Sun Niuzi lorded over the Manor, causing so much resentment that it seemed even the heavens were angry. However, one thing worth mentioning was that the Manor’s workers only harbored silent resentment and didn’t strive to get close to him. Even the two workers Xu Ji had left behind behaved similarly, avoiding him instead of trying to cozy up.
This was because over the past year, Hu Ma had acted reliably and treated people kindly, earning quite a bit of respect in the Manor. They subconsciously thought Hu Ma was not someone who would let himself be wronged. Sun Niuzi was too arrogant; perhaps in a few days, Manager—no, Shopkeeper Hu would drive him back to the city. They were looking forward to a good show.
But what they didn’t expect was Hu Ma watching as Sun Niuzi created chaos, merely observing with cold eyes. Whatever Sun Niuzi said was accepted as is, and any directives given were followed exactly. It was as if it were still the same as when he was the manager before, never making a single retort.
When you were a manager, you handled shopkeeping duties simultaneously. Now that you have the opportunity to become the Shopkeeper, are you regressing? Each person thought about it with some perplexity.
But since Hu Ma didn’t take the lead in making things difficult for Sun Niuzi, the workers naturally didn’t dare to do so either.
About seven or eight days later, as June approached, Hu Ma took the initiative to enter the inner courtyard. With a smile, he approached Sun Niuzi, who was drinking with his entourage at a stone table, and said, "Shopkeeper Sun, I have something to discuss."
Sun Niuzi, just raising his cup, paused abruptly and smiled. "What did you call me?"
Hu Ma grinned. "Shopkeeper, of course!"
Sun Niuzi quickly put down his wine cup, waved his hand, and said, "Please don’t call me that; I’m just a manager. The big shots in the city want to promote you, not me."
Hu Ma laughed. "I’ve only been in the Society for a few days, what could I possibly know? Surely, the Shopkeeper position needs someone reliable. Today, I came to discuss a serious matter with you, Shopkeeper Sun. The spring Blood Food task is completed, and all accounts have been settled by the Old Shopkeeper, so there’s nothing left for me here. We consume Red Lantern Lady’s provisions monthly, and it’s unsettling. So I’m thinking I should take some brothers out for a trip to see if there’s any work we can do for Red Lantern Lady. Previously, the Manor held me back, and I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to. But with you, Shopkeeper Sun, overseeing things now, I’m relieved."
Hearing Hu Ma repeatedly call him "Shopkeeper," Sun Niuzi felt extremely comfortable. Slowly, he popped a peanut into his mouth, not even inviting Hu Ma to sit. Imitating his brother-in-law, he said, "It’s right to want to serve Red Lantern Lady. But what exactly do you want to do?"
Hu Ma chuckled. "That’s what I wanted to ask someone in the know."
"Well, you’ve found the right person! My brother-in-law... I’ve been learning from Incense Master Zheng; he knows this best." Sun Niuzi became excited and pulled Hu Ma to sit down, explaining what tasks the White Incense Disciples, Green Incense Disciples, and Red Fragrance Disciples performed within the Red Lantern Society.
Hu Ma listened attentively, merely expressing his desire to make a significant contribution and asking for recommendations. Sun Niuzi seized the opportunity to smile and said, "There happens to be a way to earn merit, if you want to do it."
Hu Ma quickly replied, "Please tell me. I can’t stand firm without merit; I wouldn’t dare refuse."
Sun Niuzi laughed heartily and immediately divulged a matter.
It concerned a wealthy household over two hundred miles away. Although not within the jurisdiction of Mingzhou Prefecture, they were followers of Red Lantern Lady. Previously, part of the Red Lantern Society’s secret Blood Food Pills moved through their hands, sold to wealthy local families via their shop. However, this wealthy family was mysteriously massacred at the end of last year. The case remains unsolved, waiting for someone to handle it.
Listening on the sidelines, Hu Ma suddenly nodded and said, "I’d be willing to give it a try. If I can truly solve this, it would likely be no less than the merit Yang Gong earned. Of course, the reply to the city must be clearly written; having the credentials would allow me to carry out the task properly."
Hearing this, Sun Niuzi was overjoyed. "Very good, very good."
Hu Ma looked at him with a warm and sincere smile.
However, when this decision spread, it left the Manor’s workers quite confused. Why would Hu Ma take this job when his stable life was sufficient? Why choose to seek trouble outside? Their inability to comprehend his deference towards Sun Niuzi was exacerbated. Not only did he yield willingly whenever Sun Niuzi spoke, but even at this critical juncture, he was willing to give up the Shopkeeper title and be at the other man’s mercy.
Even clay figurines have a temper, yet you seem to be less than a clay figure...
In this atmosphere of bewilderment, Zhou Datong suddenly fell silent. Hu Ma offered no explanation, only appearing resolute in his decision to achieve great merit.
He watched as Sun Niuzi hurriedly penned a letter, took on the task, stamped it with the Manor’s seal, arranged who was to stay and who was to leave, and then called upon the little ghost to deliver it to the city. The most crucial part was the letter: Hu Ma had written "Shopkeeper" as a suffix to Sun Niuzi’s name, designating him as the one in charge. This delighted Sun Niuzi so much that his impression of Hu Ma improved by several levels. He felt less inclined to make things difficult for him and even planned to tell his brother-in-law that Hu Ma was a good man.
Once these matters were settled, Hu Ma immediately began packing and secured provisions. Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu all joined him; even Li was supposed to go along.
But Li approached and said, "Brother Ma Zi, I’m no good. My flame is weak. On the road, if a Wandering Spirit blows on me, I’d be finished. Coming with you, I’d only be a burden." Lowering his voice further, he added, "Moreover, if you leave, the Manor can’t be without one of us. I’ll stay behind and keep an eye on things for you."
Hearing this, Zhou Datong and the others became somewhat hesitant. Li had a previous record. Although he seemed trustworthy now, who knew if he’d switch allegiance to Sun Niuzi by the time they returned?
But Hu Ma looked at Li and decided he could be trusted at this moment, so he agreed and carefully instructed him.
The next day, he gathered supplies, collecting a large sum of provisions from the Manor, including green food, black oil ointment, weapons, and even a horse from the stable. Knowing the difficulty of this mission, Sun Niuzi not only refrained from sabotage but generously allowed them to take whatever supplies they needed. So the group dressed, tied their pant legs, and, under the morning sun, boldly set forth from the Manor.
Only after walking a few miles did Hu Ma turn and gaze back toward the Manor, a faint smile touching his lips.
What a good person...
"Shopkeeper, the people from this village are really easily fooled..."
After Hu Ma and the others left the Manor, Sun Niuzi and his entourage were immediately jubilant. They hurriedly ordered Li to prepare a splendid feast and bring it to the inner courtyard, while they laughed and discussed the situation.
Imitating Incense Master Zheng, Sun Niuzi shook his head and said, "Heh, you think he’s foolish? I see him as shrewd. He knows well that as long as I’m here, his position as Shopkeeper isn’t stable. So he’s trying to earn great merit like Yang Gong to secure his role as Shopkeeper. But he’s not considering why no one has dealt with the massacre all this time. The green clothes gang is entrenched there; it’s certainly not so easily resolved."
The subordinate laughed. "So, not only can he not earn merit, but it’s questionable if he can even come back?"
Sun Niuzi chuckled. "Exactly."
Inwardly, he started calculating what to do if Hu Ma couldn’t return and how to establish leadership over the Manor. The heavens clearly favored me. That timid Hu fellow, to curry favor, willingly played the subordinate, elevating me to Shopkeeper. However, verbal agreements don’t always hold; it still depends on how my brother-in-law arranges things.
The more he thought, the happier he became, even instructing Li to stew another chicken for their drink.
However, these comfortable days lasted only a few more. One night, after the patrol, Sun Niuzi was drinking in the inner courtyard with his entourage. He had even brought in a few compliant workers from outside to listen to his boasting. Just as they were filled with food and wine, an unexpected cold wind suddenly blew in from outside the Manor. The Red Lanterns hanging by the door emitted an unusual, eerie red glow.
This gust of yin wind instantly sobered everyone in the Manor from their drunken state. They rushed to grab weapons and dashed out of the Manor, their fear nearly causing them to faint as they hurriedly knelt on the ground.
Seeing Sun Niuzi kneel directly on the ground, trembling, the other workers quickly followed suit. They didn’t know who these people were but noticed that each rode a tall horse and was dressed in black. Even their faces were concealed by black cloth, revealing only their chilling eyes. Each carried a sword at their side, and a Red Lantern hung from their horses. Their bodies, half-hidden in the night, appeared as if straddling the line between the human world and hell.
The workers, unfamiliar with these people’s backgrounds, assumed they must be allies since they bore Red Lanterns, yet their appearance was terrifying. Only Sun Niuzi recognized them as the Red Lantern Lady’s most mysterious and favored subordinates. They all originated as Red Fragrance Disciples, possessed Secret Techniques, and moved mysteriously. They only appeared when the Red Lantern Lady issued a specific decree. Once they arrived, not only this Manor, but even an incense master would have to quickly kneel to pay respects—not to them, of course, but to the Red Lantern Lady whom they represented.
The leader on horseback, sensing the alcohol on them, narrowed his eyes slightly under his black cloth covering. In a voice as cold and low as a ghostly wind, he asked, "Who is the Shopkeeper here?"
Sun Niuzi was startled and hastily responded, "I am. I wonder what orders you lords have for me?"
"Then let’s go!" the leader on the horse coldly instructed. "The Lady has issued a decree, summoning Shopkeepers from all regions to the city overnight. She has urgent instructions for you."