Volume 12 Chapter 02 On the Rail

As I gaze at the flowers on the eaves, I see ubiquitous signs of war in the capital. I melancholically gazed at the eves whilst uttering s.h.i.+fus insulting attempt at poetry.

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. I am Ming Feizhen, but you can just call me Coollord. Long-time no see. Time flies, hey? Its been a sprint from Nanjiang back to the capital and equally busy in between, so I really dont want to go there. Be free, you know? Be free. Dont shackle yourself with the past.

Like the rail and table on the top floor of Eight Deities Restaurant, there was a sadness in my heart that the clear and gentle breeze couldnt blow away. As I gazed at the people on the streets, they gazed back. Could you blame them for admiring my das.h.i.+ng appearance?

Aye, thanks for the shoe, sir. Glad to know you agree with me. Love you, too.

I had met my fair share of such friendly people. I had experienced everything one could experience in their life, so what could rustle my feathers? What could rustle my feathers you ask?

Throw him off!

Wait, wait, wait, wait! Ill become salted fish if you throw me over! I roared in a husky voice whilst grabbing onto the rails for dear life and trying to wrestle off seven big men holding me by my limbs. Dont be ras.h.!.+ Rashness is the devils sin!

The boss lady of Eight Deities Restaurant sitting in front of me had her usual friendly smile, but what she said was, Wait? Ming Feizhen, weve known each other for some years now, right? Over ten years if we count from the time your s.h.i.+fu first brought you to Nanjing, right?

Ehehe, yes, exactly. You were there for every step of my growth.

Exactly. Thats why I considered the yuzhu duck I raised a tribute when you insisted on eating it. I thought, Well, it mustve been a rough journey to come all this way just for it.

Your wisdom s.h.i.+nes again. It was rough.

I told you that you cant eat the duck I raised because it was a gift for someone, yet you still ate it, but I let you off since you looked tanner than before.

I wiped my eyes. You are too understanding. Life has been really tough.

She bent another extended finger. You then ate nine pots of braised pork shoulders in soy sauce, a hundred and eight small dishes, three roast pork and drank twenty bottles of osmanthus wine, resulting in my customers being so awestruck that they forgot to order. Im a tolerate woman, so I let it go, too. However, you cant b.l.o.o.d.y dine and das.h.!.+ Boys, throw him off!

Wait! Please, No! Sister-in-law! I really did forget to bring my wallet!

Yes, I had fought a dragon in an underground palace, beheaded a bandit leader hiding behind his army and sc.r.a.pped with adepts across the land, but I had no idea how to escape this predicament!

She swung down a butcher knife, sticking it into the wood right in front of my eyes. You eat me into closing shop and then tell me you dont have money. Cut the bullc.r.a.p, and tell me when Im getting my money!

Why was I in that situation, you ask? Because dining and das.h.i.+ng was predicated on being able to outrun your chaser. Thing was, I couldnt outrun them. You forget I couldnt use any martial arts skills now?

I poked my tongue out.

You think youre funny?! Eunuch him!

No, no, no, no, I was not poking my tongue out at you. It will be here soon! I swear on my life the money will be here in a sec! Mr. s.h.i.+, say something! What happened to our brotherhood?

Mr. s.h.i.+ timidly poked his head out from behind his wife and, in a barely-audible voiced, uttered, I

Mr. s.h.i.+s wife: Shut up!

Mr. s.h.i.+: Right away.

You! You and my s.h.i.+fu make men look bad! Take a page out of my book, wont you?!

Hahaha, Sister-in-law, you grow more and more beautiful by the day. Are you on some sort of special diet?

Dont haha me. Pay up.

I pulled the most intimidating face I could with all the saliva on my face. Sister-in-law, on account of our long friends.h.i.+p, please let me go for today!

Its precisely on your account of never paying in all these years that Im flared up right now!

Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Lets change the topic, okay?

I never paid? Oh, d.a.m.n

Enough. Cant pay? Throw him.

No! Dont!

Wait.

I looked in the direction of the voice to see a maiden whod wipe me off my feet without saying a word. Boss!

I knew I was right to wors.h.i.+p you!

I was worried the likes of Liu Yan picked up the pigeon I sent to Liu Shan Men for help; they were the sort of people to leave me for dead, after all.

Everyone stepped aside as Boss sauntered to me. Staring sternly, she a.s.serted, Hes mine. n.o.body is to throw him.

Boss, you the boss!

Pull him back in, ordered the boss lady. As she eyed me, she said, Ming Feizhen, you have your ways, huh? Whod expect someone of your calibre to have such a cool wife?

Hey, lady, mind your choice of words. I dont like what I hear. Does Boss look ugly or something?

Spare me the nonsense. You knew we had work today, yet you started this fiasco. I thought this place was a shady place when I read Bring money to Eight Deities Restaurant and came prepared to smash it, but it seems legit to me, Boss stated.

The boss lady crossed her arms. Of course its legit.

How much is the bill? Ill pay. Let him go.

The boss lady beamed. Thank you very much. His bill comes to a total of two thousand and four hundred taels.

Two thousand and four hundred?! Move. Ill throw him! Boss strode over and grabbed me.

I wrapped my arms around Boss waist as tight as I could. She was so much softer and smelt so much nicer than those burly men.

Boss proceeded to hammer me until I released her, then seized my collar. What the h.e.l.l did you eat, huh?! You eat the entire place?!

I I Its a long story

Mr. s.h.i.+ popped his out from behind his wife again to pull a face that read, Your wife bosses you around, too, p.u.s.s.y.

I will whoop your candy b.u.m!

Boss! Save me! Please!

Boss Lady: Its fine if you cant work the wok. You just have to reach into your pockets.

Smiling, Boss uttered through her white pearls. Ill pay!