Chapter 79

When the old steward saw Chai Jin's reaction, his heart immediately sank, and he inwardly cursed: Could it be that this grudge cannot be avenged? He had followed Chai Jin for so many years; how could he not know the temperament of this current head of the Chai family? Thinking of this, he glared at the young officer who was holding him with one hand, his eyes filled with indescribable hatred.

Chai Jin, after a loud shout, walked forward with a smile and clasped his hands, saying, "I did not expect such distinguished guests to visit today. I failed to welcome you properly, please forgive me!" Seeing this, the guests on the ground, who had been moaning, had originally hoped that the master would return to avenge them, but they never thought that the two sides would actually become acquainted. They all collapsed like deflated balloons, lying limp on the ground.

Wang Lun and Lin Chong exchanged glances and both nodded. They stepped forward and bowed deeply to Chai Jin. Chai Jin hurriedly bowed in return, saying, "Why do Commander Wang and Instructor Lin do this! Please get up quickly, you are too kind to me!" After saying this, he quickly stood up and helped Wang Lun and Lin Chong to their feet.

After standing up, Wang Lun clasped his hands and said, "How can I not bow to Master Chai? If it weren't for Master Chai's previous assistance, how could our small stronghold be in such a prosperous state today? Later, you recommended Brother Lin Chong to me, and I am deeply grateful. Therefore, I specially came from Shandong with Brother Lin Chong, bringing a painting and a small gift, hoping Master Chai will accept them with a smile!"

As Wang Lun finished speaking, Jiao Ting carried out a beautifully crafted box from the horse, and Deng Fei also presented a painting. Seeing this, Chai Jin smiled and said, "Commander Wang is so courteous!" He did not even look at the thousand taels of gold, but only took the painting, opened it, and was immediately stunned. Tears welled up in his eyes as he sighed, "This is the handwriting of my ancestor, Emperor Shizong! Commander Wang, you are truly thoughtful! Truly thoughtful!"

Seeing Chai Jin's emotional state, the old steward hurriedly came forward and, glancing at the painting, quickly knelt down. It turned out that he was also surnamed Chai. Seeing the true handwriting of his ancestor, he was so moved that he could not bear to hate this person anymore. He inwardly sighed that this person had indeed put a lot of effort into the gift.

After nine bows, the old steward stood up and said, "Commander Wang, I was rash just now, please do not hold it against me, and do not take it to heart!" But at this moment, he still could not recall this person's identity.

Chai Jin wiped away his tears and laughed, introducing to his steward, "This is the famous leader of Liangshan in Jizhou, Commander Wang Lun, and this is Instructor Lin Chong, who stayed at my manor half a year ago. How could you not recognize him, Chai Fu!?"

When Chai Fu heard this, he was startled. This person was actually Wang Lun of Liangshan!?

Chai Jin's manor could be called a major intelligence hub of the Song Dynasty. Men from all over the country often came to pay respects, and news from all over the country could be heard here. In such an environment, how could he not have heard of Liangshan's fame? Now, Liangshan was at its peak, with over ten thousand people on the mountain, and it was becoming the first stronghold in the land. He never imagined that the person he had just fought was the leader of such a powerful force. Cold sweat broke out on his palms, and he thought that the person must have been lenient with him! If he had encountered a reckless and unreasonable person, regardless of whether he was surnamed Chai or Zhao, such an offense would have brought disaster to the manor. Thinking of this, Chai Fu did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly apologized. The other men who had accompanied Chai Jin saw the old steward suffer such a great loss and still bow his head in apology, so they all reined in their arrogance, not daring to look sideways, and stood straight.

The men lying on the ground, hearing the identity of their opponents, the ice of hatred in their hearts melted into warm water. Good heavens! This person was actually the leader of Liangshan! They had been不服气 (unwilling to accept defeat) just now, thinking of seeking revenge later, but now who dared to have such thoughts? They all hung their heads, thinking that they had suffered in vain. Some of the smarter ones took the opportunity to sneak away while they were talking, fearing that this killer would remember them, and secretly worried that they would not be able to survive in the underworld in the future.

Wang Lun did not even bother to look at these people. This Master Chai opened his doors to all kinds of guests, but few of them were true heroes. The only one in front of him who made him feel disgusted was Wu Song. Thinking of the future, when the world was in turmoil and famous heroes rose, Chai Jin knew very few of them. Thinking of this, Wang Lun secretly shook his head, but his face did not show any trace of it. He just smiled and helped the old steward up, saying, "They say no fight, no acquaintance! It's not the old steward's fault, it's all my fault for being too presumptuous!"

After saying this, Wang Lun turned to Zhang San and instructed, "Go help the heroes up and give each of them three guan for medical expenses!" Zhang San hurriedly went, and Chai Jin smiled, saying, "Commander Wang, you speak well, no fight, no acquaintance! But these men are my guests, why should Commander Wang pay? Chai Fu, go set up a feast to calm their nerves!"

The master did not care about the beating at all, truly a new person surpassing the old, the strong suppressing the weak. When Lin Chong beat Hong Chong, Chai Jin cheered, even though Hong Chong was quite ungrateful, he was still an old man of the manor, and Chai Jin did not give him any face. If it were Song Jiang, he would have smoothed things over on both sides. This was where Chai Jin fell short of Song Jiang, spending a lot of money but not achieving the same effect as Song Jiang's small expenses.

Wang Lun then introduced Jiao Ting and Deng Fei to Chai Jin. The two men still had smiles on their faces, but in their hearts, they compared the legendary Master Chai with their brother, and both thought of a famous saying in the underworld: "Meeting is not as good as hearing about it."

At this moment, Lin Chong stepped forward to catch up with Chai Jin, and after a while, Chai Jin wanted to set up a feast to entertain Wang Lun and the others. Wang Lun, seeing this, pulled Wu Song and said, "This brother is very capable. I have heard of Second Brother Wu's name in the underworld, truly a good man. Would you like to sit together?" Chai Jin did not mind and invited Wu Song to join. Wu Song, seeing this, felt cold in his heart. He had been ignored before, and now he was a guest of honor. What was this all about? He did not want to go, but Wang Lun held him back, and Wu Song said, "Commander Wang, please forgive me, I am not feeling well!"

When he first heard Wang Lun's name, he was truly happy. Such a person treated him with such respect, how could he not be pleased? But then he thought, this person is a leader of bandits. Although I have committed a crime, I do not necessarily have to join the bandits. He is being so attentive, is he trying to recruit me? Mixing in the underworld is one thing, but joining the bandits is another. He would not tarnish his clean reputation by joining the bandits.

Chai Jin, hearing this, stopped and smiled, "Hero, you do not give Commander Wang any face? He is the leader of Liangshan, with thousands of heroes like you under his command. Do not refuse, come along!"

Wu Song, hearing this, lowered his head in silence. Wang Lun, seeing Wu Song's change in expression, could guess his thoughts. This hero, although he walked in the underworld, was not an ambitious person and could live a peaceful life. As long as society did not force him to the brink, he would never want to join the bandits.

Thinking of how he killed Ximen Qing and was exiled to Mengzhou, he went without complaint. Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang advised him to join Er Long Mountain, but he insisted on going to prison. Even when he was taken in by Shi En, he lived in peace. Later, when Zhang Dujian pretended to take him in as a confidant, he was willing, but after discovering Zhang Dujian's plot, he killed his entire family and had no choice but to join Er Long Mountain. Even on the way to the mountain, when he met Song Jiang, he revealed his heart, saying, "If heaven spares me, and I survive, I will seek you out after being pardoned!" Only after he fully joined the mountain did his mindset change, and he became one of the leaders who firmly opposed the amnesty on Liangshan.

Thinking of this, Wang Lun knew he could not rush things. He just said to Wu Song, "I have news of Wu Dalang from Qinghe County. Do you want to hear it?" Wu Song, hearing this, relaxed and went to the table with everyone.

At the table, Wang Lun and Lin Chong kept toasting Chai Jin. The current Wang Lun was no longer the destitute scholar of the past. The toasts were different, and Chai Jin's face was flushed with satisfaction. Deng Fei, seeing his brothers take turns toasting, also joined in. Wang Lun, of course, did not let Wu Song sit idly, and kept toasting him. Although Wu Song was wary, he was slightly moved. Since leaving home, he had been hiding and fleeing, and who had ever valued him? When he first came, Chai Jin had treated him well, but later, after listening to the words of a small person, he became annoyed with him. Now, he could use the good words to drink away his sorrows, and he drank cup after cup, even the hero with a great capacity for alcohol was slightly drunk.

Halfway through the drinking, Chai Fu came to report that a new prison official from Cangzhou had come to visit Chai Jin. Chai Jin, at this moment, did not want to go and said, "Just say I am not at the manor, I will visit him in a few days! It is more important to entertain these distinguished guests!"

Wang Lun and Lin Chong hurriedly said, "The master's affairs are important, do not neglect the official! We are all family, no need for such formalities!"

Chai Jin, hearing this, laughed and, after being persuaded by everyone, got up, swaying as he went out. At this moment, Wang Lun, using the opportunity to toast Wu Song, said, "I have long known that Second Brother Wu is an outstanding hero. I boldly invite you to join the mountain and take a seat, how about it?" Wang Lun knew Wu Song was a true person and did not hide his admiration for him.

Wu Song thought, "Here it comes," and quickly stood up, clasping his hands, saying, "Thank you for Commander Wang's kindness. In the past half year, only Commander Wang has treated Wu Song as a person. I should not refuse your kindness! But I have an elder brother at home, and I cannot abandon him to enjoy myself on the mountain!"

At this moment, Lin Chong said, "Why not bring your brother to the mountain?"

Wu Song clasped his hands at Lin Chong, saying, "Thank you for Instructor Lin's kindness, but my brother is special and prefers to live alone."

Lin Chong, hearing this, smiled and said, "I am the one who is impolite! Brother Wu, do not worry, if you do not want to join the mountain, we will not mention it! My brother treats people sincerely and will not force anyone, come, let's drink!"

Wu Song had heard of Lin Chong's reputation and knew he was a good person. Hearing this, he put his mind at ease, removed his reservations, and took the lead in toasting Wang Lun and the others. Wang Lun drank the water wine in his cup and smiled, "Why are you here, Second Brother?"

Wu Song recounted his experiences in detail. Wang Lun smiled and said, "Second Brother, you are mistaken! That person did not die, he just fainted, and there is no case against you! Your brother Dalang is still living safely in the county!" Originally, Wu Song met Song Jiang half a year later and only then returned home, when Wu Dalang had just moved to Yanggu County in Yanzhou. Now, he should still be in his hometown of Qinghe County.

Wu Song was overjoyed. The heavy burden that had been on his heart for half a year was lifted by Wang Lun. He bowed deeply to Wang Lun, who quickly helped him up and held his hand, talking for a while. Wu Song, seeing Wang Lun's noble appearance and free speech, and that he did not lose his composure after being refused, thought that he was indeed as Lin Chong said. He felt a sense of guilt and thought that after being away for so long, a day or two more would not matter, and he agreed.

At this moment, Chai Fu came in and said to Wang Lun, "The new prison official from Cangzhou is also a person of character. Master Chai could not neglect him and asked me to come and accompany the heroes." Wang Lun, hearing this, asked who the person was. Chai Fu said, "His name is Yang Xiong, and he is a cousin of the governor."

Note: Yang Xiong is a prison official in Jizhou, but Jizhou was under the control of the Liao at that time, so he could not serve as an official in the Liao. In this book, he is changed to Cangzhou. Heroes, please note. Additionally, the editor has informed me that the book will be strongly promoted and go on sale next week, with the specific release date being December 6, Friday. On that day, I will strive to release more chapters. If you like this book, please save some monthly votes for me. I am preparing to challenge the new book monthly vote list. Thank you all!

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