Chapter 004: The Sky Eagle Inn

A Chou's face had several bruises, and his ears were swollen, clearly having endured much beating and scolding from the shopkeeper and those noble guests of the Tianying Sect. However, he had finally managed to endure until the inn closed, and his face was filled with excitement.

Four or five ragged old and young beggars lay sprawled in disarray, scratching fleas in the sunlight. On the ground were several broken wooden bowls and earthenware bowls, used to beg for money for rice.

On weekdays, his parents are busy fishing in the big lake, leaving him to catch fish in the small rivers of the countryside, climb trees to find bird nests, and pick wild vegetables in the fields, finding his own food. Having grown accustomed to such freedom, no one restrains him

The innkeeper Wang, accompanied by several of his attendants, hurriedly came out to lead the horse for the elderly man in the brocade robe, continuously showering him with flattery and compliments, and remained busy.

He was infuriated for being spat on by the beggar for no reason. It was one thing to encounter a rogue before, but he never expected that even the down-and-out beggars in this county town would bully him so ruthlessly.

As the evening chill begins to rise, my thin clothing offers little warmth, and a wave of sorrow washes over me, leaving me on the verge of tears without any to shed. Truly, it is a stroke of bad luck; even a sip of water feels piercingly cold.

No, no, Chen Ge, you come here

However, the fish cooked at home is completely different from the fish stir-fried at the inn

Walking approximately half a mile from Ximen Wharf towards the county town, one will arrive at Hanshan Taoist Temple

Master Hanshan is universally recognized as an extraordinary figure, renowned throughout the thirteen counties of Wu Prefecture. Even the county magistrates, esteemed officials, seek an audience with Master Hanshan, often visiting the Daoist temple in person to pay their respects.

A large amount of leftover food that cannot be consumed; today, Manager Wang has shown rare kindness, allowing all the chefs and staff to pack it up and take it home.

We warmly welcome the esteemed arrival of Protector Li and Master Wang!

He looked up at the setting sun in the west

Su Chen huddled in the corner, watching from a distance, feeling a deep sense of sorrow for A Chou

The streets in the city are even more prosperous and lively than those at Ximen Wharf, with carriages of all sizes flowing continuously, and crowds bustling everywhere, which is certainly incomparable to the remote and impoverished Zhouzhuang

In the future, he will find a job as a helper in the county town, and it is likely that he will live a life similar to that of A Chou, being bullied by others all day long

After a busy afternoon, I found no work to do; I was either chased by a vicious dog or driven away by a beggar, and I encountered nothing good.

Su Chen looked at the sky; it was already evening

Suddenly, a large hand descended from the sky, grabbing Ah Chou's ear and pulling it hard. Behind him came the furious voice of Manager Wang, "Ah Chou, you lazy bum, always slacking off and being idle, why aren't you quickly tidying up the table!"

The entrance of the Taoist temple is solemn, with red stone walls and black glazed tiles exuding a sense of gravity. The bronze doors are grand and magnificent. Devotees come and go, and the incense smoke is thick and flourishing, presenting a scene of vibrant prosperity.

Being a young attendant at the inn is truly pitiful, as it is both busy and exhausting, and one must also endure the beatings and scoldings from the head steward and the local ruffians

Oh no, my ear has fallen off, it has fallen! Great shopkeeper, spare my life!

However, Su Chen knew that although A Chou was somewhat unattractive, he had a good heart, and the two became good brothers. Every time he came to the county town, he would look for A Chou to play with.

Su Chen saw that the inn was filled with martial artists dressed in the brocade robes of the Tianying Sect, coming in and out, yet all that remained in his heart was fear

The Cold Mountain Ancient Temple has a history of over a thousand years, yet it has remained relatively obscure and not widely known

Su Chen went around various shops on the streets of the city to inquire, willing to take on any odd jobs, but none of the stores were looking to hire a young lad of over ten years old, and he was met with disappointment.

Su Chen had never tasted such delicious cuisine, he had only often heard A Chou speak of it

Chen Ge'er, what brings you here

The taste is bland, light, and quite fresh with a hint of fishiness

The backyard of the Sky Eagle Inn is spacious, serving as the area where the cooks and assistants prepare meals, wash vegetables, and carry out various chores

After an hour had passed with no results, Su Chen walked down the street with a dejected expression

If one could throw some salt and vegetable leaves into the clay pot, along with a little bit of oil foam, and smell the fragrant aroma of oil and salt, it would be considered quite a luxurious way of eating for the fishermen of Zhouzhuang

It is estimated that by evening, these affluent guests will have had their fill of food and drink, and will take their leave

Several elderly men in brocade robes riding magnificent tall horses appeared, seemingly indicating that prominent figures from the Tianying Sect had also arrived

What are you talking about? We are brothers. Even if you don't come, I still get beaten by the manager every day. Come on, Chen Ge, it's not easy for you to come to the county town, so today I will treat you to a delicious meal! Inside, there is half a stewed pig's trotter bun, and also a small half of braised crucian carp! These are the good dishes made by our inn's chef, completely different from our own boiled fish method, using several large spoonfuls of vegetable oil, pure white salt, and more than ten kinds of spices, stir-fried vigorously in the pot, it smells amazing!

Why are you being so polite with me? I work at the inn and get to eat such delicious food every day! Since you have come here as a guest, please eat first, and I will eat the leftovers later.

The method of cooking fish at home is very simple, just boiling it directly in a clay pot, and once it is cooked, it can be taken out and eaten

Having gone all day without eating, I can still manage to endure it.

Looking around, I was once again astonished

The sun has set in the west, and the sky has completely darkened.

A Chou is of the same age as him, with a green birthmark on his cheek, which makes him appear somewhat unattractive. He has few friends in the Tianying Inn and the county town, and is often bullied by the inn's head servant.

He is now in tattered clothes, not daring to enter the ancient temple, but respectfully bows from a distance a few times, which can be considered a modest expression of gratitude. He thinks that if he becomes wealthy in the future, he will come back to offer a few sticks of incense.

Su Chen was pursued by a swarm of beggars, and in his shock, he fled in panic

In Zhouzhuang Water Town, although his life is quite difficult, often having meals that are one meal short of the next, he would not be subjected to such insults and beatings

Only on a grand feast like today at the Tianying Gate during the twelfth month, will there be an abundance of leftover cold dishes. When everyone has had their fill and taken enough, he is fortunate to receive a portion. Such an opportunity is rare, occurring only once or twice a year

Soon, he saw the flustered young attendant A Chou in the lobby of the Tianying Inn, and he could even smell the rich aroma of meat and wine wafting from the inn, making his mouth water

... ...

Even the most junior assistant, A Chou, received a considerable share

Ordinary people rarely have the opportunity to see him in the temple unless they encounter great fortune. On regular days at the Hanshan Temple, they can usually only pay their respects to the five main disciples and the students of the true master within the temple

No need, A Chou, you eat first! After you finish, just leave me a bite of rice and a little bit of sauce, that will be enough for me to taste the freshness

However, in recent years, Master Hanshan has seldom stayed at the Hanshan Taoist Temple, instead wandering the world and befriending various esteemed individuals.

Su Chen passed the Taoist temple and walked a little over half a mile, soon entering the city of Gusu County

But I have only ever thought about it, never daring to take it seriously

Su Chen had once heard the fishermen of Zhouzhuang speak of this Master Hanshan, who possessed great supernatural powers, able to walk on the waves of rivers and lakes, knowing all matters of the world, and with his ability to calculate and predict, he was truly formidable.

Every time Su Chen visits Gusu County, he is dazzled by the sights and feels an overwhelming envy towards the families in Gusu City. He always dreams of the day when he can live in such a prosperous place as Gusu County.

As evening approached, the beggars finally quieted down and hurried off to beg for alms in various places

He came to find A Chou, hoping to have a place to stay for a few nights to avoid the suffering of the cold at night, and to have a little food to prevent starvation. This already caused A Chou quite a bit of trouble, so how could he take such a great advantage

The inn is luxurious and grand, featuring three levels of lofts, with the lobby and private rooms frequently at full capacity

In the corner of the yard, there is a shed piled with straw and firewood, which serves as A Chou's residence

Su Chen finally caught his breath and wanted to take a break in the corner

As a humble errand boy, A Chou was constantly busy serving tea and water to the guests at the inn, and it seemed that he would not have a moment to spare until the establishment closed for the night

Today, the Tianying Inn is particularly lively, with Manager Wang, numerous chefs, and more than ten attendants all exceptionally busy, attending to a winter gathering for the guests of the Tianying Sect.

Little brother, are you looking to join my beggar's den?

Of course, there are also small vendors carrying burdens, beating gongs, and calling out their wares along the streets, as well as various street performers at the corner entertaining for money.

The main street is lined with various clothing shops, grocery stores, pharmacies, money exchange shops, pawn shops, as well as blacksmiths, weapon shops, jewelry stores, restaurants, and post stations among others

Hundreds of robust men from the martial world, dressed in the same colored brocade robes and carrying swords and daggers at their waists, gathered on different floors of the inn according to their ranks within the gang. They clinked cups and exchanged drinks at the tables, creating a noisy and boisterous atmosphere, drinking from large bowls and eating meat heartily, making for an exceptionally lively scene

More than ten years ago, when Su Chen was just born, the old master Han Shan Zhenren had once treated him and also bestowed upon him a name

Such a spicy and delicious flavor is enough to leave them reminiscing for several months

Su Chen and A Chou, having eaten and drunk their fill, settled down in this firewood house to chat, casually discussing various interesting anecdotes about Suzhou County and Zhouzhuang

A young beggar with a square face leaned casually against the corner of a blue brick wall, his hair a messy nest, and in front of him lay only a beautifully crafted, colorful porcelain bowl, clearly indicating that he was the leader of this group of beggars

The secluded corner where he is hiding turns out to be a beggar's den

On the way to the county town, he only had a cold and hard steamed bun, and after traveling for most of the day, he was famished and his limbs were already weary

In the city of Gusu County, the streets are dark and silent at midnight, with no other nighttime entertainment available except for the brothels and gambling houses that remain open all night long

The patrons of the Eagle Gate feasted freely during those days, leaving behind a great deal of dishes

You first

The Tianying Inn is an establishment under the Tianying Sect, one of the five major factions of Wujun, and is quite famous in the city of Gusu. It is one of the most upscale restaurants and a frequent gathering place for heroes of the martial world

It is unlikely to find work in the county town for the time being, and there is no place to stay tonight. Once it gets dark and the weather turns cold, it is feared that one may not be able to endure it

Su Chen sighed inwardly, unsure whether it was for A Chou or for his future self

Su Chen felt a bit envious, but still declined.

In fact, he is a young assistant, occupying the lowest position at the Tianying Inn. The leftover food and scraps from the guests have all been divided among the other head managers, chefs, and those prominent assistants, leaving very little for him when it is his turn.

Su Chen held a deep respect for these heroes of the martial world and was usually reluctant to come to the Tianying Inn alone.

It was not until the current abbot, Master Hanshan, took over this ancient temple twenty years ago, personally residing within the temple to promote the celestial teachings, that Hanshan Ancient Temple gained significant renown and its incense offerings flourished day by day

Ah Chou cried out in pain like a pig being slaughtered, begging Manager Wang for mercy repeatedly

Su Chen, covered in dirt and mud, feeling both exhausted and hungry, walked in a disheveled manner along the streets of Gusu County.

Su Chen jumped up in fright, dodging the spit.

Ah, Chief Steward Liu, you have finally arrived! The banquet has already been prepared inside, and everyone has been waiting for you.

Now, he has been forced to leave his hometown and come to Gusu County to make a living, yet he is quite troubled, causing his hair to turn white

In contrast, Zhouzhuang has only a few small grocery stores and butcher shops, lacking any high-end shops or street performances.

Inside the restaurant, numerous patrons indulging in meat and wine could not help but burst into hearty laughter, slapping the table in uncontainable joy

However, there is no other way at the moment; I can only go to the Tianying Inn to borrow a place to stay for the night. I will endure the cold tonight, and when the sun comes out tomorrow and warms things up a bit, I will make further plans

His family are fishermen from Zhouzhuang, so they often have the opportunity to eat lake fish and river shrimp. On this day, most of the fish and shrimp at the Eagle Inn were delivered by the fishermen from Zhouzhuang

Oh no! My precious flower-patterned porcelain bowl is broken. Brothers, catch this little brat and beat him to a pulp!

In this inn, Su Chen was only familiar with the young attendant A Chou

Su Chen arrived at the entrance of the Tianying Inn, which was quite prosperous, located at the intersection of Ximen Street

Su Chen was filled with admiration and curiosity for this Cold Mountain Taoist Temple, yet he had never entered to take a look inside, which left him quite regretful

Two young boys were pushing each other, inhaling the fragrant aroma of pork knuckle buns, a small portion of braised fish, and large bowls of rice, all of which made them ravenously hungry, yet neither was willing to eat first

The vicious dogs chased relentlessly, and Su Chen, frightened, darted into a narrow alley. Unfortunately, he accidentally stepped into a stinking ditch, his calves trembling. He ran several streets in one breath and finally hid in a secluded corner, managing to shake off those ferocious dogs.

The heroes of the Jianghu in the Sky Eagle Gate are not to be trifled with; a moment's carelessness may lead to a brutal beating.

A Chou spoke animatedly, excitedly placing the packed meal on the ground

Su Chen quickly waved his hand and shook his head

The young beggars looked over with strange expressions as Su Chen barged into the corner

Working as a servant at the Tianying Inn is not easy. A Chou serves dishes to the guests, but if he is even slightly slow, he is met with a scolding from the head manager.

He is also unfamiliar with other places in the county town, worried about taking the wrong path. At night, he does not dare to wander around and only stays in the corner by the street, enduring the hunger in his stomach

In the end, the two individuals decided to split it in half to avoid any further excuses

He used a large lotus leaf to wrap up the leftover dishes, along with a big lump of leftover rice and some fragments of delicacies. He then called over Su Chen, who was hiding in the corner of the inn's outer wall to avoid the wind, and together they excitedly returned to the backyard of the Tianying Inn

Some of the wealthy patrons are quite temperamental; if the staff is even slightly slow in serving tea or dishes, they may receive a sharp slap, leaving them dazed and confused

Su Chen originally did not intend to trouble his brother A Chou, after all, A Chou was just a young assistant at the inn, and life was not easy for him

Su Chen dared not approach the Tianying Inn any closer; he merely waved to A Chou from a distance, asking him to attend to his business first. He then settled himself in a corner on the street opposite the inn, waiting for the inn to close for the night

In the late hours of the night, the men of the Tianying Sect within the Tianying Inn had eaten and drunk their fill, tipsily exchanging fist salutes as they bid farewell to one another before departing, marking the closing of the Tianying Inn

While passing by a grand and opulent mansion, a few fierce dogs suddenly sprang out from the courtyard, barking wildly at Su Chen. Su Chen was taken aback and fled in panic.

Like the chef at the Tianying Inn, putting a large spoonful of oil, a handful of salt, and more than ten unknown spices into a cast iron wok to stir-fry the braised crucian carp, with its complete color, aroma, and flavor, this is simply a luxury that the fishermen of Zhouzhuang cannot imagine

No! I was just passing by

He had previously heard the fishermen of Zhouzhuang speak of the wealthy patrons of the Eagle Gate, who had connections with both the government and the underworld, engaging in both legal and illegal activities. They often oppressed the fishermen of Zhouzhuang, employing extortion methods that were even more ruthless than those of the yamen runners, instilling fear in the hearts of the people.

To settle down in the bustling area of Gusu County, one faces numerous challenges. Just finding a job to earn a living and a place to sleep are two major issues.

"If you are not here to join us, then you must be here to seize my territory, Zhu Laoba? Bah, are you seeking death? I will drown you with a single spit!"

On weekdays, he doesn't even have a drop of leftover soup to drink, watching enviously as the broth and oil are all distributed among the others.

Su Chen saw A Chou with a bruised face and felt quite guilty, saying: "A Chou, I have caused you trouble! You had to endure a beating from Manager Wang."

A Chou was wiping the seats and tidying up the leftover food on the table. Upon seeing Su Chen appear outside the inn, she was unexpectedly delighted and wanted to run out to greet him.

In recent years, the number of vagrants in Gusu County has increased significantly, and it is not uncommon to find groups of beggars huddled together in the county town.

Su Chen tightened his clothing, deep in thought

Su Chen inhaled the peculiar fragrance that filled the air and swallowed his saliva

Su Chen and A Chou immediately devoured these "delicacies" completely, feeling satisfied and having eaten their fill

The young beggar saw the most precious porcelain bowl being kicked by Su Chen, crashing against the corner of the wall with a loud clatter and shattering. Unable to contain his heartache, he cried out in pain, screaming and cursing.

The young beggar leader immediately revealed a fierce expression, spitting a mouthful of saliva towards Su Chen, glaring at him with hostility

Su Chen kicked out in anger, toppling the flower-patterned porcelain bowl of the filthy beggar leader, and then fled the scene

However, the suffering of being frozen in the cold night is the hardest to endure, and it is very easy to freeze to death on the streets

The legend of Master Hanshan instilled a profound sense of reverence in Su Chen, a twelve-year-old boy of innocent understanding, towards the ancient temple of Hanshan

Ah Chou, feeling anxious, immediately pushed the food towards Su Chen, as if not eating would be a sign of disrespect towards him