The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 375

As Zhou Chu's health improved day by day, he was gradually able to get out of bed. In this mountain village, Zhou Chu felt an unprecedented tranquility.

Zhou Chu's nerves were always on edge. He had to plan too many things and scheme against too many people. He had to think things through carefully in everything he did. If he made a mistake, he might be doomed.

Even though Zhou Chu had planned everything meticulously, everyone has moments of carelessness. There is no such thing as being able to guard against a thief for a thousand days. Originally, Zhou Chu thought that he had the entire Jiangnan region under his control, but now he realized that he had been careless after all.

He has offended so many people, and countless people have had their homes ransacked and been exiled because of him. The more he does, the more people will resent him, and the more dangerous it will become for him.

Zhou Chu ultimately overlooked this problem: the danger would only accumulate and not dissipate. It was just that his smooth sailing all along made Zhou Chu feel that he could predict everything and that everything was under his control.

It wasn't until he was assassinated that Zhou Chu realized he would eventually overlook some things and be careless at times.

This assassination attempt dealt a significant blow to Zhou Chu's confidence. He had always had a smooth life without encountering any setbacks. Success can build confidence, but once a setback occurs, it can severely damage that confidence.

If Zhou Chu hadn't had the experiences of his previous life, he would probably be questioning his existence by now. But Zhou Chu not only had a smooth life in this one, but also some hardships in his previous life.

So although it was a blow, it wasn't that serious.

"Raise your hand a little higher."

Zhou Chu instructed Dazhu in martial arts while sipping his tea.

This tea was brewed by Zhang Damin using high-quality tea leaves. These leaves were specially brought out from Zhang Laowu's home, and he instructed Zhang Damin to make sure Zhou Chu was well taken care of and that nothing went wrong.

Although Zhang Damin didn't quite understand, he was clear that it was probably because Zhou Chu's identity was unusual.

However, Zhou Chu could intimidate Zhang Laowu, but he wouldn't treat Zhang Damin the same way, since Zhang Damin's family was his savior.

"Uncle Zhang, just put it here, I can do it myself."

Zhou Chu naturally wouldn't let Zhang Damin run around serving him tea and water.

"Hey."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Damin immediately put down the teapot.

He saw Zhou Chu teaching Dazhu martial arts and realized that people like Zhou Chu were not ordinary; many of them had family-inherited martial arts, like the wealthy family he often visited to sell hunting skills.

"Brother Chu, can Dazhu practice martial arts?"

Zhang Damin hesitated for a moment.

Zhang Damin knew very well that once he started practicing martial arts, his appetite would increase significantly, and he would have to eat well, otherwise he would harm his health and ruin his body.

Since Zhang Damin understood Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation), he naturally knew some of it, but he had never practiced it because the conditions did not allow it.

"Don't worry, Uncle Zhang, you don't need to worry about Dazhu's expenses for martial arts training. He'll eat and use the best of everything, and I'll even help him find a future."

Zhou Chu smiled.

Zhou Chu didn't specify what kind of future he was referring to, but Zhang Damin was extremely happy to hear this. For mountain people like them, any future was much better than staying in the village.

"We didn't save you for..."

Zhang Damin hesitated for a moment.

He wanted his son to have a bright future, but he was also afraid that it would cost Zhou Chu too much. After all, if you eat and use the best things for martial arts training, it would cost a lot.

They rescued Zhou Chu on a whim, not for any reward. Now it seems like they're taking advantage of their kindness. Zhang Damin, who's easily embarrassed, felt very awkward.

"Uncle Zhang, there's no need to feel embarrassed. I know your family's character well. You saved me for no reward. Dazhu is a good prospect; it would be a waste if he didn't practice martial arts. I happen to need such a talent under my command."

Zhou Chu took a sip of his drink and said.

Zhang Damin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Then you should train him properly, and if he doesn't listen, beat him to death."

Zhang Damin said somewhat excitedly.

"Don't worry, Uncle Zhang, I will teach him well."

As Zhou Chu spoke, he took another sip of Gao Sui.

Although the tea leaves were far inferior to the tea he used to drink, they still had some tea flavor, which could dilute the bitterness in Zhou Chu's mouth.

These past few days, Zhou Chu's mouth has been filled with the bitter taste of herbs from taking medicine.

"Uncle Zhang, do you have any more maltose?"

Zhou Chu glanced at Zhang Damin and said.

The last time Zhang Damin went shopping, Zhou Chu specifically asked him to buy some maltose, because the medicine brewed by the village doctor was too bitter, and sometimes Zhou Chu could hardly drink it even if he pinched his nose.

Every time Zhou Chu drank the medicine, he felt like he was being tortured. After drinking it, the taste lingered in his mouth for a long time, and even his burps tasted like that, rushing straight to his head.

Zhou Chu couldn't understand why each individual ingredient didn't taste that disgusting, but when cooked together, they turned into this kind of taste.

Therefore, Zhou Chu asked Zhang Damin to buy some maltose so that it would be easier to swallow the medicine.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll go get it for you."

Zhang Damin was feeling a little embarrassed at the time, but upon hearing this, he immediately perked up and turned to go inside to get some maltose for Zhou Chu.

Zhou Chu took the maltose from Zhang Damin, broke off a piece, put it in a teacup, and then poured a cup of tea. After the maltose had dissolved to a minimum, he took a sip. He couldn't quite describe the taste; it was a sweet tea flavor.

Zhou Chu was immediately satisfied and drank all the tea in the teacup in one gulp.

After Zhang Damin left, Er Ya appeared beside Zhou Chu at some point, her eyes filled with longing as she looked at the remaining half of the candy.

Zhou Chu glanced at Er Ya, then at the maltose.

"Want to eat?"

Er Ya nodded, then shook her head.

"I do not want to eat."

Er Ya was clearly lying when she said that; her eyes were completely drawn to the candy and she couldn't look away.

Zhou Chu picked up the maltose candy, broke off a piece, and immediately looked distressed, realizing he hadn't controlled his strength and had broken it too big.

Zhou Chu looked at the candy, then at Er Ya, and reluctantly handed it over.

"Eat it, but don't chew it. If you chew it, it will be gone in no time."

Upon hearing this, Er Ya looked around and, finding that her parents were not there, she stealthily took the candy and quickly stuffed it into her mouth, afraid of being seen.

On the other side, Li Xian was brought before Yun Jin.

"Li Xian!"

Yun Jin was furious when she saw the culprit behind the assassination attempt, but she knew very well that the angrier she was, the more she needed to stay calm.

"Who are you?"

Li Xian stared blankly at the woman in armor before him. Although the Ming Dynasty did not explicitly prohibit women from joining the army, almost no women would actually enlist.

Judging from the armor of the woman in front of me, she doesn't seem to be an ordinary soldier; she must be at least a general.

"Can you subject him to severe torture while ensuring he doesn't die?"

Yun Jin looked at Chen Zhao beside her and asked.

“Grandma, you’ve come to the right person. We, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, specialize in this.”

Chen Zhao looked at Li Xian, his face full of excitement.