Chapter 42: Brother Has Been Waiting for You for a Long Time

  Three people followed Li Tiezhu to the front yard and saw Zhao Xing roasting some meat blocks pierced with fine bamboo skewers on a charcoal basin, muttering "It would be even better if I could get some chili peppers and cumin powder!"

  "Come on, find a seat yourself! Come, Wen Yuan quickly try brother's craftsmanship!" After that, Zhao Xing handed over to Zhang Liao a string of fragrant and savory meat skewers that were still dripping with oil.

  "Eat if you eat, just in time for a hungry stomach!" Zhang Liao was also not polite, and with a swoop of his hand, he took the meat skewer handed over by Zhao Xing and started devouring it loudly.

  "Come on, don't just eat, drink some of our Wuzu Zhuang's brewed liquor, it's just what you need to refresh yourself!" Zhao Xing handed over another jar of liquor.

  "Drink if you dare, who's afraid of whom!" Zhang Liao took over the wine jug and gulped down a mouthful.

  Looking at the crowd devouring their roasted meat skewers, Zhao Xing said: "Wen Yuan brothers, you've fought and eaten and drunk, now it's time to say why you came all the way from outside Yanmen Pass to find me and seek revenge?"

  Being treated with good wine and meat, and accompanied by smiling faces, Zhang Liao's anger dissipated a lot, so he carefully told everyone the causes and consequences of his coming to seek revenge.

  Originally, Zhang Liao was a descendant of Nie Yi. To avoid disaster and calamity, his ancestors moved to Maiyi and changed their surname to Zhang. This change of surname coincidentally linked them with the prominent Zhang family in Pingzhou, which was also the family of the murdered Zhang Baiwan. The father of Zhang Baiwan and Zhang Liao's grandfather had a friendly relationship due to a life-saving favor, and they became sworn brothers. As a token of gratitude for saving his life, the Zhang family gave Zhang Liao's ancestors a piece of land in Yangmen County. Although the descendants of the two families had less contact with each other over time, they still maintained their connection.

  On New Year's Eve, the head of the Zhang family was beheaded and the treasury was looted. The Zhang family knew some inside information but didn't dare to speak out, so they moved their whole family to Yanmen County, far away from Shangdang. Hearing that an old friend had come from afar, Zhang Liao's father took him to pay a visit.

  At the banquet, when asked about the reason, Zhang's eldest daughter, also Zhu Muyu's wife who had not yet entered the door, said a lot of absurd and false words, and even asked Zhang Liao's father to take charge for herself. Originally, the Zhang family had set their sights on the Xu family's winery, intending to seize it, but she turned it into a conspiracy between Wotou Village and Shanhe, robbing their own property and killing the master of the house.

  Zhang Liao was indeed a hot-headed young man. He had been listening from the side and got furious, wanting to come forward to seek revenge at that moment, but was stopped by his father. As a result, he stole a good horse from home that night, carrying his weapon to come to Shangdang to find Zhao Xing for revenge.

  After listening to Zhang Liao's words, Zhao Xing shook his head and sighed. "As the ancients said: 'Listen extensively and you will be enlightened; listen narrowly and you will be confused.' I wonder if Wen Ruo has any interest in hearing about this matter from other people?"

  "Who could it be?" Zhang Liao asked.

  "You can go with Pei Yuanshao to ask the Zhu family's eldest son and Zhang family's eldest son, who are currently detained in the villa, they are the masterminds and participants of last night's incident. Along the way, you can also listen to Pei Yuanshao tell you about this matter. I won't go, you all eat your fill, there is still a group of people waiting for me to roast meat in the backyard!" Zhao Xing said as he got up and walked towards the backyard, muttering to himself: "When will the grievances be avenged..."

  After a long time, Zhao Xing, who had already fed the few "little gluttonous cats" in the backyard and was lying on the armchair with his eyes closed humming a little tune, heard Li Tizhu come in and say: "Report to the master, Zhang Liao is seeking an audience in the front yard."

  "Oh, you go bring him over" Zhao Xing said calmly.

  As a series of footsteps sounded, Zhang Liao entered the room with a serious expression on his face.

  Zhang Liao was biased and credulous, almost causing a big mistake. Fortunately, Zhao Zhuangzhu was magnanimous and did not pursue the matter. Zhang Liao apologized to the master for his previous insults at the entrance of the villa! After that, Zhang Liao knelt on one knee and paid his respects.

  Zhang Xing slowly got up, using both hands to support Zhang Liao. "Wen Yuan, I was never angry about this matter, I'm worried that you won't be able to explain yourself when you meet Miss Zhang in the future." A certain scoundrel began to put on an act.

  "Thank you, Lord, for thinking of Liao!" Zhang Liao said with emotion. "If we meet again in the future, I will tell his brother that he is still alive and advise him to do more good deeds and fewer evil ones!"

  "Good! Wen Yuan is a man of strong principles, with a straightforward character that resonates with mine. I regret not meeting him sooner! Let's get drunk together to celebrate this fortunate encounter!" Zhao Xing is up to his tricks again!

  Li Tiejun, who was standing beside him, had seen Zhao Xing persuade people to drink before. He looked at Zhang Liao with some sympathy and sighed, "I've lost count of how many people have been schemed by our lord."

  In the living room, Zhao Xing and Zhang Liao, as well as Li Jinwu and Pei Yuanshao, had all been served the finest Longhe Daqu, with a sumptuous spread of dishes on the table.

  "Wen Yuan, to be honest, you might not know Zhao Xing from the Upper Party, but brother, I've been waiting for you for a long time!" The others who heard this felt a surge of nausea and quickly used wine to suppress it. However, Zhao Xing continued, disregarding everyone's reaction, "We won't stop until we're drunk today, come on, let's fill our cups!"

  "Wen Yuan, are you interested in competing with me to see who can drink more?" Zhao Xing urged Zhang Liao.

  "Haha, what's there to be afraid of! Let's compare and see who's not up to par!" Zhang Liao, with his heart knot untied, replied with great enthusiasm.

  "How about bringing some color?" Zhao Xing continued to egg on.

  "What kind of colorful head is this?" Zhang Liao asked curiously.

  "Whoever loses will have to call the other 'big brother' when they meet again!" Zhao Xing blinked his eyes.

  Zhang Liao thought for a moment and felt that he wouldn't be at a disadvantage either. If he lost, it wouldn't be unjust to call Zhao Xing "big brother" since he was indeed one year older. If he won, then he would gain the upper hand, and with a flourish, Party's Tiger would address him as "big brother", which sounded pretty cool. "Alright, I'll do it!" Zhang Liao nodded firmly.

  Li Jinwu and Pei Yuanshao couldn't help but turn their heads away, both sighing in their hearts "Alas, what a good kid, to be kidnapped like this!"