A flicker of warmth passed through Xiang Yang's eyes. Ever since Xiang Da Niu had died, Fu Da Chun had helped him no end. When Xiang Yang had kept vigil, aside from elders like Aunt Wu and Mr. Liu, Fu Da Chun had been the most attentive. This was no friend made in vain.
At the mention of the Wild Goose Feather Saber, Xiang Yang pushed off with both feet and rushed out of the house toward the gate. He removed the crossbar and opened the gate, whereupon a skinny young man in blue with cunning eyes came into view.
Fu Da Chun held a red tray covered with black cloth in his left hand and carried a three-tiered willowwood-grain food box in his right. Seeing Xiang Yang, a smile appeared on his face. He raised his left arm and gave it a little shake.
"Little Brother Yang, take a look at what I brought you."
Xiang Yang laughed heartily and lightly punched Fu Da Chun in the chest. "I told you long ago to call me Brother Xiang. What's with 'Little Brother Yang'? It makes me sound like some delicate little maiden. Do it again, and I'll twist off that monkey head of yours."
Though Fu Da Chun looked thin and weak, he was clever and quick-witted. He loved climbing trees and raiding bird nests, so Xiang Yang jokingly called him Monkey. The two often joked over how they addressed each other; it was simply the way friends showed their bond.
"Got it, got it. Brother Xiang—no, Lord Xiang. Let me get inside and put this stuff down first. I'm not like you, trained in martial arts since childhood. These two things nearly crushed my arms."
Fu Da Chun's face twisted into a knot as he snapped irritably. Xiang Yang hurriedly took the redwood tray from him, stepped aside to let him in, shut the gate, and led him toward his room.
The small room was only a dozen or so square meters. The bedding atop the earthen kang along the north wall was folded neatly. On the west side stood a square table with two round stools. A chipped teapot and several teacups sat on the table, usually filled with boiled water.
Xiang Yang invited Fu Da Chun to sit and was just about to pour him some water when Fu Da Chun set the food box on the table and flipped open the lid, revealing roasted chicken, charred on the outside, tender within, and roasted to a bright red sheen.
There was still plenty of gravy in the dish beneath the chicken, along with seasonings like scallions and garlic. The fragrance was mouthwatering. In the two lower tiers were two large bowls of white rice and a plate of braised tofu. At the sight and smell of the feast, Xiang Yang could not help swallowing, while his uncooperative stomach began beating a drum with loud thumps.
With a crack, Fu Da Chun pulled out the two pairs of bamboo chopsticks from the very bottom of the food box, planted them upright on the table, and handed one pair to Xiang Yang. "I knew you hadn't eaten. Hurry up. My old man cooked this for you himself, so be happy about it."
Fu Family Roasted Chicken was the most profitable business of the Fu family tavern and its signature dish. Prepared with old broth, its meat was fresh and flavorful, rich without being greasy. It also contained medicinal herbs that stimulated the appetite and strengthened the spleen, making it a medicinal meal of sorts.
Xiang Yang was touched, but he did not put on a show and refuse out of false politeness. Instead, he first tore off the fattest, most succulent wing and placed it in Fu Da Chun's bowl. Only then did he nod and pick up his chopsticks, enjoying the delicious food with white rice. Not to be outdone, Fu Da Chun also started wolfing it down with loud smacks.
As they ate, Fu Da Chun said, "Little Yang—no, Brother Xiang, I went to the prefectural yamen last night and asked Captain Wang to help collect this waist token and official uniform for you. Try them on later and see whether they fit. If they don't, we can ask Captain Wang to exchange them for another set.
"Also, Uncle Xiang earned merit by killing two bandits this time. Magistrate Li awarded thirty taels of snowflake-patterned silver. In a few days, when you report to the County Yamen, you can go straight to Advisor Fang to collect it."
Xiang Yang was delighted. Another batch of money for medicine was in hand. But when Magistrate Li was mentioned, his lips moved as he asked,
"Da Chun, when Black Wind Stronghold came down from the mountain to pillage this time, the relatives of Zhou Fugui, the tea merchant in town, were abducted from their old country residence. Has Magistrate Li made any move?"
Although Black Wind Mountain Stronghold was the most notorious bandit lair for miles around, it could only prey upon small villages under the county's jurisdiction. It did not dare run wild in the county seat. Capturing Zhou Fugui's relatives this time had been nothing more than a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
"Alas, it's been like this for years. What could Magistrate Li possibly do? To be honest, if Uncle Xiang hadn't risked his life to kill those two vicious bandits, Black Wind Mountain Stronghold would probably have escaped this year without losing a single hair.
"But I heard some people in the yamen say that Zhou Fugui's only daughter was also taken in this incident. At first, he begged everyone he could, asking around for skilled fighters to storm the stronghold and rescue her. But Black Wind Mountain Stronghold is at the height of its power, and no one dared take the job.
"Now I hear Zhou Fugui has given up hope and plans to spend a fortune ransoming his daughter from Black Wind Mountain Stronghold.
"I've seen that young miss of the Zhou family too. Fair-skinned and beautiful, with long legs that were straight and firm. Back then, the number of men seeking her hand could have worn down the Zhou family's threshold. Tsk, tsk.
"But she's pitiful too. After a trip through Black Wind Mountain, she'll likely no longer be whole. Once she marries into another family, I'm afraid she won't be able to hold her head up again."
In truth, Fu Da Chun had put it mildly. Among families of matching status, with Miss Zhou's reputation tarnished, it would be difficult for her to find even a suitable husband.
Xiang Yang did not care what would become of the Zhou family's young miss. What he wanted to know was whether he could obtain help from the Zhou family, complete his task, or get close to Black Wind Mountain Stronghold and probe its true strength.
Seeing Xiang Yang keep his head down and ferociously shovel rice into his mouth, Fu Da Chun gave a mysterious smile and continued, "Brother Xiang, I also heard that Zhou Fugui has declared that whoever rescues his daughter from Black Wind Mountain Stronghold may marry her, and he'll also gift him three tea houses in the city. But unfortunately, no one has dared accept such a thorny errand so far."
Xiang Yang could understand why no one dared storm a bandit stronghold; that was no different from courting death. But that no one even dared deliver Zhou Fugui's message or escort the ransom payment surprised him somewhat.
There were quite a few renowned tough men in Anyuan County. Li Jin Hai of Li Guo Village, for one, had been a hunter and possessed boundless strength. He had more than a hundred hunters under him, every one skilled with a bow. Though Black Wind Mountain Stronghold had tormented the common folk for so long, it had never once set foot in Li Guo Village—an unmistakable badge of its reputation. There was even a local saying in the nearby villages: if you marry off your daughter, marry her to a man of Li Guo.
Then there was Old Hero Qian of the Fierce Tiger Martial Arts Hall in the west of the county seat. He was proficient in the external-style Tiger Subduing Fist. In his youth, his fists had shattered steel plates three inches thick. Though he had now entered his twilight years, both the lawful and unlawful worlds for miles around had to give him some face. Even if he went up Black Wind Mountain Stronghold, he would be treated with courtesy.
There were also the two leaders of the Giant Bear Gang in central Anyuan County, Xiong Da and Xiong Er, both extraordinarily gifted tough men. Rumor had it that the two of them were in league with the three chiefs of Black Wind Mountain Stronghold. Delivering a message or ransom payment up the mountain should not have been a problem.
"Interesting. Da Chun, eat faster. Once we're done, let's pay the Zhou family a visit. I'd like to see what has made those renowned heroes of our county go limp."
Xiang Yang tore off a drumstick and bit down on it fiercely. Fu Da Chun was young at heart and loved joining the fun. Hearing Xiang Yang's words, he immediately nodded, thrilled beyond measure and itching to rush to the Zhou family home to see for himself.
Of course, if Fu Da Chun had gone to the Zhou family by himself without knowing his own limits, he would most likely have been swept out the door without even seeing Zhou Fugui, because their status and standing were not equal.
Xiang Yang was different. Setting aside Xiang Da Niu's current reputation, Xiang Yang himself was now a constable of the County Yamen. No matter what, Zhou Fugui would have to give him some face.
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