Volume One: Menial Worker of Changshui County Chapter Seventy-Four: Put It on My Tab

The old madam’s words were truly unpleasant; Lu Jiuzhang could barely restrain himself from slapping her across the face to make her quiet down.

“You can send someone to fetch it from my residence. We’ll wait here,” Lu Jiuzhang couldn’t help but say.

At this, the old madam finally relented. “That’s more like it, sir. I’ll send someone right away, but I hope you’re not deceiving me. Otherwise, this House of Supreme Pleasure is not a place to be trifled with!”

“Wait!” Just as Lu Jiuzhang was about to give his address so that one of the servants could retrieve the money, a voice rang out from behind.

Lu Jiuzhang turned and saw Zhong Zhengming approaching, accompanied by two elegantly dressed officials, one of whom was Lord Wang, the county magistrate himself!

Now things were really getting lively.

Lu Jiuzhang felt a flush of embarrassment. It was truly mortifying to be unable to pay the bill and to run into familiar faces at such a time.

“Demon-Slaying Envoy Zhou, Demon-Slaying Guard Lu, you two are certainly in high spirits today,” Director Zhong remarked with a smile.

“Forgive us, Director Zhong,” Zhou Cheng said awkwardly, worried the director might think they were trying to get a free ride.

“Hahaha, no need for apologies. As I recall, Zhou Cheng, you've never been fond of such places. Seems you've been led astray by Lu Jiuzhang,” Zhong Zhengming laughed heartily. “Put their expenses on my tab!”

“Oh my, my eyes must be failing me! So these two really are from the Demon-Slaying Directorate!” The old madam was no fool. At the sight of Zhong Zhengming, she realized her earlier error.

To run a business is to welcome wealth from all sides.

Since these two were genuine officials, no doubt they’d frequent the House of Supreme Pleasure in the future.

Her earlier words had thoroughly offended these honored guests.

“Please don’t take offense, sirs. This old woman has a blunt tongue and often speaks out of turn. How could I let Director Zhong pay? I was in the wrong just now—today’s expenses are on the house, as my apology,” she said hastily.

“Director Zhong, esteemed sirs, please enjoy yourselves. If you need anything, just call for me—I will see to your every need,” she said with an ingratiating smile.

Now that she’d gone this far, it was only right to establish good relations.

“Hahaha, since you’re not charging us, why not linger a while longer? Demon-Slaying Guard Lu, what do you say?” Zhong Zhengming turned to him.

Standing beside him was Lord Wang, the county magistrate, who was now glaring at Lu Jiuzhang with outright hostility, making no effort to conceal his animosity. Were they alone, he might already be summoning men to deal with Lu Jiuzhang.

“Since you insist, I’ll gladly oblige,” Lu Jiuzhang replied with a nod.

“Prepare another private room for us, and bring several jugs of your finest wine,” Zhong Zhengming instructed the old madam.

“Of course, sirs. Please, this way!” The old madam was overjoyed and bustled about, her manner exceedingly attentive.

…

Originally, Lu Jiuzhang and Zhou Cheng had planned to leave, but now they found themselves back inside the House of Supreme Pleasure.

In the private room, several young ladies sat beside them, pouring wine and attending to their needs.

“Previously, my subordinate here had a bit of a misunderstanding with Lord Wang. I’d intended to speak privately with him, but now that we’ve all met here, why not settle things among friends and let bygones be bygones?” Zhong Zhengming said, glancing at Lu Jiuzhang. “Demon-Slaying Guard Lu is one of the promising young talents of our Directorate. I hold high hopes for him.”

“And Lord Wang is the pillar of our county, a father figure to the people of Changshui.”

“It would pain me to see discord between you two.”

“Demon-Slaying Guard Lu, raise your cup and toast Lord Wang. Let this matter end here,” Zhong said, deftly mediating between them.

Lu Jiuzhang had little to lose in this. After all, he’d already given Lord Wang’s nephew—a notorious local bully—a thorough beating. Later, at the county office, he’d stood his ground, repelling Lord Wang’s pressure with his scholarly talent.

“Lord Wang!” Lu Jiuzhang stood, raised his cup, and said, “I was reckless before, and I hope you can be magnanimous and not hold it against me.”

“Hmph…” Lord Wang scowled, grunted coldly, and looked as though he wished the matter were not so easily dismissed.

“Please, Lord Wang, do me this small favor,” Zhong Zhengming urged.

“If there’s a next time, not even Director Zhong will be able to save you,” Lord Wang said, downing his cup in one gulp.

And with that, the matter was closed.

“Harmony is a blessing, is it not?” Zhong Zhengming said with a smile. “Let us all raise our cups and drink together!”

The director’s face could not be disregarded, so everyone raised their cups and drank.

…

From then on, the rest had nothing to do with Lu Jiuzhang and Zhou Cheng.

Halfway through the gathering, they made their excuses and departed.

Clearly, Lord Wang and Director Zhong had further matters to discuss, and it would be inappropriate for the two to remain.

On the way home, Zhou Cheng was puzzled.

“Brother Lu, I never took you for the sort to bow to authority,” Zhou remarked. In his estimation, Lu Jiuzhang would have flipped the table in such a situation.

“Brother Zhou, do you think I can kill Lord Wang?” Lu Jiuzhang asked.

“Hush…be careful what you say!” Zhou Cheng grew tense at his words, glancing around before continuing, “Brother Lu, such things must not be spoken lightly. Lord Wang is a county magistrate, an imperial official!”

“To kill Lord Wang would be to rebel against the court!”

Zhou Cheng thought Lu Jiuzhang’s courage was truly excessive.

Refusing to bow to Lord Wang was understandable—after all, young men should have some backbone. But talk of killing a magistrate went beyond boldness.

“Lord Zhou, killing Lord Wang has nothing to do with opposing the Great Zhou Dynasty,” Lu Jiuzhang replied. “So many great figures have fallen in the endless factional struggles.”

“Their stations were far higher than Lord Wang’s!”

“If one uses the right methods, it’s not hard to kill him!”

“Then why did you bow to him just now?” Zhou Cheng asked.

“Because I can’t kill him yet. But that doesn’t mean I won’t in the future,” Lu Jiuzhang said. “I’ll remember this grudge, and soon enough, I’ll have my revenge!”

“Revenge? Didn’t you just reconcile?” Zhou Cheng, pure of heart, was more confused than ever.

“Reconciliation now doesn’t preclude falling out later. Any excuse will do. In fact, with enough strength, you need no excuse at all,” Lu Jiuzhang said.

“A gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even after ten years. Sooner or later, I will see Lord Wang dead.”

“Hush, brother Lu—take care! You said yourself you can’t do it yet, so best keep a low profile…”

…