Chapter 384: Revelry to the Fullest

"He's nothing but a clown, why would I take it to heart? But since the Feng family sent him, and then sent him over to Adjutant Zhou's place, there must be a purpose behind it. We'll just remember the Feng family's attitude." Zhao Jin said with a smile, and everyone nodded grimly.

"Groom, come quickly, stop dawdling over there!" Just as they were speaking, the master of ceremonies ran over, calling out with a laugh.

Zhao Jin waved them over and led his men in that direction, but after a couple of steps he said with a smile, "The Feng family is trying to put me in my place, wanting me to know awe and know the rules. They really are arrogant."

"Kong Jiuying thought the same thing!" Ji Xiang chimed in with a cheeky grin. A roar of laughter erupted from the group as they strode quickly toward the main courtyard.

As the group rounded a doorway, a shifty-looking servant was standing off to the side. Several of them immediately shot glances his way, though without much wariness—anyone allowed this far in had to have passed several security checks. The moment the servant saw Zhao Jin and his men, he hastily dropped to his knees and, raising his head cautiously, said, "Master Yong, I have something to report."

"Big Brother, you all go on ahead. I'll catch up in a moment," Liu Yong said quickly. The security for this wedding was handled jointly by the Inner Guard and the Personal Guard. The Personal Guard's company and squad commanders had long since taken their positions, but Liu Yong's scouts and informants were scattered everywhere—that couldn't be brought out into the open.

Not long after, Liu Yong returned to the wedding venue. The ceremony was already underway by then. Night was gradually falling, and large red lanterns had been hung all around the wedding site, illuminating the area around the Zhao family residence as bright as day. Cooks from Cloud Mountain Tavern and Rib-bone Zhang's were busy in a temporarily erected kitchen nearby, and the aroma of food and wine drifted over.

They bowed to Heaven and Earth, bowed to the parents, and bowed to each other as husband and wife—every ritual was carried out in a joyous atmosphere. Zhao Jin's companions whooped and laughed uproariously, and even Zhao Jin himself showed a rare hint of awkwardness and embarrassment, which everyone found all the more refreshing. Once the ceremonies were done, the bride was escorted to the bridal chamber, while the groom, Zhao Jin, had to toast the guests.

Customs were much the same everywhere: the groom had to go from table to table offering toasts. The more refined places used small wine cups, but Xuzhou custom favored large bowls—though the groom's bowl was usually watered down.

"Big Brother, Qi San from the cavalry squad is acting strange. Word is he got strange after seeing that Feng family steward. I've already assigned men to keep an eye on him," Liu Yong came over and reported in a low voice.

Zhao Jin nodded with a smile on his face, raising his wine cup to clink with Provincial Graduate Cai. Liu Yong also put on a smiling face and, in the manner of a groomsman, paid his respects to everyone at the table.

Just as they finished toasting this table, Zhao Zhentang came over carrying a wine pot in one arm, saying with a laugh, "Thank you all for honoring us with your presence, let's have a drink together."

When the old master came to offer a toast, everyone naturally had to show him face. They all rose and drank another cup. After drinking, Zhao Zhentang quickened his pace to catch up with Zhao Jin and whispered in his ear, "How can even your wedding be so unsettled? They've arrested several dozen people at the west gate—a very strange band of roving bandits, making a racket and demanding to see you."

Zhao Jin was taken aback, only then realizing his father's true purpose in coming over to toast: it was to keep this matter secret.

"We brothers really are busy!" Zhao Jin turned to the group around him and said, and everyone laughed along.

The first table was for the elders. Zhao Zhentang, Xu Benhua, Wang Youshan, Chen Wu, and Dong Jike were seated there. Shi Manqiang's father and Ji Xiang's father had also been invited over. One was a craftsman, the other a small merchant—they had never imagined they would receive such treatment, and their utter bewilderment went without saying. Xu Benhua's face even showed clear displeasure. Zhao Zhentang, Wang Youshan, and the others, however, did not treat the two as outsiders at all; their laughter and banter were easy and natural, and they even began making plans for Shi Manqiang's and Ji Xiang's marriages.

The second table held Provincial Graduate Cai and several other provincial graduates and Imperial Academy students. The third table seated the various Commandants, Assistant Commandants, and Chief Commandants of Xuzhou Guard, along with the various Battalion Commanders. The fourth table was for the clerks of the Six Offices and figures from the yamen. The fifth table held the other distinguished guests of the city, among them Adjutant Zhou's son, Zhou Zebiao. He showed no trace of a military family's son; his appearance and manner were entirely those of a wealthy, aristocratic scion. In fact, this young lord was quite adept at business—over ten percent of Han Well Famous Liquor ended up in his hands, and he was making a tidy profit from it.

"Master Zhao, my father is occupied with important matters and could not come in person to offer his congratulations. I have come in his stead, and I hope Master Zhao will not take offense," Zhou Zebiao said with great courtesy.

Adjutant Zhou's jurisdiction covered the vast border region where South Zhili, Henan, and Shandong provinces met—he could be said to hold high office and great authority. Zhao Jin was merely a local strongman; the gap in their status was like heaven and earth. The Feng family and their steward probably thought the same. But one knows one's own affairs best: Adjutant Zhou was stationed in Xuzhou and knew full well the weight Zhao Jin carried. He knew even better how his own military achievements in recent years had been won, and he knew who his family's fortune depended on. He certainly dared not be negligent.

However, as an Adjutant, forming close ties with local powerholders was a serious taboo. On such a grand, joyous occasion for Zhao Jin, he could not well come in person, so he found an excuse to decline and sent his son instead.

"Why stand on such ceremony?" Zhao Jin said with a smile, and the two drank cheerfully together.

"Young Master Zhou, what is your esteemed family's relationship with the Feng family of Yangzhou? Are you relatives?" Zhao Jin asked, as if casually.

Zhou Zebiao paused, then smiled and explained, "What is there that Master Zhao doesn't understand? It's simply that my father gives them some convenience, that's the extent of the relationship. It's about the salt trade."

Trafficking illicit salt was a capital crime punishable by beheading, confiscation of property, and extermination of the entire clan, yet he spoke of it so lightly—simply a matter of mutual, unspoken understanding.

Beyond the checkpoints set up by the salt patrols, all local authorities and government troops had a shared duty to arrest salt smugglers. Adjutant Zhou's garrison was the single strongest force among them. The Feng family was bound to have some connection there, but from what that Feng family steward had said, the relationship between the two families went even further.

Before Zhao Jin could ask, Zhou Zebiao volunteered the information himself, leaning in closer and speaking with feigned secrecy: "The Feng family has been around for so many years—their roots run deep and their connections are wide. Some of the scholars they supported back in the day now hold positions in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel. Not to mention, they have ties with the Vice General of Wolf Mountain and several of the big shots in Nanjing. With a great and powerful house like that, it never hurts to be on close terms, so we've always maintained some dealings."

Only after rattling all this off did Zhou Zebiao catch himself. He quickly asked with eager attentiveness, "What business does Master Zhao have with the Feng family? If there is anything I can help with, please do not hesitate to ask."

Zhao Jin did not hide anything and said directly, "Today, the Feng family also sent gifts to offer Zhao their congratulations. We've never had dealings before, so I found it strange."

"What's strange about it? Our Xuzhou is a place that connects everywhere. For the Feng family to move salt, who knows how much has to pass through Xuzhou by land and water? Given Master Zhao's current status and position, if they didn't come to curry favor, they'd be blind!" Zhou Zebiao certainly said the right things.

Zhao Jin smiled, chatted a few more sentences, and then moved on to the next table. Given his status, except for the elders' table where he had to use real liquor, he used plain water for all the others. The mere fact that he, Zhao Jin, came over with a wine bowl was face enough—who would dare check whether he was drinking wine or water?

Moreover, Zhao Jin now held such high status and imposing authority in the Xuzhou region that before he came to offer a toast, no one even dared touch their chopsticks. When he did come to toast, everyone rose to their feet in nervous reverence to receive him. Only after Zhao Jin had made his full round did people relax a little.

It wasn't until Zhao Jin returned to his own seat that the various parts of the garden began to grow lively. Everyone was a person of some standing in Xuzhou and rarely had the chance to meet. Not to mention old friends, even those who had past grievances or conflicts—now that everyone was eating from Master Jin's table, they had to give each other face, sharing a cup of reconciliation and goodwill. And so, jar after jar of Han Well Famous Liquor was brought out, and jar after jar was emptied.

"... The way of the civil and the martial is to alternate tension and relaxation. You cannot be wound this tight every single day. Today is a great celebration, such a fine day—you should let yourself relax..." Wang Youshan had said with a smile when Zhao Jin went to toast the elders' table.

After saying this, Wang Youshan unceremoniously pointed at the group behind Zhao Jin—which included his own son, Wang Zhaojing—and said with a laugh, "All of you should do the same. Don't act too fiercely or too hastily."

A collective laugh rose from the table, all the elders' goodwill. Zhao Jin led his companions in a bow, then drained his cup first.

Both Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing understood the implication of this remark, which had nothing to do with the wedding. It was still connected to their previous conversation—simply that there was a measure to all things, and they must not cross the line of the law and its rules.

"In ten more days, I will set out for the capital. This time, I expect to take up long-term residence there. I had originally intended to take my worthless son with me, to keep him close while he studies, but he himself is unwilling to go, and I will not force him. When the time comes, I must ask you all to look after him," Wang Youshan said, rising and raising his cup after Zhao Jin and the others had left.

With Wang Youshan, who held the highest status and family background, speaking thus, everyone hurriedly scrambled to stand and raise their cups, agreeing in unison.

"A provincial graduate like you still needs others to look after him? Your father really does dote on you!" Chen Sheng looked over at him and teased.

"Here in the Zhao Character Camp, I truly don't need anyone to look after me," Wang Zhaojing now replied to such ribbing with perfect composure.

Zhao Jin had long since learned of Wang Youshan's travel plans from Wang Zhaojing. The capital evaluation would take place after the yamen opened in the first month, and by then many matters would be reaching their conclusion. Wang Youshan, being directly involved, had to go early to maneuver, lest unexpected changes arise at the last moment.

In a sense, with the Zhao Character Camp having grown to such a scale and Wang Zhaojing still not having extricated himself, Wang Youshan could only try to raise his own position in officialdom higher, so as to provide shelter. But in three years, Wang Zhaojing would go to the capital for the examinations. If he passed and became a Presented Scholar, he naturally could not return to Xuzhou, and by then, whatever happened here would have nothing to do with him.

At a time like this, no one would spoil the mood. Even after Wang Youshan finished speaking, he began drinking and chatting idly with those around him.

Zhao Zhentang soon got drunk. Zhao Jin's maternal grandfather, Butcher He, and his maternal uncle, He Youfu, also drank too much. Many of those attending the wedding in the residence were dead drunk and had to be carried out. It could truly be said that the revelry ended only when everyone had their fill.