Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 290 Yan Shude

Zhao Zhen could not help but look at the big man. Although he was in a state of disgrace and dressed in rags, he still looked like a hero: his face was dark, his beard was as thick as a tiger's, he was nine feet tall, his waist was ten feet around, and he looked very majestic.

The big man also took the opportunity to look around the tent. There was nothing worth mentioning inside the tent, but the generals commanding the troops inside were all extraordinary. There was even one man standing on one side holding a huge axe, who was much taller than himself.

Jiao Ting said, "Sir, I have already found out everything about the temple fair in Tai'an Prefecture. Today, I met this good man. His surname is Yan, his given name is Shude, and his nickname is Wuzi. I have specially brought him here to see you, Sir."

After hearing this, Yan Shude threw himself on the ground and bowed to Zhao Zhen: "I am Yan Shude, a native of Kaizhou. I have been down and out for half my life and have very few close friends. Today I met Jiao Ting and Duan Jingzhu, two brothers who did not look down on me. Not only did they help me with my money, but they also sincerely invited me to drink and eat together. I am very grateful. I have heard of your name many times, and it is a great honor to meet you today."

Zhao Zhen hurried forward to help him up: "Please stand up, brave man." He turned to Jiao Ting and said: "Why don't you buy some clothes for the brave man? Brother Yan Shun, get some clean clothes from the caravan for Brother Yan Shude to change into."

Yan Shun responded and turned to go out.

Jiao Ting said, "Sir, today Duan Jing and I were having dinner at Brothers Hotel. We saw a horse get scared in the downtown area and run straight into the crowd. Brother Yan Shude stepped forward and killed the horse with one punch. We were quite surprised. Thinking that you value heroes, we hurriedly brought Brother Yan Shude to see you."

Lin Chong praised: "Brother, you are indeed very strong. I am afraid that only brother Wang Tianba and the newly arrived brother Yu Bao have such strength. I wonder what weapon you use?"

Yan Shude sighed, "I learned swordsmanship in my hometown and I am good at using a 72-jin machete. A few years ago, I went to Jizhou to do business and lost my capital. I wanted to go to Qingzhou to seek refuge with my cousin Qin Ming, but I had no money and even pawned my machete, so I had to beg along the way. Now I only have this strength left. If it weren't for my brother Jiao Ting to help me out and pay for the horses, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get away easily today."

Zhao Zhen asked, "Brother, are you talking about the commander of Qingzhou, Thunderbolt?"

"That's right. When we were in the same hometown, there were two iron drums in the village, each weighing more than a thousand pounds. We competed in strength. He could hold them up with both hands, but he couldn't walk. I could hold up two iron drums and run more than a hundred steps. In terms of strength alone, I am slightly better. It's a pity that things are unpredictable. He now enjoys a high position and a generous salary, but I have fallen to the point of begging for a living." Yan Shude sighed.

Zhao Zhen said: "Brother, why should you underestimate yourself? Since you have such strength and connections with Qin Tongzhi, it will be easy for you to find a job."

"I am ashamed to see you now. I have heard your reputation in Shandong and Hebei, but no one introduced me to you. It is heaven's will that I meet you today. If you do not abandon me, I am willing to join you and fight for you in the future, even if I die."

Zhao Zhen was delighted when he heard this and said, "On this trip to Qingzhou, I first met the four brothers Yu Bao, then I got Yan Shun and a village of farmers, and on the way back I met the brothers Yan Shude. Isn't this a blessing from heaven? Please sit down with me and have three drinks. It's a pity that I can't enjoy myself now because I'm on the march. I'll drink with you brothers again when I return to Liangshan County."

Everyone laughed.

Yan Shun came back empty-handed, and said to Zhao Zhen with a bitter face: "Sir, the team is full of ordinary farmers, and there is no strong man like Brother Yan Shude."

Zhao Zhen heard this and said with a smile: "It is indeed my fault. Please lend me one temporarily, Brother Wang Tianba, and then let Brother Hou Jian make it again."

Wang Tianba said: "Whatever it's worth, I'll get it right away."

After a while, Wang Tianba brought a clean piece of clothing. Yan Shude thanked him and took it, then changed into it after washing it in the tent nearby.

Zhao Zhen sent people to the city to buy wine, meat and fruits. That night, he entertained everyone in the camp. At the banquet, everyone talked about the Jianghu. When they got excited, they couldn't help but fight with fists and feet. When the wine was over, everyone felt that they had met too late.

Five or six days later, everyone returned to Liangshan County smoothly along the official road.

On the way, Jiao Ting told Zhao Zhen what he had found out. It turned out that although the temple fair only lasted for three days, the temple was already very lively before the day came. There were merchants coming and going from north to south, hawkers walking the streets, heroes from all over the world, and donors. There were more than thousands of them.

Last year, Ren Yuan won the first place in the wrestling competition and received a lot of red envelopes. After returning home, he recruited many apprentices. This year he came here early again and rented a large inn under the Ying'en Bridge, where he taught sumo to his apprentices every day.

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen asked, "Is Ren Yuan really as tall and mighty as Zhu Wu and his brother said?"

Jiao Ting nodded and said, "Compared with the four Yu Bao brothers, they are even more majestic."

Zhao Zhen sighed, "There are so many heroes in the world. After we settle these farmers, we will clean up and come to see them."

Besides, Zhao Zhen and his men returned to Liangshan County, where Xiao Rang and a group of officials had already taken them. The money and grain brought by the mountain stronghold were turned over to the public, and the more than 500 households brought were also registered and settled in various places. Those who had martial arts skills and were willing to stay in the army were all sent to Wanzi City. With these hundred people, there were still more than soldiers missing in the two camps of Xueshan Peak and Haoshan Peak.

That night, Zhao Zhen held a banquet at Baishi Manor to welcome the newly arrived Yan Shun, Yu Baosi, and Yan Shude. Except for Yang Lin, Li San, Bai Sheng, Shi Yong, Du Qian, and Song Wan who were away, and Shi Qian who was going to Dongping Prefecture again, all the heroes from all over the county gathered together.

On the banquet, there were all kinds of vegetables, fruits, fresh fish, tender chicken, stuffed goose, and the best fatty beef, all spread out on the table. Yicheng wine, Huajia liquor, Yimengshan wine, peach wine, apricot wine, and other fine wines were passed up like water.

The next day, Zhao Zhen woke up from a hangover. Cheng Wan'er helped him wash and dress. Zhao Zhen forced himself to be energetic, went downstairs and practiced boxing twice. He sweated a lot and then he cheered up.

During breakfast, Zhao Zhen asked, "Why didn't you see my mother-in-law?"

Cheng Wan'er said, "A few days ago, County Magistrate Xiao and Shi Qian, the chief of the army, came to see me with a letter from my husband. I read the letter and found that it was indeed asking my father to help transfer Hua Zhizhai from Qingzhou Prefecture to Jingyang Town. When my mother saw it, she said that she had been here for some time and was worried about my father. It was a good opportunity for her to go back and talk to him, so she said she wanted to go back. Shi Qian took thirty or fifty people to escort my mother back to Dongping Prefecture."

"My mother-in-law has only lived here for a few days, and I am too impatient. The giant clam rosary I planned to give to her is not yet complete." Zhao Zhen said.

Cheng Wan'er heard this and said, "Husband, it won't be too late to send it to my mother on her birthday in a while."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "I'm asking Li Gu from the bone carving workshop to carve a pair of giant clam Ruyi, and I'll send them over when the time comes."

After hearing this, Cheng Wan'er said, "My husband, why don't we ask Manager Li Gu to make a few more and give a pair to each of our sisters' parents as well?"

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen nodded in agreement.

(End of this chapter)