”
“Is ten wen okay? Cough… It looks like less than a liang.” The Coughing Old Man had no extra money on him.
He had thought he could buy a liang, which would be enough to make congee back home.
“You old coot, haggling with me over such a small piece of meat. If you can’t afford it, don’t eat it. Scram!”
The Black Butcher was in a bad mood due to the hot weather, and seeing this sickly old man was bad for his business.
“Cough, cough… You… I’m not asking for it for free. Why must you speak so harshly?” the Coughing Old Man coughed severely.
“Get lost, get lost! What bad luck!”
Seeing the old man’s eyes glisten with tears, Ye Wan couldn’t bear it and spoke up, “Old sir, please wait.”
She took a piece of meat weighing three or four liang from her own purchase and gave it to him. “This is for you.”
“This… cough, cough, how can I accept this? I’ll pay you.” The Coughing Old Man quickly took out his ten wen.
“Everyone has their difficult times. Just take it. When you have money later, come eat rice noodles at the market entrance. I have a stall there.”
Ye Wan wasn’t an especially soft-hearted person. It was probably just because she was in a good mood from making money today.
“Thank you, young lady.”
The Coughing Old Man didn’t refuse again. He took out a lotus leaf from his sleeve and wrapped the meat in it.
“Young lady, when is your man coming? Where did he go? Do you want me to help you carry the meat to your home?”