Chapter 173: Hateful Person
After listening to the person’s words, everyone couldn’t help but nod one after another… It turns out Lu Ren had borrowed all of them.
But today, the one who owes money is the boss, Lu Ren sneered and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t shortchange you a single cent, neither principal nor interest.”
“Of course, of course.” Everyone nodded with a smile, quickly changing the subject to something more appropriate and asked which room he would be assigned to for duty.
Lu Ren took a sip of tea and said in a drawling tone, “Yuqing Room.”
“Yuqing Room? That’s great! We won’t have to worry about our monthly allowance anymore.” Upon hearing this, everyone became even more obsequious in their flattery of Lu Ren. Many of them even canceled Lu Ren’s debts on the spot, only hoping that this future manager of Yuqing Room would be lenient with them later.
The clan members spoke one after another, flattering Lu Ren so much that he felt like he was floating on air, as if he had never been so glorious in his life. At this moment, dishes were served like a flowing river: braised bear paws, roasted suckling pig, deer tendon, sturgeon… all rare delicacies that they had only heard of but never tasted.
Looking at the tempting dishes, everyone’s mouths began to water. Someone whispered, “How much would a table full of dishes like this cost?”
“Just eat, it’s not like you’re paying,” a clan member next to him retorted with an eye-roll, then enthusiastically got up to pour wine for Lu Ren. Once he had a cup, they could all feast.
Lu Ren raised his wine cup and, before drinking, declared, “When times are good, heaven and earth work together; when fortune turns, heroes are helpless. I, Lu Ren, have had bad luck for half my life, but now I’ve finally turned things around!”
The crowd roared with applause, and flattering words poured out. Lu Ren listened with enjoyment for a while, pondering how to continue the conversation, when the door to the private room was pushed open and a clan member walked in.
“Your nose is quite sharp, come sit down and join us for a drink,” everyone said with a smile, moving a spot for him.
“What’s there to eat,” the clan member said, looking at Lu Ren, “your assignment is likely to fall through!”
“Nonsense!” Lu Ren’s face changed instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and he cursed, “How dare you curse me!”
“Don’t mistake good intentions for stubbornness,” the clan member said, his anger rising, “You all just left, and then news spread that Lu Jian has been removed from his position as steward, and the sect has issued an order to pursue him!”
“What?!” The clan members were stunned, finding it hard to believe. “Don’t joke around!”
“Who would joke about something like this?!” The clan member rolled his eyes. “I just came to bring you the news. Believe it or not!” With that, he turned and left.
After the person left, silence fell in the private room, and everyone looked at Lu Ren. Lu Ren’s expression changed several times, and he suddenly stood up, saying, “I don’t believe it. Just wait, I’ll go and see!”
Saying this, he walked towards the doorway.
“Don’t go, who’s going to pay the bill later?” The clan members hurriedly got up to stop him.
“Whoever wants to pay can pay, I certainly don’t have any money.” Lu Ren rolled his eyes, revealing his usual rogue demeanor.
“If you don’t have money, why did you treat us? And to such a high-class restaurant, ordering such expensive dishes?!” The clan members were dumbfounded.
“I said I was treating, but I was going to be the manager of Yuqing Room. You were all trying to curry favor with me, who would dare to make me pay?!” Lu Ren said righteously.
“That’s true, but you haven’t actually taken up the position yet, have you?” the clan members said angrily.
“He says there’s nothing, so there’s nothing? You all wait, I’ll go and see!” Lu Ren said, and then, unnoticed by others, he darted out and disappeared without a trace.
The clan members looked at each other, staring at the table full of dishes, and asked dumbfoundedly, “What are we going to do now?”
.
Lu Ren escaped from Yue Xian Lou and ran towards Lu Ward. In a flash, he reached the outside of the Finance Department and was about to rush in to demand an explanation when he was stopped by the guards at the doorway. “You are not allowed to enter!”
“I am the manager of Yuqing Room!” Lu Ren shouted.
“It doesn’t matter which room you’re from. Something has happened at the Finance Department, and no one is allowed in or out,” the guard said with a dark face, then pushed him out the door.
“Ouch…” Lu Ren fell on his backside and cursed loudly outside the Finance Department, but it was naturally useless. He had no choice but to leave dejectedly. Still unwilling to give up, he rushed towards Jingxin Ward. However, when he arrived outside Lu Jian’s residence in Jingxin Ward, he saw several stewards from the Discipline Department pasting a pair of crossed seals on the main gate of Lu Jian’s house.
The character ‘Seal’ on the seal was striking, like a heavy hammer smashing into his chest, making Lu Ren dizzy and on the verge of tears.
He stood at Lu Jian’s doorway for a long time. Just as he was about to leave in despair, Lu Xia, leading people escorting Steward Zhang and other confidants of Lu Jian, happened to pass by. Seeing Lu Ren, Lu Xia called out to him.
“Old Thirteen, come here,” Lu Xia waved his hand.
Lu Ren really didn’t want to pay attention to the other party, but given his identity, a nobody like him wouldn’t dare to ignore it. He could only walk over dejectedly and ask in a low voice, “What are your instructions, cousin?”
“I heard you’ve been close with Lu Jian lately,” Lu Xia asked in a deep voice. “Have you seen him today?”
“I’m looking for him too…” Lu Ren said with a mournful face. “Cousin, is Lu Jian really finished?”
“Mm,” Lu Xia nodded. This was already public knowledge, so there was no need to hide it. He sized up Lu Ren and asked, “Did he ask you to do anything, or say anything special to you?”
“No…” Lu Ren feigned ignorance.
Lu Xia didn’t think Lu Jian would entrust Lu Ren, this unreliable fellow, with anything important. He was just asking as a matter of routine upon seeing him. “Then that’s all. If you see him, or hear any news, report it to the clan promptly. Understand?”
Lu Ren nodded blankly and wandered aimlessly outside until dark before heading home.
From afar, he saw that his house was dark with no sign of life, and Lu Ren felt tears welling up in sadness. It was true that he was of the direct lineage of the Lu Clan, but there were many in the direct lineage, and not everyone could be as glorious as the Eight Great Stewards… or rather, the Seven Great Stewards now. He was also addicted to gambling and had lost all the family fortune his parents left behind, piling up a mountain of debt.
Even so, he didn’t change his ways. Every month, he would immediately take his monthly allowance from the clan to gamble, and wouldn’t return home until he’d lost it all. His wife could no longer bear it and returned to her maiden home with their child, leaving him alone to guard a few dilapidated houses. Life had become truly unbearable.
That’s why he nagged and pleaded until Lu Jian finally agreed to let him become a manager in the Finance Department. Lu Ren was overjoyed, thinking he was finally going to turn his life around. He didn’t expect that before he could be happy for even a day, Lu Jian had already fallen from power.
“If only you had fallen a day later, once I became a manager, it wouldn’t have mattered to me if you died.” Lu Ren cursed Lu Jian countless times that afternoon. When his stomach rumbled, he still regretfully thought: ‘If I had known, I should have stayed for the banquet. Alas, I’ll never eat such a good banquet again in this life…’
Lu Ren sighed helplessly, pushed open his ajar door, and went straight to the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat. But the house was bare, so bare that even a mouse would starve, let alone find food!
Speaking of mice, Lu Ren suddenly heard a rustling sound and couldn’t help but get angry, “You damned rat, I’m this poor, what can you possibly steal?!”
“Who are you calling a rat?” a faint voice sounded behind him.
Lu Ren’s blood ran cold. Glancing down in the moonlight, he saw a shadow on the ground.
“Lu, Lu Jian…” Although he couldn’t see the man’s face clearly, the voice was all too familiar. Just as Lu Ren was about to scream, he was grabbed by the neck.
Lu Ren’s eyes widened in terror as he looked at the uninvited guest. It was indeed Lu Jian, who had injured Lu Chou and fled!
The Lu Clan all believed he had fled the Capital City, but who knew he dared to hide in the North of the Luo River and hide in Lu Ren’s house!
