Chapter 63

62, Madness

Shi Danzi stood at the front of the corridor, watching the farce in the courtyard, his mouth already split wide in a grin.

Suddenly, he smelled a stench of alcohol and heard footsteps approaching outside the courtyard gate; instinctively, he looked toward the gate—and saw those familiar brewery thugs arriving right at the entrance.

Shi Danzi's face instantly fell.

The head steward of the brewery, seeing several people standing in the Zhou family courtyard, called out to Shi Danzi while striding straight through the corridor into the Zhou family yard.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, the brewery steward fixed his gaze on Zhou Chang, his eyes lighting up with surprise: "Zhou Chang?!

Young Master Zhou, your grandson has come home!

His madness isn't fully cured yet; today, go with Shi Danzi to the brewery side, stay in the cellar for a few more days, and once his madness is cured, he can move freely again.

This time he ran out on his own precisely because his madness wasn't cured; we can't let him do as he pleases, or he might cause another major blunder..."

The brewery steward stood in the middle of the courtyard, speaking as if no one else were present.

He saw Zhou Sanji's face growing increasingly grim but pretended not to notice.

Those burly brewery thugs now squeezed into the courtyard, standing around Zhou Chang in a careless manner; however, the moment Zhou Chang made any attempt to resist or flee, these thugs would strike first.

"Ah..." Zhou Sanji hunched his back, his face full of worry, and said, "Steward Zhu, we heard that these past two days, your brewery has not released anyone you took to your cellar to treat their madness...

They've been locked in the cellar for two days; their families went frantic, came to your brewery demanding their people, yet you wouldn't bring them out or return them.

My youngest grandson has only just been found.

I want a few days of peace; let him stay by my side; we won't go anywhere..."

"No!"

Steward Zhu's voice dropped, and his eyes suddenly turned sharp.

He stared at Zhou Sanji and directly accused him: "Your grandson's madness is so severe; instead of finding a way to cure him, you indulge him, letting his madness develop like this—

If he goes mad enough to become a demon and harms everyone in Green Robe Town, can you bear that responsibility?!

Our Wen Yongsheng Brewery has developed in Green Robe Town for many years; we cannot allow townspeople to be sick and untreated!

Today, Zhou Chang must go with me for treatment!"

As Steward Zhu's words landed, the brewery assistants around immediately closed in, glaring hungrily at Zhou Sanji, Zhou Chang, and the others.

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy and oppressive.

"Zhou Chang is my grandson; can't I decide where he goes?

You are truly too bullying—" Zhou Sanji, furious, had just pointed at Steward Zhu's nose to scold him a few words when Zhou Chang stopped him.

Among all the Zhou family members present, only Zhou Chang was still smiling.

He blocked Zhou Sanji's arm pointing at Steward Zhu's nose and, as Steward Zhu's face darkened, said with a smile, "If one is sick, one should be treated!

Wen Yongsheng Brewery has, over the years, treated the madness of Green Robe Town's common people; this is our town's number one charitable enterprise!

The masters of the Wen family each deserve the title 'Great Benefactor'!

Of course, Steward Zhu, you do too."

After Zhou Chang's speech, Zhou Sanji beside him stood dumbfounded.

Steward Zhu didn't know what medicine Zhou Chang was brewing in his gourd; hearing only flattery from the other party, his expression softened. He lifted his chin, gave a light snort, and ultimately did not erupt on the spot to order the brewery thugs to seize the people.

"Steward Zhu, how about this?

I will go down to the cellar with you today for madness treatment, but my junior uncle—that Shi Danzi—has other matters now; he must accompany my eldest grand-uncle on a long journey and cannot watch the water for you.

Let him not do the water-watching job anymore. We won't demand wages for these days either.

Do you think that's acceptable?" Zhou Chang's smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze; he spoke slowly and gently, negotiating with Steward Zhu.

Yet, as Steward Zhu met his gaze, he couldn't help feeling a chill in his heart.

Uncomfortable under Zhou Chang's stare, Steward Zhu suddenly shifted his gaze to Shi Danzi in the corner, who looked at a loss, and frowned while pondering how to refuse Zhou Chang's request—whether Zhou Chang or Shi Danzi, both were people wanted by Qian Chaodong!

The cellar steward Qian Chaodong's will was certainly the master's will!

Earlier, when Zhou Chang went missing alone, Qian Chaodong had already severely beaten him; now, having clearly seen both of them, yet being unable to take both back, who knew how Qian Chaodong would punish him again?

Therefore, Steward Zhu was unwilling to yield even an inch.

"If you're unwilling, then I won't leave.

When I go mad, I'm very dangerous; I'll kill whoever I say I'll kill."

Zhou Chang observed Steward Zhu's expression and already knew from it what answer the other would give.

He curled his lips, and before anyone could react, he quietly produced a short knife from somewhere and pressed the blade against Steward Zhu's neck.

The cold blade pressed against Steward Zhu's neck; in an instant, Steward Zhu felt hair-raising terror!

Steward Zhu looked at Zhou Chang with the eyes one uses to look at a madman—

This person's actions completely defied common sense!

Earlier, he thought the other party feared the power behind his brewery, which was why he had humbly negotiated with him; thus, he had played hard to get, not intending to yield even a fraction.

But who would have expected that the very next moment, the other party would pull out a knife and press it to his neck!

How could this possibly look like someone fearing Wen Yongsheng Brewery?!

It was simply unreasonable!

Steward Zhu's legs trembled; he had a premonition in his heart—if he did not speak properly with this Zhou Chang and seriously respond to the other's request, the knife pressed against his neck would certainly not be a mere prop!

This madman would definitely kill whoever he said he'd kill!

"Th-th-this..." In the biting cold of early spring, bead-sized sweat rolled down Zhu Gui's forehead; his upper lip bumped his lower lip, and before he could utter a single complete sentence, the surrounding thugs, seeing him held hostage by Zhou Chang, surged forward one by one, fierce and wild.

The brewery thugs did not believe this thin, tall youth truly had the courage to kill.

But the person to be killed was not these thugs; it was Zhu Gui himself!

"Get lost, get lost, get lost!" Zhu Gui, terrified, waved his hands to drive away the surrounding brewery thugs, then turned to Zhou Chang with a forced smile: "Alright, Brother Zhou, your request isn't unreasonable.

You want your Shi Danzi to stop being a water watcher; then he just won't do it.

What is this for?

"I agreed to you, Brother Zhou. We can discuss everything. How about this? You see, Shi Danzi has been watching the water for several days, right? I will still pay him a month's wages. Is that acceptable?"

"Watch!" Zhou Chang, with an admiring expression, instantly withdrew his knife and said to Zhou Sanji and the other relatives and friends who were still stunned, "Steward Zhu is truly a great benefactor!

Where can one find a benefactor like Steward Zhu?

Shi Danzi worked for two days, yet he is being paid a month's wages!"

He turned his gaze toward Zhu Gui; in that brief moment, the knife in his hand had vanished, hidden who knows where: "Steward Zhu, shall the wages be settled now?"