Six Doors

“This commoner greets you, Sir Bronze Badge.” At the entrance of Six Doors, Wei Yuefu saw who had come and at once bowed in greeting. “Hahaha, so it really is you, Shoucheng.” The middle-aged man in official robes hurried over to him as well. “When my people said you'd come looking for me, I didn't quite believe it.” “Come, let's talk inside.” With that, the other man led Wei Yuefu into Six Doors. This man was named Tian Muchuan. He was a bronze badge constable chief of Six Doors, and the man in charge of everything in Songyang County that touched on theft, banditry, the jianghu, and the gangs. “Coming to see me at this hour—is something the matter with Hall Master Meng?” Tian Muchuan asked casually. “This time, I've come to join Six Doors,” Wei Yuefu said, his face bitter. “I ask that you take me in, Sir Bronze Badge.” Those words brought Tian Muchuan's steps to a halt. To be honest, he had long coveted “Ding Shoucheng,” the third disciple of Sifang Martial Arts Hall. The man was famously honest and wooden. Who wouldn't want a fellow like that under them, someone who did real work and was loyal? But it was precisely because of that loyalty that no one could poach him. He had tried several times himself, courting him openly and in secret, and had been turned down every time. Yet now that the man had come to him, it didn't make him happy—it made him wary. When something is out of the ordinary, there is sure to be something strange behind it. “Shoucheng, what's going on?” Tian Muchuan asked as though casually, while quietly studying Wei Yuefu's expression. And Wei Yuefu had been waiting for exactly that question. He knew perfectly well that his behavior was out of the ordinary. But that didn't matter. With Meng Wei playing along on his side, he had nothing to worry about. “A few days ago, there was that duel with the Iron Thread Hand. You must have heard of it, Sir Bronze Badge.” Wei Yuefu's face grew bitterer still. “I heard something of it. They say you were badly hurt.” Tian Muchuan nodded, sizing him up. “Only now it seems the rumors were wrong.” “The injuries weren't serious, but they left a deep impression on me.” Wei Yuefu seized the opening. “And it was because of that business that I went to my master—to Meng Wei.” “I wanted him to find me a wife, so I could carry on the family line.” “Tell me, Sir Bronze Badge, was I wrong?” Tian Muchuan was privately startled—the man wasn't even calling him master anymore. But at Wei Yuefu's next words, he asked with a strange look, “Hall Master Meng refused?” Wanting a wife was perfectly normal. At his age, in fact, not having one already counted as late. He had always assumed “Ding Shoucheng” simply didn't want one. He'd never imagined that Meng Wei was the one forbidding him to marry. Tian Muchuan was an old fox, and he grasped the whole thing in a moment: Meng Wei was afraid that with a wife and children, “Ding Shoucheng” would no longer be willing to be the old ox. “No.” Wei Yuefu's voice came out muffled and rumbling. “I suppose Meng Wei has his difficulties. If he won't find me a wife, fine.” “So I just asked for my monthly stipend to be raised by a tael or two—the ten taels I used to get still go to hall dues—and said I'd save up little by little and marry on my own.” “But then...” “Wait—you're saying you pay hall dues???” This time Tian Muchuan wasn't surprised; he was shocked. “Are you really Hall Master Meng's direct personal disciple?” Hall dues were tuition and living expenses. Only outer disciples had to pay them. “After all these years, Sir Bronze Badge, you and I have met a dozen times or more. Whether I am or not, you should know.” “If you think I'm lying, sir, then look here.” Wei Yuefu opened his bundle and gave it a shake; it held nothing but clothes. “You see, there's nothing in this bundle of mine but two sets of clothes.” The twenty taels of silver he had hidden away before coming. When you play the pitiful case, you play it thoroughly and leave no holes. For a moment Tian Muchuan was silent. Then he asked, “What reason did Meng Wei give for refusing to raise your stipend?” “Meng Wei said I eat a lot, that ten taels was already not enough for me, and that not charging me more hall dues was a great mercy.” Wei Yuefu spoke in a low voice. “Living a little worse day to day would be one thing, but I've worked myself to the bone for Sifang Martial Arts Hall for so many years, and he won't even let me take a wife and have children.” “Ah—” Here Wei Yuefu let out a sigh. Tian Muchuan truly had not expected it to be over a thing like this. As for Wei Yuefu lying? A lie like this would collapse at a single poke. How stupid would a man have to be to tell it? In truth, Wei Yuefu was lying, of course—but Meng Wei's own explanation would be of no use at all. Apart from the falling-out over taking a wife, everything else about his treatment was true. The reason he'd chosen this excuse was simple: it was meant to head off public opinion. If a master like Meng Wei forced his disciple to end his own line, then people would only think it natural that the disciple jumped ship. After all, of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no heir. When you, the master, are being so unreasonable, who can be blamed if the man runs off? Look at other martial arts halls—they put on a grand wedding for their direct personal disciples. If this got out, Sifang Martial Arts Hall's good name would be in the mud for certain. And as for Meng Wei targeting Wei Yuefu? Sometimes all he had to do was start a fight, and opponents of the same tier would naturally be matched against him. For instance... Yuanwei Martial Arts Hall, which had just had thirty percent of its holdings taken from it, would absolutely be the first to join in. “You chose the wrong master,” Tian Muchuan sighed with feeling. Then he said, “I can see you're tired today.” “I'll arrange for you to rest.” “Come find me at maozheng tomorrow, for the morning session.” Tian Muchuan did not immediately agree to do anything for Wei Yuefu. Wei Yuefu had spoken, and he believed that honest “Ding Shoucheng” would not lie, but for safety's sake he would look into the situation first. “Yes, Sir Bronze Badge.” Hearing this, Wei Yuefu knew in his heart that the matter was seventy percent settled. The rest depended entirely on Meng Wei's “assist.” As for maozheng and the morning session, that simply meant coming at six in the morning, when the morning meeting was held. “Oh, there's one more thing...” Wei Yuefu said, feigning embarrassment. “A grown man should say what he has to say,” Tian Muchuan said at once. “What sort of behavior is this, hemming and hawing?” “It's just that I've got a big appetite. I eat a lot.” Wei Yuefu didn't hold back. “What? Afraid my Six Doors can't feed you?” Tian Muchuan said with a laugh. “I've never seen how much you eat, but I've heard about it.” “Go ahead and eat your belly full.” “Never mind rice and noodles—I'll let you eat your fill of meat and dishes too.” Food? That was the last thing Six Doors feared. Every constable who could serve at Six Doors was a martial artist. And because of their martial arts, constables and constable chiefs had risen from clerks to officials. Not one of them had a small appetite. If Wei Yuefu truly ate little, then he would have to doubt the man's martial arts instead. Appetite and martial prowess could, to some extent, stand for a martial artist's strength. If a man couldn't eat, his strength was declining. “Thank you, Sir Bronze Badge!” Wei Yuefu said hurriedly. “For letting me eat my fill.” So long as he could eat his fill, and once his nutrition kept up and he nursed his body back to health, those two talents with the question marks would in all likelihood be activated.