Try Once More

Ning County

The Liu household brimmed with joy. Liu Bengeng had risen before the rooster crowed. Watching the cooks gut fish, slaughter chickens, boil meat, and fry meatballs beneath the newly erected reed canopy, he was thoroughly satisfied. "Come, let's take these over to the Zeng residence next door. We mustn't neglect our guests!"

Not content with merely giving the order, Liu Bengeng personally led the servants over with the food hampers slung from carrying poles.

"Master!" An old servant hurried over to report, "I have news for you—he's here!"

"Who?" Liu Bengeng trembled all over.

"Who else but the great hero Zeng Nianzhen, whom you've never stopped thinking about?"

"Quick, take the food hampers over! And bring out the wine I've been keeping!" Liu Bengeng's voice shook with excitement as he sprang to his feet and urged them on.

This place lay deep in the hills. Even under the new dynasty, there were always mountain bandits of murky origins, some even colluding with the tenant farmers.

Seven years ago, the bandits had demanded to "borrow" a hundred shi of grain—eighteen thousand jin. He could have scraped it together by emptying out everything he owned, but how would he have lived afterward?

It was Zeng Nianzhen who had stepped in and settled the matter.

The Zeng residence was close by, right next door: a spacious compound with five rooms in the main building and another five in the eastern and western wings. A banquet had been laid out, and people kept coming and going.

Three banquet tables stood in the hall, with more than twenty people seated around them, drinking and chatting.

As soon as Liu Bengeng entered, he bowed to the man at the main table. "This old man pays his respects to Hero Zeng."

Zeng Nianzhen hurried to