Chapter 22: Finding a Brother

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They arrived soon enough.

Zhang Wuxun got out of the car and stood outside, taking a careful look at the shop.

Blue bricks and weathered tiles, carved wooden railings—the place was decorated in an unmistakably antique style, carrying a solemnity and sense of age as though it had been sealed away for years.

At a glance, anyone could tell there was something unusual about it.

Inside, the antiques had been arranged without any discernible order. That was meant to make customers feel relaxed and at ease.

But to Zhang Wuxun, who had a touch of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the arrangement was pure torment.

Suppressing the urge to sort every antique in the room by size, shape, and build, Zhang Wuxun turned to the shop assistant approaching him.

“Where’s Panzi?”

The moment the assistant heard that, he knew the important guest Master Pan had mentioned had arrived. He immediately plastered a smile across his face.

“Please have a seat, honored guest. Enjoy some tea to soothe your throat. I’ll go fetch Master Pan right away.”

“Let him finish whatever he’s doing. I’m in no hurry.” Zhang Wuxun sat down in a wicker chair and lifted the cup of Silver Sprout tea the assistant had just brewed. After taking a sip, he said, “Not bad.”

The assistant’s smile grew even more ingratiating.

“Lion’s Mouth Silver Sprout from Hunan in Lake Province. Fragrant and full-bodied, with a sweet, refreshing taste. It’s just the thing for entertaining an honored guest such as yourself.”

Zhang Wuxun smiled faintly. “Honored guest is putting it a bit strongly. I simply share a life-and-death bond with your Master Pan.”

The assistant knew a thing or two about the business Master Pan was involved in. Hearing Zhang Wuxun mention a bond forged through life and death, he gained a rough idea of the man’s identity.

His smile faded slightly. “Please take your time.”

Then he hurried off to the side and called Panzi.

Half a minute later, the curtain to the back room was lifted, and Panzi walked out wearing a tank top and a pair of thread gloves.

“Little Woodfish, it’s been a long time,” Panzi said with a grin.

“It really has.” Zhang Wuxun rose to his feet. “Ever since we got out last time, I’ve been wanting to find an opportunity to visit Third Master’s establishment. Unfortunately, I never had the time. But now that I’ve got some new goods, I came straight here to trouble you.”

“Trouble me? Not at all.” Panzi waved a hand and glanced outside. “They’re in the car?”

Zhang Wuxun nodded and headed out. “I’ll have Brother Pan take a look at them.”

Dakui had been waiting beside the car. He opened the trunk and immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

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“My heavens! That much?”

Panzi was startled as well. He quickly shut the trunk and stared at Zhang Wuxun as though he were looking at some kind of lunatic.

“You brought all this here just like that? You didn’t even put it in a box?”

Zhang Wuxun shrugged. “Where was I supposed to find a suitable box on such short notice? I was afraid they’d get knocked around, so I padded everything with sponges.”

Panzi’s expression shifted several times. Judging by the look on his face, he wanted to beat the boy, but he was wary of Zhang Wuxun’s skill. After restraining himself again and again, he still cursed.

“If you were really my little brother, I’d have slapped you so hard against the wall by now that they’d never be able to scrape you off. Understand?”

Zhang Wuxun patted him on the shoulder. “Enough talk. Let’s get everything inside first.”

Afraid Dakui might handle the pieces too roughly, Panzi drove the car into the back courtyard himself. Then he summoned Dakui and another subordinate to carry everything into the warehouse.

“There are more than a dozen pieces here. You’re really leaving them all with us?” Panzi checked the inventory against his notebook.

Zhang Wuxun leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded. “I trust Brother Pan’s people. Handle them however you see fit. Take your usual commission, too. Just transfer the money to this account.”

Panzi accepted the slip of paper Zhang Wuxun handed him, glanced at it, committed the details to memory, and tucked it into his trouser pocket.

“All right. Since you’ve said so, Woodfish, your big brother will make sure everything is handled properly.” Panzi removed his gloves. “Come on. I’m taking you out for a meal.”

Panzi was a man of courage, loyalty, and honor. Zhang Wuxun had always been rather fond of him, and he was happy enough to call him Brother Pan.

Panzi filled both their glasses with strong white liquor.

“Woodfish, since you’re willing to call me your big brother, I’ll accept the honor today. I won’t bother thanking you for saving my life. From now on, wherever you go and whatever trouble you run into, come find me. The bond between us brothers is all in this drink.”

Zhang Wuxun raised his glass and clinked it against Panzi’s.

“Deal. Your little brother will remember that.”

They ate and chatted idly, eventually turning to the underwater tomb.

Panzi frowned and looked Zhang Wuxun up and down.

“That tomb was so dangerous. Where were you hurt? You weren’t even fully recovered, yet you took that beat-up van and went wandering all over the place. Why didn’t you call me? I could’ve sent someone to pick you up.”

Zhang Wuxun burst out laughing. A mouthful of chili broth went down the wrong pipe, and he coughed violently for quite some time.

“Cough… cough, your tone and that expression—cough—you sound just like my father.”

Panzi hurriedly patted him on the back and poured him a cup of warm water.

“Get lost. If I really were your father, you’d have driven me into an early grave by now.”

Zhang Wuxun coughed until tears welled in his eyes. When he finally recovered, Panzi’s words made him want to laugh again.

Panzi cursed him with a laugh. “What are you laughing at? Did someone tickle your funny bone?”

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Zhang Wuxun picked up the cup and took a sip of water before waving a hand.

“Just superficial injuries. Nothing serious. It’s Little Innocent who really suffered this time. The sea monkeys chased him everywhere, and even a sea hag was fighting to make him her husband.”

Panzi brightened at once.

“Come on, come on. Tell me everything.”

Zhang Wuxun gave him a selective account, sharing whatever could be told.

When he finished, Panzi sighed.

“With you protecting Little Third Master, I can rest easy.”

Zhang Wuxun set down his cup, called over a server, and ordered another plate of crayfish. He peeled the largest one from the top and placed it in Panzi’s bowl.

“Brother Pan, have a shrimp.”

Panzi raised an eyebrow, picked it up with his chopsticks, and chewed it.

“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t keep making a song and dance about it.”

Zhang Wuxun gave a sheepish chuckle and removed his thin plastic gloves.

“There really is something. I was thinking of buying a house here, but I don’t have any connections. I was hoping Brother Pan could keep an eye out for me.”

“What kind of place?” Panzi asked.

“Big and spacious is enough,” Zhang Wuxun said. “Two stories, plenty of rooms, a courtyard, and preferably something with a more old-fashioned style.”

“Done.” Panzi agreed readily. “I’ll have the brothers under me ask around.”

“Great. Thanks in advance, Brother Pan.” Zhang Wuxun filled his glass and raised it.

Panzi glared at him. “All right, all right. Spare me the empty formalities. They make my skin crawl.”

Zhang Wuxun waved a hand and set the glass down.

“I’m not being formal. If I really wanted to thank you properly, I’d have to pay you an agent’s fee.”

“If you dare offer me one, I’ll thrash you. Believe me.” Panzi managed to keep a stern face for less than a second before breaking into laughter. “Where are you living now?”

“At school.” Zhang Wuxun answered with his mouth while his hands kept moving. Before long, he had peeled the entire plate of crayfish. “I paid for room and board, so I might as well make use of it.”

They continued talking nonsense about this and that. By the time three bottles of white liquor were empty, Panzi’s face was flushed from the alcohol, but his mind remained fairly clear. He got up to pay the bill.

Zhang Wuxun hurriedly forced him back into his seat and ordered him a bowl of hangover soup.

“I’m paying this time. You can buy the next one.”