My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 44p2

Chapter 44 p2: Crisis

After seeing the tiler off, Xu Zhizhou washed the two basins and put them away. He had heard the tiler’s words in the courtyard. He thoughtfully pushed the door.

It was an eighty-year-old wooden door.

With the leak fixed, Xu Zhizhou felt much more at ease. He pulled Song Changxu over to sit.

“We’ve earned a lot of money recently, much more than in Shuibo Town. I’ve calculated that we have thirty taels in total. That’s enough for us to live in Jinhe County for a long time.”

Xu Zhizhou gave Song Changxu five taels. “This is for you to buy paper and ink. Plus, you provided the recipe. Five taels of silver covers everything.”

Song Changxu smiled. “Thank you, husband.”

Xu Zhizhou was proud.

Life in Jinhe County was on the right track. Song Changxu still left early and came back late. Xu Zhizhou and Jiang Zhuo’s Bobo Chicken business was booming.

Of course, there were imitators, but their taste was not as good. The two of them were still tired when their stall was busy. At this time, they had just finished a rush, and there were a few scattered customers buying to take home.

A man of about thirty came towards them aggressively. “Is your Bobo Chicken clean? My wife went to the medical hall after eating your food. The doctor said she had a stomachache. We only ate at your place. Is your stall not clean?”

The man shouted, attracting a lot of people to watch. The customers who were eating on the side also stopped.

Jiang Zhuo said, “Sir, our Bobo Chicken is made with fresh chicken and vegetables that we pick out at the market in the morning. We wash them clean ourselves before we make it. It must be clean. You said your wife has a stomachache. It might be due to other reasons, not our stall.”

“That’s right. We’ve been eating here for so long and we’ve never had a stomachache,” a customer said.

“Yeah, are you sure you’re not mistaken?” another customer helped.

The man was still fierce. “It was this stall that made her sick. If you don’t want me to make a scene, then compensate me, and stop this harmful business.”

Xu Zhizhou came over, a smile on his face. “Which medical hall is your wife at? We can go and have a look together. If it’s really our stall’s problem, we will definitely be responsible. If you’re lying, then I’ll take you to the yamen.”

He put down the price sign and then asked, “Is this customer a regular at our place?”

Hearing that he had to go to the medical hall to see his wife, and also to the yamen, the man’s eyes flickered.

Hearing Xu Zhizhou’s next words, he shouted, “I’ve eaten at your place many times. I’m a regular customer. You’re still trying to scam a regular customer. Is this how you do business?”

Xu Zhizhou was composed. “Since you say you’re a regular customer, then tell me, how much is our vegetable skewer, how much is our meat skewer, and how much is our rice and mint tea?”

“As a regular customer, you can’t possibly not know, can you?” Xu Zhizhou pressed.

After he had started his food business in Jinhe County, it was inevitable that he would attract envy, and that someone would come to deliberately cause trouble. He had expected it.

He had a clear conscience and was not afraid of these things.

The man was speechless. The customers also sensed something fishy. They all knew the prices of the Bobo Chicken here. This man was stammering and couldn’t say it. It was clear that he had been hired.

“I don’t look at these things when I buy. I just pay what you say. Is there a problem?”

Xu Zhizhou laughed. “No problem. Then please come with me to the county yamen and let the yamen runners judge.”

Hearing this, and noticing the contemptuous gazes of the people around him, the man, who had always been shameless, gave Xu Zhizhou a fierce look and said, “You wait. I’m not done with you.”

With that, he was about to run. The customers wanted to help Xu Zhizhou catch this scoundrel, but they couldn’t, and he slipped into the crowd and disappeared.

Xu Zhizhou thought of the man’s vicious gaze. He was a little scared. He was a little worried that this man would come to retaliate.

The customers comforted Xu Zhizhou. “Boss Xu, we all think your Bobo Chicken is delicious. You don’t have to bother with these irrelevant people.”

“That’s right, Boss Xu. We’ll help you.”

Xu Zhizhou was worried, but he still smiled at the customers.

“Today, the mint tea and rice are on me. You can have as much as you want. I’ll also give everyone a meat skewer.”

After this incident, these regular customers liked to eat and drink at their stall even more. When their own interests were not at stake, they always sympathized with the weak.

In their eyes, Xu Zhizhou and Jiang Zhuo were two ge’ers. It was not easy for two ge’ers to make a living. Besides, both of their husbands were xiucai. They had a natural good impression of people who were good at studying.

Seeing that the strange man was gone, Jiang Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief. “He’s finally gone. That man doesn’t look like a good person.”

Xu Zhizhou thought for a moment and still told Jiang Zhuo his worries. He wanted him to be careful, or it would be bad if something unexpected happened.

Jiang Zhuo was indeed a bit scared and unsettled.

When it was time to close their stall, Song Changxu came from class to help them pack up. Back at home, he noticed that Xu Zhizhou’s mood was not high.

Song Changxu asked, “Did something happen?”

Xu Zhizhou told Song Changxu about what had happened in the afternoon. Such tactics also existed in the modern era. Song Changxu looked at Xu Zhizhou’s tightly pressed lips and comforted him, “It’s fine. We’ll go and ask my uncle tomorrow. He’s been in Jinhe County for so many years, and he’s a yamen runner. His information should be very accurate. It’ll be simple once we find this person.”

Xu Zhizhou had almost forgotten about his uncle.

Song Changxu added, “If that doesn’t work, I’ll ask Brother Xie and Brother Luo for help. Don’t worry. A person like that, after being called out by everyone, just left in a huff. It’s clear that he was instigated by someone and doesn’t have much of a brain.”

Hearing Song Changxu’s words, Xu Zhizhou felt much better.

“We’re just trying to do a good business, and someone has to come and cause trouble,” Xu Zhizhou complained under his breath.

It hadn’t even been three months. They hadn’t earned much money. How could they have attracted such envy, and such a despicable trick?

Song Changxu’s heart was complicated. He smiled and said, “From what you said, you’re so smart. You were so calm when you encountered this.”

Xu Zhizhou’s emotions came and went quickly. After being praised by Song Changxu, he immediately became happy. “Of course. I could tell from the man’s aggressive attitude that he was here to find trouble. He said he was a regular customer, but I can basically recognize all of them, and I’ve never seen such an unfamiliar face.”

After washing up, Xu Zhizhou had Song Changxu teach him a few characters, and then he waved his hand. “I’m going to sleep first. Blow out the candle when you’re ready.”

Song Changxu agreed.

He couldn’t concentrate on his book now either. Thinking of Xu Zhizhou’s encounter in the afternoon, he felt a bit tormented.

Zhizhou and Jiang Zhuo were both two ge’ers. If this man wanted to do something this time, they would probably be in trouble.

Having a way to make money but no powerful background, one would eventually be seen as a soft persimmon that anyone could squeeze.

Song Changxu let out a breath, took his brush, and wrote a large character to calm himself down. He blew out the candle and got into bed.

Xu Zhizhou was already fast asleep. He stared at him in the moonlight for a long time, then sighed and kissed his forehead.

The next day, after class, Song Changxu found Luo Shuang during lunch.

“Brother Luo, I have a favor to ask.”

Luo Shuang was a bit surprised. He asked, “Brother Song, what is it?”

If it was about money, he could give some to Song Changxu. Their Luo family were merchants, after all.

Song Changxu told Luo Shuang about what had happened yesterday. He said, “I’m a bit desperate, but it’s about my husband’s safety, so I have to ask for your help, Brother Luo.”

County Magistrate Huang was Luo Shuang’s uncle. A word from him at the yamen would be effective.

“Brother Song, this is a small matter. I’ll do it,” Luo Shuang said frankly. “I’ll go to the county yamen after class today.”

Feng Xin’ou was also a bit worried after Jiang Zhuo had told him about this. Now, hearing Song Changxu and Luo Shuang’s words, his heart also settled.

Feng Xin’ou cupped his hands to Song Changxu. “I’m indebted to you again, Brother Song.”

Song Changxu smiled and shook his head. “You’re being too formal, Brother Feng. Zhizhou asked Jiang Zhuo to do business with him. Both of them are very good people, and they’re ge’ers. It’s inevitable that they would be scared when they encounter such a thing. Even I would be unsettled if I had encountered it myself.”

“Since it’s happened, there’s no point in thinking too much. It’s better to solve the problem first. I’m just asking Brother Luo for help. If you had a good relationship with him, Brother Feng, you would have done the same. So we’re all the same.”

Feng Xin’ou’s brow relaxed. “Every time I talk to you, Brother Song, I always feel much better.”

After class in the afternoon, Song Changxu took his book box and went to the stall first. Seeing that no one was causing trouble, he called out to Xu Zhizhou.

There weren’t many people now. Xu Zhizhou said a few words to Jiang Zhuo and then went back with Song Changxu, putting down his book box first.

They were going to the Cao family’s. Xu Zhizhou bought some fruits and candy to take with them.

When they reached the door, Xiang-shi warmly received them.

“Auntie, we’re here to see my uncle,” Xu Zhizhou said, taking a sip of tea and getting straight to the point.

Xiang-shi called out to Cao Chang. “Your uncle is at home.”

Cao Chang saw the two of them and asked, “What do you want to see me about?”

After so many years as a yamen runner, he felt that it was not a coincidence that they had come to see him as soon as they arrived.

Xu Zhizhou couldn’t help but use his hands and feet to explain what had happened. He sobbed, “Uncle, what should I do? I’m so scared this person will come to retaliate.”

Cao Chang patted Xu Zhizhou’s shoulder to comfort him. “You’re right to be on guard. I’ll go and ask around. There should be a precedent for such a person. Describe his appearance in detail.”

Xu Zhizhou did.

“Alright. For the next few days, try not to go out alone.”

Xu Zhizhou nodded solemnly. He hadn’t become the husband of an official yet. He didn’t want to die.

He let out a few dry sobs.

Cao Chang was a bit helpless. “Don’t worry. He’s not bold enough to kill someone, but don’t let your guard down.”

As for being the husband of an official, Cao Chang pretended not to have heard.

Song Changxu had come along to give him moral support. Cao Chang cleared his throat and said, “Changxu can also take more care of Zhizhou.”

Xu Zhizhou nodded like a chick pecking at rice. “Although he’s very considerate of me and listens to me in everything, I think he can be a little more considerate.”

Cao Chang was silent, looking at Song Changxu with sympathy.

The matter was not yet completely resolved, but after telling his uncle, Xu Zhizhou felt much better.

Song Changxu did not tell Xu Zhizhou about Luo Shuang. Since the matter was not yet settled, there was no need to say anything. Besides, he didn’t want Xu Zhizhou to feel that he owed Luo Shuang a favor.

After closing their stall, Xu Zhizhou was even more energetic when he was learning to read tonight.

“A person like that should be caught,” Xu Zhizhou said, lying in Song Changxu’s arms and yawning before he fell asleep.

.

The next day, Cao Chang went to the yamen and asked a few beggars about the troublemaker. The beggars were well-informed and knew all sorts of people.

“I know him, but…”

Cao Chang gave him some silver. “If the information is accurate, you’ll be rewarded.”

The beggar bit the silver and told him everything about the man.

Just as Cao Chang was about to go and arrest him, he saw the yamen runners patrolling in front of the small stall from time to time.

He thought for a moment and didn’t pay much attention to it. He went to find the man’s residence. As soon as he reached the door, he saw two yamen runners escorting the man out.

Cao Chang was dumbfounded. If the county yamen was so efficient, there wouldn’t be so many backlogged cases. He was in the county yamen. He knew these old brothers.

Seeing the man being taken away, Cao Chang patted a yamen runner on the shoulder.

“Why are you arresting him so quickly?”

Seeing that it was Cao Chang, the yamen runner smiled and complained, “Who would want to take on this errand? But it was Young Master Luo who said it. We’re just trying to curry favor. Who would dare to disobey Young Master Luo?”

Cao Chang was shocked. “Young Master Luo? Is he Sir Huang’s nephew?”

“Which other Young Master Luo could it be? We can’t afford to offend him. I don’t know how this scoundrel offended him. He’s been bothering us since yesterday afternoon. Not to be rude, Brother Cao, but you know these young masters…”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Deeply hidden merit and fame.

Little Xu: I need a sense of security. [Pats head]