Chapter 50: Oh No, I’ve Become a Social Butterfly
“Highway, highway? Highway...” Yuan Shao called repeatedly but received no response. As he looked around, he saw Yuan and Chen exchanging sly, mischievous smiles, and suddenly felt his dignity as the alliance leader was being challenged.
He knocked the table hard and shouted, “Yuan Shu!”
Yuan Shu didn’t even bother to glance at Yuan Shao, his head turned away, answering impatiently, “I’m listening. If you have something to say, just say it.”
Yuan Shao burned with anger inside.
But for the sake of maintaining the appearance of brotherly harmony, he forced himself to remain calm and said, “Yuan Shu, I order you to oversee the alliance’s grain supplies, gather provisions from all factions, and manage them centrally. This is a matter of great importance and must not be neglected.”
“I understand.”
Chen Cong smacked his lips. “I didn’t expect my uncle to treat my father-in-law so well. Gathering provisions from all factions and managing them centrally—what power!”
Yuan Shu sneered, “You’re still too young.”
“How so?”
“Yuan Benchu knows I’m unruly and won’t honestly oversee the grain. This is a retreat to advance. If anything goes wrong in the future, Yuan Shao will either seize the chance to severely punish me and win the hearts of the nobles, or curse me roundly and let it go, showing his brotherly protection and gaining favor with the family. Whatever he does, it’s always about stepping on the head of his legitimate brother to build his own reputation.”
Chen Cong was stunned.
He’d always thought the famed Yuan Honeywater was just an ambitious fool whose abilities fell short of his desires.
Now he realized he’d misjudged this second father-in-law.
“If you’re so clear-eyed, why not do the opposite?”
“Bah! If I do a good job as overseer, wouldn’t that make Yuan Shao look wise for recognizing talent and not avoiding kinship? Let him have his Spring and Autumn dream!”
So, Yuan Honeywater was still Yuan Honeywater.
People say the hardest thing is to see oneself clearly, but that’s not true. Many people know their own flaws perfectly well; it’s just a habit at times.
The hardest thing is to go against your own nature.
Like a dog that can’t stop eating filth; a cat that can’t resist stealing fish; men who love the thrill of the chase—unless they turn.
“Zining, you needn’t worry. That son by a concubine wouldn’t dare touch me—at most, just a round of cursing. Sit tight. I’m off to gather the provisions. If Mengde needs grain, just come to me.”
Yuan Shu had changed his strategy. Since he couldn’t win over Chen Cong, he’d solve the problem at its root—win over Cao Cao!
Cao Ahman was no longer the old Cao Ahman; his reputation was immense. If Yuan Shu could secure his support, would he still fear losing his seat as alliance leader?
“Wait, which eye of yours sees me worried for you? I’m clearly just enjoying the spectacle!”
Unfortunately, Yuan Shu was already gone, and Chen Cong’s explanation was lost.
No matter. What had Yuan Shu just said? If there’s a shortage of grain, just come to him?
He’d make the soldiers eat their fill, three solid meals a day!
Nothing tastes better than a free lunch!
Chen Cong began to realize he had a knack for being a social butterfly.
As soon as Yuan Shu left, Liu Bei arrived, bringing along his two sworn brothers.
“Greetings, General Chen.”
They’d met before, but now, with leisure, Chen Cong took a proper look at his old favorite.
Liu Bei stood over seven feet tall, with large, pendant-like ears and hands reaching past his knees. His physique was perfectly proportioned.
He carried two swords each six feet long, blades wide as two fingers, radiating a chilling aura.
Only those strong enough to wield such mighty swords looked like real generals charging into battle—not like those limp swords in the dramas, where riders had to bend awkwardly to strike.
All that talk of attacking while hunched—what, iron backs?
At the same time, Chen Cong confirmed his old suspicion.
The Three Heroes fighting Lü Bu—Liu Bei was not just making up numbers.
Lü Bu was truly ferocious. To take on three at once, he really dared!
He wondered, if they met again, could he, as he was now, take on that tiger of Jiuyuan...
It didn’t matter. Nowadays, rumor had it he, Chen Cong, was the mightiest warrior under heaven.
As for that, Chen Cong could only say: the masses are sharp-eyed. If everyone agrees, it must be true!
He quickly collected himself.
He rose and cupped his hands. “Lord Xuande is too courteous. How may I be of service?”
“I have learned that the nomination was just Yide’s nonsense. I apologize for any offense and have come to make amends.”
Liu Bei signaled with his eyes, and Zhang Fei immediately stepped forward with a wine jug, demonstrating in person how to spin it.
Even Guan Yu wasn’t exempt. He gave a heavy salute, raised his head, and drank an entire jug.
After all, he’d previously called Chen Cong a treacherous villain. Yet a real man owns up to his words; Guan Yu was proud, not stubborn.
“Haha, it was all just a misunderstanding. No need for such ceremony, brothers.”
Seeing Zhang Fei pick up another jug and offer it to him, Chen Cong’s smile faded...
If he were to spin one himself...
He’d have to avoid Lü Bu for at least half a month, or risk having his head smashed...
Zhang Fei glared, roaring, “Chen Zining, it was my fault before! You’re generous—don’t hold it against a fool like me!”
Chen Cong’s mouth twitched.
He nervously took the jug, mumbling, “Let’s say, is it possible my wife forbids me to drink, and I happen to be afraid of her?”
“A true man fears no wife! Are you looking down on me?”
“If I looked down on you, would I drink?”
“If you look down on me, you look down on my second brother; look down on my second brother, you look down on my big brother; since you look down on my brothers, yet claim we’re being distant, you’re a hypocrite!”
“Well, you clever, black, ugly brute—I didn’t expect this from you, Zhang Fei. Fine, I’ll drink, but you’ll have to teach me spear techniques in return.”
Zhang Fei grinned. “Deal!”
Chen Cong steeled himself, stamped his foot, and gulped down the wine.
He could drink—it was just his tolerance was poor, and he’d heard his drinking behavior was questionable, though he wasn’t sure.
Afterward, more people came, speaking with Chen Cong openly and in secret.
He couldn’t recall the specifics; his memory finally lingered on a giant rocking horse.
The rocking horse had a sticker of Fat Xu’s big head—hideous...
...
A few idle clouds drifted across the azure sky.
The motion made Chen Cong feel sick.
“Awake? Drinking so much was only asking for trouble.”
Chen Cong sat up, surveyed his surroundings, and realized the pleasant life in the military tent was over. The comfortable bed was gone—he was now on Cao Cao’s war chariot.
He gathered himself and boasted, “Father-in-law doesn’t know—I wasn’t drinking wine, I was drinking status in the martial world.”
“If you hadn’t clung to Yuan Shao’s leg, insisting on marrying his second daughter, I might have believed your nonsense. Also...”
Cough, cough, cough!
Chen Cong was mortified, frantically waving his hands. “No need for reminders! No need! But...”
Cao Cao laughed, “But what?”
“I heard Yuan Benchu’s second daughter-in-law is quite beautiful. High-Talent Eight-Bucket once praised her: ‘As graceful as a startled swan, as elegant as a swimming dragon.’”
Not the most honorable thing to say elsewhere, but with the Bandit Cao, it might strike a chord.
Chen Cong gazed at the sky, a bit melancholy.
“Hmm?” Cao Cao turned.
“Sorry, sorry, I forgot—the title ‘Eight-Bucket Beauty’ belongs to father-in-law now. Let’s just call that praise ‘High-Talent Cao Littlegrass.’”
Cao Cao rubbed his forehead. Was this drunken nonsense?
“What nonsense! Yuan Shao’s second son isn’t even twelve; how could he have a wife? And who is this ‘Cao Littlegrass’ you’re quoting?”
“Uh...I forgot. Right, father-in-law, let me show you something good!” Chen Cong dug in his robe, beckoning Cao Cao over with a mysterious gesture.
“Such theatrics,” Cao Cao complained, but his head obediently leaned in.
The next second, his eyes went wide, nostrils flaring.
Iron ore!
The Yuan family’s mine!
Ping’a’s iron mine!!
Cao Cao slapped himself hard. It hurt—he wasn’t dreaming.
He looked at Chen Cong differently now.
Three parts awe, seven parts madness.
“Zining~”
“Whoa, please, father-in-law, keep your magic to yourself—it’s kind of disgusting.”
Cao Cao wasn’t listening. He saw before him a golden, seductive beauty waving at him; he let out a strange cry and lunged, hugging Chen Cong and planting a kiss.
Luckily, with his short stature, he only reached his chin...
Ugh!~~
He spat it out, feeling much better...