Ninety-eight

Who is Zhang Zhong? He is the head of a prestigious family, having served as the clan leader for many years. Nothing escapes his ears. As Zhang Xue finished speaking, Zhang Zhong immediately sensed a trace of reluctance in his daughter’s tone.

“What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you think your old man is too naggy,” he said.

“No, not at all,” Zhang Xue replied, playfully sticking out her tongue in a coquettish manner.

“Since you were little, whenever you lie, you stick out your tongue. And yet you say you didn’t,” Zhang Zhong scolded, giving her a stern look. “You think you can hide things from your father? I know I’m strict sometimes, but it’s all for your own good. You’re my only child; even if I had a son, I wouldn’t treat you any differently.” His face clouded over with sorrow at the thought, his heart aching faintly each time he mentioned it.

Seeing her father like this, Zhang Xue quickly stood up and apologized. “Daddy, I’m sorry. Your daughter has been unfilial and caused you worry. I promise I won’t be mischievous anymore.”

“All right, all right,” Zhang Zhong waved his hand. “It’s fine. Just don’t leave home silently on your own anymore. From now on, I’ll agree to anything you want. I won’t pressure you anymore, and I’ll even allow you to go out, as long as you have company.”

“Really, Dad?” Zhang Xue grabbed his arm excitedly, her eyes shining with joy.

“Of course, it’s true. Do you think your father is a man of empty promises?” Zhang Zhong smiled, feeling satisfied at her happiness.

“Of course not! My dad is the most trustworthy man in the world,” Zhang Xue said proudly, her head held high.

Just as the father and daughter were enjoying this warm moment, a voice came from outside the door. “Master, Uncle Zhang has arrived.”

Zhang Zhong was still in high spirits and didn’t bother to turn around. “Let him come in.”

Uncle Zhang entered and saw the beaming smile on Zhang Zhong’s face. He felt deeply relieved. Uncle Zhang had watched Zhang Zhong grow up; since he became clan leader, he had never seen such a genuine smile from him. It was obvious that the father and daughter had a good conversation.

“Master, I’ve interrogated the suspected kidnapper. He’s not a criminal but an employee at Zhang’s Distillery,” Uncle Zhang said from behind Zhang Zhong.

“Oh?” Zhang Zhong turned his head, puzzled. “Are you sure? How can you be certain he’s really an employee at Zhang’s Distillery?”

“Well, Master, I heard that the distillery recently hired a new worker. Besides, this young man even called out the name of the distillery manager, Zhang Bao. I think it’s true,” Uncle Zhang respectfully replied.

“What are you talking about, Dad?” Zhang Xue asked curiously. Still buzzing from the joy of newfound freedom, she hadn’t yet realized that the man Uncle Zhang referred to was Wang Bo.

“He’s the young man who was captured with you,” Zhang Zhong said casually.

“What did you do to him? Didn’t I tell them to treat Wang Bo well? How did he become a kidnapper?” Hearing it was Wang Bo, Zhang Xue’s expression turned anxious as she hurriedly defended him.

“What’s going on?” Zhang Zhong looked at his daughter in confusion.

“Wang Bo is a good person. You mustn’t wrong him,” Zhang Xue clutched her father’s sleeve urgently. “He isn’t a kidnapper. When I got lost in the market today, it was thanks to Wang Bo that I found my way home.”

“He’s a stranger to you. Why would he go to such lengths to bring you home?” Zhang Zhong pressed.

“We’ve known each other for a long time. Don’t you remember the time I went to Zhang Family Fort? That’s when I first met Wang Bo. I thought I’d never see him again after he left, but who would have expected to meet him again in Zhengding City?” The more Zhang Xue thought about their connection, the more convinced she became of their fate. Her smile grew even brighter. Yet Zhang Zhong’s face darkened, and he shot Uncle Zhang a sharp glare.

“Since he’s your friend and an employee at Zhang’s Distillery, have Zhang Bao come to verify the truth,” Zhang Zhong instructed.

“Yes, Master. I will handle it immediately,” Uncle Zhang said, then turned and left. Outside, he shook his head and sighed deeply.

After Uncle Zhang left, Zhang Zhong said to his daughter, “All right, Xue’er, you should go rest in your room. I have some matters to attend to.”

“All right, Dad. Your daughter will take her leave,” Zhang Xue said, turning to leave. Before stepping out, she turned back and said, “Dad, you must thank Wang Bo properly. He really helped me a lot.”

“Mm, I know,” Zhang Zhong said affectionately, watching her leave. Once alone, he sank into deep thought.

Zhang Bao once again stood outside the door, glancing around. He had lost count of how many times he had come here to wait. Rubbing his hands nervously, he muttered to himself, “Why hasn’t Xiao Bo returned yet? It’s already this late. He should have come back. Could something have happened to him?”

Seeing Zhang Bao’s worried expression, Li Jin felt a pang of discomfort. Before Wang Bo came, Zhang Bao treated him like a son. But ever since Wang Bo arrived, everything changed. Li Jin often thought that it would be best if Wang Bo met an unfortunate fate.

While Li Jin was still fantasizing about Wang Bo’s demise, Zhang Bao suddenly turned to him. “A Jin, why don’t you go out and find Xiao Bo?”

“Ah, he’s not a child. There’s no need for that,” Li Jin replied reluctantly. The idea of looking for Wang Bo was the last thing he wanted.

Zhang Zhong was aware of Li Jin’s thoughts and shook his head helplessly. “If you won’t go, then I will.” Zhang Bao snorted coldly, making Li Jin shiver. Before Zhang Bao could step out, a servant from the Zhang household appeared before him.

“Manager, are you going out?” the servant asked.

“Yes. One of my workers has been out for a long time and hasn’t returned. I’m worried something might have happened, so I want to go look for him. Do you have something to tell me?” Zhang Bao looked at the servant with curiosity. He was quite familiar with this servant, who was responsible for communicating with him. But it wasn’t his day to work, so why was he here now?

The servant smiled broadly. “Manager, you should send someone else. The master has summoned you. You must see him immediately.”

“The family head wants to see me?” Zhang Bao was puzzled. “Did he say what about?”

“Uncle Zhang just said to come get you, nothing else. You know, we servants just obey orders and don’t speculate. Uncle Zhang also said you must hurry, not a moment to lose.”

Seeing the servant’s determined expression, Zhang Bao hesitated. “Is it really that urgent?”

“Of course, Manager. Do you think I’d lie? If it weren’t urgent, I wouldn’t have come at this hour.”

Zhang Bao remained silent but uncertain. “Then—”

“Don’t hesitate. You still have a worker here. Let him go look instead,” the servant pointed at Li Jin.

Zhang Bao looked bitter. If Li Jin were willing, he wouldn’t have to go himself.

Li Jin, who had no desire to look for Wang Bo, looked even more displeased upon hearing this. Suddenly, a light went on in his mind. “If the uncle-in-law goes searching for Wang Bo, with his persistence, he won’t give up until he finds him. Since he’s going out, I can pretend to help him but actually won’t look. That should work.” Thinking this through, Li Jin felt confident about his plan.

“Uncle-in-law, you go ahead. I’ll help you find Wang Bo,” Li Jin said to the hesitant Zhang Bao.

Zhang Bao looked at Li Jin uncertainly, not knowing what he was up to. But Zhang Bao was truly anxious; otherwise, he wouldn’t have failed to read Li Jin’s intentions.

“Since he’s willing to help, Manager, you’d better come with me. If you’re late, the family head will be displeased,” the Zhang household servant urged.

Zhang Bao had no choice but to agree. “All right, let’s go.” Then he turned and glared fiercely at Li Jin. “You must find Xiao Bo. If not, you’ll answer to me, understand?”

“Y-yes,” Li Jin was startled, trembling as he replied.

“Hmph.” Zhang Bao shot him a sharp look and strode off with the servant.

Watching Zhang Bao leave, Li Jin’s feelings were conflicted. Should he go or not? Going meant reluctance, but not going would be hard to explain after Zhang Bao’s warning. He cursed himself for speaking up earlier. “What should I do now?” Standing at the distillery’s entrance, he felt torn.

Zhang Zhong hurried toward the Zhang mansion with the servant. They spoke little—one was anxious, the other distracted.

At the mansion, Uncle Zhang paced anxiously outside the gate. When he saw the servant finally arriving with Zhang Bao, he hurried over. “Useless servant, why are you so late?”

The servant said nothing, wearing a bitter expression. Looking between Uncle Zhang and Zhang Bao, he thought, “Both are masters here, and I’m just a servant. Who dares to offend either?” He lowered his head silently.

Uncle Zhang’s temper flared. Everyone in the Zhang family respected his seniority, yet this lowly servant dared to ignore him. Just as he was about to scold him, Zhang Bao spoke quickly.

“This is my fault, not the servant’s. I’ve been preoccupied and distracted, causing the delay. Please calm down, Uncle Zhang. For my sake, let it go this time.” He bowed respectfully to Uncle Zhang.

Uncle Zhang looked at Zhang Bao, biting back a scolding. Then he glared at the servant and said, “You’re lucky this time. Be more alert next time. If there’s a next time, there will be no mercy.”

“Yes, yes, I won’t dare again,” the servant said hurriedly, relieved. He had braced himself for punishment, even family penalties. He recalled how another servant was severely beaten for a mistake and had lain bedridden for a month, making him tremble with fear.

“All right, you may go now. This is no longer your concern,” Uncle Zhang waved him off.

“Yes, I’m going now,” the servant replied quickly and left.

“Wait,” Uncle Zhang called out as the servant turned to leave, startling him. “Don’t you know any manners?”

“Oh!” The servant suddenly realized he had been focused only on avoiding punishment and had forgotten that Zhang Bao was the one protecting him. He hurriedly thanked Zhang Bao. “Thank you, Manager Zhang. Thank you.”

“All right, go ahead. This is none of your business now,” Zhang Bao said.

“Understood,” the servant bowed and left.

Once the servant was gone, Zhang Bao urgently asked Uncle Zhang, “May I ask what the family head wanted to see me about?”

Uncle Zhang stared at Zhang Bao seriously. “Have you been taking care of a worker named Wang Bo?”

“Xiao Bo?” Hearing the name, Zhang Bao was taken aback, his expression uneasy. He stepped forward quickly and grabbed Uncle Zhang’s arm. “Do you have news of Xiao Bo?”

Ignoring Zhang Bao’s strange behavior, Uncle Zhang pressed on solemnly. “Answer me honestly.”

“Yes, I did hire a worker named Wang Bo. Tell me, has something happened to him?” Zhang Bao’s face was anxious as he held onto Uncle Zhang’s sleeve, fearing the worst.

“Since it’s true, then it’s easier to handle,” Uncle Zhang said, visibly relieved. His expression softened from the earlier severity.

“Do you know where Xiao Bo is?” Zhang Bao was too anxious to hear anything else.

“All right, let go of me. I can’t take you to see him if you keep holding on like that,” Uncle Zhang said with a grin as Zhang Bao released him.

“Oh, sorry,” Zhang Bao realized his impetuousness and quickly let go. “Is Xiao Bo all right?”

“If he weren’t, would I be talking to you so calmly? He’s at the Zhang mansion right now. Go see the family head first, then I’ll take you to him.” Uncle Zhang gave Zhang Bao a reassuring look. “And you, as the manager, shouldn’t behave so unsteadily.”

“Understood, Manager. Understood,” Zhang Bao said obediently, nodding like a well-behaved child.

“All right, whatever you need to say, wait until after you meet the family head. He’s waiting for you in the study,” Uncle Zhang said, urging him on.

“What about Xiao Bo?” Zhang Bao hesitated, feeling they had already wasted much time. Still, he was reluctant until he saw Wang Bo.

Uncle Zhang smiled warmly at Zhang Bao. “What, afraid I’ll bully the boy? Don’t worry. You’ll see a lively, vigorous Xiao Wang Bo soon.”

“Thank you, Manager. Thank you,” Zhang Bao bowed repeatedly.

“All right, my dear manager. If you keep stalling, the family head will be angry. Then I can’t guarantee Xiao Bo’s safety,” Uncle Zhang warned.

“All right, I’ll see the family head right away,” Zhang Bao agreed, clearly nervous over the matter concerning Wang Bo.

Watching Zhang Bao’s departing figure, Uncle Zhang shook his head with a smile. To think he could make such a composed manager so anxious—Wang Bo must really have some charm. With that thought, Uncle Zhang turned and headed toward where Wang Bo was being held.