IDWBE -Chapter 524 Shut Out

Lai Da, the chief steward of the Rongguo Mansion, had served that household for three or four generations as a servant. By the time it came to his son, Lai Shangrong, they spent a huge amount of money to buy him a magistrate’s post.

It was a classic case of “when one person attains the Way, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven.”

Lin Yi now had the same feeling.

Whether it was Su Yin or Luo Han, both had signed “lifetime contracts” with the Prince He Residence. Even if they had sons, daughters, grandsons, or granddaughters, they were still considered house-born servants, with no freedom.

Later, when Lin Yi abolished the buying and selling of people in Sanhe, people like Su Yin and Luo Han technically had only an employment relationship with the Prince He Residence.

After he entered Ankang City and revised the Liang legal code, that law was implemented throughout the entire Liang state.

Even inside the imperial palace—whether palace maids or eunuchs—their agreements with the Imperial Clan Court managed by the Twelfth Prince were the latest version of labor contracts.

However, most of the time these contracts were merely symbolic.

Whether imperial concubines in the palace or stewards in the Prince He Residence, they still held the power of life and death over these former “servants.”

And those eunuchs and maids were not so naive as to suddenly believe they were equals.

Su Yin was the same.

Even now he still regarded himself as a servant, never asking for higher wages, overtime pay, or even caring much whether he received his monthly pay at all. He had no awareness that he was a worker enjoying labor rights—he only hoped he wouldn’t suddenly be beaten to death without anyone to complain to.

Aside from holding a labor contract on paper, nothing had truly changed.

Whether he had “status” still depended entirely on Lin Yi, the boss of Prince He’s household.

That was why Lin Yi found it surprising that these people had become so influential outside the residence.

They were practically replicas of Lai Da.

“Your Highness is considerate toward us,” Jiang Chou said cautiously, unable to gauge the prince’s true meaning. “Otherwise we wouldn’t have any face outside. It’s all thanks to Your Highness.”

Lin Yi asked again, “So what does your son do now?”

Even after Jiang Chou’s explanation, Lin Yi still found it hard to believe.

Tang Jiyu wasn’t an ordinary person.

In modern terms, it would be like the son of a top leader’s bodyguard marrying the daughter of an industry tycoon.

It felt unrealistic.

“My son isn’t very capable,” Jiang Chou said softly. “He’s just a junior officer in the Military Police Office.”

Lin Yi smiled. “That’s already pretty good. He’s not even twenty yet, right? His future is bright.”

Jiang Chou cupped his fists. “I only hope he works harder, contributes more to Your Highness, and helps build our Liang state’s moderately prosperous society.”

“I was just asking casually,” Lin Yi said.

Squatting by the roots of a large tree, he squinted toward the distance and asked curiously, “Is there shade under that cliff over there?”

Jiang Chou instantly understood.

The prince’s fishing addiction had returned.

“Your Highness, that area is full of rocks and will easily snag fishing hooks. But nearby there’s a wild pond. The fishermen here all go out to sea, so that pond is ignored. I think it must be an excellent fishing spot. I’ll go prepare the bait now. After lunch we can head over and try for a full catch!”

Jiang Chou didn’t actually like fishing.

But serving beside Prince He without understanding fishing was impossible.

Lin Yi nodded. “The wind isn’t strong today and the temperature’s just right. Let’s go after lunch.”

“Yes.”

Seeing there were no further orders, Jiang Chou quickly left.

If he stayed any longer, he might go crazy.

After removing his sword and mixing bait, he headed to the open wild pond.

He scattered the bait near a patch of thick aquatic plants. While waiting, he used his large blade to kill a wild rabbit.

Feeling quite pleased, he wondered whether to roast it right there when he suddenly heard footsteps.

Looking up, he saw Su Yin approaching.

“You already finished cooking?” Jiang Chou asked in surprise.

Su Yin lifted his chin proudly. “The prince only likes a few dishes. I always keep the ingredients ready. With two apprentices helping, it’s done in no time. What’s there to be surprised about?”

Jiang Chou complained, “You bastard. We’ve been roughing it on this trip, and you never once made us something good to eat.”

Su Yin sighed. “Without the chief steward giving permission, who would dare?”

On this journey they had carried pots, pans, seasonings, live chickens, ducks—even live cattle and sheep.

But even when animals died along the road, they weren’t allowed to eat them.

Rules were rules.

They could only buy simple food on the road or hunt game and sprinkle a little salt.

In truth Su Yin could cook.

But he didn’t want to cook for a bunch of rough soldiers.

Unless Chief Steward Hong ordered it.

“So why come to me instead of showing your face before the prince?” Jiang Chou asked.

Su Yin chuckled, took the rabbit, and pulled out an oil-paper packet from his robe.

“Start the fire. I’ll make cumin roasted rabbit for you. Once you taste it, you’ll crave more.”

With a boning knife he skillfully skinned the rabbit in moments.

After Jiang Chou set up the fire, he saw Su Yin putting the rabbit straight over the flames without removing the organs or washing it.

“Hey! That’s a bit sloppy. At least wash it first!”

“You don’t understand,” Su Yin rolled his eyes. “It tastes better this way. You’re from the northern frontier too, right? Haven’t you eaten whole roasted lamb there?

“They roast it just like this—no gutting.”

Jiang Chou snorted. “Never seen that kind. If the sheep droppings are still in its stomach, what’s the point of eating it?”

“And there’s the dish called loach drilling into tofu,” Su Yin continued while turning the rabbit over the fire. “You heat the water and the live loaches burrow into the tofu themselves.”

Jiang Chou glanced sideways.

“You’re suddenly being so nice. I don’t trust it. Just say what you want. Neither of us are good people—no need to pretend.”

Su Yin sighed dramatically. “People say Brother Jiang hates evil and speaks directly. It’s true.”

He looked around cautiously.

Jiang Chou said impatiently, “Anyone around here could beat you in martial arts. If someone really wanted to spy on you, what good is looking around like that? Just spit it out.”

“Oh right, you’re a peak ninth-rank master,” Su Yin said with an oily grin. “If you say nobody’s around, then nobody’s around.”

His greasy face wrinkled into a friendly smile.

“The prince is always sympathetic to poor fellows like us. Just now he was even asking about our marriages?”

“Your martial arts might be weak, but your ears are sharp,” Jiang Chou said. “Careful they don’t rot off.”

Su Yin kept smiling. “Brother, I’m begging you. If it’s convenient, could you reveal a little?”

“Not convenient.”

Jiang Chou answered instantly.

Su Yin gritted his teeth. “Brother, I may only be a cook, but we work together and eat from the same pot. Can’t you give me that much face?”

Jiang Chou sneered. “Who do you think you are? Why should I give you face?”

“Fine,” Su Yin said bitterly.

He took out a thick stack of banknotes.

“Is this enough?”

Jiang Chou snatched them and stuffed them into his pocket.

“If you’d shown that earlier, we wouldn’t have wasted so many words. Don’t worry. I’ll tell you everything.”

He then repeated what Prince He had asked him—half true, half false.

As for the full truth?

Their friendship wasn’t that deep.

A mere cook not even at the fifth rank dared call him “brother”?

Where did he get the courage?

Su Yin listened nervously.

“The prince really…”

He trembled slightly.

“Brother, you’re not lying to me, right?”

Jiang Chou pulled the roasted rabbit toward himself with his blade and tore off a piece.

“I’m not lying. There’s nothing in it for me. But I have to say—your cooking really is good.”

Su Yin rubbed his round head anxiously.

“If I became in-laws with Huang Daoji, why would the prince be unhappy? That makes no sense.”

“I need to ask someone.”

“Ask who?” Jiang Chou grabbed him immediately. “You’re not going to confront the prince, are you?”

“Of course not!” Su Yin said loudly. “I’ll ask indirectly. I’m not stupid enough to ask directly.”

Jiang Chou forced him to sit down.

“Don’t be impulsive. When did I say the prince was unhappy about your marriage with Huang Daoji? What he meant was that you, Su Yin—the number-one chef of the Prince He Residence—how could your child’s marriage be so casual? The Huang family is the one climbing up to you!”

Su Yin shook his head. “That’s not what you said earlier.”

He wasn’t clever, but he wasn’t stupid either.

The Huang family climbing up to him?

Impossible.

The Huangs were suppliers—wealthy and with many relatives serving in the military and government.

The Su family came from servant origins. They couldn’t compare.

Their only advantage was Su Yin’s service in Prince He’s household.

If someday he entered the palace and became Chief of the Imperial Kitchen, he would officially be a government official.

Not just a despised cook anymore.

“You’re overthinking,” Jiang Chou said, regretting scaring him earlier. “Relax. Our prince is such a kind man, right?”

“Yes… the prince is kind,” Su Yin said.

But inwardly he disagreed.

Chief Steward Hong wasn’t kind at all.

Seeing him calm down a little, Jiang Chou handed him a piece of roasted rabbit.

“Here, try your own cooking. Not bad. I used to dislike cumin—it smelled strange. But with barbecue it’s actually pretty good. By the way, I heard you took a concubine?”

Su Yin panicked.

“Who’s spreading that nonsense?”

“Three wives and four concubines are normal for men,” Jiang Chou said casually. “Look at Zhu Rourong. Even with a fierce wife at home, he still refuses to give up.”

“My wife is virtuous. What’s there to fear?”

Su Yin shook his head.

“I’m not afraid—I just hate rumors. I did fancy a courtesan once, but she rejected me again and again. Ever read Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Even Zhuge Liang wasn’t invited that many times. So I gave up. As for Zhu Rourong, I didn’t know. Does he really have that much courage? His wife is not only fierce but also skilled in martial arts. He’d probably just get beaten.”

Jiang Chou laughed. “Of course he does. He went to Yuezhou with Jiang Dasheng looking for business and met a woman there. Thought it was true love and secretly brought her back. Right now his house must be in chaos.”

---

The sun was high.

On South City Street, Sun Chongde’s mother was watering the road with a horse cart when she saw Zhu Rourong walking quickly past, covering his face.

She shouted with laughter, “What happened? Got beaten again?”

Hearing this, Zhu Rourong ran even faster.

The women sweeping the street burst into louder laughter.

He wished he could crawl into a hole in the ground.

Turning a corner, he knocked hard on a door.

The door creaked open. Butcher Jiang poked his head out, looked around nervously, and blocked the entrance.

“What are you doing here?”

“I need to hide for a bit!” Zhu Rourong said urgently.

“Your wife knows this place well. She’ll find you soon,” Jiang said anxiously. “We’re brothers, but don’t drag me down. Go hide somewhere else.”

“Wait!”

Zhu Rourong held the door open.

“I can hide in your cellar.”

“No.”

Jiang shook his head firmly.

“I already risked enough helping you send your mistress outside the city. Don’t drag me down further.”

“You can’t abandon me!” Zhu Rourong cried.

Jiang replied, “Better you die than me. I can’t afford to provoke your wife. Go stay at an inn for a few days. When she calms down, come back.”

Zhu Rourong stomped angrily. “If inns would hide me, would I come here?”

Jiang said calmly, “Then go outside the city and join your lover. Lovers united at last.”

“Bullshit!” Zhu Rourong cursed. “My wife controls all the money. Where can I go?”

He might abandon his wife—but not his wealth.

Jiang shook his head. “My wife told me not to associate with ungrateful people like you who abandon their families.”

With that, bang—the door slammed shut.

“Damn you, Jiang Dasheng!”

Zhu Rourong shouted at the closed door.

“I trusted you for nothing! You ungrateful dog!”

He sighed deeply.

Then suddenly had an idea and rushed toward the Prince He Residence stables.

Sweating heavily, he arrived and was about to greet Sang An, who was drinking tea at the gate.

But Sang An immediately turned and ran inside.

Bang. The door slammed shut again.

“What kind of people are these!”

Zhu Rourong thought bitterly.

In this vast world, was there really no place left for him to hide?