Chapter Fifty: Even More Remarkable

As soon as Niu Desheng and Liu Wa heard that voice, their hearts soared with joy, and they shouted anxiously, “Boss Zhang, come save us!”

But the pain made their teeth chatter so hard their voices trembled, which only made the man outside curse all the more, “Useless wretches, the both of you!”

Niu Desheng and Liu Wa thought at last their savior had arrived, but to their surprise, Zhou Zhi laughed and called out, “Brother Huo Dan, don’t poke fun at your little brother. I only lured these two little thieves to the burial mounds for some mischief. If anyone’s bold here, it’s you, Brother Huo Dan!”

The man outside the burial ground was none other than Zhang Huodan.

“Brother was only teasing—did you really take it seriously, little Zhi?” Zhang Huodan chuckled as he strode inside.

As Zhang Huodan approached, Zhou Zhi caught a strong whiff of liquor on him. There was no need to ask—Zhang Huodan must have been drinking somewhere and passed by the burial ground on his way. As the head of the local ruffians, Zhang Huodan was often invited to drink every few days.

Niu Desheng and Liu Wa had thought Zhang Huodan would vent their grievances for them and give Zhou Zhi a beating, but they were dismayed to find him speaking so intimately with Zhou Zhi, and their spirits sank.

Zhang Huodan drew near, gave Niu Desheng a sharp kick, and cursed, “Of all the people to mess with, you pick my brother Zhou Zhi? Remember, Zhou Zhi is as good as my own kin. If you dare lay a finger on him again, I’ll see you both dead!”

Niu Desheng and Liu Wa were both idle troublemakers from Zhao Village and naturally acquainted with Zhang Huodan. But since Zhang Huodan wasn’t from Zhao Village himself, while they respected him, they weren’t especially close.

Zhang Huodan then reached down to haul Liu Wa out of the pit. Liu Wa’s face was deathly pale. Afraid he’d bleed out and die, Zhang Huodan tore a strip from Liu Wa’s clothes and quickly bandaged him, scolding, “Hurry up and help Niu Desheng up, and get lost!”

He treated Zhou Zhi like his own brother, so telling these two to scram was within his rights. Besides, even if Zhang Huodan had not intervened, Zhou Zhi had already decided to let them go. After all, he couldn’t take their lives—what sense was there in risking his own for such small fry?

Gritting his teeth against the pain in his foot and crushed fingers, Liu Wa limped over to help Niu Desheng up, and the two of them stumbled away from the burial mounds, battered and humiliated. Suddenly, they thought of something, turned back, and bowed deeply to Zhou Zhi. “Young Master Zhou, today we have truly witnessed your might. Should you ever have use for us in the future, we would lay down our lives without hesitation!”

This was genuine submission.

They had finally seen what it meant to be a little fiend—when Zhou Zhi swung that hatchet at them, his eyes didn’t even blink; it was as natural to him as chopping vegetables. For a poor farmer’s son to possess such wild ferocity—how could they not be cowed?

At that moment, the image seared into their minds was Zhou Zhi’s cold, ruthless face. They were convinced that not even Zhang Huodan was as ruthless as this young master.

Zhou Zhi gave a chilly laugh. “Remember what my Brother Huodan just said: not a word of this gets out. If anyone else hears of it—hmph! You can imagine the consequences.”

The two nodded like pecking chickens.

They then bowed to Zhang Huodan before leaving, finally at ease.

Once they had gone, Zhou Zhi and Zhang Huodan had no reason to linger at the burial ground. They strolled out together, chatting and laughing.

“Little Zhi, to tell the truth, I saw you dealing with those two from the start. I was worried for you, taking on two men alone, but I wanted to see how you’d handle it. Who knew you’d be so decisive, so ruthless? That’s why I hid and didn’t step in. Folks say I, Zhang Huodan, am hard-hearted, but after tonight, it seems you surpass me by far. I really can’t see through you anymore,” Zhang Huodan mused.

“Brother Huodan, don’t say that. I was forced to it. If ‘Old Ma’ at home had been killed by them, the Zhou family would be finished. Only desperation could have made me so hard-hearted. Brother Huodan, what happened tonight must remain between us—you mustn’t breathe a word to anyone, especially not my mother. If she knew, she’d worry herself sick,” Zhou Zhi said softly.

Zhang Huodan laughed. “Grown up, truly grown up—you know how to be filial. Little Zhi, we’re men, and a man should be courageous and bring honor to his family.”

Zhou Zhi thought privately, Brother Huodan is always talking about being a man and bringing honor to the family, but with the life he leads, how is he ever going to achieve that?

Zhang Huodan nudged Zhou Zhi and grinned, “By the way, little Zhi, do you know where your brother was drinking tonight?”

“How would I know?” Zhou Zhi replied.

“Haha! Brother was in high spirits tonight! I got thoroughly drunk at the Zhao Village tavern. Felt damn good, I tell you!” Zhang Huodan stretched, looking utterly content.

“What’s made you so happy, Brother Huodan?” Zhou Zhi asked.

Zhang Huodan glanced at Zhou Zhi out of the corner of his eye. “Little Zhi, you might not understand, but then again, you’re fifteen now, so maybe you do. Your Brother Huodan has taken a liking to a lovely young lady. Ah, she’s a beauty! She’s none other than the only daughter of the tavern’s proprietress—her name is Li Zhenzhen. Just listen to that name—doesn’t it sound sweet?”

At this, Zhou Zhi couldn’t help but chuckle.

No wonder Brother Huodan was so excited—he was in love.

Zhang Huodan was twenty now. Old Zhang had worried endlessly about his son’s marriage, hoping he’d settle down with a good wife and live a decent life. But no matter whose daughter was suggested, Zhang Huodan would flatly refuse.

Zhou Zhi had always thought Brother Huodan never planned to settle down, but now he saw there had been someone in his heart all along.

He smiled, “Brother Huodan, since that’s the case, why not tell Uncle Zhang and ask him to send someone to propose to the tavern’s proprietress?”

Zhang Huodan nodded. “That’s just what I was thinking.”

Then, he sighed. “The tavern proprietress has high standards, though. Even though Zhenzhen and I are fond of each other, she worries her mother won’t agree. That’s why I’ve been drinking at the tavern these days—to see Zhenzhen, of course, but also to get close to her mother, hoping she’ll take a liking to her future son-in-law.”

Zhou Zhi had heard the proprietress of the Zhao Village tavern was a forthright but rather calculating woman. And indeed, for a woman to run a tavern in the rigid society of the Ming Dynasty—she must be extraordinary.

The two of them strolled back into the village, chatting and laughing. By the time they parted ways for home, dawn had already broken.