Song Jiang, the chief CEO of Liangshan, has finally made his appearance!
Li Huan remained calm and composed, responding to the situation with composure.
Then Song Jiang came walking with steady steps and his head held high.
Behind him followed "The Wise Man" Wu Yong, "Jade Kirin" Lu Junyi, "The Prodigal Son" Yan Qing, and others.
Song Jiang was not tall, had a dark complexion, and bright, piercing eyes, giving him a rather heroic air.
He quickly surveyed the scene, glancing at the numerous Liangshan heroes enjoying their boxed lunches and Erguotou liquor, and then at the three hotel managers who had been defeated by Li Huan.
Wu Song quickly clasped his hands in greeting and bowed to Song Jiang, saying, "Wu Er greets Brother!"
Song Jiang was overjoyed: "Second Brother! It's been so many years, I've missed you terribly!"
Wu Song laughed and said, "I avenged my brother in Yanggu County by killing the tyrant Ximen Qing, and then I followed Brother Li Huan and fled into exile."
Song Jiang held Wu Song's hand, appearing exceptionally affectionate.
“I had already heard about your killing of Ximen Qing. I had hoped that you would come to Liangshan to join me, but I never expected that you would go to a distant place and make a living by selling food at a stall.”
Wu Song said, "I just arrived at Liangshan the day before yesterday and had a drinking contest with Lu Zhishen, which resulted in me getting very drunk. Last night I was also welcoming Sister-in-law Jinlian and haven't had a chance to pay my respects to you yet, brother. I hope you will forgive me and not blame me!"
Song Jiang chuckled and said, "Second Brother and I have sworn brotherhood, as close as brothers, how could I blame you?"
The phrase "sworn brothers" immediately elevated Wu Song's status and position.
Gu Dasao, Sun Xin, Li Li, Zhu Gui, and Du Xing looked at each other in bewilderment.
Their expressions clearly said: Luckily, they didn't attack or harm Wu Song, otherwise they would have offended Boss Song.
Sun Erniang quickly came over and said with a smile, "As soon as Brother Wu Song arrived at the Xishan Hotel, I recognized him as the tiger-fighting hero. I'll treat him well these next two days."
Holy crap, that she-devil is so quick-witted, she's taking the opportunity to curry favor with Song Jiang.
Song Jiang released Wu Song's hand and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Li Huan: "This hero is Li Huan?"
Before Li Huan could speak, Wu Song quickly introduced, "It is indeed Li Huan, who has also become my sworn brother."
Wu Song's words made Li Huan frown slightly.
I became sworn brothers with Wu Song, and Wu Song became sworn brothers with Song Jiang. How can I not call Song Jiang my elder brother?
Damn it, this surrenderer who's only interested in being granted amnesty and submitting to the imperial court has no right to be a leader!
Li Huan was very unhappy, but out of courtesy, he had no choice but to clasp his hands in greeting.
"Brother Gongming, I have long admired your name. Meeting you today, you are indeed handsome and dashing, a true beauty!"
It sounds like a compliment, but it's actually mockery.
Song Jiang laughed and grabbed Li Huan's hand again.
"After all this fuss, it turns out we're brothers, hahaha..."
Sister-in-law Gu and Zhu Gui and the others' expressions changed drastically.
Wu Yong waved his feather fan, adopting a pretentious posture.
"Zhu Gui, Li Li! Why are you attacking Li Huan and the Wu Song brothers?"
Zhu Gui quickly and tactfully said, "It's a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding."
Wu Yong said in a serious tone, "The business of your three hotels must have become deserted because Li Huan and Brother Wu Song set up their stall here. You were so angry that you came here to seek revenge and cause trouble!"
Song Jiang quickly said, "As the saying goes, no fight, no friendship! Since we are brothers, strategist, please don't blame us anymore."
Du Xing covered his backside with both hands and said with a grin, "Yes, yes, we're all brothers. I'll have to ask Brother Li Huan for cooking tips in the future."
Sister-in-law Gu, Sun Xin, Zhu Gui, and Li Li hurriedly clasped their hands in greeting and bowed to Li Huan with beaming smiles.
"This lady is..." Song Jiang stared at Hu Sanniang, his eyes suddenly lighting up, but the light vanished in an instant.
Wang Ying hurriedly called out, "Hu Sanniang, the One-Zhang-Qing!"
Song Jiang released Li Huan's hand, walked up to Hu Sanniang, and continued to look at her carefully.
"The sister of Hu Cheng, the Flying Tiger, from Hu Family Village?"
Hu Sanniang clasped her hands in greeting: "It is indeed your younger sister!"
Song Jiang said in a friendly tone, "Three years ago, I led all the heroes to attack the Zhu Family Village. Your elder brother, Hu Cheng, was able to distinguish right from wrong and did not help the Zhu Family Village. Instead, he secretly assisted me."
"Unfortunately, Hu Cheng was unwilling to join Liangshan, and instead took your father, Hu Taigong, and family away from Hu Family Village to Yan'an Prefecture..."
Hu Sanniang said, "Before you attacked Zhu Family Village, I had already left Dulonggang with Li Huan and set up a stall to sell boxed lunches."
Song Jiang nodded, then suddenly asked, "You were engaged to Zhu Biao, the young master of the Zhu Family Manor. Now that Zhu Biao is dead, who did you marry? Could it be Brother Li Huan?"
Instantly, Hu Sanniang's face turned bright red.
Wang Ying hurriedly exclaimed, "Hu Sanniang is not Li Huan's wife! She is not yet married!"
Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Song Jiang's eyes.
Wu Yong stroked his beard and said, "Yesterday, Lin Chong brought over a boxed lunch, which my brother Gongming and I savored carefully. We found it delicious! Brother Li Huan's cooking skills are truly the best in the world!"
Li Huan humbly replied, "Strategist, you flatter me."
Wu Yong said, "Brother Li Huan is not only a superb cook, but also a highly skilled martial artist. Just now, he defeated five people all by himself! According to Li Ying, the Sky-Soaring Eagle, Li Huan also defeated Luan Yanyu, the Iron Cudgel, and is proficient in unique magic!"
Li Huan smiled calmly: "A trivial skill, not worth mentioning."
Wu Yong shook his feather fan and raised his voice.
"Now, all 106 heroes of Liangshan have gathered together to rob the rich and help the poor, and to act on behalf of Heaven!"
"Brother Gongming is unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness, cherishes the army and loves the Ming Dynasty, punishes evil and promotes good, and has lofty aspirations!"
"Why don't Brother Li Huan, Wu Song, and Hu Sanniang join Liangshan and follow Brother Gongming to create a great cause together?"
Li Huan cursed inwardly after hearing this.
Holy crap, I haven't even started recruiting the Liangshan heroes yet, and you, you cunning strategist, are trying to get me to join Liangshan first!
Li Huan smiled slightly again.
"In this world, heroes are rising up everywhere! Song Jiang of Shandong, Wang Qing of Huaixi, Tian Hu of Hebei, and Fang La of Jiangnan!"
"The Liangshan Marsh is strong and well-equipped. Brother Gongming, if you want to establish a great enterprise, you must first eliminate Wang Qing, Tian Hu, and Fang La?"
Song Jiang laughed and said, "You rebels, you rabble, are no match for my Liangshan!"
Good heavens, he's just a bandit, yet he looks down on Fang La, Wang Qing, and Tian Hu, who at least belonged to a legitimate rebel army.
Li Huan then said, "After eliminating Wang Qing, Tian Hu, and Fang La, Brother Gongming's next step should be to overthrow the imperial court and kill the dog emperor, right?"
Instantly, the scene fell silent.
The heroes stopped eating and drinking and turned their attention to Song Jiang.
Wu Yong, quick-witted, hurriedly said, "This matter needs further consideration; let's not discuss it today."
Li Huan chuckled: "I'm just a small-time merchant, not as ambitious as Brother Gongming. Right now, I'll set up a stall to sell boxed lunches and earn 100,000 taels of silver before considering joining Liangshan!"
One hundred thousand taels!
A gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd.
To everyone's surprise, Song Jiang was not surprised at all; instead, he smiled broadly.
"Brother Li Huan, you'll agree to join us if you earn 100,000 taels of silver?"
Li Huan casually replied, "That's right! It must be 100,000 taels of silver!"
"Good!" Song Jiang said loudly, "I can buy the boxed lunches today and earn you 100,000 taels of silver!"
Li Huan was stunned.
What does Song Jiang mean? Is he trying to fool me?
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