novellaaa Chapter 33 Gathering at the Restaurant
Chapter 33 Gathering at the Restaurant
There was still a gold leaf left on the table. Chen Ye gathered up the extra silver that Shen Chongsan had given him, wrapped it in cloth, and stuffed it into his pocket.
Then he sat on the edge of the bed and began to plan his next move.
So far, Gao Yunheng has not been found, and the Xie family has not even been reached.
But compared to a month ago, he now has a status in the capital, a token from the Zhou family, and favors from Su Guang and Zuo Dongxi.
Tonight, Zuo Dongxi is hosting a banquet at Fengqinglou, which is a great opportunity to put these things to good use.
night.
Fengqinglou, second floor private room.
Zuo Dongxi hosted the dinner, and the three of them sat by the window.
Outside the window is South Street of Beijing.
The noise from the night market drifted in through the half-open window on the night breeze.
Several hot dishes were already laid out on the table.
Once the waiter brought over a pot of warmed wine, the banquet officially began.
When he first sat down, Su Guang was not very familiar with the two men and was a little reserved.
At this moment, all ten of his fingers were treated with medicine and wrapped in cloth strips, and his knuckles were stiff when he picked up food.
He was clumsy with chopsticks.
Zuo Dongxi was also injured, but his injuries were mostly superficial and fleshy, making him somewhat stronger than Su Guang.
Chen Ye was the only exception.
Despite having been tortured, he acted as if nothing had happened, showing no signs of injury whatsoever.
Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang learned on the way that this was because Madam Zhou had given them the medicine, and they couldn't help but feel envious.
The three of them clinked their first bowls of wine.
Su Guang finished his drink in silence, put the bowl on the table, and didn't say a word.
Zuo Dongxi filled the three bowls again.
After the three men finished their second bowl of wine, Zuo Dongxi spoke first, saying, "Brother, I, Zuo Dongxi, have been working for the horse patrol gang for over ten years. I've done my fair share of dangerous jobs, and this time I almost lost my life. If it weren't for you, I'd still be waiting to die in that dungeon. What are your plans for the future? Are you still going to be a wagon escort?"
Chen Ye picked up his bowl and said, "I can't go back to the carriage and horse shop. The boss was afraid of getting into trouble, so he paid me my wages."
Zuo Dongxi snorted coldly and said, "Li Datou from the car dealership is a spineless coward. If you can't go to the car dealership, Brother Chen, if you don't mind, come join my horse patrol gang. I'll reserve a deputy gang leader position for you here."
Chen Ye tilted his head back and drank the large bowl of wine in one gulp.
He has no intention of relying on others for the time being, and even if he were to seek refuge, it shouldn't be a small-time gang.
Chen Ye gently placed the bowl on the table, making a crisp sound, and said, "I came to the capital mainly to find someone. This person is the eldest son of the Gao family of Qinghe. He was recruited by the Xie family and came to the capital last month to take up an official post. Unfortunately, my abilities are limited. So far, I haven't found him yet."
Zuo Dongxi put down his chopsticks and said, "Leave the finding to me. I'll have the gang members investigate tomorrow. As long as he's still in the capital, we'll find some clues."
"Yes, thank you for your trouble, Brother Zuo." Chen Ye said directly without being polite.
"There's no need for us to stand on ceremony."
The two clinked bowls of wine together again.
Su Guang listened quietly to their conversation without interrupting.
His fingers were still injured from the finger-crushing torture, and when he tried to hold the wine, he couldn't control the force of his joints, causing the wine to spill out from time to time.
Chen Ye put down his wine bowl, looked at Su Guang, and asked directly, "Brother Su, what are your plans next?"
Su Guang lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before sighing, "I don't know."
Zuo Dongxi poured him a bowl of wine.
Su Guang finished the bowl, and as the alcohol took effect, he became more talkative.
"I've been with the Feng family for eight years. I've been by his side since the third young master was still a child. He's been kind to me, so my life should belong to him."
He stared at the remaining murky wine at the bottom of the bowl and said, "Now that he's dead, the Feng family has kicked me out again. Come to think of it, I've been a really pathetic bodyguard."
Su Guang didn't say anything more, tilted his head back and finished the rest of the wine in one gulp.
Chen Ye did not comfort him.
After a few moments of silence, he said in a calm tone, "Brother Su, I also felt pathetic back in Qinghe County. At that time, I was a servant in the Gao family, treated like livestock, and couldn't even protect my own life."
He placed his chopsticks on the bowl, making a soft sound, but both people at the table heard it.
"So later, I killed the head of the guards who wanted me dead, I beat him to death with my fists."
Zuo Dongxi and the other person looked at Chen Ye simultaneously.
"To be honest with you both, I've come to the capital to collect a debt." Chen Ye looked at Su Guang and said, "The eldest son of the Gao family owes me a life because of my life; he's a debtor to me."
Su Guang stared at him for a long time after listening.
He suddenly picked up the wine pot and refilled both of their bowls, then picked it up and drank it all in one gulp.
"Brother Chen," he put down his bowl, as if making a firm decision, and said formally, "You saved my life, and I can never repay you in this lifetime. From now on, your business is my business. Whatever you ask me to do, I will do."
Chen Ye took the other bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and placed the empty bowl on the table, saying, "Brother Su, you flatter me. From now on, we're all on the same side."
"I didn't know Brother Chen had so many things on his plate. Come, come, let's drink. From today onwards, your business is our business."
Zuo Dongxi refilled the three people's glasses.
The three of them picked up their bowls and slammed them together loudly: "Cheers!"
A bowl of wine went down his throat.
Chen Ye picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of lamb, put it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully.
He then added, "I'd like to try my luck at the Cui family's place later. Do you know how to get into the Cui family?"
"I remember there are rumors that the Cui family recruits retainers, but I'm not very clear on the specifics of the recruitment process or how high the requirements are," Zuo Dongxi replied.
Su Guang chimed in, "I do know a little about that. A few days ago, when the Third Young Master visited the Cui family, I had a few drinks with one of the Cui family's guards. He mentioned that the Cui family mainly recruits retainers from outside, mainly the Third Miss Cui Xijun; the other members of the Cui family don't recruit much."
Chen Ye said, "Then I'd appreciate it if Brother Su could first find out what the Cui family's requirements are for recruiting retainers, who the manager is, and when they'll be recruiting. I'd like to try my luck through the Cui family's third young lady. In the capital, we still need to find a powerful patron to rely on to feel secure."
Su Guang nodded and said, "I'll take care of it tomorrow."
After downing another bowl of wine, Chen Ye remembered something and said with a serious expression, "There's something else I need to tell you all."
Seeing Chen Ye's serious expression, Su Guang and Zuo Dongxi put down their chopsticks and looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"It's about the Feng family," Chen Ye said in a deep voice. "I learned from Madam Zhou that the murderer of the Third Young Master has been caught, but the Feng family has not been executed. No one can say for sure whether they will cause us trouble in the future. So we have to keep an eye on the Feng family as well, and we need to keep each other informed if there is any trouble."