Chapter 134: Incense Burners
Chapter 134: Incense Burners
Sun Niu Zi was bullying around the village, causing widespread resentment, but it had to be said that the apprentices in the village only harbored anger and endured, without rushing to curry favor with him.
This included the two apprentices left behind by Xu Ji. They usually avoided him and did not think of going to him to seek favors.
The reason was that over the past year, Hu Ma had handled things steadily and treated people kindly, earning considerable respect in the village.
They all subconsciously believed that Hu Ma would not allow himself to be taken advantage of. Sun Niu Zi was too arrogant, and it was likely that he would be sent back to the city by Hu Ma, who was now the innkeeper, not just the manager. They looked forward to this as a good show.
However, they did not expect that Hu Ma, despite seeing Sun Niu Zi causing chaos, remained a cold observer.
Whatever Sun Niu Zi said, he accepted it, and whatever he ordered, he did without question.
It was as if he still acted as he did when he was just the manager, never having a second thought.
When you were the manager, you already took on the responsibilities of the innkeeper. Now that you have the chance to be the innkeeper, you are stepping back?
They each had their own thoughts, feeling quite puzzled.
But since Hu Ma did not challenge Sun Niu Zi, they, as apprentices, naturally did not dare to do so either.
It was only after about seven or eight days, as June approached, that Hu Ma took the initiative to enter the inner courtyard, smiling and approaching Sun Niu Zi, who was drinking wine with his entourage at a stone table, and said, "Sun Innkeeper, I have something to discuss."
Sun Niu Zi, who had just raised his cup, suddenly paused and laughed, "What did you call me?"
Hu Ma smiled, "Innkeeper, of course!"
Sun Niu Zi quickly put down his wine cup and waved his hand, saying, "Don't call me that. I'm just a manager."
"These important figures in the city want to elevate you."
"..."
Hu Ma smiled, "I've only been in the association for a few days. What do I know? The innkeeper must be a reliable person."
"Today, I came in to discuss something important with Sun Innkeeper. Now that the spring blood food matters are completed and the old innkeeper has settled all the accounts, there's nothing much left to do here."
"We receive monthly provisions from the Red Lantern Lady, but it feels uneasy in my heart."
"So I thought, why not take a few brothers out to see if there's anything we can do to help the Red Lantern Lady."
"Previously, this village held us back, and we couldn't leave. Now, with Sun Innkeeper in charge, I can leave with peace of mind."
"..."
"You want to go out?"
Sun Niu Zi, hearing Hu Ma call him innkeeper, felt extremely pleased. He slowly picked up a peanut and threw it into his mouth, not even inviting Hu Ma to sit down, and imitated his brother-in-law, saying, "Thinking of serving the Red Lantern Lady is right."
"But I wonder, what do you want to do?"
"..."
Hu Ma smiled, "Isn't that why I'm looking for someone wise to ask?"
"You've come to the right person. My brother-in-law... I have always learned from Chief Zheng. I know this best."
Sun Niu Zi became excited and pulled Hu Ma to sit down, explaining to him what the White Incense Disciples, Green Incense Disciples, and Red Incense Disciples did in the Red Lantern Association.
Hu Ma listened attentively and only said that he planned to earn some merit and asked for his recommendation. Sun Niu Zi then took the opportunity to smile and say, "There is a task, but it depends on whether you want to do it."
Hu Ma hurriedly replied, "Please tell me. Without earning merit, I can't stand my ground. I'm not afraid of anything."
Sun Niu Zi laughed and immediately mentioned a task.
It was about a wealthy household about two hundred miles away. Although not in Mingzhou Prefecture, they were believers in the Red Lantern Lady. The Red Lantern Association's secret blood food pills were partly sold through their shop to the wealthy families around.
However, this wealthy household was massacred last year by an unknown person. The matter remained unresolved, and they were waiting for someone to investigate.
Hu Ma, who had been listening, suddenly nodded and said, "I'm willing to try."
"If I can resolve this, I doubt it will be less significant than Brother Yang Gong's merit."
"Of course, the reply to the city must be clear. With a title, I can do the job properly."
"..."
Sun Niu Zi was overjoyed, "Very good, very good."
Hu Ma looked at him and smiled warmly and sincerely.
However, when this matter spread, the apprentices in the village were quite puzzled. Why did Hu Ma take on this task? Wasn't a peaceful life enough? Why go out to find trouble?
His yielding to Sun Niu Zi was already beyond everyone's understanding.
Not only did he always endure whatever Sun Niu Zi said, but now, at a critical moment, he was willing to give up the title of innkeeper and even be manipulated by him.
Even a clay figure would have some temper, but you seem even less than a clay figure...
Amidst the confusion, Zhou Datong suddenly fell silent.
Hu Ma did not explain and only showed a determined look, as if he was set on earning great merit.
He watched Sun Niu Zi write a letter late into the night, take on the task, stamp it with the village's seal, and decide who would stay and who would go. Then he summoned a little servant ghost and sent it to the city.
The most crucial part was that in the letter, Hu Ma directly added the word "innkeeper" after Sun Niu Zi's name, which made Sun Niu Zi extremely pleased. His opinion of Hu Ma improved several levels, and he even thought about telling his brother-in-law that Hu Ma was a good person.
And Hu Ma, after finishing these matters, immediately began to pack up and gather money and provisions.
Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, ZhaoZhu, and even LiWaZi, all prepared to set out. Even LiWaZi was ready to go.
But LiWaZi came over and said, "Brother HuMa, I’m not in good shape. The stove isn’t burning well, and on the road, I got blown by a wandering filth and took a breath. If I go out with you, I’ll just be a burden."
Then he lowered his voice and said, "Besides, if you go out, there can’t be no one of us in the village."
"I’ll stay, and help you watch over things."
"..."
Hearing this, Zhou Datong and the others were somewhat hesitant.
This LiWaZi was a trusted person before. Who knows what he might become when we return?
But Hu Ma, looking at him, felt that LiWaZi was trustworthy at-this-time and agreed. He then gave detailed instructions.
The next day, he packed things and collected money and provisions from the village, including green food, black oil ointment, weapons, and other items. He also led out a horse from the-stable.
Knowing how difficult this journey would be for Hu Ma, Sun NiuZi did not hold back but instead waved his hand, letting them take what they needed. A few people changed into their clothes, tied their legs, and set out towards the rising sun in large strides.
Only when they walked a few li out, did Hu Ma turn and look in the direction of the village, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Good people..."
"..."
"Manager, the people who come to this village are indeed honest..."
After Hu Ma and the others left the village, Sun NiuZi and his followers jumped up with joy.
He immediately ordered LiWaZi to prepare good wine and dishes, send them into the inner courtyard, and while laughing and chatting, they talked about the matter.
Sun NiuZi, imitating Chief Zheng, shook his head and said, "Hehe, you see how honest he is, I see how clever he is."
"He also knows that with us here, he can’t sit steadily as the manager, so he wants to follow Yang Gong and achieve a great feat to sit firmly in the manager’s seat."
"But he doesn’t think, why has no one gone to handle the matter of the sect for so long?"
"The Blue Robe Gang people are entrenched there, how easy can they be dealt with?"
"..."
A follower laughed and said, "If you say so, he not only wants to achieve a feat, but also doesn’t know if he can come back?"
Sun NiuZi laughed and said, "Isn’t it so?"
In his heart, he secretly calculated. If HuMa doesn’t return, how will the village’s fate be determined? He also had to take care of himself. This Hu clan’s son has too small a heart. To please himself, he’s willing to do a small thing and make himself the manager. However, in his words, he always didn’t act, and still had to see how the sisters and brothers would arrange.
The more he thought, the happier he became. He then had LiWaZi stew more chicken to serve with the wine.
But such peaceful days lasted only a few days. After a night patrol, he was drinking wine with his followers in the inner courtyard when he picked a few people from outside who looked favorable.
Just as they were enjoying the wine and food, a cold wind suddenly blew in from outside the village, making the red lantern hanging at the door emit a strange red light different from usual.
"Who is it?"
This cold wind made the people in the village suddenly sober up from their wine.
Holding knives and guns, they hurried out of the village, but were scared nearly to faint and hurriedly knelt down on the ground.
"Are you the incense burners?"
Seeing Sun NiuZi kneel down on the ground, trembling and shivering, the other followers also hurriedly knelt down.
They did not know these people’s background but saw that each of them rode a tall horse, dressed in black clothes, and their faces were covered with black cloth, only revealing a pair of cold, malevolent eyes.
They had knives hanging from their waists and carried red lanterns, half of their bodies hidden in the night, looking as if they were half in the human world and half in hell.
The other followers did not know these people’s backgrounds. Seeing them with redLanters, they thought they might be from the village, but were afraid of them.
Only Sun NiuZhi knew that these people were the most mysterious and trusted followers of the Red Lantern Lady.
They were all Red Fragrance Disciples, skilled in secret techniques, mysterious and only when the Red lantern lady personally gave an order, they would act according to the order. Once they appeared, not only the village but even the village head had to quickly kneel in greeting.
Not to greet them but to greet the Red Lantern Lady they represented.
The leader among them, smelling the alcohol on them and the eyes under the black cloth, narrowed slightly.
A cold, low voice said, "Who is the village’s manager?"
Sun niu zhi was startled and hurriedly said, "I am, I do not know these gentlemen, what are your orders?"
"Then come along!"
The leader coldly said, "The Lady has issued a decree, summoning all managers to enter the city at night. There are urgent matters to instruct you."
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(End of Chapter)
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