"Young Master Tang Er, why are you following us?"
The one clapping Zhou Fugui on the shoulder was Tang Yao, the second son of the Tang family. Zhou Fugui hadn't expected him to chase after them, and alone at that.
"Setting up a scam to cheat the common folk of their money, quite the deed, young man. Come with me to see the magistrate," Tang Yao replied with a smile.
Tang Yao was even younger than Tang Mingyuan, fair-skinned, rather slender, with delicate features. He looked like a woman when he smiled.
"See the magistrate? Hah! Brothers, he wants to drag me to see the magistrate?" Zhou Fugui couldn't help but turn and laugh heartily at his fellow villagers upon hearing this.
Tang Yao was alone, and this was a secluded spot. Darkness had fallen. As the saying goes, "A dark night and a strong wind, perfect for murder." Zhou Fugui was already contemplating silencing him.
"Heh heh..."
"Hahaha..."
"Heh heh..."
A chilling chorus of laughter erupted from his fellow villagers.
"In broad daylight, under the Emperor's very nose, what do you intend to do?" Tang Yao feigned surprise, speaking in haste.
"Young Master Tang Er..." Zhou Fugui deliberately elongated the pronunciation of "Er," saying fiercely, "It's dark now, how can you speak of broad daylight? Under the Emperor's nose? You old man, we brothers have our lives on the line. What are we afraid of regarding the Emperor's nose?"
"Well done..." Tang Yao could see through Zhou Fugui and his companions. They were a "dare-to-die squad" from the Yan army, also known as fanatics. What wouldn't they do?
Tang Yao hadn't really come to arrest Zhou Fugui and his men. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come alone. Thus, after a shout of approval, Tang Yao said, "What you did earlier, heh heh, was quite heroic. I, Tang, admire heroes and wish to associate with them."
"You look younger than me, calling me 'young man' repeatedly. Besides, I'm much taller than you, and my martial arts are likely not inferior to yours," Zhou Fugui muttered inwardly. He then asked in surprise, "Young Master Tang Er flatters me. What hero? We just wanted to eat well before we die. Young Master Tang Er, a noble young master from a prominent family, has come specifically to make friends? Don't play with us."
A noble young master from a prominent family deigning to associate with commoners? Zhou Fugui wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death. He must have another motive, Zhou Fugui mused inwardly.
"Fugui, is it? I heard them call you Fugui. What is your esteemed surname? Or is your surname Fu and your given name Gui?" Tang Yao shook his head upon hearing this. "Fugui, if I had been relentless in the bustling market earlier, would you all have been able to reach this place?"
"Oh..." Zhou Fugui drawled, nodding. "Why has the second young master come? Please speak directly. We country folk don't understand roundabout talk."
As Tang Yao had said, in the bustling market earlier, even if Zhou Fugui and his men had the courage of ten men, they wouldn't dare to kill or set fires in public.
"Money, making money." Tang Yao looked at Zhou Fugui for a moment before honestly saying, "What you did in the market, there must be a method to it. I, a humble individual, have come specifically to seek your guidance."
"Money? Making money? You, a noble young master from a prominent family, are short of money?" Zhou Fugui was greatly surprised and asked with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
However, Tang Yao's plain cloth robe didn't reveal him to be from the prominent Tang family of Youzhou. Zhou Fugui finally noticed Tang Yao's appearance, resembling a penniless scholar.
Indeed, Tang Yao shook his plain cloth robe and said, "What noble young master from a prominent family? Boy, I'm more pathetic than you."
"My surname is Zhou and my given name is Fugui. You're not much older than me, so stop calling me 'boy'..." Since Tang Yao had come with a request, Zhou Fugui puffed out his chest and said, "You claim to be more pathetic than me? I... I had my head broken, was jilted by the Qin family, and now I've been conscripted. I'm heading south soon, my life or death is uncertain. Can you be more pathetic than me?"
"What's so difficult about that?" Tang Yao shook his head.
Thus, the two began to lament their misfortunes. Their fellow villagers watched them, dumbfounded.
"Hoo... hoo..." After half a day of complaining, Zhou Fugui still seemed to be at a disadvantage. Even Zhou Fugui, who often cursed heaven for its injustice, couldn't help but sympathize with Tang Yao's plight. He let out two long breaths and sighed, "Regarding Young Master Tang's situation, I can only express my deepest sympathy."
The distance between the two unfortunate souls seemed to shrink imperceptibly as they shared their woes.
The eldest son of the Tang family spent lavishly, yet the second son, Tang Yao, lived in such straitened circumstances. This greatly astonished Zhou Fugui.
Tang Yao's mother was a maidservant. Tang Changyi, Tang Yao's father, had taken advantage of her while drunk.
In this world, a family maidservant being violated by the master was not a major event. Tang Yao's mother didn't even dare to speak of it, fearing the jealousy of the main wife. Tang Changyi, after satisfying himself, had disowned her, acting as if nothing had happened, nor had he elevated Tang Yao's mother's status in the household, such as taking her as a concubine.
However, from this single encounter, Tang Yao's mother became pregnant. After ten months of secret gestation, she gave birth to Tang Yao. Now, the secret was out. The Tang family's main wife was furious, her jealousy uncontrollable. She relentlessly tormented Tang Yao and his mother for years, eventually forcing Tang Yao's mother to her death.
Tang Yao was only six years old when his mother passed away. The fate of a concubine's son, without a mother and lacking his father's care and protection, can only be imagined as extremely tragic.
Tang Changyi feared the influence of the Tang family's main wife's maternal family and, moreover, was indifferent to a lowly maidservant and her offspring.
Some old servants and maids of the Tang family, seeing Tang Yao's pitiable state, secretly raised him. Tang Yao practically grew up on handouts from everyone.
Tang Yao's primary motivation for earning money was to rebury his mother, who had been hastily interred.
"Zhou Fugui, I... I..." Tang Yao had not intended to mention this, but after their mutual lamentations, he couldn't help but speak of it. At this moment, he was overcome with emotion, almost breaking into tears.
"Hey, hey, you're a grown man, why are you crying?" Zhou Fugui quickly comforted him. "Young Master Tang wants to make money, it's easy! Making money is as simple as picking something from a pocket for me. I have more than just this one idea up my sleeve."
"Petty tricks like swindling and deception?" Tang Yao couldn't help but laugh through his tears at this.
"Petty tricks? You mean like the lottery?" Zhou Fugui shook his head. "The court also does this. Even if it's swindling, I'm not the only one. In that case, can you say it's petty?"
"The court is also involved? When did the court get involved? Why don't I know? It seems you know quite a bit about court matters, Zhou Fugui? I'd love to hear about it."
"Uh..." Zhou Fugui had let slip a word and quickly tried to cover it up. "I'm just a simple villager, how would I know about court matters?"
Tang Yao looked at Zhou Fugui doubtfully and couldn't help but smile.
"What are you two mumbling about, laughing one moment and crying the next, like two young girls? Are you ever going to finish? We brothers are getting impatient," Li Hu shouted loudly. Zhou Fugui and Tang Yao seemed to have hit it off, constantly whispering and laughing, which made Zhou Fugui's fellow villagers impatient.
"Oh, oh, impatient, my ass!" Zhou Fugui glared at Li Hu, then said to Tang Yao, "Would Young Master Tang deign to join us for some fun?"
"Heh heh, Fugui, please!" Tang Yao nodded and said, "You're treating today, after all, you scammed a lot. Also, stop calling me 'Young Master Tang'."
Compared to the scheming and infighting of wealthy families, Tang Yao preferred to mingle with these rough men.
"Oh, then what should I call you? Brother?" Zhou Fugui asked.
"You may be tall, but you're not that old. How can you be so sure I'm younger than you?" Tang Yao retorted.
"Nonsense! With my height, should I call this shrimp brother?"
"A tall person is also a simpleton!"
"Haha, thank you for the compliment, brother!"
The two, having just met, seemed to have hit it off. They chatted and laughed as they, along with the villagers from Luoyan Village, headed towards a wine house in Youzhou City, the Chun Yue Tower.
...
"Welcome! Customers, please come in!"
Youzhou was a large city, naturally having restaurants, teahouses, taverns, and pleasure quarters. Although it was far from the Southern Dynasties, the commercial establishments like restaurants, teahouses, taverns, and pleasure quarters in Youzhou were relatively prosperous for the entire northern region.
In the early days of the Yan Kingdom, there were frequent wars, and the common people suffered the most. At that time, people's lives were precarious. Who would engage in commerce or do business? All the lands north of the great river were impoverished and the people lived in misery.
Now, with the ascension of the new Emperor of Yan, who seemed to have aspirations for diligent governance and was rectifying the affairs of the Yan Kingdom, the city of Youzhou was beginning to regain some of its former glory.
The receptionists, attendants, and waiters at the entrance of Chun Yue Tower felt a sense of helplessness when a large group of "Hu soldiers" arrived. Consequently, their welcome was not loud, and their attitude was not enthusiastic.
Places of such pleasure naturally preferred those who spent lavishly, like officials, nobles, and scholars. A group of Hu soldiers coming to drink and revel might not even pay for their drinks.
However, it was different in the Great Yan Kingdom compared to the Xia Kingdom. The Xia Kingdom valued elegance and scholars, while the Yan Kingdom was founded on military might. Thus, warriors were everywhere, and scholars, though fewer in number, also existed.
"What's wrong? Are you afraid we won't pay? Come, bestow a reward!" Zhou Fugui saw the listless and disheartened appearance of the people at Chun Yue Tower, looking as if someone had died in their families. He grunted and ordered his men to give a reward.
As the saying goes, money makes the world go round. Zhou Fugui and his men were generous, and this immediately changed the attitude of the people at Chun Yue Tower. They hurried to serve wine and food, and arranged for song and dance performances.
There were performances by Hu people and Han Chinese.
Zhou Fugui and his fellow villagers had clamored to go to a place of pleasure for entertainment, but when they actually arrived, most of them were hesitant and extremely restrained. However, after a few drinks, the situation improved considerably. They began to chat and laugh with the Hu women or those impersonating them. The Hu women were robust and fierce, and those in the pleasure quarters were even more uncouth, which made Zhou Fugui blush deeply and hastily retreat to the side.