Hu Lu's Request, The Middleman

"Hu Lu?"

Today was a day off.

Song Chengan was holding a fishing basket and a fishing rod, planning to go fishing for a while.

But when he opened the door, he froze.

There was a person sitting at his doorstep.

It was Hu Lu.

He was holding a bolt of cloth and sitting on the steps in front of Song Chengan's door.

He seemed to be looking for Song Chengan, but didn't dare to knock.

"Brother Song!"

Hu Lu stood up.

He bowed, a somewhat stiff smile on his face.

His hair was streaked with gray among the black.

He looked completely drained of energy.

He was clearly more than ten years older than Song Chengan, yet he called him "Brother Song."

"Why didn't you knock when you came to see me?"

"I just got here," Hu Lu said, flustered.

Song Chengan shook his head.

People who just arrived didn't have dew on their heads.

"Come in."

"Is there something you need?"

"Sit down, make yourself comfortable."

Song Chengan looked at Hu Lu.

He wanted to know why this man had come to see him.

"Brother Song!"

Hu Lu knelt heavily on the ground.

Seeing Hu Lu like this, Song Chengan felt a mix of emotions.

To be honest, when he heard that Hu Lu's son wasn't his, he had felt a bit of schadenfreude.

But seeing Hu Lu's current predicament, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

"Brother Song, I want to beg you for help!"

"I want you to step in."

"Be a mediator for me."

Song Chengan fell silent for a moment.

He honestly didn't want to get involved in this mess.

"What do you want me to help you with?"

"I'm old, and I won't have any more children in the future."

"I want you to step in and be a witness."

"Let Guiyu give birth to the child."

"And let me raise the child."

"As long as she's willing to give the child to me, I'm willing to let her go live with Wang San'er."

"I'm willing to give her some money."

He said.

"In the end, she's the one in the wrong. If I'm unwilling to let go, there's nothing she can do about it."

"I'm willing to let go, but the child must be mine."

Song Chengan helped him up.

"You should find someone with prestige in the city for this matter."

"You shouldn't have come to me."

Hu Lu's eyes were red.

"I'm just a lowly pig castrator, how could I possibly know any of those old wealthy men?"

"Only you, Brother Song. I was blind before... Please don't hold a grudge against me..."

He spoke, reaching out and slapping himself hard.

One after another.

He hit himself heavily.

Song Chengan grabbed his hand.

"That's not what I meant."

"What I mean is, your woman and this Wang San'er might not give me face."

"Since you insist on asking me, I'll go with you to take a look."

"Whether it succeeds or not will depend on your luck."

Song Chengan wasn't sure either.

He was, after all, just a Demon Suppression Envoy at the Demon Suppression Division.

Although he was involved in officialdom, he wasn't really a prominent figure in Lingqiu.

People might not give him face.

To put it bluntly, face was something everyone gave and received.

If someone called you "older brother," you'd call them "younger brother."

For small matters, everyone would just laugh it off.

But if it truly involved interests, and you continued to call them "younger brother" while they didn't recognize you as "older brother," they might not be willing.

If you didn't hold their lifeline, why would they give you face?

"Isn't this Hu Lu a pig castrator?"

"How could he know a big shot from the Demon Suppression Division?"

"With the support of such a big shot, he's gotten too arrogant."

"Judging by his tone today, if we don't agree, he'll cause trouble at the county office."

"If it really gets to the county office, I'm afraid we'll both be in trouble."

Wang San'er looked worried.

"What are you afraid of!"

Zhao Guiyu, heavily pregnant, was over forty but still possessed a mature charm.

She heard his words and immediately said impatiently.

"Does the yamen only operate on reason?"

"We'll grease some palms with silver, and even if he's right, he'll be wrong."

"He's just a pig castrator with no money, surely no one will stand up for him?"

"All the money he's earned over the years is with me."

Wang San'er felt slightly relieved.

"But I'm still a bit worried."

"If it were just Hu Lu, I wouldn't be afraid of him causing trouble."

"I have friends in the Black Tiger Gang that I often eat and drink with; Hu Lu alone can't stir up much trouble."

"I'm just worried about the big shot from the Demon Suppression Division he found."

"You saw it yourself today, that wimp's back was straight."

"I'm afraid this big shot will really stand up for him."

"What big shot?" Zhao Guiyu said dismissively, "The prominent figures in the Demon Suppression Division are just those few Demon Suppression Envoys and Captain Wu."

"A figure like Captain Wu, let alone Hu Lu, even Master Zhao can't get an audience with."

"As for those Demon Suppression Envoys, they are all young masters from noble families in the city. Hu Lu, a mere pig castrator, would dirty their family's reputation."

"He probably invited a clerk, or a warrior who guards the Demon Suppression Division yamen."

"I heard that besides those few esteemed Demon Suppression Envoys, the Demon Suppression Division yamen also has some warriors who do odd jobs."

"I've already asked Miss Zhao to intervene today; it's bound to make this person retreat."

"You really invited Miss Zhao?"

Wang San'er said in surprise and delight.

"Of course."

"I've served Miss Zhao since I was young; she treats me like family. If I ask for something, how could she refuse?"

"That's good then."

Wang San'er breathed a sigh of relief.

"Miss Yuan'er!"

As she spoke.

Zhao Guiyu stood up.

A woman in white rose and walked in.

"Sister Guiyu, please sit down."

Zhao Yuan'er sighed and gestured for Zhao Guiyu to sit.

"Miss Zhao!"

Wang San'er also quickly stood up to pay his respects.

But Zhao Yuan'er didn't even glance at him from beginning to end.

Zhao Yuan'er looked at Zhao Guiyu.

"Sister Guiyu, according to seniority, I should call you cousin."

"But what you did today was truly going too far."

Zhao Guiyu heard this.

"Miss Yuan'er."

"I was blinded by greed, and I already know I was wrong."

"But now Hu Lu is being unreasonable."

"He's found a big shot from the Demon Suppression Division to back him up and wants to take me to court."

"I had no choice but to come to you for help."

Zhao Yuan'er said, "You've been in my home for many years, and we do have some connection."

"I've already told my father about this."

"My father's intention is for me to step in this time and act as a mediator to help you and Hu Lu resolve your dispute."

"We'll pay whatever is necessary."

"Don't think about bullying honest people."

"This... we have to pay money..." Zhao Guiyu was a little unhappy upon hearing this.

"Then I'll leave?"

Zhao Yuan'er stood up.

"No, no, Miss Yuan'er, we'll pay!"

"We'll pay!"

Zhao Guiyu saw this and quickly pulled Zhao Yuan'er back down.

If Zhao Yuan'er left, she and Wang San'er couldn't handle the people from the Demon Suppression Division behind Hu Lu.

Moreover, she knew Hu Lu; even if he asked for something, it wouldn't be much. She gritted her teeth and agreed.

As for Wang San'er, he had no money. Only Zhao Guiyu had money, all earned by Hu Lu before. Therefore, he didn't say a word, leaving the decision entirely to Zhao Guiyu.

After sitting down, Zhao Yuan'er stopped speaking. She looked at Zhao Guiyu's bulging belly with some disgust.

Having another child in middle age was supposed to be a great blessing, but she never expected her once closest cousin to cause such a disgraceful incident, making her look bad by association.

At this point, each of them had their own thoughts, and they all remained silent, waiting for Hu Lu and the "big shot from the Demon Suppression Division" whom Hu Lu mentioned to arrive.