Volume One: Menial Servant of Changshui County Chapter Sixty-Two: A Letter of Divorce

“Wang Yunshan, are you running wild again?”
“Tired of living, are you?”
“Last night, kneeling in the house, what promises did you make to me?”
“...”
A relentless barrage of angry shouts echoed from afar.
The so-called Lion's Roar from Hedong could hardly surpass this.
Lu Jiuzhang, with the detached air of a spectator, glanced at Wang Yunshan beside him.
When he heard those shouts, Wang Yunshan was already panicking, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.
“Lord Lu, save me!”
Wang Yunshan, sniffling and sobbing, pleaded for help.
“Brother Wang, this is your family affair, I...”
Lu Jiuzhang intended to refuse.
Such domestic matters were the hardest to get involved in; often, the problem remained unsolved, and one ended up mired in trouble—not worth the risk.
“Brother Lu, Lord Lu, if you don’t lend a hand, you might be attending my funeral tomorrow!” Wang Yunshan wailed pitifully, “By then, my wife and my hungry children will be left for you to care for!”
What? Left for him to care for?
That wouldn’t do!
Lu Jiuzhang was about to speak, but Wang Yunshan pressed on.
“My old brother Lu Huaigu, I never thought I’d be joining you so soon.”
“I wonder if you found a wife down there, have a place to rest—then your little brother here could join you! Huaigu, I’m so miserable!”
“At least you died serving the public. Me, I’ll be killed by my own wife!”
“...”
Moments later, Sister-in-law arrived, storming up to them.
“Wang Yunshan, come home with me.”
Sister-in-law ordered sternly.
“I won’t! If you want, you come here!” Wang Yunshan cowered behind Lu Jiuzhang.
“Heh, then I’ll come over. Don’t regret it later!”
Sister-in-law charged straight ahead.
“Sister-in-law, please mind your behavior—this is in front of the Demon Slaying Bureau!” Lu Jiuzhang tried to reason.
“Mind my behavior? Why didn’t Wang Yunshan mind his behavior when he went to the Red Fragrance Courtyard last night? Now you want me to mind mine?”
“Lu Jiuzhang, don’t meddle in things that aren’t your business. You’re no saint yourself, don’t pretend otherwise. Don’t think I don’t know—just a few days ago, Wang Yunshan went to the Red Fragrance Courtyard with you!”
Her words were harsh, dragging Lu Jiuzhang into the scolding.
“Ahem...” Lu Jiuzhang coughed twice, “Sister-in-law, your family matters are not mine to meddle in, but as a Demon Slaying Guard, and since Wang Yunshan falls under my jurisdiction, he is my direct subordinate.”
“My unit is short-handed as it is. If something happens to Brother Wang, I’ll be lacking men for assignments.”
Lu Jiuzhang explained.
“Demon Slaying Guard?”
At this, Sister-in-law sized up Lu Jiuzhang.
Indeed, his attire was different from Wang Yunshan’s.
Could he really be a Demon Slaying Guard now?
“Why would I lie?” Wang Yunshan chimed in, “I heard my brother Lu was promoted, so I came to congratulate him.”
“Think about it, Lu is my superior—I have to curry favor, don’t I?”
“What would you know, woman?”
Wang Yunshan seized the chance to regain some ground, hoping at least to get through today’s ordeal.
Seeing Lu Jiuzhang’s uniform, Sister-in-law was half-convinced.
But Wang Yunshan’s tone irked her.
“What would I know? Look at your brother Lu, already an officer at such a young age, and you’re still stuck among the menials,” she scolded, “You useless thing!”
Here we go again, quarreling.
“Silence!”
Suddenly, a shout rang out from within the gates.
A man in a silver-trimmed robe, with only one arm, strode forth.
It was Zhou Cheng.
He barked his command, and Sister-in-law fell silent.
His luxurious attire far surpassed Wang Yunshan’s, and Sister-in-law realized he must be an important figure within the Bureau.
“Lord Zhou!”
Lu Jiuzhang saluted.
Zhou Cheng, with his gap-toothed smile, returned the greeting.
Even Lu Jiuzhang called him ‘Lord,’ so Sister-in-law dared not cause more trouble.
“The Demon Slaying Bureau is a critical place—take your quarrels home!”
Zhou Cheng issued a stern warning, glaring at Wang Yunshan’s wife.
Instantly, Sister-in-law cooled down.
“Wait till we get home, I’ll deal with you then!”
Leaving a fierce threat behind, she slunk away.
“Thank... thank you, Lord Zhou.”
Wang Yunshan said gratefully.
“Settle your domestic matters quickly, don’t let them affect the Bureau’s operations.”
With that, Zhou Cheng departed.
At the Bureau gates, only Lu Jiuzhang and Wang Yunshan remained.
“Brother Wang, you see now—I can only help so much. Sister-in-law is too fierce; perhaps you’d better go home soon?”
Lu Jiuzhang advised.
“I won’t. At home I’ll get beaten, not going home I’ll get beaten—why take the beating early?”
Wang Yunshan retorted.
That actually made sense.
“Come, let’s... let’s go to the brothel.”
Wang Yunshan dragged Lu Jiuzhang to the pleasure district.

This time, they didn’t go to the Red Fragrance Courtyard, perhaps because last night’s debacle had left Wang Yunshan embarrassed.
If he went there again, the girls would surely mock him.
Instead, they found another place to listen to music, and Wang Yunshan’s mood visibly improved.
Alcohol dulled the senses; with the wine loosening his tongue, Wang Yunshan said, “Brother Lu, I’m thinking of writing a divorce letter and ending things with your sister-in-law.”
It’s better to break ten temples than destroy one marriage.
Lu Jiuzhang’s usual stance was to reconcile.
But in Wang Yunshan’s case, Lu Jiuzhang felt uncertain.
“Brother Wang, I wish for you and Sister-in-law to live well together, but if you truly want to write that letter, it’s your family matter—I won’t interfere.”
Lu Jiuzhang replied.
“Life... is so damn hard...”
...
Drink after drink, and by the time they were finished, it was already deep into the night.
He didn’t seek the company of a girl; Wang Yunshan, desolate, walked home.
Lu Jiuzhang wanted to escort him, but Wang Yunshan waved him off.
He said he wasn’t drunk and told Lu Jiuzhang not to worry.
Ah!
Lu Jiuzhang shook his head and headed home.
Tonight, tipsy!
Unlike usual, the alley ahead was unusually dark.
But tonight, lanterns glowed before his house.
It felt like New Year’s.
Lu Jiuzhang found it strange and walked on.
Near his door, he saw Aunt Zhao and her whole family tidying up his courtyard.
When Lu Jiuzhang returned, Aunt Zhao greeted him warmly, “Oh my, Lord Lu is back!”
Then she looked to her daughter, “Chan’er, hurry and help your Second Brother Lu inside to rest.”
At Aunt Zhao’s urging, Chan’er skipped over to Lu Jiuzhang’s side, “Second Brother Lu, you must be tired. Come sit and rest.”
“My mother has had the meal ready for ages, just waiting for you to come home and eat!”
This...
Lu Jiuzhang was bewildered!
Had he come to the wrong place?
Was this really his home?
He glanced at the side room and saw Guard Mo sitting there, sipping tea and admiring the moon.
With Guard Mo present, it should be his house!
But why was Aunt Zhao’s family in his courtyard?