Great Tang Idyll Volume 1 Chapter 53

Er-Gou watched as Si-Gou poured a bowl of wine for him before naturally picking up another to toast him. He subconsciously followed raising his own bowl of wine, draining half of its contents in a gulp, then he finally woke up and thought of his manor's lord waiting for him back there. Not daring to eat the dishes on the table, Er-Gou stood hurriedly to go, hesitating for a moment, before he turned back, gulping down the remaining half bowl of wine before running away.

During this process, Er-Gou did not day a word but Si-Gou could still see the grat.i.tude and envy in Er-Gou's eyes. He understood Er-Gou, back when they were wandering and dest.i.tute, he signed the field contract while Er-Gou signed a life contract. Er-Gou would only be freed upon death.

After pondering on this, Si-Gou searched for Zhang Xiao-Bao. When he saw the little master and the little mistress accompanying their family, he was a little scared and did not dare to go forward.  Lost in indecision, he was once again reminded of the look in Er-Gou's eyes as he left. Turning back, Si-Gou drank a bowl of wine to give himself courage before coming back to the main house again.

*Pu Tong* (The sound of kneeling)

Xu-Si did not speak. Instead, he first knelt before Zhang Xiao-Bao and w.a.n.g-Jun.

"Xu-Si, what's the matter with you? Did you drink too much? If you don't have much tolerance for alcohol then drink less. In the future, remember, don't drink so much,  you'll delay matters. Hu-Zi, help him up."

Zhang Xiao-Bao was just in the middle of reciting poetry for his parents,

"At Night blows the East Wind,

Thousands of blooming lanterns are seen;"

Before he could continue with "What is this sorrowful place?" Xu-Si interrupted him.

Looking at Xu-Si, who was kneeling in front of him. Zhang Xiao-Bao couldn't understand what was the matter with him, feeling that perhaps Xu-Si was drunk?  Drunk people tend to act oddly, there was no need to pursue this.

"Little master, this lowly one did not drink too much" Xu-Si brushed aside Hu-Zi who was helping him up.

"I know, I know. Those who are drunk all say the same. Like how you never see a crazy person say that their mind is unsound. " Zhang Xiao-Bao muttered under his breath.

w.a.n.g-Jun could still make out his words by reading Zhang Xiao-Bao's lips. She blinked at him with her big eyes and spoke "Xu-Si, is you have anything to say, just say it, don't do this. After all, today is the 15th of the first month, we should celebrate together."

"Many thanks to little mistress, this lowly one has a request to make of little master and little master." Xu-Si felt that doing this was too shameless of him but he couldn't keep his words to himself.

"What request? Don't be anxious, tell us slowly. Get up first. // Hu-Zi you can't even lift up a single person? // Xiao-Bao, what do you say?" w.a.n.g-Jun disliked it when others acted so subserviently to her, she spoke to them one after another, eventually turning to Xiao-Bao.

"Yes, yes, get up first. Everyone is meant to be happy today. You are doing things for the manor. Your business is the manor's business. Quickly get up." Zhang Xiao-Bao also spoke.

Hu-Zi was about to lose all his face already. Exerting strength with both of his arms, he pulled Xu-Si up onto his feet. Hu-Zi was on a whole other level. Even if Xu-Si wanted to resist, he was not his opponent.

"Say it, what kind of trouble is it? Where you cheated out of money or cheated out of feelings? If it was just being cheated out of money then just forget it, remember this lesson in the future. If you were cheated out of feelings then just tell me who cheated you, I will let him regret for a lifetime." Zhang Xiao-Bao felt as if Xu-Si had suffered some blow to his heart, and these words flowed out from his mouth.

These words that he said, only the family members and the people in the manor would understand. The one that was clearest of his meaning was w.a.n.g-Jun, if there really was someone who cheated Xu-Si, they should start praying. Whether it was to the G.o.ds of the East or the G.o.ds of the West, they should quickly start praying.

Hearing the little master's words, Xu-Si's mood recovered some, he bowed his head. "Little master, this lowly one would like to beg one thing from you, could you get Ge manor's Er-Gou released too. Er-Gou that guy is obedient, sensible and loyal. In the past, when I was begging for food, Er-Gou helped me many times."

    “Ge manor? Er-Gou? Xu-Si, who are you talking about?” w.a.n.g-Jun was dumbfounded. So Xu-Si didn't come because of his own issues.

"To reply to little mistress' words, he is a person who sold himself to Ge manor. He just came over and this lowly one pulled him over for a drink. He then hurried away, this lowly one knows that he was ordered to come take a look at the situation on this side by the Ge family."

It could be because Xu-Si and Er-Gou have spent a long time together. Er-Gou had only just come over for a short while, but Xu-Si could already understand his reasons for coming.

   w.a.n.g-Jun nodded but did not speak, looked at the Zhang Xiao-Bao by her side.

    Zhang Xiao-Bao also did not know how one could be released from a slavery contract. He looked at Xu-Si and asked: “How can you get your brother out?”

    Xu-Si hesitated for a while, but still did not dare to speak. At this time, Madam Zhang w.a.n.g, who was holding Zhang Xiao-Bao, spoke. “If you want to redeem a person under a slavery contract, you must first compensate the owner for all their expenses in that place.  You also need to compensate for the amount of money the person sold themselves for, the 9 out of 13 compound interest type, calculated on a monthly basis.”

    “Oh, thank you mother, it turned out to be like this, this can be solved with money. Now it's simple, Xu-Si, for that brother of yours, Er-Gou to be redeemed, How much does it cost?” Zhang Xiao-Bao had thought it would be very troublesome. He didn't expect it could be resolved with money. This was a relief.

    w.a.n.g-Jun was not anxious anymore. She knows what kind of person Zhang Xiao-Bao is. Any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem.

    Xu-Si was currently worrying about this sum of money. It was simply too much. When he heard the little master asking, he timidly replied "About seventy to eighty Liang of silver. At that time we were a group of three, one died from illnesses, Er-Gou wanted to bury that brother hence he sold his self, it is possible that redeeming him would cost even more than this. Little master,  this one is willing to sell myself to you, I don't want a penny, you can write as much on the slavery contract as you want."

Xu-Si spoke and as he spoke, he began to tear up.

"What are you crying for? Isn't it only this little bit of money? Xu-Si, tomorrow, take one hundred Liang of silver, send it to Ge manor on my behalf, redeem your brother out. Don't cry in front of me, first handle this market for me well, in the future I will give you more matters to handle, remember to learn to write and calculate sums."

    Many of the surrounding families are watching. Zhang Xiao-Bao has no other choice at this time. He must let people know that he is willing to pay any price for his own people. In fact, even if there are no other people, Zhang Xiao-Bao will be like this, talent is hard to find, this Xu-Si‘s is smart enough to be of use, isn't it only a hundred Liang of silver, he can easily earn it back if he wants, while some natural talents can't be cultivated.

    Hearing Zhang Xiao-Bao's words, Xu-Si was dazed, and the surrounding families were also dazed. Even the relatives from the Zhang manor and the w.a.n.g manor were both speechless. The only one that wasn't moved was w.a.n.g-Jun.

    Seeing the people around her all silent, w.a.n.g-Jun said: “Xu-Si, did you not hear Xiao-Bao's words? If you want to repay us, just handle more things for us in the future.” “

    *Pu Tong*

Xu-Si once again fell to his knees. Don't even know where he suddenly gained this much strength, even Hu-Zi was pushed back several steps.

"Little master, from now on this one and Er-Gou are willing to work like an ox, to work like a horse for you. If you want to hit, just hit. If you want to scold, just scold. Even if I am being beaten to death, I will not hide." Xu-Si really didn't know how he could repay little master.

    At this time, Zhang Xiao-Bao jumped from his mother's arms and walked to the front of Xu-Si. He reached out and helped Xu-Si, and said: “Xu-Si, get up, I found you. Just like the villagers of this manors, you are my relatives. If my relatives are encountering trouble, how can I not help? If I encounter trouble in the future, I will also be needing help from you all."

Xu-Si did not dare resist against the little master. Zhang Xiao-Bao helped Xu-Si up. Looking at the little child in front of him, Xu-Si wiped his eyes and said: "Little master, you can rest a.s.sured, regardless of who wants to hurt you, this one will protect you with his life."

"Me too." A family nearby suddenly shouted. The other surrounding villagers who understood the situation also shouted, the atmosphere suddenly picked up.

    Zhang Xiao-Bao had to calm them for a while before these people went on to continue having fun.

    "Impressive, Comrade Zhang Xiao-Bao, this person has completely been won over by you. I think you should change your name and call yourself Napoleon. You can recruit so many people with just your personal charm.” w.a.n.g-Jun looked around and saw the surrounding people doing their own thing, thus she mouthed these words to  Zhang Xiao-Bao in lip language.

    “Napoleon? Do I know him? I, Zhang Xiao-Bao have always been like this to my friends. My orphanage director grandfather said this once, ‘I am a human, not a beast. I can't abandon everything for the sake of benefits. Can that still be counted as a human?"

    Zhang Xiao-Bao inner heart is still different from some people. When he heard w.a.n.g-Jun's words, his face sank.

w.a.n.g-Jun didn't think Zhang Xiao-Bao's reaction would this extreme. Thinking of that time he exchanged himself for that child hostage, she had to admit that Zhang Xiao-Bao could be imprisoned, but could not be blasphemed. He may not be the good person many would picture but he is definitely not a bad person.

    “Xiao-Bao, I was just joking, don't be angry.” w.a.n.g-Jun and Zhang Xiao-Bao still mouthed to each other in lip language.

    “Well, I will not accept this kind of apology, unless you let me kiss you.” Zhang Xiao-Bao replied.

    “Zhang Xiao-Bao, you are a first-cla.s.s hooligan, be careful, later when you are sleeping I will pinch that part of you till it shatters." w.a.n.g-Jun‘s little hands pressed against each other, creating a resounding sound.

    Xu-Si had the backing, now he went to other places to make arrangements. The villagers said this to each other in the two villages. For the sake of a servant's wishes, one hundred Liang of silver was thrown down. These are the two little masters of Zhang w.a.n.g. Two little ancestors of the Zhang w.a.n.g families.

    Wearing new clothes, stepping on new shoes, wearing silk lanterns, and the large Yuan Xiao with meat stuffing, roast chicken, etc., all of this was because of the youngest generation of Zhang w.a.n.g families.

    All of the villagers are present felt that their lives will not be like in the past. What they see before them and what they feel now, that is really living. They must protect the little master and the little lady.

    ******

    “Master, this little one looked around and understood that the Zhang w.a.n.g two families on the 15th of the first month of this year, arranged a lion dance for the villagers and gave them a lot of things. clothes, shoes, satin lanterns, Yuan Xiao meat stuffings…"

Not knowing that his brother had redeemed him, Er-Gou immediately went to report to Ge Ying-Xi once he returned to the Ge manor.

    “What? The two manors actually gave their people so much?" Ge Ying-Xi, who was originally still sitting there firmly, heard the words of the Er-Gou and stood up in amazement, exclaiming in surprise as he looked in the direction of Zhang and w.a.n.g manors.

    “Yes, Master, not only that, everyone in the Zhang family and the w.a.n.g family came out, and they are happily celebration together with the villagers. Most of us in Ge manor has also gone over." Er-Gou continued.

    “What? My manor's people have also gone over? No, this is absolutely unacceptable, Er-Gou, you are to immediately call all the guards in the manor out, I will personally go out to lead our people back.”

Once Ge Ying-Xi heard that the people on their side have gone over, he became fl.u.s.tered. He is now afraid that after the people in his manor knows how things are like over there, they will leave his manor.