Chapter 2, The Mountain of Debt

Is he not afraid of being unable to report to the governor?

Before Han Xiufeng could speak, the pillar murmured: "I fear it cannot be extended."

Han Xiufeng hurriedly helped him back to the courtyard and confidently said: "Uncle Guan, I actually have a plan for how to get through this situation. Manager Pan is a sensible person, being from the same village, he should not resort to forcing people into prostitution. The reason for spreading this rumor is probably to pressure me into quickly finding a way to raise money"

The clerks and yamen runners working at the county office, both registered and unregistered, number over a thousand. With such a large number of people, it is inevitable that there will be intrigues and rivalries, even leading to the formation of several factions. Han Xiufeng's uncle, Han Yucai, was once a clerk in the criminal division of the Ba County yamen. Guan Butou was a runner in the capture team, and Zhuzi's father was a coroner. The three of them secretly burned yellow paper and formed a brotherhood despite their different surnames.

They have looked into it, and they even took the blame for an individual, gathering all the money that the young master of the Dao family had lost. However, this newly arrived gentleman insists on being a just judge, holding court three times, interrogating repeatedly, and insisting that it is not the case

The head of the guards was also furious, gritting his teeth and saying: "Does that Pan dare to force the innocent into prostitution? Is he not afraid of retribution for his actions?"

At the age of seven, Han Xiufeng was taken to the city by his uncle to serve as a companion reader for the son of the then county magistrate. He later continued to live with his uncle, making a living in the yamen, and became thoroughly familiar with the intricacies of the officialdom. In his view, it was entirely reasonable for the county magistrate to be furious over such a theft case, as the circuit intendant is the superior of the magistrate, and even the smallest matters concerning the superior's family are significant. It is also understandable that Captain Guan failed to apprehend the culprits or recover the stolen goods, but receiving punishment for that is not acceptable.

Uncle Guan, why didn't you go to find the Chuanbang and the Chabang? Didn't you ask them to hand over the person?

Han Yucai, who had been unable to achieve his ambitions in the natural course of events, fortuitously encountered a candidate for the county magistrate position who had managed to fill a vacancy but lacked the funds to assume office. Consequently, he borrowed a sum of money from the Tongxing pawnshop, which was under the management of a horse dealer, to assist the county magistrate in taking up his post in Bishan. This led him to become a "belly-bearer" secretary, who helped raise funds for the magistrate's appointment and subsequently profited alongside him. However, fate did not favor their plans, as the newly appointed magistrate fell ill and passed away shortly after taking office

The head of the guards roared in anger: "Damn his ancestors, is it impressive to have Yang the Scholar backing you? I will show some respect and call him 'shopkeeper,' but without that respect, he is nothing! Fourth boy, do not be afraid, also advise your aunt and younger sister, tell them that with Uncle here, let’s see who dares to force good women into prostitution!"

Later, the mother of that assistant official passed away, and he resigned from his position to return home for mourning.

Han Yucai was very shrewd, which is why he thrived in the government office back in the day

The court has issued a decree stating that officials can only serve for five years. Han Yucai has already changed his name three times and does not wish to change his name again to continue serving. He has not become an unregistered assistant either; instead, he took the opportunity to bring his nephew Han Xiufeng to the county office to serve as a companion reader for the county magistrate's son, thereby establishing a connection with the county magistrate.

I am also puzzled. Whatever, it is just an acting position, not a formal appointment. He won't last long in our county anyway. It's just that this punishment is unjust. The head of the guard took a sip of water and said resentfully, "I heard from the long-term followers that it was the old master of criminal law who caused trouble, and that Wang Er, that bastard, is also eating from the same office. The big official ordered him to be beaten, and he really got beaten. I will remember this debt first; he better not fall into my hands!"

A good man has three helpers, just as a fence requires three posts

"Yang, the scholar, is nothing to speak of. If he truly had the ability, why not take the imperial examination and become a grand official at the Hanlin Academy?" Zhuzi interjected unexpectedly

How to say it

Guān Bǔtóu has been in the yamen for decades, how could he not understand this principle? Yet now his niece is about to be sold into a brothel, and he is suddenly so anxious that his whole body trembles. In contrast, Hán Xiùfēng, the party involved, appears quite calm and even takes the initiative to offer comfort: "Uncle Guān, don't be anxious, have a cup of tea to calm down."

What else could there be? I am worried about you two little ones!" Guan Butou turned over and lay on his side, looking at the spirit tablet in the main room, then turned to the two and said: "Your uncle and I, along with Zhuzi's father, have sworn brotherhood in the Peach Garden, and we have had a friendship for over ten years. I have watched you grow up. The creditor is coming this afternoon; how can I, as your uncle, not care?

"Uncle Guan, I have caused you worry." Seeing the blood on Captain Guan's backside seeping through his pants, after walking dozens of miles from the county town, Han Xiufeng felt a deep sense of gratitude.

Encountering a county magistrate who is inflexible and incapable of governance leaves one with no recourse, Han Xiufeng sighed softly and then asked, "Uncle Guan, why do you still come to the horse race in such a situation?"

The young man before me may appear youthful, but he is certainly not someone to be underestimated. Since he was old enough to understand, he has been making a living in the government office, a true individual of substance. Although he is merely a low-ranking clerk, no one among the six departments dares to look down on him. The head of the guards, realizing this, tightly grasped his wrist and asked, "Fourth Boy, don't keep your uncle in suspense; how do you plan to get through this obstacle?"

He is a person of strong temperament; if he is not persuaded soon, he will truly ruin his reputation

The county magistrate Gao Sheng has been appointed as the deputy magistrate of Jiangbei Hall, and he has transformed himself into the deputy magistrate's attendant.

"Worrying is of no use; being able to help is what truly matters." Realizing that creditors are not easy to deal with, the head of the guard helplessly said: "Si Wazi, don't think that your uncle is impressive in front of ordinary folks, but that's only in front of common people. I know the background of the Xiong family; it is run by the brother-in-law of Master Yang, Yang Juren. Later, your uncle can only plead for you, hoping that Manager Pan can grant you a few more years. You are a capable person; as long as the manager can extend the deadline, you will eventually be able to repay it little by little."

"What do you understand?" Han Xiufeng glared at him and said very seriously and solemnly: "Yang Juren has not held an official position and has no real abilities, but once he becomes a Juren, he is considered a master and can speak with the county magistrate. He also has a group of classmates and contemporaries who are officials. The common people do not fight against the officials, and we, who are in service, cannot either. I am not trying to scare you; with just one letter, he can make it so that you and I cannot escape the consequences."

The pawnshop is right on the street, and they have already spread the word that this courtyard and the more than ten acres of land in the countryside are worth several hundred taels. They plan to first seize this courtyard and the land in the countryside, and if that is not enough, they will use Yaomei as collateral to settle the debt. Zhuzi has liked Han Yucai's youngest daughter, Yaomei, who is also Han Xiufeng's cousin, since he was young. It is precisely because he is worried about Yaomei that he has not returned home since Han Yucai's funeral. The thought of Yaomei being sold into a brothel to serve clients fills him with righteous indignation, and he clenches his fists, wishing he could fight the creditor to the death.

How could the head of the guard not be anxious? He struggled to rise, leaning on his staff, limping into the main room, and pointed at the spirit tablet, cursing angrily: "Han Er, this is all the misdeeds your son has caused! Is it just because you can recognize a few characters? Is being able to write and compose really that impressive? If you have the ability, go take the imperial examination! You don't have the fate to be an official, yet you still insist on getting close to those in power. Now look what has happened, you haven't earned any money, and you've implicated the whole family..." You don't have the fate to be an official, yet you still insist on getting close to those in power. Now look what has happened, you haven't earned any money, and you've implicated the whole family...

"Uncle Guan, don't you think that someone who runs a pawnshop would be afraid of retribution?" Han Xiufeng habitually touched the corner of his mouth and said with a hint of self-mockery, "Not only is he unafraid of retribution, but he also goes around saying that my uncle has suffered retribution. He claims that none of us working in the yamen are good people, that we exploit both the plaintiffs and the defendants, and that we only know how to extort money, so we deserve to face retribution."

Among the sworn brothers from back then, only Captain Guan remains. It is truly a sight to see these two young men grow up. Now that the Han family is facing such a significant issue, as an elder, he naturally cannot feel at ease. Despite having just received a reprimand for inadequate performance, he still musters the strength to come.

The newly appointed magistrate of Bishan naturally would not employ the former magistrate's secretary. Han Yucai had only served as the grain secretary for a few days, and not only did he fail to make any profit, but he also did not have the chance to recover his initial investment. Overwhelmed by the burden of debt due to his own folly, he suddenly felt faint, collapsed to the ground, and lost his breath, never to rise again