Chapter 41: Each with Their Own Subtleties

The two men simply turned and left without any particular gesture. Zhao Jin was momentarily taken aback. If they were servants or retainers of the Mu household, they showed no deference or courtesy; if they were something else, Mu Shulan was still able to give them direct orders.

Zhao Jin did not ask about it to their faces. The Chen Sheng brothers could not see anything at all, but when Zhao Jin turned back, he noticed that the old steward of the Chen household was looking back at the two men. Anyone a bit older and a bit sharper could tell something was off.

The pastry shop's delivery boy was already waiting over by the goods yard. When he saw Zhao Jin, he hurriedly handed over a bundle still steaming with heat.

Having seen the imposing manner his own father displayed before Copper Head that morning, Zhao Jin finally understood the meaning of the phrase "do I even need to pay for pastries?" With Zhao Zhentang's authority, wanting a family's pastries was indeed giving them face.

This was just a passing thought for Zhao Jin. He immediately noticed how deserted the goods yard was. In the past, dozens of children would be waiting to draw lots, with over a dozen more little kids outside watching the excitement. Now there were not even twenty in total.

The Wang family's young master, Wang Zhaojing, had arrived early. Behind Wang Zhaojing stood a middle-aged man, here for the first time, dressed in a short dark-blue tunic. He looked capable and composed. Zhao Jin had by now developed a bit of an eye for such things and could tell this middle-aged man was a martial arts practitioner, and no weak one at that. When Wang Zhaojing saw Zhao Jin appear, he walked over with a smile.

Sun Dalei had also arrived over there and was looking around in every direction. What surprised Zhao Jin was that Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang had come too. Liu Yong was also loitering over on that side.

Among the youths in the goods yard, some were poor and some were rich. Those who came today were all from families of decent means. When those thugs yesterday had shouted threats as they left, they had named the children from ordinary families on the field. They knew they could not afford to offend the rich and powerful households.

Liu Yong had not been named, and he had a reckless, devil-may-care temperament, so it was normal for him to show up today without a care. But Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang had been called out by those ruffians. Normally, they should have stayed home today to help out or to explain the situation beforehand.

If these two youths had come here just to dodge trouble, then their character was truly poor. As he was mulling this over, the youths had already formed a circle around him.

There are a few iron bonds in life, and fighting together is one of them. Fighting side by side greatly strengthens the friendship between youths. This has been true from ancient times to the present. After yesterday's group brawl, everyone felt much closer to one another.

"Why are so few people here today?" Chen Sheng grumbled, but no one took up the remark. Wang Zhaojing stood there with a faint smile, saying nothing. Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang exchanged a glance, seeming to have made up their minds. They walked up to Zhao Jin and said, "Brother Zhao, those ruffians yesterday said they were going to cause trouble at our homes and named me and Ji Xiang. Neither of us knew what to do. We talked it over last night. Brother Zhao, you have ideas — please help us!"

These words were very plain and direct, but for competitive, proud youths to say them was not easy at all. Boys of this age are most unwilling to show weakness or ask for help, especially when everyone is here competing in martial arts. Lowering themselves to beg for aid is even more uncomfortable.

After saying this, Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang were both so embarrassed their faces flushed bright red. They looked at Zhao Jin anxiously, afraid the request would be refused. In truth, they were at their wits' end. Those ruffians were adults, and Zhao Jin was just a kid; they had no idea whether Zhao Jin could even resolve this.

Zhao Jin felt a warmth in his heart. The other party truly regarded him as a friend, as a brother — otherwise they would not have come to him to solve such a difficult matter.

He hesitated for a moment, but then Wang Zhaojing spoke up: "Those ruffians aren't worth mentioning. If I, your brother, went and sought help from an elder, it could be resolved. But if my family found out, I'd certainly be scolded..."

Zhao Jin coughed, using it to hold back a laugh. Wang Zhaojing was about the same age as everyone else, but his mind was far more mature. He actually wanted to use this matter to sell a favor and build prestige. But what Zhao Jin found funny was that being young was still being young — with personalities like Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang, beating around the bush with them was utterly useless. It was better to just speak plainly. He wondered how the Wang family taught their children, for him to have so many twists and turns.

Over on that side, Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang had initially looked overjoyed at Wang Zhaojing's words, but then their faces fell into complete disappointment.

"I... I'll... go find my mom, get... get her to send someone to talk. You... you guys don't worry." It was Sun Dalei, instead, who spoke up, taking it all upon himself.

This fatty had some cunning too, but he was still an honest person at heart. Chen Sheng had not even thought about this matter, because he understood that it was far too trivial — a single word from him and it would all be settled.

Wang Zhaojing's and Sun Dalei's words happened to provide the perfect setup for Zhao Jin. Only then did Zhao Jin wave his hand with a smile and say, "Don't be scared, it's already taken care of!"

The youths were stunned for a moment, and only in the next instant did they react. Young people cannot hide things on their faces, and expressions of shock and delight appeared. Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang exchanged another glance, standing there not even knowing what to say. Sun Dalei chuckled from the side and said, "I told you it was a small matter."

"Brother Zhao, I..."

Kids this age do not even know how to be polite. Shi Manqiang stammered, unable to get the words out. Zhao Jin waved his hand magnanimously and said with a smile, "We're brothers, none of this empty stuff. We're together every day — what does a little thing like this count for?"

Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang were both speechless and just nodded their heads furiously. Sun Dalei went over and clapped them hard on the shoulders. The two cried out in pain, then burst into laughter. Chen Sheng and Chen Hong were laughing too. Mu Shulan raised her fair, slender thumb at Zhao Jin.

Zhao Jin did notice a trace of disappointment on Wang Zhaojing's face, and then Wang Zhaojing looked over at him, his eyes filled with disbelief, and perhaps a hint of admiration as well.

"Those guys are here," someone said nervously, and everyone looked toward the intersection.

The five thugs who had come yesterday appeared at the intersection again. The youths immediately grew tense, and everyone instinctively edged closer to Zhao Jin. Chen Sheng, however, brandished his stick with great excitement and said, "Perfect timing! Let's beat them up again!"

Only when they recalled yesterday's victory did everyone's courage grow a little. Wang Zhaojing said in surprise, "Why have they come again?"

Zhao Jin understood perfectly well what those words implied, but he could not be bothered to pay any attention. He turned his head to look. The middle-aged man Wang Zhaojing had brought with him had already turned to face that direction, a look of disdain on his face.

"Brother Xiaojin, should I go call the people back?" Mu Shulan tugged at Zhao Jin's hand and said quietly. Zhao Jin smiled but said nothing.

Amid everyone's nervous thoughts, Zhao Jin parted the youths in front of him and strode out to the front. It looked as if he were walking out alone to meet them.

"Wait for me! How can you go alone!" Chen Sheng shouted first, and ran out with his short stick. Sun Dalei scratched his head and also walked out from behind. Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang looked pale, but they too followed resolutely. Wang Zhaojing stood hesitating for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face, and he also walked to the front. Liu Yong looked left and right, and in the end gritted his teeth and followed as well, but he stood behind Sun Dalei, perfectly concealed — even if someone in front wanted to look, they could not see him.

Just as the youths were preparing to start fighting, the five ruffians who had entered the goods yard dropped directly to their knees. First, they slapped their own faces with both hands, left and right, until their cheeks were swollen. They said, their words slurred and indistinct: "Young masters, we were blind and did wrong. Please be magnanimous, young masters."

After saying this, they banged their heads on the ground with thumping sounds. Seeing this scene, the youths were all dumbfounded. When these five thugs had appeared, everyone had thought Zhao Jin was just boasting earlier. Only upon seeing this did they realize it was true. The more observant ones could also notice that all five thugs were walking unsteadily and had many bloody scratches on their faces.

A "huge, impossible problem," and Zhao Jin had resolved it just like that. The way everyone looked at Zhao Jin became even more different. And Zhao Jin had just said "we're brothers." To have such a capable person as a friend — everyone felt happy.

Fifty slaps, fifty kowtows. When it was done, the men were staggering. But those five ruffians dared not show any resentment and stumbled away. They knew that as soon as that yamen runner had left that morning, Copper Head had directly brought out an axe. His words were clear: if that young master was not pleased, he would chop them down and toss them into the river outside the city. With a threat like that hanging over them, who would dare disobey?