Chapter 10, South of the City (10)

Thank you, Uncle Wu, for your guidance! Cheng Xiaojiu, upon hearing this, quickly bowed and paid his respects. Could Uncle Wu provide more detailed pointers? It would help us both to prepare better!

"Then, what conditions are required to be recruited into the government office?" Hearing that there were good positions waiting for him, Wang Ermao's impression of Wu Lizheng improved, and he approached respectfully to inquire.

Wang Ermao is still young, and the distinction between right and wrong is not very clear in his heart. As he watches each day become more difficult to endure, he naturally envies the legendary life of bandits, where one can live lavishly and indulge in pleasures. However, Cheng Xiaojiu, raised in a strict and traditional family, holds a deep disdain for the actions of thieves. After listening to his friend's daydreams, he cannot help but sneer and scoff, "You?" He nudges Wang Ermao's frail shoulder, "With your small frame, can you even wield a knife? Do you dare to kill? Do you dare to eat human flesh raw? Forget it! Even if your ancestors from the Wang family were not virtuous, they would not raise a thief of a child!"

Secondly, youth must possess great strength. Stand tall!" Wu Dagui looked up and down at the two young men, responding with a smile. "Thirdly, be clever and obedient! You both meet these two criteria. If you encounter any other troubles, come back and tell me. I will reach out to acquaintances; perhaps they can offer assistance

Although the position of the village head is not prominent, he is at least someone who can communicate with the authorities. Therefore, despite being looked down upon, when neighbors encounter difficult issues, they ultimately have to turn to the old turtle for help. The old turtle does not care how others disdain him; he is determined to seize every opportunity for gain, no matter how small.

"You don't know martial arts, but I can teach you a few quick tricks that will definitely fool the untrained eye!" Cheng Xiaojiu suddenly felt a surge of confidence, his eyes shining like stars in the night sky. "As for that old turtle over there, he doesn't know me, and doesn't he recognize the money we have in our hands?"

After repeatedly admiring his works that could almost drive Wang Xizhi to despair and infuriate Cangjie, Wu Lizheng slowly folded them and handed them one by one to the two young boys, earnestly advising: "In fact, this is not in accordance with the rules, especially for Xiao Jiu, who has only just moved here a few days ago. No one can clearly say what he has done in the past or who he is associated with. But I, as an elder, believe that you are all good children. Today, I am taking a bit of a risk to act as your guarantor. If you manage to make something of yourselves in the future, do not forget that it was I who recognized your potential. Remember to come back and visit often; distant relatives are not as valuable as close neighbors!" (Note 1)

Note 1: Wang Xizhi is so skilled that he could drive Cangjie to despair. Wang Xizhi is the Sage of Cursive Script, renowned for his wild cursive calligraphy. Cangjie is the Sage of Characters, credited with the creation of Chinese writing. If one were to write in both cursive and regular script in a haphazard manner, even the two sages, Wang and Cang, would feel ashamed.

Thinking of this, he sighed again and said softly: "Forget it, forget it. Who told me that I have no other skills and must be the village head! You two young men, holding the guarantee document, need not go to the yamen to look for work. Just go to the yamen early tomorrow to take a look; I heard they are recruiting local militia to maintain order. You may not earn a lot there, but at least it is safer than being a bodyguard and escorting goods"

Wang Ermao was startled by his exaggerated behavior and stepped aside, offering a wry smile as he reminded, "I don't know any martial arts; others certainly wouldn't recruit someone like me as a bodyguard. You, on the other hand, have some skills, but you've only just moved to Guantao a few months ago? That old turtle in the alley would definitely not act as your guarantor"

This devilish figure, however, treats his subordinates with great loyalty. Whenever he acquires wealth, he always distributes it among his followers according to their contributions, keeping not a single coin for himself. If any of his followers have elderly, weak, women, or children at home who need care, he will send someone to bring them to the mountains, providing them with rice and provisions monthly. The cities and villages he has conquered are filled with corpses, resembling a hellish scene. Yet, the families of the followers he has brought to the mountains live in abundance, enjoying a remarkably comfortable life.

Having obtained the abandoned supplies from the authorities, Zhang Jincheng did not move all of them back to the old camp. He only took half of the rice and all the knives, guns, and armor, leaving the remaining supplies that could not be carried by the riverside of the Zhang River for anyone to pick up at will. The nearby farmers spent three full days transporting the white rice home and still had not managed to divide the remaining supplies completely. It was not until the fourth day, when Gao Kaidao and others came to take advantage of the situation, that they reluctantly departed.

The last sum was a price for a life! It was unlikely that anyone could spend it! Cheng Xiaojiu was well aware of this. Nevertheless, he still tugged at the now cheerful Wang Ermao and repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Wu Dagui. He then performed a formal bow and took his leave, heading off with Wang Ermao to prepare for the recruitment matters of the following day

A wave of burning pain surged into his heart, gradually washing away the guilt within him. Wu Dagui staggered back to the house and the library, lit three incense sticks, and murmured a prayer before the wooden statue of the Kitchen God: "O Kitchen God, please see clearly, I did not mean to do this; I truly acted out of good intentions. I did not mean to, I really..."

What else?" Upon hearing that it was not considered a labor duty, Wang Ermao's enthusiasm immediately waned, and he asked in a dispirited manner.

Unable to find opportunities for exerting strength, the path of small business is blocked by invisible barriers, leaving the two youths feeling somewhat frustrated. "If this continues, I will have no choice but to go and gamble with the big boss!" Another day passes idly, and Wang Ermao angrily shouts.

Scholars have always refrained from discussing strange forces and supernatural phenomena, so after waking from the dream, Cheng Xiaojiu cast aside the absurd images from his mind. It is uncertain whether the ginseng and deer antler tonic prescribed by the physician was indeed effective, or if it was due to the noticeable increase in the white rice content of the rice balls in recent days. Since that evening, Cheng Zhushi's spirits have genuinely improved day by day. This situation delighted Cheng Xiaojiu, and he worked even harder. However, no large ships docked at the wharf anymore, and the occasional miscellaneous tasks that appeared were often snatched up by other strongmen before he even heard about them.

At the beginning of this year, His Majesty the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty dispatched General Wang Bian, leading an army of 30,000, to Hebei to suppress bandits, engaging in battle with Zhang Jincheng, Gao Kaidao, and others at Julu. Gao Kaidao and his men were unable to withstand the assault and retreated into the mainland marshes to hide. However, Zhang Jincheng remained undaunted in the face of danger; he first retreated slowly and then, at the banks of the Zhang River, formed a defensive line with his back to the water, emulating the strategy of the legendary Chu general Xiang Yu, who burned his boats and fought to the death against the imperial army. The bandit soldiers, with no way to escape, fought valiantly, ultimately managing to drive the 30,000 imperial troops into a rout, forcing them to flee all the way to the city of Wu'an, over a hundred miles away, before they could finally halt their retreat. The accompanying supplies of over 100,000 shi of military provisions and countless transport goods all fell into the hands of Zhang Jincheng.

Indeed, the old turtle is only interested in money. But we have only just managed to save a little..." Wang Ermao spat on the ground and said resentfully

The statue of the God of Creation, surrounded by smoke and flames, sits upright, as if it has heard, or perhaps has not heard. Its gaze reveals a hint of compassion and a trace of pity. Perhaps after observing the world for so many years, it has long seen through the lives of all beings, perceiving the light and darkness hidden within each person's heart

"It does not count as a labor service! The local militia is recruited temporarily and will be disbanded afterward. It cannot be considered as a labor service!" Wu Dagui smiled and spoke frankly. "The information I have is that to partake in the local militia's dinner, the first requirement is to have good character, and the neighbors must be willing to vouch for you. Since you two have taken my guarantee, this first condition is already satisfied."

Reluctant to part with the hard-earned money, Cheng Xiaojiu felt quite unwilling. However, apart from working as a bodyguard, he truly could not find any other means of making a living. After a half-hour of negotiation with Wang Ermao, they finally decided to each contribute 200 coins and try their luck at Old Turtle's house that evening

Seeing the two young men take their handwriting so seriously, Wu Dagui felt even better. He stood up and personally escorted them out of the house. When they reached the entrance, he shook his head again and sighed, saying: "Alas! Sending you two young men to roll on the edge of a knife, I, an old man, do not know whether this is right or wrong! This world is like this; doing good can also harm others, and not doing anything can harm others as well. Either way, it is all about creating misfortune!"

Wang Ermao did not expect his good friend to respond to his proposal in such a manner, leaving him stunned with his eyes rolling back. After gasping for a while, he finally blushed and said, "We haven't been pushed to that point yet, have we? If we really get to that point, then I would eat human flesh! Just remember what I said today, and see whether I end up starving to death or living a life of feasting on meat and dividing gold in large portions in the future"

Then the two of us should sincerely thank you, esteemed elder! Cheng Xiaojiu pulled Wang Ermao and once again bowed to Wu Dagui

"We shall not be thieves, nor shall we bring shame to our family name." Cheng Xiaojiu muttered repeatedly like a madman, thinking in the opposite direction of Wang Ermao. Suddenly, a glimmer of light flashed in his confused eyes. "Let’s go to the pawnshop tomorrow and see if they are hiring guards or bodyguards. We may not be thieves, but we can protect others from thieves, and we can also earn a meal!"

Seeing that Wang Ermao was already distracted, Wu Dagui shook his head and said with a smile: "No need to thank me! Didn't I mention before that this is a task fraught with unpredictable fortunes and misfortunes? Our Guantao is close to the bandit's den, and it is possible that we have already caught someone's attention"

"Uncle, why must you say such things? If the two of us can find something to do, we will surely come back to see you again. You are accumulating virtue and doing good deeds; the Kitchen God will definitely record a note of this in the book of merits!" Cheng Xiaojiu, sensing that the other party's words carried deeper meaning, smiled and turned back, offering very considerate advice.

The old turtle among the population of hetushu.com is the headman of the area around Donkey Dung Alley. His surname is Wu, and his given name is Dagui. He is known for being greedy and timid, often retracting his head when faced with difficulties, and he fears that a piece of straw might fall from the eaves and injure his toes. As a result, he is generally looked down upon by his neighbors, who have taken to calling him the "turtled-up turtle".

Zhang Dawang is none other than the notorious Zhang Jincheng. Ever since he raised his banner two years ago, he has roamed thousands of miles, stirring up a storm across the entire Hebei region. This man is inherently ruthless; whenever he attacks a city or plunders land, if the opposing side surrenders obediently, he will ransack the treasury and then leave without causing excessive bloodshed. However, if the enemy dares to organize a resistance, once the city falls, he unleashes his troops to burn and kill, turning the entire city into a wasteland. Over the past two years, none of the Sui officials and soldiers who have engaged with him and been captured have survived. Beheading the captives has become an act of mercy; the usual fate is to be disemboweled, with the heart and liver extracted to accompany Zhang Dawang's wine.

"What are you thanking me for? It's a risky business!" Wu Dagui said with a smile, "To be honest with you, the reason the government is recruiting local militia is that a lightning strike has collapsed the southern city wall of Guantao. The county is unable to rebuild the wall in time, so they have no choice but to recruit some local militia as a precaution against thieves taking advantage of the situation"

The moment his mother was mentioned, Wang Ermao's arrogance immediately diminished. His father passed away early, and it was solely through his mother's relentless work, day and night, mending and washing clothes for others, that she managed to raise her children. Therefore, while Wang Ermao could afford to be reckless about many things, he would never dare to provoke his mother, no matter the circumstances.

As a result, Zhang the Bandit's reputation grew increasingly prominent throughout Hebei. Some viewed him as a fierce and malevolent spirit, while others regarded him as a mighty arhat before the Buddha, wielding a butcher's knife yet harboring a heart full of compassion.

I do not know either, but I will never become a thief in this lifetime!" Cheng Xiaojiu gritted his teeth and replied in a muffled voice. He would rather starve than become a bandit; this was his bottom line. The Cheng family, for generations, had maintained their integrity, and their reputation could not be tarnished by his failures. However, if he did not become a bandit, how could he earn a living to support his family? With so many paths in the world, which one belonged to him, Cheng Xiaojiu, and Wang Ermao?

One cannot be a thief; one must find a livelihood that can sustain oneself, right? Otherwise, won't we end up eating away our resources? After hanging his head in contemplation for a moment, Wang Ermao lifted his head again and helplessly asked the book, "So what do you suggest we do? We have arms and legs; we can't just wait with our eyes wide open for death to come!"

Watching the silhouettes of the two young men fade into the distance under the setting sun, the village head, Wu Dagui, let out a sigh and turned to enter his own courtyard. After isolating everything in the world behind the heavy yellow pear wood door, he suddenly extended his hand and gave himself a hard slap across the face

As he pondered, the youth's gaze grew increasingly bewildered, as if he had walked into a thick, unyielding smoke. All around him were paths, yet none led to a visible destination

That is only natural, that is only natural. The care shown by the elder today will be remembered by us, the two juniors, for a lifetime! Cheng Xiaojiu pulled Wang Ermao along and together they expressed their gratitude to Wu Lizheng with a bow. Then, she carefully read through the document once more, folded it neatly, and cautiously tucked it into her chest.

After a pause, he continued to add: "However, the wages are said to be quite good. Usually, it covers two meals a day, one soup and one dry dish. At the end of the month, there is also a provision of three dou of rice. If bandits really come to attack Guantao, then three meals a day will be provided, along with a substantial reward!"

Cheng Xiaojiu shook her head with a cold smile, finding no common ground with Wang Ermao. "You can mumble this to me, but make sure the aunt doesn't hear it; otherwise, she will definitely beat your backside with a broomstick!"

As expected by Cheng Xiaojiao, the village head Wu Dagui's smile instantly blossomed brighter than the peonies in summer upon seeing the offerings presented by the two. "What do you two little ones need to give me money for? In this village, if others do not know your character, how could I, old Wu, be unaware?" As he spoke, he elegantly swept his sleeve across the table, instantly making the four hundred pieces of meat vanish without a trace. Then, with a raised brow and a puffed chest, he shook Song Yu's wrist, picked up Meng Tian's brush, and swiftly drafted the guarantee documents for Cheng and Wang on two sheets of paper personally made by Cai Hou. He elegantly swept his sleeve across the table, instantly making the four hundred pieces of meat vanish without a trace. Then, with a raised brow and a puffed chest, he shook Song Yu's wrist, picked up Meng Tian's brush, and swiftly drafted the guarantee documents for Cheng and Wang on two sheets of paper personally made by Cai Hou.

Wu Dagui leaned against the door frame, bitterly smiling and shaking his head. After so many years as the village head, it was the first time he had heard someone speak of him with such respect. In the past, when neighbors came to seek his counsel, although they dared not present gifts that were too meager, they would immediately turn around and disparage his ancestors. The term "Old Turtle" was muttered under their breath; did he not hear it, or could he not see the contempt reflected in their eyes?

Note 2: In folklore, the Kitchen God is the deity responsible for recording the good and evil deeds of humanity. He reports to the Heavenly Court once a year