Chapter 41: Soft and Hard Combined

  The shop was the brother's painstakingly renovated, as long as nothing was damaged, it would be easy to say. Lu Qi took a look at the man on the cabinet, seeing that he had a square face, a straight eyebrow, tiger eyes, and some fleshy cheeks, with a sturdy build, looking like a difficult-to-deal-with ruffian.

  As soon as the two brothers entered, the man behind the counter narrowed his eyes, and the other thugs revealed a menacing glint in their eyes, each holding a club in their right hand and lightly slapping it against their left palm. The ferocious atmosphere was enough to make ordinary people turn pale with fear.

  "Is there anything I can help you with at our humble shop?" Lu Qi asked calmly, his eyes fixed on the Han character on the cabinet.

  The man on the cabinet took a look and didn't scare off the newcomer, so he couldn't help but take a closer look at Lu Qi. Especially when he saw the long knife in Lu Qi's left hand, he became vigilant. Beggars are people who cheat the kind and fear the evil, and the eyes of an old beggar are also very sharp.

  The man behind the counter, seeing Lu Qi's fearless demeanor and long sword, became cautious and sneered: "I see this shop is going to open. Do you know the rules of West Avenue?"

  "It's known that Xidajie is the territory of Chen Hugong, Zhao Er and Luo San. This shop pays 20 taels a month in protection fees, we'll settle it in a few days." Lu Qi replied calmly.

  The man on the cabinet was stunned, and coldly said: "Twenty taels, this shop's monthly rent is at least eighty taels."

  Lu Qi hummed, his left hand moved and he threw the long knife towards Hanzi, saying in a gentle voice: "Sir, take a look at this knife first, is it worth 80 taels? If it's worth it to you, then take it."

  The man on the cabinet was startled, reached out to take the knife, looked at Lu Qi with a puzzled expression before lowering his head to look at the knife. He pulled out the long knife and stood up to take a look, his face changed in an instant. He recognized that this was a military straight knife exclusively used by government officials.

  The man was startled, but calmly waved his hand and beckoned to one of the thugs, who hastily retreated after a brief gesture. The room fell silent, with Lu Qi standing composedly, while Lu Tianhua shifted uncomfortably behind him. The man coldly turned the long knife over in his hands, and the other thugs stopped swinging their clubs, standing scattered about.

  A moment later, the door opened and a company commander and two soldiers came in. The company commander stepped forward and smiled: "It's an honor to have you here, Mr. Sun."

  The team leader, a military officer in full armor with a sword at his side, had a square face and big ears, giving him a very auspicious appearance. He also bowed and said: "Mr. Luo is too polite."

  "Gentlemen, please look." Hanzi Luo Sanye presented his long sword.

  The officer took it and looked at it with a frown, then turned to face Lu Qi and sized him up. Lu Qi said in a soft voice, "I am the Protector County Lieutenant Lu Tianfeng, I trouble Sun sir to vouch for me." After finishing speaking, he took out the county lieutenant's token and flashed it.

  Officer Sun was startled and hastily sheathed his sword, bowing respectfully: "Your subordinate, Xi Chengdui's Sun Li, pays respects to Lord Lu."

  The county lieutenant of the Guards was also often stationed in Shizai County, but due to the banditry, he died while escorting grain taxes, so that no one dared to take office for a time. As soon as Lu Qi returned, he was targeted by Wang Zhubao. The county lieutenant of the Guards had no right to interfere with internal affairs within the city walls, but every time they escorted and suppressed bandits, the county would temporarily assign soldiers from the city to follow orders. In this way, although Sun Li did not directly belong to Lu Qi, it was possible that he would be temporarily assigned, and temporary assignment was to escort and suppress bandits, which was a life-threatening task. If he offended the county lieutenant of the Guards, he would be executed for cowardice in battle if he refused to follow orders.

  "Captain Sun is being polite, I'm here today on personal business, no need for formalities."

  Lu Qi was humble and modest, but in his heart he was somewhat pleased. In the army for five years, he had been ordered around like a grandson, now he held only a small official position as a protector of the county, yet his authority was not to be trifled with.

  Luo San's face changed, ordinary people don't fight with officials, he himself had to speak in a low voice when he met Sun Dui Zheng, who would have thought that the person who sold him the shop was a county official, isn't this like a mouse teasing a cat looking for death?

  He hastily bowed and said: "I didn't know you were County Magistrate, sir. I've been very rude, please forgive me."

  Lu Qi looked at him and said in a gentle tone, "Lord Luo, your words are wrong. I should abide by the rules as the owner of this shop. I shouldn't take advantage of my position as County Lieutenant to break the rules. Besides, I know that this is under the jurisdiction of Lord Niu and Mr. Chen. As the Protective County Lieutenant, if I were to break the rules, wouldn't I be offending them? Therefore, I only want to follow the rules, run a shop, and earn some household income. Please, Lord Luo, also act according to the rules."

  Luo San Ye was taken aback for a moment, then straightened his waist and laughed: "Sir is indeed wise."

  Lu Qi smiled and said, "If Lord Luo is willing to follow the rules, I hope you can reduce the monthly rent. The market price for this shop's monthly rent is twenty taels, and eighty taels is a bit too much. Can it be reduced to thirty taels?"

  "Of course," Luo San Ye hurriedly replied.

  As soon as the words fell, Sun's team on the side suddenly coughed, and Luo San Ye was shocked and suddenly woke up, hurriedly laughing: "The master's monthly salary is not something that can be wanted by a small one like me, I bid farewell."

  Lu Qi grabbed him and said seriously, "Luo Ye, I know you don't want to offend me, but I even more don't want Officer Niu to misunderstand that I'm interfering with city affairs. Today we must follow the rules, please send someone tomorrow to collect the monthly respects, otherwise I'll directly give it to Master Chen."

  Luo San Ye awkwardly glanced at Sun Dui Zheng, who said in a gentle tone: "Since the master insists, then you should follow the rules and take twenty taels."

  Sun's words were just spoken, and Lao San Ye dared to respond: "That little one will receive twenty taels according to the rules."

  Lu Qi Song opened his smile and said: "This is the best, I originally wanted to ask someone to intercede for me, today Lao Ye has shown his face and I am relieved, in the future please take care of our small shop."

  "Goodbye for now, I'll take my leave." Old Master Luo bowed respectfully and said, then turned around and led the crowd away.

  Lao San Ye left, Lu Qi smiled at Sun Dui Zheng and said: "Thank you very much today, Sun Dui Zheng. Let's go, I'll invite Sun Dui Zheng and the two brothers to have a drink at Liu Ming Wine House."

  "Your subordinate still has patrol duties and does not dare to disturb Your Excellency. Your subordinate takes his leave." After finishing speaking, he returned his sword and bowed, then left.

  Lu Qi politely sent him to the door, he just politely said please, but in his heart he knew that Sun Zheng was not dare to accept the invitation, for two reasons: one is that Lu Qi was a superior officer, and it was rare for a superior officer to spend money to invite an inferior officer; secondly, Sun Zheng did not want to get involved with Lu Qi, which would lead to his superiors, Niu County Wei, being suspicious and displeased.

  Standing outside the gate, Lu Qi saw the wine shop attendant stopping Luo San and saying something. After a while, Luo San threw a string of coins to the attendant and said something to the people beside him before leaving. The attendant then turned to another direction.

  Lu Qi's expressionless face cracked a smile, knowing that his strategy of pretending to be weak had worked. Today, he had given enough face to Luo San, and in the future, he shouldn't make any more secret moves against him.

  He turned around and stepped into the shop, saying to his brother: "Brother, we are now short of funds. Later on, when we meet these local tyrants, we must be polite and courteous. Tomorrow, don't forget to bring some silver." Lu Tianhua responded with a happy smile.

  A moment later, the shopkeeper came to ask for the wine money. Before Lu Qi could ask, the shopkeeper smiled and said: "Sir, your background is really strong. I heard Luo San say to his men that you are a very powerful person. From now on, no one is allowed to cause trouble for you in this shop, nor can they tell Chen Hu about what happened today."

  Lu Qi knew that buying the shop was a mistake for Lao San, and if Chen Hu found out, he would probably scold him severely. Since Lao San had saved face today, he didn't want his superiors to know about it and reprimand him, so he restrained his subordinates from making more trouble and reporting it. He smiled and thanked the shopkeeper, giving him a little extra money to send him off.

  After resting at the inn for a while, as the sky grew dark, Lu Qi and his brother left the inn to return home. Upon arriving home, the two brothers first went to pay their respects to their mother, and after doing so, their mother sent Lu Tianhua away before asking: "Little Seven, does your brother know about buying a concubine today?"

  Lu Qi said: "The child didn't tell his brother."

  Lu's mother nodded and said, "It's better not to mention it. That concubine has such a strong personality, I have some respect for her in my heart. From now on, let her stay with you, and after a while, you go back to your room and let her come here to live for a few days."

  Lu Qi was taken aback and thought for a moment before saying: "Mother, that maidservant is badly injured, it's better to let her stay in my room and have Ning'er take care of her."

  Madam Lu smiled and said: "That maidservant is even more beautiful than Ning'er, she has just entered the Lu household, her body may not be clean yet, mother doesn't want you to touch her now."

  Lu Qi's face was slightly hot, and he said seriously: "I understand what you mean, mother. I won't consummate the marriage with her within a month. The reason I didn't let her come here is to curb her stubbornness. If you take care of her personally, she will definitely become spoiled and arrogant in the future, which is not something I want to see."

  Lu's mother nodded and said in a gentle voice: "I'll rely on you, but you must hold yourself together. I don't want the bloodline of the Lu family to be tainted."

  "Mother, rest assured, I'd rather not be muddled and raise children for others."