Chapter 1 - The Plum Tree Inn
"Stinky Little Runt, where is the Soup these people ordered? Do I have to take this meal out of your pay as well?" yelled a fat old man.
A short, skinny adolescent immediately appeared running at full speed balancing a tray on each one of his hands. "Old man here is their soup, and I also have the Fried Pork strips for Mr. Fong."
"Must you be slow about everything?" grumbled the old man. "I swear I don't know why I haven't gone out of business. If you don't start moving faster, Runt, I am going to start paying less! Now go and fetch my dinner and take it to my room!" screamed the old man as he slapped the boy on the back of his head.
Although his name really wasn't Runt, it is what he has been called ever since he could remember. The fat old man had started calling him 'Runt' as soon as he noticed that he was smaller than most the kids his age. Ever since he was an infant he has been living at the Plum Tree Inn. The owner found him in the Cherry Orchard one fall evening when he heard him crying. The only belongings that Runt could say were his, were the basket that he came in and the piece of paper in it that said, "Take care of my heaven sent son 'Jiang Biao'." Although the old man could be considered his father, he treated Runt like a slave instead.
As Runt hurried back to the kitchen he thought to himself, "Do this, do that! I always have to do what that fat tub of lard tells me. He always makes me lose face in front of the customers and slaps me around. I am really going to make him pay!" Runt went over to the soup bucket and began to urinate into the steaming pot. "I piss in your mouth you smelly turtle egg!"
After he was finished he quickly prepared the rest of the owner's dishes, carefully spitting into each one. Fifteen minutes later he was done and went straight to the owner's room.
"What took you so long Incompetent boy? I had to wait at least four hours for you to bring the food. I thought I was going to die of starvation. Just for that you don't get any pay this week, be happy I let you keep eating...now give me my food!" Runt set the tray down and moved over to the corner.
Bending over the tray the owner inhaled deeply. "Ahh this smells wonderful!" After sipping the soup, an expression of delight appeared on his face. "Ah, I love this soup that you always prepare. No matter how I try, I can never get it to come out quite like this. Tell me your secret!"
With a large grin on his face he replied, "It is because of my special ingredient. If I told you what it is, then you would have no use for me. Please excuse me now, I must see to the customers." Runt bowed low to cover up his laughter, and quickly left the room.
The Plum Tree Inn has always been one of the most prosperous businesses in the small town of Lu'an. Despite being fat and lazy, the owner knew how to sweet talk people and make them feel like they were the most honored guest in the establishment. Because of this unique ability, and because he was so fat, most people called him Butter Lips. Some said he could even sweet talk the devil.
Since the Plum Tree Inn was well established and had a good reputation, most of the wealthy residents of Lu'An would regularly go there to drink their delicious wines, and to sip Runt's famous soup.
As Runt returned to the dining room of the Inn he saw a tall man wearing a dirty blue robe with a red belt tied around his waste. On his head was a pointed rain hat, still dripping from the storm outside. As he got closer Runt noticed a sword strapped to the man's belt.
Runt thought to himself, "This man isn't from around here. He must be some kind of hero..."
"Kind sir, please follow me," Runt said as he lead him to a table in the corner. "What would you like?"
"Bring me some wine, rice, and dimsum" The man said softly as he sat down.
Runt ran quickly to get the man his food. "What a strange man," he thought, "he didn't even take his rain hat off when he sat down."
As Runt was returning he heard someone yelling at the door, "Hey dog turd we want our table!" Runt set the man's food down and went quickly to the door.
Standing at the entrance was a good looking youth dressed in a stunning white robe. Gathered around him were three other young men holding umbrellas to shield him from the rain. The obnoxious boy was none other than Duck Lo, the son of the richest man in Lu'An.
Duck Lo was known throughout the town as a trouble maker. He would do whatever he wanted because his father was wealthy and he knew that everybody was scared to offend him.
"Hey Duck Lo," said one of his friends as they followed Runt to their table, "that new silk robe of yours is great."
"Yeh," he said proudly, "I had it imported from Fu Zhou. It only cost me 80 taels."
"I bet you will get lucky wearing that."
As they sat down all of them began to laugh and snicker, "Hey shorty," sneered Duck Lo, "bring your finest wine, we want to celebrate. If you have a little sister we haven't seen, bring her too."
"What an idiot." thought Runt as he suddenly had an idea. "Ah yes our best wine...unfortunately I cannot serve it to you. The owner is saving it for a very special customer, so sorry!"
"What do you mean, what is so special about this wine?"
"Ah, this wine is a very rare red, rice wine, made in the mountains of Tai Shan. In order to cure it takes 100 years, and is very expensive."
"Is money the only problem? How much does it cost? Who do you think I am?"
"My sincerest apologies, Lord, but since it is 100 taels a jug I thought..."
Duck Lo instantly cut him off, "Bring me two jugs, here is the money!" Duck Lo threw 200 Taels in a bag on the table. Runt grabbed the bag saying, "Of course right away, but I can only bring one jug out at a time so that the other clients won't become too jealous. When you finish the first one I will bring the second jug out."
"Quickly, slug slime, we don't have all day!"
Runt ran to the cellar and grabbed two jugs of the cheapest wine they had. As he returned to the kitchen he grabbed a bottle of red ink and poured half of it into each jug.
"Here is your first jug." Runt said setting the jug down along with three cups to drink with. Runt went and stood to the side to watch the show.
The three youths immediatlely began to consume the wine. "Duck Lo this wine is amazing!" said one of them.
"I agree Shiu-pak, I have never tasted anything quite like it. The sweet taste, has a slightly bitter undertone. In my opinion it truly deserves its reputation."
As Runt watched this he could hardly hold back tears of laughter beginning in his eyes, thinking to himself, "What a bunch of stupid snobs.."
The four friends continued drinking their wine slowly becoming louder and louder. Generally people could politely ask them to quiet down, but Duck Lo is no normal person. Runt knew that he couldn't let things get too far out of control or the other guests would become offended and leave, so he went back to the table. "Honored guests, the owner has informed me that we have some excellent private dining rooms you can use, on the house, to continue your celebration."
"We like it just fine here, midget" Duck Lo said doing his best impression of an ape, as his friends erupted in raucous laughter.
"How can we see all the pretty girls if we are in some cramped room," continued his friend Shiu-pak.
"Hey waiter," said another, "our jug is empty and we paid for two!"
Duck Lo raised his voice slightly so that everyone could hear, "Yes waiter, please bring us our second jug of the rare red colored Tai Shan wine!"
"Yes of course, right away!" said Runt. As he rushed away Runt fell to the floor with a loud bang causing everyone in the room to stare in his direction. "Ha ha ha, Lu Chan that was some brilliant Kung Fu!" laughed Duck Lo
"Yes, I call that one, 'Drunken Monkey Sweeps His Tail'"
Runt glared at them as he got up off the ground and then smiled widely at the four loud friends. He went and got the second jug of wine and made his way back to their table. As he neared the table, suddenly Runt lost his balance. As he fell forward, the jug of wine flew out of his hands towards Duck Lo and landed right in his lap.
The whole Inn instantly became quiet as wine laced with red ink drenched Duck Lo. "You stupid brat!" screamed Duck Lo, "look what you have done to my new silk suit!"
"So sorry honored guest, it was a simple accident. I can offer you another jug free of charge if you wish!" said Runt, trying to look as sincere as possible.
"You call this an accident?" said Duck Lo blind with rage. With a sly grin Runt responded, "Lord, how was I supposed to know that the drunken monkey would vomit? Besides, pink isn't such a bad color either."
Duck Lo suddently realized that Runt had been mocking him, which made him even angrier. "Well well Mr. comedian, I guess my friends and I are going to have to teach you better so that no more of these little 'accidents' happen in the future."
Duck Lo and his friends all got up out of their chairs and walked towards Runt. Shiu-pak grabbed him, holding him by the arms, as Duck Lo spit on him, "Let me have the first couple of hits. I haven't had my work-out yet today."
Duck Lo pulled his hand back and swung as hard as he could at Runt. Right before his fist smashed into Runt's face it swerved to the left barely missing him, hitting his friend Shiu-pak squarely in the jaw.
"What do you think you are doing Duck Lo?" cried out Shiu-pak grabbing his jaw in pain. Duck Lo just stood there stunned, "Som-som-something hit my hand." Runt noticed that there was a bruise already forming on the back of his hand.
Looking at Duck Lo, Lu Chan walked over to Runt, "Let me take care of this for you brother." As he got closer Runt noticed a grain of rice shoot towards Lu Chan hitting him in the center of his forehead. Lu Chan flew back and landed on top of one of the tables breaking it with his fall.
The impact of the rice had completely knocked Lu Chan out, "What amazing skills" Runt thought. He suddenly burst out in laughter, "Haha! The drunken monkey has passed out!"
As Runt continued to laugh, the owner heard the crashing noises and quickly ran to the main room to find out what was causing all the unusual noise, "What is going on here?"
Duck Lo immediatly spoke, "This little mealy mouthed cretin has not only humiliated me and my family name, but has also injured several of my friends. I can assure you that my father will hear about this Butter Lips. You can kiss your worthless shack of a tavern good-bye!"
With an angry look towards Runt, Butter Lips immediately ran over to Duck Lo and began trying to repair the damage, "Honored Lord Duck, this is the gravest offense ever in history! Just look at your magnificent robe. It has been ruined!" he said in a comforting tone, "I would suffer shame upon shame if you didn't accept two robes just like it as a personal gift. There really isn't any reason to speak with your father over such a small thing, now is there? You know that your family is always welcome here and of course you know that your family never need to pay for anything. Your presence alone is worth more than any normal customer could ever offer us here at the Plum Tree Inn."
Duck Lo was already giving in to Butter Lips' sweet tongue, "Yes you have a very good point, but neither my family nor I could ever show our faces here as long as that little worm is around."
Butter Lips immediately turned around to face Runt and yelled, "I have given you food, work, and shelter for 16 years and this is how you repay my generosity? You have made a mockery out of my business, you have shamed my untarnished name, and you have cost me a fortune today. From today forward I disown you! Get out of here you stinky Runt, you are nothing but trouble!" Butter Lips grabbed Runt by the neck and began to slap him repeatedly across the face. While he was striking him another grain of rice flew with amazing speed and struck Butter Lips in his fat belly. Butter Lips immediatly let Runt go and hunched to the floor grabbing his stomach. Even though he was extremely fat, he still felt the tremendous blow.
Runt took this opportunity to run as fast as could out the door and into the rainy night.
When Butter Lips finally recovered, he looked around the Inn. He saw several shattered chairs and tables. Duck Lo and his friends were still standing by their original table, with the shattered wine jug. Apparently everyone else had left the Inn when the trouble had first started. As he turned towards the entrance to speak with Duck Lo, Butter Lips suddenly noticed the man with the rain hat still sitting quietly in the corner.
"Hey you, why did you help that worthless Runt out?" Butter Lips said as he charged towards the table. The man appeared to ignore him as he continued to sip his wine. Since the rain cap had been pulled low none of them could see his face, except for his mouth. Regardless, Butter Lips continued his tirade, "That smelly brat cost me a fortune today, if I ever see him again I am going to..."
The man abruptly stood up placing his hand on Butter Lips shoulder, "You will do nothing." The man removed his hand and leaned carelessly against the wall. "It isn't every day you get to see a clever boy rob someone of 280 taels without them even knowing it. If that isn't enough, he has also ruined a lucrative business...all in one day." The strange man threw a couple of coins on the table and left without another word.
Butter Lips wanted to turn around and question the man some more when he realized that he couldn't move. How could he know that the man sealed vital pressure points when he touched him on the shoulder? Terrified by what was happening to him, his gaze shifted to the wall where he noticed a palm print at least 3 inches deep in the wall. The print was exactly where the man had been leaning seconds ago. When he finally understood what he was looking at Butter Lips immediately fainted.