Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Tang Shanzhan, a notoriously stingy wandering knight-errant from the West Market, invited his friends to a large table.

"Guofanjia" is another name for a restaurant, which is of a lower class than a tavern.

"Hey, Master Shanzhan has struck it rich! Did he touch the Buddha statues at Fahai Temple to make money?" a half-bald wandering swordsman mocked.

Master Shanzhan is the nickname of Tangshan Zhan.

"I didn't make a fortune, but I found a job that provides a steady income and I've been betrothed to a wealthy and influential family."

"Isn't this just treating you to a lamb leg out of old friendship?"

"I've been a good guy, haven't I?"

Tang Shanzhan's smile was sly yet tinged with pride.

The half-bald wandering knight, the hairless tiger, laughed loudly.

The wandering knight's greatest hobby is gnawing on lamb legs; if provoked, he can even engage in a lamb leg bone fight.

The wandering knights were a mixed bag, some good, some bad, some recruited to fight, some to gather intelligence, some to act as bodyguards, some to extort money from merchants, and some to steal chickens and dogs.

At this stage, the Tang Dynasty mainly used the Fubing system (a military system based on conscripted soldiers), supplemented by recruited soldiers. When Li Shimin conquered Goguryeo, he recruited wandering knights from Luoyang.

The choice between the militia system and the mercenary system is simply a matter of which method is dominant; it's not a matter of one being the only option.

"A servant?"

The hairless worm happily tore off a piece of meat, stuffed it into its mouth, and chewed it.

Tang Shanzhan took a sip of the fragrant mutton soup and looked at the hairless tiger with a hint of curiosity: "I didn't expect you to be so familiar with this."

The hairless worm laughed heartlessly: "Not many people know my real name. I'm too ashamed to reveal it because I'm too ashamed to make a name for myself."

"Master Shanzhan, my name is Daxi Xiao."

The Daxi clan was one of the noble families of the Xianbei. After several dynasties, it is not difficult to understand why their descendants fell into the ranks of wandering knights.

Da Xi Xiao took a sip of the green ant wine: "There aren't many powerful figures in Longzheng Ward, and not many newly promoted officials. The only one you can probably get close to is Duke Zan, right?"

Tangshan Zhan smiled brightly.

Unexpectedly, one of the wandering knights he associated with was quite knowledgeable.

"My apologies, but let's keep in touch!" Tang Shanzhan raised his wine bowl. "Waiter, another jar of Green Ant Wine!"

Anyway, Green Ant Wine is cheap;

Anyway, a Tangshan cup costs a few coins;

Anyway, Dou Fengjie agreed that as long as there was any useful information, the Duke of Zan's mansion would cover all the expenses for Tang Shanzhan to gather information.

The reason why Tang Shanzhan was so polite to the hairless tiger was because he had overheard the tiger boasting that his uncle was an official in the Yongjia Princess's mansion.

I used to think it was just bragging, but now that they've given their names, there's a 70-80% chance it's true.

Daxi Yongchang was indeed diligent and conscientious, but unfortunately he didn't learn Yuwen Shiji's ways and liked to boast to his family about the affairs of the Princess's residence.

Little did he know that his family and clansmen, whom he thought could keep his secret, were boasting even more wildly than he was, eager to brag to the outside world that "my family can control the Princess's residence."

Those who have never suffered losses don't understand; the most intractable problem is when your own family members betray you.

Da Xixiao wisely stayed until the end, leaving Guofan's house with his arm around Tang Shanzhan's shoulder.

"Brother, you're really generous! In the past, you would at least ask the shopkeeper to round down the price." Da Xi Xiao wiped his sparse hair, his eyes full of envy.

"As long as you are willing to serve the official and can provide something of value, you can do it too." Tang Shanzhan's smile carried a hint of drunkenness.

"My uncle said that the Princess has some cronies among the sixth and seventh rank officials, and the Taicang magistrate is just an insignificant figure among them." Da Xixiao, taking advantage of his drunkenness, revealed a bit of information at just the right time.

A small cloth bag containing fifty coins quietly slipped from Tang Shanzhan's hand to Xi Xiao's belt.

Two drunkards left the West Market and waved goodbye at the street corner.

Da Xi Xiao stood up straight, his body swaying slightly, and smiled as he weighed the cloth bag in his hand.

Can mere green ant wine really get people drunk? What a joke!

He knew that Tang Shanzhan was backed by Dou Fengjie, and he didn't mind making some cash from the gossip he heard from his cousin Da Xi Yongchang.

As for the rest, let's just leave it at that; Da Xi Xiao has no interest in getting involved in the feud between these two powerful figures.

Tangshan Zhan straightened his back, pondering how credible the words of the hairless tiger were.

If it's true, then he'll have a firm foothold in front of the official.

The reason why Tang Shanzhan didn't call him "my lord" like Dou happy was that he hadn't yet decided whether to throw himself into the relationship regardless of everything.

Back in Longzhengfang, Tang Shanzhan greeted his father, Tang Bugu, and started to walk toward Dou Fengjie's residence, but Tang Bugu grabbed him.

"Fool! Duke Zan is still observing the precepts for his father; it's inappropriate for you to go there reeking of alcohol!"

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"You took a bath and changed clothes? And you even used chrysanthemum?"

Dou Shang twitched his nose, not nitpicking at the lingering smell of alcohol in the Tangshan cup.

"I was in a hurry to see you, sir, so I was a little rushed."

Tangshan cup with hands crossed.

He didn't understand why Dou Fengjie, who had clearly inherited the title of Duke, still needed to live in the mansion next to Fahai Temple.

Does listening to monks chanting scriptures help one sleep?

Isn't it only when listening to a teacher's lecture at school that one can easily fall asleep?

Dou Fengjie brewed tea, gave Tangshan Zhan a bowl, and patiently listened to Tangshan Zhan recount the details.

"You did the right thing. Da Xixiao's information still needs to be verified and cannot be taken at face value."

But we can't completely disbelieve it either.

Pi Yangqiu was just a scapegoat who jumped to the forefront, oblivious to his own mortality, in the scheme orchestrated by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Taicang Bureau. The real person acting on the orders of Princess Yongjia had not yet appeared.

By connecting with Daxi Yongchang, the commander of Princess Yongjia's residence, one could obtain some information, gain the upper hand in any situation, and avoid being caught off guard and forced to defend.

Dou happy pushed out three portions of money and grain.

The smallest portion of grain, still in its husk, was the money and grain that Tangshan Zhan was entitled to as a servant on the thirtieth day of the first lunar month.

The middle string of cash was to reimburse Tangshanzhan for the expenses he incurred in gathering information over the past few days, including the meal at Guofan's house.

The five bushels of white rice beside it, weighing about sixty catties, were a reward from Dou Fengjie to Tang Shanzhan.

Five dou of rice is enough to feed two adult men for a month.

"Take some aged rice (about a year old) back home for your family to try."

Dou Fengjie spoke gently.

In addition to these natural rice products, the Waihuo system also supplies rice and wheat almost without limit—as long as there are enough items to exchange for them.

The concept of "natural" is all about the idea; the taste may not necessarily be better than that of technology and rudimentary techniques.

Tangshan Zhan's eyes welled up with tears.

After years of struggling in the underworld, enduring knife wounds and kneeling, I've finally put one foot on the right path!

"Work hard, don't do anything reckless, and keep your life." Dou Fengjie painted a rosy picture. "I'll find a way to get you a minor official position later."

Tang Shanzhan's eyes widened in disbelief.

Having the status of a clerk is what commoners call an "official"!

Given his tendency to roam around aimlessly, he had absolutely no chance of becoming an official outside the capital, which made the clerk's promise seem all the more real.

Tang Shanzhan stood up, clasped his hands, and said, "Tang Shanzhan thanks you for your high regard, sir!"

There were no grand pronouncements, no vows of loyalty to the death, only genuine sincerity towards Dou Fengjie.

The replacement of "官人" (official) with "郎君" (young master) demonstrates Tangshan Zhan's attitude.