Half an hour later, a carriage came rolling in from the end of the street and finally stopped before a magnificent six-story restaurant.
The driver drew in the reins, then turned around and eagerly lifted the curtain, smiling obsequiously. "Young Master, Bright Jade Pavilion is here."
Inside the carriage, Zhang Xusheng straightened his clothes and cap, then rose and stepped out, not forgetting to thank the driver as he did.
He jumped down from the carriage and was just about to enter the restaurant when a voice suddenly reached his ear. "Pah. You look all proper and decent, so why can't you even bear to tip a single copper coin?"
Zhang Xusheng's body paused slightly. Then, as if casually, he took a small piece of broken silver from his sleeve, turned, and pressed it into the driver's hand, smiling as he said, "I nearly forgot. Brother, thank you for the hard trip. This is my carriage fare. Please accept it."
The driver was overwhelmed by the favor and hurriedly declined again and again. "Th-this won't do, will it? Someone already paid the fare for the Young Master before we came. How would this little old man dare take it a second time?"
Zhang Xusheng forced the broken silver into his hand and said, "Just accept it. Consider it a tip from me."
The driver was overjoyed and quickly bobbed his head and bowed at the waist, flattering him. "Thank you for the reward, Young Master! This little old man wishes Young Master an early place on the golden roll and generations of dukes and marquises!"
Zhang Xusheng nodded, then turned and walked into Bright Jade Pavilion.
The instant he stepped over the threshold, Zhang Xusheng's thoughts were extraordinarily complicated.
Because he had discovered, to his horror, that everything had been