Chapter 5, a gentleman opens the door to bow to the thief

"I am unworthy of such praise. A virtuous person like you walks the righteous path, and thus all evil spirits and monsters should naturally retreat. " Scholar Zhu Fu smiled knowingly at Liu Yan and inclined his body in a gesture of respect. "Please allow me to first attend to my wife, and then I will return to carefully devise a plan for you."

"Alas, alas!" Upon hearing these words, the innkeeper's face finally showed a hint of color. He bowed and performed a gesture of respect, trembling as he said: "This, this is not a calamity at all. If the benefactor, if the benefactor does not take action, not only will I, the old man, be in trouble, but many people in the inn will surely have no way to survive tonight. I, the old man, am only worried, worried that the authorities will not be reasonable... Alas, I, the old man, am clumsy with words and do not know how to express myself. I will go, I will go prepare food and drink for the benefactor. If the benefactor needs anything, please do not hesitate to command!"

This, is, the little old man who will go prepare. The innkeeper's three souls and seven spirits have long been frightened away. He nodded blankly and responded numbly

"You, you didn't..." Liu Yan's train of thought was interrupted, and he felt a slight annoyance in his heart. Turning around, he saw that the speaker was the scholar he had saved earlier, who was also supporting his wife. Liu Yan quickly changed to a gentle expression and softly inquired, "Are you both alright? Are your injuries serious? Hurry upstairs to find someone to boil hot water for washing. Tomorrow morning, you can go out to invite a doctor."

Groups of ruffians and wandering soldiers hurried past the streets, clutching large and small bundles. They glanced at the open door of the inn, then at Liu Yan, who sat with a sword, and the county militia captain opposite him, both of whom made them pause for a moment before they turned and ran off in circles.

"Is this the kind of situation we have? Can we still expect you all to protect our homeland?" Liu Yan expressed great disdain for the reaction of the officials and soldiers, curling his lip as he released the back of the屯长 and turned to the courtyard. Standing tall, he loudly instructed: "Wei Qing, Gongsun, I trouble you both to go inside and record a statement with everyone. Make sure to document everything that just happened without any alterations. Also, collect all the weapons and stolen goods, and return everything that was taken to its rightful owners!"

This is the true appearance of a scholar. Some individuals, although they have graduated from the academy, have wasted their education entirely! Liu Yan watched Zhu Fu's figure enter the house, and on his fair face, the admiration was unmistakable.

Liu Yan smiled gently and nodded. "Thank you, Uncle Yuan. We are in this together, so you need not always call me benefactor. I am Liu Yan from Chongling, courtesy name Bosheng"

Although at this time the custom among the Han people for hosting banquets was to have one case per person, with separate tables for dining, this practice was prevalent only among the wealthy elite. In ordinary inns and taverns, however, it had long been common to gather around a large square table for meals. Therefore, shortly after the old innkeeper entered the tavern, a large elm wood table was carefully brought out by the attendants and placed in the position previously designated by Liu Yan. Subsequently, several wooden stools were quickly brought in, along with cups, plates, bowls, chopsticks, and drinks. The attendants then respectfully stepped aside, inviting the esteemed guests to take their seats and enjoy their drinks

"No, no, don't splash! I'm awake, really awake!" As soon as the words fell, the village chief, resembling a dead pig, immediately sat up as if resurrected. His hands swayed left and right like a windmill, "I, Li, have official business to attend to and cannot accept the invitation from Young Master Liu. Therefore, I will take my brothers and leave. As for our future encounters..."

Indeed, what I am most worried about right now is this matter! Liu Yan's brow twitched, and then a hint of joy appeared on his face as he slightly bowed to the other party and said, "Brother Zhu, you are perceptive and insightful; do you have any good advice for me?"

Hmm? Liu Yan was taken aback for a moment, and after a brief pause, he smiled broadly and clasped his hands together. "Uncle Yuan, your great talent puts me to shame."

Thank you, brothers! Liu Yan casually took out a few new dynasty fifty-tael coins from his pocket and placed them at the corner of the table. Then, he pointed to the county soldier commander lying on the ground pretending to be dead and added with a smile, "Please bring a bucket of cold water to wake the commander up. I would like to invite him for a drink, but how can he stay unconscious on the ground?"

A loud bang interrupted the latter half of his words, leaving him momentarily speechless. Liu Yan slowly tightened his grip on the sword resting on the table, gazing at the county militia captain, and coldly laughed, "Very well, Captain, are you planning to report me to Liu for wrongdoing? Rather than waiting for your retaliation, I might as well take decisive action. Come here..."

Rest assured, the troubles caused by Liu will be borne solely by Liu himself. I will not allow you to be implicated in any way!" The old shopkeeper's worries and helplessness were fully noted in his heart. Liu Yan smiled and added in a friendly manner.

Outside the main gate, the flames illuminated the street as bright as day

It is! The fellows do not know which place has the custom of drinking with the doors wide open facing the street, yet no one dares to ask too much. They hurriedly run over to remove the door bolt and together push open the wooden door.

Thank you! Liu Yan clasped his hands to a few companions, then furrowed his brow and began to contemplate the subsequent measures for handling the aftermath. Before he could sort out a clue in his mind, however, a somewhat feeble voice suddenly came from behind him, "I am Zhu Fu from the State of Pei, thank you, benefactor, for your righteous rescue!"

What is even more detestable is that Liu Yan, after "snatching" away everyone's weapons and wealth, still refuses to relent. After a moment of thought, he turned his head and continued to quietly instruct the four fierce-looking men beside him, "Bo Xian, Xiu Feng, Ruo Shui, and Brother Qu, I trouble you four to bring all the officials and thieves to the courtyard, to be detained together, and by the way, let them bandage their own wounds!"

"I dare not, my lord, just call me Shuyuan." The scholar Zhu Fu, having shed the previous image of being bullied by the soldiers, slightly turned his body and offered a bow. After a moment of contemplation, he quietly proposed a solution, "From their attire, they should be the county soldiers. The county soldiers around Wancheng are all under the command of the former team captain Zhen Fu. Zhen Fu is the younger brother of the Grand Minister of Works, and his family has long been known for its 'benevolence and filial piety.' Therefore, if we wish to resolve tonight's matter peacefully, we must start from the four words 'open and aboveboard.' We should conduct everything transparently, so that those with eyes can see it clearly."

"Good!" Deng Chen and Feng Yi replied loudly, striding confidently into the first floor of the inn

I have long admired the great name of Xiaomengchang from Chongling. Today, upon meeting you, it is indeed evident that you are a remarkable hero!" Zhu Fu paused, turned around, and once again paid his respects to Liu Yan, before finally supporting his own wife and walking slowly.

This person is indeed somewhat frail, but he is by no means a bookish good-for-nothing. Liu Yan gave him a mysterious smile, yet did not provide a direct explanation. Following that, he took a few steps in the courtyard, standing at a position half a zhang away from the main gate, pointed to the ground, and instructed the innkeeper, "Old sir, could you please send someone to prepare a table of drinks and set it up here? The moonlight is particularly clear tonight, and I would like to enjoy a few cups under the moon."

"Please, my brothers, help me open the main gate!" Liu Yan nodded to his companions and smiled as he instructed.

Liu Zhi watched in quiet astonishment from the side, and quietly approached, asking in a low voice: "Bosheng, what good idea did this bookish good-for-nothing give you, that you are treating him with such courtesy?"

It is said that the county magistrate who exterminated families and the prefect who confiscated properties, along with the local soldiers who suffered such great losses, could not simply let it go. If they were to return and reverse the truth to their superiors, the righteous Liu Yan and several other young gentlemen could escape far away, but he and his Gao Sheng Inn would be doomed to disaster

The small one, take your seat right away! The county soldier commander shivered a few times, quickly got up from the ground, and with unprecedented agility, sat down opposite Liu Yan, his profile facing the wide-open door of the inn.

Alas, alas, just go, just go!

If it were not for Liu Yan's appropriate response tonight, he and his inn would surely have been plundered by the successive waves of ruffians and local soldiers, leaving nothing but desolation. However, now that the ruffians and local soldiers have indeed been subdued, his fate and that of his inn may not be much better than being completely looted.

Thank you for your concern, esteemed benefactor! My wife and I have only sustained minor injuries, which should not pose a problem. The scholar Zhu Fu supported his wife, first bowing respectfully to Liu Yan, and then added in a very low voice, "If it were not for your intervention, my wife and I would likely have faced dire consequences tonight. This group of corrupt officials acts with such impunity, and their superiors are probably not law-abiding individuals either. Therefore, I hope you will forgive my boldness, but you must make arrangements as soon as possible to prevent anyone from distorting the truth later on."

Where would the soldiers of the various counties find the courage to obstruct? They could only watch helplessly as the wealth they had just plundered was placed under the oil lamp, allowing the original owner to reclaim it. Along with the previous loot obtained from elsewhere, the hidden personal belongings that had not been submitted were also entirely forfeited. Although they were temporarily laid out on the table with no one claiming them yet, the prospect of returning them to their own pockets was no different from a fool's dream.

"Since you do not wish to seek revenge, then take a seat and drink with me!" Liu Yan raised his leg and kicked him four to five feet away, then continued to chuckle coldly in a low voice, "Otherwise..."

There is none left, tell the fellows to bring a large table and set it up here

"Spare my life, spare my life!" As the words were only half spoken, the county soldier's captain was already terrified, his face ashen, crawling forward with hands and feet for several steps, clutching Liu Yan's thigh with both hands and pleading in a mournful voice: "Young Master Liu, please do not misunderstand. I assure you, I am indeed here on official business. I swear, once I leave this door, I will forget everything that happened tonight. I will never report your misdeeds, nor will I seek revenge! I swear, once I leave this door, I will forget everything that happened tonight. I will never report your misdeeds, nor will I seek revenge!"

Good! Just now, we faced a sudden change together. Liu Zhi, Zhang Jun, Xu Yu, and Qu Yang were all deeply impressed by Liu Yan. After hearing his words, they did not feel the slightest bit wronged and immediately agreed to carry out the task.