Chapter 114: Gongsun, the One Who Can Stretch and Shrink

The two walked out of the inn side by side.

Zhang Jiujiang, who didn't know why, only then discovered Zhang Gui's unique attire, looked him up and down, and said:

"Da Gui, we were both born by the sea. Although we don't see many people from the Western He Continent, we can see them intermittently.

But rarely do you see someone dressed as authentically as you.

You say you dressed like this, and so mysteriously, what exactly are you going to do?"

Zhang Gui asked back: "Let's not talk about me first, what was the last thing you said just now?"

"I said 'you must not force it', what's wrong?"

"What's wrong, humph, what does 'force' mean? I, your brother, have never experienced that in this life.

It's not one thousand, but one thousand three hundred and fifty-six. Say it after me: one thousand three hundred and fifty-six.

One thousand three hundred and fifty-six prisoners of the national war have been brought back to Ming Song by me."

Zhang Jiujiang opened his mouth wide in surprise, "So many? Did you rob the Western He people's human market!"

"These past few days, I searched through the three great cities of Giant Serpent Island—Roujin, Civilization Pioneer, and Sacred Ode—combining buying with using the power of elemental rules and divine authority; there had to be some results."

Zhang Gui thought in his heart, but he couldn't say these words clearly even to his little friend, so he could only fool him:

"That's enough, don't worry about how many people there are or how I got them; in any case, it's enough for you to report.

Now let's go nest on the ship.

Wait until morning for you to take the prisoners down and settle them.

This face-saving work can be considered done."

The words fell, and he saw a dashing figure leap out from the wooden window on the second floor of the 'Xinglong Inn' facing the street.

He landed in front of Zhang Gui.

"Brother Zhang truly has great ability and great connections.

In the current situation, you were actually able to forcibly redeem over one thousand three hundred soldiers and generals lost in the national war from the sea.

I heard that the imperial court had originally found the 'Benevolent People Society', but even with their help to clear the way, they couldn't get it done, let alone now."

"That's because the 'Benevolent People Society' didn't have wide enough connections, or the imperial court couldn't reach it? It was just that they were reluctant to give the money.

Young Master Gongsun, food can be eaten indiscriminately, but words cannot be spoken indiscriminately."

There had actually been rumors among the people for a long time.

After the Yuan Mountain Kingdom broke through the pass and invaded the capital region, they had once intended to agree to let the Ming Song imperial court ransom the prisoners of war.

As a result, Prime Minister Wu Qinggeng calculated that after this ransom was spent, the Ming Song treasury would be half empty.

The Hezheng Emperor was reluctant to use the royal inner treasury to share the burden, so in the end, he could only act as if this matter had never happened.

Gongsun Benxiao, who had ulterior motives, heard Zhang Gui pull his words, which contained dark implications, toward an extremely taboo direction, and immediately retreated.

He bowed and saluted with a look of shame:

"It was my slip of the tongue.

Brother Zhang, last time, the few family generals under my command who were originally here to tip you off and resolve your disaster were indeed possessed by madness and had evil intentions.

Explaining this kind of thing again is also a big mistake.

In short, I am inexplicably ashamed, please forgive me, forgive me."

After speaking, he remained frozen there, as if he wouldn't get up if Zhang Gui didn't forgive him.

For a direct descendant of a famous ancient family to be able to bend and stretch like this was rare.

This trick of probing you with a stab, and then immediately acting like a grandson if it fails, actually made Zhang Gui look at him with new eyes.

"I was originally standing on the moral high ground looking down at this kid.

As a result, his move of carrying a rod to ask for punishment actually made me look petty if I didn't forgive him.

Human relationships, human relationships.

"Since Brother Zhang understands, I won't say any more." Gongsun Benxiao interrupted Zhang Gui's words and looked at his junior brother Zhang Jiujiang, "Next, it depends on what you think, Junior Brother Jiujiang."

But now, I can't just pursue it because my good brother knew I had a disaster and someone made a mistake when he asked someone to tip me off.

Making him look bad on both sides."

Glancing at Zhang Jiujiang, who was embarrassed but never opened his mouth to smooth things over for his senior brother, a sincere smile appeared on his face,

"Brother Gongsun, why be like this? How can I blame you for the little dark thoughts of the people below?

Please get up quickly, please get up."

"Then many thanks for Brother Zhang's generosity."

Gongsun Benxiao then straightened his waist, "Junior Brother Jiujiang once said that the 'Dagui Grocery Sauce Garden', the first shop on the street, was opened by Brother Zhang's mother.

Truly a benevolent mother and a good son!

Actually, my mother is also such a kind and transparent person.

She has always sewn clothes and cooked for me with her own hands.

After I became a scholar, she became even more cautious.

In order for me, her son, to have a good reputation.

She shows her face all day long, giving porridge in winter and tea in summer.

It's just a pity that I am not as sensible as Brother Zhang and often do wrong things that make my mother worry.

By the way, the white porridge I ate at the 'Dagui Grocery Sauce Garden' last time, I felt it tasted very much like what my mother cooked with her own hands.

Probably the craftsmanship of mothers under heaven is all connected.

Brother Zhang, if you really forgive me, you should invite me to drink another bowl.

From now on, we can be considered family friends."

That the mistress of a certain branch of the Longbei Qulong Gongsun family would personally sew clothes and cook for her son—even ghosts wouldn't believe it.

And that 'the craftsmanship of mothers under heaven is all connected' is even more nonsensical.

But when someone uses their own mother to praise your mother, anyone would inevitably be unable to say a second word.

Zhang Gui could only open his mouth, "At this time, the 'Dagui Grocery Sauce Garden' shouldn't be open yet, right."

"Da Gui, you still don't know, these past few days Auntie Caiyang has kept the shop open day and night.

She said you forced her to leave the dock to take refuge, but she is not a person who is afraid of trouble.

I persuaded her several times, but instead, I annoyed the old lady, and she poked my head until it almost broke."

Hearing Zhang Jiujiang's words, Zhang Gui seemed to want to get angry, but was helpless.

Let alone that he was just the emperor of a makeshift troupe, a future god or demon.

Even if he were already called an ancestor or a sage now, what could he do in the face of his own mother who had raised him with bitterness and hardship, never willing to eat or drink well since he was a child!

"This, then, this, let's go to the sauce garden to drink a bowl of porridge, and by the way, see if my Amu is there.

I will personally persuade her.

Sigh, she believes everyone's words all day long, just not mine, her son's.

Really, Jiujiang, what kind of thinking is this?

Ordinary people can't understand it, right?"

"What's there to be unable to figure out? My parents are the same."

Zhang Jiujiang comforted his little friend and walked with his fellow student and senior brother toward the 'Dagui Grocery Sauce Garden'.

Although the storm had just finished.

But because there was a threshold below and a fish-skin screen above, the ground of the sauce garden was clean.

The fish and shrimp chili sauce and melon sauce in the big vat in the middle were kept cool with well water, without a trace of stuffiness.

The tables and chairs placed in the front on the right side were dry, and the porridge and pancakes were ready to be served at any time.

Anyone who saw it would feel that the boss was good at management and was a person who did business seriously.

The three entered the shop.

Zhang Jiujiang couldn't help but praise,

"No matter what, on this whole commercial street, in this whole market, there is definitely no shop selling food now..."

"Shut your mouth." Zhang Gui glared at his little friend with dissatisfaction.

Then he asked the attendant who was working the night shift at the 'Dagui Grocery Sauce Garden',

"What time does my mother come to the counter in the morning?"

Just at this moment, a few people wearing black linen clothes and holding black wooden boxes walked into the shop silently.

They stood behind Gongsun Benxiao.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 115 =====