Chapter 129: They'd Find Out Sooner or Later

The silence didn't last long before Shi Manqiang spoke up first: "I don't know what the other brothers think, but I feel this money should stay with Big Brother. How it's spent is up to Big Brother himself."

As soon as he said this, a smile appeared on Wang Zhaojing's face, and the others were all nodding as well. A flicker of disappointment crossed Sun Dalei's face, but he immediately nodded along too.

Seeing everyone agree, Shi Manqiang grew a bit emotional and spoke again: "Big Brother, you already asked us about something like this a few days ago. We brothers have been together for so many years; we trust you, Big Brother, and we know you'd never shortchange us. If something like this comes up again, Big Brother, just decide on your own. No need to ask us brothers—it makes things feel too distant."

After he finished, Shi Manqiang looked cautiously at Zhao Jin. Zhao Jin was briefly taken aback, then stepped forward and said, "Alright, since you brothers trust me, then everything will be as I say!"

"That's how it should've been all along!" Chen Sheng said over there without even lifting his head, and everyone chimed in agreement.

"From today onward, each man gets two taels of silver a month. This is just the start; there'll be more later. Erhong is new, so he'll take one tael a month for now. From now on, Erhong, you'll handle receiving and distributing all the monthly silver." Zhao Jin began making arrangements, and Chen Hong nodded excitedly over there.

"The chickens, ducks, fish, meat, and pastries sent over from outside this time we'll keep for our own use. As for the wine and silks, Xiaoyong, you and Erhong go sell those off and trade them for coarse cloth. Find a tailor to make a set of clothes for every household guard—the short-cut style suited for fighting." The two he'd named hurriedly nodded.

Hearing Zhao Jin mention the gifts delivered that afternoon, Liu Yong said with some excitement, "Today we really gained a lot of face. Even when Tongtou was around, these people had to be treated with utmost courtesy, yet they were so deferential to Big Brother."

Watching everyone get worked up again, Zhao Jin instead said in a deep voice, "The higher the position, the harder the fall. The more people flatter us, the more careful we must be. Dasheng, go back and ask your father if those desperadoes' pudao can be given to us. We can pay for them. Forging weapons openly and grandly is too taboo; these things won't draw attention."

Chen Sheng nodded his agreement. Zhao Jin then said to Sun Dalei, "Dalei, this trading house of ours was originally just our own name, but everyone's taken it seriously now. Tomorrow, find someone from your family who knows the business and have them come help organize a formal opening ceremony. We need to get the signboard and everything made."

Sun Dalei also nodded his agreement. Zhao Jin finished arranging things one by one, then led everyone to the place where the household guards were quartered.

With silver and labor both keeping pace, the work was done quickly. The original goods station, shop, and warehouse had been opened up and connected, swept clean inside, with rows of wooden beds neatly arranged. Compared to the neatly arranged wooden beds, the bedding on top and the floor between the beds were filthy and messy beyond belief.

Everyone had finished dinner and was chatting there in high spirits. Back at home, the household guards couldn't eat their fill at every meal. Though it was a bit harder here, there was no skimping on food and drink, so everyone's morale was high.

The moment they saw Zhao Jin leading people in, they immediately stopped their idle chatter and all stood up. Seeing this, although Zhao Jin's face remained impassive, inwardly he was somewhat satisfied. After training, the household guards were beginning to follow the rules.

"To serve as a household guard for the Xu'an Trading House, everything must be done by the rules. From today on, bedding must be folded neatly. Six people must be assigned to cleaning every day, and everyone takes a turn. Shi Manqiang, Ji Xiang, Liu Yong—you three are responsible for inspection and arrangements," Zhao Jin announced loudly.

After he finished, Zhao Jin casually picked a bed, folded the bedding neatly according to the standards from his military training days back then, and had everyone use it as a model reference.

Puzzled expressions appeared on the household guards' faces, and even Zhao Jin's companions looked completely baffled. But no one questioned Zhao Jin's orders, and everyone answered in unison with a "Yes, sir."

The household guards in the dormitory began frantically tidying their beds, and Zhao Jin and the others could finally head home.

Walking out of the courtyard, they could see three sturdy men holding horses standing in the darkness. Before Zhao Jin and the others could even get on guard, a voice shouted from over there: "Is that the Second Young Master?"

Dong Bingfeng hurriedly answered, said his goodbyes to Zhao Jin and the others, and ran over.

"Dalei, hurry up and go with them. Have them escort you part of the way. If it's convenient, just stay over at Bingfeng's place," Zhao Jin called back over his shoulder. Sun Dalei hurriedly followed.

Zhao Jin understood in his heart: after the bloody battle south of the city, the elders of each family were all deeply worried. Those with the means had arranged for escorts to guard and transport them. In truth, Zhao Jin had been worried all along that after this bloody battle, his friends might scatter because of their families' concerns. Yet it seemed none of the families had made a peep, which was what he found strange.

Dong Bingfeng had escorts with him and could look out for Sun Dalei. Shi Manqiang, Ji Xiang, and Liu Yong, the three of them, were staying with the household guards—safety in numbers. Zhao Jin himself and Chen Sheng could also guard each other, and Wang Zhaojing had someone following him too.

Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng were the two strongest in martial skill among their group of eight. With the two of them together, there was no need to worry in most situations. Presumably, the elders had also taken this into account. Moreover, coming and going each day, they were also with Wang Zhaojing, which added another layer of insurance.

Not long after walking out of the west side of the city, Zhao Jin noticed someone following not far behind. Judging by the figure, it was Uncle He, the attendant who had come along that day, so he paid it no mind.

"Brother Zhao, the household guards train their bodies and practice formation drills every day—that's grueling enough. If you make them clean and tidy their beds on top of that, won't it breed resentment?" Wang Zhaojing couldn't help asking on the road.

Hearing this question, Zhao Jin couldn't help but laugh. He said, "That just shows you don't know the hardships of the common folk. Where can you find jobs nowadays that provide both full board and lodging? Plenty of people toil all day and still have to work at night, yet can't even scrape together a few full meals. For the household guards to be able to work for us, they'll see it as a blessing fallen from the heavens. What does doing a little extra like this even count for?"

"Then wouldn't it be better to have them practice more martial skills or physical training? Making beds, folding blankets, sweeping floors—isn't all that too trivial and tedious?" Wang Zhaojing's face reddened a bit from Zhao Jin's words, but he still argued back.

"Don't think of these as trivial little things. Only by making them accustomed to following rules in these details, over time through subtle influence, will they obey and follow orders when it comes to the big matters," Zhao Jin said, very seriously this time.

Both Wang Zhaojing and Chen Sheng listened, looking thoughtful. Chen Sheng spoke up and asked, "Zhao Jin, just what do you want to train these household guards to do?"

"To fight and do battle for us, of course. But in the long run, they are our seeds." At this point, Zhao Jin felt he'd said too much. He smiled and fell silent. Wang Zhaojing and Chen Sheng were both a bit puzzled, but they didn't ask further.

In the past, they would part ways at the intersection. But now, Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing would rather take a longer detour, first escorting Chen Sheng home, and then the two of them would turn back.

When he reached his doorstep, Zhao Jin saw his parents waiting out front. This startled him; he had no idea what was going on. Wang Zhaojing politely greeted Zhao Jin's parents, then headed home on his own with his escort.

The moment Wang Zhaojing left, He Cuihua threw her arms around Zhao Jin and cried, "Xiao Jin, are you trying to scare your mother to death?"

Zhao Jin was instantly stunned. Over there, his mother He Cuihua was crying as she spoke: "You're the only son your mother has. If anything happened to you, your mother wouldn't want to live either."

She was crying loudly, alarming the neighbors nearby. Someone couldn't help but open their door and peek out a few times. Zhao Zhentang, standing to the side, was growing impatient and said gruffly, "If you want to cry, cry at home. What kind of scene is this out in the street? Isn't he perfectly fine?"

Hearing this, Zhao Jin finally realized what this was about. His mother, He Cuihua, must have learned about the bloody battle south of the city and was here worried sick and heartbroken.

Probably, with so many households in the city going to the goods yard that afternoon to greet him and build connections, the news had spread through the city. Somehow it had reached his mother's ears, and once she asked around, she likely found out.

Held tightly in his mother's embrace and unable to break free, Zhao Jin felt his mother's deep love on one hand, yet on the other hand felt terribly awkward. He stood there with a dry laugh and said, "Mother, I'm fine. I didn't even have a single wound on me at the time."

He Cuihua ignored his explanation, pushed Zhao Jin away, fiercely pounded his chest twice with her fists, and cursed, "You child who never gives me any peace of mind."

Then she hugged him again and continued crying. Zhao Zhentang, standing to the side, grew more and more impatient and spoke up: "Why are you worrying so much? When I and his second uncle were that age, who was looking after us? Besides, right now, don't be afraid your son will get into trouble—you should be worrying about whether other people will get into trouble!"

These cold, sarcastic remarks finally stemmed He Cuihua's emotions. She looked up and shot Zhao Zhentang a fierce glare, saying angrily, "Is that any way for a father to talk? The child went through such a huge thing—what if something had gone wrong?"

"What am I supposed to do about it? This son of yours is terrifyingly fierce now. I was still outside the city handling a case when suddenly he sends someone to call for me, saying over a dozen had already been killed inside the city. Tsk, tsk, and that Battalion Commander's son was actually being ordered around by him too."

The husband and wife bickered on without stopping, and He Cuihua's emotions finally settled. Normally by this time, dinner would have been ready, and a lavish one at that. But today there were only a few simple dishes. He Cuihua had heard the news that afternoon and had been worried sick ever since, with no mind to cook. Zhao San's wife's cooking skills were very mediocre; she had only heated up some dry rations.

After all of He Cuihua's crying and fussing, Zhao Zhentang's mood was very high. Seeing the simple fare, he simply sent Zhao San to a nearby restaurant to order food and wine.

"Today, I finally got to hold my head high. Everyone in the yamen was all courtesy to me; even Judicial Clerk Zhou gave me a smiling face. All benefits this brat fought and earned for us," Zhao Zhentang said.

Before long, the food boxes arrived from the nearby wine house. Zhao San, however, handed back the silver for the food and wine. It turned out that when the wine house heard it was the Zhao household ordering delivery, they wouldn't accept any money.

The server who delivered the food boxes was extremely attentive. As he laid out the dishes on the table, he said with a beaming smile, "Hearing that Old Master Zhao was ordering dishes, our shopkeeper specially instructed the kitchen to prepare a few complimentary dishes. Please, sir, have a taste."