Chapter 35: One Year Later
In the Great Jin Dynasty, autumn of the ninth year of Jinghe.
On this day, the autumn air was crisp and clear—a rare spell of fine weather.
Early in the morning, Lu Zhihao, who had just left the Yichun Courtyard, sat drunkenly in his carriage.
Still in a haze, he felt a bit stifled and opened the carriage window to get some air.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped in front of a paifang gate.
Feeling irritable, Lu Zhihao asked, “Why aren’t we moving?”
The driver replied, “Young Master, we can’t get through ahead.”
“What’s going on?”
He stuck his head out and saw a crowd gathered at the entrance of a nearby alley. The gate was adorned with festive decorations, suggesting a celebration of some sort.
Faintly visible on the plaque were the words “Chen Residence.”
He asked, “Who’s holding a celebration here?”
A young servant beside him eagerly volunteered, “I’ll go ask.”
Then he got off the carriage.
After a while, the servant returned, his expression a little odd, and said, “Young Master, do you still remember that Chen Ming?”
Chen Ming?
At the mention of that name, a flash of deep resentment passed through Lu Zhihao’s eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, “Of course I remember. If not for him, how would I have been kicked out of Jinyuan Prosperity Trading? I was even locked up by the old man for six months.”
Last year, he had been the top steward at Jinyuan Prosperity Trading.
Thanks to his brother-in-law’s connections, he had secured a lucrative post, living a life of smug success.
Then, out of nowhere, that brash kid appeared and went straight to the Old Master to report him, accusing him of embezzlement and lining his own pockets!
Just thinking of it made Lu Zhihao’s teeth itch with hatred.
Was he the only one who took a cut?
At Jinyuan Prosperity Trading, all stewards did it. It was an unspoken rule beneath the table. Was the Old Master unaware? He simply chose to turn a blind eye.
Unfortunately, he ran into that stubborn fool who didn’t know how to play the game.
Once those unspoken rules were dragged into the open, the Old Master naturally wouldn’t let it slide and used the chance to make an example of someone.
He became that sacrificial chicken.
Not only was he dismissed, but he was also put under house arrest for six months. Afterward, no matter how he pleaded with his brother-in-law, he was never reinstated at Jinyuan Prosperity Trading.
He had planned to severely punish that blockhead and then get rid of him altogether, to vent his anger.
Unexpectedly, the old shopkeeper spoke in that brat’s favor, and even his brother-in-law didn’t want to make a fuss and lose face, so the matter was dropped.
Soon after, word spread that the brat had become a Ninth Grade Martial Artist and had even gotten close to the Huo Residence.
Then his sister tried to deal with that brat’s elder brother but failed, and instead was scolded by her husband and forbidden from making any further moves.
The more Lu Zhihao thought about it, the more frustrated he became. In a fit of anger, he kicked the servant, “Bringing him up first thing in the morning? What bad luck.”
Rubbing the spot where he’d been kicked, the servant said with a bitter smile, “I didn’t mean to bring him up. The road’s blocked because it’s their housewarming celebration.”
“What did you say?”
Lu Zhihao froze, a nameless fire welling up in his chest.
This was Xiushui Street—property here wasn’t cheap.
A year ago, the Chen family had already fallen on hard times. To bail Chen Ming out of prison, they had exhausted all their family assets.
And now, just a year later, they’d turned it around?
Seeing an enemy prosper—it was more painful than being killed.
At that moment, voices came from outside:
“Whose family is this? So many guests have shown up.”
“I heard it’s the Chen brothers. They run a pharmacy—Spring Harmony Hall over on Perfume Street…”
“Spring Harmony Hall? Oh, I know that place. Their cold medicine works pretty well. So it’s their family, huh?”
“I heard a year ago, Spring Harmony Hall was about to go under. Then the second son of the Chen family suddenly got enlightened and became a Ranked Martial Artist. The family made a comeback, and within just a year, they managed to buy such a grand residence…”
“So it’s that second son of the Chen family. I heard he’s a disciple of Master Huo, not yet twenty, handsome and refined, and still unmarried…”
“……”
Listening to the neighborhood ladies and young wives praise Chen Ming at the roadside, Lu Zhihao felt even more suffocated. He could no longer bear it and ordered, “Driver, take a detour.”
The coachman said helplessly, “Young Master, the back is completely blocked. We won’t be able to move for a while.”
Lu Zhihao turned his head and indeed saw several carriages behind them, tightly packed, making it impossible to turn around.
He was nearly driven mad with frustration and could only close the carriage window angrily.
Outside, voices of discussion kept drifting in.
“…Sigh, becoming a martial artist really is something. If my boy could achieve something like that, I’d give up ten years of my life willingly.”
“I heard the second son of the Chen family has taken in a lot of young children, giving them martial arts enlightenment. His tuition fees are much lower than a martial arts school’s. Maybe you should let your second son give it a try.”
“Really?”
“Of course! Look at those boys in blue uniforms—those are his disciples. Don’t they look spirited?”
Hearing this, Lu Zhihao was suddenly struck with a thought.
He opened the carriage window again and looked toward the Chen Residence.
Sure enough, he saw a group of children, all about ten years old, dressed in uniform, standing in two neat rows, offering congratulations for the Chen family’s housewarming celebration.
The children wore solemn expressions and moved in perfect unison, naturally forming an imposing presence that left the onlookers awestruck.
Lu Zhihao felt his heart skip a beat.
That brat had actually trained a group of children to such a degree.
You could believe it was a military formation!
At the same time, a smile crept onto his face, and he couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
Seeing his mood suddenly improve, the young servant quickly asked, “Young Master, why are you laughing?”
“I’m laughing at that brat’s ignorance of the rules—he’s courting his own death.”
Lu Zhihao laughed heartily, gloating, “In Qingfeng City, you can’t just take in that many disciples as you please.”
The servant was confused. “There’s someone who manages disciples?”
Lu Zhihao was in a great mood and patiently explained, “If you take in three or five disciples, no one cares. But if you suddenly take in twenty or thirty, someone’s going to step in. Just wait—there’s going to be a good show soon.”
The servant reminded him, “Young Master, don’t forget. The Young Master-in-law told you not to mess with that Chen Er.”
“This time, he’s the one digging his own grave. What’s that got to do with me?”
…
……
Inside the Chen Residence.
While it was lively outside, Chen Ming was in the backyard entertaining distinguished guests—none other than Deng Ziyang, Guan Peng, and Zhuang Xiaotian.
Ten months had passed.
Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian had successfully passed the martial exam and joined the Six Doors as officers, assigned to small counties.
Their terms had just ended, and they had returned to report in.
It so happened to coincide with his housewarming, so they came to offer their congratulations.
As for Guan Peng, he was less fortunate—he failed the political screening and was eliminated.
Reportedly, his grandfather’s generation had been bandits and had even made it onto the Six Doors’ wanted list. Unfortunately, that was discovered during the investigation.
Now, the four of them were reunited again, and all were overjoyed.
Chen Ming could clearly see the changes in the three. Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian were naturally full of youthful spirit. They had completed their one-year probation early and were about to become full-fledged officers.
Once confirmed, they would officially hold the status of Ninth Grade Officials!
In contrast, Guan Peng had become tanned and spoke less.
Mainly because the other three were talking while he mostly listened, seldom expressing his own views.
Chen Ming felt a bit emotional—it was just as they said, everyone has their own destiny.
Deng Ziyang also noticed Guan Peng’s silence and asked, “Second Brother, what are your plans now?”
Guan Peng picked up a cup on the table and said, “I’ve already joined Wanlong Trading Company. I’ll be going out to sea soon.”
The three were all stunned.
“What, you’re going to sea?”
“Are you crazy?”
“That’s way too dangerous.”
Seeing their reactions, a faint smile appeared on Guan Peng’s face—one tinged with a mysterious emotion. “Though the seas are stormy, the profits are also great. Wanlong Trading promised that if I’m willing to go to sea, they’ll teach me the Wan family’s ‘Azure Wave Technique.’ If I don’t take a gamble, I’ll never be content.”
“No need to talk me out of it. My mind’s made up. I came this time to say goodbye. You are my brothers and dearest friends—just wish me smooth sailing.”
As he spoke, he raised his wine cup.
The three of them were left speechless, and each raised their own cups to drink with him.
For a moment, a sense of tragic grandeur filled the air among the four.
Seeing their expressions, Guan Peng said, “What’s with you all? Like I’m going off to die or something. Relax, I care about my own life more than you do—I’m not dying that easily.”