Chapter 8 Finally Have a Home

  As for making Wang Kuang sign a death contract and sell himself to another family for the rest of his life, this master didn't even think about it. It's simple - with him being just a small inn owner in Jian'an City who can't even get on stage, how could he possibly keep Wang Kuang under wraps? Not to mention those big merchants with powerful backgrounds, even the county magistrate of Jian'an would only need to say one word and he would have to hand over Wang Kuang obediently. Rather than letting someone else take advantage of him in the future, it's better for him to lend a helping hand and offer protection while Wang Kuang is still young and unknown. In the future, when Wang Kuang becomes famous, this favor will surely be remembered by Wang Kuang for the rest of his life. Judging from Wang Kuang's current performance, he will definitely become a legendary figure in the culinary world - it's a certainty. However, what he doesn't know is that even now, Wang Kuang's cooking skills, which have accumulated over a thousand years of experience, are already worthy of being called masterful. What could be a more profitable deal than making a future culinary master owe you a favor?

  "In the future, as long as he is willing to teach my two kids at home, our Sun family will also have no worries about descendants." The master thought to himself. Having made up his mind, if Wang Kuang was willing to stay, he would also send his two sons who didn't like studying and only knew how to play all day to work in the kitchen: "My own son is really different from others, at a similar age, my own son still only knows how to roll around in the mud with a group of kids from the neighboring family every day, looking at others..."

  "I've made up my mind, so I'll pull Wang Kuang aside: 'Brother, to be honest. Although the people here are simple and honest, there are still many who take advantage of their power to bully others. Looking at your current situation, I'm afraid you can't even protect yourself. With your current skills, if you're taken away by some unscrupulous people with connections, forced to sign a contract selling yourself into slavery, I'm afraid you'll never be able to turn things around in this life. I'm not one to beat around the bush, but I want to ask you to guide my two useless sons for me. It's not suitable for you to reveal your skills too much right now, lest some petty people harbor malicious intentions. You don't need to lift a finger while staying at the inn, and with your current physical condition, I'm afraid you can't withstand those hardships either. What I think is that you should just stay at the inn, and only lend a hand when the kitchen really needs it. During this time, I won't ask you to do anything else. When you grow up in the future, you can establish your own household, how does that sound?"

  At this point, Wang Kuang would be a fool to refuse, and the master's words awakened him: This is an era with household slaves. If what the master said were to happen, it would truly be a desperate situation. Looking at the master's plump face showing concern, he knew that the master was thinking of protecting himself. Besides, teaching his two sons wasn't a big deal, and future generations wouldn't think that Wang Kuang's skills were so precious. Want to learn? I'll teach you then. This way, both sides get what they need.

  "In that case, I won't be arrogant either." Wang Kuang bowed slightly to the host: "In that case, thank you for the host's kindness in taking me in."

  "Haha" The landlord was overjoyed, and a strand of his goat-like beard also twitched: "Brother, no need to be so polite. You teach those two kids, I'll take care of their food, lodging, and salary, it's only right. Ah, by the way, what's your honorable surname? Look at me being rude, I forgot to ask you all along."

  "I dare not claim to be noble, my humble name is Wang Kuang, the eldest son in my family. Now I have no relatives left, and only rely on my younger brother for survival." Wang Kuang did not dare to say that he was from Wang Village, jokingly calling himself a remnant of a rebel, who would be imprisoned and forced into hard labor wherever he went. Anyway, the two brothers had no other relatives, so from now on, they were each other's closest kin. As for the nickname "Dogzi", it was better not to mention it. Thinking about it, he realized that after all the fuss, he still didn't know the master's name, which was impolite, so he asked with embarrassment: "I don't know, sir...?"

  "It turned out to be Wang Dalang. My surname is Sun, and my name is Mingqian. If you don't mind me being presumptuous, from now on, just call me Uncle Sun. I suppose you and your brother haven't registered yet? I'll take care of it for you. The clerks at the Jian'an government office still owe our inn money for wine, so they should give us some face.

  Sun Mingqian then summoned Sun Zhanggui: "This is Wang Dalang. From now on, he will be one of our people in the inn. Arrange a separate small courtyard for him and instruct Zhu Si'niang to take care of him often. Wang Dalang can move freely within our inn, and you shouldn't order him around either. Just tell outsiders that he is my distant nephew. If you need anything, just ask Sun Zhanggui."

  Wang Kuang and Sun Zhanggui both responded, and then Sun Zhanggui took Wang Kuang to meet the people at the inn. It was considered a mutual introduction. Only then did Wang Kuang learn that Sun Zhanggui's full name was Sun Jinlai, a member of the Sun family who had been running the inn since his grandfather's generation. The woman washing dishes and cooking in the kitchen was called Zhu Si Niangzi, and the cook surnamed Wang was called something, but no one remembered his given name; everyone just called him Master Wang, an honest and down-to-earth person. Among the three waiters, more or less all had some connection to the Sun family. The one at the entrance who greeted guests was called Sun Er, the one inside waiting tables was called Sun Shuigen, always busy attending to customers. Another one, later called in by Sun Mingqian to help out, was named Li Chunlai, but everyone just called him Li Dabang.

  After greeting everyone, Sun Zhanggui was about to take Wang Kuang to identify the small courtyard assigned to him. Wang Kuang remembered that his two sons were still waiting outside, so he excused himself and went out to find them in a corner of the inn's entrance. Wang Kuang had been gone for so long without coming out, and the two sons had waited for a long time. The children were originally playful, and at this moment they were squatting on one side watching ants move house, muttering something in their mouths.

  "Brother, is it done?" These past few days, under Wang Kuang's strong request, Erzi gradually stopped being called "Dogzi Ge", although sometimes he would still call out of habit. At this moment, seeing Wang Kuang come out, his face lit up with joy, and the clever him immediately realized that perhaps from now on, he wouldn't have to go begging like before. Holding onto Wang Kuang's hand, in his heart he still wanted confirmation, looking at Wang Kuang with eager eyes and asking.

  "Ah, it's done! We have a new home now." Wang Kuang held Erzi's hand, with mixed emotions. From now on, my life in the Tang Dynasty has officially begun.

  As they entered the inner courtyard, Sun Zhang led them through a gate on the other side of the stable to a dead end alley. The exit of the alley was facing the street in front of the inn, but it had a gate that was now open. At the other end of the alley, there was a well. There were three small courtyards lined up, and Sun Zhang led them to the innermost one, saying: "The outermost courtyard used to be where the previous chef lived, and it's still reserved for future chefs. The middle courtyard is for storing dry goods and where Zhu Si Niang lives. This innermost courtyard has always been empty, only occasionally used when relatives from the main family come to visit and have nowhere to stay. It's always been kept clean, with all the furniture and bedding intact."

  It's called a small courtyard, but it's not small at all. The courtyard alone is over 20 square meters, with two osmanthus trees planted along the wall and several short stone stumps in the corner. There are two rooms, one bedroom and another that seems to be a storage room, piled with kitchen utensils such as pots and pans. The bedroom is also at least 20 square meters. Even Wang Kuang, who was used to living in small quarters in later life, couldn't help but sigh: the ancient times were indeed better, with more spacious living spaces.

  After Wang Guan left, he finally had time to carefully examine his new home: a solid earthen floor. A simple four-square low bed, with a quilt on it, but no pillow. A long table similar to what he had seen in movies before, with a grass mat underneath. A large wooden trunk. That was all there was.

  At this time, the two sons were already rolling on the bed: "Great, we have a home. Brother, you said this is our new home?" Although everything in front of them had already proven this point very well, the second son still couldn't believe it, they who were worried about their livelihood in the Taoist temple last night, suddenly seemed to have gone to heaven and got a home.

  "Yes, from now on this is our home." Wang Kuang looked at the little guy who had been relying on him for survival, and his eyes were slightly moist. This second child who had accompanied the previous dog child to beg along the way, this second child who supported his weak five-year-old body to take care of himself: "Second child, from now on you are my own younger brother, I am your own older brother."

  "Ah, from now on, Dogzi Ge is my real brother." Erzi jumped up and pounced on Wang Kuang, hugging him excitedly and saying: "I have a real brother!"

  "From now on, you'll be called Wang Xiao. When you grow up, brother will give you a good name. Later, brother will find a school for you to attend."

  The five-year-old second son, oh, now should be called Wang Xiao. And didn't know why Wang Kuang wanted him to go to school, but for him, what Wang Kuang said was right, so he happily agreed.

  The two brothers were chatting when they heard Fourth Wife Zhu calling from outside the courtyard: "Dah Lang, Dah Lang."

  Wang Kuang went out, but saw Zhu Si Niangzi holding a bundle of clothes, followed by Li Da Dan and Sun Er, one carrying a large bathtub, the other carrying a large bucket of hot water.

  Two men were ordered to put a bathtub in the house, pour hot water into it, and Sun Er went to the well to fetch a bucket of water to mix with the hot water. Then Zhu Si Niang said to Wang Kuang: "Come on, take off your clothes, look at you covered in mud, hurry up and wash."