Old Acquaintance

The place where Zhuang Jin's dormitory gathered for dinner that day was the same restaurant where Bi Father and Bi Kai had treated him last time to thank him. It was called Shi Xian Lai.

As soon as they entered, a waiter enthusiastically came forward. "Welcome, honored guests! This way, please!"

They've got a new waiter here? Oh, an old acquaintance.

Seeing the man, Zhuang Jin secretly marveled at the coincidence. He knew him—Zhu Bin, the waiter from the inn where he had stayed the night before the Martial Student Recruitment. Zhuang Jin had given him three Copper Coins, and Zhu Bin had arranged hot water from the Upper Room for him to bathe with.

While Xiang Qichen and the others calculated prices and ordered dishes, Zhuang Jin went aside with Zhu Bin and asked how he had ended up here.

At his question, Zhu Bin glanced at Zhuang Jin, his face full of complicated emotions that were hard to put into words, and began to explain.

It turned out that after Zhuang Jin's stay at the inn, he had opened up a new line of thought for Zhu Bin. So it could be done like this? He could use the inn's resources to earn tips for himself!

Once that thought broadened his horizons, there was no stopping him. Zhu Bin came up with his own business strategy: he would sell services to guests staying in the lower rooms—tip him a certain amount, and he could get them hot water for a bath; tip him another amount, and he could get them free meals from the Upper Room... The tips were absolutely worth more than the services provided, not to mention how much cheaper they were than upgrading to an Upper Room.

In short, there was only one principle: dig out the inn's foundation stones to fatten his own purse... For a time, his little enterprise had flourished.

But there was no wall in the world that did not let the wind through. After he had repeatedly appropriated resources from the Upper Room, its guests complained several times. The innkeeper investigated, the truth came out, and Zhu Bin was thrown out. He had only arrived here these past few days.

Zhu Bin really is a talent! But this matter actually has something to do with me?

Feeling slightly guilty, Zhuang Jin rubbed his nose. But on second thought, he dismissed the idea. No, I can't be like Xiong Lei and pin everything on myself. How could Zhu Bin getting kicked out possibly be because of me?

Even if I inspired him and opened the door to a new world for him, if his character had been pure and upright, and he hadn't fully exercised his subjective initiative, none of what came afterward would have happened. Right?

So character still determines fate. It was Zhu Bin's own character that determined his later fate. Thinking this, he immediately felt much better.

When Zhuang Jin returned, Xiong Lei asked how he knew the waiter here, but Zhuang Jin brushed him off with a casual answer.

By then, Xiang Qichen and the others had finished discussing and ordered their dishes. Zhu Bin took the menu and called out, "Right away! One Cattail Chicken, one Charcoal Roasted Duck, one Braised Perch..."

The dishes arrived quickly. Chicken, duck, fish, and meat covered the table. Even though Zhuang Jin and the others had not lacked rich food lately, their appetites were thoroughly whetted. After all, the communal meals at the Shen Family Outer Courtyard did not offer such a variety of meat dishes!

To them, this table was already exceptionally lavish.

The eight of them dug in heartily, with no need for ceremony. Martial Artists naturally had large appetites. Though it sounded like a lot of food, in the end only broth and scraps remained.

Qian Wende deserved special mention here. Before coming, he had said he would restrain himself and mind his table manners. Well, compared to before, he really had been relatively restrained this time—but he still ate more than anyone else.

After the meal, the group settled the bill. Since they had ordered according to the prices, they had not gone much over budget. The total came to four qian of silver plus a few Copper Coins, and Xiang Qichen paid those extra coins from his own pocket.

Behind the counter, the innkeeper accepted the money with a broad smile and handed them a fortune-stick cylinder. "Recently, our establishment has been rewarding both new and returning customers. Spend fifty Copper Coins or more in a single visit, and you may draw once. Any top lot earns a gift: a Top-Top Lot wins a set of tea cups; a Top-Middle Lot wins a Folding Fan; and a Top-Bottom Lot wins a stack of Blotting Paper. Why not try your luck, honored guests?"

There were nine kinds of lots in the cylinder: Top-Top, Top-Middle, Top-Bottom, Middle-Top, Middle-Middle, Middle-Bottom, Bottom-Top, Bottom-Middle, and Bottom-Bottom, all mixed evenly together. Any top lot won a prize. With a one-in-three chance of winning, the odds were quite good.

There were exactly eight people in Zhuang Jin's dormitory, one draw for each person.

"I'll go first!" Xiang Qichen said, stepping up without hesitation. He drew a Middle-Top Lot.

"Just one step short of a top lot. What a pity, Boss." Qian Wende was good at playing along. "Following our dormitory order, Brother Xiong, you're up next?"

"Sure." Xiong Lei agreed and went up to draw a lot.

His luck was rather good. He drew a Top-Bottom Lot and won a stack of Blotting Paper.

"Brother Xiong, what good luck." Wu Hao sighed, envy showing on his face. To him, getting a stack of Blotting Paper for free was already no small benefit.

Qian Wende glanced at it but was not particularly envious. If Xiong Lei won it, it was practically the same as if he himself had won it. For all he knew, Xiong Lei might use less of that Blotting Paper than he did!

Next, Jiao Kun drew a Bottom-Bottom Lot. He could not help cursing, "Bad luck!"

Then came Lin Hong. His luck was exceptionally good—he actually drew a Top-Top Lot and won a set of tea cups. The cups came with saucers underneath and lids on top, their surfaces painted with wintersweet blossoms. They looked quite exquisite.

"Holy shit!" A wave of shocked cries immediately erupted, especially from Jiao Kun. Having just drawn a Bottom-Bottom Lot himself, he now looked as though he had swallowed shit at the sight of Lin Hong's good luck.

"Brother Lin, that's incredible!" Qian Wende gazed at the tea cups with even greater envy. "Brother Lin, your luck is really blazing today. Why don't you draw for me later?"

Lin Hong glanced at Qian Wende and politely declined with a smile. "Who can say for sure when it comes to luck? Maybe drawing this Top-Top Lot just used up all my luck for the day. You should do it yourself!"

With lotteries, if you drew well, everyone was happy. But if you failed to draw a good lot, people would inevitably resent you in their hearts. Lin Hong would not do such a thankless task.

Next was Zhuang Jin. He drew a Top-Middle Lot and won a Folding Fan. That was not bad either, but compared with Lin Hong's Top-Top Lot just now, it was far less startling and drew no cries of amazement.

After that, Bi Kai, Qian Wende, and Wu Hao drew Middle-Middle, Middle-Top, and Middle-Bottom Lots respectively. None of them won anything, so there was nothing more to say.

After the drawing, Zhu Bin saw them out. "Take care, honored guests."

Zhuang Jin suddenly thought of something. He paused, took three Copper Coins from his pocket, and gave them as a tip.

That day, Zhu Bin had served him diligently, and Zhuang Jin had indeed owed him a little. Now that he had become a Formal Martial Artist, he had more money on hand. Unlike before, when he had to split every Copper Coin in two and haggle over every penny, he could finally make up for it.

"Ah, thank you, sir." Having received the tip, Zhu Bin's smile became even more eager, and he bowed attentively.

Zhuang Jin nodded. He gave the man one last look before turning away, lost in thought. Back then, Zhu Bin was an inn waiter, while I was merely a down-and-out beggar. Now, Zhu Bin has been driven out by the innkeeper for cutting corners, while I, through self-discipline and hard work... mm, and an insignificant, hardly worth mentioning Golden Finger, have become a Formal Martial Artist and remained with the Shen Family. The winds and clouds truly change without warning.

Yet every drink and every peck is predestined. He thought again of the words, "Character determines fate," and felt a faint realization stir within him, using it to reflect upon himself.