Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

Chapter 56 Bedroom Secrets

A hearty laugh came from outside the door, the sound like the clinking of metal and jade.

The curtain was lifted, and a person strode into the private room.

But the person who came was:

She wore a tasseled hat with a gold and jade hairpin, and a gold and jade bracelet around her neck; she wore a long green silk robe with a mutton-fat jade belt; she wore fine-soled Chenqiao shoes with plain cloth socks, and two black silk knee pads; and she waved a gold-flecked fan on her right.

He was born with a robust and imposing appearance, broad shoulders and a thick back, yet possessed a handsome face, lips as red as painted vermilion, and eyebrows that seemed to display eight colors. He was truly a reincarnation of Pan An and a reincarnation of Song Yu, utterly dashing and debonair!

It was none other than Ximen Qing, the number one official in Qinghe County!

Earl Ying quickly stood up, his face plastered with an extremely obsequious smile: "Brother Ximen has arrived! I've been waiting for you!"

Ximen Qing nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze to Zheng Tu, looking him up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

What a robust man! With broad shoulders and a thick back, he sits there like a small mountain, exuding a calm and imposing aura.

He couldn't help but smile and exclaim, "This must be Brother Zheng! What a magnificent and upright man! Ying Er wasn't exaggerating this time."

Zheng Tu stood up and cupped his hands in greeting: "Master Ximen, I have long admired your name."

Ximen Qing strode forward and grabbed Zheng Tu's arm.

Upon touching it, he found it as hard as iron, with bulging muscles, which pleased him even more. He laughed and said, "Brother Zheng, no need for formalities! Since Ying Er introduced us, we're practically brothers! Sit, sit!"

The three of them sat down again.

Ximen Qing couldn't help but think to himself, "Originally, I wanted my neighbor, Hua Zixu, to fill the vacancy for Bu Zhidao. He is the nephew of Eunuch Hua, he is generous with his money, and he often moves around the courtyard. The back courtyard is only separated from my house by one wall, and we usually get along very well."

But the man introduced by Ying Er seems to be a rare hero... This time, we'll have to give him a good thrashing.

Ximen Qing personally poured a full cup for Zheng Tu, then poured one for himself and another for Ying Bojue, raising his cup and saying, "It is truly an honor to meet Brother Zheng today! Come, drink this cup to the brim!"

"please!"

The three raised their glasses and drank together.

Ximen Qing put down his wine cup, looked at Zheng Tu, and smiled, "I heard from Ying Er that Brother Zheng's martial arts are superb; he can leave a palm print on a table with a single blow. May I ask which school you studied under, and what style of martial arts you practice?"

Zheng Tu said, "I have loved martial arts since I was a child, but I have only learned some rudimentary skills on my own, which are not worth mentioning."

Ximen Qing shook his head: "Brother Zheng is too modest. To be able to leave a palm print on hardwood is already a testament to innate superhuman strength."

Seeing that Zheng Tu was unwilling to say more, he didn't mind and said, "Guanxi is full of heroes, and the people of Qin and Long are known for their fierce and valiant nature. No wonder Brother Zheng has such a spirit."

Ying Bojue chimed in, "Brother Ximen, you don't know! Brother Zheng was on Zishi Street yesterday, and he took down three hooligans with a single blow. He was incredibly clean and efficient! He's really something."

"Oh?" Ximen Qing's eyes lit up as he looked at Zheng Tu with great interest, as if he were trying to find out the reason.

Zheng Tu nodded and said, "That's right. I'm staying at Wang Po's teahouse next door. The other day, I was passing by and saw some ruffians harassing the ladies and nuns next door, using foul language. I couldn't stand it, so I taught them a lesson. It was just a small matter, nothing to mention."

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Excellent! Seeing injustice on the road, you drew your sword to help; Brother Zheng is truly a hero!"

Such virtuous people are the most loyal and unwavering, and are not easily betrayed for personal gain.

Although Ximen Qing was not a good person, he liked having more people like this around him, and his fondness for Zheng Tu immediately increased by three points.

The three were drinking and chatting when they suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from the stairwell.

Immediately afterwards, the curtain to the private room was lifted slightly, and a young man slipped in.

The boy was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with an ordinary appearance. He wore a tattered felt hat and an old cloth shirt, and carried a basket of pears in his hand. He was none other than Yun Ge, who often sold fruit in front of the county.

His original surname was Qiao, but because his father was a soldier in Yunzhou when he was born, he was named Yunge. There was only his old father in the family, who made a living by selling some seasonal fruits in front of the county every day.

He was a clever man who often frequented the restaurants and teahouses that Ximen Qing frequented, selling fresh fruit. Ximen Qing, seeing his pitiful state, would often give him some travel money. Therefore, whenever he had fresh fruit, he would go around to Ximen Qing to offer it to him.

Today, Qiao Yunge found a basket of fine pears and carried it around the streets looking for Ximen Qing. After asking around, he learned that the great master Ximen was drinking at the Lion Tower, so he hurriedly brought it up.

"Master Ximen!"

Qiao Yunge, panting, placed the pear basket on the ground, wiped his sweat, and said, "I found some fine snow pears and brought them here for you to enjoy!"

Seeing that the young man was covered in sweat, Ximen Qing, though not particularly interested in the pear, took a piece of silver from his sleeve, emboldened by the wine, and tossed it to him, saying, "Here you go. Put the pear down and you can go now."

Qiao Yunge took the silver, secretly weighed it in his hand, and found it to be half an ounce. He immediately beamed with joy and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" He then bowed to Earl Ying and Butcher Zheng before withdrawing.

But when he got outside, he didn't go downstairs to leave. Instead, he tiptoed to a dark corner, squatted down, pressed his ear against the wall, and listened intently.

It turns out that although Qiao Yunge was young, he was very precocious.

He discovered by chance that whenever Ximen Qing was at a banquet, after drinking three cups, he would talk about romantic affairs.

He had once overheard Ximen Qing talking about love and romance at a banquet. The secret affairs between men and women that Ximen Qing spoke of were vivid and interesting. His explicit words made the inexperienced young man blush and feel excited, yet he couldn't help but feel itchy and unable to stop himself.

After all, Ximen Qing was such a charming and charismatic man that the young man could not possibly understand his tricks.

Qiao Yunge could never forget the incident, not since he had overheard it once by chance.

From then on, whenever she brought fruit to Ximen Qing, if she saw him drinking, she would always find an opportunity to eavesdrop.

Today is no exception.

With all the pears sold and nothing else to do, he found a corner and hid in the shadows to eavesdrop.

Inside the side room, Ximen Qing was drinking and exchanging toasts with Zheng Tu and Ying Bojue, their ears ringing with excitement.

After a few drinks, Ximen Qing became more and more talkative, and sure enough, he started talking about a romantic encounter he had recently had in a brothel...

Next door, Yun Ge listened, his face turning bright red, yet he couldn't bear to move, so he pressed his ear even closer to the wall.

The sun was rising higher outside the window, and the streets were bustling with traffic.

Inside and outside this private room on the second floor of Lion Tower, one is bright and the other dark, one drinks and the other steals, yet both are immersed in their own "interesting stories".

As they were talking, Lord Ying saw that Ximen Qing was in high spirits and immediately knew that this was a perfect opportunity to act as a pimp.

He then recounted in detail the wonderful thing he had witnessed that day.