Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

Chapter 43 A Chance Encounter in Qinghe County

"Clatter".

A soft sound.

The slippery pole fell down from the second-floor window, as if it had eyes, and hit Zheng Tu squarely on the head.

"Oh dear!" A woman's soft exclamation came from upstairs. Her voice was delicate and melodious, with a hint of panic but also a touch of allure.

Zheng Tu felt a sharp pain on his head, reached up to rub it, and subconsciously looked up.

But then, through the parted bamboo curtain inside the window, a beautiful face peeked out.

Her eyebrows resembled a crescent moon, her face was like a peach blossom in March, her lips were slightly parted, and her breath was as fragrant as orchids.

What's most striking are her captivating, foxy eyes—watery and sparkling, capable of stealing one's soul with a single glance.

Although she wore ordinary clothes and her black hair was only adorned with a simple hairpin, she could not hide her innate charm and allure, like a ripe peach exuding an enticing fragrance.

She was truly a stunningly beautiful woman.

Seeing that she had misjudged the pole and actually hit someone, the woman panicked and leaned half her body out of the window.

This discovery was quite remarkable! The lotus-colored cloth shirt she was wearing was stretched and hung on the windowsill, instantly revealing her slender waist, as graceful as a willow branch, and a plump and full figure that was hard to look away from.

Such looks, such a figure, such demeanor...

A thunderous boom resounded in Zheng Tu's mind. A name almost burst from his lips!

"My hand slipped for a moment, and the wind blew it away, causing me to accidentally hit you, sir. Please forgive me!"

The woman bowed slightly towards the ground below, her voice sweet and delicate, enough to melt even the toughest man.

Zheng Tu was stunned by this sudden encounter and stood there dumbfounded, forgetting to respond.

Seeing his distraught appearance, Pan Jinlian assumed he was bewitched by her beauty and chuckled to herself, "What a simpleton."

She pursed her lips, her eyes darting over Zheng Tu, and said softly, "It's embarrassing for you to stare like that, sir."

After saying that, she deliberately turned her body to the side so that the light from the window could shine better on her pretty face.

But Zheng Tu was a man of strong will and determination; how could he be tempted by beauty?

He suddenly came to his senses, ignoring the woman upstairs, and instead looked around with his eyes like a hawk, scanning the street back and forth.

He thought to himself, "That Master Ximen should be here right now! I mustn't miss him!"

Although Zheng Tu was not as handsome as Ximen Qing, nor as dashing as Wu Erlang, he had experienced life and death several times, and his actions exuded an indescribable aura. In addition, after his martial arts skills improved, his originally frail body had transformed into well-defined muscles, with broad shoulders and a wide back.

His imposing physique and indescribable aura combined to create a unique and attractive quality.

Upstairs, Pan Jinlian saw that Zheng Tu ignored her coquettish complaints and instead looked around, and a strange feeling arose in her heart.

You should know that she has always been beautiful. Whether it is wealthy landowners or dissolute young men on the street, who doesn't lust after her and lose their mind when they see her?

It was quite unusual to see this man so indifferent.

Upon closer inspection, she saw that although the man was not particularly handsome, he was tall and imposing, with a commanding presence and a natural air of magnanimity. Compared to her short and stocky husband, they were worlds apart.

Pan Jinlian's initial displeasure gradually transformed into a sense of novelty and interest. She leaned forward again and said softly:

"My lord, are you looking around so intently, searching for someone? Perhaps... I can lend a hand?"

"Shut up! Close the windows!"

Zheng Tu turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing like lightning. He grabbed the pitchfork on the ground and threw it back into the window with precise force, landing right at Pan Jinlian's feet.

Zheng Tu didn't look at him again and turned to leave.

Pan Jinlian was startled by the sudden shout and her beautiful eyes widened. By the time she came to her senses, the forked pole was already lying in front of her.

She had never been treated with such coldness before. She was immediately filled with shame and anger, her face flushed crimson. She gritted her teeth and muttered, "What an ignorant brute! I asked him a question out of kindness, and he responds with such rudeness! Truly uncouth and impolite!"

With a bang, she slammed the window shut, pulled back the curtains, and stormed off to her room.

Zheng Tu didn't care what she did.

His mind was in turmoil. Seeing no trace of Ximen Qing around, he thought to himself, "Could it be that the time is not yet right? Or has something changed because of me?" The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became.

This time, by some twist of fate, I shielded Master Ximen from the forked pole. I wonder if it will happen again? What if the forked pole falls again and hits Ximen Qing on the head?

While pondering, he randomly selected a teahouse nearby.

The sign read "Wang's Tea House." Zheng Tu casually tied his horse to the post at the entrance, lifted the curtain, and went inside.

The teahouse was clean and tidy, with four or five tables and chairs.

It was past noon and there were no customers, making it seem rather deserted.

Zheng Tu chose a clean seat and sat down. His mind was full of complicated thoughts. Besides the matter of Ximen Qing, he also had to think about money.

Having come out this time, he only had a few taels of silver left. It was enough to cover his lodging and food for a few days, but if he wanted to do anything important, he would be in dire straits.

It's true what they say, even a hero can be brought down by a penny!

Just as he was pondering this, the teahouse owner came to greet him. She was a woman in her fifties, wearing a black headscarf and a blue cloth shirt, her face beaming with smiles: "Sir, would you like something to drink?"

Preoccupied with something, Zheng Tu casually said, "Just a cup of tea will do."

The old woman responded and went into the back kitchen. A short while later, she brought out a cup of hot tea and placed it on the table.

"Please enjoy your meal, sir."

It's a common, coarse tea with large leaves; when steeped in boiling water, it turns a yellowish-brown.

Zheng Tu picked up his teacup and took a sip. It was slightly astringent, but it quenched his thirst. The bitter taste melted on his tongue, which actually made him a little clearer-headed.

He then temporarily put aside his thoughts and looked up to examine the layout of the teahouse.

The shop was small, with a few old square tables and tea canisters and fruit dishes on the counter. A copper kettle sat on a charcoal stove in the corner, emitting white steam. The owner of the teahouse sat on a bamboo chair beside the stove, holding a tattered palm-leaf fan and idly fanning the fire.

Zheng Tu's gaze lingered on the homeowner.

Although the old woman had a kind smile on her face, she exuded a shrewdness and worldliness. She walked with a slight sway of her waist, which gave her a somewhat vulgar air.

Especially those eyes, when they look at people... they always seem to have a scrutinizing and calculating look in them.

A thought suddenly struck Zheng Tu, and he remembered Ximen Qing's drunken words at the Lion Tower banquet in his previous life:

"That old woman is really something... She's good at matchmaking, she's a go-between, she can hug people, she can take in young men, she can talk about romance, she can be a go-between... If we're talking about the ability to connect people and make connections, she's second to none."

He slowly put down his teacup and looked at the old woman who was fanning the fire in the tea room.

Could this old woman be Wang Po?!