Chapter 13: No Good Banquet

Fengmen County, Zhang Residence.

In the main hall of the Zhang Residence, two men and one woman sat at an Eight Immortals table. The two men were Squire Zhang and Li Si, while the woman was Squire Zhang’s wife, Madam Zhang Guo.

Li Si saw that this Madam Zhang Guo looked only a little over twenty, with fair skin and a beautiful appearance. Although she was not as beautiful as the fox demon he had seen before, she had the refined beauty of a modest household’s daughter, and was an extremely beautiful woman.

This was also the first time he had seen her. In his heart, he felt somewhat puzzled. Such a young woman had actually married Squire Zhang, who was more than twenty years older than her. Truly, morals were declining by the day.

“Come, come, Teacher Li. This is soup stewed from a free-range chicken collected from Sun Family Village yesterday. It is very good.” Madam Zhang Guo rose and ladled a bowl of soup, then attentively brought it to Li Si.

“Madam Zhang, please do not be so polite. I truly feel overwhelmed.” Li Si seemed as if he had never entered this kind of wealthy estate before, nor seen such a beautiful woman before. His whole person appeared somewhat restrained as he stood and accepted the soup.

Naturally, all of this was an act. Li Si was merely imitating the original owner, to keep these two from seeing anything unusual, and also to lower Squire Zhang’s guard.

“No matter, no matter. This time, by inviting Teacher Li over, we are the ones who owe you.” Squire Zhang, who was beside them, laughed loudly and clapped his hands. Immediately, a servant carrying a tray walked out from behind the main hall.

“Here are 500 taels of pure silver. Consider it compensation for Teacher Li.” Squire Zhang smiled. That smile appeared especially kindly on his face, like an elder looking at a junior of the same clan.

“One does not accept rewards without merit. Master Zhang, I appreciate your kindness.” Seeing this setup, Li Si inwardly cried that this was bad. When someone lowers himself with gifts, he must have a request. Thinking this, he immediately stood and cupped his hands in refusal.

There was no other way. Who knew whether he would still have a chance to leave this place after taking this silver?

“Scholar Li, please accept this silver. Otherwise, my master will be very unhappy.” At this moment, Madam Zhang Guo, who was beside him, revealed a trace of seduction in her eyes. Her clear gaze remained fixed on Li Si, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

“This silver is yours. That settles it. Later, I will have the servants send it to Little Bamboo Courtyard.” Squire Zhang smiled, then waved his hand. The servant immediately withdrew. Then he pointed at the dining table with his chopsticks and smiled. “Come, come, eat.”

“Then I shall accept it with embarrassment.” Seeing this, Li Si had no choice but to bow in thanks. This Squire Zhang was clearly forcing it on him. Refusing was not allowed. There was no other way. He could only sit down and eat. Later, he would see exactly what medicine Squire Zhang was selling in his gourd.

Raising his chopsticks, Li Si froze slightly. Only now did he discover that these seven or eight dishes were all meat dishes. There was chicken soup, roast duck, steamed fish, stir-fried streaky pork, spicy beef, and so on. But there was not a single vegetable. There was not even a bit of green.

Li Si felt somewhat strange in his heart, and also rather speechless. Was this not a typical example of wine and meat rotting behind vermilion gates while bones froze by the roadside?

Suddenly, Li Si’s expression changed slightly. He looked under the table. A delicate little foot was rubbing against his calf. Even through his trousers, he could feel that little foot’s softness and slenderness.

Looking at that jade-like foot, it resembled a peeled egg, white jade, and milk. It made one’s heart itch, making one only want to place that slender foot in one’s hand and play with it carefully.

Raising his head, Li Si saw that the modestly beautiful Madam Zhang Guo had a faint blush on her cheeks and was looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile. This frightened Li Si into immediately pulling his leg back. Was this woman sick? Her husband was right beside her, yet she was still seducing him like this. If she wanted a man, she should not look for him. He was not Wife-Loving Cao.

“Master, this is the dish you requested.” At this moment, a servant’s voice interrupted Li Si’s thoughts. He placed a small dish on the table.

Li Si focused his eyes and saw that it was a small dish of pig ears. The pig ears were sauce-coloured and mixed with coriander, along with some peanuts. They looked very appetizing.

“Come, come, try these pig ears.” Squire Zhang pointed at the small dish of pig ears and invited Li Si to taste them.

“No, no. I do not like eating pig ears.” Looking at these pig ears, Li Si could not help thinking of the scene where Squire Zhang had cut off that servant’s ear. How could he possibly eat this dish?

Of course, he did not think these ears were human ears. After all, he had some understanding of cooking, and he could still tell whether something was a pig ear or not.

“Haha, then you are missing out. You must know, the pig ears made by the chef I hired are absolutely superb.” Squire Zhang laughed loudly, seeming rather hearty.

Then he said to Li Si, “Teacher Li, do not be too polite here. Treat this place as your own home. Back then, Teacher Li’s father had many dealings with me. If Teacher Li does not mind, you may call me uncle.”

“Then I shall rely on Uncle’s care in the future.” Li Si climbed along the pole and agreed. Saying a few more flattering words would not cost him any flesh. As for whether he truly regarded the other party as an uncle in his heart, everyone knew the truth for themselves.

“Haha, then I will shamelessly call you worthy nephew.” Squire Zhang appeared extremely happy and picked up the wine cup beside him, draining it in one sip.

“My son is actually very diligent in his studies as well and has always learned from Worthy Nephew Li. In the future, I hope Worthy Nephew Li will exchange more learning with my son.” As if Squire Zhang suddenly remembered something, he asked the servant beside him, “Right, where is Yu’er? Quickly have him come pay respects to my worthy nephew.”

When the servant heard Squire Zhang’s words, sweat immediately began to bead on his forehead. He stammered, “Young Master... Young Master has not yet risen.”

“Cough...” Squire Zhang’s facial expression immediately stiffened. Then he sighed and said, “Look at my memory. My son was recently frightened by the ghost creature and caught a chill. These past two days, he has been resting in bed. I have made a joke of myself before Worthy Nephew.”

“No matter. After I finish eating, I will go see Brother Zhang Yu.” Li Si sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he seemed to believe Squire Zhang’s words, and concern appeared on his face.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Squire Zhang’s face, then he said gently to Li Si, “Yu’er is ill. If you go see him, you may be infected by his illness. Let us speak of it again in a few days.”

At this moment, how could he possibly take Li Si to see his son? After all, he had only been making excuses for his son just now. If he took Li Si to see Zhang Yu, he would be so embarrassed that he would have nowhere to hide.

“I heard Worthy Nephew subdued demons and eliminated devils in the market yesterday?” Squire Zhang changed the topic and, in passing, asked about the matter he especially wanted to know.

When Li Si heard this, he immediately froze. Then, as if he thought of something, he suddenly laughed, shook his head, and said, “Yesterday, I merely drove away a fox wearing clothes and chopped off the head of a zombie that had just risen. Anyone else could have done the same.”

A trace of suspicion appeared in Squire Zhang’s eyes, and he asked again, “Oh? That is not something an ordinary person could do. And I heard that the demon fox was beaten away by you?”

“How could that demon fox have been beaten away by me?” Li Si looked innocent and laughed despite himself. “That demon fox was merely exposed by me, then saw that there were many people and fled in fright.”