Water Margin: Gao Yanei is actually a Gal Genius

Gao Jin looked at Lin Chong across the table and said seriously, "Brother, you have no idea! I was almost beaten to death by Old Deng's men yesterday."

On one side was his sworn brother, and on the other was his boss's superior. Lin Chong couldn't say anything, so he touched his nose, smiled awkwardly, raised his glass, and said, "I, Lin, will have a drink with my brother."

Gao Jin, who was lying on the soft couch, raised his cup to drink, but felt uncomfortable. He finished drinking on his side, and a burning pain came from his buttocks and back. He quickly lay down and felt better.

"Monk! Stop staring! What kind of respectable monk stares at other people's butts all the time!" Gao Jin shouted irritably, unable to see Lu Zhishen and not wanting to turn around to look for him.

Lu Zhishen's voice came from behind and to the side, "Grand Commandant Gao is really heartless! I think my brother can't touch anything for a day or two, the skin is already bleeding and broken."

"You tell me... come and drink!" Gao Jin felt awkward all over.

Hearing Gao Jin's unfriendly tone, Lu Zhishen returned to his seat at the table. "I've always heard that Grand Commandant Gao dotes on my brother. Why then did he act so cruelly?"

"That old man is so stubborn, I've come up with a brilliant plan..." Gao Jin didn't bother to hide anything from his two brothers, so he told them everything about how he had come back yesterday to offer his advice.

"Brother, you are so magnanimous and do not covet wealth and status. I admire you greatly." Lu Zhishen looked on with admiration after hearing this.

Lin Chong was a little confused. After hesitating for a while, he said, "Brother, you should listen to the Grand Commandant. Why not take this promising future and become an outlaw? Although you have achievements, you have the Grand Commandant's protection. A few achievements are not worth tarnishing your reputation."

Hearing Lin Chong's words, Lu Zhishen also realized what was going on and joined in the persuasion, saying, "Brother, although you are bold, you have lost your mind. With the connections of the Grand Commandant, wouldn't it be wonderful to become the prefect of a prefecture? Then Brother Lin and I will serve under you, and we can guarantee that the prefecture will be peaceful and prosperous, and the people will live in peace."

The two brothers meant well, but they didn't know that Gao Jin had a system.

Gao Jin couldn't very well tell them about the system, so he changed the subject, "It looks like I won't be able to leave the manor for the next few days, so don't forget to come and keep me company, brothers..."

Halfway through the conversation, a woman who looked like a maid came to the bedside, curtsied, and said, "Number 666, change the dressing for the young master."

Lu Zhishen was shocked: "Brother, you're so extravagant? You have hundreds of maids alone?"

Gao Jin lay prone and waved to the maid to change the dressing, feeling the coolness of the new medicine after it was applied.

Gao Jin closed his eyes comfortably and said softly, "No, I only have two maids. When my muscles swell up after martial arts practice, they massage them to relieve the blood stasis."

"One is named Qianyun, and the other is named Qiaoyun."

"I also call them number 666 and number 888."

"Why choose these two strange names?" Lu Zhishen asked, puzzled.

Lin Chong listened from the side and seemed to understand something.

Gao Jin joked, "Of course, it was to see your surprised expression just now."

Now, Lu Zhishen slapped his forehead, realizing the truth.

"I'd like to offer you a toast, brother; this is truly wonderful!"

"Brother Lin, join us too... Hmm... Do you like the food and drinks?"

The three brothers clinked glasses, with Gao Jin drinking relatively little. He had to lie down due to his injury, so the other two didn't want to urge him to drink more. Firstly, drinking while lying down was inconvenient; secondly, getting up to relieve himself after drinking too much would be a hassle.

"Brother missed a great event by not coming to the Dongyue Temple today," Lu Zhishen said mysteriously.

"Good monk, tell your brother quickly, what grand event is this?" Gao Jin thought to himself, could it be that crazy woman holding a martial arts contest to find a husband?

"A hero has arrived in the capital city of Dongjing, named Li Yan, the Mountain Lord Tai Sui, skilled with a staff. In the mountains and forests, he killed an old bear, a tiger, and a litter of wild boars. Today, outside the Dongyue Temple, there's a great commotion with gongs and drums, carrying the carcasses of the bear, tiger, and wild boars, and parading the hero through the streets in celebration—it's quite a spectacle!"

"Speaking of which, I saw that hero on my way home after finishing my shift today. He's quite a character. I saw him from afar. The tiger's front paw was broken off at the wrist, and its forehead was sunken. The old bear only had one wound, which went straight from its mouth to the back of its head. The wild boar had thick skin and no wounds, but its mouth, nose, eyes, and ears were all covered in blood, as if that man had smashed its internal organs."

Hearing the brothers' description, Gao Jin felt a surge of urge. What he lacked right now was nothing more than having these heroes call him "brother."

"It's such a pity and a shame that I can't befriend such a hero... Ouch... This beating wasn't worth it, making me miss out on such a hero." Gao Jin's movements were too rough, and he accidentally aggravated his wound, causing him to wince in pain and gasp for breath.

"Brother, don't be anxious. I'll go back today and inquire about it, and then I'll go and pay a visit on your behalf. What do you think, brother?" Lu Zhishen took on the task.

Gao Jin also thought it was feasible. The Great Monk was always generous and not likely to offend anyone, while Instructor Lin had official duties and couldn't run around every day.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, brother, to go and meet that hero Li Yan for me..."

Without further ado, the three brothers drank at the Gao residence until the sun was setting before bidding farewell to Gao Jin and preparing to go home.

Gao Jin also struggled to his feet and, with the help of Qianyun and Qiaoyun, walked with difficulty toward the house.

.....

After leaving the Gao residence, Lin Chong parted ways with Master Lu and headed towards his home. On the way, he encountered an acquaintance, none other than the guard, Lu Qian.

Lu Qian approached Lin Chong and bowed respectfully, saying, "Brother Lin Chong, you are truly blessed."

The two have known each other since childhood, and Lin Chong even saved Lu Qian's life, so they naturally have a good relationship.

Lin Chong helped Lu Qian up. "Brother Lu, what are you saying?"

Lu Qian said, "Grand Commandant Gao has invited you. It must be related to some military business... Brother Lin Chong, now that you're rich and powerful, don't forget your brother!"

"Of course, of course. We've known each other since childhood, so it's only right that we help each other out. May I ask where the Grand Commandant is? I wouldn't dare keep him waiting." Lin Chong understood; it must be the matter that his brother Gao Jin had mentioned before.

"The Grand Commandant is in this private room..." Lu Qian pointed to the restaurant behind him, "...Brother Lin Chong, please follow me."

After saying that, he led Lin Chong toward the restaurant.

Lin Chong followed Lu Qian to the private room on the second floor of the restaurant. He opened the door and entered the inner room, where he saw Gao Qiu and a scholar sitting at the table.

"Your humble servant Lin Chong greets the Grand Commandant." Lin Chong stepped forward and bowed.

Gao Qiu first waved for Lu Qian to wait outside the door before speaking, "Lin Chong?"

"That's truly lowly!"

"Indeed, you are a magnificent and fine young man. Please sit down and have a drink."

"How dare I disobey?" Lin Chong said, then raised his cup and drank it all.

Gao Qiu exclaimed, "Truly a hero! Lin Chong, what are your ambitions?"

"Serve the country and repay the nation."

"Hmm, good... There are a few vacant positions in the Imperial Guard. My son originally recommended you to me, but now that I've seen your figure, I'm quite fond of you as well."

"However... after all, this is the military. Promoting you to commander out of nowhere might cause gossip... Therefore, I plan to hold a martial arts competition among the Imperial Guards after the Mid-Autumn Festival..."

"...Let the capable rise to the top. Do you have any difficulties? Considering your good relationship with my son, whatever difficulties you have, I will help you resolve them."

Lin Chong was overjoyed. He had the ability but no way to use it, and now Gao Qiu had opened the way for him.

"I have confidence, Grand Commandant!"

"Don't try to deceive me. If you cause me to lose face, even if you are on good terms with Tuizhi, I will still hold you accountable!"

"Please rest assured, Grand Commandant, I am confident that there are only a handful of Imperial Guards who can defeat me."

"That's good then, you may go now."

After Lin Chong acknowledged the greeting, he walked out of the room, said goodbye to Lu Qian at the door, and then left.

"It wasn't him," Gao Qiu suddenly said. "Lin Chong shouldn't have been able to come up with that kind of plan."

The scholar Su Guo beside him said, "The Grand Commandant is worrying too much. Perhaps he will finally realize his mistake after retiring."

"Tuizhi spends his days and nights with Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen. Neither of them seems like the type to come up with such a plan..." Gao Qiu sighed, paused, and continued, "...Now we can only hope that it was Tuizhi's own idea."

Su Guo said, "It's a brilliant plan. Congratulations, Grand Commandant, on adding another merit to your record. Let's find some clever men in the army to do it. How about Lin Chong?"

"There are only the two of them with Tuizhi, let's look elsewhere... Forget it, let's eat first. Uncle, you love fish, this restaurant makes delicious fish, you must try it."

Gao Qiu called out to the outside, "Lu Qian, tell them to serve the dishes!"