Chapter 8

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At the second watch of the night, Qin Mu once again arrived at the shrine at the end of Wuyi Alley, determined to continue his good deeds to the end.

After using the medicine, the wounds on the big man's body were no longer festering, and his condition had improved somewhat. In addition to the medicine, Qin Mu had also brought a roasted chicken and a jar of good wine. He tore off a chicken leg and chewed it slowly.

The big man, who must have been extremely hungry, snatched the whole chicken and took a big bite, instantly devouring the entire chicken's rear end.

Qin Mu stopped chewing, finding it hard to swallow.

"Damn, can't you choose something more noble?"

"That's because you scholars don't understand food. This chicken's rear end is crisp and tender, just like a young girl's breasts. One bite, and your mouth is filled with a fragrant, crispy aroma... cough, cough... to put it in your scholarly terms, the lotus always grows particularly beautiful in dirty places."

"This has nothing to do with young girls... or lotuses. As the saying goes, 'I'd rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox.' You chose the chicken's rear end, you really are despicable."

No matter what Qin Mu said, the big man savored it, finishing the chicken's rear end with a satisfied look on his face. He then took a few big gulps of wine before asking, "Still the same question, why did you save me?"

"I'll still say the same thing, you owe me 100,000 taels."

"You... ..."

"Alright, I'll add one more thing, I really admire Supervisor Yuan."

"Clang!" A cold, sharp blade suddenly appeared at Qin Mu's throat. The big man had already stood up, listening intently to the sounds outside the shrine. "You actually colluded with the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot to harm me."

What a fast blade, and such precise control. He's definitely an expert.

Qin Mu leaned back slightly, putting some distance between his neck and the cold blade.

"Are you out of your mind? Quickly take your rusty iron away. Damn, which eye did you see me colluding with the Eastern Depot? Now I declare, you owe me 120,000 taels, not a single coin less."

"If you didn't collude with the Eastern Depot, how did you know I was a subordinate of Supervisor Yuan?"

"Any person with a bit of sense could guess. On the Mei Xiang Tower, the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot shouted to catch the rebels. In today's Ming Dynasty, there are many rebels, but few can be called true rebels. You understand?"

"Supervisor Yuan suffered a great injustice. He did not betray the court, he did not! Supervisor Yuan was framed by those eunuchs!" The big man's voice was somewhat agitated, showing his deep admiration for Yuan Chonghuan.

"If you don't take your rusty iron away, it will be 150,000 taels. Why are you shouting at me? Didn't I say I admire Supervisor Yuan?"

Whether Yuan Chonghuan was loyal or treacherous, a hero or a criminal, Qin Mu didn't care. But he did genuinely admire him.

This guy is amazing! With a single shout of "Five Years to Pacify Liaoning," he made Emperor Chongzhen stake everything on him. The leaders of modern pyramid schemes don't even deserve to tie his shoes. What a grand gesture!

Qin Mu admitted that he couldn't do it. Otherwise, he would have also shouted "Injustice on the road, I must act" and taken action when necessary.

If he could also become a supervisor now and have Chongzhen stake everything on him (if he still had anything to stake), it would be great. At least it would save him years of struggle.

How did Yuan Chonghuan achieve this? It's not just about being bold and ambitious. There must be other methods. Although Qin Mu couldn't figure it out, Yuan Chonghuan did manage to make Chongzhen believe he could pacify Liaoning in five years.

Of course, everyone knows that the Ming Dynasty, riddled with corruption, wanting to pacify Liaoning in five years is as unrealistic as the Chinese national football team winning the World Cup.

The only possibility is that Zhu Chongba could crawl out of his grave. Yes, Chongzhen must have thought he inherited Zhu Chongba's true legacy or was possessed by him.

Qin Mu completely ignored the big man's threat, weighing in his mind whether he should also stand up and shout "Two Years to Pacify Liaoning!"

No, one year, one year is enough. After one year, Chongzhen would already be hanging from a twisted tree on Coal Hill, and he wouldn't care whether Qin Mu was a pillar of the state.

Seeing Qin Mu's admiration for Yuan Chonghuan, the big man quickly sheathed his sword, feeling grateful.

After all, today, the people of the world were cursing Yuan Chonghuan, most believing he colluded with the Manchus. When Yuan Chonghuan was executed, the people of Beijing fought to eat his flesh, showing how much they hated him.

Today, in this shrine, it was rare to meet a fan of Yuan Chonghuan. The big man felt like meeting an old friend, and his attitude toward Qin Mu changed 180 degrees.

Qin Mu also learned that his name was Meng Ke. The big man didn't say anything else, and Qin Mu didn't ask.

When Qin Mu returned to the inn, the light in the room was still on. The warm, orange glow gave a sense of comfort. Although it wasn't home, for someone who had wandered for centuries, seeing a light when returning at night had a special meaning.

When the door opened, the bright eyes made Qin Mu smile with relief. He seemed to see a pancake, and no one would believe that this incredibly beautiful little girl was exchanged for a pancake.

"Are you not sleepy?"

He shook his head.

"By the way, how did you know I was the number one good person in the world? I'm very curious."

He shook his head, then nodded.

Qin Mu was so angry he gritted his teeth, picked up the little girl, and put her on the bed. "Lift your buttocks!" Then came two slaps. Qin Mu finally felt relieved. "Do you know, people need to speak often, otherwise their tongues will get shorter and eventually disappear."

"Master is lying." The little girl's face turned red, like a fairy who had stolen wine.

"You have the right to remain silent, but you must bear the consequences of silence."

"What consequences?"

Slap, slap...

The little girl covered her buttocks and brought the medicine. Qin Mu then remembered he was still a patient. To avoid criticism for not taking care of his health, he had to drink the medicine.

"Did you boil this medicine yourself?"

She nodded and quickly added, "Yes!"

"What did you add? Why is this medicine so sweet and fragrant?"

"I didn't add anything."

"It's impossible, try it."

Seeing him savoring it as if it were a delicacy, the little girl took the bowl and sipped it lightly. Her pretty face immediately twisted, her nose and eyes distorted, and she looked like a beautiful woman turned ugly in an instant.

"Master is lying, it's so bitter."

"Ha ha ha, who made you see through me so quickly? From now on, we will share both good and bad times."

"Thank you, Master."

"Thank me when you grow up. Go to sleep, children need a regular schedule to develop well."

The little girl seemed to understand, her eyes flickering. She helped Qin Mu arrange the bedding and then went to sleep.

Qin Mu lay in bed, thinking about his own affairs. The visit from Hou Fangyu and Mao Xiang changed his plan to quickly join someone.

This body was now weak and needed training. Outside of the Jiangnan region, which was a peaceful haven, the world was in chaos. Whether soldiers or bandits, they were all dangerous. If he wasn't careful, he could end up as a pile of bones on the roadside (his flesh eaten).

Moreover, joining someone would mean being cautious and acting like a subordinate, which he was unwilling to do. He had the status of a juren, which qualified him for an official position. His name was already well-known, and if he wrote a few targeted essays, even if he couldn't become a supervisor like Yuan Chonghuan, he could likely get a position.

With an official position, he could achieve more with less effort and gain a good reputation, which was very important in this era.

Although Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were powerful, few talented people were willing to join them because of their bad reputations. To achieve something, talented people were essential.

Qin Mu lay in bed, tossing and turning, thinking until the fourth watch of the night. After sorting out his thoughts, he finally fell into a deep sleep.

***

PS: Cao Cao, defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs, fled north alone. The weather was harsh, with wind and snow. An old, white-haired soldier helped him lead his horse and, holding a broken gong, repeatedly shouted in a hoarse voice: "Seeking talented people! Seeking recommendations!"...

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