Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

As dusk approached, the sky had completely darkened.

Inside the gate of Xiangzhou's north gate, Pang Qiutang looked around and muttered:

"I didn't expect getting into the city to be so easy?"

At this moment, she walked beside Zhu Biao with her head down, wearing a faded brown ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with her hair styled in a simple bun, revealing her originally delicate and pretty features.

However, her complexion was sallow and her lips were grayish-white, making her look not only old but also sickly, so much so that no one wanted to look at her for long.

Zhu Biao led the horse without saying a word, and she said angrily again.

"If that's the case, pretty boy, why don't you include my brother and second brother as well?"

"Shut up!"

Zhu Biao's face immediately darkened, and he let out a low growl.

That little wench, she's got long hair but short brains.

She found it easy to enter the city because of the travel permit that had been prepared for Madam Lin, as well as her appropriate makeup and attire.

In addition, Zhu Biao, a minor commander, was a low-ranking official, and even the gatekeepers had to give him some face.

Bringing her into the city was easy, but bringing Pang Wanchun and his hot-tempered younger brother into the city was an impossible task.

Pang Qiutang knew her place. Seeing that Zhu Biao was angry, she didn't argue anymore, but just glared at him fiercely.

"Are you... are you very rich?"

A moment later, they checked into the largest and best inn in the city. Pang Qiutang was astonished by the incredibly lavish feast before her.

The table was laden with chicken, duck, fish, and lamb, along with fruits, vegetables, candied fruit, rice, and steamed buns.

Although her stomach was rumbling and her throat was churning, she dared not touch her chopsticks, revealing a rare, awkward little girl-like demeanor.

Her father was originally the clerk of the military office in Xiuning County, but unfortunately he died young. Fortunately, her eldest uncle was the head of Pangjiazhuang, so she had someone to protect her.

Before the collection of tribute stones and flowers, her family lived a relatively comfortable life; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to learn riding and archery.

However, even when the family was at its wealthiest, they could only eat this well during the Lunar New Year.

"Enough with the talking, hurry up and eat, I'm going out for a bit."

"Where are you going? I'll go with you!"

Upon hearing this, Pang Qiutang suddenly jumped up and blurted out.

Despite her constant bickering and arguing with Zhu Biao along the way, she was actually incredibly flustered inside; her arrogance was merely a protective facade.

She had been protected by her father, brothers, and uncles since childhood. On her first long journey, she encountered a near-death experience. After many days of hardship, the string in her heart was already on the verge of collapse.

In truth, she knew perfectly well that Zhu Biao was her only lifeline.

Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow and a wicked smile curled at the corner of his mouth:

"I'm going to a brothel for drinks and entertainment. Do you want to come with me?"

"A brothel? You, how old are you?"

Pang Qiutang's eyes widened suddenly, and then her cheeks flushed red. Clearly, she also knew what a brothel was.

"Don't panic, I will be back. After all, my horse and luggage are still at the inn."

After saying that, he didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

Pang Qiutang lifted her foot, turned her head to look at the luggage and weapons piled in the corner, pursed her lips, and ultimately did not follow.

"Fine! Even if I die, I'll die with a full stomach!"

After a few moments of stunned silence, she suddenly lunged at the dining table and began sweeping away the food like a whirlwind.

After enduring icy conditions and snow-covered landscapes for over ten days, Pang Qiutang was starving. She devoured all the food that would have been enough for three or four strong men.

hiccup~

After swallowing the last piece of fish, she let out a contented burp, leaned back in her chair, rubbed her stomach with satisfaction, and relaxed her brow.

"Good heavens! I'm finally alive!"

The next moment, she heard the sound of the clapper at the second watch of the night outside the window, and her brows immediately furrowed again. She glanced at the door with a guilty look on her face.

"I hope something bad happens to this cunning pretty boy."

Without realizing it, she had blurted out what was on her mind.

"Pretty boy, ha, I'll take that as a compliment."

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Zhu Biao walked in carrying several packages.

He glanced at the messy table and curled his lip in surprise. He had already guessed that this little vixen was starving.

With him around, I'll definitely feel restricted.

"then!"

He raised his hand and tossed a heavy bundle to Pang Qiutang.

"Take a good shower and change into these clothes later."

"You went to sell me clothes? I didn't expect you to be such a nice person."

Upon catching the bundle, a hint of undisguised joy flashed in Pang Qiutang's eyes. After all, she was a girl, and hearing about washing up and new clothes was bound to make her happy.

However, when she opened the bundle, she was immediately taken aback.

Inside were dusty fur coats, short browns, and pantyhose—all old men's clothes, with all the edges patched up, and a faint musty smell.

"Why are they men's clothes?"

Zhu Biao then took out another travel permit and handed it to her.

"This is your new travel document. Starting tomorrow, you will be my stable boy, Wu Qi, sixteen years old, and mute."

Before Pang Qiutang could recover from her daze, Zhu Biao added another sentence casually.

"From now on, you'll be living and eating with someone, and you'll be sleeping on the floor."

Honestly, although this young woman is quite beautiful and has a good figure, he really doesn't have any wicked thoughts, at least not now.

It's simply because my wallet is too empty.

When Zhu Biao left Chaijiazhuang, he had a hundred taels of gold leaves and more than a hundred strings of cash on him. Later, he also stole four hundred taels of gold and silver from a black market.

Logically speaking, he should have been quite well-off, but he spent money recklessly, like water flowing away.

The Lu family sold thirty-six first-class racing horses for 1,500 taels of silver, but he only paid 100 taels of gold, still owing 300 strings of silver.

(Currently, large-scale transactions are mostly settled in gold and silver. The exchange rate is 1 gold to 12 silver, and 1 silver to 1,800 copper.)

He gave Lin Chong thirty taels of silver during the first division of troops, and he also gave Wu Song thirty taels of silver during the second division of troops.

Linqing redeemed Ruyi from her servitude and hired two courtesans to accompany her for the night, costing 150 strings of cash.

The third division of troops resulted in the giving of fifty taels to Ruyi and fifty taels to Zhu Wu. Last night, thirty taels were returned to Pang Wanchun, leaving only a little over two hundred taels.

He was going to Tokyo on important business and also had to escort Lady Lin on her long and winding journey. The biggest expenses were yet to come.

To be fair, Pang Qiutang is quite receptive; she figured it out on her own without Zhu Biao having to explain much.

Not only that, she was also a little excited. After changing into men's clothes in her room, she even ran to Zhu Biao and twirled around for him to see.

"Little Bai~ uh~ Zhu family boy, what do you think?"

Unexpectedly, Zhu Biao, who was drawing a map, gave him a thorough scolding.

"Don't wear your hair down, your face is too pale, and your bra isn't tight enough!"

"You also have pierced ears, so you must not remove your hat when outsiders are present. Also, remember, you are mute!"

Pang Qiutang, her eyes red, covered her face and ran out, slamming the door shut behind her. Zhu Biao put down his pen and muttered something.

"Damn it! You dare to give me attitude? I'll let you go hungry tomorrow. Just because you're Pang Wanchun doesn't mean I have to put up with you!"

He rolled up the map and sighed softly.

"Oh dear, your brother absolutely cannot die."

Silent all night.

Zhu Biao kept his word. The next morning, he didn't call Pang Qiutang for breakfast and instead hid in his room to enjoy a hearty meal.

Despite thinking about saving money, I ordered an unusually lavish breakfast: baked flatbread, meat buns, mutton soup, and several kinds of pickles.

There was no other way; he was at the age where he was growing rapidly, and his daily energy expenditure was enormous, with an appetite that seemed bottomless.

The saying "the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts" is absolutely true.

Clang!

Pang Qiutang finally couldn't resist and knocked on Zhu Biao's door. This was her fourth time coming over.

Who is it?

Zhu Biao's muffled voice came from inside the door, and he was clearly chewing something.

Clang!

Pang Qiutang frowned, her eyes flashing with anger, and when she knocked on the door again, she knocked harder.

"Who?"

Clang!

"Damn it! Who is that bastard? Striking my soul so early in the morning?"

Zhu Biao sat as still as a mountain, slurping his mutton soup while muttering grumbles in annoyance.

"Aba! Awoo!"

Pang Qiutang's face turned red with anger, and veins bulged on her forehead, but she didn't knock on the door again. Instead, she let out two unconscious cries.

She remembered Zhu Biao's words: she was mute and could not speak.

"Heh~"

Zhu Biao raised the corners of his mouth, wiped his lips, straightened up, unlatched the door, and looked at her with a half-smile.

"What's wrong? Are you hungry?"

Pang Qiutang's face turned bright red, but she still nodded heavily.

Zhu Biao leaned lazily against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow and teasingly saying:

"You're not that big, but you have quite the appetite. You ate so much last night, and you're hungry again so soon?"

"You~"

Pang Qiutang was about to curse when she met Zhu Biao's suddenly cold eyes, and her throat tightened, causing her to hold it in.

"Wu Qi, are you mute or a servant? You can't avoid this kind of treatment from now on."

He paused, then his tone turned serious:

"Do you understand?"

In an instant, Pang Qiutang seemed to be captivated by him and nodded blankly.