Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

Chapter 30 High Mountains and Flowing Water Meet a Soulmate

The handsome man, unaware of Zheng Tu's thoughts, saw him still pondering and assumed he was still somewhat skeptical. So he leaned forward, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously:

"If Brother Zheng doesn't believe me, come with me to that Granny Wang's teahouse tomorrow for a cup of tea and you'll see for yourself. That old woman has a pair of sharp eyes and is extremely opportunistic. She'll be greedy for money and bow down to anyone in power. But she has her own unique abilities. With me leading the way, I'll definitely broaden your horizons and show you a different kind of scenery."

Zheng Tu listened to his confident and seemingly genuine words, which only increased his suspicions. He couldn't help but ask:

"Someone like you, brother, is outstanding in both looks and talent, and quite wealthy. If you want to indulge in romance and love beautiful women, why don't you just go to those brothels and spend your money freely?"

"As the saying goes, 'Young men from the Five Tombs vie to shower their wives with gifts, and countless bolts of red silk are given for a single song.' Finding a top-tier courtesan shouldn't be difficult for you, my brother. Why go through all this trouble just to 'get ahead'?"

When he saw Zheng Tu ask the question, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Brother Zheng, you've hit the nail on the head."

Such romantic affairs have a proper name. It's called, "A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a maid, a maid is not as good as a prostitute, a prostitute is not as good as a stolen affair, and a stolen affair is not as good as one that can't be stolen."

The twists and turns, the joys and sorrows, are the true pleasures of life!

Those brothels and theaters can be visited with just a little gold and silver; what fun is there in them? They're just a pastime for leisure.

He took a sip of wine, squinted, and said, "The beauty of this kind of 'lighting' is like slow-cooking meat; you have to patiently savor it to truly appreciate its flavor. Alas, there's no point in saying more. Come with me tomorrow, and you'll understand."

Unexpectedly, this man in front of him had quite a taste for it. Although Gao Yanei from the capital had a nickname, "Playboy," in Zheng Tu's eyes, compared to this man, he was nothing but a small fry, his ways were too vulgar!

Although Zheng Tu was not fond of this kind of thing, he saw that the man was in high spirits and spoke earnestly.

Not wanting to spoil the mood and refuse outright, he simply raised his cup and mumbled, "In that case, I will certainly trouble you another day. Come, let's have another cup!"

After a few more rounds of drinks, Ximen Qing was already half-drunk. He pulled Zheng Tu aside and chattered on and on about all sorts of interesting things that happened in the pleasure quarters.

Zheng Tu, drawing on his limited knowledge from his previous life, responded casually, mentioning things like the spinning wheel and flower arranging...

Unexpectedly, we clicked, and the more we talked, the more we clicked. We drank one glass of wine after another, and our conversation became increasingly lively.

For a time, it was truly like Bo Ya meeting Zhong Ziqi, or a meeting of kindred spirits amidst towering mountains and flowing water.

Later, as the wine revealed their true feelings, the handsome young man put his arm around Zheng Tu's shoulder and, reeking of alcohol, said:

"Oh, brother, to tell you the truth, the reason I met you on the street today was because I had a ulterior motive. I was after your strong and imposing presence; without that kind of spirit, you couldn't accomplish anything."

I desperately need someone with your courage and resourcefulness to help me, which is why I'm inviting you out on the street."

He paused, then spoke earnestly: "But now that we have talked here for so long, such thoughts have faded. We are so compatible and kindred spirits; how can such friendship be encompassed by the word 'profit'?"

My younger brother's parents died early, leaving me as their only son. They doted on me and let me do as I pleased. Therefore, I didn't study much and spent my days idly wandering around. Since their death, I've devoted myself to visiting brothels and womanizing, picking up girls and learning martial arts, gambling, backgammon, chess, card games, and all sorts of other games—I'm proficient in everything.

At this point, he sighed inwardly: "Most of the people I associate with are sycophants and good-for-nothings. It's rare to find someone as steady, dignified, and agreeable as Brother Zheng."

If you don't mind, brother, from now on, we'll only be brothers, how about that?

Hearing his heartfelt words, Zheng Tu found the man to be quite genuine, and nodded, "Since you say so, brother, how could I dare disobey?"

The handsome man was overjoyed upon hearing this, and immediately refilled Zheng Tu's wine cup. His expression then turned serious, and he said, "Brother Zheng, I have something else to say, but I don't know if I should."

"Please feel free to speak."

"Brother Zheng, you're new here and don't yet have a place to stay. If you don't mind, I'd like to extend my hospitality. I have a small courtyard in the back alley of Lion Street, with three main rooms and two side rooms. It's not spacious, but it's quiet and clean. You can stay here for now, and I'll take care of all your daily expenses. Once you've settled in, we can discuss other matters."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Tu remained silent in thought.

He was not one to accept favors from others, but he had nowhere else to go. Qinghe County was a good place to settle down, and he was even considering staying there permanently.

Moreover, a serious illness had cost him a lot of money, and now he had very little left in his pocket. Although the man in front of him was frivolous in his demeanor, his words revealed a chivalrous spirit, making him someone worth befriending.

Very well, I'll accept his help for now. Once I've established myself, I'll repay him tenfold.

With all the knowledge and experience I brought from my previous life, how could I not make a name for myself?

Seeing his hesitation, Junhan said again, "Brother, don't worry! I respect you as a true hero and have no other intentions. If you are still uneasy, you can help me with some household matters and business-related chores in your spare time."

To be honest, brother, my businesses are quite large and attract unwanted attention, which is why I need a capable leader like you to keep things under control.

Zheng Tu knew this was a way for him to back down, but since things had come to this point, he stopped being coy and, holding the cup with both hands, said:

"Since you have shown me such kindness, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse! If you ever need my assistance, just let me know. I'll go through fire and water for you!"

"Good! That's great!" Junhan was overjoyed. He and Zheng Tu clinked their bowls together and drank their wine in one gulp.

The two drank three bowls in a row, looked at each other, and laughed heartily.

After finishing his drink and setting down his bowl, Zheng Tu suddenly slapped his forehead and laughed, "Look at me, how foolish of me! I've been talking with you for half a day, we've drunk together, we've even become sworn brothers, and I still haven't asked you your name! I'm truly deserving of death!"

Upon hearing this, the handsome man smiled slightly, put down his wine cup, cupped his hands in greeting, and replied, "My surname is..."

"Bang bang bang!"

Before he could finish speaking, a series of urgent knocks came from outside the room, as loud as a drumbeat.

His expression immediately darkened, his brows furrowed, and he shouted towards the door, "What is it now? Why are you in such a hurry? Shouting and yelling, you're making a fool of yourself!"

A panting voice came from outside the door: "My lord, my lord, it's an extremely urgent matter! It can't be delayed even for a moment!"

Hearing the seriousness of his words, the handsome man's expression softened slightly. He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Zheng Tu and said apologetically, "Brother Zheng, please sit down. Let me ask what is the matter."

He then raised his voice and said, "In that case, come in and talk!"