Chapter Seven Distance

  In the following days, Su Tang practiced internal energy when he was in a good mood, and teased Xiao Ke'er or strolled around the castle when he was tired. His life was very leisurely.

  However, the gaze of everyone in the fort towards Su Tang had undergone some changes, because what happened that day had already spread. Zhu'er ordered two people who stole the secret venison to be tied to a wooden stake, and then asked someone to bring a pig-killing knife, preparing to disembowel them, scaring the two guys into incontinence, and honestly confessing to the theft, as well as some other minor misdeeds.

  Kobayakawa's castle is located in a remote area, and compared to other places, the living environment is relatively quiet and peaceful. However, if someone steals something, they will be disembowelled, which is extremely cruel... Is this still the kind-hearted young master from before?

  Some people are worried, some are timid, and naturally there are also those who are delighted, especially the family servants who have always looked up to Zhu'er. Behind their backs, they haven't stopped sighing with emotion, saying that the young master has finally grown up and has a few points of resemblance to his father's demeanor in his younger years.

  The eleven housekeepers of Xiaolinbao, led by Shangbin, who followed Su Tang's father Su Xiang to the battlefield in those years and lost an eye. After that, he was left in Xiaolinbao by Su Xiang to support his old age. Shangbin is strong and generous, with great prestige in the castle. It was because of him and the support of Changguan's family that Zhu'er grasped the power, otherwise, who would be willing to listen to a weak woman?

  Shang Bin was willing to obey Zhu'er's orders, on the one hand because Su Tang was somewhat incompetent and not diligent in his duties, and on the other hand because Madam had decreed before her death that both Zhu'er and Ke'er would become part of Master's household, and sooner or later they would be in charge, so listening to Zhu'er was proper.

  Interestingly, the former Su Tang was very annoyed with Shang Bin because Shang Bin often advised Su Tang to work hard on his martial arts skills, but Su Tang hated wielding swords and guns. At first, he could barely tolerate it, but eventually got fed up and drove Shang Bin out, not allowing him to set foot in the inner fortress again.

  Looking at the past from a brand new perspective, Su Tang found that he had done too many foolish things before, and Shang Bin was one of them. How could he like the useless Qian Biao, but reject the diligent and hardworking Shang Bin?

  I heard from Ke'er that after Shang Bin was driven out of the inner city, he drowned his sorrows in wine every day. Fortunately, Zhu'er knew what was good for him and increased the allowance given to Shang Bin instead of reducing it. Otherwise, due to the pressure of living, Shang Bin might have left Xiaolinbao long ago.

  Su Tang was well aware that if Shang Bin had been walking in the inner city, things would not have become so chaotic. Therefore, he should think of a way to repair his relationship with Shang Bin.

  On this day, Su Tang brought Ke'er to the martial arts training ground in Nei Bao. He had his own plan. If he went directly to find Shang Bin, it would be a bit abrupt and easy for people to suspect. First, he would get familiar with the other house servants, then casually mention Shang Bin, and someone would surely speak up for him. Then, he would have a strong feeling and bring the house servants to find Shang Bin, making it reasonable and justified.

  The servants were resting, one of them telling a story from who-knows-where. Su Tang tried to join in the fun and picked out a segment, telling a legend about a certain type of peach, but with much of the content altered. At first, it had some effect, but when he got to the part where the protagonist subdued several girls in the peach garden and then jumped into the tree to eat them, the servants all burst out laughing together.

  "What's wrong?" Su Tang felt inexplicably puzzled.

  "Young master is really good at joking, who would be such a fool?" A fifty-year-old old housekeeper replied with a smile: "Tie up a few girls and then go eat peaches... Hahaha..."

  "If it were me, I'd definitely pick two girls and take them home, hehe..." Another servant said with a raised eyebrow.

  "Yes, yes." The others nodded in agreement, apparently speaking their minds.

  "Don't be so noisy, Young Master hasn't finished speaking yet!" Ke'er shouted in discontent.

  Su Tang was so annoyed that he suddenly realized the farthest distance in the world wasn't about facing each other or loving or not, but rather this ideological gap.

  "You guys understand nothing!" The house servant who just told the story looked at his companions with a sarcastic gaze: "The young master was talking about a strong person of the Zong Shi level, do you think he would be like you, unable to move his legs when seeing a woman?"

  Su Tang was silent, he grew up here since childhood, and had hardly ever been outside, the farthest he had gone was to the county town, a complete country bumpkin, with little understanding of this world. The two words 'Zong Shi' suddenly stirred Su Tang's memories.

  A long time ago, when his father Su Xiang mentioned the Zong Shi, his face was always filled with reverence. They were a high and mighty group who could influence the course of the world, decide the life and death of countless people, and stir up storms that shook the entire continent, only to be calmed by their will.

  Su Tang suddenly felt suspicious, he wanted to live a comfortable life in Xiaolingbao, eating and drinking well for the rest of his life, far away from disputes, but was it possible?

  Father Su Xiang died on the battlefield, rights and obligations always coexist. As a castle owner, while enjoying the support of many farm households, he also had to perform an obligation, that is, military service.

  Once the duchy goes to war, Sutang must go to the front line. If he refuses or fails to arrive for other reasons, his qualification as the lord of the castle will be stripped by the duchy, and since he has no other brothers, Xiaolin Castle can only belong to others.

  To achieve one's ideals, unless there is no more fighting outside!

  What's the big deal about going outside?

  For a moment, Su Tang's mouth corner revealed a bitter smile. Before, he had lived very quietly, because he was not yet eighteen years old and had not reached the minimum age for military service. The rules of the country were also flexible and would not be too harsh. But how long could this quiet last?

  "It's been many days since we've seen Shang Mangzi, has he gone on a business trip with Chang Guan Jia?" Su Tang asked.

  The servants looked at each other in dismay, and the servant who had just told the story ventured to reply: "Young master, it was you who drove him out, wasn't it? You didn't allow him to set foot in the inner castle again. And you said... if you saw him again, you'd really make him blind..."

  "I was just saying a few angry words, and that blind guy actually believed it?" Su Tang said with a thick face: "Then... how has he been lately?"

  Upon hearing Su Tang's conciliatory tone, the servants became excited and the old servant replied: "Young Master, you still don't know what kind of person Shang Tou is? You drove him out without giving him a chance to explain, how could he be in the mood for anything else? He spends his days drinking and sleeping, he's almost ruined."

  "Yes, yes, Master's energy and spirit are all gone now. It's heartbreaking just to look at him." The other servants echoed in agreement.

  "It's all my fault." Su Tang slowly stood up and looked at the old servant: "You lead the way, accompany me to see Shang Mangzi."

  "Good." The old man Ding seemed very happy. Su Tang had already shown a repentant attitude, which also meant that Shang Tou was going to come back.

  With Ke'er and Laojia Ding just walking out of the inner city gate, they ran into a group of people. The leader was about the same age as Su Tang, but his attire was much more refined. The people behind him were all house slaves, surrounding him in front and back, giving off an aura of stars gathering around the moon.

  "Su, what a coincidence!" The young man at the front said with a smile.

  "Yú Míng Shēng?" Sū Táng furrowed his brow: "What brings you here?"

  "What's up?" The young man shook his head and said, "Aren't you just pretending not to know? Younger brother, have you forgotten how much money you owe me from the Black Wind Fortress? Actually... our relationship is so good, I really don't want to come collect from you, but even brothers need to settle accounts clearly. If not, I won't be able to explain myself to my old man at home, haha... I'm not like you, a lone wolf who can do whatever he wants. My family has many brothers and if something goes wrong, I'll have to step down in the future. I think you understand my difficulties..."

  "Liú Míng Shēng, what are you doing here again?" A furious voice came from inside the door, followed by Zhu'er's figure appearing at the entrance: "Are you ever going to be done?!"

  Zhu'er spoke as she walked out, intentionally or unintentionally blocking Su Tang behind her.

  "Little girl, I'm talking to your family's young master. What right do you have to interrupt? Get out of the way!" The young man shouted.

  "This is Xiao Lin Fort, not your Hei Feng Fort, you don't need to point fingers! Zhu Er's momentum increased: 'The one who should leave is you, get out, our Xiao Lin Fort doesn't welcome you!'"

  It seems that he didn't expect a maid to dare to confront him, so the young man was stunned for a moment, his face slowly turning gloomy: "A life for a life, a debt repaid in full, this is the way of heaven! Su Tang, it seems we should go to the county's court together to reason things out."

  "Go ahead and go, who are you trying to scare?" Zhu Er sneered: "But you're not qualified, you don't have the qualifications to sue our young master. Why don't you go back and ask your family's elders to come out? By the way, remember that the debt contract said it would be repaid after this autumn's harvest. Liu Ming Sheng, I know you've never had any manners, but I didn't expect you to be stupid to this extent. Do you understand what autumn harvest means? Do you need me to explain it to you?"

  That young man was scolded by Zhu Er, and he was so angry that he gritted his teeth, but he had no way to refute it, because the debt note indeed said that the account would be settled after the autumn harvest. Now he came to the door asking for money, which was unreasonable from the start.

  "It's still a few months away, and now you're rushing over to ask for money. Are you going crazy from poverty or something?!" Zhu Er pressed her advantage: "You don't have any money, do you?! Auntie can spare some small change for you, but do you think you can come here and act like a big shot? No way!"

  "Su Tang, are you just going to watch this shameless woman be so insolent?!" The young man finally couldn't bear it and shouted loudly.

  "It's all your own doing." Su Tang said calmly: "Listen to me for a moment, you can go now."

  Su Tang's response was unexpected. In the past, when Zhu Er had conflicts with outsiders, no matter who was right or wrong, Su Tang would always step forward to apologize and make amends. But this time, there was a hint of schadenfreude in his words.

  "Alright! Alright!" The young man took a deep breath, this was Xiaolin Fort, he didn't want to make things big, because the county's verdict would definitely be biased towards Su Tang. From another perspective, if Su Tang ran to Heifeng Fort to cause trouble, it would also be one-sided: "If you don't clear your debt after autumn harvest, don't blame us Liu family for being impolite! When Xiaolin Fort changes its owner...... hehe......"

  "When did the Liu family ever put on airs?" Zhu'er sneered, "Who doesn't know what's on the Liu family's mind? I'll give you a message to pass on to your elders: when eating, at least have some decorum, don't be too greedy like a starving stray dog that hasn't eaten in years, it's just laughable!"

  Zhu'er's last few words were too much, she didn't leave any room for herself, if the Su family fell, her fate could be imagined, however, it also indirectly proved Zhu'er's determination, as long as the fortress stood, the people in it would stand, and when the fortress fell, the people in it would fall, at most it was a matter of one rope, she didn't need any other future.