Chapter 132: The Strange Thief

By early November, Zhou Zhi had been busy preparing for the small examination scheduled for February of the following year.

Qu Renbin had been continuously guiding Zhou Zhi’s essays. As the exam approached, even Zhou Zhi’s nominal teacher, Chen Guangyao, grew increasingly concerned, occasionally reviewing and critiquing Zhou Zhi’s writings, offering him pointers.

Meanwhile, the literary gatherings of Fan Jin, Lü Xingchuan, Che Lang, and others had become frequent, with their main focus these days being how to write well. Zhou Zhi’s progress was evident to all; there was a general consensus that, given his current level, it would be no surprise if he achieved a top rank or even the highest honor in next year’s county examination.

Although Zhou Zhi felt his improvement was rapid and substantial, he did not dare relax his studies or writing. Qu Renbin had initially required him to write one eight-legged essay daily, but Zhou Zhi had set a personal goal: to complete three such essays every two days, each crafted with utmost precision.

Qi Yanwu, witnessing Zhou Zhi’s diligent study habits each day, grew ever more respectful. Though usually taciturn, he understood clearly the wisdom of his decision to serve the Zhou family as a servant. If Zhou Zhi were to succeed, Qi Yanwu’s position—as a servant and even as Zhou Zhi’s personal page—would naturally rise along with his master’s fortunes. What once seemed like a simple, stable life was now filled with hope for Zhou Zhi’s success.

With this mindset, Qi Yanwu worked harder each day, showing even greater deference in Zhou Zhi’s presence.

After observing him for some time, Zhou Zhi came to see Qi Yanwu as kind-hearted and honest, and he grew fond of the young servant. Sometimes, Zhou Zhi even felt grateful that he had not insisted on dismissing Qi Yanwu earlier. Thanks to the boy’s help, life at the Zhou household had become easier, and he had gained a responsible, sensible page who knew when to advance and retreat. What a blessing this was!

While some might bury their heads in books and ignore the outside world—as a bookworm might—Zhou Zhi was not one to shut himself off entirely; he kept a watchful eye on the happenings beyond.

Recently, Baiyue Village, which had long been a quiet, remote hamlet where doors were seldom locked at night, had become unsettled. News kept coming of households being raided by thieves and bandits. Within just over ten days, nearly every family had suffered theft. Even prominent households like the Yue and Chen families, despite having numerous servants and guards, had been unable to fend off the thieves, losing many possessions.

For wealthy families, the losses were tolerable given their ample resources. But for the poor, whose food stores were already meager, being robbed of their limited supplies meant days of hunger and suffering, bringing them to the brink of death.

Fear and anxiety spread rapidly throughout Baiyue Village.

One night, under a sky thick with clouds and as dark as ink, the north wind howled fiercely. Visibility was near zero, and villagers had long since bolted their doors, trembling in fear, unable to sleep, dreading another raid by the thieves taking advantage of such a night.

Strangely, the Zhou household remained unusually peaceful. Every other home had been targeted, yet the Zhou family was untouched. Whether the thieves had simply forgotten about them or some other reason, no one knew.

That night, Zhou Zhi lay with his eyes closed, reviewing the essays he had read earlier, but sleep eluded him. He decided to dress and quietly leave his bed.

The workshop for making vermicelli and similar products was a simple building of rammed earth in the backyard, not large—about forty to fifty square meters. Qi Yanwu lived there. Worried about him in the biting cold, Zhou Zhi headed toward the workshop.

Because the Zhou family still lived in their old rammed-earth house, Qi Yanwu had been assigned to sleep on the same kang bed as Zhou Zhi and his brother Zhou Shaocheng. But Qi Yanwu, steadfast in his role as a servant, firmly refused to share the bed with them, insisting on sleeping in the workshop instead, where he could also keep watch.

Though young and skilled in martial arts with good physical strength, Zhou Zhi felt it was harsh for Qi Yanwu to endure the cold workshop at night.

The workshop door was tightly shut. Zhou Zhi knocked softly. Inside, a sharp voice called out, “Who’s there?”

The boy’s alertness even when sleeping impressed Zhou Zhi; those trained in combat truly were different.

“It’s me,” Zhou Zhi replied.

Recognizing his master’s voice, Qi Yanwu hurriedly crawled out of bed and opened the door.

A cold wind rushed in, colder than outside, making Zhou Zhi shiver.

Qi Yanwu was shorter and slimmer than Zhou Zhi, wearing only a thin shirt, trembling as he looked up at him. “Brother, do you need something?”

At first, Qi Yanwu had addressed Zhou Zhi as “Young Master,” but Zhou Zhi had sternly forbidden it, scolding him harshly until he reluctantly began calling him “Brother.”

“No, I just came to check on you. In this cold weather, you must keep warm. If not, come inside to sleep.”

“I’m not cold!”

“You say you’re not cold? Hurry and get under the covers!”

Concerned, Zhou Zhi urged the shivering Qi Yanwu, who first lit a lamp before crawling back under the blanket.

Seeing Zhou Zhi clearly had no intention of leaving immediately, Qi Yanwu, having just settled, was about to put on his clothes again.

“Xiaowu, don’t get dressed. I’ll just sit a moment and then go,” Zhou Zhi said.

He looked at Qi Yanwu intently, causing the boy to feel puzzled. Zhou Zhi had never looked at him quite like this before, and Qi Yanwu’s face flushed slightly.

Many times, Qi Yanwu had silently thanked his fortune in finding a good family to serve—kind-hearted people all, except Zhou Zhi, who was more calculating and thoughtful but still very kind to him.

Qi Yanwu respected Zhou Zhi the most and nervously asked, “Brother, I know you have something on your mind. If so, please say it.”

Zhou Zhi’s expression was calm. “Actually, it’s nothing much. Xiaowu, have you heard that Baiyue Village has been unsafe lately, with every family being robbed?”

“I know!” Qi Yanwu answered promptly.

“And do you know where these thieves come from?” Zhou Zhi asked gently.

“I don’t know their origin,” Qi Yanwu replied. “But if I ever catch them, I won’t let them off easily.”

His voice full of anger, he suddenly froze, as if recalling something, then shivered all over and sat bolt upright. “Brother, do you suspect I have something to do with those thieves?”

Zhou Zhi quickly shook his head. “No, how could you think that? Since you have joined our Zhou family, you are one of us. Don’t let such thoughts trouble you. I was just wondering why these thieves have plundered so many houses in Baiyue Village but never once targeted ours.”