Tavern Gathering (Seeking Reads)

A single gold leaf remained on the table. Chen Ye gathered the extra silver Shen Chongsan had given him, wrapped it in a cloth, and tucked it into his tunic.

He then sat on the edge of the bed and began to calculate his next move.

So far, he had yet to find Gao Yunheng, nor had he managed to touch the threshold of the Xie Family.

But compared to a month ago, he now possessed an identity in the Capital City, a token from the Zhou Clan, and the personal favors of both Su Guang and Zuo Dongxi.

Zuo Dongxi was hosting a banquet at Fengqing Restaurant tonight, which presented a perfect opportunity to put these assets to use.

Night fell.

Fengqing Restaurant, second-floor private room.

Zuo Dongxi played the host, and the three of them sat at a table by the window.

Outside the window lay the South Street of the Capital City.

The clamor of the night market drifted in through the half-open window, carried by the evening breeze.

Several hot dishes were already arranged on the table.

Once the waiter brought over a pot of warmed wine, the banquet officially began.

When they first sat down, Su Guang was not yet familiar with the other two and appeared somewhat reserved.

His ten fingers were bandaged with cloth after being treated, and his knuckles were stiff as he reached for food.

He struggled to handle his chopsticks.

Zuo Dongxi was also injured, but his wounds were mostly superficial, making him better off than Su Guang.

Only Chen Ye seemed like an outlier.

Despite having also endured torture, he acted as if nothing had happened, showing no signs of injury at all.

Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang had learned on the road that this was due to the medicine bestowed by Madam Zhou, and they couldn't help but feel envious.

The three of them clinked their first bowls of wine.

Su Guang downed his in silence, set the bowl on the table, and said nothing.

Zuo Dongxi refilled all three bowls.

As they reached the second bowl, Zuo Dongxi spoke first: "Brother, I, Zuo Dongxi, have spent over a decade in the Patrol Horse Gang, living on the edge of a blade. This time, I truly nearly lost my life. If not for you, I would still be in that dungeon waiting to die. What are your plans for the future? Will you continue working as a carriage guard?"

Chen Ye raised his bowl and said, "I can't go back to the carriage firm. The boss is afraid of trouble and already paid me my wages."

Zuo Dongxi let out a cold snort. "Li Datou at the carriage firm is a spineless coward. If you can't stay there, little brother Chen, if you don't mind, come join my Patrol Horse Gang. I'll reserve a position as Vice Leader for you."

Chen Ye tilted his head back and drained the large bowl of wine.

He had no intention of living under someone else's roof for now, and even if he were to defect, it shouldn't be to a small, insignificant gang.

Chen Ye set his bowl down gently, the crisp sound echoing as he said, "I came to the Capital City primarily to find someone. This man is the Eldest Young Master of the Qinghe Prefecture Gao Family. He received a summons from the Xie Family and came to the Capital City last month to take up an official post. It is a pity that my capabilities are limited. To this day, I haven't been able to find him."

Zuo Dongxi set down his chopsticks and said, "Leave the matter of finding him to me. I'll have my brothers in the gang start searching tomorrow. As long as he is still in the Capital City, we will eventually find some clues."

"Then I shall trouble you, Brother Zuo." Chen Ye did not stand on ceremony and spoke directly.

"There is no need for such formalities between us."

The two of them clinked bowls once more.

Su Guang sat to the side, listening quietly to their conversation without interjecting.

His fingers had not yet healed from the finger-crushing torture, and he couldn't control his strength well when holding his wine, causing it to spill from time to time.

Chen Ye set his bowl down, looked at Su Guang, and asked directly, "Brother Su, what are your plans for the future?"

Su Guang lowered his head in silence for a long time before sighing, "I don't know."

Zuo Dongxi poured him another bowl of wine.

Su Guang downed this one as well, and as the alcohol took effect, he gradually became more talkative.

"I spent eight years with the Feng Family. I was by the Third Young Master's side even before he reached adulthood. He was kind to me, and my life should have been his."

He stared at the dregs of the murky wine at the bottom of his bowl and said, "Now that he is dead, the Feng Family has cast me out. Come to think of it, I was a truly pathetic guard."

Su Guang didn't continue, instead tilting his head back to finish the remaining wine in one gulp.

Chen Ye did not offer him comfort.

After a few moments of silence, he said in a calm tone, "Brother Su, when I was in Qinghe Prefecture, I also felt pathetic. Back then, I was a servant in the Gao Family, treated like livestock, unable to even protect my own life."

He placed his chopsticks across his bowl, his voice low, yet clearly heard by both men at the table.

"So later, I killed the head of the guards who wanted my life. I beat him to death, punch by punch."

Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang looked at Chen Ye in unison.

"I won't hide it from you both. I came to the Capital City to collect a debt." Chen Ye looked at Su Guang and said, "The Eldest Young Master of the Gao Family obtained the Xie Family's summons on the back of my life. He owes me a life."

Su Guang stared at him for a long time after hearing this.

Suddenly, he picked up the wine pot, refilled both their bowls, and picked his own up first to drain it in one go.

"Brother Chen." He set the bowl down, as if having made a firm decision, and said formally, "You saved my life, a debt I can never repay in this lifetime. From now on, your business is my business. Whatever you tell me to do, I will do."

Chen Ye took the other bowl, drained it in one gulp, set the empty bowl on the table, and said, "Brother Su, you are too kind. From now on, we are all our own people."

"I never imagined Brother Chen had so much on his plate. Come, come, let's drink. From today on, your business is our business."

Zuo Dongxi refilled the three men's bowls.

The three of them raised their bowls and clinked them together heavily: "Bottoms up!"

The wine went down their throats.

Chen Ye picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of lamb, put it in his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully.

He immediately followed up, "I'm also planning to try my luck with the Cui Family later. Do you two know if there's any way to get in?"

"I recall rumors that the Cui Family recruits retainers from the outside, but as for the specific method or the standards required, I'm not entirely sure," Zuo Dongxi replied.

Su Guang chimed in, "I happen to know a bit about that. A few days ago, when the Third Young Master went to visit the Cui Family, I shared a few drinks with one of their guards. That man mentioned that it is primarily the Third Miss, Cui Xijun, who handles the recruitment of retainers; the others in the Cui Family rarely do so."

Chen Ye said, "Then I'll have to trouble Brother Su to find out exactly what the requirements are for the Cui Family's recruitment, who is in charge, and when they are hiring. I want to try that path through the Third Miss. In the Capital City, we need to lean on a big tree to feel at ease."

Su Guang nodded, "I'll take care of it tomorrow."

After downing another bowl of wine, Chen Ye remembered something and his expression turned grave. "There is one more thing I need to tell you."

Seeing Chen Ye's serious demeanor, Su Guang and Zuo Dongxi both set down their chopsticks and looked at him, waiting for what was to come.

"It's about the Feng Family." Chen Ye said in a low voice, "I heard from Third Madam Zhou Clan that the culprit who murdered the Third Young Master has been caught, but the Feng Family has not executed them. Whether they will come looking for trouble with us in the future is anyone's guess. So, we must keep an eye on the Feng Family from now on. If there is any movement, we must keep each other informed."