gnovel Chapter 9 "Brother...you've suffered."
Chapter 9 "Brother...you've suffered."
Wu Yong and Lin Chong walked one after the other on the dirt road in Dongxi Village. Lin Chong had changed into ordinary clothes and was wearing a felt hat that covered most of his face.
The spear in his hand was wrapped in thick cloth, and judging by its shape alone, it looked like a long pole for drying clothes.
As the two approached the manor gate, a servant spotted them and rushed inside to inform the manor keeper.
A moment later, a series of hurried footsteps came from inside the courtyard.
Liu Bei went out first, followed by Liu Tang and the three Ruan brothers.
His gaze passed over Wu Yong and immediately landed on Lin Chong.
With just one glance, Liu Bei stopped in his tracks.
The man was eight feet tall, with a leopard's head, bulging eyes, a swallow's chin, and a tiger's beard. Standing there, he was like an iron tower.
What shocked him even more was the weapon wrapped in cloth in the man's hand.
Its outline and length clearly resemble an eighteen-foot spear.
"Third brother..."
Two words escaped Liu Bei's throat unconsciously, the sound so soft that only he could hear them.
His vision was a little blurry.
It's as if I can see him again on Changban Slope, standing guard over the broken bridge, roaring three times to drive away Cao Cao's million-strong army.
The oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden and the years of war and battles instantly flooded my mind.
He strode forward and grabbed Lin Chong's arm.
Lin Chong was startled by this sudden action and instinctively tried to break free.
But that hand, warm and strong, carried an unparalleled sense of intimacy, causing him to completely lower his guard.
Liu Bei grabbed his arm and looked him over from left to right.
Look at the weathered look at the corners of his eyes, the white hair at his temples, and the lingering melancholy between his brows.
A thousand words are stuck in my chest.
In the end, it all boils down to one sentence.
"Brother...you've suffered."
These five words, seemingly ordinary, instantly shattered all of Lin Chong's strength when they reached his ears.
You've suffered.
Yes, I suffered.
Framed by Gao Qiu, he was exiled to Cangzhou, and his beloved wife was forced to commit suicide.
After burning down the hay storage yard and fleeing to Liangshan on a snowy night, he only wanted a place to settle down, but he was met with suspicion and exclusion from a pedantic scholar, who suppressed him at every turn.
He possessed exceptional martial arts skills, yet harbored deep grievances, which he could neither confide in nor understand.
When others see him, they are either afraid, sympathetic, or wary.
Has anyone ever spoken to his heart so eloquently as this Brother Chao Gai before him?
Lin Chong felt a surge of heat rush to his eyes, and everything before his eyes became blurry.
He could no longer stand.
His knees buckled, he planted his spear in the ground, and bowed deeply to Liu Bei.
"Lin Chong greets Brother Chao Gai!"
The man did not shed tears, but he did not go to the sad place.
This bow is a tribute to the kindness and recognition shown to me.
This bow was a gesture of gratitude, a prayer that someone would finally understand the grievances he had been holding.
"Please rise quickly! Please rise quickly!"
Liu Bei quickly helped him up and personally brushed the dust off his knees.
"My brother's arrival today is a great joy for me, Chao Gai!"
He turned and loudly gave orders to the servants behind him.
"Go! Slaughter the fattest pig in the backyard! And open two jars of good wine!"
"Today, I'm going to host a welcome dinner for Brother Lin!"
……
The banquet was held under the big locust tree in the courtyard.
The summer evening breeze dispelled the daytime heat, bringing a touch of coolness.
The table was laden with large pieces of meat and large bowls of wine.
Liu Bei personally poured a bowl full for Lin Chong.
"Brother, this first bowl of wine will wash away the dust of the past for you. From now on, Dongxi Village will be your home."
Lin Chong's eyes reddened as he picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
The strong liquor burned his chest with a scorching heat.
Liu Bei then filled his bowl with a second one.
"This second bowl of wine is to honor your martial arts skills and your character. Although I have never met you, I have long admired your reputation."
Lin Chong finished another bowl.
"This third bowl of wine..."
Liu Bei picked up his wine bowl and gently clinked it against his.
"From now on, we are brothers; we will share both good times and bad!"
"elder brother!"
Lin Chong could no longer hold back. He drank a bowl of wine, and tears streamed down his face.
He put down his wine bowl and recounted in detail his experiences in Tokyo, how he was framed by Gao Qiu, how he was exiled to Cangzhou, how he killed Lu Qian and Fu An at the mountain temple, and how he was finally forced to join the Liangshan bandits.
When he spoke of his wife's suicide to preserve her chastity, this eight-foot-tall man wept like a child.
Liu Tang and the Ruan brothers were furious upon hearing this, gritting their teeth and wishing they could rush into Tokyo immediately and skin that scoundrel Gao Qiu alive.
Liu Bei listened quietly.
He didn't try to persuade him, but instead kept refilling Lin Chong's wine.
When Liu Bei heard that Lin Chong's wife had died for him, tears streamed down his face.
He thought of his wife, Lady Gan, and his wife, Lady Mi.
I was reminded of that bloodstained dry well at Changban Slope.
Behind every hero, there are always women's tears and blood.
He patted Lin Chong on the shoulder, his voice a little hoarse.
"Brother, I'll remember this huge injustice you suffered."
"We will pay back this blood debt with interest one day, sooner or later."
Lin Chong raised his tearful eyes and looked at Liu Bei.
He saw the genuine pain in the other person's eyes; it wasn't feigned or just politeness.
At that moment, he knew he had chosen the right person to follow.
He wiped away his tears and picked up the wine bowl again.
"Brother, enough with the nonsense. From this day forward, my life, Lin Chong's life, belongs to you!"
Liu Bei laughed loudly.
"Good! With your words of wisdom, brother, what great thing can't we accomplish!"
He raised his wine bowl to the crowd.
"Come! Let us drink this cup together!"
The crowd responded enthusiastically, raising their bowls in unison.
For a moment, the courtyard was filled with a sense of grandeur.
Just as everyone was enjoying their drinks, a farmhand rushed in from outside.
"Master, a Taoist priest has arrived outside, saying he has important business to discuss."
Liu Bei put down his wine bowl, somewhat puzzled.
Taoist priest?
He didn't know any Taoist priests in Yuncheng County.
"Let him in."
A moment later, a Taoist priest wearing a blue gauze headscarf and a linen robe with black trim stepped in.
The Taoist priest had eyebrows that were parted in the shape of the Chinese character "八" (eight), eyes as bright as stars, a long beard that floated under his chin, and held an ancient sword with pine-patterned patterns in his hand. He had a rather otherworldly and Taoist air about him.
Liu Bei stood up.
The visitor had no recollection of Chao Gai.
The Taoist priest approached and bowed to Liu Bei.
"This humble Taoist priest, Gongsun Sheng, greets Prefect Chao."
His gaze swept over everyone present, finally lingering on Lin Chong for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Liu Bei cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"You're too kind, Daoist Master. What brings you here so late at night?"
Gongsun Sheng smiled slightly.
"This humble Taoist observed the celestial phenomena last night and saw that the Purple Star was dim, while the general stars were all gathered here. Therefore, I have come to pay my respects."
He paused, then lowered his voice.
"There is another enormous fortune that I wish to share with the headman."
……
Inside the thatched hut, the lamplight was dim.
Liu Bei sat in the main seat, with Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng on his left and Lin Chong and Liu Tang on his right.
The three Nguyen brothers stood by the door, watching the outside warily.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Gongsun Sheng recounted the entire story of the birthday gifts in detail.
"...That Liang Zhongshu amassed 100,000 strings of cash from the people's ill-gotten gains, intending to offer it to Cai Jing in Dongjing. How can such ill-gotten wealth be allowed to fall into the hands of a treacherous villain?"
After he finished speaking, he looked intently at Liu Bei.
Liu Tang could no longer contain himself and slammed his hand on the table.
"Brother, how can we miss such a good thing!"
Ruan Xiaoer also spoke in a muffled voice.
"Yes, brother, with this money, we can buy several more big ships and never have to put up with the government's attitude again!"
Wu Yong didn't speak, but just looked at Liu Bei with a smile in his eyes.
He wanted to see how his older brother would persuade these men who only saw the immediate wealth.
Lin Chong remained seated, not wanting to say much since he was new to the place.
But he knew in his heart that once he made this deal, he would be at odds with the entire Song Dynasty government, and there would be no turning back.
All eyes were on Liu Bei.
Liu Bei, however, acted as if nothing had happened, picked up the teacup on the table, and slowly took a sip.
He put down his teacup without looking at anyone.
His fingers tapped lightly on the rough wooden table.
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
Each strike felt like a blow to everyone's heart.
Liu Tang was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks.
The Ruan brothers looked at each other in bewilderment.
Even Gongsun Sheng looked puzzled.
Finally, Liu Tang couldn't hold back any longer.
"Brother, give us an answer! Should we take this birthday tribute or not?"
Liu Bei stopped knocking.
He raised his eyes, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone.
"Pick."
One word instantly eased the tension in the room.
Liu Tang excitedly pumped his fist: "I knew my brother would agree!"
Liu Bei's next words, however, were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads: "But, once you take it, you cannot divide it."