Chapter 78

"Washing hands in a golden basin is not that simple!"

Inside the teahouse, an old man wearing a sheepskin jacket picked up his long pipe, took a few puffs, and shook his head while blowing smoke. "This 'washing hands in a golden basin' originally referred to the boat people who delivered grain to the Chang'an Palace of the Han Dynasty; it was a ceremony held after they landed at the Weihe ferry, representing that their work for the officials was finished."

"The golden basin wasn't real gold, but a copper basin; later, it spread to all walks of life, and everyone learned this rule."

The speaker was Old Donkey Head, a lifelong carter who had traveled north and south and seen much; now that he was old, he often hung around the Xianyang teahouse.

A circle of idlers had long since gathered around, many of whom knew nothing about the rules of the martial world. Seeing this, they laughed, "Old Donkey Head, you've been washing your hands in a golden basin for many years, right?"

"Sigh~"

Old Donkey Head hurriedly waved his hand. "I'm just old and can't work anymore; I still have to discipline the little brats on weekdays, so it's not washing my hands in a golden basin. Completely quitting the trade is what's called washing hands in a golden basin."

"This washing hands in a golden basin is simple to say: it means announcing in public that you will no longer eat from this bowl, and usually, you have to invite peers to observe the ceremony. And since the peers have one less competitor, they are naturally happy and might even send a small gift to express congratulations."

"Those qualified to wash their hands in a golden basin are all big shots in the local industry. For nobodies like us to play this game would be a joke, wouldn't it?"

"Hahaha, that's true."

The surrounding crowd burst into laughter.

Among them, a young master was somewhat curious. "The washing hands in a golden basin in the martial world is probably another matter, right?"

"That's natural."

Old Donkey Head sighed. "Where there are people, there is a martial world, and where there is a martial world, there are grudges. If you are a hero of the greenwood who has killed countless people, can those causes and effects be settled just by saying so?"

"Even if the victims agree, the government won't!"

"Those who run martial halls are the same; washing hands in a golden basin is fine, but some accounts must be settled. As long as someone doesn't recognize it, it doesn't count."

"How does one not recognize it?"

"People in the martial world, if words don't work, they use their fists. In short, all grudges must be cleared; only then does it count as washing hands in a golden basin."

"After passing this hurdle, if anyone seeks revenge, it's breaking the rules, but if you participate in martial world affairs, it's also breaking your oath."

The surrounding people suddenly realized.

"So that's it!"

"No wonder it's causing such a stir."

"Zhou Monkey wants to wash his hands in a golden basin; I'm afraid he won't be able to pass."

"Why wouldn't he be able to pass? Is there anyone who can beat him?"

"Can't he find people to help him fight..."

The crowd discussed it heatedly, but only that young master shook his head. "This rule is truly ridiculous. An eye for an eye is enough; can a single oath really stop it?"

Old Donkey Head took a few puffs of his pipe and said meaningfully, "The rules of the martial world can be passed down for a reason."

"The martial world grows old easily; everyone has a time when they can't hold on anymore..."

…………

"The Zhou surname has to retire whether he likes it or not."

Inside the Zhang Family Martial Hall, after the disciple left with the tea, Zhang Shitong smiled and whispered, "With his luck gone, even if Zhou Monkey had three heads and six arms, he could only admit his bad luck."

Li Yan drank some tea. "Are there results from Chang'an?"

The incident happened suddenly, so it could only be that something went wrong at the root.

"That's right."

Zhang Shitong laughed. "Lord Li is in great luck. It seems the Li family's fleet performed a great service, and the Emperor personally issued an edict to promote him; it's very likely he will enter the court in the future."

"That Left Vice Minister Lu Kang, Lord Lu, has completely lost hope, and because he used underhanded means before, he had no choice but to resign and return to his hometown to save himself."

"People, no matter how much they scheme, they cannot defeat destiny!"

Li Yan had no interest in the petty schemes of these officials and said in a deep voice, "Zhou Pan wants to wash his hands in a golden basin; what is your attitude?"

Zhang Shitong shook his head. "Lord Li also suffered quite a few losses before, but to show his magnanimity, he didn't pursue it and even memorialized the court to request a memorial arch for Lord Lu's family. On our side, we naturally can't go too far."

"The Cao Gang and the Taihang Carriage and Horse Firm value profit; as long as the Zhou family honestly exits Xianyang and lets them take over some territory, they won't make a sound..."

"The seniors in the martial arts world are mainly afraid of being bullied after the Zhou family gains power; now that the clouds have cleared, they can't be bothered to provoke grudges..."

"Only Senior Luo Shihai insists that the Zhou family hand over the murderer from back then."

Li Yan glanced at him. "What about your Zhang family?"

Zhang Shitong laughed, "My father has already been recommended as the next president of the Xianyang Shaanxi Shaanxi Shen Quan Hui; how could we kick someone when they're down? Naturally, we should be forgiving whenever possible."

"Tsk tsk."

Seeing his smug look, Sha Lifei felt angry and couldn't help but mock, "You got the benefits, so you're naturally generous. When the Zhou family caused others to have their homes destroyed and families ruined, they didn't think about being forgiving."

"What about those victims? No one came to find trouble?"

Zhang Shitong wasn't angry; he was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "You are also a person in the martial world; how could you say such things?"

"Zhou Pan washing his hands in a golden basin is just to stabilize the major forces in Xianyang. If those victims come to the door, he can just settle the grudges; what is there to fear?"

"In this martial world, it's ultimately the one with the biggest fist who has the right to speak..."

Sha Lifei was choked, muttered a few curses, and stopped talking.

Li Yan said calmly, "Since you have already made a decision, why did you find me?" Zhang Shitong said, "You beat Zhou Bai into a cripple, and even his father Zhou Peide has been imprisoned, waiting to be executed after autumn. My father's meaning is to take this opportunity to settle things so there won't be trouble in the future."

"My father wants you to join the Shaanxi Shaanxi Shen Quan Hui, and after a few years of training, open a martial hall or set up a security firm to earn a foundation for the Li family; it can also be considered fulfilling the friendship of the older generation."

Li Yan was somewhat surprised to hear this, but after a moment of silence, he still shook his head. "Many thanks for Senior Zhang's kindness, but I'm afraid I cannot comply."

Zhang Shitong was stunned. "Why?"

Li Yan drank some tea and said calmly:

"My fist is not big, but I am also one of the victims!"

…………

The sixth day of the ninth lunar month, auspicious for meeting and forming alliances, taboo for burials.

"Hurry, hang up the lanterns!"

"Why hasn't the fish been delivered yet?"

"The boatman said the Weihe has been a bit strange these past two days, and there are pitifully few fish. They went to other river channels to fish; they will definitely make it in time."

!.

"Remember to check; don't let them fool us with dead fish."

"Where is Uncle Wang Yao?"

"He said the medical hall is busy and he can't get away."

"Fart, look at what day it is today; he is clearly..."

"Sigh, forget it, tell the Master."

Outside the Zhou Family Martial Hall courtyard, the disciples were busy.

Everyone knew what day it was today.

Everyone was busy, but there was a trace of confusion in their eyes.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; the Zhou family was the same.

These past few days, almost half of the martial hall disciples had resigned and left; those who remained, although loyal, couldn't help but feel panicked, not knowing what to do in the future.

I still remember the last time the Zhou family was so lively; it was during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the Eight Great Vajras gathered, and martial halls and security firms of all sizes in the city, and even officials in the government office, had to send gifts.

At that time, the opera troupe was invited from Chang'an.

The bright moon shone, the hall was full of guests, and it was a scene of joy.

Who would have thought that in such a short time, it would become like this.

Among the Eight Great Vajras, Zheng Xianhuai's entire family was dead, Zhou Peide was imprisoned and sentenced to be executed after autumn, Yuan Qu and Zheng Heibei had fled, and it was said they had colluded with evil people and died, with all their property confiscated.

Wang Yao of the medical hall and Liu Jincheng of the security firm both made excuses that they couldn't come; they were clearly trying to distance themselves from Zhou Pan, as they still had to live in Xianyang City in the future.

Today, only two of the Eight Great Vajras were present, and both were Zhou family members.

The building collapsed so fast they couldn't even react.

Many people were already making their own plans; after Zhou Pan washed his hands in a golden basin, he would likely take the Zhou family and leave Xianyang City to settle in his hometown.

These people had relied on the Zhou family's power to act recklessly in the past and had offended quite a few people; it seemed that after today, they couldn't stay in Xianyang City either.

Outside the Zhou family gate, quite a few idlers had gathered to watch the excitement.

They pointed and gestured, their brows full of gloating.

The martial hall disciples saw this and were all furious.

With the Zhou family's power, in the past, these people wouldn't even dare to get close, but now they dared to act like this.

However, no one stepped forward to argue.

After today, with the Zhou family fallen, they would also become rootless duckweeds, and if they had a conflict with someone, no one would stand up for them again.

More trouble is naturally not as good as less trouble.

Soon, the auspicious hour arrived, firecrackers sounded, and the guests arrived as scheduled.

A disciple at the gate sang out loudly:

"Master Liu of the Qingquan Martial Hall has arrived!"

"Head Escort Li of the Changsheng Security Firm has arrived!"

"Head Qin of the Taixing Carriage and Horse Firm has arrived!"

"Leader Han of the Cao Gang has arrived!"

"Grandpa Zhang of the Zhang Family Martial Hall has arrived!"

"Constable Guan from the government office has arrived!"

The idlers at the gate were not surprised.

Zhou Pan was washing his hands in a golden basin; those who came were all famous figures in the Xianyang martial world.

Of course, those who didn't have deep friendships or grudges would also send a small gift out of courtesy; this is called "the person doesn't arrive, but the gift does."

What they wanted to see was whether anyone would cause trouble today!

(End of chapter)