Chapter 8, Seeking Skin from a Tiger

The pillar curiously asked: "Fourth Brother, can you tell fortunes? Did you know in advance that the county magistrate would not live for many days?"

Pan Changsheng never expected that his father would propose such a condition, and he was momentarily taken aback. However, he quickly regained his composure and chuckled, saying: "It's not a grievance, not a grievance, Han Si... No, Fourth Brother, while we are in Zhaoma, we are brothers. Once we leave Zhaoma, you are the master, and I am your family, your loyal attendant"

Thinking of his uncle, whose body was still warm, Han Xiufeng said solemnly: "Uncle Guan, my uncle never told me about gathering money for that short-lived county magistrate's appointment. I have always been kept in the dark. If I had known earlier, I would have tried every possible way to dissuade him, and I would never have allowed him to go to Bishan to be that pregnant assistant."

"If one cannot make up for the deficiencies, one cannot become an official; if one cannot become an official, one cannot earn money; and if one cannot earn money, how can one repay the debts?" The head of the guards, with a worried expression, closely watched Han Xiufeng and said, "What needs to be repaid then is a sum of three thousand taels, three thousand taels of shiny silver. Just thinking about it is terrifying!"

Manager Pan, your great kindness is something I, Han Si, will never forget. If one day I can make up for this debt, become an official, and earn money, I will certainly repay you generously! Regardless of whether one likes it or not, one must observe the proper etiquette. Han Xiufeng once again stood up to bow, his face filled with sincerity

"Fourth Child, it is easy to donate an official position, but difficult to fill a vacancy. I may not know about other places, but I am aware of the situation in Sichuan. There are dozens of substitute circuit intendants, over a hundred substitute governors, and probably over a thousand substitute county magistrates. However, there are only about a hundred official offices in all of Sichuan, only about a hundred vacancies. Currently, none of these positions are officially filled; they are all acting positions. A substitute official can hardly rotate through in a year. We have no one in the capital; can you fill this vacancy?" This hurdle has been barely passed, yet the head of the guard cannot smile. Currently, none of these positions are officially filled; they are all acting positions. A substitute official can hardly rotate through in a year. We have no one in the capital; can you fill this vacancy?" This hurdle has been barely passed, yet the head of the guard cannot smile.

"How do you plan to go?" Officer Guan pressed for an answer.

I knew he would not lend money again, and now he is even no longer mentioning the fifty taels he just promised.

The head of the guards secretly cursed this old fox for his clever scheme, planning to have his son serve as a follower to the Fourth Child. This way, he wouldn't have to worry about the Fourth Child running away, and once the Fourth Child made up for the shortfall, they could make money together. However, circumstances are stronger than individuals; he is ultimately the creditor and has agreed to grant an extension, so it would be unreasonable not to comply.

The pillar, which had been silent all along, could not help but ask: "Fourth Brother, since this deficiency is difficult to remedy, are you still going to the capital to offer your tribute?"

Go, of course we must go, how can we explain to Manager Pan if we don't go

Compared to those pawnshops and money houses in the city, Manager Pan is at least blameless in this matter. The constable grew increasingly frustrated, fell silent for a long time, and then looked up to ask: "When do you plan to set off? Do you have enough funds for the journey?"

After seeing off Manager Pan and his son, as well as the intermediary who came to witness the event, Zhuzi finally let out a sigh of relief while watching his aunt and younger sister who had just pressed their fingerprints on the loan agreement. While tidying up the tea cups, he muttered, "Fourth Brother, I was scared to death just now"

Han Xiufeng couldn't help but laugh and said: "What are you worried about? You should consider that my aunt has treated me so well; I can't let her, at such an old age, become a servant for others. I also cannot just stand by and watch my younger sister being sold to a brothel to serve clients."

For an ordinary family, fifty taels is a significant amount of money, but for Han Xiufeng at present, fifty taels is of little use. In fact, the lengthy discussion just now was aimed at achieving this result; as long as there is a grace period and he can get through this immediate challenge, that is sufficient. As for future matters, they can be addressed later.

That scoundrel is afraid you will play tricks, which is why he let his son accompany you to the capital to testify

Han Xiufeng looked up at the yellow cassia tree and pondered: "In business, one must speak of business; it is not unreasonable for Manager Pan to act this way. After all, my uncle did borrow money from his family. Moreover, he only charges us a one percent interest, without compounding, and merely has his second son keep an eye on it, which is not exploitative."

Uncle Guan, even if I had not encountered this matter with my uncle, I would still have gone to the capital to make a report. Otherwise, I would not have taken the little money I had painstakingly saved over the years to donate to the officials. I was just thinking that it wouldn't be so easy to fill the gap, so I kept it quiet, planning to help out in the yamen for a few more years, save some more money, and then go to the capital to make my report. Unfortunately, time did not wait for me, and I could only go like this

"Seeking the truth is not my concern; as long as I, Han Si, can accomplish it, there will be no further discussion."

As he expected, Han Xiufeng had no room for negotiation and could only turn back and say: "Uncle Pan, having Changsheng accompany me at least provides some support, but... but once I take office, I will be an official, and as for Changsheng... In short, this will inevitably put Changsheng in a difficult position."

Everything has been agreed upon, please have a mediator come over to draft a new written agreement

The head of the guards sighed, saying: "Plan thoroughly before taking action, it is better than your uncle."

"Fourth Child, are you saying that even if that county magistrate didn't die of illness, your uncle still wouldn't earn much silver?" Guān, the head constable, asked with a furrowed brow

Manager Pan looked at his second son and said with a smile, "Noble nephew, you have also experienced this disposition of Changsheng. He has never seen the world and does not understand the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth. When you go to the capital to offer your services, could you take my Changsheng along as well, so he can see the world? Once he fills in the gaps, he can assist you as a follower, helping you with errands and miscellaneous tasks."

"I am not a fortune teller; I can only do accounts and calculations, but I cannot predict the future," Han Xiufeng explained as he took a sip of tea. "The reasoning is quite simple. That county magistrate has no idea how many years he has been an alternate, nor does he know how impoverished he has become. One could say he is extremely ruthless! He finally fills a vacancy, but it is only an acting position, at most he can serve for a year or a year and a half, and he won't even make an effort to scrape the surface. And Bishan is just that big, with only so much profit to be made. If my uncle earns a little, he will earn a little less. Don't you think my uncle is just courting disaster?" He finally fills a vacancy, but it is only an acting position, at most he can serve for a year or a year and a half, and he won't even make an effort to scrape the surface. And Bishan is just that big, with only so much profit to be made. If my uncle earns a little, he will earn a little less. Don't you think my uncle is just courting disaster?

Considering that even with good fortune, it is uncertain where one would be assigned after being selected in the capital, and that the journey may take a year or even longer, both parties agreed to extend the debt repayment period to five years. However, by that time, Han Xiufeng would need to repay not two thousand taels, but three thousand taels, as interest would still accrue during the five-year extension.

Han Xiufeng said helplessly: "Uncle Guan, didn't I tell you about having lunch together? This is both a temporary measure and a way to buy time. If I don't do it this way, what else can I do?"

"Difficult." Han Xiufeng laughed heartlessly.

Han Xiufeng thought for a moment, then sat down and said: "I plan to set off next month. As for the expenses, it depends on how I travel and how I spend. The journey to the capital is several thousand miles, and if one seeks comfort, no amount of money will be sufficient."

"Eight or nine out of ten, not only can we hardly earn any money, but we might also be framed by that short-lived county magistrate for some reason. Uncle Guan, you have served in the yamen for so many years, and you know the character of those officials. They can turn against you faster than you can turn a page in a book. If you believe their words, you won't even know how you died"

Manager Pan secretly thought that encountering a cunning little fox could only lead to this, and he stood up, supporting Han Xiufeng's arms: "Nephew, there is no need for excessive courtesy, let us get back to the point. What I just mentioned was the first matter, and I have another request to make of you."