Our Second Master

Chapter 6: Our Second Master Falls Ill

That night passed rather ridiculously. Many people gave me a respectful smile, and even a few maids came to add food for me. I wanted to tell them I was also a maid like them, please don't add food for me. But, I did not dare to speak. At this setting, I didn't even dare to eat, much less speak. Second Master sat by my side from start to end as people entertained him. Although Second Master was smiling, but it was not frivolous at all, in fact, he felt very matured. Everyone was speaking very humbly to him, but he did not have any arrogance at all. As to what they were saying, I could not understand at all. Later, after three rounds of wine, someone suddenly arrived from the other table. He stood in front of Second Master and immediately knelt down. I looked at him and realised, aiyah, this was the head who surrounded Second Master and even beat me up.

He knelt down on the ground but his waist did not bend. He looked like he had drank quite a bit and his face was flushed red. He looked at Second Master and breathing heavily he said, "Second Yang Master, I do not know why you invited me here today. But, there is something I need to say!" You can speak, why must you shout.

Second Master looked quietly at him and said, "Speak."

The person was so agitated that his nostrils seemed to widen. He spoke loudly, "When Second Master met misfortune, not only did my Wang family not send coal during the snow, I, Wang Zhi, even threw stones down the well. Now that Second Master has flourished, covering half the trade lines of Jiangnan, it is well within reason not to look after my Wang family! But ---!!" Wang Zhi truly had drank too much. Everyone on the boat was looking at him as he stared daggers at Second Master, "But! I have no regrets!"

His voice had a trace of tears, "I do not regret! That year, you made trouble at the Osmanthus Pavilion and cut my wife's long hair. For half a year, my wife did not dare to go out of the house and did not even smile. You, do you even remember this?!" I was silent as I stole a look at Second Master. Second Master was expressionless.

Wang Zhi finally yelled, "So I have no regrets! Yang Yi Qi, my Wang family even without your help can still survive!"

Second Master finally opened his mouth, "Then, why are you kneeling down towards me." Everyone was silent, even Wang Zhi. If you really did not need help, why would you kneel? Wang Zhi bent down and cried. Everyone was watching. Second Master pushed away the stool and stood on the ground. He did not hold his crutch. His hand leaned on the table and the other on Wang Zhi's shoulder. "Rise." Wang Zhi did not move. Second Master increased pressure, "Gentleman Wang, rise."

Wang Zhi lifted his head to look at Second Master and finally stood up. After he stood up, Second Master became the shortest in the entire boat. A person came up to carry him to the seat but he shook his head. He poured a cup of wine for himself and turned around. He spoke to everyone in a low voice, "Everyone, those that I invited today - some knew me before and some did not. Some with debts of gratitude, some with debts of grudge. This cup of wine, I give to all those debts of gratitude." After he finished, he threw away the cup. He moved forward by a step and lifted up his head and said, "This head, I kowtow to those with debts of grudge." After he finished, before anyone could react, Second Master bowed forward and his forehead knocked into the wooden flooring of the boat with a "thud" sound. He only had half a leg, this kowtow was not easy.

Everyone was stunned, including me. Who dared to accept Second Master's head? Not even speaking of myself as a maid, everyone here had something to ask from Second Master, even more they did not dare to receive this and quickly got up. But no one was able to predict this scenario, so no one dared to open their mouths. Second Master rose up, his expression did not change as he poured another cup of wine. He announced, "I, Yang Yi Qi, only rely on three things when I do business --- courage, brains and trust."