Zhu Tong

Biodata

Background / History

Zhu Tong was already a handyman at the Mortuary when Bai Yu arrived. Daoist Lin Jiu assigned him to help the newcomer settle in; he provided Bai Yu with an identity plate and work clothes, then explained that although the Mortuary officially had fifty-six positions, only a handful of people actually worked there. 8

He quickly became familiar with Bai Yu, addressing him as a brother and helping him integrate with the Mortuary’s small circle. Bai Yu’s gesture of bringing scallion noodles for Zhu Tong, Daoist Lin Jiu, Mangzi, and Old Zhang strengthened that camaraderie. 10

Zhu Tong regularly handles or discusses the Mortuary’s finances. He explains its customary division of burial fees, worries over declining income, and complains that low wages cannot support a family without additional earnings from the dead. 10 24 By the time Bai Yu becomes a clerk and assumes management of the Mortuary, Zhu Tong becomes one of his direct subordinates. 43

Personality

Zhu Tong is smooth, sociable, and talkative. His “Know-It-All” nickname reflects how readily he shares local rumors and workplace information, from the Mortuary’s absentee staffing to gang conflicts and Jiang City’s disrupted grain routes. 8 27 48

He is pragmatic about the Mortuary’s harsh customs and its need to make money, but he also sympathizes with ordinary people suffering under rising prices and exploitation. He condemns the Liu and Zhao families’ grain-price increases as no different from the Black Wolf Gang’s extortion. 10 24 31

Despite his tendency to exaggerate alarming news, he cares about his colleagues. He warns Bai Yu to flee from a Baleful Corpse, worries when Bai Yu is missing during the Mortuary crisis, and later regrets not taking Bai Yu’s warning about stockpiling grain seriously. 28 37 48

Skills & Knowledge

Local and Mortuary Information

Zhu Tong is well-informed about the Mortuary’s internal practices, local funeral opportunities, gang disputes, and conditions affecting Jiang City’s common people.

• Explains the Mortuary’s nominal staffing versus its actual workers. 8
• Informs Bai Yu about the Zhang family funeral and the potential reward for a skilled suona player. 13
• Shares rumors that the Black Wolf Gang doubled its protection fees after losing casinos to the Divine Strength Sect. 27
• Reports on grain-route robberies and the government troops’ defeat, although he initially dismisses Bai Yu’s concerns. 48

Mortuary Accounting

Zhu Tong is repeatedly shown working an abacus and monitoring the Mortuary’s income.

• Checks the Mortuary’s monthly accounts while worrying about Bai Yu’s apparent surrender to Second Master Zuo’s demands. 33
• Is found calculating accounts when Bai Yu returns from the Xiao Family assignment. 47

Relationships

• Bai Yu — Coworker, friend, and later superior. Zhu Tong helps Bai Yu enter the Mortuary, shares information with him, and becomes his direct subordinate after Bai Yu takes over Mortuary affairs. 8 20 43
• Daoist Lin Jiu / Uncle Jiu — Fellow Mortuary member and Yin-Yang Master. Zhu Tong respects his expertise and follows his order to evacuate during the Sha Qi crisis. 24 36
• Mangzi — Coworker. Zhu Tong joins Bai Yu in arranging Mangzi’s farewell party before Mangzi leaves to travel with his master. 20
• Old Zhang — Coworker. Zhu Tong tries to keep peace when Mangzi and Old Zhang nearly fight over Second Master Zuo, then later flees the Mortuary crisis alongside him. 12 37
• Little Wang — Coworker and fellow escapee during the Sha Qi crisis. 36 37
• Second Master Zuo — Zhu Tong deals directly with the Black Wolf Gang enforcer when paying the Mortuary’s protection fees. 12

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Bai Yu’s arrival at the Mortuary — Introduces Bai Yu to the Mortuary’s work, staffing corruption, and internal routines. 8
• Early Mortuary life — Helps Bai Yu settle into the worker group and explains the profession’s customary fee-sharing practices. 10
• Zhang family funeral — Brings Bai Yu news of the lucrative suona opportunity and later shares in the celebratory feast after the funeral. 13 15
• Financial struggles and Black Wolf Gang pressure — Voices the workers’ concern over reduced income and explains rumors behind the gang’s increased protection fees. 24 27
• Baleful Corpse incident — Attempts to protect Bai Yu by warning him to run, then spreads news of Bai Yu’s victory over the corpse. 28
• Mortuary crisis — Escapes the Sha Qi formation with Old Zhang and Little Wang; worries when Bai Yu does not emerge with them. 36 37
• Jiang City grain crisis — Alerts Bai Yu to renewed grain-route attacks, then acknowledges the severity of the disaster after grain prices triple. 48

Notable Quotes

“To live off the mountain, live off the mountain; to live off the water, live off the water; to rely on the Mortuary to make money off the dead.” 24

“Damn it, why is it so difficult to live a peaceful life?” 48