008, in front of the Ghost Gate, turning back and forth, to repay kindness and follow

  The room gradually darkened again.

  Zheng Fei took a look outside and saw that the sun had already set, so he should go out to find something to eat.

  Zheng Fei had just stood up

  Suddenly!

  He felt as if he had heard a very faint moan.

  Zheng Fei was startled in his heart and immediately stopped in his tracks, holding his breath to listen carefully...

  But inside the house was quiet.

  Did I hear it wrong?

  Zheng Fei was about to take another step forward.

  "Water..."

  That's right! I didn't hear it wrong myself!

  Zheng Fei suddenly turned around and pounced on the bedside, Ah! Wang Jin's lips were moving!

  Zheng Fei was overjoyed! But didn't know whether he should or shouldn't give Wang Jin water.

  Time is of the essence! Zheng Fei stood up and rushed out to find a doctor first!

  Zheng Fei's face wore an urgent and slightly flattering smile as he asked, "Doctor, is...?"

  An old man with a small goat beard stood up straight, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as he shook his head, "Let's prepare for the aftermath."

  Zheng Fei was taken aback and hastily said, "Didn't you say a few days ago that he wasn't going to make it? But just now he still said he wanted water!"

  The old man shook his head again, "Hui Guang Fan Zhao, Hui Guang Fan Zhao!"

  Having said that, the old man nodded at Zheng Fei and walked out of the house.

  Zheng Fei disappointedly came to the bedside, bent down and looked at Wang Jin.

  Wang Jin struggled to open his dull eyes and stared blankly at Zheng Fei.

  Zheng Fei suddenly had an extremely desolate feeling.

  Is human life so cheap and helpless?

  Zheng Fei leaned his head towards Wang Jin and whispered in his ear.

  "Wang Jin, if you die like this, who will avenge your mother?!"

  As soon as these words were spoken, Zheng Fei suddenly felt Wang Jin's body violently shake!

  Wang Jin suddenly grabbed Zheng Fei's wrist with a force he didn't know where it came from, his eyes wide open, matching the exposed knife scar on his face! His complexion was extremely ferocious!

  A hoarse voice like a devil from hell came out of Wang Jin's mouth.

  "Revenge! Revenge!!!"

  Wang Jin finished speaking and fell back onto the bed, fainting again.

  Only Zheng Fei was left standing there, too stunned to believe what had just happened.

  Only the scorching pain on his wrist told Zheng Fei,

  A miracle has happened once, will it happen a second time?

  Two days later,

  Miracles really happened!

  Wang Jin opened his eyes again after a big fever.

  Three days later

  Wang Jin was already able to sit up with Zheng Fei's support and drink some millet porridge.

  Another five days

  That Zheng Fei who was too lazy to go see a doctor himself actually came to his doorstep.

  He stared blankly at Wang Jin, who was sitting on the bed gnawing on a chicken leg, as if he had been stunned, then silently turned around and left, Zheng Fei didn't even bother to pay attention to him.

  But just after half a day, Zheng Fei had just stepped out of the door when he ran into a little boy.

  The little boy rushed up and gave Zheng Fei a salute.

  Zheng Fei was taken aback, "What's up, little brother?"

  The little boy took out a silver ingot from his bosom and handed it to Zheng Fei along with several paper packages in his hands, saying, "This is the silver that Master asked me to return to you. The paper package contains several doses of great tonic medicine."

  Zheng Fei immediately understood, but just took over the silver, "I'll take the silver, you can take the medicine back."

  The young boy bowed again, "My master said he didn't learn the skill well and almost took someone's life, so he ordered me to personally hand over the silver and medicine to you. Please accept them, if not I'll be punished when I return."

  Zheng Fei could only helplessly take it over, looking at the silver and medicine in his hand, unsure whether to laugh or be angry.

  Two more days passed and Wang Jin was finally able to get out of bed.

  Wang Jin's first action after getting out of bed was to give Zheng Fei three loud kowtows.

  Zheng Fei knew he couldn't stop him and could only endure these three bows.

  From the time Wang Jin opened his eyes to kowtowing to Zheng Fei, these few days

  Wang Jin didn't say another word, he was like a silent beast, suppressing... lurking...!

  Zheng Fei supported Wang Jin and arrived at his mother's grave.

  Wang Jin trembled as he lit three incense sticks for his mother, knelt down in front of the tomb, and shook all over, silently weeping!

  Zheng Fei has been quietly waiting by the side all along.

  Wang Jin stood up and turned around to look at Zheng Fei,

  A scar that runs from under his right eye down across the bridge of his nose and splits his cheek! Wang Jin's face is like a malevolent spirit from the underworld, unspeakably terrifying!

  "Wang Jin finally spoke up, 'Benefactor! Great kindness doesn't need to be thanked! Can only repay in the next life!'"

  Zheng Fei smiled coldly, "You want to go take revenge?"

  Wang Jin nodded.

  Zheng Fei said again, "How are you going to avenge? Do you think you can go and kill him... Ta Wei Gao Chui!"

  Wang Jin's whole body shook, and he stared at Zheng Fei with wide eyes.

  Zheng Fei said word by word, "Wang Jin Wang Jiao Tou, you don't need to care how I knew, you're a smart person, let alone your current state, even if you grow three heads and six arms, can you kill Gao Kui?"

  Wang Jin lowered his head and remained silent.

  Zheng Fei continued, "I also want to kill Gao Chou, if you're willing, you can follow me."

  But Wang Jin still had no reaction,

  Zheng Fei let out a soft sigh in his heart. Such a heroic figure, how could he be moved by the words of an unknown little person like you?

  With that, Zheng Fei turned around and walked towards the small hut, it was time to leave, having delayed for so many days, there were still many things to attend to.

  "Benefactor! To repay your kindness of saving my life and burying my mother, I am willing to follow you! Please, benefactor, take me in!" Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from behind.

  Zheng Fei stopped in his tracks and turned around, only to see Wang Jin kneeling in front of Wang Mu's grave once again.

  "Uncle, you go back first, I want to talk to my mother for a bit."

  Zheng Fei nodded and turned around to leave again. After Zheng Fei had walked far away,

  Just then, Wang Jin's low voice was heard

  "Mother, I'm going! I'll follow Master Yan to repay his kindness for saving my life and burying my mother. Once I've repaid him, I'll go find Gao Qiu and fight it out... even if we both end up dying!"

  (The author says: Due to the current and future plot requirements for a while, the master-slave relationship is temporarily set. It will definitely find an opportunity to change in the future.)

  Five days later, Zheng Fei set out on his journey once again.

  Let's hurry to the Western City Stadium. Although it's a bit late, we can't just come here for nothing. Who knows, we might still run into Huang Wuquan and the others.

  Zheng Fei turned his head to look at Wang Jin riding on his right side, and couldn't help but feel a little inexplicable pride in his heart.

  Wang Jin, after all, was his first follower in this world!

  "Brother Wang, later when you meet that disciple of yours, Shi Jin, remember what to say?"

  Wang Jin nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, master, I've remembered this. No matter whether it's Shi Jin or Lu Da, I know what to say. It's just that in my current state, I'm afraid they won't recognize me even if I stand right in front of them."

  With his smile, the deep scar across Wang Jin's face became even more ferocious, and it was said that he smiled, but it was feared that even Lu Da's angry expression looked better than him.

  Zheng Fei smiled slightly, "You already know my current situation, I'm just a butcher in the city of Chang'an. You're the commander of the 800,000-strong Imperial Guard, even if you trust me, it's not certain that I can help you avenge your enemies in the future. Although these words are unpleasant to hear, I'm someone who likes to speak frankly and clearly. If you feel wronged or impatient in the future, you can leave at any time. And as for why I didn't want to tell you how I knew..."

  Wang Jin's smile faded, and he said in a low voice, "Master, don't say any more. This life of mine was saved by you. If it weren't for you, my mother wouldn't even have had a place to be buried. Eighty thousand imperial guards? Ha! It sounds good when you say it, but it's just an empty title! A true hero can spend his whole life struggling to become a mere officer, and the reason why the Song Dynasty always loses to Liao is because the court is controlled by scoundrels like Gao Qiu and Tong Guan. Heroes don't ask about one's background. From now on, this life of mine belongs to you. If I betray you, let me end up with a fate worse than death, without even a place to be buried!"

  Zheng Fei's heart warmed up a bit, and he was about to speak, but Wang Jin continued, "As for the things you don't want to tell me, you don't have to say it, I won't pry, as long as..."

  Wang Jin glanced at Zheng Fei, "As long as... Master still remembers Wang Jin's lifelong ambition, that's all!"

  Zheng Fei looked at Wang Jin and nodded slightly.

  The two of them looked at each other and smiled.

  "Zheng Fei continued to ask, 'Wang Ge, your injury...?'"

  Wang Jin smiled carelessly, "It doesn't matter, it won't be fatal, as long as you don't fight and reopen the wound in the next few days."

  Zheng Fei smiled and nodded, then said, "I came to Western Xia this time to investigate the private salt matter. You have been living in Tokyo for a long time, do you know the inside story about this matter?"

  At first, I followed Ruda's request to come to Western Xia. Since Ruda was still holding an official position, many things were inconvenient to discuss, especially the matter of private salt.

  Now Wang Jin is already a trusted person, Zheng Fei naturally doesn't need to hide anything anymore.

  Only then did Wang Jin sink into thought for a moment before saying, "When I was the head of the Imperial Guard in Tokyo, I was also borrowed by the Governor of Tokyo to investigate several cases of private salt. Although private salt has high profits, it is extremely difficult to operate. Firstly, passing through border checkpoints is not easy, and secondly, without a salt permit, transporting nationwide is even more difficult. If there is any slight mistake on the road, the goods will be lost, not to mention that death penalty is also unavoidable! Therefore, those who can succeed in private salt must have extraordinary skills, with connections from top to bottom, using various official names to transport private salt and reap huge profits. If I'm not mistaken, there's a Mr. Chai Jin, a high-ranking official in Cangzhou, who has such skills..."

  "Who!" Zheng Fei was startled,

  Wang Jin repeated, "Chai Jin of Cangzhou."

  Zheng Fei immediately said, "But isn't he a direct descendant of Later Zhou's Emperor Taizu Chai Rong, the one known in Jianghu as Little Whirlwind Chai Jin?"

  King Jin nodded and said, "It was indeed that official Chai. When the Taizu Emperor of our dynasty obtained the world at Chen Bridge, he always felt guilty towards the Shizong Emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty. So, he established three national rules: first, to protect the descendants of the Chai family, no matter who succeeded or worshipped their ancestors, they had to read these rules three times; second, not to kill scholars and officials who spoke out on state affairs; third, if the descendants broke this oath, they would be punished by heaven. At the same time, he also granted the Chai family an iron certificate of immunity from death. With these national rules and the iron certificate, the Chai family's descendants should have lived a carefree life. However, when it came to Chai Jin's generation, this official was not interested in fame or wealth but only wanted to befriend heroes and men of honor. He was very generous and spent a lot on charity, which became a significant expense. To make up for the shortfall, Chai Jin found several ways to make money, with smuggling being the most important one. With the support of the iron certificate and his status as an outsider in the imperial family, it is said that he had connections with officials from the capital to the county level, including Cai Jing and other high-ranking officials. People knew his identity and could benefit from him, so they turned a blind eye."

  Zheng Fei listened and was slightly surprised in his heart, but after thinking about it, he understood.

  That little whirlwind Chai Jin, the great official in Water Margin, is a wealthy master who can't be clear about his wealth. No matter who goes to Chai's mansion, he will be treated with several taels or tens of taels of silver.

  When Song Jiang and others went to rescue Chai Jin, the situation later thought about it was actually a clear indication that they wanted to give Chai Jin a big hat of colluding with thieves, leaving Chai Jin no way out "forced to go up Liangshan". What Song Jiang and others were plotting should not only be Chai Jin's reputation, but also the wealth of his family behind him.

  But the origin of Chai Jin's wealth is not detailed in Water Margin, can those Chai family manors have such a rich and powerful family fortune?

  Originally, Chai Jin was also on the smuggling route of Xing's family.

  Two people were discussing the smuggling of salt.

  Suddenly saw a large merchant team coming face to face from the front.

  Zheng Fei was taken aback as soon as he saw him.

  It was just that this large merchant group wasn't someone else, but the very same one he had inquired about the road with a few days ago. If it were just a coincidence, then so be it, but what left Zheng Fei feeling perplexed was that the goods being transported on the horse carriage of this merchant group were exactly the same as before, still wrapped up and brought back again after more than ten days had passed.

  Zheng Fei rode his horse to welcome the merchant team, and the leader of the team was still that person.

  Zheng Fei stepped forward and apologized with a bow, "Brother, do you still remember me?"

  That man took a closer look at Qing Wangjin's intimidating appearance, and was startled at first. After taking another look at Zheng Fei, he thought for a moment before saying, "I remember, isn't this the little brother who asked me for directions?"

  Zheng Fei nodded and smiled, "Indeed, thank you elder brother for directing me last time. It's been over ten days since we parted last time, how come you haven't sold the goods yet but are returning?"

  "That man said, 'Little brother, haven't you arrived at the arena yet?'"

  Zheng Fei nodded and pointed at Wang Jin, "My companion was injured and walks slowly, has not yet arrived at the archery field."

  "That man sighed and said, 'It seems you don't know yet, the war has begun!'"

  Zheng Fei exclaimed, "Start the war?!"

  "That man nodded and said, 'Although there is a peace treaty between Song and Xia, small-scale conflicts still occur from time to time. This time, we happened to arrive just in time for the war. Both sides have troops stationed at the border, and a big battle will break out as soon as it starts. According to convention, once there is a war, merchant groups like us must leave the border immediately. Otherwise, we will be caught and killed as spies. Alas, I pity my accumulated goods. If I come again next time, I will lose everything!'"

  Zheng Fei's face changed upon hearing this, and he thanked the man before calling out to Wang Jin. He turned his horse around and headed back.

  Wang Jin followed Chi Dao and asked, "Aren't we going?"

  Zheng Fei sighed and said, "Preserving one's life is crucial, let's go, back to Baozhou!"