Chapter 49

"Both of you, old and young, are truly ignorant. You have traveled far and wide, seen the world, and yet you don’t even know the rule of bowing to the gods when entering a temple? You didn’t even ask who owns this Happy Grove before barging in! Today, I will show all the neighbors what happens to those who don’t follow the rules! Beat them! Beat them!"

Standing by the street was a burly man with a golden tattoo on his face, pointing at a father and daughter and berating them. Four or five other men with similar golden tattoos were in the middle of the street, beating an old man. Two more men were holding a young woman who was struggling and screaming hoarsely, taking advantage of the situation to grope her.

Under a large tree by the street, a young official, looking about twenty-five years old, with a fair complexion and a thin mustache, was drinking tea, not even glancing at the scene. Behind him stood two burly men, making it clear that ordinary people would not dare to approach.

After finishing his tea, the young official stood up, patted his buttocks, and walked forward. The two men quickly followed. He walked to the center of the street, and the men beating the old man immediately stopped, respectfully stepping aside. The young official casually threw some silver coins on the ground, said nothing, and headed straight for the tavern.

The burly man who had been shouting at the old man said, "It’s still my young manager who is kind-hearted. You should leave this place quickly and not let the master see you again!" With that, he waved his hand, and the seven or eight men followed him into the tavern.

The young woman, seeing this, hurried to the old man’s side, calling him "father" and crying. The old man and his daughter hugged and cried bitterly. Finally, the daughter helped the old man up, and they limped away down the road. The onlookers, seeing this, also dispersed, but no one dared to say a word.

At this moment, a carriage came from a distance in the bustling market. It stopped at a crossroads, and a scholar got out, pulling a passerby and asking, "Sir, could you tell me which way to go for the most famous medical clinic here?"

The man, seeing the scholar’s politeness, pointed the way. The scholar smiled and thanked him, got back into the carriage, and instructed the two men driving to head for the clinic.

...

"Sir, I’m really fine! The doctor said I’m in good health, nothing serious. Let me go with you!" After leaving the clinic, Tang Long pleaded with Wang Lun, wanting to go with him to meet Jin Yanbiao Shi En.

Wang Lun, seeing his eagerness to save his brother, did not stop him. He just asked Li Si to take the prescription for tonics to the pharmacy next door. Then, they all got back into the carriage and headed for the shop the doctor had pointed out.

In no time, the carriage stopped. A waiter at the tavern saw Wang Lun and his group get out and hurriedly came over, asking, "Sir, would you like to eat or stay? You have good eyes; our tavern is the best in this town!"

Wang Lun looked at the waiter for a moment and said, "Call your boss to speak with us!"

The waiter, seeing the group, immediately sensed that the scholar was no ordinary person. He nodded and bowed, then turned to call the boss. Wang Lun turned and exchanged a glance with Lu Zhishen, who nodded slightly. Wang Lun also nodded and led Tang Long and Zhang San into the tavern.

They didn’t walk far before a man in his fifties ran down the stairs, shouting, "I didn’t know such distinguished guests had arrived. What can I do for you?"

Wang Lun looked at him and smiled, "I am Wang Lun, the leader of the Liangshan stronghold in the East of the River. I have come to pay respects to your young manager!"

The boss, hearing this, was greatly startled. He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention and said, "I apologize for the delay. Please, sir, come upstairs and let’s talk!"

Wang Lun nodded and walked up the stairs without further ado. The old man followed cautiously behind, and Tang Long and Zhang San, exchanging glances, also followed with their belongings.

Upstairs, the old man led Wang Lun and his group to a private room and said, "I have been remiss, sir. I will go and call my young manager!"

After a short while, a young man with a fair complexion and a pleasant smile walked in. As soon as he entered, he bowed to Wang Lun and said, "I didn’t expect such distinguished guests today. Your presence truly honors our humble tavern!" Suddenly, he saw Tang Long standing beside Wang Lun, his smile faltered, but he quickly recovered and said warmly, "Brother Tang Long is here too. I didn’t know you and Leader Wang are close friends?"

Wang Lun, seeing that Shi En had already set a trap with his words and was extremely热情,让人不自觉地想要吐露真言，倒也甚是老辣。只是不等Tang Long说话，Wang Lun便笑道：“Tang Long是我的心腹兄弟，小管营请坐下叙话！”

那施恩见说忙笑了一声，掩饰了一下被人看破意图后的尴尬，也急忙道了声请，双方都坐定了。

施恩初见到汤隆时的反应，王伦都看在眼里，料想他已经猜到了自己来意，当下也不废话，开口道：“无事不登三宝殿，在下也不欺瞒小管营，只那徐宁便是我的兄长，常言道手足情深！在下实不能看兄长他在苦牢中受罪，而和八十万禁军林教头、老种经略相公坐前豪杰鲁提辖，以及全寨二十几位头领并上万弟兄在山中端坐取乐，能不能成全在下兄弟之义，都在足下手中！”

那施恩闻言，顿时脸色微变。王伦见了也只是视若未闻，只回头望了汤隆一眼，便见独臂铁匠打开桌上的箱子，瞬间只见一堆黄灿灿的金子暴露在施恩面前。便听汤隆道：“这里是一千两黄金，还请小管营笑纳！”

那施恩倒是有些定性，只瞟了一眼箱中黄金便收回目光，再也不多看一眼，只是坐在椅子上静静沉思，汤隆一见他个样子不免有些心急，欲要出言催促，却叫王伦瞧见，只把头来微摇，汤隆见状，暗自叹了口气，这才静了下来。

只见那施恩呆坐了半晌，忽然立起身来，脸色颇难道：“不是小弟不想成全首领之义，实是那三衙太尉高俅下了钧旨，小弟的父亲只是一个小小管营，这牢城营又是厢军编制，正是他该管的，小弟实在是担待不起啊！”

王伦见说一阵大笑，直笑得施恩脸色愈发难看，王伦笑着请他坐了，开言道：“常言道天高皇帝远，话说那高俅能在京城糊弄赵官家搞得是风生水起，以你金眼彪施恩的大能，就不能糊弄高俅这厮一回？当然了，你此时定然心下不服，你与我非亲非故的，不拿我去送官查办就是天大人情了，怎会有耐心在这里听我大言不惭的撺掇你妄言欺瞒上司，心里不知怎么怨着我呢，是不是？”

“不敢不敢！”那施恩连忙起身道，眼见这绿林中的贼首又是拿黄金诱他，又是在言语中夹枪带棒的，倒是叫他这个孟州道上的头一号人物顿时失了计较，全然不知怎生是好。

王伦见他又是一番踌躇，自笑了笑，倒也没有再催促。虽然这施恩只看了一眼桌上的黄金便转了头，并不代表他就不贪钱财。要是说他不爱钱财，怎肯背着骂名欺行霸市的占着这快活林？难道真像他老爹说的甚么“壮观孟州，增添豪侠气象”之类的鬼话？想是害怕这一千两黄金拿着烫手，故而委决不下。

又等了半晌，这施恩还是没有决断，王伦叹了口气，心道只好我来替你决定罢，随即朝张三使了一个眼色，那张三连忙起身，打开窗户，回头叫道：“小管营，你家酒店外面的酒缸怎么长了脚，便走到路中央了，却不是拦住了往来的道路？”

那施恩见说，不明白这边又耍什么把戏，只是十分警惕的走到窗户旁边，朝下面望去。

只是不望还好，一望直叫他惊得呆了。

只见自家酒缸真如出鬼一般，就那般大喇喇的横在街市中央，旁边立着一个威风禀禀的胖大和尚。见此情景，他心下大惊，想这酒缸装满了酒，虽没称过重量，怕不有千斤重？仅仅是空缸，以前摆放时也要三五个汉子一齐抬了，才搬得它动。没想到此时已经装满了酒，还被人抬到路中央，看看路上没有划痕，显然是叫人生生抬起的！

天！这要怎生一般的神力啊！施恩心中极为惊骇，一屁股瘫坐在椅子上再起不来。

他此时心中甚是慌乱，真没料到这些山寨里的强人手段这般决绝，完全和他们这些在街面上讨生活的人不在一个层面上。他突然想到，若是这些人看自己买不通，会不会做出什么事情来！？此时他心中立刻涌出一种报官的冲动，但随即便被自己仅存的一丝理智给否定了。

就是叫官府抓了眼前这几人，只怕便如捅了马蜂窝一般，到时候随即而来的种种报复，不是自己能够承受的。更何况还有一个神力惊人的和尚就在楼下，直教他顿时熄了这个念头。

事到如今，他方才体会到什么是前有狼后有虎的感觉了，想他在孟州道上行走这许多年，头一次被人逼到墙角，直陷入这种进退两难的境地。

想到这里，施恩