Chapter 50: Grace and Might

Today both Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing were entering the arena to compete. Before the fighting began, Zhao Jin glanced toward the intersection — the little girl still hadn't come over.

The youths who had come to the goods yard could be described as a vast sea of people. Many of the younger, weaker children had no intention of fighting from the start, but instead eagerly found high vantage points around the area, ready to watch the excitement.

Chen Sheng's younger brother Chen Hong was already familiar with this scene. Without needing Zhao Jin to arrange anything, he went off on his own to recruit children to help serve as referees.

This tournament was astonishing. Sun Dalei fought all the way to the final. The reason was that unarmed youths couldn't beat him, and the few strong fighters who used weapons simply couldn't adapt to Sun Dalei's armament. The big fatty's immense strength paired with a massive hammer — many were directly smashed flat or shoved to the ground. Even Chen Sheng was struck in the chest by that enormous mallet, stumbling back several steps before falling straight over.

Zhao Jin didn't have it easy either. He stabbed down Dong Bingfeng, then threw Wang Zhaojing — who had proposed fighting empty-handed — to the ground. Only then did he face Sun Dalei.

The final, on the contrary, was not difficult. After seeing his opponent's fighting style, Zhao Jin decided to fight a mobile battle. Still, one moment of carelessness nearly got him struck down by the opponent's weapon. Anyone who thought Sun Dalei was clumsy was in for trouble — within his close-combat range, Sun Dalei's reactions were very fast.

But Zhao Jin feinted, making Sun Dalei's strike miss. Seizing the moment, he darted to the other side, directly wedged the wooden pole between Sun Dalei's legs, and wrenched it hard. Sun Dalei instantly lost his balance and crashed straight to the ground.

Zhao Jin had once seen this move in a demonstration by Zhao Zhenxing. This time he happened to put it to use, and it succeeded in one strike.

The moment Sun Dalei fell, cheers erupted. The big fatty Sun Dalei, clad in awe-inspiring armor and wielding a massive weapon, had performed like a monster in today's tournament. Everyone felt he was invincible. Zhao Jin's victory was like Wu Song slaying the tiger — everyone breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but cheer and shout their approval.

Before Zhao Jin could react, Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang came charging up laughing, and directly lifted Zhao Jin into the air. As soon as they made this move, Chen Sheng and Wang Zhaojing also rushed forward. Sun Dalei, climbing up from the ground, wasn't angry either and came up grinning. Liu Yong came up too, and many of the children followed.

Everyone scrambled to lift Zhao Jin up, shouting loudly: "Zhao Jin, first place! Zhao Jin, mighty and powerful!"

Being tossed up and down in midair, Zhao Jin felt exhilarated too. He pumped his fist heavily. Whether or not he could leave his name in history, this moment was well worth it — he had gained friendship, and friends and brothers.

It was quite a while before they finally set Zhao Jin down. Everyone laughed and joked as they compared their bamboo armor and protective gear. Zhao Jin was also amazed at the youths' creativity and ideas. He had proposed a framework, and they had actually managed to produce bamboo armor this striking and imposing.

Just as they were chatting happily, someone outside shouted, "Those five scumbags are here." All the youths turned to look. The children, not understanding the gravity of things, saw these five ruffians slapping their own faces and kowtowing every day, miserable beyond belief, and began to hold them in contempt. Yesterday, while the ruffians were kowtowing, some had even dared to throw clods of dirt. It never occurred to them that normally, if they encountered similar ruffians and thugs on the street, they would have to hide or be scared stiff and trembling.

The ones with true confidence were Zhao Jin, Chen Sheng, and those others. They had won by genuine skill, so of course they had this self-assurance.

Originally, when these five ruffians were punishing themselves, Zhao Jin would glance once and pay no further attention. This time, however, he wrapped up over twenty pieces of pastry in a cloth bundle and walked toward the five ruffians. The other youths were startled for a moment, then all stood up and followed him over.

Right now they were slapping their own faces. Some children had already begun pelting them with clods of dirt. The five ruffians seemed somewhat numb. Their faces were swollen beyond recognition, some places even tinged with black — clearly bruises that wouldn't fade, injury piled upon injury.

Zhao Jin walked up to the five men. Clods of dirt were still being thrown from behind. Zhao Jin frowned and looked back. Many, seeing his expression, immediately dared not act. Yet a few with no sense still wanted to throw. Before Zhao Jin could shout for them to stop, Liu Yong ran over, delivered two direct slaps, and roared: "Don't you see Big Brother Zhao is in front?" The whole place instantly fell silent.

This Liu Yong knew how to get things done. Zhao Jin noted this in his mind, and stood there coldly watching the five ruffians before him.

Being watched coldly by Zhao Jin, with a group of tall youths behind him, the five ruffians, already numb, couldn't help but grow fearful. The force of their self-slapping began to increase. Slaps finished, then kowtows. The foreheads of all five were covered in wounds; if not for the cold weather, they would likely be festering.

Zhao Jin stood there still silent. The triangle-eyed Chen Ergou finally began to panic. While kowtowing, he said: "We were blind and offended you, young master. We won't dare stay in this Xuzhou city any longer."

Once the kowtowing was done, the five ruffians struggled to their feet. They hardly dared look at Zhao Jin before them, afraid of offending him again.

"Wait!" Zhao Jin spoke.

At his words, the five thugs all shuddered. They couldn't beat Zhao Jin, and Zhao Jin's father was even more someone they couldn't afford to provoke. In their hearts, they were now deeply afraid of Zhao Jin. These past days had been bitter beyond endurance, and they wondered what other tricks this young master might have in store.

What the five ruffians didn't expect was that Zhao Jin would pull a string of copper coins from his bosom and toss it on the ground. This was two hundred wen of new coinage. Coins like this were used by wealthy households for New Year's gifts and red envelopes. On the market, compared to those

crudely minted "skin coins" and "shell coins," they were worth even a bit more — two hundred wen could be used as three hundred.

"Take it and buy some medicine," Zhao Jin said.

"We... we dare not..."

"Don't give me so much nonsense. Pick it up, quickly!" Zhao Jin suddenly raised his voice. The lead ruffian's body trembled, and he hastily picked it up.

"You haven't eaten in days. Take these and eat!" These ruffians all looked very weak, their speech lacking in strength. When they saw Zhao Jin toss the cloth bundle of pastries before them, a look of hunger immediately appeared on the five men's wooden faces.

Ruffians who came to prey on children wouldn't be doing too well. Most likely, once they offended that Cheng Tongtou, they couldn't remain anywhere in the southern part of the city. People from good families wouldn't go out to live on the streets. With no source of livelihood, they could only starve and suffer.

"Th-thank you, young master, th-thank you!" The five men came to their senses and couldn't help kneeling to kowtow again. After kowtowing, they directly shuffled forward on their knees to untie the bundle, and the five of them just grabbed the pastries and began wolfing them down.

Eating too hastily, they choked, tears coming to their eyes. Seeing these five thugs so wretched, the youths watching were somewhat speechless. Yet they had no idea what Zhao Jin was doing and were all very confused.

The twenty-plus pastries were devoured like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds. Zhao Jin turned his head and said: "Distribute those pastries according to yesterday's rules. Erhong, you go divide them!"

Chen Hong cheerfully agreed. The other youths' attention was immediately drawn away. By contrast, those few who stayed by Zhao Jin's side didn't move. Pastries no longer held much appeal for them now; what interested them was what Zhao Jin was going to do.

Originally, the five ruffians should have left after eating. But having come today, they had unconsciously been cowed by Zhao Jin. In speaking and acting, they now had to watch this youth's expression.

The others were noisily going off to eat pastries, so it was much quieter around Zhao Jin. He stepped a little closer and spoke again: "Just now you said you're leaving the city next, and won't be staying in this Xuzhou?"

Hearing these words, the wooden expressions of the five thugs finally changed, revealing looks of sorrow. Some even had tears streaming directly down. For people of this era, leaving one's home and native place was something done only when survival was impossible.

"Big Brother Tongtou has already given the order. The five of us have to leave the city tomorrow, or else we won't be allowed to live," one thug said tremulously.

Zhao Jin pondered for a moment, then spoke: "Come with me."