Chapter 63

62, Mad Illness

Shi Danshi stood at the front of the corridor, watching the commotion in the courtyard, his mouth wide open in laughter.

Suddenly, he caught the stench of alcohol and heard footsteps approaching the courtyard gate; instinctively, he turned toward the gate—and saw the familiar liquor factory enforcers standing there.

Shi Danshi’s face instantly fell.

The liquor factory foreman, seeing several people standing in the Zhou family courtyard, greeted Shi Danshi while striding straight through the corridor and into the yard.

As soon as he entered, the foreman locked eyes on Zhou Chang, his expression brightening: “Zhou Chang?!”

Master Zhou, your grandson’s come home!

His madness isn’t fully cured yet—today, go with Shi Danshi to the brewery, stay in the cellar a few more days, and once the madness clears, you’ll be free to move about.

He ran off on his own this time because his madness wasn’t healed; you can’t let him run wild. If he causes more trouble later…

The foreman stood in the center of the courtyard, speaking as if no one else were present.

He noticed Zhou Sanji’s face darkening, but ignored it completely.

The several burly liquor factory enforcers now squeezed into the courtyard, lounging casually around Zhou Chang—but if Zhou Chang so much as tried to resist or flee, they would strike first.

“Ah…” Zhou Sanji hunched his back, his face heavy with worry, “Master Zhu, we’ve heard these past few days you’ve been refusing to release anyone from your cellar who’s being treated for madness…

They’ve been locked up two days already; their families are frantic, coming to your brewery demanding their loved ones back, yet you won’t even bring them out to return them.

My youngest grandson? He’s only just been found.

I just want a few peaceful days—I want him to stay right here with me; we won’t go anywhere else…”

“No!”

Master Zhu’s voice turned sharp, his gaze instantly piercing.

He fixed Zhou Sanji with a stern glare: “Your grandson’s madness is severe, yet instead of seeking a cure, you indulge him—letting his madness fester—

What if he turns into a demon and kills everyone in Qingyi Town? Who bears that responsibility?!

Yongsheng Brewery has served Qingyi Town for years; we cannot allow illness to go untreated!

Today, Zhou Chang must come with me for treatment!”

As Master Zhu finished speaking, the brewery workers surged forward, glaring menacingly at Zhou Sanji, Zhou Chang, and the others.

The atmosphere turned icy.

“Zhou Chang is my grandson—can’t I decide where he goes?

You’re bullying us too much—” Zhou Sanji, furious, had just raised a finger to point at Master Zhu’s nose when Zhou Chang stopped him.

Among all the Zhou family present, only Zhou Chang still smiled.

He caught Zhou Sanji’s arm before it could point, and as Master Zhu’s expression darkened, he smiled and said: “Illness must be treated!

Yongsheng Brewery has spent years curing madness for the people of Qingyi Town—it’s our town’s greatest charitable enterprise!

The Wen family patriarchs all deserve the title ‘Great Benefactors!’

And of course, Master Zhu, you do too.”

Zhou Chang’s words left Zhou Sanji gaping in shock.

Master Zhu, unsure what Zhou Chang was up to, heard only flattery—and his expression softened. He lifted his chin, gave a light snort, and refrained from ordering the enforcers to seize him.

“Master Zhu, how about this?

I’ll go down to the cellar with you today to be treated—but my uncle, Shi Danshi—he’s got other business and must accompany my grandfather on a long journey; he can’t tend the water anymore.

Don’t make him do the water-tending job. I won’t ask for his wages these past days either.

Is that acceptable?” Zhou Chang’s smile was warm as spring, his voice calm as he negotiated with Master Zhu.

Yet Master Zhu, meeting his gaze, couldn’t shake a creeping unease.

Uncomfortable under Zhou Chang’s stare, Master Zhu looked away, toward the bewildered Shi Danshi in the corner, frowning as he tried to refuse this demand—both Zhou Chang and Shi Danshi were men Qian Chaodong wanted!

Qian Chaodong’s orders were the proprietor’s orders!

Earlier, when Zhou Chang vanished alone, Qian Chaodong had beaten him severely; now, seeing both men here yet unable to take them both back, who knew what punishment Qian Chaodong would inflict?

So Master Zhu refused to budge.

“Then if you won’t agree, I won’t leave.

When I go mad, I’m dangerous—I’ll kill without hesitation.”

Zhou Chang watched Master Zhu’s expression, already knowing his answer.

He smirked, and before anyone could react, he silently drew a short dagger from nowhere and pressed it against Master Zhu’s throat.

The cold blade touched Master Zhu’s neck—he froze, his blood turning to ice.

Master Zhu stared at Zhou Chang as if he were a madman—

This man acted without any logic!

He’d assumed Zhou Chang feared the brewery’s power, which was why he’d been so submissive; so he’d held firm, refusing to yield an inch.

Yet now this man pulled a knife to his throat!

This wasn’t fear of Yongsheng Brewery at all!

It was utterly irrational!

Master Zhu’s legs trembled—he had a premonition: if he didn’t speak reasonably to Zhou Chang, if he didn’t seriously respond to his request, that knife on his neck wouldn’t be for show!

This lunatic would kill without hesitation!

“Th-this…” Even in the chill of early spring, beads of sweat rolled down Zhu Gui’s forehead; his lips quivered, unable to form a coherent sentence, as the enforcers, seeing their foreman held hostage, rushed forward with menacing shouts.

The enforcers didn’t believe this tall, thin youth had the courage to kill.

But the one who’d die wasn’t them—it was Zhu Gui himself!

“Get back! Get back!” Zhu Gui waved frantically, shooing away the enforcers, then forced a smile onto his face: “Alright, Brother Zhou, your request isn’t unreasonable.

You want Shi Danshi to stop tending water? Fine, he won’t.

What’s this for?

I agree, Brother Zhou—let’s talk things out. Since Shi Danshi did work a few days, I’ll pay him a full month’s wages. Is that acceptable?”

“See!” Zhou Chang’s expression turned admiring; he instantly retracted the dagger and addressed the stunned Zhou family: “Master Zhu is truly a great benefactor!

Where else could you find a benefactor like Master Zhu?

Shi Danshi worked two days—and he’s paid a full month’s wages!”

His gaze turned to Zhu Gui; the dagger, in that instant, had vanished from his hand: “Master Zhu, shall we settle the wages now?”