Chapter 51: Arrangements (First Update)

The five thugs had no idea what was happening, but they didn't dare disobey and hurriedly stood up to follow. The few youths behind exchanged glances and also tagged along — they were intensely curious, and they knew that following Zhao Jin wouldn't lead to any danger. Chen Sheng turned back and called for Chen Hong, and only then did the two brothers quicken their pace to catch up.

As they left the freight yard, Zhao Jin glanced toward the intersection again but still saw no sign of Mu Shulan. It had already been three days since he'd last seen her — truly strange.

Zhao Jin hadn't led them more than a few steps before the other youths realized they were heading toward the south of the city.

"Brother Zhao, what are we going to do?"

"You'll know when we get there."

Zhao Jin answered curtly. Though the youths were puzzled, they didn't dare ask further.

They walked for less than half a shichen before arriving at the Black Tiger God of Wealth Temple in the south of the city. Last time it had taken so long because there were too many people stopping to exchange greetings along the way. This time they took the small paths directly from Wu'an Gate in the west of the city — it actually wasn't far.

The street vendors at the temple gate were gone. A young man with his hands tucked in his sleeves stood there on lookout. Seeing a bunch of kids approach, he couldn't help but find it odd, but when he spotted the five thugs, his expression instantly turned cold. He raised his voice and said, "Ergou, why haven't you scumbags scrammed yet? Are you really waiting for Master Cheng to throw you into the river?"

Hearing this, the five thugs shuddered and immediately stopped in their tracks, not daring to advance. Zhao Jin, however, strode forward boldly. The young man on lookout duty at the gate wasn't the same one as last time. Seeing this youth walk up with large strides instead of the usual cowering manner, he found it a bit strange. The curses he'd been about to spit out he swallowed back down, and he said impatiently, shooing them away, "Go play somewhere else. This isn't a place for little kids."

"Big brother, I'm Zhao Jin, son of Zhao Zhentang. I came here once before with my father. Could I trouble you, big brother, to go inside and tell Brother Tongtou that I'd like to see him?" Zhao Jin said clearly.

"You little brat..." The young gatekeeper was just about to start cursing when he paused — he'd just been shouting "Master Cheng," yet this youth was saying "Tongtou." On top of that, the boy had announced his own father's name. He mulled it over, his face dark and silent, then pushed the door open and went inside.

Not long after, the sound of footsteps rang out, and Cheng Tongtou strode out. Unlike the fawning manner he'd shown Zhao Zhentang last time, he now cut a commanding and imposing figure. He swept a glance behind Zhao Jin — without needing to turn around, Zhao Jin knew the five ruffians had been frightened into retreating. Only then did Cheng Tongtou look at Zhao Jin. He frowned first, then forced a smile and said, "Young master, what brings you here this time?"

Though his words were polite, anyone could see his impatience. This Cheng Tongtou's courtesy was for Zhao Zhentang, not for Zhao Jin.

The moment they saw Cheng Tongtou emerge, the youths immediately grew tense. Chen Sheng tightened his grip on his short club, and the others made similar motions. While they'd been waiting outside the Black Tiger God of Wealth Temple earlier, Liu Yong had already recounted Cheng Tongtou's exploits. Those from the south of the city had long known how formidable this local tyrant was, while those from better-off families were meeting a jianghu man for the first time — some excited, some nervous.

"Uncle Cheng, I'd like to ask a favor of you."

At the word "Uncle," Cheng Tongtou's smile became a bit more genuine. He'd been afraid Zhao Jin would be tactless and adopt the same attitude as his father — that would have made him lose face in front of his subordinates, leaving him in an awkward spot whether he helped or not.

"Tell me, young master, and I'll see if I can manage it." Even so, Cheng Tongtou still didn't commit himself fully.

Zhao Jin turned to look back at the ruffians, then turned again and said, "Uncle Cheng, Chen Ergou and the others did wrong, but they've already been punished. I heard Uncle Cheng was going to drive them out. I thought — all five of them have families. If they leave Xuzhou and are torn from their flesh and blood, it would be too cruel. So I wanted to ask Uncle Cheng to let them stay."

Cheng Tongtou furrowed his brow, thinking: You're the one who dealt with them, and now you're the one begging me to spare them. Kids are far too capricious. Besides, punishing them and then taking them back — that would be a loss of face. And if he didn't come down hard and Zhao Zhentang asked about it again, he truly couldn't bear the responsibility.

At this thought, Cheng Tongtou cleared his throat, about to refuse, when Zhao Jin spoke again: "Uncle Cheng, these five didn't know their limits before and were utterly lawless. Now that they know they were wrong, they'll surely be more cautious. If you let them stay now, they'll certainly be filled with gratitude and work diligently. Men like that, Uncle Cheng, would be very useful to you — why drive them out?"

At these words, Cheng Tongtou was immediately swayed. As a city tyrant, he didn't actually have that many capable men at his disposal. Hearing Zhao Jin's analysis, he suddenly felt it made sense.

"Please rest assured, Uncle Cheng — what I say is also my father's intent." Zhao Jin added one more line.

The false expression on Cheng Tongtou's face vanished. He looked at Zhao Jin with considerable puzzlement, studying him for a while before breaking into a smile. He sighed and said, "Master Zhao has raised himself a fine son!"

After saying this, Cheng Tongtou's face resumed its authority. He addressed the five thugs behind Zhao Jin: "You five are fortunate. The young master actually pleaded on your behalf. You can all stay. Work hard — or I won't let you off!"

Hearing this, the five ruffians were stunned. Not only them — even the youths behind them watching were stunned. At first they'd been incredibly nervous, thinking this wouldn't work out. They hadn't expected Zhao Jin to be so composed and self-assured, speaking with such eloquence, until in the end that imposing man actually agreed.

After a moment of silence, two people happened to be walking over nearby. Seeing this scene, they hurriedly turned and left. The commotion finally snapped the five ruffians out of it. They dropped straight to their knees and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Master's mercy! Master's kindness!"

"Why thank me? Thanking the Zhao family's young master is what's proper!" Cheng Tongtou said irritably. The five thugs suddenly understood. Thinking of the several hundred wen Zhao Jin had given them, the pastries that had filled their bellies, and now this plea on their behalf — a surge of mixed emotions overwhelmed them. With tearful voices they banged their heads on the ground, saying over and over, "Young master's great kindness! Great kindness!"

Zhao Jin paid them no mind. He turned back, smiled cheerfully, and cupped his hands in a bow to Cheng Tongtou, saying, "Many thanks for Uncle Cheng's magnanimity. Your nephew takes his leave now."

Cheng Tongtou watched Zhao Jin with a smile. Hearing this, he hesitated briefly, then pulled a piece of broken silver from his bosom. Bending down, he offered it to Zhao Jin, saying, "Young master, take this and buy some sweets."

"Uncle Cheng has already helped greatly with today's matter. How could I impose on you to spend more? Your nephew takes his leave." Zhao Jin did not accept the silver. Smiling, he bade farewell once more and turned to leave.

The youths followed and turned around in a daze. They simply felt that everything that had just happened was too incredible — when had people their age ever been able to interact with adults as equals like this?

Cheng Tongtou stood at the gate without moving, watching the youths' retreating figures. He murmured under his breath, "Not simple. Not simple at all!"

After saying this, he swept a glance at the thugs and said coldly, "You five go home and wait. Come find me at this time tomorrow. I'll arrange some work for you."

Cheng Tongtou went into the courtyard himself. The young gatekeeper, his face full of astonishment, said, "You lot really have some luck. Before, you didn't even count as errand boys, and now you've actually wormed your way in."

Even among the brothers under a jianghu man like this, there were distinctions of closeness. Thugs like Chen Ergou and the other four didn't count at all — at best they were subordinates of Cheng Tongtou's subordinates, mere outer fringe. They'd been using Cheng Tongtou's name to swagger and swindle outside, but this time a disaster had turned into a blessing — they'd actually gotten in.

Chen Ergou and the other four still hadn't fully processed what had happened. Hearing the young man's sour remark, they instinctively looked in the direction Zhao Jin had departed, their eyes filled with gratitude.

On the walk back, everyone was very quiet. They hadn't gone far when they spotted a familiar face ahead — it was Dong Bingfeng. He wasn't particularly close to Zhao Jin and the core circle at the freight yard, so he hadn't followed along earlier. Unexpectedly, they ran into him here.

Dong Bingfeng and the two personal soldiers attending him were there, their horses tethered to one side. Seeing Zhao Jin and the others approaching, Dong Bingfeng paused, then mustered his courage and asked, "Brother Zhao, what were you all doing? Do you need any help?"