Zuixian Pavilion, the largest and best restaurant in Wancheng.
It is famous far and wide for its fine wines and delicacies. It is said that the word "Zui Xian" was given by Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu himself.
Liu Zhang led his guards and Huang Zhong to the entrance of Zuixian Pavilion.
"Huang Zhuangshi, what's wrong?"
Huang Zhong's face turned red and he looked troubled.
"Young Master Liu is so kind to you. Huang Zhong should have invited you to dinner."
"But Huang Zhong's family is poor, so he really can't thank the young master here."
Liu Zhang slapped his forehead, smiled and shook his head.
"You worry too much, I'm going to treat you today."
"The villain dare not let the young master spend money! If the young master has any instructions, he can tell Huang Zhong directly."
"I'll let you go in with me now."
Liu Zhang ignored Huang Zhong and walked in first.
Huang Zhong gave Liu Zhang a complicated look and followed him.
The two found a private room, and Liu Zhang arranged for his guards to wait outside. He wanted to talk to Huang Zhong alone.
"Liu Zhang is young and cannot drink alcohol, so he will drink tea instead of wine today. Mr. Huang, please!"
Liu Zhang held up a small cup, Huang Zhong held up the wine glass, and both of them drank it down in one gulp.
"It is rumored that Mr. Liu has an astonishing talent, which is rare throughout the ages. He is indeed well-deserved!"
"You're welcome, Mr. Huang. I wonder if Mr. Huang is in trouble?"
Huang Zhong felt a lot of bitterness in his heart at the moment and was very eager to find someone to talk to.
The boss's oppression, Huang's difficulties, his wife's expectations, and the child's illness all overwhelmed Huang Zhong.
Thinking of his miserable situation, Huang Zhong couldn't help but his eyes turned red.
"Hey! I'm not afraid of young master's jokes..."
Huang Zhong confided his experience to Liu Zhang.
It turns out that Huang Zhong and the Huang family of Jiangxia are from the same origin, but Grandpa Huang Zhong left Jiangxia and came to Nanyang in his generation.
Huang Zhong's grandfather and father never had any contact with the Jiangxia family, nor did they ever mention the grudges between their family and the Huang family of Jiangxia.
Huang Zhong's parents died young, and he relied on his wife Zhang's family for support.
Huang Zhong also got along with Zhang since childhood. The two were childhood sweethearts and had a very good relationship. After getting married, they had a son, Huang Xu.
However, Zhang's health was weak, and after giving birth to a son for Huang Zhong, she could no longer add children to the Huang family.
Not only did Huang Xu not inherit Huang Zhong's strong physique, but he was very thin like his mother and had been sick since childhood.
Huang Zhong and his wife spent all their wealth and barely allowed Huang Xu to survive until now.
Huang Xu needs a lot of money if he wants to live. Huang Zhong's salary as a county soldier is far from enough.
Huang Zhong could only go to Jiangxia and pray to the Huang family to save him for the sake of his fellow clan members.
"Hey. It backfired! I was impulsive and offended Mr. Huang."
Seeing an iron-blooded man like Huang Zhong burst into tears, Liu Zhang was very moved.
A penny can stump a hero! It’s really not easy for Huang Zhong.
Perhaps thousands of people could not make Huang Zhong lower his proud head. But now I have to bow to the yellow and white things.
"Is there no way to cure Huang Xu's disease?"
Huang Zhong sighed and wiped away his tears.
"Master Zhang Ji once gave me a favor, which made me even more desperate."
"What recipe?"
"The other medicinal ingredients in this recipe are fine, but it requires a ten thousand year old ginseng!"
"What! Ten thousand years?"
Liu Zhang widened his little eyes. What is the concept of ten thousand years?
How long is the history of mankind until now?
Let’s not talk about whether there is such ginseng. Even if there is, will it be Huang Xu’s turn?
This almost sentenced Huang Xu to death.
Liu Zhang's reaction made Huang Zhong even more frustrated.
Can a commoner like him still touch a divine object that shocked even the rich people?
"Huang Zhuangshi, ten thousand-year-old ginseng is too appalling! Is there no other way?"
"Now that we use century-old ginseng as a substitute, we can barely survive."
"century..."
Liu Zhang murmured to himself that even a century-old ginseng is still a rare thing!
"What are Huang Zhuangshi's plans for the future?"
"I'm afraid the income of county soldiers is far from enough!"
Huang Zhong lowered his head and said nothing.
Yes, the meager income of the county soldiers could only keep the couple alive, so how could they treat Huang Xu?
If he wasn't really desperate, how could he kneel in front of the Huang family's door!
Liu Zhang saw that Huang Zhong had been forced into a desperate situation and knew that the opportunity to recruit him had come.
"Huang Zhuang has unique skills. Isn't it just a waste of time to be a small soldier?"
"Although I, Liu Zhang, am young, I have great ambitions and admire loyal people like Huang Zhuangshi very much."
"If Huang Zhuangshi is willing to follow me, I will bear the cost of Huang Xu's treatment in the future."
Huang Zhong's eyes lit up and he asked:
"What did the young master ask Huang to do?"
"Follow me all your life and follow my orders!"
"And my father has been transferred to the governor of Jizhou, and his family will leave for Jizhou in three days."
Huang Zhong frowned and his expression darkened.
Liu Zhang asked Huang Zhong to sell himself to him!
Huang Zhong has the arrogance of a noble family in his heart, how could he agree to this!
"Young Master, thank you very much for your kindness."
"Although Huang Zhong was expelled from the Huang family, the blood of the family still flows. How can he guard the gate and protect the courtyard for others!"
"Huang Zhong cannot agree, but I hope you will forgive me!"
Liu Zhang was not angry because of Huang Zhong's rejection. He just walked up to Huang Zhong and patted him on the shoulder.
"Eh."
"Don't rush to answer me. You can go back and think about it carefully."
Liu Zhang walked to the door and looked back at Huang Zhong.
"I have three century-old ginseng trees in my house. I will give them to Huang Zhuangshi regardless of whether Huang Zhuangshi agrees."
"Three days later, at the east gate of Wancheng, Huang Zhuangshi can come and get ginseng."
After saying that, he ignored Huang Zhong and turned around to leave.
Three days passed quickly, and Liu Yan's family set off for Jizhou.
But these three days were extremely difficult for Liu Zhang, and he couldn't even calm down.
This was Liu Zhang's first time recruiting talents, which was of great significance to him.
There are many noble families in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and most of the talents are from wealthy families, so it is not easy to recruit.
Liu Zhang needed to cherish every talent from poor families, common people, and even those who were in poverty.
"Zhang'er, are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Mother Fei looked at Liu Zhang with worry on his face. This child was responsible for the revival of the Liu family and had to be taken seriously by her.
"Thank you, mother, for caring. My son is fine!"
Liu Zhang smiled and shook his head, then looked outside and saw that the city gate was already in front of him.
"Mother, my son has made an appointment with someone at the city gate. He will stop at the city gate later."
"good."
The carriage stopped slowly, and Liu Zhang knew that the result would be revealed soon.
After taking a few deep breaths, Liu Zhang calmed down his nervousness and stepped out of the carriage.
"Master Liu!"
Huang Zhong saw Liu Zhang at a glance and led his wife to Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang took a box and handed it to Huang Zhong.
"Huang Zhuangshi, these are the three hundred-year-old ginseng I promised you, please keep them!"
Huang Zhong took it tremblingly, feeling extremely moved.
Although Liu Zhang was young, he kept his promise and did not ask whether he would follow him or not.
"Han Sheng!"
Mrs. Zhang softly called Huang Zhong, who was in a daze, and then nodded slightly.
Huang Zhong made a decision immediately and knelt down on one knee in front of Liu Zhang.
"Huang Zhong's life will belong to the young master from now on! Please save my son's life, young master."
Mrs. Zhang took Huang Xu and knelt down together.
"Mr. Huang, please get up quickly, Mrs. Huang!"
"Although Liu Zhang is young, he knows that a gentleman's words are hard to catch up with!"
"I will be responsible for Huang Xu's illness to the end!"
The boulder weighing on Liu Zhang's heart finally fell!
Conquering Huang Zhong, a general, allowed him to take a solid step on the road to hegemony!
"Zhang'er, what is this?"
Liu Yan saw three people kneeling in front of Liu Zhang and walked over quickly.
"Father, this is my new guard, Huang Zhong."
"This is his family."
Liu Zhang's tone was very exciting, and he could not restrain his excitement.
"Meet Mr. Liu."
Huang Zhong's family hurriedly saluted Liu Yan. The Jizhou governor was no different from the emperor to commoners like them.
"Well, protect my son well from now on."
Liu Yan didn't pay much attention to Huang Zhong. In his opinion, Huang Zhong was at best a slightly better guard.
"Zhang'er, hurry up and get on your way."
"Yes! Father!"
