15

Unexpectedly for Zhou Chuyu, a long time had passed but his father, Zhou Huai'an's anger didn't have subsided. Holding a club in hand regardless of whether there were the guest present, Zhou Huai'an shouted to Zhou Chuyu:

"Kneel down, you beast. You didn't even give a word to anyone, just left a note and ran away. Never mind that we had searched for two or three days but your mother and your little mother fainted on the spot and lay in bed for several days. You're just a child who knows nothing but has run away from home. I've never scolded you for how mischievous you are. But now, you dare to escape from home. If something happens to you, how will we keep alive? Today it is impossible for you to escape this beating."

Nie Huanzhang had never experienced family life and didn't know how to handle this situation. However, one thing he knew and was determined to do was not to let the club fall on Zhou Chuyu. So he nervously watched the scene, not daring to say a word. When he saw Zhou Chuyu looking at his father's club about to fall, he suddenly stood up, shouting loudly as he ran:

"Mom, help! Come to save me. Dad wants to beat Wangshi to death, Mom."

He saw Nie Huanzhang coming to protect him and immediately ran behind him, saying, "Dad, don't beat me in front of my friend. If you do, it'll be very embarrassing for me and it will also make our family appear impolite in front of the guest."

"Sorry, Mr. Nie. Please don't stop me. This beast has been spoiled by his mothers and siblings so that his action is so lawlessly. If it weren't lucky for him to meet you, in case something happens, how will his mothers and I survive?"

"Dad, stop it please! Don't beat him. Please give Chuyu another chance. Please! He is just a child."

Zhou Chuqin said, kneeling down an Zhou Chuqi also knelt down.

Zhou Chuyu hid behind Nie Huanzhang, peeking out and addressing Zhou Huai'an:

"Dad, if you beat me, my mom will be so upset that she might be faint in anger. Then you'll also be in trouble or even my mom will ignore you for several days. At that time you have to cost a lot of money for my mom's happy. Moreover, if you injure me, I won't be able to participate in the imperial examination and your regret will be irreparable. My zi 'Wangshi' you gave me will be ruined." 

Nie Huanzhang wanted to laugh upon hearing this, thinking: Why is he so adorable!

Sure enough, footsteps were heard from outside and it wasn't just one person. A woman's voice could be heard:

"My master, stop it please! Please don't beat him! He is still a child. What if you hurt him? My master, stop it!"

Accompanied by this voice, the crying was from another woman. Soon, several maids escorted an older woman and a slightly younger woman into the room. As the slightly younger woman entered, wiping away tears, she also knelt down. Upon seeing them, Zhou Chuyu immediately walked out from behind Nie Huanzhang, rushing into the arms of the older woman and exclaimed:

"Mom, my dad is going to beat me to death and it hurts a lot."

Nie Huanzhang struggled to contain his laughter, finding this situation amusing. Even before the beating began, a complain had already been lodged. He lowered his head, trying to suppress his amusement, thinking: Actually your dad had no chance to beat you but you had reported to your mom. 

Since there were women present, he felt it was impolite to raise his head and look around so he kept his head down. This action was noticed by everyone present except Zhou Chuyu

Mrs. Zhou embraced Zhou Chuyu, patting him gently and said:

"My boy, my baby! With Mom here, don't be afraid. Mom won't let your dad beat you." then she turned to Zhou Huai'an and said, "How could you be so heartless, using such a thick stick to beat Chuyu? How you are so cruel! You know he's naturally afraid of pain. If you beat him, he will cry for days. If you don't care, it's we to comfort him. Besides, there is the guest here. Is this how you treat the guest like this?"

After saying this, she forcefully took the stick from Zhou Huai'an and handed it to Zhou Chuqi. Zhou Huai'an glared at Zhou Chuyu and quickly apologized to Nie Huanzhang, saying:

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Nie, for letting you witness this."

Mrs Zhou added, bowing deeply to Nie Huanzhang:

"Yes, we apologize for the inconvenience. But we must thank Mr. Nie to protect Chuyu. Protecting him is like protecting our entire family."

Nie Huanzhang quickly bowed deeply and said:

"Please, Mr.&Mrs. Zhou, there is no need for such formalities. It's truly an honor to have met such a brother as Wangshi."

Zhou Huai'an instructed:

"Ma'am, please prepare a room for Mr. Nie. Chuqin, make the necessary arrangements and properly thank Mr. Nie."

"Don't worry, my master! Chuqin, tell your wife to get ready in the kitchen. I'll go and cook a couple dishes for Mr. Nie."

Zhou Chuyu said happily:

"Mom, let Huanzhang stay in my yard. No need for any preparations. He can use mine."

"Alright, let your little mom arrange it."

Because Nie Huanzhang was a young person, a screen was placed between the men and women's seating areas. After a satisfying meal, they began to have chat each other. Zhou Huai'an asked:

"Mr. Nie, where is your hometown? What do you do for a living normally?"

Nie Huanzhang replied:

"Oh, I'm an orphan. I grew up and studied in Qingyun Mountain. Now I'm involved in business for living."

Chuqin asked:

"Mr. Nie is also in business. I wonder what kind of business you're involved in?"

Nie Huanzhang replied:

"I do a bit of everything with a few friends."

Zhou Chuyu looked a bit nervous, glancing at Nie Huanzhang who reassured him with a comforting smile. Zhou Chuqin continued to inquire:

"I wonder where Mr. Nie conducts his business."

Nie Huanzhang explained:

"Oh, I mainly engage in both domestic and international trade. I buy goods from the interior and sell them abroad, then buy from abroad and sell them in the interior, making a profit from the price difference. As you know the people from abroad like our tea, china, silk and so on and our people also like the goods from abroad."

Zhou Huai'an commented:

"That's a broader scale than our family. We only sell our household items."

Nie Huanzhang elaborated:

"Doing such business is safe and secure. In trades like ours, even though the profits are higher, it's also very dangerous. Besides the bandits between the interior and exterior, there are times when those barbarians from the different clans in Huichun Tribe, especially the poorer ones, might forcibly seize goods. Once that happens, it's a total loss and we just have to accept our misfortune. And that's the better outcome; some clans even resort to killing."

Mrs. Zhou exclaimed:

"Oh, my god! That sounds incredibly dangerous."

Nie Huanzhang chuckled and said:

"Fortunately, if they try to harm us, we'll fight back."

Zhou Xiang was sitting another side of the screen and asked:

"Mr. Nie, do you have ever killed anyone?"

Nie Huanzhang smiled without answering her question. The Zhou family didn't view his silence as a sign of disrespect. Throughout the discussion, Zhou Chuyu never asked Nie Huanzhang about this matter. He just continued to pester him as usual, awaiting the results of his own examination. 

Zhou Chuyu inquired:

"Ge, I know you won't stay at my home for a long time. After my examination results come out, you'll definitely leave. I wanted to ask where you will go."

Nie Huanzhang gently patted Zhou Chuyu's head and said:

"Wangshi, I really want to stay a few more days with you but..."

Zhou Chuyu interrupted him:

"I see. I just want to know where you are going. If I know, then I'll know whether you're in danger or not."

Nie Huanzhang explained:

"I can go anywhere and continue on my journey like Liangzhou and Huichun as usual. But first I need to go and visit Yue before leaving to Liangzhou city."

Zhou Chuyu asked:

"Ge, when will you come back and visit me again?"

Nie Huanzhang promised:

"Well, I'll try to visit you every time I come back, okay? I promise you. I'll definitely come when you take the provincial examination and be the top scorer."

Zhou Chuyu lowered his head and said sadly:

"Ge, will you forget me in the future? I know, with some friends, if you don't stay in touch for a long time, the relationship fades until it's completely lost. Ge, I'm afraid. Maybe some day you'll never talk to me anymore."

After speaking, he hugged Nie Huanzhang tightly, burying his head in his chest. Nie Huanzhang also embraced him and said:

"Don't be afraid. I will never forget you. I will always think of you and come to see you often. Besides, I still need to come and get your Ping'an Fu. My money pouch is almost full of them now so with your Ping'an Fu, I'll be safe. Will that make you feel at ease?"

"Yeah, I'll go to pray for you on the first and fifteenth of each month. I'll ask my little mom to make a few more money pouches specifically for holding Ping'an Fu so when you come to see me, I can have them ready for blessing you. Also, Chuqin asked you to help open up the trade route to Huichun. If it can be done, great but don't force you to do this if not. He just wants to explore more opportunities."

Nie Huanzhang replied:

"I see so I just mentioned to him whether it works or not, but I don't have promised him anything."