January 1, 1228 in the Ziyun calendar.
As the saying goes, 'new year, new atmosphere', on the first day of the new year, many ordinary families in Qingshan Town are willing to go to the expensive Yunxuan Restaurant for a meal.
However, this year, when they came to the front door of Yunxuan Restaurant, they found that Yunxuan Restaurant was not open.
There is a piece of paper taped to the closed door with a line of words written on it:
Yunxuan Restaurant has been undergoing renovations for some time. On the first day of its next opening, there will be a 50% discount on the entire restaurant, including drinks.
Signed: Zhou Donghuang.
"Yunxuan Restaurant is closed?"
"It seems that it's because of what happened yesterday."
"I heard that all the chefs, waiters and maids of Yunxuan Restaurant have fled...only the shopkeeper Afu is left. I thought it was a rumor, but I didn't expect it to be true."
"When Yunxuan Restaurant opens next time... the boss may not be Young Master Donghuang."
…
A group of people gathered outside the gate of Yunxuan Restaurant. After discussing for a while, they left one after another and went to other small restaurants.
Yesterday, Zhou Donghuang deposed the young masters from the three top poor families in the county, which frightened a group of people in Yunxuan Restaurant. They were so scared that they all left Yunxuan Restaurant, fearing that Zhou Donghuang would be implicated.
Finally, in such a large Yunxuan Restaurant, only the shopkeeper, Ah Fu, was left.
Therefore, Zhou Donghuang asked Ah Fu to temporarily close Yunxuan Restaurant, because even if it was not closed, there would be no way to keep it open.
Everyone is gone, there is no manpower, there is no way to open the door for business.
Of course, not only the group of people in Yunxuan Restaurant left, but also the group of maids and guards who had followed from the Yulan Chamber of Commerce.
Just like the group of people at Yunxuan Restaurant.
Facing the three top poor families in the county, they also had no confidence in Zhou Donghuang and were deeply afraid of being implicated and dying at the hands of the three top poor families.
For a time, the entire mansion courtyard behind Yunxuan Restaurant became much deserted.
"It's true that the tree fell and the hozen scattered."
Sitting in front of the stone table in the front yard, Zhou Donghuang's right index and middle fingers were bent together, tapping the table lightly, shaking his head and smiling, but he was not unhappy at all, because he could understand those people.
Now, outside of him and his mother, the only people left were Granny Lian and Ah Fu.
"Afu, you should also be practicing Qi, right?"
Zhou Donghuang looked at Ah Fu who was standing respectfully aside and asked with a smile.
Ah Fu stayed, which surprised him.
After all, in the face of life and death, few people would be willing to risk their wealth and lives with him.
"Boss, Ah Fu has a dull qualification. Although he has cultivated his true energy, he has only gained three to two hundred kilograms of strength."
Ah Fu touched his head in embarrassment and smiled innocently.
"Is there anyone else at home?"
Zhou Donghuang asked again.
"Afu is an orphan."
The silly smile on Ah Fu's face gradually faded, his eyelids drooped, and a look of disappointment flashed across his eyes at the right time.
"From now on, my mother, I, and Granny Lian will be your relatives."
Zhou Dongguang's eyes flashed, "Also, you don't need to call me boss from now on, just call me 'Master'."
"In addition, in the past two days, you have exhausted the zhenqi in your body. I will teach you a new skill and give you some Qi Gathering Powder... No accident, no matter how poor your qualifications are, you can still do it in half a year. Enter the Qi Gathering Level within."
Ah Fu stayed to show that he was willing to bet his life on him. Zhou Donghuang would naturally not treat such a person badly.
Even Granny Lian, he also planned to teach her a skill and prepare some Qi Gathering Powder for her to take.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
What happened this time made him no longer regard Granny Lian and Ah Fu as outsiders.
"Master, don't bother me."
Ah Fu smiled bitterly and shook his head.
In his opinion, he only had a few days to live anyway, so there was no need to go through such trouble.
"What? You think I can't deal with those three poor families?"
Zhou Donghuang naturally saw Ah Fu's thoughts and laughed dumbly, "A Fu, you stayed... just to wait to die with me?"
"Master, those three poor families are all top poor families... There are more than a dozen martial arts monks at the third level of Qi gathering."
While Ah Fu reminded Zhou Donghuang, the wry smile on his face became stronger.
Previously, Zhou Donghuang deposed the Qi-gathering second-level martial arts monk who claimed to be from the Li family in Juncheng. He was worried about Zhou Donghuang because he was deeply afraid that the Li family in Juncheng would seek revenge.
Now, Zhou Donghuang has deposed the young masters of the three top poor families in the county. He does not think that Zhou Donghuang can withstand the anger of the three top poor families.
He tried to persuade Zhou Donghuang to leave, but he couldn't do it.
Therefore, he could only choose to follow Zhou Donghuang and wait for death.
From the moment Zhou Donghuang stood up for him yesterday, he had already given his life to Zhou Donghuang.
"you… "
Just when Zhou Donghuang was still about to say something, Granny Lian had already walked quickly into the front yard and respectfully reported to Zhou Donghuang: "Master, there is someone outside looking for you. He said his name is 'Leng Hanfeng'."
"Leng Hanfeng?"
A black figure appeared in Zhou Donghuang's mind, that young man in black with a stern face, the second head of Qinglang Village, 'Leng Hanfeng'.
"Master, he came here on a sweaty horse. He must not be an ordinary person."
Granny Lian reminded.
"Afu, go and bring him in."
When Zhou Donghuang asked Ah Fu to go out and bring Leng Hanfeng in, he said to Granny Lian: "Grandma Lian, he is the second head of Qinglang Village who escorted me all the way to Ningping Town last time."
"It's him?!"
Granny Lian was shocked.
She never expected that the decent-looking young man she had just met would turn out to be a murderous horse thief.
After a while, Leng Hanfeng, led by Ah Fu, walked into the front yard.
"I have met Young Master Donghuang."
After Leng Hanfeng came in, he bowed and saluted Zhou Donghuang respectfully.
"What's up?"
Zhou Donghuang asked.
"Originally, I planned to go to Yunxuan Restaurant for dinner and meet you, Master Donghuang... After I arrived, I found that Yunxuan Restaurant was closed."
Leng Hanfeng said: "I just heard about what happened yesterday outside."
"Master Donghuang, I came to you mainly to ask you... Do you still accept people here?"
In a few words, Leng Hanfeng revealed his purpose of coming to Zhou Donghuang, "If you still accept it, I want to leave Qinglang Village, follow you, and serve you."
"Work for me?"
Zhou Donghuang was startled at first, then took a deep look at Leng Hanfeng, "You are the second master of Qinglang Village, and you have a group of people under you, so why should you lower yourself and follow me?"
"Besides, you also know my current situation... Aren't you worried that when the three top poor families come to kill me, they will also express their anger on you and kill you?"
Zhou Donghuang asked with a smile.
"Young Master Donghuang, actually the last time I saw you take action, I had the idea of following you and working for you... However, it would have been a bit abrupt to tell you that I wanted to follow you and work for you at that time."
Leng Hanfeng said: "Today, after learning about the situation you are facing, Master Donghuang, I know that my opportunity has come."
"Although those three poor families are very strong, even Young Master Donghuang has a hard time competing with them... But I still want to follow you. Even if I die in this battle with the three poor families, I will still No regrets.”
Leng Hanfeng spoke very seriously and looked at Zhou Donghuang firmly, fearlessly.
In one's life, there are many opportunities to choose.
Some choices, yes, can win a good future.
Once you make a mistake, you may be doomed.
"If you leave Qinglang Village and follow me and work for me, wouldn't it be equivalent to betraying Qinglang Village? I have no interest in betrayers."
Zhou Donghuang said calmly: "Today, you can betray Qinglang Village, and you can betray me tomorrow."
"Master Donghuang, you misunderstood."
Leng Hanfeng sighed, "Actually, I don't want to be a horse thief. The reason why I stayed in Qinglang Village is purely to repay the life-saving grace of the head of Qinglang Village."
"Now, I have repaid all the kindness that should be repaid. If I have the opportunity to leave Qinglang Village, I don't want to stay any longer."
When Leng Hanfeng said these words, Zhou Donghuang was looking at him intently.
The eyes are the windows to the soul. Based on Zhou Donghuang's thousands of years of experience, it is natural to see that Leng Hanfeng's words are not lying.
"If I'm not wrong... you choose to follow me now because you actually have another intention, and you want to take a gamble, right?"
Zhou Donghuang's eyes suddenly became profound and he asked thoughtfully.
Zhou Donghuang's deep gaze gave Leng Hanfeng a sense of being unable to hide. He nodded without any hesitation, "I admit this."
"If you, Master Donghuang, are unable to handle this disaster from the three poor families, I, Leng Hanfeng, will die with you."
"And if you, Master Donghuang, can bear it... I believe that you can definitely give me a better future!"
Leng Hanfeng's words were frank and without any hypocrisy.
"interesting."
Zhou Donghuang smiled faintly and said, "In that case, go back and clean up, explain the matter well, and then come to me."
Zhou Donghuang's words undoubtedly promised Leng Hanfeng to stay and serve him.
"Thank you, Master."
Leng Hanfeng's eyes lit up and he quickly bowed to thank you, "Tomorrow, I will come to see you, young master."
At this time, Leng Hanfeng's name for Zhou Donghuang also changed, from 'Young Master Donghuang' to 'Young Master'.
After Leng Hanfeng left, Granny Lian looked at Zhou Donghuang with some worry, "Master, there are no good people among horse thieves... Isn't it appropriate to ask him to follow you?"
Just now, when Leng Hanfeng was around, Granny Lian couldn't refute Zhou Donghuang.
Now that Leng Hanfeng was gone, she couldn't help but remind Zhou Donghuang.
"Grandma Lian, don't worry about this. I think I'm pretty good at reading people."
Zhou Donghuang shook his head and smiled, "Besides, under this situation... Do you think ordinary people dare to follow me?"
Leng Hanfeng is a man who is magnanimous and has good human nature, which suits his taste.
Moreover, now is the time for him to employ people.
With such a strong martial arts monk coming to work for him, he can feel more at ease even if he travels far away in the future.
Compared to his mother Lin Lan, Leng Hanfeng is more malleable.
Because Leng Hanfeng was young and more talented than his mother.