Chapter 91: Kowtowing Together (Bonus Chapter for Big Boss Penguin)

"Master Zhao!"

"Master Zhao, wait a moment!"

The household slave came running after him, panting heavily. "Master Zhao, my master says... huff... he says he'll give you the entire Boulder River Flats. Just add five hundred taels of silver, and he'll level the whole stretch of flats for you!"

Zhao Han slowly turned around, staring at the household slave with a peculiar expression. "Does your Master Huang take me for a fool?"

"Huh?" The household slave had no idea how to respond.

Zhao Han pointed toward the river. "Those barren flats stretch two or three li long, broken up in the middle with several patches of farmland in between. What would I do with all of it leveled?"

Indeed, what the hell would he do with all of it leveled?

He couldn't exactly have Master Zhao's warehouses scattered one here, one there, strung out over two or three li, having to detour around farmland every time he built or used them.

The household slave was speechless, thinking his own master had lost his wits.

The household slave asked cautiously, "Then... then shall this lowly one go back and report to the master that Master Zhao doesn't want so much?"

Zhao Han suddenly put on a kindly expression and said, "We've known each other for days now, and I still don't know your name."

Master Zhao is asking my name?

Has Master Zhao taken notice of me?

The household slave suppressed his inner delight, bowed, and said, "Replying to Master Zhao, this lowly one's surname is Huang, and my worthless name is Sanshui."

"Huang Sanshui, is it." Zhao Han patted the man on the shoulder.

With that casual pat, Huang Sanshui felt his whole body lighten by two ounces, his heart suffused with the honor of being favored by a great man. He bent his waist even lower and said excitedly, "Master Zhao need only give your orders."

Zhao Han smiled. "Go back and tell your master that although this young master is a spendthrift, I'm no fool. I know perfectly well what scheme he's hatching — he just wants to squeeze out more silver. Tell him I can add the five hundred taels, but he must agree to a few conditions of mine."

"Master Zhao, please speak," Huang Sanshui said hastily.

Zhao Han flicked his folding fan open with a snap, fanning himself as he said, "First, sell me those patches of farmland stuck in between as well. Second, the Boulder River Flats are too narrow — widen them some more. That will inevitably encroach on farmland; the money for buying that land will be calculated separately, and I guarantee your master won't lose out. If you get this done, there'll be something in it for you!"

Something in it for me?

Huang Sanshui was instantly bursting with drive and swore an oath: "Master Zhao, rest assured, I'll definitely get it done!"

The fellow ran back excitedly to report, but the serving girl Xiaohong wore a face full of worry.

Zhao Han asked as he walked, "What's wrong with you?"

Xiaohong suddenly dropped to her knees and said, her voice tinged with tears, "I beg you, Master, don't take up so much land. Leave us a way to survive."

"Does your family have land there?" Zhao Han asked.

Xiaohong was clearly sharper than Xiaocui and spoke more fluently. "Master, the several patches of land in the middle of Boulder Flats all belong to Master Huang. In summer the river rises easily and floods them, so they can't be made into paddy fields — they can only grow vegetables and coarse grains. Two of those plots are... are tenanted by my parents and my brother and sister-in-law. I beg you, Master, leave us a way to survive!"

"Master Huang gave me your indenture contract, so you are now my servant," Zhao Han said with a smile. "Get up. I won't mistreat my own people."

"Thank you, Master Zhao, thank you, Master Zhao!" Xiaohong kowtowed rapidly, afraid Zhao Han might change his mind.

Back at the inn, he led Xiaohong into the room.

Xiaocui was practicing writing characters, using a brush dipped in clear water to write the numbers one, two, three, and so on across a wooden board.

Hearing movement, Xiaocui turned her head happily. "Young master, you're back... Oh, Xiaohong!"

"Xiaocui." Xiaohong's smile was somewhat forced.

Xiaocui went over, took Xiaohong's hand, and said, "Don't be afraid. The young master treats us servants very well. He's even been teaching me to read these past two days. Come look — I can already write up to ten."

Xiaohong followed her blankly and watched Xiaocui pick up the brush to write.

Xiaocui's face wore a constant smile as she wrote and spoke. "All those things he says outside, the young master is just putting on an act. He's the best master in the whole world."

Xiaohong didn't believe a word of it. Zhao Han had frightened her badly.

Zhao Han took out both of their indenture contracts and handed them over. "Your contracts — tear them up yourselves."

Xiaocui, who had been perfectly happy a moment ago, suddenly looked terrified. She dropped to her knees with a thud and said, "Please don't cast me aside, young master. This servant... I... I will surely work hard from now on."

Xiaohong also hurriedly knelt, thinking Zhao Han was testing them.

"Ah!"

With a sigh, Zhao Han took the contracts back and tore them to shreds on the spot.

Xiaohong was beside herself with joy, barely restraining herself from laughing out loud.

Xiaocui, however, was utterly despondent and collapsed sitting on the ground. She thought Zhao Han had abandoned her, that from now on she could only go home, farm the land, and eventually marry some peasant.

"Get up, both of you," Zhao Han personally helped them to their feet. "Here with me, everyone is equal. There are no masters, no household slaves. If you want to go home, then go home on your own. If you want to stay, then keep following me — I guarantee you won't be wronged."

Xiaohong, who had just been delighted, now looked utterly confused. She couldn't figure out what Zhao Han was really up to.

He could beat his servants to death if he wanted — why put on this hypocritical act?

Xiaocui, however, kowtowed repeatedly. "I'll follow you, young master. I'll work like an ox or a horse for you, anything."

As she spoke, she tugged at Xiaohong's sleeve and urged, "Kneel down, quick! The young master never hits anyone, and you can eat your fill at every meal."

Never hits anyone?

Can eat your fill at every meal?

A sudden flash of inspiration struck Xiaohong, and she kowtowed as well. "This servant is also willing to work like an ox or a horse for you, young master."

Xiaocui knew the rules better and instructed her, "Here with the young master, you can't call yourself 'this servant.' You must say 'I.' Don't forget."

"I... I..." Xiaohong was dazed again, completely unable to grasp the situation.

Zhao Han helped them up again. "You mustn't say 'servant,' and you mustn't kneel at every little thing. Here among us, we are all brothers and sisters. Tieniu!"

Zhang Tieniu had been watching the commotion and was startled to suddenly be called out by Zhao Han. He said hastily, "I practiced my writing today!"

"What did you do before?" Zhao Han asked.

Zhang Tieniu said, "I carried sacks at the docks."

Zhao Han pointed at Zhang Tieniu and said to the two women, "Did you hear that? He used to be just a porter, making a living carrying loads for people. Now he's my brother."

Zhang Tieniu grinned. "That's right, we're all brothers."

Zhao Han then pointed at Chen Maosheng. "He used to be an opera singer — a music household, the debased register. Now he's my brother too."

Chen Maosheng grinned, looking especially happy.

Zhao Han added, "Here with me, there is no high or low, noble or base — only brothers and sisters. From now on, you will be my Elder Sister Xiaohong and Elder Sister Xiaocui."

Xiaocui scraped at her fingernail, rather downcast, and said, "But I want to be the young master's maid. I've been here two days already, and the young master still won't let me serve him in bed. He must think my body is dirty."

Zhao Han could only sigh. This was serious brainwashing — her head was stuffed full of slavish thinking.

Then let's try something even more startling!

Zhao Han suddenly straightened up, clasped his hands, and made a full, formal bow — so deep he was nearly kneeling: "Your younger brother pays his respects to his two elder sisters!"

"Ah!"

"Young master, get up, quickly!"

"You mustn't — it'll shorten our lives!"

"..."

The two women hurried to lift him up, but they could not budge him at all. Terrified, they immediately dropped to their knees and kowtowed toward Zhao Han.

The three of them bowing to each other — it looked exactly like a group wedding ceremony.

Zhang Tieniu and Chen Maosheng exchanged a glance, shock written all over their faces.

Zhang Tieniu looked down on Chen Maosheng the actor, and Chen Maosheng looked down on Xiaocui the maid — in their hearts, they all had their own sense of rank.

Yet here was Zhao Han performing a grand ritual salute to two serving maids, shattering their entire worldview in an instant.

Suddenly, tears streamed down Chen Maosheng's face. He finally believed, completely and utterly, that Zhao Han truly made no distinction between the respectable and the lowly.

All people are born equal; there is no high or low, noble or base.

Zhao Han had these two phrases on his lips every day. Before, they had only half-believed, half-doubted — but now they were utterly convinced.

Chen Maosheng knelt down too, though not to kowtow to anyone. He pressed his palms together, tears flowing, and silently prayed in his heart: "Guanyin Bodhisattva above, you must bless the young master to become Emperor. He is a star lord descended from heaven, come to stand up for us wretched folk..."

Zhang Tieniu stared at the four people inside the room and muttered to himself, "Mad. They've all gone mad."

Zhang Tieniu picked up his axe and walked out the door, standing in the doorway lost in thought.

"What's going on?" Pang Chunlai emerged from the neighboring room.

Zhang Tieniu chuckled and said, "The four of them are inside playing at wedding bows."

"Playing at wedding bows?"

Pang Chunlai pushed one half of the door open. He could not see very clearly, only that three of them were bowing to each other, while the other seemed to be pressing palms together in worship of the Bodhisattva.

The art of kingship!

So desperate for talent that he would even go so far as to perform grand bows to country serving maids — this method of winning hearts was peerless.

Even as Pang Chunlai felt gratified, he also thought he must offer a word of caution: winning hearts still required choosing the right targets. For two serving maids, it was not worth it.

Xiaocui had been kowtowing for some time. Seeing that Zhao Han still had not stopped, she suddenly threw herself forward and clung to him, sobbing: "Young master... wuwuwu... please don't do this. If you bow again, this slave... I will have to go and die."

Zhao Han straightened up and said, "Then are you willing to be an elder sister?"

Xiaocui nodded through her tears. "I am. As long as the young master stops bowing, I'll do anything you ask."

A smile spread across Zhao Han's face. He turned to Xiaohong. "And you?"

"I... I am willing," Xiaohong answered, dazed.

"Hahahaha!"

Zhao Han laughed heartily. "Both elder sisters, get up now, quickly. Let's talk about serious matters."

He had the two women sit on the edge of the bed, then pulled over a wooden stool and sat down himself.

Though Xiaohong and Xiaocui still did not understand why Zhao Han had acted that way, they now knew he was the finest, kindest man under heaven.

A master who did not beat his servants indiscriminately was already considered a good master.

One who performed grand ritual salutes to his servants — was he not the finest, kindest man of all?

Following such a good master, even death would be worth it. Even if Zhao Han tore up their indenture contracts, they would not want to leave. Where else could they ever find a master like this?

"Elder Sister Xiaohong, how many people are in your family?" Zhao Han asked.

Xiaohong answered, "A few years back the harvest was poor. My grandfather hanged himself. My second brother went to the county seat and still hasn't come back. At home there's still my father and mother, my eldest brother and his wife."

Zhao Han continued, "Do they usually manage to get by?"

Xiaohong spoke clearly and methodically: "I work in Old Master Huang's household, scrimping and saving to send money home. My parents and my brother and sister-in-law also tenant-farm a few mu of land. They barely keep from starving, but sometimes they fall behind on the rent."

Zhao Han asked further, "If I were to buy up the dry fields by the river, would your family still be able to get by?"

"I'm afraid... I'm afraid people would starve to death," Xiaohong could not help asking, "The young master is kind-hearted — he wouldn't do that, would he?"

Zhao Han smiled but did not answer. He only asked, "Doesn't Old Master Huang have three sons? His youngest son studies at the county school. How much do you both know about him?"

Xiaocui said, "The Third Young Master only comes home for the New Year. He looks down on Huang Family Town and has moved his wife and children to the city."

Xiaohong added, "Everyone says the Third Young Master is the Star of Literature descended to earth — not only did he pass the xiucai exam, he's also a stipend student in the county. But I know he stopped being a stipend student a long time ago. He even goes drinking in the brothels in the county seat. Once he had no money to pay the bill and got tied up. The Third Young Mistress sent a household slave back to get money to ransom him."

"That happened?" Xiaocui said in surprise.

Xiaohong said smugly, "I overheard it. The old master was furious at the time. Don't you remember? Last year when you got beaten for no reason — that was because you crossed the old master when he was in a foul mood."

"So it was that time. I never did figure out what I'd done wrong," Xiaocui said, the memory suddenly coming back to her.

Seeing them drifting further and further off topic, Zhao Han hastily pulled them back: "Inside and outside Huang Family Town, besides Old Master Huang, whose family has the most land?"

"I know, I know," Xiaohong rushed to answer. "Second Master Huang, northeast of town. His great-grandfather and Old Master Huang's great-grandfather were brothers. I heard the old folks in the village say the fight was terrible — the two brothers brought several hundred men to divide the family property, and more than ten were beaten to death on the spot."

Zhao Han smiled. "Then let's talk about Second Master Huang..."

(End of chapter)