Chapter Ninety-Two: Lifelong Brothers in Arms

Gazing after the beautiful woman’s receding figure, Zhou Zhi stood there, dazed, quietly murmuring to himself, “The Kou family from Tang County.” She must be surnamed Kou, but what was her given name? And what was the background of the Kou family? There was no way to find out.

Liu Hui stood beside Zhou Zhi, noticing his silent melancholy. He lightly nudged him with his arm and chuckled, “Haha! Brother Zhou Zhi, the lady has long since gone, you can’t even see her shadow now!”

Only then did Zhou Zhi come back to himself, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush as he gave Liu Hui an awkward smile.

Liu Hui, being twenty years old, naturally understood Zhou Zhi’s thoughts. The saying goes, a graceful and virtuous lady is the ideal match for a gentleman. Though the beautiful woman had disguised herself as a man, her delicate features and elegant brows were extraordinarily charming, and she exuded a heroic spirit all around. It was only natural for Zhou Zhi to be moved by her beauty; there was no fault in his feelings.

Zhou Zhi was just a poor boy from the countryside, while the woman surely came from a prominent family. Logically, Zhou Zhi’s thoughts would be like a toad dreaming of eating swan meat. Yet Liu Hui did not think so. In his eyes, although Zhou Zhi’s background was humble, with his demeanor, courage, and skill, he was destined for great achievements. He might very well be a fitting match for that beautiful woman.

Liu Hui smiled again and said, “Brother Zhou Zhi, if fate allows, you will surely meet her again someday. Destiny connects those who are meant to meet, no matter how far apart.”

“Brother Liu Hui, please don’t tease me. I’m only curious about their kind,” Zhou Zhi said softly.

“Hehe! Curious, yes! Just curious!” Liu Hui laughed in agreement before adding, “But Brother Zhou Zhi, it’s really a stroke of luck that you know that young hundred-household leader. If it weren’t for your acquaintance with him, there would’ve been a big problem just now! I never expected you to have such wide connections.”

Zhou Zhi’s acquaintance with a hundred-household leader was indeed enviable. Someone like Liu Hui, a local ruffian, had managed to gain some reputation around Baiyue Village and even throughout Gaochang Town, but his connections were still mostly among local lowlifes. To know someone of official rank—such as a hundred-household leader of the sixth rank—was something Liu Hui had never even dreamed of.

“Brother Liu Hui, you flatter me. I’m hardly acquainted with the hundred-household leader. We’ve just met twice by chance,” Zhou Zhi said casually.

He naturally wouldn’t mention how he had narrowly avoided being trampled by that man’s swift horse and had been nearly whipped three times—though none of the blows actually landed.

In any case, the recent mission had been a narrow escape but ultimately successful. There was no need to linger here. Liu Hui waved to the group, and the ruffians and scoundrels fell in line behind Liu Hui and Zhou Zhi as they resumed their journey.

Since the evening before, none of them had eaten or drunk anything. Passing through a village, they sent someone to buy food, and they ate on the spot in the open air.

At this moment, Zhou Zhi instructed Zhang Dong to distribute the fifty taels of silver collected from Geng Zhong’s house. Each man received one tael, with four taels left over, which Zhou Zhi handed to Liu Hui.

Before the mission, Liu Hui had clearly told everyone that there would be punishment but no rewards. Unexpectedly, each man now received a tael of silver, and the ruffians were all clapping and cheering with joy.

One tael of silver was no small sum. These ruffians had never before received such a share when following Liu Hui out. They silently admired Zhou Zhi’s generosity and magnanimity.

Even Liu Hui’s respect for Zhou Zhi deepened. He leaned close and said loudly, “Brother Zhou Zhi, with such courage and insight, why not become the leader of all the brothers and lead us together?”

Hearing their leader Liu Hui’s words, the ruffians clamored in support, “Yes! Brother Zhou Zhi, you lead us! We follow you!”

But hearing this, Zhou Tie, the old man and Zhou Zhi’s father, felt his heart leap into his throat, frowning in worry. Zhou Zhi must not get mixed up with these scoundrels. The Zhou family had been farmers for generations—honest and upright. If he turned into a bandit, what face would Zhou Tie have to show his ancestors after his death?

Though thinking this, he could say nothing. After all, if not for these people, Zhou Zhi couldn’t have saved him. Otherwise, he might well have been beaten to death by Geng Zhong and his men.

Fortunately, Zhou Zhi smiled and said, “Brother Liu Hui, I appreciate the brothers’ goodwill and will keep it in mind. But fighting and killing like this—I can only do it reluctantly once or twice. If I had to do this all the time, I’m not that kind of person.

“Brother Liu Hui, please explain this well to the brothers.”

He then lowered his voice and said, “Brother Liu Hui, you know my true ambitions lie elsewhere.”

Liu Hui had once invited Zhou Zhi to join his gang, but Zhou Zhi had firmly declined. Knowing Liu Hui’s character, he would never force anyone. Today, he brought it up again to soothe the ruffians’ feelings and calm them down.

Heh, this was also a management tactic of Liu Hui’s. Leading so many ruffians required more than just ruthlessness.

Liu Hui feigned reluctance but was powerless, and so he went to pacify the ruffians.

By midday, the group approached Nanzhuang.

They parted ways just outside the village, with the ruffians scattering to their homes.

Liu Hui finally clasped Zhou Zhi’s hand in a respectful salute and said cheerfully, “Brother Zhou Zhi, I still say the same thing: whenever you call upon me, I Liu Hui will assist you with all my might, even unto death. We are brothers, and brothers for life.”

Zhou Zhi was deeply moved and hurriedly returned the salute, thanking him.

After bidding Liu Hui farewell, Zhou Zhi supported his father Zhou Tie and slowly made their way back to Baiyue Village.

In truth, Zhou Tie had not suffered serious injury. He had been whipped a few times at Geng Zhong’s house, bound tightly so he couldn’t move, his blood circulation impaired, and he had been cold and hungry, which made movement difficult and his spirit low.

After eating and continued movement along the way, he was now capable of walking on his own, albeit slowly and still somewhat weak.

As the father and son walked, Zhou Tie murmured inwardly that Zhou Zhi had changed much during his absence. His son’s temperament was wild. Sigh! Leading so many men to Xinzhuang and getting into a brawl—what a huge mess he had made. The Zhou family would live in fear for some time. But without such drastic measures, he might never have survived this ordeal.

He sighed deeply.

Zhou Zhi comforted him, “Father, there’s no need to worry. The trip to Xinzhuang won’t attract the authorities’ attention. First, Xinzhuang is a village of thieves—they are too busy hiding from officials to provoke them. Second, the hundred-household leader’s men disguised as officials are in serious trouble. He will want to settle this quietly to avoid official involvement.”

“Hmm, hmm,” Zhou Tie nodded lightly, then said, “But, Zhi, you really need to rein in your temper. It’s a relief to hear you don’t plan to run with those ruffians.”

At this moment, Zhou Tie spoke calmly, no longer frowning as before. He truly regarded Zhou Zhi as a man of judgment and independence. Though a poor farmer, Zhou Tie clearly saw that his son spoke and acted with measure and order. Having such a son, he felt a secret pride deep in his heart.