Duke of Zhenguan

The dozen or so new guards added to the household were all loyal men who had followed Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin for many years, but how long their loyalty would last in the Lin family depended on Lin Chuan's methods.

Although Lin Chuan, who grew up under the red flag, was still not quite used to the strict hierarchy of the Tang Dynasty, it did not stop him from learning how to manage his subordinates from Cheng Yaojin.

When new guards arrive at your home, it's essential to show them how much you value them.

There was plenty of mutton and wine. As the host, he didn't put on airs. He sat down with them on the ground with his bowl in hand. After a meal of wine, at least the guards had a good impression of Lin Chuan as their new host.

Of course, the price was not small either; Lin Chuan now felt that everything looked like two.

As the newly appointed captain of the guards, Xu Laosan was very satisfied with the new head of the family. He was Cheng Yaojin's personal guard and had followed Cheng Yaojin through countless hardships. Every extra day he could live was a bonus.

So he didn't care much about his own life; what he cared about was the future of his children and grandchildren.

Now that the eldest son has become the Duke's personal guard, the younger son can no longer ask the Duke for arrangements. After all, all the old brothers have sons who need to be taken care of, and each one is more valiant than the last, which puts the Duke in a difficult position.

The new head of the family earned himself a viscount title at a young age and is about to become the Duke's son-in-law. His future is bright. As long as his youngest son is capable, he may be able to make a living for the new head of the family.

The new head of the family also came from a poor family. Although he is still a bit naive, he at least treats his family members as human beings.

That's enough!

Seeing that Lin Chuan was already five or six parts drunk, Xu Laosan stopped the group of bastards who couldn't stop drinking and helped Lin Chuan to the flower hall next door, and personally poured Lin Chuan a cup of hot tea.

After sitting in the chair for a while and taking a sip of hot tea, Lin Chuan finally felt a little better. Looking at Xu Laosan standing beside him, he smiled and said:

"I've spoiled your fun, Uncle Xu!"

"Young master, you can just call me Old Xu. I dare not accept the title of Uncle Xu. You are still young and doing serious work. What are you comparing with a bunch of old men who are half-buried in the ground?"

"Your kindness is enough to satisfy me and my brothers!" Xu Laosan said with a smile.

"Haha, I didn't expect you, Lao Xu, to be so good with a knife and so good at comforting people. Alright, you haven't had enough to drink yet, go have a drink, I'm going to rest for a while..." Lin Chuan waved his hand with a smile.

"Then I'll be going, young master, please rest!" Old Xu said with a smile as he left.

Lin Chuan sat in the flower hall for a while when he suddenly heard the faint sound of horses' hooves.

A moment later, Qin Huaidao's voice drifted from afar:

"Brother Lin!"

Lin Chuan struggled to his feet, mustered his spirits, and went to the door. He saw Qin Huaidao, Cheng Chumo, Cheng Chuliang, and two burly young men whom he did not recognize tying the reins to the hitching posts next to the gateposts.

Seeing Lin Chuan come out, Qin Huaidao said with a smile:

"I promised to treat you to music at Pingkang Lane today, Brother Lin. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

"Brother Qin, I've had too much to drink today, I really can't drink anymore, let's do it another day!"

"Another day? Xiao Chuan, Huai Dao has already invited Bao Lin and Bao Qi! Zhao Fu, hurry up and fetch the horses! What are you standing there for?"

Cheng Chumo shouted irritably at Zhao Fu, who was standing to the side.

"Shall we go?"

Seeing Zhao Fu's troubled expression, Lin Chuan waved his hand helplessly.

This was the first time Lin Chuan had met the brothers Yu Chi Baolin and Yu Chi Baoqi. The two brothers and their father Yu Chi Jingde looked exactly alike. They were not very talkative, but they still greeted Lin Chuan politely.

The two Yuchi brothers, the two Cheng brothers, Lin Chuan, and Qin Huaidao, a group of six riders, headed straight for Pingkangfang.

A quarter of an hour later, the six men, riding horses, stood before a pavilion adorned with large red lanterns. Qin Huaidao pointed to the three gilded characters "Qunfang Pavilion" above the door and said with a smile:

"I heard that several young ladies from Qunfang Pavilion are getting married today, so I've brought all the money I've saved up over the past six months. Please don't be shy, brother!"

"Haha, Huai Dao, you're like my own brother!"

Cheng Chumo laughed heartily and exaggeratedly gestured for Qin Huaidao to come inside:

"Brother Qin, please come in!"

While the group was making a ruckus, several servants quickly came over and took the horses. A still-attractive woman, accompanied by two maids, swayed her slender waist as she stepped out and gave a warm curtsy.

"Young Master Cheng, Second Young Master, Young Master Qin, Young Master Yuchi, Second Young Master, what brings you all here today! Please come in!"

Qin Huaidao hooked Lin Chuan's arm around her and glared at the woman with annoyance:

"This is a true honored guest! You're blind!"

"Young Master Qin, I was truly blind! I'm so sorry, so sorry, esteemed guest, please come in!"

The woman apologized repeatedly, then curtsied to Lin Chuan and led the group inside.

Leading everyone through a moon gate, they arrived at a simple and elegant courtyard. After sitting down in the spacious main room, the woman personally poured tea for everyone before curtsying and saying:

"Gentlemen, this Peony Garden is the best courtyard in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Please have a seat and some hot tea. This old servant will arrange for a young lady to come and serve you right away!"

"Go now! Go now!" Cheng Chumo waved his hand impatiently.

After a while, the woman returned, followed by a group of maids carrying wine and dishes, and more than a dozen young women dressed in various colored skirts.

After the maidservants entered the room, they began placing fine wine and delicacies on the tables in front of each person. A group of young women dressed in short skirts entered the room and, without the woman's command, stood in two rows and bowed in unison to Lin Chuan and the others.

"Greetings, esteemed gentlemen!"

"Gentlemen, the most outstanding young ladies of Qunfang Pavilion are all here!" the woman introduced with a smile.

"Brother Lin, I'm hosting today, you choose first!" Qin Huaidao said with a smile.

Looking at the group of beautiful young women in front of him, Lin Chuan felt as if he had returned to the modern era. In a club more than a thousand years later, there are still quite a few people who like this style!

"Let's choose her!"

Since Qin Huaidao had already spoken, not choosing him would be going against his good intentions, so Lin Chuan simply pointed to one that looked pleasing to the eye.

The others also each chose one they found pleasing to the eye. The woman curtsied and said with a smile:

"I'll be waiting outside. Please feel free to ask if you need anything!"

Qin Huaidao waved his hand, and the woman tactfully led her people out.

Besides the young ladies serving each person, there were about a dozen young ladies in the room. As the music started, dancers dressed in short skirts and thin gauze began to dance gracefully in the center of the room.

The gathering of several good brothers was not just for listening to music; drinking was the main purpose. Qin Huaidao was the host, and he took the lead, sitting down next to Lin Chuan with a full glass of wine, and said with a smile:

"Your younger brother respects Brother Lin!"

He'd had one drink at noon and another in the evening, and the effects of the alcohol were only just wearing off. The smell of alcohol made Lin Chuan's stomach churn again. With a bitter expression, he downed his drink in one gulp and said helplessly:

"Brother Qin, since we're like family, why do you keep saying thank you...?"

"Haha, Brother Lin is right! I'll punish myself with a drink!" Qin Huaidao laughed heartily.