Repaying Kindness with Kindness, Avenging Grievances with Grievances

"Look at what you've cut, huh?"

"Such a good plate of meat, and you've ruined it!"

The burly, broad-waisted Head Chef put one hand on his hip and pointed a finger like a sword. Spit flew everywhere as Gao Cheng lowered his head, not saying a word.

Only after the other man had finished his tirade did Gao Cheng force a smile and cautiously utter a few words. Only then did the former huff and leave to supervise the other kitchen staff.

Gao Cheng looked at the unevenly sliced meat on the cutting board and suddenly let out a sigh.

The turn of summer to autumn, from hot to cool, had always been a time when people easily fell ill.

It hadn't even been a few days into September when his son at home caught a chill. He was listless all day and couldn't eat.

Gao Cheng had only this one son, and he worried about him constantly. He asked his Master for leave, but the Master, without asking any questions, immediately berated him. He started by saying things like, "Have your wings grown strong? Don't you want to work here anymore? Do you think you're ready to strike out on your own?"

All his own words were choked back.

What's more, his wife at home was stingy. When he suggested taking their son to see a doctor, she refused to spend the money. She claimed it was a minor issue and would get better in a few days.

When he didn't get better after a few days, his wife started seeking out witches and charlatans, performing rituals with talismans and water to invite spirits.

"Sigh..."

The more Gao Cheng thought about it, the angrier he became. He grabbed his cleaver and chopped, chop chop chop chop, turning the meat into finely minced filling.

The Head Chef heard the sound, his eyebrows shot up, and he came over with his hands on his hips:

"Gao..."

"Brother Gao, I've come to see you!"

The newcomer's voice was booming. Just hearing it conjured the image of a burly man in his mind. When the tall figure, wearing a black headscarf, red forehead band, and a white round-collared tunic, walked in, the kitchen staff all flinched back a step in fright.

How could this person look so fierce?

And he looked a little familiar?

"You, are you Nezha?"

Gao Cheng stared blankly at the tall young man before him. Although his height had increased by a few inches and his physique had become much sturdier, he still recognized him at a glance. This was Li Cunxiao, who a month ago had still been relying on his help to get by.

"These clothes... Cunxiao, you've become an escort?"

Upon hearing Gao Cheng's words, the people around them finally came to their senses, their eyes filled with shock.

Good heavens, in just one month, Li Sanlang had become an escort?

Talk about a turnaround!

"Li... Li Sanlang, are you Li Sanlang?"

The Head Chef squinted his small eyes, his gaze flustered. He gestured wildly, looking incredibly comical.

Gao Cheng, seeing the greatly changed Li Cunxiao, was also at a loss. It was the latter who stepped forward first, warmly grasping his hand:

"Brother Gao, after I joined the escort agency, I was busy with training and work, and I couldn't get away. I haven't visited you in over half a month, so please don't blame me..."

As he spoke, he lifted the paper package he was carrying in his left hand.

"Look, I finally have some free time today. I bought some dishes, shall we have a drink?"

With that, Li Cunxiao turned his head, his leopard-like face glancing sideways at the Head Chef.

"Master Zhang, I'm taking Brother Gao out for a drink. I won't make you too busy, will I?"

"I can manage! I can manage!"

Master Zhang, seeing his fierce face, was so scared he could barely breathe, and could only nod repeatedly. Seeing this, Li Cunxiao then left the kitchen with Gao Cheng to ask the restaurant manager for leave.

The East Arrival Restaurant was a place the Flying Tiger Escort Agency frequented. When the manager saw Li Cunxiao's attire, he immediately understood everything.

He immediately gave Gao Cheng a day off and also gave Li Cunxiao a red envelope containing ten taels of silver. He said that Li Cunxiao was someone who had come from their restaurant, and they had to show their support for happy occasions. He also mentioned that Gao Cheng worked diligently and that Master Zhang was sometimes a bit too harsh.

Even as they walked out of the East Arrival Restaurant, Gao Cheng was still in a daze, his feet feeling as if they were treading on cotton, sinking and rising. Everything seemed so unreal.

That stingy old miser of a manager actually gave someone a red envelope?

Normally, even if he wanted to pack up leftovers, the manager's face would stretch into a horse's face.

But look at him just now, his smiling face so amiable in front of Li Cunxiao. When had he ever seen him treat the kitchen staff like that? He only ever treated the customers that way.

"Brother, I, I..."

Gao Cheng's honest face had turned red at some point. He looked around, his head turning left and right, like an old, drunk yellow ox.

Li Cunxiao, however, couldn't bring himself to smile. He just squeezed Gao Cheng's arm forcefully and said earnestly:

"Brother Gao, you took care of me and Mucha for so many years. I remember it all..."

"I can't let you be bullied..."

Gao Cheng's back suddenly straightened, as if something had been injected into his body. He pulled Li Cunxiao's arm forcefully, his face beaming with excitement:

"Good! Good, Sanlang! Let's go, come home with me for a drink!"

"Second Uncle, Li Sanlang is just an escort, not an Escort Leader. Why did you give him a red envelope?"

Shopkeeper Sun's words, which were clearly lacking in thought, angered his second uncle so much that he slapped his nephew. The latter staggered from the blow, looking at his uncle in disbelief. His uncle's face was filled with disappointment that he couldn't be proud of him.

"Foolish! Foolish! Do you think Li Sanlang is still the same person who used to beg for scraps? Can't you see how thick his arms are, how big his fists are?"

"These martial artists, their minds are filled with nothing but blades and spears. Do you think they'll care about any laws when their blood is boiling?"

"Not to mention that there's war everywhere now, with refugees all over the place. This world might fall into chaos at any moment."

"Escorts aren't exactly big shots right now, but in a little while, when this Chuqiu also descends into chaos, those fifty or sixty strong men from the Flying Tiger Escort Agency won't be escorts, they'll be tigers that eat people without spitting out the bones!"

"Feeding a tiger now might save your life later. I ask you, which is the better deal?"

"Your second uncle is greedy, but I value my life even more!"

The young man listened, nodding meekly, unsure how much he truly understood.

Shopkeeper Sun sighed. Just as he had sent the person away, a waiter ran over, saying that Chief Escort Zhang of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency had temporarily booked a whole lamb feast and would be arriving tonight.

Shopkeeper Sun dared not delay and hurried to the back kitchen to urge them on.

"Shopkeeper, I, Gao Cheng, isn't here. I'm afraid it might be a bit tight."

Master Zhang showed a troubled expression, secretly grumbling to himself. Why on earth did he give Gao Cheng leave? Apprentices are meant to work, and yet you, Shopkeeper Sun, were being so kind-hearted for no reason?

"If you're too busy, why don't you invite Gao Cheng back? It's a good opportunity to mend your relationship as master and disciple. You still need to pass on your skills, don't you?"

Shopkeeper Sun dropped his words and, ignoring Master Zhang's changing complexion, turned and left.

The latter stood stunned for a few minutes, then finally sighed and turned to leave.

The waiters were all holding back laughter. As soon as he left, they hadn't even let out a few chuckles before they saw Master Zhang returning. They quickly held themselves back again.

They saw Master Zhang grab a roasted chicken and a bottle of yellow wine from the kitchen, then turn his short legs and head towards Gao Cheng's house.

The burst of laughter finally erupted in the kitchen.

"Fatty Zhang, you're having your day too!"

"Brother Gao, don't just drink, eat some food. Sister-in-law, you eat too."

"Huzi, come, drink your medicine. When you're better, Brother Li will buy you candied hawthorn."

Upon arriving at Gao Cheng's house, Li Cunxiao immediately became anxious upon seeing the sickly Huzi.

The poor people at the bottom didn't understand hygiene and were also short on money, often avoiding medical treatment, thinking they could tough it out. Li Cunxiao certainly wouldn't be careless.

Ignoring the Gao family couple's pleas, he immediately took the child to see a doctor. Fortunately, it was just a common cold, and the doctor said it wasn't serious and would be fine after a few days of medicine.

The medicine money was naturally not cheap. Fortunately, before leaving, he had specifically borrowed money from He Bi.

He had intended to borrow five taels, but the latter waved his hand and gave him twenty taels directly, saying it was to congratulate him on becoming an escort.

He would have to repay his friend's kindness slowly.

"Sister-in-law, in the future, if you get sick, don't look for shamans and witches; they're useless."

Sister-in-law Gao looked at her suddenly prosperous brother and, remembering what she had said before, could only lower her head and say sheepishly:

"It wasn't me, they found us themselves. We won't go anymore."

"I told you long ago not to believe in those things! That Mingzun Cult, all of them in white clothes and black hats, they can't be good people!"

Gao Cheng hadn't drunk much wine, but his spirits were high:

"By the way, Sanlang, a few days ago, the Green Snake Gang and the Wolf Gang had a fight. I heard that Bald Snake's hand was broken! You remember the Green Snake Gang, right?"

Li Cunxiao narrowed his eyes upon hearing this:

"Bald Snake is injured?"