Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Because his uncle had no sons, he always treated Shi Xiu as his own son.

However, his uncle's wife, who was also Shi Xiu's aunt, couldn't stand Shi Xiu at all.

When Shi Xiu's uncle was alive, she often made things difficult for him in every way.

But because of Shi Xiu's uncle, this home was still a safe haven for Shi Xiu.

But six months ago, Shi Xiu went to the north with his uncle to trade sheep and horses.

His uncle fell seriously ill. Although Shi Xiu received help from Zhao Yuan, he hurriedly took his uncle back to the south, hoping to find the divine physician An Daoquan to treat him.

Unfortunately, before they even reached Jiankang Prefecture, Shi Xiu's uncle died on the way.

Shi Xiu returned with his uncle's coffin, and his aunt immediately erupted in anger.

They even told the neighbors that Shi Xiu must have killed his parents, and now he had also killed his uncle.

In order to avoid being kicked out of his home and to observe three years of mourning for his uncle, Shi Xiu endured it all.

Unexpectedly, his aunt became even more demanding.

Two days ago, the woman suddenly fell ill, and Shi Xiu stayed by her bedside day and night to take care of her.

Her aunt insisted that Shi Xiu find a miracle doctor to treat her.

Shi Xiu sought out An Daoquan, who examined the patient and determined it was merely a common cold.

An Daoquan wrote out a prescription, and Shi Xiu filled the medicine, decocted it, and fed it to him without any slackness. However, his aunt found various excuses to verbally abuse him every day.

"If it weren't for Brother Shi Xiu's consideration for his uncle's kindness in raising him, how could he have been bullied by this wicked woman!"

Wang Dingliu snorted angrily, and Zhao Yuan's face also darkened.

He finally understood why, in the original Water Margin timeline,

After his uncle's death, Shi Xiu preferred to live a life of hardship in the north, making a living by chopping wood, rather than return to Jiankang!

It turns out it was all because of that wicked aunt!

"By the way, what's the deal with that butcher Zhang?"

Zhao Yuan recalled what the people had said earlier and asked.

········Requesting flowers·· 0

"I can't explain this either,"

Wang Dingliu shook his head: "There are only vague rumors that when Brother Shixiu and his uncle went to the north to trade sheep and horses, that wicked woman lived alone in a small courtyard. Unable to bear the loneliness, she got involved with a pig butcher surnamed Zhang from West Street."

"Does Brother Shi Xiu know about this?" Zhao Yuan asked.

“Because there are only rumors and no evidence of this matter, and that wicked woman is Shi Xiu’s elder sister, I can’t speak out directly. I can only remind him to pay more attention to that wicked woman’s movements,” Wang Dingliu said helplessly.

......

In the courtyard, Shi Xiu, with a blank expression, was cleaning up the broken dishes scattered on the ground.

His aunt was still cursing inside the house; listening to that grating voice...

0 ....... .......

Shi Xiu suppressed his anger, clenching his fists so tightly they cracked.

Just when he was about to lose his patience,

He quickly looked up at the main house, where his uncle's memorial tablet was located.

Thinking back to how his uncle had treated him like his own son, he realized that...

Now that he has died, no children are there to observe mourning for him.

To repay his uncle's kindness in raising him, Shi Xiu...

He then decided to observe three years of mourning for him, and to worship in front of the memorial tablet every day.

If it weren't for this reason, given Shi Xiu's temperament,

How could we tolerate that wicked woman until now?

Thinking of my deceased uncle,

Shi Xiu's anger finally subsided.

Just then, someone knocked on the wooden door of the courtyard.

"Brother, it's me! Look who I brought to see you!"

Shi Xiu immediately recognized Wang Dingliu's voice outside the courtyard.

He quickly opened the courtyard gate, about to speak.

But after his gaze fell upon the person next to Wang Dingliu,

Suddenly stunned, then with a look of delighted surprise, he bowed down in reverence.

"Shi Xiu greets his brother!"

"Brother, please get up!" Zhao Yuan quickly helped him up.

"Brother, what brings you to Jiankang Prefecture?"

Shi Xiu exclaimed joyfully, "Since parting with you in the north, I have missed your kindness day and night. I originally planned to go to Liangshan to serve you after observing three years of mourning for my uncle, but I never expected to meet you here in Jiankang today!"

Chapter 161 Every Family Has Its Own Troubles

"Now that you have come to Jiankang, I should invite you into my home as a guest, but..."

Shi Xiu gave a wry smile: "My aunt is not virtuous. If my brother goes in, I'm afraid he will be implicated by me and suffer some trouble for nothing... I can only ask my brother to stay at the hotel for a while."

"It doesn't matter,"

Since Zhao Yuan already knew about Shi Xiu's family affairs, he would not make things difficult for him.

The group walked along the street and arrived at a restaurant at the intersection of West Street.

Shi Xiu treated them with great hospitality, and the group chatted about江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) matters while eating and drinking.

After learning that Wang Dingliu had been recognized by Zhao Yuan and had become a member of Liangshan,

Shi Xiu's face immediately showed an expression of envy.

"To be honest, brother, ever since we parted ways in the north, I've been keeping an eye on news from Liangshan. Even after returning to Jiankang, whenever I encountered any members of the '077' gang from Shandong, I would ask them about it,"

At this point, Shi Xiu suddenly picked up his wine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and said with some guilt,

“Every time I hear that my brother is acting on behalf of Heaven, killing evil gentry and punishing corrupt officials, I am deeply moved and wish I could immediately go to Liangshan to serve him. However, my uncle has passed away, and there are no children to mourn him at his grave. I really cannot leave…”

"To repay the kindness of being raised, the brother voluntarily observes three years of mourning for his uncle. This is an act of filial piety and righteousness, so why should he feel guilty?"

Zhao Yuan comforted him, saying, "Besides, three years is not a long time. Once you have repaid the kindness of your upbringing, you can come to Liangshan again to meet."

"elder brother......"

Shi Xiu sighed, her eyes red: "I'm just afraid that there are people who won't let me fulfill this little wish!"

Zhao Yuan knew he was referring to his aunt, but such family matters were best left unsaid by outsiders, so he could only silently drink with Shi Xiu.

After several rounds of drinks, Shi Xiu finally remembered to ask Zhao Yuan about the purpose of his trip.

Upon learning that Zhao Yuan intended to invite the renowned physician An Daoquan to Shandong to treat the epidemic, Shi Xiu frowned slightly.

"Brother, this matter is probably a bit troublesome,"

Shi Xiu said, "The wife of Doctor An is straightforward and open-minded, with a kind heart. She may not hinder Doctor An from going north. However, there are rumors that Doctor An has been having trouble getting along with his wife because he has no children for many years, and he often frequents brothels lately."

“No matter what, we should give it a try,” Zhao Yuan replied in a deep voice.

In order to treat Lin Chong and the disaster victims, if An Daoquan really refused to go north, Zhao Yuan would have no choice but to play the role of a kidnapper.

Of course, he wouldn't go to such extremes as Liang Shan, who falsely accused An Daoquan of murder.

"In that case, I will take my brother to find that miracle doctor!"

Shi Xiu stood up as he spoke.

He led the way, and the group walked along West Street.

As Shi Xiu passed a pork stall, she suddenly stopped, her gaze fixed intently on the figure selling meat.

The butcher was a burly man, but he showed no fear when he met Shi Xiu's cold gaze.

Instead, he chuckled and said, "Isn't this Brother Shi Xiu? Is your aunt craving braised pork trotters again? We happen to have a pair of pork trotters saved up; shall I personally deliver them to her door?"

"...If you dare to come near my house again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Shi Xiu snorted angrily with a sullen face.

"Hehe, your place?"

The butcher scoffed, "That used to be your uncle's house, and now it's your aunt's house. When did it become any of your business?"

"you!"

Shi Xiu clenched his fists, about to erupt in anger.

But then he remembered that Zhao Yuan and the others were behind him.

They could only swallow their anger for the time being and continue leading the way in silence.

The group walked out of West Street and then took two steps east, where they saw a clinic with a sign that read "Jishetang" (meaning "House of Relief").

People were coming and going at the entrance of the clinic, indicating that there were many patients coming for treatment.

Shi Xiu led everyone into the hall.

Inside, all sorts of medicinal herbs were readily available, and three or five assistants were busy either fetching or decocting the herbs.

Shi Xiu glanced around the shop, then turned to the middle-aged woman behind the counter who was checking the accounts and asked,

"Sister An, where is the miracle doctor?"

"Oh? It's Brother Shi Xiu,"

The middle-aged woman looked up at Shi Xiu and asked in surprise,

"Didn't you say that your aunt suddenly fell seriously ill, and Brother Shi Xiu asked him to go and treat her?"

"No,"

Shi Xiu shook his head: "My aunt's cold has almost completely healed, why would I go to Doctor An to treat her again?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the woman's face immediately darkened.

"That heartless bastard! He must be using this as an excuse to go gallivanting off somewhere again!"

The woman cursed a few times before noticing Zhao Yuan and the others behind Shi Xiu.

"Brother Shi Xiu, since your aunt is alright, why did you come here today..."

“Sister An, this matter is not suitable to be discussed in the main hall. Please find another place,” Shi Xiu said softly, glancing around.

The woman glanced at Zhao Yuan and the others.

"Take them to the back room first. I'll give them a few instructions, and then I'll go over."

Shi Xiu, familiar with the area, led everyone to the back.

Seeing this, Ruan Xiaoqi asked curiously, "Brother Shi Xiu, you seem very familiar with this clinic?"

"I am originally from Jiankang Prefecture, and because my parents died early, I was often bullied by other ruffians. I couldn't stand it, and I was determined to get revenge no matter what."

Shi Xiu explained embarrassedly, "I was just young back then and hadn't mastered the skills yet. I often got beaten up and ended up with bloody heads. Luckily, Sister An was kind-hearted and treated me for free at this clinic every time. We often came and went, so we naturally became familiar with each other."

"Does it mean you want to explain our situation to us in detail, brother?" Zhao Yuan asked.

"Brother, please rest assured,"

Shi Xiu quickly replied, "Although Sister-in-law An is a woman, she has a chivalrous heart. Even if she knew the identities of Brother 2.0 and the others, she would never go out and talk nonsense."

After waiting in the back room for a while, An Daoquan's wife stepped in.

"Judging from their appearances, these people are certainly not ordinary folks. I wonder what brings them to see my master?"

"Madam An, I am Zhao Dalang from Liangshan..."

As soon as Zhao Yuan introduced himself, the woman smiled and said,

"I knew it! So he's the leader of Liangshan. No wonder Brother Shi Xiu treats him with such respect."