Chapter 58 Brother Luo

A woman walked down the stairs, while a man walked up.
The atmosphere throughout the entire tavern was bizarre.
Some wore grim expressions, some snickered, some were so angry they were in tears, and others grinned from ear to ear.
The one grinning from ear to ear was naturally Wang Dafu.
At this moment, Wang Dafu looked at Luo Zijun with the affectionate devotion of a son looking at his adoptive father, and said with a face full of adoration, "Brother Luo, from now on, you are the boss, and I am the subordinate! From this day forward, I, Wang Dafu, will follow Brother Luo’s lead. If Brother Luo tells me to face south, I will never look north! If Brother Luo tells me to scale a mountain of swords, I will never hesitate to plunge into a sea of flames!"
"Cut it out, you flatterer. Pour some tea for Brother Luo and Brother Su," Su Bie said as he sat down by the window.
Wang Dafu glared at him and snapped, "Get lost! If you have the ability, why don't you go and teach those women with their noses in the air a lesson, just like Brother Luo did? Make those nobles from the inner city willingly yield the second floor! Once you achieve that, let alone having me call you brother, calling you grandpa would be no problem at all!"
Luo Zijun immediately chimed in, "Dafu, then you should call me Grandpa Luo! I think Grandpa Luo sounds much better than Brother Luo."
"Get lost!"
Wang Dafu flatly refused.
Calling someone "brother" put them on equal footing, but calling someone "grandpa" meant a generational leap; he wasn't that stupid.
Su Bie chuckled, then suddenly remembering something, leaned closer to Luo Zijun and lowered his voice, "Zijun, that noble young lady just now wanted to take your three poems, saying she wants to include them in the poetry society she established. Why didn't you seize the opportunity to ask for her name?"
Luo Zijun asked in confusion, "Why would I ask for her name?"
Su Bie gave him a look that clearly said he was an idiot. "A woman like that clearly comes from an extraordinary background. If you could take this opportunity to get acquainted with her, it would make things much easier for you in the future. It might even be of immense help when you enter officialdom later on."
"Not interested."
Luo Zijun wore an expression of utter indifference.
Wang Dafu looked at him skeptically, hesitated for a long time, and then covered his backside as he said, "Brother Luo, even a noble young lady as gorgeous as that doesn't interest you? Who on earth *are* you interested in? Please enlighten us, Brother Luo."
Luo Zijun glanced at Wang Dafu's backside.
Wang Dafu shrank back in terror, his expression shifting wildly, "Brother Luo, please don't... I, I have hemorrhoids, and besides, I never wipe after taking a dump..."
"Get lost!"
Luo Zijun ignored him and turned his attention to Xu Xian instead.
The reason he had been so guarded against those women was naturally because of this guy.
There was a chance that cunning white snake might have transformed into some woman, hiding in the crowd and waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Therefore, he would make sure no woman stood a chance of getting anywhere near Master Xu!
"Um..."
Seeing Luo Zijun staring at him, Xu Xian stammered for a good while before his face flushed crimson. He pressed his legs tightly together and timidly said, "Brother Luo, I... I don't like men..."
Luo Zijun: "..."
It was no wonder these fellows had misunderstood.
Before he had even met Xu Xian, he had shown an extraordinary level of concern, and upon meeting him, his gaze had never left him.
With behavior like that, how could others *not* misunderstand?
Seeing the strange and wary looks everyone was giving him, Luo Zijun had no choice but to offer an explanation.
"Let me be honest with you all," Luo Zijun said with a solemn expression.
"Both Brother Su and Brother Xu probably know that I actually have another identity—I am a physician. Brother Xu suffered very severe injuries that day, and they happened to affect his vital parts. After my master examined him, he discovered that even if he recovers, there is a possibility of a relapse. Moreover, since Brother Xu and I study at the same academy, my master instructed me to keep a close eye on Brother Xu, to prevent him from philandering around, and preferably to keep him away from any women..."
"Otherwise, once that area is stimulated, there's a high likelihood the injury will flare up, and even the immortals won't be able to save him..."
He spoke with such grave seriousness that it sounded entirely believable.
Xu Xian listened with trepidation, his face turning pale, and stammered, "Is what Brother Luo says... true?"
Luo Zijun looked at him and said, "What reason would I have to lie to you? I didn't even charge you for your medical expenses last time. What possible benefit could I gain by lying to you?"
Su Bie was still somewhat skeptical. "Zijun, I remember you paid special attention to Brother Xu even before you had met him."
Luo Zijun explained, "That was because I had accidentally heard his name and knew he was a scholar at the West Lake Academy. Back then, though my body was in the medicine shop, my heart was set on the academy. I was determined to pass the scholar examination and enter the academy, so I took Brother Xu as my role model."
Su Bie nodded. "I see. No wonder when I first met you and told you I was a scholar, you were so enthusiastic. I thought it was a bit strange at the time—why would an apprentice from a pharmacy be so interested in scholars, and yet have such profound insight into poetry and prose? Turns out your heart had long been set on scholarly pursuits."
Wang Dafu finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Brother Luo, as long as you aren't casting greedy eyes on your brother's backside, I will continue to call you Big Brother."
Su Bie remarked, "You call him Brother Luo, yet you still call yourself 'brother' to him?"
Wang Dafu chuckled. "We'll keep our titles separate. I call you Brother Su, yet don't I still refer to myself as your older brother in front of you?"
Luo Zijun joked, "Does that mean when Brother Wang talks to his esteemed father at home, he says, 'Father, have you eaten? Your older brother here hasn't eaten yet, hurry up and go make something for your brother'?"
"Pfft—"
"Hahahaha..."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Wang Dafu laughed along and said, "Brother Luo, you really shouldn't make jokes like that! If my dad found out, he'd beat me to death for sure!"
Just then, the waiter began serving the dishes.
The nobles who had been sitting on the second floor earlier had already departed.
The academy women who had gone down to the first floor sat there for a while, growing increasingly angry and humiliated, until they all stood up in a huff and angrily left the tavern.
"Even if we starve to death, we won't stay here to be humiliated!"
"That jerk is sitting above our heads drinking and dining, while we're stuck below him suffering and eating in anger—isn't this just bringing shame upon ourselves?"
"Let's go! We're not eating!"
And so, Mei Yanqiu led the group of women away in a huff.
Huang Beicheng went downstairs to try and persuade them, but failing to sway them, he had no choice but to sheepishly return upstairs.
The men upstairs felt a bit awkward at first.
However, as the alcohol began to flow more freely, they all started chatting, laughing, and discussing grand topics, quickly forgetting about the women who had left in a rage.
"Brother Luo, I propose a toast to you! If it weren't for Brother Luo, none of us would have been able to sit on this second floor today!"
"Brother Luo truly lives up to the talent that earned you a special admission to the academy. Your brilliance leaves us in absolute awe!"
"Ah, Brother Luo's attitude toward women is what I admire and envy the most. I once wanted to be as unrestrained and fearless as Brother Luo, following my own heart and fighting back against those overbearing women. What a pity, I could never shed my pride..."
Once they had too much to drink, everyone naturally had more to say.
Their courage grew as well.
Had they been completely sober, they would never have dared to utter such words offending women or risking public mockery.
Scholars cherished their reputations and feared gossip above all else.
Yet deep down, they desperately wanted to become like Luo Zijun—free and unconstrained, saying whatever they wanted to say, doing whatever they wanted to do, and if they didn't like someone, just pushing back against them!
So what if they were women?
Why should men always be forced to yield to women instead of women yielding to men?
Should men simply allow themselves to be bullied just to maintain their gentlemanly demeanor?
"Brother Luo, I'd also like to propose a toast to you!"
One after another, the men stepped forward to offer toasts.
Luo Zijun raised his cup as well, returning every single toast.
Respect was mutual.
Even between parents and children, or brothers and brothers, the rule remained the same.
If you do not respect me, what reason do I have to respect you?
If you respect me, I will naturally respect you from the bottom of my heart.
Those women all walked around with their noses in the air, assuming that simply because of their gender, men would swallow their pride and never dare to retaliate. Consequently, they had grown arrogant, unreasonable, and tyrannical, acting as though men were obligated to yield to them in every circumstance.
Some even resorted to physical violence during their tirades.
Luo Zijun, however, had no intention of spoiling them.
His tragic experiences in his past life had left deep psychological scars, making him maintain a twelve-fold vigilance and cold detachment toward all women.
Any woman who attempted to get close to him would be beaten to tears by his iron fists!
Well, except for his older sister, of course.
"Luo... Brother Luo, I'd like to toast you too. Thank you, thank you for caring about me..."
Xu Xian raised his wine cup as well.
His form of address had shifted from the formal "Brother Luo" to the much more intimate "Brother Luo."
Luo Zijun's words earlier had terrified him, yet they had also deeply moved him.
It turned out that this Brother Luo wasn't after his body after all, but had been genuinely concerned about his poor little brother downstairs, fearing he might be permanently crippled.
"A physician treats patients as if they were his own family, Xiaoxian. No need to stand on ceremony."
Luo Zijun altered his form of address as well.
He felt it was time to gradually let this fellow know who the older brother was and who he should listen to from now on.
"Xi... Xiaoxian?"
Su Bie's lips twitched violently as he listened from the side.
Luo Zijun turned his head and asked, "Xiaobie, do you have a problem with that?"
Su Bie: "..."
Wang Dafu laughed heartily and said, "Brother Luo's naming convention is brilliant! From now on, let's call him Xiaoxian, Xiaobie, Xiaotian, Xiaofu, and Xiaojun. How does that sound, everyone?"
"That lowers our scholarly dignity! If you address us like that, outsiders might think the five of us share some abnormal romance."
Luo Zijun offered this critique before raising his cup to toast Xu Xian once more.
After a hearty meal, everyone was feeling a pleasant buzz of alcohol. With their spirits still high, they walked down the stairs, planning to continue their outing.
The scholar-innkeeper, Liang Ruhai, personally came over to see them off with a smile. "Originally, I intended to waive the bill for your food and drink, but that noble from the inner city has already paid the tab for you. Esteemed scholars, if you honor us with your presence again next time, I will personally treat you."
Huang Beicheng quickly cupped his fists in gratitude.
Liang Ruhai escorted the group outside the main entrance, then pulled Luo Zijun aside and made a quiet request, "Young Master Luo, would it be possible for me to have the three poems you just composed carved into plaques and displayed at the entrance? That way, on one hand, it can help me attract some business, and on the other hand, it will allow Young Master Luo's poems to spread further, making your reputation even more renowned."
Luo Zijun thought for a moment and replied, "You may carve them, but do not write my name on them. Just write... Peach Blossom Scholar."
Lin Ruhai was slightly startled, then smiled and cupped his hands. "We shall follow Young Master's wishes and attribute them to the Peach Blossom Scholar."
Luo Zijun cupped his hands in farewell.
Standing outside the door, Lin Ruhai watched as the group walked away. Only when they were completely out of sight did he turn back into the inn, summon a waiter, and lower his voice. "Go to the back, ride a horse, and catch up with Miss Jia's party. Tell her that this Young Master Luo's pseudonym is the Peach Blossom Scholar. When the Begonia Poetry Society publishes its poetry anthology later, she can just use this pen name. That Young Master Luo clearly does not wish to gain fame too early."
"Understood, Master!"
The waiter gave a respectful nod and hurried off toward the stables behind the building.
At that moment, the afternoon sun was brilliantly radiant.
Huang Beicheng led the students along the Qingshui River, enjoying the scenery and chatting casually.
"Where are Miss Mei and the others?"
"They couldn't possibly have gone back in a huff, could they?"
"We agreed to go to Hanshan Temple; they probably went on ahead."
Just as the group was about to set off to find them, they suddenly heard panicked cries for help coming from the riverbank not far ahead.
"Help! Help me—!"
The group looked over and realized those were none other than the women from their own academy!
At that moment, Mei Yanqiu and the others were standing by the riverbank, looking panicked and screaming at the top of their lungs.
Several of the women were already frightened to tears.
"Someone come quickly! Someone has fallen into the water!"
Seeing this, the group hurriedly rushed toward the scene.