Chapter Ten Grievances

  At this time, Wang Tong was nodding to the second shopkeeper of a southern goods store. When others asked how he was doing, he couldn't not respond. Behind him, someone who had been delivering pastries caught up and looked at the pastry shop owner's sincere smile. Wang Tong also politely said "thank you". The shop owner heard this thank you, first hesitated for a moment, then responded with several enthusiastic sentences, nodding and bowing before leaving.

  The boss and apprentices of the dim sum shop and the southern goods store were all there, sighing that in the past, Zhao Guotang would enter the store and take things at will, eating and drinking as if it was his birthright, and if he wasn't satisfied, he would scold people. When had he ever said a word of thanks? Look at this young Master Wang, with his chivalrous heart and gentle demeanor, so courteous and understanding.

  "...... Lord Wang, you have time to come here and try Master Fu's signature dish......"

  "Your Excellency Wang, is there anything else you need at the mansion? Just give a word and I'll have it delivered to you this afternoon..."

  "Master Wang, come over and have some tea when you're free, I've got some top-grade Keemun..."

  Yesterday, wearing the same brocade uniform, he walked alone on the quiet road. Why are there so many people greeting him warmly today? The street is lined with shops, and at this hour, each household has someone busy with their work. Every person comes out to greet him enthusiastically. Wang Tong is overwhelmed with responses, and in the end, he becomes a bit confused, simply making a fist and nodding left and right as he walks quickly.

  Zhao Guoding, who usually wears brocade clothes and is a guard, is on duty on this street. All the merchants have to be very careful when supplying goods, but Wang Tong lives on this street, and he can be seen everywhere, so he's also considered half of the guards on this street.

  They were all Jin Yiwei, who was higher or lower? Everyone originally thought that according to the official rank, but after Wang Tong beat Zhao Guotang in the street, everyone had a judgment in their hearts.

  We can't afford to offend this young master! So let's just offer our respects and be done with it. Seeing how he stood up for that poor old man yesterday, everyone feels a bit more at ease - at least he's not as vicious as Zhao Guodong. Today, Wang Tong's politeness and courtesy make them feel even more comfortable in their hearts. This young master knows how to treat people!

  As he walked out of the street, Wang Tong looked down at his flying fish robe and shook his head with a bitter smile. No wonder everyone pursued power and wealth; just look at the flattery this morning and you'd understand why.

  Just like yesterday, when I arrived at the gate of Tian's mansion, it was still quiet and deserted. Before long, the old servant emerged again with a broom and a bucket of water.

  The old housekeeper saw Wang Tong and didn't show much expression, still with the same cold demeanor as yesterday. Wang Tong, however, walked forward on his own, saying calmly:

  "Old man, I'm here to help you!"

  Taking over the broom, there were still two meat-filled pastries in the paper package in his hand. Wang Tong directly handed them to the old family servant and said with a smile:

  "It's still steaming hot, old man, you try some too. Our Nanjie Baixiangzhai's minced meat pastry."

  The old servant took over the pastry with a blank expression, and Wang Tong started to busy himself with the broom. This task was not troublesome, it's just that when sprinkling water, one had to be more meticulous.

  The pancake tastes good, the old servant at home ate two bites and couldn't help nodding his head. Wang Tong put down the broom, picked up the water bucket and wooden spoon to start sprinkling water. He rarely had someone to talk to, this old servant looked like he didn't have much to do with himself, being sent out early in the morning to sweep, and in the mansion, he didn't have much status either, so talking wasn't a concern about spreading rumors.

  "The old man is already so advanced in years, Governor Tian is a reasonable person, why not ask him to find a lighter job, such as being a gatekeeper or tea server, which would be better than getting up early to work."

  The old man ate a mouthful of pastry, feeling quite good, and actually smiled and joked:

  "Doesn't this young master advise the old man to return home and live a life of leisure?"

  "The young master" is not referring to age, but rather official status. The lowest-ranking soldiers of the Imperial Guard are not afraid of even the seventh-rank officials in the prime minister's mansion or the servants of a hundred households. The old servant is nonchalantly teasing him.

  Someone spoke up, and Wang Tong, who had been holding back a lot of things, was willing to talk. He let out a sigh and said:

  "Old man, yesterday I told you to go home and rest, but at noon today I saw something. At your age, although you have some vitality, you still have a patron in Bai Hu's household. If you go out and encounter trouble, it would be..."

  The old man's appetite was good, and the two meat-filled pastries had already been eaten. Upon hearing this, he became quite curious, and seeing Wang Tong wanting to speak but hesitating, he couldn't help but ask:

  "Little adult, what's going on? Tell me about it?"

  Wang Tong always thought that his two lifetimes added up to over 40 years of age, but in reality, he had been reborn for so long and his city was not as deep as he thought. Moreover, what Zhao Guotai did yesterday was indeed too infuriating, someone asked, just right to vent, immediately said one by one.

  "...can't stand this kind of bullying towards widows and orphans, I think to myself that even if I risk my own skin, I'll still beat that scoundrel to death. Old man, tomorrow you won't be able to come help out anymore, you'd better be careful not to hurt your bones or anything...this bucket of water is heavy for me to carry, don't try to take it..."

  The old family servant listened attentively and couldn't help but laugh at the half-grown child's nagging concerns.

  "Looking at me, an old man who is about to die, having worked hard all his life, still caring about such a trivial matter."

  After finishing, he carried the water bucket and tools back to the mansion, looking at the closed gate of Tian Baohu's residence, the street became cold and deserted again, Wang Tong leaned against the wall.

  Having just finished talking about what he did and felt yesterday, Wang Tong felt a lot lighter in his heart. He thought that maybe soon there would be a way to deal with himself, and for a moment he was also a bit nervous.

  The sun slowly rose, and the Jin Yiwei guards gradually arrived. Almost everyone who came looked at Wang Tong, standing in the corner, with a gaze as if they were looking at a monster. News spread quickly in the ward, and by lunchtime, almost everyone in the hundred households knew about the fight that morning, and even people from other parts had heard some rumors.

  In the eyes of these onlookers, apart from contempt and bewilderment, there might also be admiration and appreciation, but nobody would express it.

  Jinyiwei is overbearing to outsiders, emphasizing internal unity. Private fights are quite taboo. Wang Tong has been here for less than two days and is already being expelled. Who would go look for this awkward person?

  Zhang Shiqiang's arrival wasn't too late, he saw Wang Tong standing in the corner, hesitated for a moment, sighed, and walked to the other side, this was to draw a clear line.

  It's already a virtue for us to meet as strangers and not kick each other when we're down, why bother getting entangled with someone who is about to be expelled?

  The whispers around, Wang Tong heard clearly, were all about yesterday's events. Everyone was excited in their conversation, it seemed they were just enjoying the show. But this also shows that Zhao Guozhong and even Liu Xinyong, who followed closely behind him, didn't have a good impression from everyone.

  If I could have stayed in the Imperial Guard for half a year, I would have been familiar with all the key relationships. With my modern experience of interpersonal relationships and office politics, I might have even been able to salvage something. But now it's too late to talk about that.

  Wang Tongzheng sighed, and the chief flag Liu Xinyong and the small flag Zhao Guotong came together. Yesterday morning was still full of spring breeze, smiling and greeting everyone, but today it was icy cold.

  Thank you everyone