Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 78: Another damn accident?

"Saburo!"

Unlike Zhu San and Zhu Wu, Wu Song did not express his emotions freely. He ran quickly to Zhu Biao, but suddenly became hesitant.

"Me, me~"

His eyes darted away, and he even seemed a little ashamed, like a child who had done something wrong and had suddenly been caught by an adult.

"Second brother, I miss you."

Zhu Biao took two steps forward, hugged him tightly, and even patted his broad back hard.

"I've been worried sick the whole way, rushing as fast as I could. Now that I see you are safe and sound, I can finally rest easy."

"Sanlang! I'm sorry, second brother. I've caused you so much worry."

Upon hearing this, Wu Song's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and he replied in a deep voice.

A moment later, at a roadside tea stall.

Wu Song took the flour bag handed to him by Zhu Biao, tore it open, and saw that it was full of white silver coins, roughly two or three hundred taels.

"Sanlang, what does this mean?"

He wasn't greedy for money; instead, his expression suddenly darkened.

"Could it be that you're about to return home, find your second brother a burden, and wish to sever all ties with me, bidding farewell now?"

"Second brother, what are you thinking?"

Zhu Biao was immediately at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"You must come home with me and spend every day with me. If you are unwilling, I will drug you, knock you out, and take you home by force."

Upon hearing this, Wu Song was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! What kind of medicine did you use? My old house burned down, and now I'm homeless."

"Sanlang, from now on, your second brother will be relying on you. Whether it's guarding the house or farming, just give me food."

Zhu Biao smiled too.

"Don't worry, I guarantee you'll have meat at every meal and wine every day."

"Sanlang understands me best!"

Wu Song slapped the flour sack, finally snapping out of his daze.

"Then, what kind of money is this?"

"This is the money that Master Wang is giving you in compensation. I went to his house last night."

"Losing money?"

Wu Song suddenly clenched his money bag, his brows furrowed, and his eyes became troubled.

Zhu Biao instantly understood his intentions. Wu Song was not a greedy person, and the humiliation that Master Wang had inflicted on Wu Da could not be compensated by money alone.

"Second brother, this money is only for compensating your old house."

"I have already promised you an eye for an eye. The grudge of that Wang family tyrant for humiliating your elder brother will be settled elsewhere. It won't be long before the Wang family is in chaos."

"Really? Sanlang, don't try to put my mind at ease."

Wu Song suddenly looked up.

"Hmph! To put your mind at ease?"

Pang Qiutang, who had been silent all along, suddenly sneered, "Since we arrived in Xiangzhou, every time we went to a place, we would deliberately leave a stamped and signed official document at the inn or residence."

"The letter said that the Wang family possessed rare stones, and it was estimated that their property would be confiscated soon."

"Official documents with seals and signatures?"

Wu Song was just a greenhorn at the time, how could he understand the intricacies of officialdom? He was completely bewildered and looked blankly at Zhu Biao.

"Uh~"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and explained in a language that Wu Song could understand: "It's a forged letter of denunciation, saying that the Wang family is secretly hiding a strange stone with the character 'longevity' on it."

"These days, it's fashionable for the powerful and wealthy to collect stones. Before long, someone will come knocking on the Wang family's door demanding them."

"I understand!"

Wu Song's eyes lit up as he listened, and he suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Once those devilish, powerful people set their sights on you, that scoundrel Wang will be nothing but mud and rotten trousers, no matter how hard he tries to explain himself. He'll never have a moment's peace again!"

"That's exactly right."

Zhu Biao nodded.

"Is this revenge satisfactory, Second Brother?"

This was a plan he had long ago, a way to avenge Wu Song against the Wang family. After leaving Cizhou, he sent more than thirty secret letters throughout the eastern and western parts of Hebei.

He couldn't even guess who would eventually get this thing. Anyway, Wang family's clerk, Si Yi, wouldn't be able to withstand it even if he died!

"satisfy!"

Wu Song nodded vigorously and grinned broadly.

"Sanlang, Second Brother is completely convinced! You really can kill without a knife!"

"snort!"

Pang Qiutang snorted again.

"You big oaf, if you don't know how to compliment people, then don't bother."

"Um?"

Wu Song smiled throughout the room, not angry at all, but he gave Pang Qiutang a disapproving look.

"How dare you speak so rudely, you little wench?"

"rude?"

Before Zhu Biao could smooth things over, she exploded, firing off a barrage of sharp rebukes: "You big dummy, do you know? Because of your reckless behavior, Third Brother rushed here day and night, hasn't slept for two days, and almost collapsed just now!"

"Alright, Qiutang~"

Zhu Biao reached out to pull her, but she grabbed his hand and lifted him up.

"You big dummy, open your bull eyes and take a good look at the mess you've made of Third Brother!"

Zhu Biao's hands had been repeatedly frostbitten. After soaking them in hot water last night, his fingers were now swollen like carrots, a shocking sight.

Wu Song was stunned. His vision gradually blurred, and although he opened and closed his mouth several times, he couldn't utter a single word.

afternoon.

A two-horse cart slowly made its way along the official road, with four riders protecting it on both sides.

Wu Song insisted on hiring the carriage in the city, and Zhu Biao couldn't persuade him otherwise, and he was also really exhausted, so he simply let him go.

Unexpectedly, he fell asleep almost instantly after sitting in the carriage, and was only woken up when the oxcart ran over a large rock.

"Fifth Brother, tell me, where did you go with the young master? What scenes did you witness?"

Outside the car, Zhu San was pestering Zhu Wu with questions.

"What young master? Third brother? You should call him young master, otherwise you'll easily give yourself away."

Zhu Wu stood tall with his chest puffed out and his chin held high.

"We've been to so many places! Hebei goes without saying, but there's Changheng, Chenliu, Zhengzhou, the Yellow River, Qinyang, Baimajin, the Taihang Mountains, and even Bianliang (Kaifeng)!"

"Third brother, have you heard of Fanlou? It's the number one restaurant in the world, right next to the capital. I've stayed there too."

He paused, then lowered his voice and said, "Back in Linqing, the young master even found two courtesans to keep me company in bed. Heh, their looks, their figures, their taste, tsk tsk."

"Damn it!"

Zhu San's mouth was practically watering as he listened, and at the same time, he was furious and kicked Zhu Wu in the butt.

"You fool got a great deal, going off to enjoy life with Young Master Zhuang."

"Enjoying life? Bullshit!"

Zhu Wuniu glared at him.

"I've followed the young master through mountains of corpses and seas of blood all this way, even Gao..."

"cough!"

Just then, Zhu Biao coughed and pulled back the curtains, saying, "Alright, stop blowing. Where are we?"

"We're still about twenty li from Yanggu. I estimate we'll arrive in about a day and an hour, before dark. Sanlang, are you rested enough?"

Wu Song remained silent and absent-minded throughout the journey, but upon hearing Zhu Biao speak, he was the first to approach him.

Zhu Biao nodded: "Yes, I took a short rest and feel refreshed. Thank you for taking care of me, Second Brother."

"Sanlang, don't tease me."

Wu Song gave an awkward laugh and scratched his head.

He wasn't stupid; he knew perfectly well that Zhu Biao was giving him a way out and saving face.

They went through all this trouble for him. Besides, having traveled thousands of miles across the country, what couldn't they have arranged? In addition, all the money he had was given to him by others.

What kind of help is that?

Zhu Biao didn't dwell on the topic. He looked up at the sky and changed the subject: "Second brother, why don't you go ahead and inform your eldest brother, pack your belongings, and we'll set off eastward early tomorrow morning?"

Wu Song's eyes widened suddenly, and he grabbed Zhu Biao's arm.

"Sanlang, do you intend to take my elder brother with you as well?"

This was Wu Song's last worry. He was determined to work for Zhu Biao, but he couldn't let go of Wu Da, especially his sister-in-law, which made him feel vaguely uneasy.

"certainly."

Zhu Biao smiled.

"Zhu Family Village has tens of thousands of people, and there is a market in the village. Your eldest brother, whether you work in the village or run a shop in the market, you can always have a full meal."

This was something Zhu Biao had already planned.

Wu Da was Wu Song's Achilles' heel. If he was left alone in Yanggu County, Pan Jinlian would inevitably become involved with Ximen Qing sooner or later, and Wu Song would also be doomed.

However, after seeing Pan Jinlian in person, he preferred to arrange for Wu Da to make a living in the market outside Zhu Family Village.

This woman is indeed a bit seductive. If she were brought home, her two shallow-minded and extremely lecherous older brothers would be in trouble.

Ugh, I don't even dare to think about it.

"Saburo!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Song gripped his hand tightly and said in a trembling voice, "Second Brother is clumsy with words and doesn't know how to say nice things. From now on, whoever dares to make things difficult for you will be Wu Er's mortal enemy!"

"Second brother, you flatter me."

2

Zhu Biao felt a great sense of accomplishment. Damn! Who else would willingly become my underling?

Da Da Da~

Just then, a rapid sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the road ahead. Pang Qiutang, with her sharp eyes, immediately exclaimed softly.

"It's Su Fang. What's he doing here? Has he gotten into trouble again?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao's heartstrings, which had just relaxed, immediately tightened again.

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