The gap is too big: 118

  Zhen Ming was speechless for a moment, seeing that he couldn't avoid it, and smiled as he greeted him: "Brother Li, it's been several days since we last met, you look more majestic than ever, I almost didn't recognize you."

  Li Jing indeed saw that Zhen Mingshu was in a difficult situation, and he couldn't help but feel great joy. He jumped into the pool where Zhen Mingshu was sitting and sat down beside him. Looking around at the people staring at him with strange expressions, he shouted loudly: "Haven't you ever seen men bathing? What are you looking at?"

  The man who had his teeth knocked out by him slunk away with a towel wrapped around his head, slipping out of the bathhouse.

  Li Jing's rough and overbearing demeanor caused the other men around him to avert their gazes, not daring to look at him again. However, there were some women who instead looked at him with increasing intensity, their eyes shining with admiration, casting flirtatious glances his way.

  It's a pity that I was so wrong about this era. The women of this era are not conservative at all.

  But Li Jing indeed has the capital to make women stare at him without blinking, especially when looking closely.

  "Zhen brothers, how did you end up here?"

  "To be honest, I'm actually in the middle of fleeing and just happened to pass by here to take a short rest. I didn't expect to run into you, Brother Li."

  Zhen Ming smiled wryly, her eyes passing over Li Jing's shoulder to gaze at Zhang Shi in the adjacent VIP suite pool. At this moment, she was sitting in the pool, not showing much panic, wrapping a towel around her body, ignoring others' gazes, and washing her hair by herself.

  Li Jing's expression changed to one of sudden realization, and he didn't ask any more questions. In this chaotic era, heroes falling on hard times was nothing out of the ordinary. Following his gaze, a burst of dazzling light exploded in his eyes, and he turned back to shout at him:

  "Zhen brothers, a man should be straightforward and not sneak around. If you like someone, just tell them directly and ask about their family background. If they are not married, prepare a generous dowry and propose to her properly. If she is already married, don't harbor any further feelings for her, as that would be disrespecting the other person's marriage. If you truly love her and can't live without her, it's better to take bold action and win her over rather than hiding in the shadows with ulterior motives. As long as you genuinely love and care for her, being a real man is not a bad thing!"

  Li Jing's voice was loud and powerful, but what he said was the crime of abducting good family women, and he was still self-righteous and proud. When it reached Zhang Shi's ears next door, although she pretended to be deaf to outside affairs, her face became more and more rosy, making her look as beautiful and charming as a lotus flower out of water.

  Zhen Ming was so frustrated that he couldn't help but cry and laugh at the same time, just as he was about to explain. But before he could even open his mouth, Li Jing turned around and loudly asked Zhang Shi: "I don't know which family's young lady is sitting across from us, has she been promised to marry someone? My brother has taken a liking to you, although my brother may not be the most handsome man, his character is top-notch, one of the best in the world. It's rare for you two to meet today, and after today, who knows when you'll meet again? If you're interested, don't worry too much about worldly etiquette, it's all up to you, miss!"

  Zhen Ming was shocked by Li Jing's words and felt like he had been struck by lightning, his mind reeling with the unexpected turn of events. Li Jing's words and actions were always unpredictable and astonishing.

  If he really lets him be the matchmaker, he will probably end up being rejected.

  However, Zhang's reaction made him extremely surprised.

  Zhang's family, who had always been shy and timid, heard Li Jing's words and turned around, boldly looking at Li Jing with a smile: "If someone has excellent character, they will definitely be surrounded by admirers. As a humble woman, I wouldn't dare to take someone else's love away. Instead, I'd rather give up and retreat, not wanting to disappoint the gentleman's good intentions. Please forgive me."

  Li Jing burst out laughing and turned to Zhen Mingshu, saying: "Brother Zhen, it seems you've given up on this idea for the better. I think this young lady is no ordinary woman, and an average man can't match her. As they say, a forced marriage is not sweet. Why don't I introduce you to some other women another day? Although they may not be as good as her, they are also rare beauties."

  Zhen Ming was thoroughly speechless towards Li Jing.

  So this is the legendary Li Jing, who is far from what he imagined.

  ……

  Sitting in the wine house opposite Yikuan Inn.

  "Haha, I see!"

  Li Jing burst out laughing after hearing the whole story, while Zhang Shi sat opposite him with a flushed face.

  "Miss Zhang, Li Mou thirteen from the army, has always been reckless and accustomed to doing things, rarely dealing with ordinary people. Just now, suddenly offending you, please don't take offense in front of Zhen brothers. It turns out that Miss Zhang is the person Zhen brother has been looking for all along, no wonder he would sneak into the Luhe dock at night to find that sale contract for you."

  Zhang's eyes were filled with doubt as she looked at Zhen Mingxu, he had never told her about this before.

  Li Jing saw her expression and was shocked: "Doesn't Zhang know?"

  Then, regardless of whether Zhenming was willing or not, he recounted the events of that night in detail. When it came to the part where they had no choice but to keep the dozen or so women who were kidnapped by the Salt Gang on the boat, a hint of sadness flashed across Zhang's eyes, and she fell silent.

  Li Jing saw her expression and knew what she was thinking. He sighed and said, "The court is corrupt, the emperor is foolish, and the world is in a difficult situation. This kind of thing cannot be changed by me or just one person like Zhen brother. Even if there were no Salt Gang, other gangs would still intervene. I've seen too many things like this, which is why I advised Zhen brother not to get involved in other people's business and make unnecessary trouble."

  Zhen Ming was distressed to see Zhang Shi's emotional injury, and didn't want to make her feel even more depressed when she was still hurt. He changed the subject and asked: "How did Brother Li end up here?"

  Li Jing smiled and replied, "It's a long story. I was originally the magistrate of Maiyuan County, and this time I came to Luoyang from the south with the intention of risking my life to intercept the imperial carriage and report the treason of the Li family father and son in Jinyang. Unexpectedly, they were on guard against me, framed me, and posted a wanted notice for me. I took a boat south and was recognized by the salt gang, who ambushed and captured me, imprisoning me in their warehouse for over a month. That day, I was rescued by the Zhen brothers and came to this Yichuan inn's hot spring to recover from my injuries for a few days. After recovering, I planned to head to Chang'an, but unexpectedly ran into you here."

  "Li family father and son? Are you referring to Li Yuan and his sons?"

  Although he didn't learn much about history, he also knew a thing or two about Li Yuan and Li Shimin, the creators of China's prosperous Tang Dynasty. What he couldn't understand was that wasn't Li Jing Li Shimin's first brave general in history? Why did he want to report Li's father and son instead?

  "It's them." Li Jing looked surprised, "Brother Zhen, don't you know them?"

  Zhen Ming's suspicions grew as he wondered if this man was indeed the Li Jing of history, or just a namesake. He smiled and asked: "Since the imperial court is dark and unjust, why would Brother Li want to report the Li family father and son? Wouldn't that be helping tyranny?"