Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 124 Wuhan University's Glorious Moment

"Young Master!"

Zhu Jiu rode up to greet them, his voice slightly choked.

At this moment, he felt extremely guilty and somewhat panicked. As Zhu Biao's number one confidant, he had not participated in any of the most important matters, such as destroying White Tiger Village and relocating Tiger Sorrow Valley.

"Zhu Jiu, is your injury fully healed?"

"I'm completely cured! I've been eating and sleeping all day, and I've even gained a lot of weight compared to before."

Without saying a word, Zhu Jiu patted his chest a few times.

"good!"

Zhu Biao smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Zhu Jiu, without you by my side, I feel like I'm missing a hand. Go to Daming Prefecture in a few days and do some errands for me."

"Here you go!"

Zhu Jiu clasped her hands together and responded heavily. When she looked up again, her eyes were already brimming with tears.

"Young Master~"

At this moment, Zhu San and Zhu Wu also came over with smiles, blocking his way as if out of the blue.

These two simpletons, like ox-headed and horse-faced demons, followed him day and night, so Zhu Biao would never give them a kind look.

"Get out! Get out! Get out!"

He punched and kicked them, driving them aside, and then rode his horse to the front of the carriage.

"My lord!"

Ruyi's brows and eyes were full of smiles, her gaze sparkling, and she called out in a soft, sweet voice.

"Greetings, my lord!"

Zhu Biao smiled, but just as he was about to reply, he heard another crisp voice calling out.

The other corner of the carriage curtain was lifted, and Pan Jinlian also peeked out.

At this moment, her gaze changed. No longer evasive as before, it became fixed, slightly defiant, as if competing with Ruyi in beauty.

Damn it! Has this woman lost her mind? Or does she think I'm a lecherous glutton who can't be picky at all?

"Um.

"6

Zhu Biao frowned almost imperceptibly and only gave a muffled reply.

Immediately, he ignored Pan Jinlian, his brow relaxed, and he smiled at Ruyi, saying, "Ruyi! Were you bored sitting in the carriage all the way? How about I take you back to camp on horseback?"

"what?"

Ruyi was surprised, delighted, and shy all at once; her beautiful eyes lit up instantly, sparkling like stars.

"My lord, is this... is this appropriate?"

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Biao smiled nonchalantly.

"What's wrong with that? You're my camp advisor, get on your horse quickly!"

Upon hearing this, a subtle hint of disappointment flashed in Ruyi's eyes. Although the title of advisor sounded good, it was not as good as that of a wife or concubine.

However, Ruyi was a clever person and knew that things should not be rushed, so her disappointment was instantly overshadowed by her delight.

"They're here!"

Ruyi straightened up, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally pushing Pan Jinlian aside, and lifted the carriage curtain.

Outside the carriage, the sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance. Pan Jinlian leaned against the carriage, sitting askew, her eyes glazed over, looking somewhat lost and dejected.

Madam Lin helped her up and said softly, "Are you alright, Madam Pan? Did you bump into anything? You too, if you had just stayed in your seat, you would have been fine."

"My sister is right."

Pan Jinlian lowered her head obediently, without retorting, but bit her lip tightly and secretly clenched the hem of her skirt.

Since arriving at Zhu Family Village, Lin Niangzi has been the complete opposite of her usual lively self. She stays at home all day, never speaks to Zhu Biao, and only occasionally talks to Ruyi.

"Wife, cover the yeast well. After we get to the camp and meet my brothers, we'll knead the dough and steam the cakes."

Just then, Wu Da, who was perched on the crossbeam, suddenly spoke.

Slightly ~

Pan Jinlian's tightly clenched fingers made a soft crack, her knuckles turning white.

A short while later.

As Zhu Biao and his group returned to the camp, tiny icicles began to fall sporadically from the sky.

Zhu Biao carried Ruyi back to camp without attracting much attention.

These rough men were quick-witted and discerning; they had already implicitly accepted Ruyi as one of his women. In their minds, it would be strange if Zhu Biao only had one woman.

Instead, when they saw Wuhan University, they burst into loud cheers and rushed over in one go.

"Big brother!"

Wu Song ran ahead like the wind, and with a single sweep of his arms, he picked up Wu Da.

"You've finally arrived! I never want to drink porridge again in my life!"

The other militiamen chimed in, "Yes, Brother Wu, we all missed you!"

"Pah! You're clearly thinking about Brother Wu's steamed buns, mantou, and meat soup."

"Ergou, shut up! You're spitting all over my face!"

"Hahaha~"

For a moment, the scene was extremely joyful.

Wu Da had never experienced such admiration in his life. His face turned red, and his lips trembled for a long time, but he couldn't utter a single word.

I feel like I'm about to faint!

Zhu Biao couldn't stand it any longer, so he put down the Ruyi and snatched the riding whip from them a few times.

"Get out of here, all of you! There are women in the car. If you keep crowding around, we'll have meat porridge tonight."

The bronze bull took a lash on the back, but it didn't hurt or itch. He wasn't angry at all. Instead, he grinned and said, "Hey, my lord, I, the bronze bull, am not picky about food. I'm satisfied as long as I'm full. I'm just afraid you, my lord, can't eat meat porridge anymore."

O

"You idiot!"

Zhu Biao laughed and scolded, "If you keep talking nonsense, we'll have steamed buns for dinner tonight, and you can go drink bran porridge with the bandits."

"Hiss~"

The bronze bull gasped and exaggeratedly covered its mouth.

"Hahaha~"

The militiamen burst into laughter again, but the circle gradually dispersed.

"Can steamed buns really be so popular?"

Seeing this scene through the gap in the carriage curtain, Pan Jinlian's eyes widened, her face full of confusion.

"Of course, food is the most important thing for people."

Lin Niangzi brushed a stray hair behind her ear, her tone very calm.

"The soldiers stayed in the camp, spending their days training, patrolling, and fighting. They could not see their families and had no other entertainment, so they valued food even more."

She glanced at Pan Jinlian, who looked bewildered and seemed to understand but not quite, and sighed softly before adding another sentence.

"Besides food, soldiers also care about what they wear. Madam Pan, the path of making clothes may be viable, but we can't rush it."

Madam Lin was virtuous and gentle, and had never been involved in the intrigues and power struggles of the inner workings of a large family.

However, she came from a military family; her father and the men all served in the military, so she understood the thoughts of these soldiers.

Pan Jinlian was stunned for a long time before speaking again: "Thank you for your guidance, sister."

This time, her tone carried a hint of sincerity; she had taken it to heart.

Unfortunately, after only half an incense stick's time, she forgot all of Lin Niangzi's kind words and became anxious again.

In the renovated kitchen, Wu Da was about to knead dough when Su Fangbian led Bai Qiniang and six or seven women in single file.

Su Fang clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Brother Wu, this is Bai Qiniang, and these ladies are here to help you in the kitchen."

Then, he turned to Bai Qiniang and said, "Qiniang, Brother Wu is the head cook in the kitchen."

"I have met Chef Wu."

Bai Qiniang hurriedly led several women to bow and pay their respects to him.

"what?"

Wu Da was stunned for a moment, and helplessly refused, "Help in the kitchen? No, no need, I, I can do it myself."

Pan Jinlian was anxious and opened her mouth to interrupt, but Su Fang suddenly turned his head, his eyes like knives, and gave her a cold glance. She immediately became stern and dared not utter another word.

Back then, Su Fang had beaten that old woman Wang so badly in front of her on Zishi Street that blood gushed from her mouth and nose, leaving her unrecognizable. The seeds of fear had already been sown.

Su Fangcai fixed his gaze on Pan Jinlian, then turned to Wu Da and laughed, "Brother Wu, don't joke. Our militia alone has over seventy members, plus food for more than two hundred captured bandits. How can you manage all that by yourself?"

At this point, he took two steps forward, leaned closer to Wu Da, and lowered his voice to say, "Brother Wu, they are all poor women who were kidnapped and brought up the mountain. They dare not eat for free, for fear of being forced out of the camp. They want to find some work to make a living."

Upon hearing this, Wu Da looked at Bai Qiniang and the others with pity, but quickly looked away.

"I understand, Brother Su Fang. Don't worry, I will never make things difficult for them, and I will never let them suffer."

Su Fang chuckled and shook her head, patting his arm.

"Brother Wu, you've misunderstood. They're here to work, not to enjoy themselves. If there's work to be done, just give them orders and assign tasks."

At this moment, Bai Qiniang led the group of women in a curtsy and said in unison, "Chef Wu, just give the order, we can do anything."

Wu Da's body trembled violently, but his back straightened inch by inch, and his eyes shone with a light he had never seen before.

He felt that the pent-up frustration that had been weighing on his chest for decades was finally released.

However, after Su Fang left, he was in a dilemma. He looked at Bai Qiniang and the others, constantly rubbing the hem of their clothes, but he didn't know how to start.

He has cooked by himself for half his life; when has he ever ordered anyone around?

"Brother! How about we arrange it this way?"

After Su Fang had walked away, Pan Jinlian quickly walked up to Wu Da and said crisply, "Three people carry water and firewood, one person washes the dishes, two people cut meat and vegetables, and finally two people tend the fire. What do you think?"

Wu Da, whose forehead was already sweating, felt as if he had been granted a pardon and nodded without thinking, saying, "Very good, thanks to my wife."

Upon hearing Pan Jinlian's arrangement, Bai Qiniang quickly raised her eyes, glanced at her, and a subtle glint flashed in her eyes.