Realm-Hopping Martial Master

One of the gang members nearby, quick on his feet, hurried over to massage Zhao Tai’s shoulders and flattered, "Brother Zhao, you’re really honoring him too much. It’s his good fortune to crawl between your legs. Is that a place just anyone is worthy of crawling through? A few days ago, I saw a courtesan at Skylark Square—now *she* had style! *She’s* the kind who’s fit to crawl under your pants, Brother Zhao."

"Dammit! I tell you guys to read more books, but you never listen. The women at Skylark Square aren’t just any courtesans. That place is a gold melting cave! If you don’t have a hefty sum of silver on you, you can’t even afford tea there," Zhao Tai said, looking at the clueless gang members surrounding him. He felt quite pleased with himself and added with pride, "Of course, a place like that... I’ve been there once."

"Ah, Brother Zhao is truly wise and valiant! I don’t have your abilities, Brother. I’m still a novice. I’ve just been thinking of saving up some money to have some fun in the alleys. Which courtesan is good? Please, Brother Zhao, give me some guidance."

"Tch, we’re all brothers here, what’s there to guide? There’s a courtesan I know in Bicao Lane, though it’s been a while, and I’ve grown a bit tired of her. Come with me later; I’ll take you, a greenhorn, to experience what ’two dragons playing with a pearl’ is like."

"Brother Zhao, you’re so generous! But I’m on duty at the gambling den this afternoon. I won’t be able to get over there until after the Hour of Xu," the member said.

"Dammit, going to the gambling den is going to the gambling den. What’s this ’on duty’ crap? You think you’re on the government’s payroll? Fine, I’ll head over later too. It’s the third room from the end in Bicao Lane. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you," Zhao Tai said.

The members of the Green Snake Gang roared with laughter, completely oblivious to what was happening behind them.

Jiang Shu, whom Old Man Li had pulled out of the crowd, stood to the side. He lingered for a good while, listening intently until he had heard every word of their conversation.

"Little Brother Jiang, don’t take Boss Zhao’s words to heart today. Even if you do, don’t let it show on your face. Tomorrow, just go with this old man to sweep the floors and empty the chamber pots in the hall. This old man knows you’re a scholar and can’t do such demeaning work. I’ll do it. You just need to make an appearance. If Boss Zhao asks, just say you were the one who emptied the chamber pots," Old Man Li said, tugging at Jiang Shu’s sleeve and whispering while rubbing his own calves.

He had fled from a famine in another county. He’d only taken a nap on the road, but when he woke up, his daughter was gone.

As for his son, he had been lost long before the famine even began...