Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 110 People from White Tiger Stronghold Arrive

"I will not change the Li family."

Zhu Biao rejected the idea without hesitation.

Zhu Liang was still smiling, but a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes. He couldn't change his surname back to Li unless the name of this tavern was changed.

His original name was Li Liang. The Li family of Qingzhou was a prominent family. Although they had fallen into decline, he was still proud of being a servant born into a family.

"But we will no longer call it Zhu Family Tavern; from now on, let's call it Heavenly Immortal Pavilion."

At this moment, Zhu pointed to the tavern and said, "Our old tavern is too outdated, and Zhu Family Village is too small. After the New Year, come with me to Tiger Sorrow Stream, and we'll rebuild a two-story vermilion building."

"Hang another gilded couplet at the entrance: 'In the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion, Heavenly Immortals are intoxicated; in the Hall of Heroes, true heroes reside.'"

This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather something Zhu Biao had planned long ago. When he had no territory, he could only support his army through business.

Once he opens up the trade route from Huchoujian to Qingzhou, and then uses distillation to turn Zuitianxian into a strong liquor, it will become a powerful brand to attract merchants and customers.

"What a fine couplet! What a magnanimous owner!"

Zhu Liang clapped his hands in praise, but a hint of melancholy still flashed across his eyes.

"Ha! You old codger."

Although the look of dejection was fleeting, it did not escape Zhu Biao's sharp eyes, and he slapped Zhu Liang on the shoulder.

"The day Tianxianlou opens will be the day you regain your name, Liliang."

"Thank you, sir!"

Zhu Liang's eyes suddenly turned red, and he was about to kneel down when Zhu Biao grabbed him.

"Alright, I don't care about these formalities."

He helped Zhu Liang up and waved to Su Fang and the others.

"Come on, let's go eat. It's been a long time since I've been to your restaurant, so let's try two of your signature dishes. Have they gotten any worse?"

Zhu Family Tavern is, after all, a legitimate establishment. Besides its fine wine, "Drunken Immortal," it also boasts two signature dishes.

Lotus leaf-wrapped beggar's chicken, clay oven-roasted lamb.

Both dishes were made using secret recipes brought from Zhu Biao's birth mother's family. The two dishes, one from the south and one from the north, demonstrate the rich heritage of the Li family back then.

Zhu Liang rubbed his eyes hard and patted his chest, saying, "Don't worry, boss! I will never ruin the reputation. If the taste is not right, I'm willing to offer my head in return."

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Biao burst into laughter.

Beggar's chicken is tender and juicy with a delicate aroma, while roasted lamb is golden and crispy. One bite fills your mouth with rich, oily flavor, making you incredibly satisfied.

"Great! The taste hasn't changed at all!"

After eating a few pieces of meat, Zhu Biao put down his chopsticks and sincerely praised the dish.

"Uh-huh."

Su Fang and his group were starving, their mouths stuffed full, and they were eating so fast they couldn't even utter a coherent sentence.

"Hey~ I'm glad the boss likes it."

Standing by the table with his hands at his sides, the chubby Zhu Fang smiled and answered.

"My dad said, people can change, but the taste can't."

He was Zhu Liang's son and also the chef at the restaurant, specializing in preparing these two signature dishes. His father was currently presiding over the wine exchange and couldn't leave, so he took over serving him.

"Well said!"

Zhu Biao nodded.

"By the way, your second younger brother is studying at a private school, his studies..."

"Sir! Please, spare my life!"

Just then, someone suddenly shouted in the outer corridor, followed by the waiter's furious cursing.

"Old Zhou, have you lost your mind? You've ruined the master's mood! I'll beat you to death! Now get back to the back and chop wood!"

"uncle!"

The man was still shouting. Zhu Biao vaguely felt that his voice was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

"Su Fang, go and call them in."

"Here you are."

Su Fang swallowed his food and turned to open the door.

Pfft!

However, as soon as the door was opened, a figure stumbled in and knelt on the ground without saying a word, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Sir! Please, please let this old man go home!"

Then, a sweating man rushed in, desperately pulling him away while frantically apologizing to Zhu Biao.

"It's my fault for not handling things properly; this scoundrel has disturbed the master."

"stop!"

Zhu Biao gave a soft shout, frowned, and stood up, his face already somewhat gloomy.

It wasn't because I was disturbed while eating; it was purely because I was annoyed by Zhu San and Zhu Wu.

These two simpletons, though they had put down their food, were completely unsuspecting, looking entirely like they were watching a show.

You must know that they were Zhu Biao's future close followers. If the person who suddenly broke in was an assassin, they would have already succeeded at such close range.

Fortunately, Su Fang was alert enough to instinctively press down on the dagger and block the man.

Instead of losing his temper and reprimanding his men, Zhu Biao shouted at the kneeling man, "Get up and speak!"

"Sir, do you still remember this old man?"

The man raised his head, revealing a thin, dark, wrinkled old face, with tears streaming down his face.

"It's you!"

Zhu Biao stared intently at the object for a moment, then suddenly remembered something.

"You are the shopkeeper from Cangzhou Prison Camp, the one who specializes in serving donkey meat."

Initially, Zhu Biao waited in Yedian until Linchong. Later, a fire broke out at the hay storage area, and the group killed someone at the mountain god temple and fled.

To avoid leaving any witnesses, Zhu Jiu burned down the roadside inn, and the innkeeper and his wife were "invited" to Zhu Family Village.

However, Zhu Biao experienced so many things afterward, so many that he completely forgot about this incident.

Upon hearing this, the man cried even harder and kowtowed twice.

"It is indeed this old man, sir! Please, spare my life!"

Ultimately, Zhu Biao was in the wrong, so he quickly stepped forward, helped him up, and gently comforted him.

"Old man, please don't be like this. Get up and tell me slowly, what exactly happened?"

At this moment, Zhu Liang also rushed over upon hearing the news. Upon seeing the scene, he immediately turned stern and scolded, "Old Zhou, what are you doing now?"

The shop owner, surnamed Zhou, was emboldened by Zhu Biao's backing and retorted defiantly, "What am I making a fuss about? I've been a shopkeeper before, I can read and write, I can do math, and I'm skilled at making braised meat. Yet you're telling me to go chop wood and start a fire in the backyard!"

He raised his hands, which were covered in calluses, frostbite, and slightly deformed joints.

"I'm so old, how can I bear this?"

Zhu Liang broke out in a cold sweat, glanced quickly at Zhu Biao, and tried to argue, "The shop doesn't lack accountants, and all you know how to do is braise donkey meat. Where in Zhu Family Village would you find so much donkey meat to prepare?"

By this point, Zhu Biao had roughly guessed the whole story.

As the saying goes, no one is perfect. Zhu Liang is loyal and devoted, and he can also maintain the quality of the food and wine, and manage the tavern in an orderly manner.

But he also has flaws; he is xenophobic.

How could Zhu Liang readily accept an outsider of unknown origin, especially since Old Man Zhou was also a shopkeeper with his own skills?

Making things difficult is almost inevitable.

To be honest, if Zhu Biao hadn't left a message saying that Old Man Zhou shouldn't leave Zhu Family Village, he probably would have been overwhelmed and died long ago.

"You're talking nonsense! With my skills, what kind of meat sauce can't I make? Even a braised egg is better than chopping wood!"

"Alright, Mr. Zhou, it was indeed my fault for handling this matter poorly, and I'm sorry you had to suffer."

Zhu Biao patted him on the shoulder and interrupted.

"You should rest and recuperate for a few days. After the New Year, this shop will be entirely in your hands."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. Zhu Liang bit his lip tightly to keep himself from making a sound.

Old Zhou's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Really?"

"really."

Zhu Biao nodded.

"However, I will be moving the liquor license and the bar to another place. This place will no longer be the main store; it will just be an ordinary restaurant."

"That will do! Thank you for your trust, sir. I will certainly manage it well!"

Old Zhou showed no sign of discouragement and readily agreed, as if afraid that Zhu Biao might change his mind.

How could he possibly refuse?

He originally only ran a small, makeshift inn with just four tables, barely making ends meet. Even though the Zhu family's inn had its liquor license revoked, it was still essentially a legitimate establishment.

The roadside inn was transformed into a restaurant, as if the person had ascended to heaven on the spot!

As for leaving, Old Man Zhou wasn't stupid. He never dared to think about it. He knew very well that as long as he left Zhu Family Village, he would be silenced.

I heard today that Zhu Biao came to the store and mustered up the courage to cause trouble, but all he wanted was to change jobs.

Upon hearing Zhu Biao's arrangement, Zhu Liang's expression softened considerably, but resentment and indignation still lingered in his eyes.

He has been running this old shop for over twenty years and has developed a deep affection for it. Even though the shop is about to be moved, he doesn't want to let outsiders benefit from it for nothing.

"Sigh~"

His change in expression did not escape Zhu Biao's notice, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Factionalism and the clash between the old and the new are age-old problems that a community of shared interests can never avoid.

His small group had only just begun to gather people when signs of trouble were already emerging.

"Shopkeeper! We're from the White Tiger Camp, here to collect our wine! Damn it! Where are we? Are we all dead?"

Just then, a loud, boisterous shout suddenly rang out from outside. Zhu Liang was about to turn around and go out when Zhu Biao grabbed him.

"What White Tiger Camp? I've never heard of it before?"

Zhu Liang leaned close to his ear and whispered, "It's that village on White Tiger Mountain."

""

Zhu Biao's eyes narrowed: "The White Tiger Stronghold where the Kong brothers are based?"