Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

Chapter 44 Yet Business Can Be Done

If the shop owner really is that Granny Wang...

Zheng Tu squinted at Wang Po, the owner of the teahouse, his gaze sharp as he scanned her up and down.

A thought raced through his mind: "Wang Po is the root cause of that ill-fated relationship! It's clearly written in the book of my past life: Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian's affair was entirely due to Wang Po's matchmaking and planning. If it were to be broken off with her, even if Ximen Qing had extraordinary abilities and Pan Jinlian was promiscuous, this ill-fated relationship would hardly have come to fruition."

The thought of this arose instantly in my mind, and I wanted to kill him.

Zheng Tu clenched his fists silently inside his sleeves.

If he were to suddenly launch an attack now, he could kill the old hag on the spot in an instant, thus ending the matter once and for all.

But then, he slowly loosened his fist.

"Wait a minute..."

Zheng Tu suddenly felt puzzled. "According to my memories from my previous life, after Ximen Qing was hit by Pan Jinlian's pitchfork, Wang Po rushed over to him, her words full of matchmaking intentions. Why is it that this time, when I was hit by the pitchfork, this old hag didn't react at all, just busy herself with fanning the fire and brewing tea? It doesn't make sense..."

He frowned slightly, completely baffled.

He glanced down at his clothes unintentionally; though not tattered or ragged, they were plain and ordinary, far from the finest silks and satins. His satchel was empty, clearly indicating he had nothing of value. His face was also dusty and travel-worn, showing he was obviously a stranger in a strange land.

Suddenly it dawned on me!

"That's it!" Zheng Tu thought to himself.

"My family is a complete stranger in Qinghe County. In terms of reputation, we are not as famous as that great official Ximen; in terms of wealth, we are not as wealthy as him, with his vast fortune and herds of mules and horses; in terms of character, Ximen Qing's reputation for philandering is known to all."

With all three conditions met, the business of leading the way in attracting customers was a sure thing, a guaranteed profit. Therefore, when Wang Po saw Ximen Qing being hit by the pole, she pounced on him like a cat smelling fish. Why would she waste her time on a poor man like herself?

He shook his head, suppressing his murderous intent.

"Fighting and killing are mere tricks and gimmicks. Who am I, Lord Zheng? I should use my brain to do things, that is how a true hero is revealed!"

Moreover, he intended to settle down and build a career in Qinghe County; getting involved in legal trouble would be disastrous.

As he pondered, Wang Po noticed his furrowed brows and shifting expression.

What a shrewd and cunning old woman this Wang Po is!

Having run a teahouse in Qinghe County for decades, he was adept at navigating social interactions, engaging in matchmaking and gossip, and was highly skilled at reading people and understanding their hearts, developing a keen eye for discerning character.

She had already discerned that this burly guest, ostensibly there for tea, was actually preoccupied with something on his mind, and was probably facing some difficulties.

Although Wang Po had glimpsed from the shop that the young lady next door, Pan, had accidentally hit the man on the head with a pitchfork, she remained unmoved and showed no intention of doing any "profiteering" business.

There was a reason for this: Firstly, although the man was burly, his clothes were made of ordinary material, and his satchel was tattered, clearly indicating that he was penniless. In a business like this, one had to make money from both ends, and this poor man couldn't be squeezed out of much silver.

Secondly, although he was initially captivated by the beauty of the Pan family's wife, he later avoided her like the plague, even throwing his fishing rod and cursing her, showing that he was not a lecherous man. If he were to force a marriage, he might end up getting nothing but trouble instead of getting what he wanted.

Thirdly, this person is decisive and sharp-eyed; he is not someone easily manipulated.

Rushing into things haphazardly will not only fail to earn you money, but may also bring you trouble. How could Wang Po not understand this?

However, the reason why Wang Po is called "Wang Qianniang" is that she is proficient in all seventy-two kinds of tricks.

It should be understood that there are different ways to deal with the same kind of person. Although the "sexy" business is not viable, there are other businesses that can be done.

Seeing the man's furrowed brow and travel-worn face, Granny Wang already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on: "This man must be a stranger from out of town, either he couldn't find relatives to visit, or he's struggling to make a living. His brow is so furrowed; he must be in trouble!"

His eyes lit up and a plan came to mind.

After thinking for a moment, Granny Wang put down her palm-leaf fan, got up, and moved closer to Zheng Tu. She put on her usual ingratiating smile and tentatively asked, "Sir, you look unfamiliar; you're not from around here. Perhaps... you have something on your mind? Are you perhaps thinking of settling down in Qinghe County?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Tu suddenly looked up, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes: How did this old woman know what I was thinking?

He couldn't help but blurt out, "How did the host know?"

Seeing his reaction, Granny Wang knew she had guessed correctly. She was secretly pleased, but her face grew even more kind as she smiled and said:

"What's so hard to guess! As the old saying goes, 'Don't ask about prosperity or decline when you enter a teahouse; just look at their faces and you'll know.' I've been in this teahouse for decades, and I've guessed countless strange and bizarre things."

She paused, then looked at Zheng Tu: "Judging from your bearing, sir, you are no ordinary man. Yet you wear a sorrowful expression; surely a hero temporarily troubled by worldly affairs. May I ask your esteemed name and hometown?"

Zheng Tu was just looking for a pillow when he was sleepy. He was worried about running out of money and was thinking about settling down and starting a business. Since Wang Po took the initiative to ask him, he went along with it.

After a moment's thought, he said, "My surname is Zheng, and I am from Guanzhong. I do wish to find a place to settle down in Qinghe County, but I am new here and unfamiliar with the area."

Upon hearing the words "Guanxi," Wang Po's old eyes gleamed slightly, and she sized up Zheng Tu once more.

This man was eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and a thick back. His arms were muscular and strong, and even sitting, he stood like a pine tree. His eyes, in particular, shone with a sharp light.

Having lived in this world for so many years, Granny Wang was already a shrewd and worldly woman. She could tell at a glance that the man's hands must have been stained with blood.

But since he was a man who had seen blood, yet he wore such simple clothes and traveled a long way to a distant land to make a living, there was nothing to be afraid of:

He must have been an honest and upright man; otherwise, with his fierce and ruthless nature, he would have already amassed a fortune and become incredibly wealthy.

As the saying goes, "Murderers and arsonists wear golden belts, while those who repair bridges and roads leave no trace," and this is exactly the case.

Therefore, seeing Zheng Tu's imposing manner, Wang Po was not only unafraid, but secretly praised him in her heart: "What a fine man! Such physique and such imposing manner, how could ordinary merchants and farmers possess them?! This business deal seems to be going to be successful!"

Her smile widened, and she lowered her voice, saying, "With your stature and bearing, Master Zheng, ordinary work would be beneath you. I, however, have a better path, one that's perfect for someone like you."

"If it succeeds, I guarantee that Master Zheng will gain a foothold in Qinghe County. If he becomes successful in the future, remember to share some of the money with me."

Seeing how mysterious she spoke, Zheng Tu became somewhat interested, but he remained outwardly calm and simply said, "Oh? I'd like to hear more."