Gu Fengyan was panting slightly, his lower back was numb, and Huo Duanyou hugged him. "Did you hear that?"
"Mm." Gu Fengyan couldn't say anything, only nodded in response.
Huo Duan seemed satisfied and led his men upstairs.
...
The private room had been prepared in advance, with wisps of sweet incense rising upwards. Zhu Kuo sat at the head of the table, with his advisor standing behind him. Liu Zhengshan, Gu Fengyan, and Huo Duan took their seats in turn.
The waiter started serving the dishes.
Astragalus-stewed chicken, ginseng-braised duck... these are all ordinary home-style dishes, but the addition of medicinal herbs makes them anything but ordinary.
Once all the dishes were served, the waiter brought out a pot of fine tea, a pot of Zuitingchun, and stood by to serve it, presumably as instructed by Manager Li beforehand.
They invited Zhu Kuo to eat, and the waiter poured him a glass of wine, saying, "Sir, our shop's signature Zuitingchun wine, we only got this one jar this year. Hearing that you were coming, the manager opened it and offered it to you... Please try it."
Every restaurant owner has a signature wine that they consider their prized possession; for Dongfulou, that's Zuitingchun.
A wandering poet once tasted this product and wrote a short poem: "A jar of wine in the pavilion in spring, ten miles of towers collapse, lying on my back for three hundred years, sharing a pillow with the heavens."
The wine initially tastes refreshing, like a breeze in a bamboo forest, but its aftertaste is extremely potent.
Zhu Kuo sipped his drink, his mind hazy with intoxication, and then ate some more food.
Huo Duancai spoke first, "I have invited Lord Zhu here today because I have a request."
After a few drinks, Zhu Kuo became more patient and raised his hand, saying, "Go ahead."
“Since you already know we are in the medicinal herb business, I won’t beat around the bush. We two hope to obtain a private land deed for Heqing Village. Please grant our request,” Huo Duan said.
He didn't expect Zhu Kuo to agree readily... Given this man's temperament, no one would get any documents unless he skinned them alive.
Zhu Kuo remained silent for a long time, while the incense smoke rising from the celadon Boshan censer trembled slightly.
"How dare you!" Zhu Kuo's gaze sharpened instantly, and he slammed his hand on the table, saying, "The laws of the country forbid the private sale of land and the cultivation of anything other than grain... Your actions are a blatant disregard for imperial authority!"
"Do they really think people are fools?" Gu Fengyan scoffed inwardly.
"Lord Zhu, you have a poor memory. The national law states that 'land cannot be sold privately, and crops other than grains cannot be planted without official documents...' If that were not the case, why do you think we would have come all this way to see you?" he said unhurriedly.
Why would I deliberately create trouble for myself?
Zhu Kuo was truly surprised that two farmers from humble backgrounds knew so much.
He glanced sideways at Liu Zhengshan beside him... It must be that ungrateful village head who spoke up!
Having heard that the medicinal herb business was highly profitable, Zhu Kuo had long wanted a piece of the pie, but had to give up due to a lack of reasons. Today, they took the initiative to host a banquet, and he thought that a little threat would make it happen.
It's hopeless now.
Zhu Kuo was furious, his eyes filled with malice.
Liu Zhengshan sat upright, his gaze unwavering, pretending not to see anything.
As soon as Zhu Kuofu opened his mouth, Gu Fengyan knew what he was up to.
Want a piece of the pie from them? No way!
"Lord Zhu, you need not look at others. Under heaven, all land belongs to the king, and all people within the borders are his subjects. I am loyal to the emperor and love the people. Although I do not hold a high position, I still remember the laws of the country clearly... On the contrary, Lord Zhu, are you perhaps getting old and should enjoy your retirement?" Gu Fengyan sneered.
The implication was that Zhu Kuo was practically being called a "good-for-nothing" and a "parasite on the nation."
Zhu Kuo was furious, his anger turning his wrinkled face as black as the bottom of a pot.
His eyes flashed with a dangerous light as he stared directly at Gu Fengyan.
Huo Duan sighed... The thing he feared most had happened. His Ah Yan must have been a little firecracker in her past life, always ready to argue at the slightest provocation.
"After saying so much, have some water to soothe your throat..." He poured a cup of tea for Gu Fengyan. Since Zhu Kuo's plan couldn't succeed, he might as well let him go... Ayan was the most important.
Having served as an official for over a decade, Zhu Kuo was the undisputed ruler of Qianmo County, with no one daring to defy him. Now, these mere two lowly merchants dared to ride roughshod over him...
He gave a cold laugh, a sinister glint in his eyes, "Are you two sure you want to be so arrogant in Qianmo territory?"
As long as these two ungrateful small business owners are still in Qianmo County, he refuses to believe there's no way to deal with them!
After asking the question, he confidently played with the walnut in his hand, making a crunching sound as he rubbed it.
To his surprise, neither of them paid any attention to him. Huo Duan was only focused on Gu Fengyan, and seeing that his face had turned pale again, he hurriedly asked, "Feeling nauseous again?"
There was an incense burner in the private room, and the incense being burned was probably a honey blend. The scent was sweet, elegant, and not cloying, which was originally very pleasant. However, Gu Fengyan's sense of smell suddenly became extremely sensitive.
The aroma of spices in the room, combined with the various dishes and wine on the table, created an indescribable flavor.
Gu Fengyan could barely suppress his nausea for a while with the help of tea, but after talking for a while, he inhaled too much and his stomach churned, and he was about to vomit.
"Hmm." He nodded listlessly; Zhu Kuo and Li Kuo were no longer important.
Huo Duan poured him water, and did the same.
This was the first time Zhu Kuo had been treated so coldly. He was utterly humiliated, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched stiffly as he snapped the jade bamboo chopsticks in his hand.
The clerk, who had been standing by Zhu Kuo's side, saw that things were getting out of hand and slammed his hand on the table. "You audacious scoundrel! Why do you refuse to answer the magistrate's questions?! This is a blatant disregard for the law and you deserve to be imprisoned!"
This sound woke up Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan.
Gu Fengyan was already in great pain. He glanced at the clerk, then his gaze returned to Zhu Kuo's face. Suddenly, he couldn't help but—
"vomit……"
The air seemed to freeze at that moment. The clerk was dumbfounded, and even Huo Duan was quite surprised... If he hadn't known that Gu Fengyan was unwell, he would have thought that Gu Fengyan was doing it on purpose.
Zhu Kuo's pupils widened, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and the wine glass in his hand spun on the table before falling to the ground with a "crack" and shattering into pieces.
Everyone was startled awake by the crisp, cracking sound and turned to look at Zhu Kuo.
Zhu Kuo's beard trembled, his lips shook, and he was furious. He stood up and pointed at Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan, "Outrageous! Guards, take these two arrogant scoundrels back to the prison and give them severe punishment!"
A note from the author:
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter Forty-Six
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a series of swift movements were heard, and a line of burly men in official robes burst through the door, weapons gleaming, and surrounded Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan.
Seeing that his master had spoken, the advisor echoed, "Arrest these two troublemakers and throw them in jail immediately!"
As the burly men with bushy beards made a ruckus, the noise in the lobby downstairs grew louder and louder. Seeing this, the customers quickly left, and Manager Li and his men couldn't stop them, so they could only watch helplessly.
That's how a day's business was lost.
Huo and Gu Fengyan both regretted bringing such a thing into Dongfulou, and even thought they could settle things through communication.
The deal fell through, and Dongfulou was also dragged down.
Upon hearing the commotion upstairs, Manager Li quickly sent his assistant to call Master Zhao over, and the two went upstairs together.
The two sides remained locked in a stalemate. Ming Dao was pointed directly at Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan, its chilling aura forcing people to back away. Huo Duan, however, remained unmoved, pulling Gu Fengyan behind him to protect him, his eyes sharp as ice. "Who dares to touch us?!"
Zhu Kuo's smile was sinister, and even the constables around him with knives thought he was making a huge joke... In Qianmo County, Zhu Kuo was the local tyrant, so why wouldn't he dare to do that?
No one present took it seriously.
Even Liu Zhengshan felt that the two of them were really too fearless, and when he saw a group of soldiers rushing straight at them, he also broke out in a cold sweat.
He brought the people with him, so naturally he had to take them back safely. Composing himself, he stepped forward. "Lord Zhu, let's talk this out. Don't let things get out of hand. The two boys are ignorant, so please don't joke with them... There's no such law in our dynasty. Be careful not to frighten them."
Liu Zhengshan, having seen much of the world, remained completely calm in this situation, smiling gently and speaking with neither arrogance nor servility.
Yes, his words hit the nail on the head. Although Zhu Kuo was the magistrate of Qianmo County, he could not overstep the laws personally decreed by the emperor... and the law did not give him the right to arbitrarily imprison people.
However, with the emperor far away and the mountains high, Liu Zhengshan wasn't sure if his words would be of any use.
Zhu Kuo rubbed two shiny mountain walnuts in his hands, making a crackling sound. His eyes were scrutinizing as he looked at Liu Zhengshan. "Master Hu, who is this?" He chuckled and handed the mountain walnuts to the master, then dusted off his sleeves, which were spotless.
This action can be described as extremely contemptuous.
Hu, the clerk, smiled obsequiously and didn't even glance at Liu Zhengshan. "Your Excellency, the names of some nobody are too offensive to your ears."
There was a burst of laughter all around.
But Liu Zhengshan's expression remained unchanged. He greeted her with a smile, displaying the demeanor of a refined gentleman. "Liu Zhengshan, the village head of Heqing Village, Qianmo County."
Zhu Kuo slowly took a sip of tea, spat the tea leaves onto the ground, and then half-raised his eyes. "Master, is he the head of Heqing Village?"
"Reporting to you, sir," the clerk bowed obsequiously, "I remember there was such a person."
After listening, Zhu Kuo picked his ear with his little finger. "Isn't that right in Heqing Village? How dare you interrupt me... How about I offer you a seat as the magistrate of Qianmo County?!"
Upon hearing this, the constables present gasped, fearing that the anger would spill over onto them.
Liu Zhengshan, however, seemed oblivious to the situation and remained neither humble nor arrogant. He said, "You flatter me, Magistrate. I am but a village head; how could I possibly have the talent of a magistrate?"
"Is that so?" Zhu Kuo squinted at Liu Zhengshan. "You do know your own limitations... Guards! Arrest him too and take him back to the yamen!"
He gave the order, and the several bearded constables around him responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"
Then the blade turned towards Liu Zhengshan, surrounding the three of them.
Upon hearing the commotion, Manager Li and Chef Zhao rushed upstairs in alarm and quickly pleaded with Magistrate Zhu, "Lord Zhu, please have mercy and let them go. Dongfu Restaurant is only so big; it can't withstand your antics!"
Zhu Kuonie squinted at him. "Manager Li... could it be that you're tired of delicacies and want to try prison food?"
Before Manager Li could say anything, Gu Fengyan interrupted, "Manager Li, we appreciate your kindness."
With just that one sentence, Manager Li knew what he meant. He shook his head, pulled Master Zhao downstairs, and Master Zhao, still seething with anger, kept grumbling indignantly...
After recovering, Gu Fengyan felt much better and his nausea subsided. He was puzzled and thought about what he had eaten yesterday, wondering what had made him feel so nauseous.
Huo Duan looked at her with concern, "Ayan, are you alright?"
I gave him a cup of warm tea.
Gu Fengyan took the drink and took a sip. Suddenly, he remembered something, and immediately looked at Huo Duan with hostility, muttering, "You bastard!"
"Huh?" Huo Duan was baffled... How did he get scolded for just pouring water?
He was the one who was blamed for everything, and he was willing to accept any scolding from Gu Fengyan.
“Yes, yes, yes,” he coaxed with a laugh, “I’m a bastard.”
Gu Fengyan drank a cup of tea, and his stomach gradually calmed down, but he just stared at Huo Duan.