From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

I slept until dawn.

Zhu Hong was awakened by the sound of drums.

The drumbeats were deep and intermittent, as if someone were beating an old drum in the distance, for the whole city to hear. He turned over on the bed, covered his head with the quilt, and wanted to stay in bed a little longer, but the drumbeats continued without end, as if they were going to shatter the bright blue sky.

"Where did this ghostly drumming come from?"

Zhu Hong muttered something under his breath and peeked out from under the covers.

Yesterday, after seeing Liu Ci off to the martial arts school and having a meal and drinks at Uncle Liu's house, he returned home when the moon was high in the sky. He fell asleep immediately and slept so soundly that he didn't want to get up. When he finally sat up, he rubbed his sleepy eyes and listened intently.

The sound of drums came from the direction of the government office.

"Is it the Dengwen Drum?"

Zhu Hong had seen that long-abandoned drum in the yamen. It stood on a stone platform to the left of the screen wall, exposed to the wind and sun, and even birds wouldn't bother to perch on it; it had always been just an ornament. However, Lin Jizhi had told him that this drum was cast when the yamen was established, and no one dared to strike it lightly unless it was for a major event.

Today, someone actually rang the doorbell.

He listened intently for a while, and saw the drumming gradually subside, ending with a muffled thud, as if the drummer had exhausted his strength and the drumstick had slipped from his hand, leaving no sound. Zhu Hong hurriedly got off his bed, changed into his official clothes, and went to the yamen.

The streets were already bustling and noisy.

Those carrying loads and those stopping for a bite to eat all spoke with a hint of restlessness.

At the alley entrance, neighbors gathered in small groups, discussing loudly, their eyes glancing towards the government office. "Hey, that damned petition drum hasn't sounded for years, but it's ringing out today!"

"Could it be another major event?"

"Hard to say."

"..."

Zhu Hong kept walking, pretending not to see anything.

Turning the corner, one could see a large group of people kneeling beneath the screen wall in front of the yamen. At the head of the group was Zhao Lai, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, his head wrapped in a white cloth, prostrate on the ground, his shoulders trembling incessantly. Behind him knelt Zhao Gui and two women.

Two servants in black robes stood in front of the drum, holding drumsticks, their expressions solemn.

"Zhao Lai?"

When Zhu Hong saw that an acquaintance was suing him in court, he immediately realized that besides suing himself, there was probably no one else.

but,

He wasn't flustered at all.

Things are different now. That old bastard Zhao Lai probably still thinks he's just a junior constable who's just started working in the government.

Trying to bring down yourself?

We'll just have to take advantage of the situation and kill the donkey later.

Zhu Hong!

Why are you so late?

Just then, he heard someone call his name from behind. He turned around and saw Lin Jizhi.

The guy was leaning against a hitching post, half a sesame seed cake in his mouth, his cheeks bulging from chewing, looking like he'd been waiting for a while. He stuffed the remaining half of the cake into his mouth, clapped his hands, and came over.

"You've finally arrived!"

Lin Jizhi leaned closer and spread his hands: "You're really good at dawdling, I've been waiting for you for ages."

"wait for me."

Zhu Hong tilted his head: "Did the boss make you wait?"

"That's right." Lin Jizhi glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, deliberately feigning displeasure: "You were sent here as soon as the drum sounded; the boss is too biased towards you." Before he finished speaking, his expression changed abruptly, and his tone shifted:

"By the way, where were you the day before yesterday?"

How could he just vanish without a trace? I asked Gu Shu when I got back, but he wouldn't say anything; he was extremely tight-lipped.

Zhu Hong smiled faintly:

"I've accomplished something great; you'll find out when the time comes."

"Uh..." Lin Jizhi pouted, looking helpless, but didn't press the matter further. "Fine, fine, I wasted my time asking. Who can keep up with the twists and turns in your head?" With that, he dropped his playful demeanor.

"Alright, let's go in."

Just now, the drum for petitioning the emperor sounded, summoning everyone in Jinyang. The leaders and the rest of the family are all in court.

Zhu Hong nodded slightly and followed him toward the yamen.

……

After the two passed the screen wall.

Zhao Lai's sorrowful cries were instantly choked up. He slowly raised his head and met Zhu Hong's eyes. His body trembled involuntarily, and he hurriedly kowtowed even lower, not daring to look directly at him.

"Zhao Lai".

Zhu Hong stopped.

He turned around, looked down at the old man kneeling on the ground, and said slowly, "It must have been hard for you to come and knock on the drum so early in the morning." As he spoke, the morning light shone from behind, casting his long shadow like a mountain, which loomed over Zhao Lai's heart.

Zhao Lai pressed his forehead to the ground and didn't reply.

Seeing this, Zhu Hong scoffed coldly, "That's right, let's save our energy for the courtroom, so we don't run out of things to say then." After saying that, he glanced at Zhao Lai indifferently, then turned and left.

"??"

Lin Jizhi followed behind, and after a while, he couldn't hold back any longer, so he quietly asked, "Zhu Hong, are you an old acquaintance of the group that knocked on the drum to appeal?"

Zhu Hong continued walking and nodded: "An acquaintance."

acquaintance!

Lin Jizhi's eyes snapped open, and her steps slowed. "Wait, you're not possibly involved in today's drumming, are you?"

Zhu Hong replied casually:

"They've come here most likely to sue me."

Lin Jizhi stumbled, nearly tripping, and stood frozen in place for a long while before regaining his senses. He rushed forward, his voice trembling, "Sue, sue you?!" He grabbed Zhu Hong's sleeve, scrutinizing him from head to toe. Seeing that he wasn't joking, the surprise on his face gradually turned into doubt.

"What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?!"

Zhu Hong said calmly, "Kill his son."

Lin Jizhi gasped, released his grip, and took a few steps. Suddenly, he chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Good heavens, you bring up the matter of killing your son right off the bat." He counted on his fingers, "Leaving aside the matter of the charitable hall, you interfered in the Liu family case, and the head of the pleasure boat scandal forbade us to ask about it."

"Now someone is banging the drum to appeal again."

"Zhu Hong, you've only been in the government for a few days, yet you're already more adept at causing trouble than anyone else."

"Who cares?"

Zhu Hong smiled and said, "When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it."

……

Soon, the two crossed the front yard.

The hall was already packed with people, and most of the six constables had gathered, forming a dense, dark mass.

"Zhu Hong".

Just as the two were about to step onto the stone steps of the main hall, they suddenly heard someone call out. Zhu Hong turned his head and saw Wang Zhenshan standing beside a pillar, clearly having been waiting for some time.

"Boss."

Zhu Hong and Lin Jizhi bowed respectfully.

Wang Zhenshan didn't answer, but waved to him and turned to walk to a quiet corner.

Zhu Hong understood and followed.

Seeing this, Lin Jizhi was about to follow, but after taking only two steps, he heard Wang Zhenshan say in a deep voice without turning his head, "You wait outside, what are you doing following me!"

"have to.

"Use people when they need them, discard them when they don't."

Lin Jizhi paused, then sheepishly retreated, muttering, "It's all my fault."

Wang Zhenshan led Zhu Hong to the corner of the corridor, then turned around and said softly:

"I discussed it with Clerk Gu last night."