The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 436 Wu Zhengliang, whose hands went limp with fear
Wu Chengyu is not the same Wu Chengyu from back then, and Wu Jinshui's image has also changed drastically.

He's over thirty now. He used to be just a bit stocky, but now he's blown up like a balloon. Not only is his neck thick, but his belly is also huge. It seems that being the head chef of Wuweilou for so many years has made him quite obese.

However, it is understandable. As the Wu family's status rose, Wu Jinshui, although from a collateral branch, was a good cook and a smooth operator. His fourth uncle always trusted him completely. It would be difficult for a head chef of Wuweilou not to get fat.

However, Wu Jinshui was confused by the phrase "Brother Jinshui." Wu Chengyu's facial features hadn't changed much, and since he had a good relationship with Wu Chengyu back then, he should have recognized him at first glance. But his physique was so different from what Wu Jinshui remembered.

Anyone who has ever seen Wu Chengyu will immediately picture his physique, as large as a refrigerator door, a truly unparalleled hunchback, someone who would make everyone give way on the street. He is nothing like the man before them.

After hesitating for a long time, Wu Jinshui tentatively asked, "Twenty-one? Chengyu?"

Seeing Wu Chengyu nod, Wu Jinshui touched the back of his head with his thick palm, his mouth wide open, still somewhat incredulous.

"It really is you, brother. No, it's been years. What happened to you? Putting everything else aside, the fabric in your clothes is less than half of what it used to be. What have you been through all these years?"

A person who was 1.9 meters and a half taller than a wall has become only 1.8 meters tall in just a few years. Compared to his former self, he has become much thinner and is less than half the size of his former self. Anyone who sees this will be confused.

“Brother Jinshui, please sit down and have a couple of drinks with me. Wu Ping’an over there, go to the kitchen and get some more wine.”

Seeing how Wu Jinshui and Wu Chengyu were getting along, Wu Pingan knew they must be friends, but Wu Jinshui's comment about twenty-one had left him somewhat stunned.

"What are you standing there for? Go get the wine. This is your twenty-first uncle. Haven't you always admired him?"

Wu Ping'an then realized what was happening, and while walking, he secretly glanced back at Wu Chengyu a few times, still somewhat dazed.

"This is a child from our third branch, the Ping generation. His father was ranked thirteenth in your generation. He was sent to Xiaoshan to work back then. The whole family was in Xiaoshan. You have met Wu Shisan, but Xiao Ping'an was always in Xiaoshan and didn't come back much."

This is also a pitiful child. Wu Shisan died of an epidemic two years ago. Uncle Zhengliang sent people to bring him and his family back from Xiaoshan. This child did not want to be raised by the clan and insisted on doing work.

Fourth Uncle saw that although he was young, he was clever and had a sweet tongue, so he let him work as a waiter at Wuweilou first, to experience human relationships and learn how to greet and see off people. I would keep an eye on him, and after a few years of training, he could also become a manager for the Wu family's business.

By the way, this kid is also ranked twenty-first in the "Ping" generation, making him a junior twenty-first.

Wu Chengyu remained silent. He didn't have a deep impression of Wu Shisan because the other party was away from home for many years. However, since they were both from the third branch of the family, they were quite close. Who would have thought that after not returning for several years, his thirteenth brother would be gone.

Wu Chengyu picked up his wine cup and poured it on the ground, which could be considered as a tribute to Wu Shisan. At this moment, Wu Ping'an had already returned with a wine jar. Seeing that Wu Chengyu's wine cup was empty, he immediately picked up the wine pot and poured wine.

While leaning to one side, he kept his eyes on Wu Chengyu, but said to Wu Jinshui, "Uncle Jinshui, is he really Uncle Twenty-One? He doesn't seem like the rumors."

Wu Jinshui shook his head and smiled, then said to Wu Chengyu, "These kids have grown up listening to stories about you. They all say you are the number one warrior in the Wu family, with the strength of thousands of pounds in your arms. You can pull nine oxen backwards, drive tigers across streams, and are invincible throughout Suzhou."

Then he said to Wu Ping'an, "Don't even mention it, I didn't recognize you. Your Uncle Twenty-One's figure wasn't like this before. I don't know how he changed. I'm sorry to disappoint you. Alright, you don't need to serve me here. Go and get busy."

Li Cunxiao was the one who could pull nine oxen backwards, and Dian Wei was the one who could drive a tiger across a stream. Wu Chengyu had no idea how much he had been praised in his clan.

The two drank and ate hot pot together. Wu Jinshui didn't press Wu Chengyu about what he had been doing all these years. After confirming that there were no hidden dangers in Wu Chengyu's changes in physique, he just kept saying it was good that he was back. Both of them were good cooks and gourmets, and their relationship became more and more harmonious.

After most of the food and wine had been consumed, Wu Chengyu suddenly asked, "How is things at home?"

Wu Jinshui shook his head: "Everything we eat and use is the best. Our Wu family has indeed prospered in recent years. You can tell by my physique."

However, the gap between the first and second wives and our third wife is getting wider and wider. The older generation is still okay, and they all get along on the surface, but the youngest of the Cheng generation, and the Ping generation who have grown up now, have become increasingly indifferent to the third wife since they moved to Hangzhou.

A few days ago, some of the younger members of the first and second branches of the family returned to Wujiapo. Their words were incredibly arrogant. They actually said that the first branch was a dragon, the second branch, which was dependent on the first branch, was a tiger, and the third branch, which was guarding the original family property in Suzhou, was nothing more than a dog guarding the house.

When Ping An and the other younger members of the third branch heard this, they were filled with righteous indignation and immediately fought with the people from the first and second branches. We did not have the advantage of having more people; the two sides were evenly matched, but we beat them so badly that they cried for their parents.

These people are rich and powerful now, and they look down on their own clansmen. They seem to have forgotten that among the three branches of the Wu family, our third branch is the most capable fighter. Back then, the Wu family's ability to establish itself in Suzhou was largely due to the fighting prowess of our third branch.

Wu Chengyu waved his hand and called over Wu Pingan, who was serving him. Wu Chengyu didn't care that the boy was only fourteen years old and gave him a cup of wine.

He then asked Wu Jinshui, "Are the elders in the clan just watching like this? In the past, it was a big taboo for people from the same clan to fight."

Wu Jinshui said helplessly, "Now everyone respects the eldest son's family. The clan leader favors the eldest son's family. After this fight was over, he didn't say anything. At most, some people couldn't get out of bed for a few days. But not long after, the clan leader settled down in Hangzhou."

When you left, you actually took all the martial arts manuals of the clan with you. Those were all the manuals you gave to the clan back then. I think the eldest and second branches of the family are still wary of the martial power of the third branch and want to suppress us.

"So what if they took the manual? You, Wu Twenty-One, are back."

Wu Chengyu nodded and said, "Yes, I'm back. Those secret manuals from back then are nothing compared to what I have here, and I have even better ones."

It's good that there's a rift between them now; they'll know that even a guard dog can howl at the sky.

Where is Fourth Uncle now?

"Fourth Uncle has been staying in Wujiapo recently. The third generation of the Cheng family are all capable of handling things now, so he doesn't come to Suzhou City very often. As soon as I recognized you, I had Xiao Ping'an send a message to the clan. I guess Fourth Uncle and the other elders are waiting for you in the third family's council hall in Wujiapo. You should go ahead. The Wuweilou restaurant is doing too well, so I can't leave."

"But Chengyu, you're finally back! That's great. From now on, our third branch of the family will be counting on you."

Wu Chengyu bid farewell to Wu Jinshui and, without wasting any more time, used his lightness skill to leave the city, arriving at Wujiapo in no time.

The number of people in the third branch was already small. After the first and second branches moved away, Wujiapo is now less lively and appears quite desolate and dilapidated. After entering Wujiapo, Wu Chengyu had only walked a few steps when he ran into an acquaintance.

"Brother Twenty-One, it really is you back! Fourth Uncle asked me to come to the village entrance to welcome you. How come you have changed so much? If it weren't for your unchanged face, I wouldn't have recognized you."

"You are? Wu Chengyuan, the twenty-seventh son of Uncle Zhenghui's family?"

Wu Chengyuan is Wu Zhenghui's son. He is just sixteen years old this year. He didn't have much contact with Wu Chengyu when he was young, but he hung out with Aku every day and was the first person to recognize Aku as his boss.

"Brother Twenty-One, let's go to the council hall. Fourth Uncle and my father are waiting for you."

When Wu Chengyu arrived at the council hall, the few remaining members of the third branch of the Wu family were waiting for him. Upon seeing Wu Chengyu, they were first greatly surprised, and then overjoyed.

He briefly explained that there was nothing wrong with his physical changes. When the elders asked about Wu Chengyu's experiences over the years, Wu Chengyu only gave a brief account, mentioning that he had been wandering around like a street urchin in the Western Xia, Jin, and Mongolian kingdoms.

Not long after, as dusk fell, Wu Zhengliang said, "Alright, Cheng Yu has traveled a long way back home and hasn't rested yet. You should all go back first. Cheng Yu's courtyard hasn't been tidied up yet, so he'll stay here with me tonight."

After the other elders left, only Wu Zhengliang and Wu Chengyu remained in the council hall. Only then did Fourth Uncle Wu Zhengliang ask the question.

“I could tell from your words that you’re hiding a lot. I don’t believe you’ve just been wandering around all these years without accomplishing anything. There were a lot of people around earlier, especially since your Uncle Zhenghui isn’t very discreet and tends to ramble after a few drinks. Now it’s just the two of us, uncle and nephew. If you can talk about it, then tell me.”

Wu Chengyu nodded. He trusted Wu Zhengliang immensely, probably second only to Hong Niangzi.

"I can't say I've done anything special over the years, except that I married a wife and killed three people."

"You're getting married, my child. Even if you want to make your own decisions about your marriage, at least there should be elders present at the wedding. Otherwise, if your father asks about it in the afterlife, how will I face him as his fourth brother?"

No, even if we get married, the elders of both sides still need to meet. It's a matter of etiquette. The Wu family can't let the woman think we're being disrespectful. We also need to let them know that you have a good family background. You make the arrangements. I need to meet the woman. The third branch of the family will make up for the bride price.

Tell me first, where does the woman come from, and what is her name?

"My wife's surname is Yan, and her given name is Chunyu. She is the grandson of Yan Chengfang, one of the Four Fierce Generals and Eight Great Hammers of Yue Family Army. Now, she is the commander of the Northern Rebellion Army and is known as the Matchmaker."

"…………" Wu Zhengliang was completely stunned. He had never heard of Yan Chunyu, but the leader of the rebel army, Hong Niangzi, was a well-known figure. He never imagined that his niece-in-law, whom he had never met, was Hong Niangzi.

"This, this, this is really hard to imagine. However, I also admire the heroes of the righteous army who resisted the Jin. You are indeed capable to be able to marry Hong Niangzi."

But Hong Niangzi was a wanted person in our Song Dynasty, so it seems we can't make a fuss about it.

"Why don't you tell me who you've killed? Fourth Uncle is getting old and wants to slow down."

“When I left Wujiapo, I went to Hangzhou and the first person I killed was Shi Miyuan.”

Wu Zhengliang was shocked once again. His hands trembled as he tried to pick up the teacup to hide his embarrassment, but he couldn't lift it no matter what he did.

When Shi Miyuan was assassinated, Wu Zhengliang was happy and secretly pulled Wu Zhenghui aside for drinks. But he never expected that the one who killed Shi Miyuan was actually Wu Chengyu.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered something, and struggled to get up to walk out, but was stopped by Wu Chengyu.

"Don't worry, Fourth Uncle, I've already checked. There's no one around, so what we just said won't be leaked."

Wu Zhengliang nodded: "That's good, that's good. What you did is truly earth-shattering. I really didn't expect it to be you. You must keep this a secret, otherwise the Wu family will be in danger."

The reason Wu Chengyu was willing to tell Wu Zhengliang was not only because he trusted Wu Zhengliang, but also because he knew that Wu Zhengliang would not dare to reveal it, as assassinating Shi Miyuan, the most powerful minister in the court, was enough to punish three generations of his family.

If the secret were leaked, even if Wu Chenglian became a high-ranking official, the entire Wu family would inevitably be implicated. Wu Zhengliang, who cared most about his family, would certainly rather die than reveal it.

"You, you really are incredibly audacious! Why don't you kill an emperor to show me? As for the other two, I won't ask; I'm afraid my heart can't bear it."

"Don't worry, Fourth Uncle, you probably haven't even heard of the other two," Wu Chengyu said, not wanting to scare Wu Zhengliang any further. But speaking of which, he really did kill an emperor, Temujin, who had just become Genghis Khan, and who knows where he's buried.

At this moment, Wu Zhengliang asked seriously, "Having done so many great things, you suddenly come back. I'm afraid you have big ambitions. Tell me, your fourth uncle will do his best to help you with anything."

Wu Chengyu cupped his hands and said, "I would like to ask my fourth uncle to help me find some connections to buy me an official position."

(End of this chapter)