Chapter 187: The Forty-Fourth Year of Wanli

This year, Zhao Jin had suddenly burst forth, accomplishing one major deed after another — killing to establish authority, selling liquor to make a fortune — each one leaving people utterly dumbfounded. No one believed a half-grown kid of around fifteen could pull off such big things. Every time anyone asked, Zhao Jin's answer was always simple: "Second Uncle taught me." It sounded rather disrespectful, but in truth, it was a case of dead men telling no tales.

Saying that to outsiders was one thing, but using that excuse with his own father was hardly convincing. Yet the real reason couldn't be spoken aloud.

On New Year's Eve, with the whole family gathered together, the atmosphere put Zhao Jin at ease and made him unwilling to lie. After a moment of silence, Zhao Jin said earnestly, "Second Uncle said he couldn't accept it."

"Couldn't accept it..." Zhao Zhentang murmured the words, but did not press further. He simply poured himself more wine — only to find the wine pot was already empty.

On New Year's Eve in those days, there wasn't much in the way of entertainment. Large clans of three or four generations living under one roof could still be lively, but a small household like the Zhao family was quiet and cheerless. It was nothing more than setting out a few snacks on the heated brick bed and having the whole family sit together and chat.

After keeping them company for a while, Zhao Jin grew bored. He took his weapon and stepped out the courtyard gate. The household guards protecting the Zhao residence rotated every two hours during the day and every hour at night. With the sound of firecrackers rising and falling all around, the guards were quite relaxed, laughing and joking among themselves. When they saw Zhao Jin come out, they hurriedly stood at attention and greeted him.

After several months, many aspects of their training were beginning to show results, including these small details. Zhao Jin smiled and nodded, then said, "When it's time to eat dumplings later, split into two groups and go inside to eat. Out here in this biting wind, the dumplings will go cold."

After giving these instructions, Zhao Jin called two men to accompany him toward the distillery. Liu Yong was spending the New Year there alone, and it was bound to feel cold and lonely.

When they reached the distillery, however, they found it quite lively. Ji Xiang and Liu Yong were eating happily together. As it turned out, Ji Xiang had also thought of Liu Yong being alone there. With several brothers at home, his absence wouldn't be missed, so he had simply come to stand watch at the distillery for the night and keep Liu Yong company through the New Year.

Since they still had to keep watch that night, neither of them had been drinking. Seeing Zhao Jin arrive made them even happier. Being with companions was, after all, far more comfortable than being with parents. Zhao Jin had someone bring in a pot of wine and said with a smile, "I just came by to take a look — I have to head back soon. The three of us will have just one cup, and tomorrow we'll gather properly."

They filled three small wine cups to the brim and clinked them together. Zhao Jin smiled and said, "Next year will definitely be better."

They all drained their cups in one go. Ji Xiang hurriedly drank water right after finishing, while Liu Yong rubbed his eyes and said, head lowered, "Spending the New Year here makes me happier than I ever was at home before."

His voice was somewhat low, and the rims of his eyes were a little red. Zhao Jin pretended not to notice and said with a smile, "Just this one cup. If you want more, wait until the relief shift comes tomorrow."

There was still one still furnace running in the distillery — there was no helping it. Such a large distillery had pitifully little stock on hand, so they could only use these last days of the twelfth month and the first few days of the new year to build up some reserves.

Seeing Zhao Jin arrive, the distillery craftsmen and workers were all very excited. To them, the distillery's only drawback was that they couldn't go outside. Everything else was a benefit — they ate their fill, dressed warmly, lived well, and earned higher wages than elsewhere. What's more, those wages could be sent to their families outside at any time.

Some had brought their wives and children with them, and the whole family lived here happily. As long as the dependents could work, they earned a wage, far more than they could make outside. Many of the bachelors were already thinking of having their families arrange a wife for them from outside so they could marry right here at the distillery. When they thought about it, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with that.

Zhao Jin made a round of the place, repeatedly reminding everyone to be extremely careful when setting off firecrackers and not to start any fires. Then he went with the rotating guards to the goods yard. The Shi and Ji families were in much the same situation — both had taken up residence at the goods yard, which made it convenient to manage any construction work. If Shi Manqiang hadn't been here keeping watch, Ji Xiang wouldn't have been able to go keep Liu Yong company.

Compared to the distillery, the goods yard was even livelier. There was no need to worry about fires here, so firecrackers were being set off with earth-shaking noise. The household guards were all young men of fifteen or sixteen, and spending the New Year together felt fresh and fun. Even if a few individuals felt homesick, the lively atmosphere soon swept them up.

On the way home after finishing up here, the sound of firecrackers from all directions could be heard growing louder and louder. When he got home, he was scolded a bit.

As the time signals sounded from the bell tower and drum tower, the firecrackers across Xuzhou city erupted in a mighty roar. The dumplings had just come out of the pot, and the family gathered together in high spirits.

"The forty-fourth year of Wanli," Zhao Zhentang said with a smile.

On the morning of the first day of the new year in the forty-fourth year of Wanli, the three members of the Zhao household could still feel the New Year's atmosphere. But after breakfast, that changed — they were utterly alarmed by the people who came to pay New Year's visits.

The reason was simple: far too many people were coming to the door. Zhao Zhentang was an executioner. In past years, during festivals, people feared bad luck and were unwilling to visit. Every Spring Festival had been cold and cheerless, with only a few of Zhao Zhentang's close friends and Zhao Jin's companions coming by to offer New Year's greetings.

But today was different. People streamed in, both acquaintances and strangers alike — all sorts of figures from the rivers and lakes circles of the southern city, merchants from every part of town. Aside from the officials and gentry, anyone with any standing in the city felt obliged to come pay a New Year's call.

Those in business had all profited handsomely from Hanjing Famous Liquor. Those who walked the rivers and lakes had to come show proper respect to the big brother. And everyone else, whether connected or not, came to exchange pleasantries, seeking mutual convenience in future dealings.

One doesn't strike a smiling face, and since so many of the visitors were merchant clients of the distillery, Zhao Jin treated them all with courtesy. The friends from the rivers and lakes were also received with proper respect.

Zhao Jin soon felt weary and irritable. Such social activities were more exhausting than practicing martial arts or killing people. Fortunately, it wasn't long before Wang Zhaojing, Chen Sheng, and the rest of his companions arrived. They too had a stake in the distillery and the rivers and lakes affairs. After paying their New Year's respects to Zhao Jin's parents, they helped with receiving the guests.

The stream of people continued unbroken, and the bustle didn't die down until lunchtime. It was fortunate that Xuzhou city had a custom that New Year's visits on the first day must be made in the morning — otherwise, they wouldn't have had a moment's rest all day. Several prominent households also sent over invitations, asking Zhao Jin and the others to come attend banquets. Zhao Jin politely declined all of them.

Only after the house quieted down did Zhao Jin have time to go pay New Year's visits to his companions' families. He had lunch at the Chen household along the way. Chen Wu was familiar with Zhao Zhentang and treated Zhao Jin like one of his own children. Hearing that prominent families had invited Zhao Jin to banquets, he laughed and revealed the truth: "They're looking to take you as a son-in-law."

Zhao Jin's mouth fell open. He truly had never considered that possibility. Although plenty of his peers were already married, some even with children, Zhao Jin still felt he was too young. Early marriage was common in this era, but there was also the tradition of focusing on one's studies and marrying only after twenty.

Chen Wu had said this partly to tease the younger generation. Seeing Zhao Jin stunned and embarrassed, he added with a laugh, "This year, people coming to propose marriage for my Dasheng have nearly worn down our doorstep. Your family's probably getting just as many!"

Zhao Jin really had no idea about this. He figured his parents might have turned them all away. Before he could speak, Chen Sheng, looking somewhat agitated, raised his voice and said, "Dad, why are you talking about this?"

The companions all laughed. Chen Wu took a smiling sip of wine and continued teasing, "You lot don't need to laugh along. Every family in this city with a daughter is sizing you up..."

The situation was indeed more or less like that. Everyone just chuckled sheepishly. Embarrassing as it was, Chen Wu wasn't wrong. Killing to establish authority had made people in the city keep their distance, but once the distillery began to flourish, anyone could see that Zhao Jin and his companions had struck it rich. Marrying off a daughter was all about finding her a good household and letting the family share in the benefits. Wealthy young men like Zhao Jin and his friends were naturally an excellent choice.

On the fourth day of the new year, Sun Dalei returned from Pizhou. In his words, Yutou Town was simply too dull. There were plenty of places for amusement on the streets, but his family kept too tight a watch and wouldn't let him go out. What infuriated Sun Dalei even more was that, upon hearing he had received seven hundred taels of silver as a share of the profits, his parents demanded he hand the silver over to the family, saying they would invest it in the shop and give him a share of the profits at year's end. Sun Dalei guarded his money as preciously as his life and was, of course, unwilling to give it up. After being nagged a few times, he simply returned to Xuzhou ahead of schedule.

This time, Sun Dalei had brought the horses everyone had been wanting — ten fine horses, fully equipped with saddles, bridles, and all gear. The moment these horses arrived, they immediately captured the full attention of Zhao Jin and the others.

Among the eight of them, Dong Bingfeng, Sun Dalei, and Wang Zhaojing knew how to ride. The others were completely in the dark. They eyed the tall, powerful horses with envy but didn't dare mount them, waiting instead for the instructor from Dong Bingfeng's family to come teach them horsemanship.

There were many rules in the guard post, and many people coming and going. Dong Bingfeng had made something of himself the previous year, and what's more, the produce from the Dong family's lands had found a major buyer, which only made the Dong family's stock rise further. With all the comings and goings, after visiting the Zhao household once on the first day of the new year, he had been busy at home ever since. By the fourth day, he could no longer stand it and simply ran off to join them.

With all the companions gathered, Zhao Jin had originally wanted to host a family banquet, but in order to accommodate the distillery side of things, he arranged it at the same place they had gathered before the new year.

When Dong Bingfeng arrived, he gave the companions quite a start. He was holding a long spear, wearing a combat saber at his waist, with a bow and arrows hanging from his saddle. Even the clothes he wore were brand-new leather armor. He looked extraordinarily heroic and martial.

They found it strange, but Zhao Zhentang knew the reason. He smiled and said, "That's the guard post's New Year custom — wearing full battle gear to show off martial prowess. Elsewhere, people wear new clothes for the new year, but in our parts, this is the New Year's attire. It's just that for many years now, hardly anyone has bothered. Only Bingfeng is worth making the effort for, so Old Dong was willing to spend the money."

As it turned out, the next day, Zhao Zhentang dug out a padded cotton armor from somewhere. He spent a long time measuring himself against it before giving up in disappointment. The cotton armor was already full of tears and damage, and no amount of stitching could make it look new again. Zhao Zhentang tossed the cotton armor aside and declared grandly at the dinner table, "Next year, I'll get you a suit of iron-scale armor too. We'll dress up in full battle array and go take a turn around Xuzhou Guard — let our Zhao family enjoy some glory too."