Chapter 10: Three Kicks for Second Brother Cui

Within the inner courtyard of the Cui family, Cui Sheng returned home on horseback, his spirits dampened. The previous day's execution had cast a pall over the local ruffians, leaving them as limp as frostbitten eggplants, utterly dispirited. The polo game ended early, cut short by the collective gloom.

He handed his horse over to a servant and stepped inside, only to encounter Cui Hao, whose mouth glistened with grease. Upon seeing his younger brother, Cui Hao’s plump face broke into a guileless smile. Though Cui Sheng had little affection for his pig-like elder sibling, he observed the basic proprieties, bowing in greeting and exchanging a few words before taking his leave.

Cui Sheng was clever, but cared neither for officialdom nor business; he was naturally inclined toward pleasure and amusement, unlike his second brother, who sought to curry favor and win their father's indulgence.

He entered the inner courtyard, heading toward his room to rest, when the sound of a commotion came from behind a wall. The voice seemed to belong to his second brother, mingling with a woman's cries for mercy. Cui Sheng frowned, his anger flaring, and retraced his steps to the corridor. There he saw his father standing silently before the door from which the indecent noises emanated.

“Father, my manhood is intact, it’s intact! Haha, wonderful, it wasn’t broken!” came a delighted cry from within.

Cui Lie’s face lit up with relief. His favorite was Cui Miao, and had that shrew ruined his son, he would surely have taken her life. Now, with no harm done, he only needed to capture the woman and make her serve Cui Miao well, rewarding her with some money afterward. Once his son’s anger was appeased, the matter could be laid to rest; otherwise, he would show no mercy—he’d hired killers on the Yangtze before.

Cui Sheng glanced at his father before the door. Though his own expression was grim, he bowed respectfully when his father noticed him.

He had intended to drag his second brother out and beat him soundly—for the havoc he wreaked on their household, such a brother was better lost than kept. But seeing their father condoning the behavior, Cui Sheng felt intimidated and withdrew.

At midday, in a private room on the second floor of the Cui family’s restaurant, four or five men sat together. Besides the brothers Yuchi Tuo and Yuchi Yang, three robust men were present.

Each wore a headscarf and carried a knife with the character for “righteousness” engraved on the hilt. Their faces were fierce—if not outlaws, then certainly villains.

“Come, brothers, let’s drink first!” Yuchi Tuo raised his wine bowl to toast the group.

Yuchi Yang, his wrist still injured, could only lift his cup with one hand. The others drank heartily, their faces flushing with warmth. “Who’d have thought? Years ago, the Cui family hired you as guards. Because you owed them, the Big Chief let you two leave the stronghold to serve the Cui family. Seeing you now, you brothers have done well!” This speaker, sharp-faced with an aquiline nose and some foreign blood, was Han Wujou, the Third Chief of Righteous Gathering Stronghold at Sanligang.

“It’s not quite so, Brother Han. Though we’re doing alright, we haven’t forgotten the brothers suffering in the hills. The Cui family’s affairs have kept us busy these months. My wrist was injured defending Second Master Cui, and it still hasn’t healed. We can’t get away; otherwise, we’d have visited the chiefs long ago.” Yuchi Tuo poured wine for Han Wujou, his words earnest and apologetic.

“It’s not your fault. You left the stronghold, and many things are beyond your reach. Recently, to prepare for winter, we raided Jiangling County for money, food, and women. That fool Lu Mingfu insisted on borrowing troops from Jingzhou to attack us. We had no choice but to chase him here to Jingzhou city. Didn’t expect to run into you brothers! Come, drink!”

“It must be fate. We swore brotherhood at Sanligang, and my brother and I won’t forget that bond. If you need anything in the city, we won’t shirk our duty.” Yuchi Tuo poured another round, and the five grew merrier.

“Ha ha ha, good brothers! Come, let’s keep drinking!”

Outside the city, Lu Mingfu arrived at Jingzhou’s east gate on a white horse, dismounted, and had his servant take the horse while he went to the gate for identification. Soon, at the Jingzhou Prefecture, Prefect Liu granted him an audience.

In the main hall, Prefect Liu sat at the head, Lu Mingfu at a side seat. Both sat upright, and after the servants served wine, Lu Mingfu bowed to Prefect Liu.

“Prefect Liu, my little county of Jiangling has suffered a bandit attack. Over a hundred families were taken, the old and young slaughtered, the women abducted, and the granaries emptied. Now, nine out of ten homes are deserted, and many can barely survive. Today, I come first to offer my apologies, second to plead for troops to attack the Sanligang bandits, and third to request grain. Please, Prefect Liu, have pity on those innocent people and save Jiangling County!”

As he spoke, Lu Mingfu broke into loud sobs, kneeling and beating the floor with his fists, utterly desolate.

“How... how could such a thing happen? Sanligang’s bandits, I’ve heard of them—that Righteous Gathering Stronghold. Someone, summon Captain Gongyang.” Prefect Liu helped the weeping Lu Mingfu to his feet and asked him to explain the situation in detail.

---

Lu Mingfu, deeply grateful, recounted how he discovered the bandit attack, gathered the county’s troops to resist, and suffered a crushing defeat, placing nearly all the blame on his own incompetence for failing his people.

Prefect Liu comforted him as best he could, saying that such disasters were unavoidable. When Captain Gongyang arrived, Lu Mingfu saw a glimmer of hope and dried his tears.

“In that case, we cannot send troops. Winter is here, and Sanligang is three hundred li away. If we mobilize now, we have neither the advantage of timing nor terrain. As Captain Gongyang advises, it would be best to wait for spring, when the bandits have exhausted their stolen grain, and then surround them. That is the optimal strategy.” Prefect Liu spoke, then glanced at Lu Mingfu, impatiently exhaling his frustration.

“This... this...” Lu Mingfu was speechless, looking from Prefect Liu to Captain Gongyang, swallowing his grievances.

“That’s settled. Troops cannot be deployed for now, but relief grain can be sent to Jiangling. As for your apology, it’s unnecessary. Jiangling’s people need you—stay in Jingzhou for a few days to rest before returning. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.” With that, Prefect Liu departed with Captain Gongyang. The servants waited for Lu Mingfu’s instructions, then led him to his lodgings. After some time, Lu Mingfu began to weep again, leaving the servants at a loss.

After dozens of cups, the five men were thoroughly drunk and the table lay in disarray. Han Wujou burped and looked at Yuchi Tuo, who was slumped across the table. “I’ve heard that Jingzhou’s captain is a coward. Is it true?”

Yuchi Tuo laughed, burping heavily. “Captain Gongyang is timid as a mouse. He has some martial skills, but he’s indecisive, greedy, lustful, and weaker than a woman. Once, we invited him to drink, and when thunder struck, he wet himself in fright, ha ha ha ha!”

“We men should never fear thunder!”

As these men drank, in the inner courtyard of the Cui family, Cui Miao, now restored, drank with his father. He had feared for his manhood, but after several days of nourishing soup, he was as lively as ever.

“Father, I toast you in thanks for your care. Fortunately, you found a skilled physician and prescribed a tonic. After a few days’ rest, I am fully recovered.” Cui Miao grinned, raising his cup to Cui Lie.

“Yes, in a few days, I’ll have Yuchi Tuo take you to Ten Mile Village to settle your grievance. That young woman, handle her well, then reward her with some money. But don’t act recklessly again—Jingzhou is under Prefect Liu’s authority now, and the future is uncertain.” Cui Lie stroked his chin, his gaze deep, displaying the dignity of a family patriarch.

“Heh heh, I’ll make sure to avenge the shame beneath my belt!”

“Hmm?”

Inside the room Cui Miao had vacated, a woman sobbed as she dressed, her pale face marked with crimson handprints. With the help of a companion, she limped toward the servants’ quarters.

A few days later, in the morning, the sky was dim, heavy with clouds. Wu Yueling gazed at the silent river, recalling the day Axue lost her spirit. She sighed—perhaps this was fate. Ordinary folk could only endure the ravages of destiny and await the balm of time.

She didn’t know when she’d become so fond of daydreaming. Hearing Madam Lu’s call, she snapped out of it and hurried over to assist her.

“Yueling, go borrow some coarse salt from the Zhao family next door. We’re out. Later, bring some back from the city and repay them,” Madam Lu smiled, addressing Wu Yueling.

“Alright,” Wu Yueling brushed back a strand of black hair and went to the Zhao house.

The Zhao family lived across from the well and survived by fishing, owning neither fields nor cattle. Few in the village had such resources. Those with two oxen and three acres belonged to the prosperous Du family—the same plump woman in new linen who introduced Wu Yueling to Cui Miao.

Now, the Du family and Wu Yueling, with her monthly wage of three hundred coins, were the most comfortable. Wu Yueling could eat meat several times a month, often enjoying white rice and pickled vegetables—a life considered luxurious by the standards of Ten Mile Village.

---

From time to time, Wu Yueling brought home goose and chicken from the Gu family’s restaurant, sharing a leg or wing with neighbors, letting them share in her good fortune. As a result, the Lu family’s relations with the village improved. After borrowing two spoonfuls of coarse salt from the Zhao family, Wu Yueling stoked the fire.

This time, she had received some tea powder from Manager Zhao. Madam Lu, familiar with such things, was astonished—tea was a luxury for the wealthy. She learned it was a reward for Wu Yueling’s advice, which had revived the Gu family’s jewelry shop. Several more shops had opened, selling affordable jewelry to ordinary families. Wu Yueling had brought Madam Lu a carved wooden hairpin—it lacked the elegance of silver, but was cheap and beautifully shaped.

Madam Lu prepared six bowls of salted tea, adding chrysanthemums preserved by Wu Yueling in autumn, then sent Wu Yueling to call the Zhao family for three bowls. Wu Yueling summoned the snot-nosed child, who carried the tea home.

Zhao Lu fished by the river, and his wife brought him a steaming bowl of tea. Wu Yueling watched from the village entrance, admiring the couple’s deep affection despite their poverty. They stayed by each other’s side, and she couldn’t help but praise them.

After drinking the salty tea, Wu Yueling headed up the mountain—not for any special reason, just to gather more firewood for winter. As she walked, she recalled her first time descending these paths, still naive and ignorant. Now, she was a little more worldly, somewhat wiser.

Entering the dense forest, she collected dry branches, and as she worked, she daydreamed about ice-cold cola in summer, ice cream, and then, as a northern wind blew by and chilled her wrist beneath her sleeve, her thoughts turned to hotpot, spicy skewers, and roadside barbecue stalls outside school.

“Secret pork trotters, stir-fried beef, endless grilled skewers, beer, ah,” she smacked her lips, bending to gather wood. “Daydreams, just daydreams. Ah, why am I stuck in a woman’s body? I’d rather find a few pretty girls and live comfortably! I’m drunk, I’m drunk!”

Wu Yueling collected a pile of dry branches, hoisted them onto the mountain path, and hummed her favorite pop songs. The bleak northern wind swept through the forest, but she halted and fell silent.

“Well, well, young lady, fancy meeting you here!”

Wu Yueling saw Cui Miao blocking the path, accompanied by a mysterious figure with a bamboo hat. She sensed danger and cursed inwardly.

“Stalker! Pervert! Lunatic! Unbelievable!” Wu Yueling dropped the firewood, scattering it across the ground.

“Huh? What?” Cui Miao stared at Wu Yueling, unable to grasp her meaning beyond ‘unbelievable.’

“It means,” Wu Yueling counted on her fingers, “you’re an idiot, you’re an idiot, you’re an idiot—three times for emphasis!”

Now Cui Miao understood—she had called him an idiot. Unbearable! “Wretch, you dare insult me! Yuchi Tuo, seize her! I’ll strip her, hang her from a tree, and kill her!”

Wu Yueling narrowed her eyes, her hands already drawing the ebony rose-patterned revolvers at her waist, aiming at the man in the bamboo hat. “One step forward, and you die!”

Yuchi Tuo, poised to advance, halted upon hearing her confident warning, alertly scanning the surroundings. He failed to notice the two revolvers in Wu Yueling’s hands.

Cui Miao, seeing Yuchi Tuo hesitate, grew anxious. “Afraid of a woman? Aren’t you a top-tier fighter? If you can’t handle a woman, don’t bother staying in our Cui... family... grrk—”

Wu Yueling watched as Yuchi Tuo tossed aside his bamboo hat, then glared fiercely at Cui Miao, silencing him, and turned his gaze toward her. Wu Yueling steadied her breathing, unfazed by his aura, looking at him with a hint of mockery, as if he were a naïve child.

Suddenly, a gunshot thundered like a storm overhead, echoing through the mountains and startling the birds from their nests. Wu Yueling strode forward, looked at Cui Miao, who sat trembling and wetting himself, legs splayed on the ground, and stepped over Yuchi Tuo, who lay gasping on the grass. Lifting her skirts, she stomped on Cui Miao’s groin, cursing with each step, “That’s for being vile! For your arrogance! For ruining innocent women’s lives!”