A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 57 Not Getting Too Proud

How should we describe the status of mixed-race children? We can look at the mixed-race children left behind by Black people in China…

It's somewhat unsettling.

But Li Weizhou felt it was alright with Xihu, since Nazha and Dilraba could also be considered Xihu...

We are all part of the same motherland, so there is no need for discrimination.

Li Weizhou didn't pretend much and had the two men who rushed over help lift the man up.

Two guys in their early twenties barely managed to lift it...

After they pulled it out, the two men looked at Zahu even more horribly.

Li Weizhou looked at the boy with a bruise and redness on his forehead and asked, "Didn't we tell them to buy your flesh? Don't you think the price is right?"

The waiter protested, "No! We've already pressed the meat down and are giving it to you normally... no, it hasn't even been weighed yet!"

The young man with mixed barbarian features looked at Li Weizhou, his eyes reddening, and said, "Master, I'm willing to risk my life for you. Please, take me as your servant! I need to buy medicine for my mother!"

Upon hearing this, even the most disdainful of the barbarians fell silent.

Those who are extremely filial will receive some respect.

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "It's one thing to risk your life, but you also have to take care of your mother. How will you take care of her if you die? Go to the counter and get twenty taels of silver later. You can pay it back within two years after your mother recovers. Or you can use meat to pay it off when you have time. Go on, take care of your mother first, and then we'll talk about other things."

Hearing this, the Donghu youth was even more grateful, and the way he looked at Li Weizhou was almost unbearable...

Li Weizhou chuckled, patted him on the shoulder, and left first.

The men around breathed a sigh of relief; having an extra scoundrel in the house would really make them a laughingstock.

The employer treated them so well that they now feel a sense of family honor.

Of course, they couldn't yet imagine that the threads of fate could not be altered by human will...

……

When Li Weizhou entered Zuixianlou, he saw many unfamiliar faces doing sweeping and cleaning work. Some of them were still teenagers, clearly child laborers.

Shopkeeper Chen explained, "Having gone through so much, these children are mostly shy and hesitant. Let them interact with people more to build their courage."

Li Weizhou said admiringly, "That's a good idea... Are those who were detected as having martial bones also doing this?"

Manager Chen nodded and said, "It's inside. Mr. Gu said that the treatment of those children can be improved, but they need to understand from a young age that there is no distinction between high and low in the master's household duties, and all should be treated equally. We have already taught them this principle, and now we'll see if they really take it to heart. Only those who do their jobs well are worth cultivating; otherwise, no matter how strong their potential is, they will only be a menace when they grow up."

Mr. Gu was a talented person that Manager Chen bought along with the children...

Li Weizhou exclaimed in surprise, "Manager Chen, you've brought back a great talent!" He vaguely remembered that someone surnamed Guo had done the same thing.

Shopkeeper Chen was beaming with pride, saying, "Master, you flatter me. When we first bought him, everyone else was skeptical, thinking he looked like a consumptive and weakling. But the moment I saw him, I knew he was a properly educated man, much better than us half-baked folks. Sure enough, after seeing a doctor and recovering, he's quite remarkable. However, Mr. Gu doesn't like seeing people much; he usually just stays in his room reading. His monthly allowance is all spent on books. Master, if you'd like to see him, I'll have someone call him right away..."

Li Weizhou shook his head and smiled, "Since he doesn't want to show his face in public, we'll respect that. We'll tell him that the money for the books won't be included in his monthly salary, but will be allocated to him separately. The condition is that he helps us teach these children, teaching them the principles of being a good person."

Shopkeeper Chen asked, puzzled, "Teaching us the principles of being a good person?"

Li Weizhou said, "This is the most difficult one. How's business?"

Manager Chen said, "Business is still very good; the colder the weather, the better the business. It's just that..."

"Just what?"

Li Weizhou asked.

Manager Chen said helplessly, "Many customers have been nitpicking, saying that since we're called Drunken Immortal Pavilion, we should have wines that can intoxicate even immortals. But right now, Drunken Immortal Pavilion only serves the same wines available on the market, nothing special. So why should we call ourselves Drunken Immortal Pavilion? Boss, what you say makes some sense..."

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "Alright, getting drunk is easy enough. I've already made preparations. Tomorrow, I'll have someone go to Li Family Village to bring in some wine. You managers can try it first, and then we'll set a price."

No need for Maotai or anything like that, just get some bulk Langjiu from the neighboring Changzhou, that'll be enough to impress everyone.

If that doesn't work, then store some more 96-proof vodka, and see who dares to complain then...

……

As Li Weizhou left Zuixianlou, he was stopped by Manager Zheng of Shenglong Money Shop.

The old man looked very serious: "Young Master Li, our young master wishes to see you."

Li Weizhou asked curiously, "Young Master Gui, are you also from Yuanjian Mountain?"

The old man's expression grew even more solemn, and his tone became sacred. He nodded very solemnly and said, "That's right!" Li Weizhou asked in surprise, "Why did that fat Qi Zhenkun tell me that only one disciple from Yuanjian Mountain goes down the mountain each generation? I'll ask him later. Do fat guys always like to brag?"

The old man's breath had almost stopped, and he forced a smile as he said, "Young Master Qi is the sect leader's disciple, so of course his words are law... But our young master is also a disciple of Yuanjian Mountain, an outer disciple. Because our master's grandfather was an elder of Yuanjian Mountain!!"

The slumped back straightened up again!
Li Weizhou said with a half-smile, "It's not that I'm not giving your young master face, it's just that Qi Zhenkun is always the one who comes to me when we meet. If he knew I was going to see an outer disciple, he'd probably lose face. How about this, I met Qi Zhenkun at Zuixiang Pavilion before, and I'll be waiting for him there today. Your young master is on the same level as Qi Zhenkun, isn't that a lot of face for him?"

Manager Zheng's face was as ugly as if he had eaten shit. He wasn't a novice in the martial arts world, so how could he not see that Li Weizhou was just using someone else's name as a pretext?
Qi Zhenkun had already told him about an extraordinary person he knew who had taken a fancy to a certain ingredient and spice, and had even asked him to look for it as well. So, it turned into a special visit to this person...

The problem is that even so, for the sake of Yuanjianshan's reputation, he has to swallow it!
Otherwise, would the outer disciples really receive better treatment than the sect leader's original disciples?
Not wanting to look at Li Weizhou any longer, the old man clasped his hands in front of his face and said in a muffled voice, "Alright, I'll go tell our young master right away!"

……

Feng Biwu frowned slightly as she watched someone swagger up to the second floor, sit down, and specifically request to listen to music and watch a dance.

If it weren't for the sign of the Iron-Holding Sili and the mysterious disappearance of the Heavenly Blade Sect, she would have had the urge to spank them.

Seeing that she didn't move, Li Weizhou raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "I have an appointment with someone from Yuanjian Mountain to discuss some matters. Is it inconvenient here? If it's inconvenient, then forget it. I'll go to Qimeng Pavilion."

If it weren't for using the banner of the Eastern Palace to balance the interests of Yuanjian Mountain and Shenglong Money House, he wouldn't really want to come here.

It's not like we're not going to give you money!
In fact, after this woman arrived, the business of Zuixianglou plummeted, simply because although Feng Biwu was extremely charming, her eyes always held a chilling coldness...

Feng Biwu sighed. She, the Biwu-jun, revered by countless sects in the martial arts world and known for her ruthlessness, never expected to encounter such an oddball in such a small town. She nodded slightly to the maid beside her, who was also quite serious, and asked, "Which lady does the young master invite to dance?"

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "Of course, it's the best jumper."

The girl pursed her lips and went to call for someone.

It wasn't lunchtime yet, and brothels were usually places for all-night revelry. It seemed that people were more likely to indulge themselves at night, and thus more willing to spend money or show off things they wouldn't say during the day.

Even though business at Zuixianglou has been slow lately, most people's routines remain unchanged.

Therefore, most of the courtesans are sleeping and resting at this moment.

Li Weizhou and Feng Biwu didn't have much to say, and they just handled things officially out of consideration for Qi Erniang.

Moreover, the woman in front of him, Biwu Jun, seemed to have some signs of being averse to men, so despite her stunning beauty, Li Weizhou had no intention of joking.

After a moment of silence, Feng Biwu looked somewhat speechless.

The young man opposite her, small in stature but big in ability, sat there without looking at her or saying a word, and she didn't know what he was thinking.

She snorted coldly and threatened, "Don't get carried away! The Eight Kings and Eight Clans are related to the country and have been passed down for hundreds of years. Even the imperial court doesn't dare to underestimate them. How can your little thing compare to theirs? Qian Jintang of the Heavenly Blade Sect died under mysterious circumstances. The Prince of Jin's Mansion will not let this go. I estimate that people will be here soon."

Li Weizhou said nonchalantly, "If they dare to do anything to a mere Imperial Executioner or Iron Clerk, I'll kowtow to them."

A maidservant led a dancer and a musician in.

The dancer, named Wanwan, looked mournful and knew Li Weizhou. If it were still Qi Erniang as the madam, she would definitely be complaining and joking by now, but with Feng Biwu here, they didn't dare to.

As expected, Feng Biwu didn't even glance at them, and said disdainfully to Li Weizhou, "Do you really think the Iron Censor is so great? With the prestige of the Prince of Jin's mansion, is it difficult to get a Silver Censor to uphold justice? Getting a Bronze Censor would be even easier. Your plaque may be able to flaunt your power in Qingzhou City, but what does it mean to the Eight Princes and Eight Clans?"

Li Weizhou stated matter-of-factly, "Whether it's settled or not, I didn't swagger around. As for whether they'll do anything to me... surely they won't. You really don't know who our fourth son's master is? Also, our fourth son and Princess Yi'an of the Qi Prince's Mansion are extremely close. He even met my parents when he came back last time... Are you unaware of these things, or do you simply not care?"

Feng Biwu's expression turned serious; she really didn't know about Princess Yi'an.

The Prince of Qi's residence is the only one of the eight princes who resides in the capital year-round, and he is also the head of all the princes in the world!

Even though he has been out of the political arena for many years due to his advanced age and has been recuperating in the Qi Prince's Mansion in the capital, who would dare to slight him because of his status as the first virtuous prince of the imperial clan?

Therefore, even if Li Weizhou was just using the name of Princess Yi'an as a pretext, no one else would dare to act recklessly in public.

The Qi Prince's Mansion, the most prestigious of the eight princes, is a place whose majesty cannot be disrespected!
However, looking at Li Weizhou's nonchalant yet smug expression, Feng Biwu laughed angrily, "Hmph! It's only because we're in this remote, rural area with no powerful or influential families that you can't see anything like this in the capital. You're Li Weizhou, not Li Changning."

Li Weizhou was truly smug, saying, "I'm not crazy, why would I go to the capital to provoke others? Besides, even here, others provoked me first. Although I'm smug, I've never been arrogant."

After saying that, he slightly raised his chin towards the musician: "Play the music, dance."

The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments began to rise, and the graceful young woman began to dance...

Li Weizhou's eyes showed admiration, but in his heart he was calculating: he still needed to become stronger as soon as possible. Being strong himself and then using someone else's name to intimidate others was just to reduce trouble and live a leisurely life. But if he wasn't strong himself and just kept using someone else's name, that would be outwardly strong but inwardly weak, and he would be useless.

Fortunately, he didn't rely entirely on others; he still had his own trump cards...

……

(End of this chapter)