Fire Captain

Madam Qu also told what she knew: "I heard that Qian Kui came to Chang'an City with nothing and no money. I don't know how he managed to accumulate a fortune that could rival a country in just over 20 years. Now most of the banks, escort agencies... and even restaurants and brothels in Chang'an City are under his name."

Taohua said from the side: "What else can he do? It's just kidnapping, extortion, burning, killing and looting. Anyway, all his money is stained with blood, all earned by some improper means..." She spoke as if she had seen it before.

Xun Taijun listened quietly and said, "But from what I see, Miss Qian's skills are upright and she looks like a disciple of a famous and upright sect."

Aunt Qu beside her said as she recalled: "Her swordsmanship is a bit like the 72 Dragon Roar Styles of the Beggars' Sect leader!"

"Correct!" Taohua gave a thumbs up and said, "Madame Qu has a good eye! She is the last disciple of the leader of the Beggars' Sect. This girl has suffered from many disasters and illnesses since she was a child. The Smiling Yama spent a lot of money on her, but it was ineffective. Later, when she was on the verge of death, he showed mercy and took out 500,000 taels of silver to provide disaster relief and save people. It was because of this that the leader Long agreed to accept his daughter as a disciple, and she finally saved her life."

Xun Taijun picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. She said in silence, "Taohua, the young man who attacked earlier today, I heard you call him Hero Bai? Do you know his origins?"

Upon hearing this, Taohua immediately shouted, "I know him very well. I often go to his restaurant to eat... and drink... for free..." She was so happy that she spoke out what was in her heart.

Xun Taijun said: "Oh? He is a businessman who runs a shop?"

Xun Rizhao also said: "But this hero Bai looks like a modest gentleman, with a handsome demeanor. He doesn't look like a businessman at all."

Taohua thought about it and said, "He really doesn't look like a businessman... He only appeared in Chang'an two years ago. No one knows where he came from. He opened a restaurant two years ago. In the beginning, he seemed to be busy with business, but later he didn't care much about the restaurant. It seemed that he didn't care how much he earned. He often gave out porridge to the poor. He was not in the capital for more than half of the month."

Aunt Qu asked, "What does he do when he goes out?"

Taohua said, "He was just giving out porridge at first when he met a poor man who was persecuted by a local bully and had to flee. After listening to the man's words, he took up his sword and mounted his horse without saying a word. After galloping for a day and a night, he went to the man's hometown and killed the local bully. He came back with the head of the bully. Later, a man who couldn't make a living heard about this and ran to his restaurant and knelt down, hoping to ask for his help. Unexpectedly, he accepted everyone who came. In the past two years, he has killed eight bullies, six flower thieves, and three robbers. He alone has wiped out seven notorious strongholds. If you count it this way... Oh my God!"

Taohua went off topic while talking: "I originally wanted to introduce him to a lady from a wealthy family, but what happened is that he left the capital right after I made an appointment with her. I almost broke my legs chasing him for the past two years, but he told me two days ago that he already had a fiancée. When I went to look for him the day before yesterday, I saw him leaving the capital in a hurry. I thought he was going to kill someone again... I didn't expect to see a woman following him just now. It seems that he was probably going to pick up his fiancée... You said he ran around everywhere without asking for a penny, and he gave these people money and things when they asked for them. If he didn't have a restaurant... I don't think anyone would marry him, they would just starve!"

Xun Taijun felt something was not right, so she coughed and reminded Taohua: "In that case, he can be called a hero."

Xun Rizhao's blood boiled when he heard this and he said, "What do you know? This is called chivalry and justice. A man of great potential should also be like this."

Taohua came back to her senses and said, "But I heard that he seems to have some relationship with Qianjiazhuang."

Xun Taijun said: "Cuihua..."

Aunt Qu responded, "Hey!"

Xun Taijun said, "Please prepare two generous gifts for me tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, Zhao'er and I will personally visit the owner of Qianzhuang. After that, we will ask someone to find out where the hero Bai lives. Zhao'er and I will go to visit him... Hey... What is the name of this hero Bai?"

Taohua said: "His name is Bai Ziyang, and don't bother me, I know where he lives, behind his restaurant, I'm... familiar with that place..."

Xun Rizhao suddenly had a bad feeling when he heard this, and quickly stood up and asked, "Grandma, why are we going to Qianjiazhuang?"

Xun Taijun said calmly: "Come and propose marriage!"

Xun Rizhao said, "Ah? You want me to marry the daughter of Smiling Yama?"

Xun Taijun said as expected: "Why? Do you have any objection?"

Xun Rizhao hesitated and said, "I..."

Taohua took the opportunity to say, "Master Xun, you don't know that her father is the richest man in Chang'an, and she is a famous beauty in Chang'an City. If you marry her... you will get both money and a woman, and you will be very lucky!"

Xun Rizhao said angrily, "I don't care. The girl I like must be gentle, considerate and understanding!" After saying that, he stared at Xun Taijun with hopeful eyes, trying to change Xun Taijun's mind through this window of the soul.

Unfortunately, Lady Xun closed the window tightly, leaving him no room to open the door. She said nonchalantly, "It's settled!"

Xun Rizhao looked at Xun Taijun who was getting up and leaving, and was about to struggle a little longer, saying, "Grandma, I don't want to marry that woman!"

Lady Xun said without even turning her head: "No matter which woman it is, as long as she can protect you, she is worthy of being the daughter-in-law of my Xun family!"

Taohua and Aunt Qu who stayed behind couldn't help laughing when they heard this. Generally speaking, this sentence is said by elders to their own daughters. Now it adds some laughs. Looking at Xun Rizhao who still wanted to struggle, Aunt Qu comforted him, "Okay, don't say anymore..."

Left alone, Xun Rizhao could only think of running away from home like the young lady in the storybook! Unfortunately, he was caught by the people sent by Xun Taijun, who knew him too well, less than 24 hours after he ran away, and was locked up in a small dark room.

The next day, when Bai Ziyang was drinking tea with Zhu Yuchan in the garden of Qianjiazhuang, Qian Kui and Qian Chong came over with a visiting card from the General Jingguo Mansion. Zhu Yuchan looked at it and asked in surprise, "How could it be? The General Jingguo Mansion has nothing to do with our Qian family, so why would they come to our house?"

Qian Kui closed the visiting card and said to Qian Chong, "Tell me to come out to meet you."

Zhu Yuchan looked uneasy, and hesitated to speak. Bai Ziyang comforted her, "Don't worry, aunt. If an enemy comes, we will fight him. Besides, the General Jingguo's Mansion is still a loyal family, and they won't do anything."

Zhu Yuchan had no choice but to hold Bai Ziyang's hand and go to the front hall to meet the guest.

"Madam Xun, please come in. Master Xun, please come in..." Qian Chong led Madam Xun and Xun Rizhao to the hall with a polite smile and courteous manner, and introduced them to Qian Kui and Zhu Yuchan who were waiting in the hall: "Godfather, Madam Xun is here!" Bai Ziyang stood behind them and saw Madam Xun holding a dragon-headed cane, walking in briskly with Xun Rizhao gently supporting her from the side.

Qian Kui hurried forward and said with a smile: "It is indeed Madam Xun. Ah, how dare I accept this. I, Qian Kui, pay my respects to Madam Xun." Then he was about to bow to the ground. Zhu Yuchan beside him said softly: "Master, your legs are not convenient, so let me do it for you." Then he bowed to Madam Xun and said: "Zhu Yuchan greets Madam Xun."

Xun Taijun said, "No need to be so polite." After that, she saw Bai Ziyang behind her. Bai Ziyang stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Bai Ziyang greets Xun Taijun. I pay my respects to Xun Taijun!"

Xun Taijun smiled and said, "You are welcome, Mr. Bai."

Bai Ziyang quickly said, "I don't deserve the title of great hero Xun Taijun."

Xun Taijun turned her head slightly and said to Xun Rizhao, "Zhao'er, meet the wife of Qianzhuang Master and Hero Bai."

Xun Rizhao clasped his fists and bowed obediently, saying, "Junior Xun Rizhao greets the owner, Madam, and Master Bai... I also want to thank Master Bai for saving my life yesterday."

Qian Kui and Bai Zi hurriedly said, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it!"

Qian Kui looked at Xun Rizhao and complimented him, "Mr. Xun is so elegant and dignified, it's true that there is no bad son in a general's family..." Bai Ziyang and Zhu Yuchan just had to keep smiling at the side, "I wonder if I have the honor to admire Mr. Xun's peerless martial arts!"

Xun Rizhao was also good at chatting, and said, "Unfortunately, I don't know any martial arts at all!"

Qian Kui stared and subconsciously said "Eh?", and then he heard Xun Rizhao say: "I have only liked reading and writing since I was a child. I admire the Confucianism of Confucius and Mencius, and yearn for the selflessness of Laozi and Zhuangzi. As for taking up knives and guns, fighting and being fierce... Confucius said: A gentleman who talks but does not fight is really not worth it!"

Zhu Yuchan and Bai Ziyang looked at each other from behind, and both of them looked at each other saying: Emma, ​​it’s so hard to laugh!

The most amazing one was Qian Kui. After hearing what Xun Rizhao said, he laughed even louder and said, "As the saying goes, every profession has its champion. Mr. Xun doesn't want to be the champion in martial arts, it's the same if he wants to be the champion in literature, it's the same too! Haha... Come on, everyone, please take a seat." He better sit down and say yes. If he continues chatting, who knows what this idiot will say.

Zhu Yuchan quickly replied, "Madam, please have some tea."

Bai Ziyang found a seat below him and sat down, then he heard Qian Kui say, "I just saw the name card from the General Jingguo Mansion and I couldn't believe my eyes. To be honest, you are the person I admire most in my life. Back then, you broke into the enemy camp alone at night to capture the vassal king and forced him to withdraw from the territory of the Tang Dynasty. This courage and bravery is something that no man can match."

Bai Ziyang nodded as he listened, and said, "Master Qian, you are the person I admire the most from now on. I can't even dream of your ability to flatter others."

Most people would be humble when hearing Qian Kui say this, and say something like don't mention the past anymore. Xun Taijun didn't know if it was intentional, so she asked directly: "Why don't you see Miss Qianxun?"