Volume 2: Eagle vs. Dragon Chapter 9: Banquet to Reward Merit
When Changzi returned to Ye's house, it was already the middle of the night. Half of the people in the house were still awake, and even the side door was left open for him.
Changzi didn't know whether this time the matter was handled well or badly, but he just gritted his teeth and went to Yingyang Garden to tell the whole story. After hearing the end, Ye Youyu felt relieved and said, "Go tell Uncle Zhong now that the matter is done. Tell Uncle Zhong the time and place, and let Uncle Zhong take care of the rest."
Changzi was about to leave, and Ye Youyu said, "Come back." Seeing the scars on his face and the damage on his clothes, she couldn't get too close to him because of their different social status. She just sighed and said, "Changzi, this time... you've worked hard."
Changzi said: "No matter what the Third Miss said, as long as it didn't cause any trouble, it would be worth it even if Changzi's legs were broken."
"You are talking nonsense again! Go, go."
Changzi left Yingyang Garden and asked to see Ye Zhong. He told him what Ye Youyu had said. Ye Zhong looked him up and down and said, "You did a good job. From today on, you will receive the third-class monthly salary." He took out a two-liang ingot of loose silver and said, "This is a reward for you."
If Wu Chengjian used these two taels of miscellaneous silver as a reward, he would not even think it was cheap. But for Changzi, it was a huge sum of money that he had never come into contact with in his entire life!
Changzi quickly collected it and hid it close to his skin. When he returned to the row house where he lived, the servants who lived with him looked at him with envy and jealousy. Then Changzi saw a pile of rags on the ground. He picked them up and looked at them in the moonlight. It turned out that his new clothes were torn to pieces. At a glance, he, who was originally the most humble in the house, made the servants in the same room shrink in fear.
Changzi shouted, "Who! Move your hands!"
After all, he had just been under the watchful eyes of Wu Chengjian and Wu Guoying, had received Ye Youyu's instructions, and had fought two rounds with Wu Qi. His vision and momentum had unknowingly broadened. Although he was defeated by Wu Chengjian, his opponents were now the lowest-level servants. How could he take these people seriously?
No one dared to answer after he shouted. Changzi didn't even press the issue any further. He just said, "Okay, I... go ask, Master Zhong, and get another one." This was said with great skill. If Wu Chengjian and Ye Youyu were here, they would also applaud him.
As he was about to leave, a servant was so frightened that he rolled over and hugged Changzi's legs, shouting, "Brother Chang, Brother Chang, don't go! I was blinded by greed! I heard in the evening that you messed up something... It's my fault, it's my fault!"
The boy started to slap himself in the face as he spoke. Changzi watched coldly, and although he did not do anything, he felt even more pleased.
Ye Zhong sent Changzi away and went to the study. Ma was also sitting on the side, with a gloomy expression. Ye Dalin asked, "What's going on ?"
Ye Zhong said: "The first step of the matter has been completed. Hao Guan has agreed to meet. The next step is to see if the third lady can persuade Hao Guan."
Ma said sarcastically, "After making such a big fuss, I thought I had dealt with the Wu family. It turns out that we can only meet once. Humph, I don't know if it will work in the end, but it has already brought shame to our Ye family."
Ye Dalin was not moved by these two sentences: "It doesn't matter, no matter what means are used, as long as the task can be accomplished."
He had done even more shameful things, not to mention that it was a servant who came forward this time. If necessary, he could just push this servant out to take the blame and dispel the rumors to save face - the most important thing right now was how to get Wu Chengjian to let the Ye family go.
At this moment, he still had a clear sense of priorities, so he said to Ma: "Don't mess with Youyu during this period. Give her whatever she wants as much as possible. This matter concerns the prosperity and decline of our Ye family. Don't cause trouble for me at this time."
Although Ma was indignant, she thought about it and realized that she had to put the overall situation first. If she really messed up everything, the Ye family would be ruined, and she would be in trouble too. She turned away and thought to herself, "Let's wait until this matter is over, and then I will find a way to deal with you, this little hoof!"
She just didn't believe it. Even if she helped Lao accomplish two things, could Ye Dalin still love Ye Youyu for the rest of her life? As long as she was still in the inner house, she would die in her own hands one day!
Ye Zhong sent people to the Wu family, who went back and forth twice to finalize the time and place for the meeting. Wu and Ye were old allies, and their information channels were connected. Before, the Ye family could not meet or get a word from each other because the Wu family deliberately closed the door. Now that they were willing to meet, everything was naturally done smoothly.
It is early winter now. In the north, snowflakes may have already fallen. Rich families are starting to make arrangements for snow viewing, pretentious ladies are collecting snow to drink tea and make medicine, and soldiers on the frontiers further north are starting to face a new round of ice and snow on the ground.
The rich and the poor in the north have their own joys and sorrows, but in Guangzhou city the whole city is celebrating.
The early winter in Guangdong is great. It’s not cold at all at this time and many people are still wearing short sleeves. The humidity is extremely heavy all year round, but only at this time is the world dry, just like a good autumn in the north.
That night, when the sky was just getting dark, the lights in Baietan were already lit up one by one. The Huacha ship came over and approached Shenxianzhou.
The sound of singing and welcoming ceremony echoed across the water.
There are no other guests in Shenxianzhou tonight - Yihexing Haoguan has reserved the place!
This time the Wu family turned the tables, and all those who had never troubled the Wu family were treated kindly by the Hao official. All those who had helped them with good intentions were warmly entertained. It was said that Old Zhou, the most loyal man in Nanhai County, would even sit as the chief - this was really surprising.
Some people went to sympathize with Master Liu San, but Master Liu San said, "It's easy to flatter the rich, but it's hard to help those in need! Captain Zhou, I, Liu San, will make friends with such people when the time comes! Even if the Hao official doesn't let him take the chief position, I will help him get it!"
At the Ye residence, Ye Youyu and the others were also ready to go out. Before leaving, Xu pulled her aside and said, "Daughter, daughter, what are you thinking about going to meet... meet that Hao Guan this time?"
Three months ago, Wu Chengjian was just a playboy she had heard of in her mind. But after the night of the reversal, everyone's impression of the new Yihexinghao official changed completely. This was especially true at the Ye residence. Xu saw up close how Ye Dalin and Ma worried about Wu Chengjian's revenge on the Ye family.
In Xu's eyes, Ye Dalin and the Ma couple were already extremely powerful and terrifying people, and Wu Chengjian could actually scare these two people to such an extent. Xu also developed a sense of fear towards the head of Yihehang. Thinking that Ye Youyu was going to meet him tonight, she felt uneasy.
"Mother, don't worry," Ye Youyu said, "Third brother is a good man."
"Your words only make me more worried." Xu said, "Xiguan Street is full of businesses. There are no good people in the Thirteen Hongs. Moreover, he is such a powerful figure who can change the situation. You actually treat him as a good person... You will suffer a loss!"
"I told mother not to worry, so please don't worry." Ye Youyu said, "I know him better than you... I know him better than many people."
"So this time you are going to..."
"It's to save us mother and daughter from suffering, and if possible, to save the Ye family." Ye Youyu touched his chest. After two months of rest, the kick from Ye Dalin was basically healed. "After all, he is my biological father... I remember how heartless and ungrateful he and his wife were, and I want to vent my anger. But no matter what, I am still a member of the Ye family, and I can't deny the blood connection and the grace of giving birth to me."
Xu asked, "Are you really sure?"
Ye Youyu was not completely sure in her heart, but she couldn't really say that. How could Xu feel at ease if she said that? So she said, "Mother, you have to believe me."
And she said in her heart: "I want to believe him too."
Ye Zhong had already arranged people to escort Ye Youyu to Baietan.
——
Changzi also came to Shenxian Island, but he didn't go up, he just stayed at the dock - he had to wait.
In the cabin of a small boat behind him, Ye Zhong asked, "Why, do you want to go out and have some fun?"
Changzi said: "Someday, I, I, will go in!"
Ye Zhong laughed loudly: "Good boy, you have a future!"
The two of them, one in the light and the other in the dark, watched the guests coming in wave after wave at the dock. Ye Zhong calculated that about 60 to 70 percent of the guests had arrived. The light on the Huachai side lit up, and he could vaguely see a group of people walking down.
Two rows of turtle slave girls ran over to greet them. Changzi said, "That's, yes, yes, Hao Guan, them, is that it?"
Ye Zhong said: "It should be. He is the master tonight, so he will not go to the Immortal Continent from here."
After Wu Chengjian and his group entered, shouts broke out from within Shenxianzhou: "Hao Guan!" "Hao Guan!" "Hao Guan!" "Hao Guan!"
There were no extra words or embellishments, just these two words repeated countless times.
Changzi was envious when he heard this. He knew that Wu Chengjian must have been cheered and supported by the whole audience as soon as he entered the room. He couldn't help but say, "At this time, Wu Qi must be by my side. That would be really glorious."
Ye Zhong laughed: "You are right to envy the person you envy. Work hard and you will have a chance." However, as one of the Eight Generals of Xiguan, he has seen countless life and death of Guangdong's wealthy people, but he has long lost interest in these bright lights and feasting. Hiding in the dark, smoking a pipe, and watching the ups and downs of these influential people with a smile is the most peaceful thing for him.
He opened the cabin window a little and looked at another ship nearby. A man as tall as an iron tower was also sitting in the dark, paying no attention to the hustle and bustle nearby. He was the iron-headed military scar who was originally qualified to go in and enjoy the scenery, but chose to stay here alone. Ye Zhong looked over from the window and nodded in praise: "He is also a real hero!"
