Chapter 128: Split Evenly? (Begging for Monthly Tickets!)

128. Chapter 128 — Split Evenly? (Begging for Monthly Tickets!)

Young men are always especially interested in matters between men and women. Zhao Jin and his circle of friends all came from households with strict family discipline that strictly forbade setting foot in brothels and pleasure houses, yet they couldn't stop themselves from spirited, spittle-flying discussions in private. The Jade Willow Residence was the place mentioned most often, surrounded by all sorts of legends.

A few of the less composed ones were already exchanging winks and nudges. Zhao Jin merely cupped his fists in return salute and asked, "Manager Wang, what guidance do you have for me?"

Youth implies inexperience and rashness. Before meeting him, this Wang Jizhong hadn't thought much of Zhao Jin either, but seeing his naturally mature and steady response, much of that dismissiveness faded away.

"I wouldn't dare speak of guidance. I've simply come to congratulate Young Master Zhao on the opening of his business, and to ask that you look after me more in the future."

"Manager Wang has a vast network of acquaintances. How could he possibly need the care of a nobody like me?"

Zhao Jin answered with a smile, perfectly watertight.

That Wang Jizhong paused for a moment, the smile on his face deepening. He nodded and said, "We're all doing business in the same city. It's always good to look out for one another."

Zhao Jin was somewhat uncertain about the Jade Willow Residence proprietor's intentions. To put it bluntly, the Jade Willow Residence was a high-end brothel in the city, but it was also a place where the top figures of Xuzhou City socialized. Someone who could run a business like that possessed strength and background not to be underestimated—at the very least, someone Zhao Jin could not afford to offend. This Manager Wang had no need to be so polite to him, much less speak of looking out for one another.

"Manager Wang is too courteous. You overwhelm me. Everything here is still in its rough beginnings; we don't even have tea to offer a guest. If Manager Wang doesn't mind the shabbiness, please come inside and sit. I'll send someone to the teahouse to boil water and brew tea."

Anyone could understand the hint to leave in his words. Zhao Jin was unwilling to entangle himself with someone whose intentions he couldn't fathom. That Manager Wang paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "Then I won't disturb you further. I see that Young Master Zhao and his men are working hard here, not even stopping for a drink of water under the blazing sun. I'd be willing to contribute ten taels of silver each month for tea money. I wonder what Young Master Zhao thinks of that?"

At these words, Zhao Jin understood immediately. A brothel and pleasure house has to deal with all sorts of people. Even though they cater to officials and nobles, they must also take care of the lower rungs of society and the bold heroes of the jianghu. After his own bloody battle had established his authority and he had swiftly seized control of the southern district, he now counted as a local power within the city. The Jade Willow Residence naturally had to come and pay its respects.

Given the caliber of the Jade Willow Residence, ten taels of silver was nothing—perhaps the price of a single banquet table. The Jade Willow Residence maintained its own guards and protectors, so of course they didn't need Zhao Jin's help. The reason for giving this silver was simply to cover all bases, a gesture of greeting.

"I, Zhao, accept your esteemed establishment's goodwill. Our days of dealing with each other are long ahead. In the future, your esteemed establishment will come to know exactly what kind of man I am." Zhao Jin agreed with a smile.

"In that case, I shall take my leave. In the past, hearing the rumors, I found them hard to believe. Only seeing you today do I know your reputation is well-deserved. Young Master Zhao is indeed a hero." The smile on Manager Wang's face became a bit more sincere as he cupped his fists and bid farewell.

From beginning to end, Zhao Jin's response was neither servile nor overbearing, composed and thorough. Manager Wang had expected to face an arrogant and unrestrained playboy backed by his elders; he hadn't expected the other party to be so mature and steady, and immediately thought more highly of him.

Compared to his surprise, Zhao Jin's friends and companions all took it for granted. Their big brother ought to be this outstanding.

After seeing off the manager of the Jade Willow Residence, Zhao Jin called his companions to help move the silver chests off the cart. This was a huge sum of money, and he could only feel at ease if his own people handled it.

The gifts this Manager Wang brought were quality, widely-available goods: fine pastries from Guiyuan Hall in the city, fifty jin of top-grade cured meat, and six bolts of silk. The ten taels of silver, Manager Wang had already handed directly to Zhao Jin.

In that small courtyard, Chen Hong beamed with delight at the sight of the gold and silver. Zhao Jin and the others had gone out at noon and returned with so much—the total was nearly over two thousand one hundred taels.

Chen Hong was tallying the sum there. Beside him, Ji Xiang stared blankly, his eyes fixed. With some difficulty, he coughed, pulled his gaze back, and said to Zhao Jin with some difficulty, "Big Brother, this sum of silver is too large. Big Brother should take it home; that would be safer."

Zhao Jin glanced at Ji Xiang and said with a smile, "I'm even more at ease with you, Stone, and Xiaoyong. Are you not at ease with yourself?"

Hearing Zhao Jin say this, Ji Xiang first froze, then his face flushed bright red with emotion as he declared, "Please rest assured, Big Brother! Not the slightest mishap will befall this silver!"

Zhao Jin smiled and patted Ji Xiang on the shoulder, then said, "You all stay here and train hard. I'll go out and relieve Stone and Xiaoyong. Whether it's our martial training or the drilling of the household guards, no one is allowed to slack off."

Having said this, Zhao Jin picked up his long spear and was about to head out. Just then, Liu Yong came running in quickly, saying excitedly, "Big Brother, someone from Pengcheng Grain Shop requests an audience."

Ever since the monk Ruhui from Cloud Mountain Temple had come, it was as if the various figures around Xuzhou City had made a pact, coming one after another to the goods yard to request an audience with Zhao Jin.

Within Xuzhou City, only the southern district was a lawless place where one could openly use force. Shops and businesses in other districts often had officials and gentry standing behind them; touching them would invite trouble. Zhao Jin had initially sought stability and didn't want too many complications, so he only showed his fangs in the southern district.

While Zhao Jin's own household kept a low profile, the other figures around the city were not ignorant of social graces. When such a heroic figure emerged in Xuzhou City, they couldn't just ignore him completely.

Businessmen deal with all sorts of people every day, maintaining both official and private connections. They are well-informed and adept in the ways of the world. Everyone knew what had happened in the southern district. On one hand, they marveled at Zhao Jin's valor; on the other, they were shocked by his brutality.

In less than half a month, the number of men who had died at this Young Master Zhao's hands was already nearing thirty. If that wasn't brutality, what was? Moreover, these thirty were all vicious and desperate cutthroats, a hundred times more valuable than common thugs and riffraff. Everyone also vaguely understood that these men who had died at Zhao Jin's hands had some sort of connection to Cloud Mountain Temple.

Having killed so many desperate men connected to Cloud Mountain Temple and yet remaining completely unscathed—that was truly astonishing.

Those with an inquisitive mind looked deeper and discovered that Zhao Jin's own father was the city executioner, which wasn't much in itself. But among the fathers of Zhao Jin's companions were the Chief Constable, a wealthy merchant, a Battalion Commander from the Xuzhou Guard, and that retired, esteemed scholar of unblemished reputation. Weighing these people, everyone understood: Zhao Jin was fully capable of running rampant across Xuzhou City.

Such a young hero naturally had to be treated with courtesy. Zhao Jin's actions in the southern district couldn't be hidden from anyone. The various local powers had either submitted or fled, and now Zhao Jin reigned supreme. He had also opened the Xu'an Trading Company. Regardless of his own thoughts, in the eyes of outsiders, Zhao Jin had planted his flag. From now on, Xuzhou City would have to acknowledge a figure like him.

Everyone also knew that all businesses in the southern district had to pay money to Zhao Jin. Although Zhao Jin kept a low profile and hadn't made demands elsewhere, everyone was tactful enough to understand. They all took the initiative to prepare a monthly silver payment, as a gesture of goodwill and to build a favorable connection.

Originally, the various parties weren't in such a rush. But today, they had heard news from their contacts in the yamen that Cloud Mountain Temple had dispatched its guest reception monk, Ruhui, to make peace with Zhao Jin, and had even sent a considerable sum of silver as reparation.

This news immediately sent shockwaves through all circles. What kind of power was Cloud Mountain Temple? To actually bow its head to a young man like Zhao Jin—what had happened that no one knew about?

There were always plenty of clever people. The fires at Cloud Mountain Temple's properties inside the city and the disaster at its branch temple outside the city were all recalled by everyone.

So this Young Master Zhao was actually so formidable. In that case, it was better to build this favorable connection sooner rather than later. Showing up a moment earlier made one's sincerity seem greater.

Among them, the proprietor of the "Jade Willow Residence" was the most well-informed; his manager was the first to come. The others, though a bit slower with their news, weren't far behind, and one by one they all hurried over.

Each household gave varying amounts. The more a business had to deal with all sides of society, the more polite their attitude and the more they gave. But everyone also knew their limits; ten taels a month was the upper ceiling. After all, Zhao Jin's power was confined only to the southern district. Everyone was coming to build connections.

The scope, however, was limited strictly to within the city. Only a few businesses outside Xuzhou's southern gate came to pay their respects.

Zhao Jin didn't have a moment's peace until nightfall. The entire afternoon had been spent on social niceties. There were still a few households that evening inviting Zhao Jin to banquets. Before coming, they had thought Zhao Jin was a recklessly bold youth; only after arriving did they realize his speech and conduct were entirely adult. The regard in their hearts couldn't help but increase a few notches, and everyone became even more courteous.

As Zhao Jin received these proprietors and managers there, Ye Wenshu and the others, who had arrived in the morning, became even more awestruck and anxious. Even though not many people came to sign up, they still stayed here properly and dutifully. When they took their leave in the evening, their manner was completely that of subordinates toward a superior.

That afternoon, the goods yard was bustling with people coming and going, extraordinarily lively. The idle onlookers naturally recognized these prominent figures of the Xuzhou business world. Seeing how polite they were to Zhao Jin, everyone marveled, all feeling that Zhao Jin was even more extraordinary.

Not to mention these outsiders, even the household guards were full of high spirits and trained with boundless energy. So many prominent figures had come to pay respects to their master, bringing gifts and money—this proved their master was someone remarkable. Following a man like this, their future certainly wouldn't be bad.

By dinnertime, the household guards were eating their evening meal in a lively, bustling atmosphere, while Zhao Jin and his group gathered in the small courtyard to tally the gifts and money. Torches were lit in the courtyard, illuminating it brightly.

Although no single household gave much, the miscellaneous total added up to nearly three hundred taels of silver. And what was rare was that this money would come in every month from now on. In addition, there were chickens, ducks, fish, meat, several jars of fine wine, and quite a bit of silk and satin.

Chen Hong had barely had a moment's rest all day. He was not very old and his stamina was limited; by now he was drenched in sweat. Ji Xiang, who had some experience with accounting and bookkeeping, was helping at his side.

Everyone's face bore an expression of excitement. This courtyard full of a dazzling array of goods represented a bright future ahead, and proved that the bloody battles and slaughter of these past days had borne fruit.

Zhao Jin looked at everyone's expressions, stood up, and said, "These goods and money were all earned through everyone's hard work. How about we split it evenly into eight shares?"

Chen Sheng and Wang Zhaojing's expressions barely changed; Dong Bingfeng glanced around with a grin and said nothing; Sun Dalei opened his mouth, looked left and right, then fell silent too; Shi Manqiang, Ji Xiang, and Liu Yong exchanged glances — for a moment, no one spoke.