Ten, the position of managing affairs in a biased institution

  The bustle in the dining hall continued, but it was much more subdued than before. It wasn't that the workers didn't want to chat anymore, but their mouths were too busy. The cook had already prepared today's dinner and was distributing it to the workers. A group of people lined up, taking turns to receive porridge and mantou from her hands.

  The forty-eight people who participated in the fight all had meat to eat today, two small pieces of braised pork, half lean and half fat.

  Zhu Yuanzhang picked up his own porridge and meat, slowly walked to Bai Shui Wang Er's side, casually put down the bowl, and sat down. He used a bamboo chopstick to pick up a piece of meat and put it into Wang Er's bowl.

  "Second Brother Wang, this is what you gave me last night. Now I can return it to you." Zhu Yuanzhang said seriously.

  "Hey!" Wang Er didn't stand on ceremony either, and with a flick of his chopsticks, he tossed the piece of meat into his own mouth. He took a sip of porridge, wiped his mouth with his hand, and had a rather pleased expression: "Zhu Ba, you little scamp, you're really something! You single-handedly took down twenty-five guys, I was wrong about you before, thinking you were just a weakling, but it turns out you're actually a real tough guy!"

  Zhu Yuanzhang humbly said, "Compared to Wang Er's big brother, I'm not even worth mentioning. I know my own affairs, and this little bit of skill is not even one-tenth of Wang Er's. If you really let loose and fight, those forty-seven thieves will all be defeated by you alone."

  Wang Er didn't believe it, and laughed: "Don't talk nonsense, do you think I can't see? Your boxing skills are not simple! Simple and direct, every move is a killer blow. If you don't make a move, that's fine, but once you do, your opponent will definitely fall down. My Red Fist is useless compared to yours, it's all just fancy moves with no real use... This time I finally understand what real boxing skills are! Teach me how to do it? I'm really interested in learning now."

  Zhu Yuanzhang's mind stirred... To know that no matter how formidable a person is, it is impossible to conquer the world with just one pair of hands and one pair of legs. To gain great power and become a superior being, one must have trusted subordinates. Bai Shui Wang's physique was strong and robust, capable of fighting and charging forward, yet his mind was simple and easy to control, making him an ideal candidate to be taken in as a subordinate.

  But the problem with this person is that he is too unruly, and if you try to control him with strong power, it will be like trying to hold water in your hand. For someone like Wang Er, you need to use brotherly love to move him, so that he can willingly do things for you. Cultivating brotherly love, even starting now, is not too late.

  Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said sincerely: "Since Wang Er Ge wants to learn, I'm willing to share with my brothers. Let's exchange ideas in the courtyard tonight."

  Wang Er was overjoyed!

  That night, the bright moon was high in the sky, with no clouds to block its light... One advantage of a severe drought is that it's rare to see even half a cloud in the sky, with plenty of sunshine during the day and a clear moon at night. The courtyard was bathed in a silver-white glow from the moonlight, with excellent visibility.

  Wang Er and Zhu Yuanzhang were practicing boxing in the courtyard. Last night, when Zhu Yuanzhang was boxing, he caused a burst of laughter, but today it was different. The long and short workers who were watching from the windows on all sides cheered every time Zhu Yuanzhang threw a punch or kicked out a leg, even if it was just a random kick, someone would be able to explain several reasons for it in detail.

  "Don't look at Zhu Ba Ge's punch as soft and weak, it's because he didn't use his strength. If he 'hissed' lightly and exerted his force, the small tree with a trunk as thick as a bowl would immediately be shaken off." A long worker explained to the person next to him with a mouthful of nonsense.

  Another laborer who had participated in the daytime fight jeered, "You're just talking nonsense! When Zhu Ba Ge was fighting with his fists, he never made a sound. I followed behind him all day and saw everything clearly - when he knocked down his enemies, he didn't hum a single note... He's practicing the Silent Fist!"

  "How can you exert your strength without making a sound?" someone wondered.

  "Master Zhu Ba Ge said that before throwing a punch, you should make a 'hey' sound to remind the enemy 'I'm punching', wouldn't they be on guard against you?" A worker chimed in with glee: "What's needed is stealth and silence, one punch knocks them down."

  "Shut up, all of you! White Water Wang Er said impatiently: "I'm practicing my boxing, and there are people chattering nonstop around me. If you're not coming to the courtyard to practice together, then go sleep!"

  The workers were frightened by this roar and quickly retreated back to their beds.

  Zhu Yuanzhang and Wang Er exchanged a smile, and continued to practice their boxing.

  Wang Er's red fist has a good foundation, with a balance of hardness and softness, stability and agility, and actually already has considerable power. However, he thinks that Zhu Yuanzhang's boxing is even more powerful, and insists on following Zhu to learn the simple and direct one-punch knockout.

  To be honest, the boxing technique that can knock people down with one punch is impossible to teach, because there is no routine, it was all practiced by Zhu Yuanzhang in his military career of blood and fire in his previous life, and can only let Wang Er experience it himself in actual combat later. He let Wang Er retain the routine of Hongquan, just helping him reduce those useless fancy movements in Hongquan.

  For example, before making a certain move, in order to look good, one would normally make a turning motion with the hands. Zhu Yuanzhang had Wang Er cancel this motion and just make the move, and indeed, after this simple change, the punch became much cleaner and quicker.

  The two of them practiced for a short while, and Wang Er felt that he had gained a lot, excitedly dancing with joy. They continued to practice until the first watch of the night, and Wang Er was still practicing with great enthusiasm.

  Zhu Yuanzhang returned to his room to rest, today's exercise was enough for him. He practiced boxing just to strengthen his body and wasn't preparing for battle like Wang Er did.

  On the second day, Zhu Yuanzhang got up early, and Wang Er was no longer in the courtyard. It seemed that this guy, although a bit reckless, wouldn't practice boxing all night, probably went to sleep around three watches?

  He walked into the cowshed and led out the big yellow cow that was still drowsy, planning to start today's cattle herding work.

  Suddenly, Yang Chao walked over, his face seemingly with a hint of anger, and the gaze he gave Zhu Yuanzhang was also somewhat ill-intentioned, filled with complex emotions such as jealousy, envy, and hatred. Zhu Yuanzhang's heart became slightly vigilant, for he had seen this kind of gaze many times before; whenever someone looked at him with such emotions in their eyes, it meant that person had already regarded him as an enemy... and wanted to trample him underfoot!

  But why did he suddenly have such emotions? Last night, I deliberately comforted his emotions, making him temporarily not list me as an enemy... Did something unexpected happen?

  Yang Chao yelled at Zhu Yuanzhang unhappily: "Zhu Ba... I'm calling you... Don't pretend to be dead, Qi Guan is looking for you."

  "What's going on? Is there something wrong?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked slowly while observing Yang Chao's expression.

  Yang Chao's eyes were filled with even more intense jealousy, envy and hatred, his tone also becoming increasingly unpleasant: "Can't you see that just by looking at Qiguan? Why are you asking me?"

  Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was clear: It seems that Qi Guan Shi wants to see me, which is a good thing for me and a bad thing for Yang Chao, so he has such emotions. If my expectations are not wrong... yesterday's performance will be rewarded.

  Relying on Zhu Ba's memory, Zhu Yuanzhang walked towards the room of Qi Guan Shi, which was the best house in the side yard, built with neat square bricks and coated with gray mud outside, warm in winter and cool in summer, much more comfortable than the earthen houses and thatched cottages where the long workers and short workers lived.

  There is a small courtyard in front of the house, very quiet. Except for Qiguan Shi's brick house around the courtyard, there are no other rooms, so this courtyard is exclusively enjoyed by Qiguan Shi alone, unlike Zhu Yuanzhang's place, where there is still a circle of thatched cottages around the courtyard, and even a punch would disturb a group of people.

  Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the front of Qi Guanshi's house, but instead of going in directly, he stood at the door and shouted loudly towards the inside: "Qi Guanshi, Zhu Ba has arrived!"

  "I knew Zhu Ba was a man of propriety. Just now, Yang Chao that killer came over and didn't even greet me, directly rushing into my room, what does he think this place is?" Qi Guan Shi's voice came from inside the house: "Come in."

  Zhu Yuanzhang then walked into Qi Guan's room.

  This was his first time entering the steward's room, and also Zhu Ba's first time, so there was no memory of this room in his body. Zhu Yuanzhang glanced around the room with the corner of his eye, this should be a living room, except for the large door he entered from, there were two small doors on either side, apparently leading to the bedroom and study.

  The situation in the bedroom and study can't be seen, but it's not that there are many things in this living room. A square table was placed, with four or five chairs, all of which were made of inferior wooden boards. There is a teapot on the table, but only one cup has been prepared, which is the cup used by Qi himself. It seems he didn't intend to serve tea to Zhu Yuanzhang.

  Zhu Yuanzhang stepped into the living room and stood still, asking in a low voice: "Qiguan Shi, what brings you to me?"

  Qiguan Shi picked up the teacup and took a light sip, then waved his hand and slowly said: "Yesterday in the dining hall you also heard it, Second Young Master said that as long as I help him with a few more things, he will transfer me to the inner courtyard to be the deputy manager."

  "I've heard of it, but what does this have to do with me?" Zhu Yuanzhang had already thought of an answer in his heart, but he still asked intentionally.

  "Hmm, you little guy has become clever after opening your spiritual wisdom, but it's still a bit lacking." Qi Guan Shi said with satisfaction: "If I leave here, this side hall will need a new manager, right? This new manager is taking over my position, Second Young Master will naturally ask for my opinion. As long as I say who is suitable, whoever can become the new manager of the side hall. You tell me, who do you want to be the new manager of the side hall?"

  It turned out to be this matter, Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "So that's how it is, everyone knows Yang Chao is your right-hand man, and the new manager should naturally take over. Otherwise... Wang Erge? I think it would be better for either Yang Chao or Wang Erge to take on the role of the new manager."

  Qiguan Shi furrowed his brow and said: "Yang Chao this kid... isn't promising, as for Wang Er, humph, doesn't listen to orders!" He deliberately paused for a moment, then smiled ambiguously at Zhu Yuanzhang, saying: "This is the case with the assistant manager of the Imperial Academy. I want to find someone who listens to me and understands things. In the future when I become the deputy manager of the Inner Court, people from the Outer Court can still help me maintain some prestige... So, do you understand?"