Chapter 27: The Discipline of the Household Servants

Yu Qing also came back to his senses and changed to a fresh towel to wipe himself down. But when he saw a rotten, foul-smelling vegetable leaf, his lips twitched in spite of himself. He wasn’t foolish; he knew he was in the wrong. To continue pressing the matter would be pointless and would only hinder more important things.

Swallowing his resentment, Yu Qing bared his teeth and said, “Since this was a misunderstanding... we must not chill the hearts of the loyal. Young hero Qin, please do not be too harsh.”

“Then let it be as our esteemed guests suggest.” Zhu Cilang’s gaze remained clear, his smile open and untroubled, as he looked at Zhang Zhen and the others. “Though our guests do not hold a grudge, our household rules must not be neglected. Someone, see to it—this servant is forbidden from eating meat for a month, and his work hours are to increase by ten percent!”

Hearing Zhu Cilang’s verdict, Yu Qing’s anger flared all the more. He thought this was hardly a punishment at all—how many household servants ever got to eat meat once a month? Fu Rugui, however, glanced over with a look of amusement.

“Yes, Master,” the steward Si En responded softly from the side, then led the others away.

Now, only Yu Qing, Fu Rugui, and Zhu Cilang remained.

Seeing the vegetable leaf stuck atop Fu Rugui’s head, Zhu Cilang gave an embarrassed chuckle. “Supper is still a while off. Young hero Qin has already instructed for hot baths and clean clothes to be prepared.”

Yu Qing’s expression finally eased a little upon hearing this. “Then I’ll go tidy up first.”

Fu Rugui, however, shook his head. “I’d rather hear what young hero Qin has been up to lately.”

Yu Qing’s steps did not pause at this, clearly uninterested.

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang was happy to oblige and began to recount recent events to Fu Rugui.

It had only been about ten days since Zhu Cilang left the Ministry of Revenue, but in that span, more had happened than most people would see in half a lifetime.

From the moment Zhu Cilang brought the ministry’s account books back to Chengqing Lane, the atmosphere there turned strange. Not far from the Zhu family gate ran Rice Market Street, always bustling and crowded with thriving commerce. Thanks to this, the road in front of the Zhu residence was lively, with many small traders and hawkers setting up shop, creating a scene of prosperity.

But once Zhu Cilang brought back the account books, rumors began to spread throughout Chengqing Lane that he had offended a powerful noble—one so formidable that even the entire lane might suffer as a result!

First, several rice shops along the street closed their doors, making it difficult for the residents of Chengqing Lane to buy daily necessities. Then, security in the lane abruptly deteriorated. Every day, ruffians and loafers prowled the stretch of Rice Market Street leading to the Qin residence, and after dark, it was as if a hundred ghosts were roaming—crime ran rampant. In just three short days, the number of thefts and robberies reported to the Eastern City Garrison was beyond count.

To make matters worse, the Eastern City Garrison turned a blind eye, and so, the entire street quickly emptied, taking on the air of a haunted ruin.

Neighbors who were never especially close before now avoided the Qin family like the plague after being robbed, harboring grudges and suspicions. The neighborhood headman, Yan Lu, who had once been cordial, was nowhere to be found.

With the shops and stalls at their gate gone, the only option for provisions was Rice Market Street. The Qin household had dozens of mouths to feed; their daily consumption was enormous. They had no choice but to send someone out to buy supplies every day.

It was then Si En noticed that whenever anyone from the Qin family went out to purchase goods, the open shops on Rice Market Street would immediately double their prices. Even so, there was no use complaining—otherwise, there would be nothing to buy at all.

This treatment infuriated Si En so much he even cursed in rustic dialect—a rare occurrence.

It was Zhu Cilang who realized what was happening and responded decisively: he sent a dozen of the family’s apprentices and servant women with all the large carts and handcarts in the house, gave Si En plenty of silver, and had him make a single trip to the southern city to buy an entire month’s worth of grain and provisions.

But this was only the beginning.

Once Zhu Cilang had laid in enough supplies, all sorts of new troubles began cropping up around the Qin residence. Rubbish and filth from other households would mysteriously accumulate outside their door. Ruffians and rogues would knock and cause disturbances from time to time. Fortunately, if the Zhu family lacked for nothing else, they certainly had plenty of men.

The first time, they didn’t know what to do and endured it until the troublemakers finally left.

The second time, Zhu Cilang was ready. Traps were set at the gate, and as soon as the lead ruffian entered, a huge bucket of foul water was dumped on him.

Those who managed to avoid the soaking charged forward in anger, only to fall into pits filled with the refuse that had been dumped at their own doorstep.

In the blink of an eye, the two traps had dealt with five or six of them. The rest, no matter how they blustered, were set upon by Zhang Zhen and his men with wooden clubs and quickly beaten into howling retreat, utterly routed.

After that, there were no more ruffians coming to curse at the door. The traps were taken away as well; otherwise, Yu Jing would have suffered even more today.

As Zhu Cilang told the story, he thought Fu Rugui would be repulsed by the mention of such filthy traps—after all, most scholars looked down on such things.

But when Zhu Cilang glanced at him, he saw Fu Rugui was actually quite intrigued, gesturing as he asked, “How did you set those traps? Did you dig pits and cover them with straw and earth, or use thin bamboo mats? How was the barrel installed? I noticed some old servants testing it today. How did your men have the courage to fight back? Those ruffians are all used to brawling—they’re not easy to handle.”

“It’s nothing more than organization, discipline, reliable logistics, and then, courage.” Zhu Cilang looked at Fu Rugui intently and answered slowly.

“Organization, discipline, reliable logistics, and courage…” Fu Rugui repeated the words to himself, “Well said! Young hero Qin, your words are simple yet capture the essence of military strategy. Today, I am enlightened.”

With that, Fu Rugui offered a solemn bow.

Zhu Cilang stepped aside to avoid the bow. “It’s just a small matter, not worth mentioning. Brother Fu, you flatter me.”

Fu Rugui did not insist, but instead changed the subject. “Earlier, when young hero Qin punished those loyal servants, you took away their meat. Does every servant in the Qin household actually get to eat meat?”

Zhu Cilang smiled and shook his head. “Of course not. Those were the sons of craftsmen from the Qin family’s artisan compound. Some of them weren’t suited to learning a trade, nor were they scholarly types, so they signed indenture contracts to become family retainers. If a retainer is up to standard, then yes, they eat meat every day. That’s what I mean by reliable logistics.”

“Family retainers…” Fu Rugui repeated the words, his expression growing thoughtful.

Zhu Cilang nodded, ignoring the meaning in Fu Rugui’s gaze. “Once they become retainers, they must be ready to fight for the family. I treat them and their families generously, so that when the time comes, they will not shrink back from danger. That’s the logic of reliable logistics. Likewise, if they retreat or break the rules, they face discipline. With such clear rewards and punishments, discipline takes root. Naturally, courage and fighting spirit follow.”