Chapter 8: The Chronicles of the Adolescent Rebel

If this young man were not the son of a first-class stipend student, Tan Gongdao would have slapped him long ago. Does he really think that the officials who say "even the innocent should be killed" are pushovers

Tan Gongdao was filled with confusion, wondering if this person had some sort of mental issue. Just a moment ago, he saw himself as insignificant as an ant, and now he was treating a torn ticket as a treasure; this was not the legendary silver note! Although for the yamen runners, sometimes a ticket could indeed serve as a silver note.

He did not seem to be a living person, nor did he regard others as flesh-and-blood beings. How could he resemble an otherworldly immortal who has achieved enlightenment? Tan Gongdao thought to himself. He was certain that the young man before him did not possess the power to regard him, Tan Gongdao, as an ant.

Fang Yingwu stepped forward and said to Tang Gongdao: "This esteemed officer has arrived. I am Fang Qingzhi, the son of the county school stipend student. Today, while studying at home, I heard the commotion outside and learned that the officer has come to our town. May I ask if the officer possesses an official government token?"

Fang Yingwu observed coldly, as the murmurs of the villagers reached his ears. "The family is in dire straits; not to mention wealth, where can we find something to offer them?" "Why not sell the daughter to the wealthy Wang family in the neighboring village? I wonder if that would be timely?" "Hopefully, he will accept her; if not, we will have no choice but to sell the land."

The term "parents and elders" specifically refers to the county magistrate. Common folk generally do not have the privilege to meet the magistrate privately; they can only submit petitions in public court. However, students and scholars, as members of the gentry, are qualified to submit requests to the magistrate for an audience. This is why Fang Yingwu would say, "My father wrote a petition to the parents and elders."

Shall I just go back? After coming such a long way, are we to return without doing anything? This ignorant youth, who knows nothing of the world, has repeatedly caused trouble. The seasoned and notorious constable, Tan Gongdao, has endured for a long time and has been displeased with the contemptuous gaze he casts upon him, as if he were an ant.

As they approached, they overheard the leading constable impatiently shove Uncle Er and shout, "You old fool, do you really think that what is in my hands is something to be trifled with? The imperial grain and national taxes, who owes them? The parents and the magistrate now need to repair the academy and the granary; where would they not need money? Last autumn, in Huaxi Village, seven households were in arrears with their grain payments. If the debts are not settled today, we will have no choice but to summon the parties involved to the county for a public display of punishment, with three days in stocks to serve as a warning to others"

No longer responding to Fang Yingwu, Tan Gongdao ordered his subordinates, "Do not dawdle here, quickly apprehend the individuals as named! Anyone who dares to obstruct will be considered resisting law enforcement, and those who attempt to flee will be treated as absconders by the county office!"

Tan Gongdao smiled; this is truly a person of maturity. The young man beside him, who is trying to stand out, is simply clueless. He is not here to demand the collection of overdue taxes; what he seeks is merely this gesture of goodwill.

The five assistants shouted in unison, "At your command!" as they waved their belongings, creating a clattering sound. The surrounding villagers turned pale, and several of those involved trembled like leaves in the wind.

The ticket is a type of paper item, which is destroyed after use, making its preservation rare in later generations; at least, Fang Yingwu had not encountered one during his research. This time, upon seeing a genuine item, my obsession with historical verification was reignited, and I found myself staring at the ticket, examining it repeatedly, making sounds of admiration. It contains details such as items, deadlines, names, and the indispensable bright red seal of the county magistrate.

Theoretically, without a badge, the yamen runners are not permitted to go to the countryside and disturb the people; otherwise, they would have no grounds for complaint even if they were beaten to death. This is not a joke; such a possibility does exist, as yamen runners are classified as lowly status, outside the four categories of commoners.

The person before him wore a flat-topped cap adorned with a feather, dressed in a blue robe with arrow sleeves, and had a red sash around the waist. Indeed, it was exactly as described in historical records regarding the attire of Ming dynasty officials, Fang Yingwu thought to himself.

The seasoned veteran, feeling impatient, snatched the ticket back, only to suddenly hear Fang Yingwu ask with familiarity, "Did the officer spend quite a bit of money on this thing?"

Upon hearing his second uncle's words, Fang Yingwu felt a flicker of doubt in his mind. How could the county office demand the collection of last year's overdue autumn grain at this time? This did not align with his research experience

Unbeknownst to him, Fang Yingwu's demeanor fell into the eyes of the subject of study, namely Tan Gongdao, a regular official of the county office in Chun'an County, who had a different impression altogether

The constable appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with a robust build, a dark complexion, and a long beard. He was speaking while glancing around. Fang Yingwu was surrounded by villagers, making him quite conspicuous, so at the moment he noticed the constable, the constable also noticed him.

Is this the kind of scribe who frequently appears in historical records and novels, serving as an antagonist and a significant scourge of the lower strata of society in the Ming Dynasty? Fang Yingwu observed with great interest.

A servant shouted from behind: "Old man, if you know what’s good for you, let those families come out on their own and follow us to the county. Otherwise, we will break down the doors and invade the homes, ruining the women and belongings inside, and it will be embarrassing for everyone!"

It was only because he took into account the background of the scholars that he refrained from resorting to violence. Scholars in Chun'an County are not to be trifled with; it is possible that some bookish fellow may, in a few days, transform into a pillar of the nation, or perhaps a classmate may undergo a similar transformation, or even a friend of a classmate may become a pillar of the nation

Seeing that the prodigy Fang Yingwu from the Lian family was also unable to accomplish anything, Uncle Er felt a slight disappointment in his heart. The prodigy could only be useful in internal conflicts, but was inexperienced in external battles. He could only helplessly call out: "Sir, please wait! It is already noon, and a banquet has been prepared in the village. If you do not mind the simplicity, please rest and enjoy a meal first, and there is also a token of respect to offer."

However, Fang Yingwu has mostly encountered villagers these past few days, either farmers or the unconventional woman, Wang Xiaoniang. It is rare to see individuals of different statuses now, which is quite refreshing.

Upon seeing Fang Yingwu approach, Uncle Er seemed to have found the only lifeline. This nephew, who was articulate and reasonable, was certainly better than him. In a state of desperation, he rushed forward to greet Fang Yingwu and said:

In his previous life, Expert Fang's professional expertise was akin to dragon-slaying techniques, and he could not even secure a position as a consultant for historical dramas, which never required a consultant with such clarity of mind. Perhaps traversing to this era is indeed a good opportunity for him to realize his personal value. At the very least, he has now skillfully utilized the unspoken rules to manage his petty uncle and won the hearts of the villagers.

Although this young man concealed it well, in the moment of locking eyes with himself, a hint of expression revealing "you are nothing but an ant" still surfaced

"It cost me five coins..." Just as Tan Gongdao had snatched back the ticket, he exerted too much force and was worried about tearing it. In a moment of distraction, he answered carelessly, but then he realized and angrily said, "I won't waste my breath on you!"

Amidst the throng of villagers, Fang Yingwu arrived in the village and indeed saw a few uninvited guests making a commotion at the village entrance. Some were wielding clubs, while others held cowhide ropes, all exuding an intimidating and fierce demeanor. Uncle Er was also present, bowing and scraping as he spoke.

At this moment, as a high-achieving student well-versed in historical materials and specializing in the political history, institutional history, and social history of the Ming Dynasty, Fang Yingwu experienced a slight satisfaction of his scholarly habit of textual criticism due to his professional inclination, and the knowledge he had accumulated throughout his life finally found its application, instantly generating an inexplicable sense of joy in his mind

If Tan Gongdao were a netizen of the 21st century, he would probably exclaim, "If one does not act foolishly in youth, what is the point of being young?" In fact, the villagers in the same community can also sense that Qiu Ge'er is different from before, but their limited experience prevents them from articulating it or relating it to any literature.

Tan Gongdao immediately erupted in anger, grabbing Fang Yingwu by the collar and sternly reprimanding him: "You little brat, do you dare to defy the law time and again! Considering your father's status, I have refrained from holding you accountable, but now you have become even more audacious. That petition belongs to your father, not you. Do you really think I wouldn't dare to take action against you! Seize him and bind him up, so you can understand the consequences of defying the law!"

However, Tan Gongdao caught a glimpse of Fang Yingwu walking towards him, and after scrutinizing him closely, he experienced a strange feeling, indeed an unprecedented strange feeling

Because he had inquired earlier, there were no powerful or aristocratic families in Huaxi Village, so it was impossible for there to be anyone capable of resisting him. However, where did this lofty and proud disposition of a youth, who neither comes from a noble family nor possesses any strength, originate from?

It turns out he is the son of Scholar Fang, who left home two years ago; no wonder he seems so bookish... Tan Gongdao certainly understands the situation in Huaxi Village, otherwise he would not dare to act so tyrannically. While thinking this, he took out a piece of paper from his bosom and showed it to Fang Yingwu.

It is precisely because he is unaware of the treachery of the world and the hearts of men, and has read so much that he has become self-righteous, that he dares to treat the county officials with such disdain, nearly fooling himself in the process. As a seasoned and unscrupulous official, he could easily crush ten such ignorant youths with a single slap

To identify the profession most adept at reading people's expressions, the role of the clerk is undoubtedly a strong contender. Today, the constable who arrived at Shanghuaxi Village is Tan Gongdao from the county office's fast track. He has been in service for thirteen years and has interacted with a variety of individuals, priding himself on being perceptive.

This world does not bend to your wishes, and others will not accommodate you either! I find it most irritating to deal with those immature individuals who always seek attention without understanding the situation!

This young man stands out distinctly among a group of villagers, possessing a unique temperament. He is neither the wild and arrogant demeanor of a scholar nor the timid and cowardly nature of the common people and bookworms, but rather an ironic perspective that sees through the affairs of the world, or perhaps a cold indifference that looks down upon all living beings.

Looking again, there were four or five individuals beside the constable, dressed differently and each holding a weapon, but all were deferential to the constable. Based on his research experience, Fang Yingwu deduced that these four or five individuals were the so-called helpers, also known as white laborers, which in the terminology of the previous generation referred to temporary workers capable of any wrongdoing, while the person in distinct attire was a regular staff member.

Last autumn, the harvest in the village was poor, and a few families were in arrears with their grain payments. The county office sent someone to urge repayment, and Mr. Tan said that if the payment was not made today, it would delay the important matters of the elders, and they would take people to the county for public punishment. You also know that at this time, it is impossible to make up for it. Moreover, if people go to the county, it will delay the farming season

So it turns out that the going rate for collecting overdue tax tickets is five coins... Fang Yingwu seemed to ponder this; these are all valuable primary research materials

Is this the ticket? Fang Yingwu widened his eyes and looked closely. The so-called ticket is a law enforcement certificate issued by the government office to the bailiffs, with one ticket for each case, to be destroyed after the matter is concluded

Perhaps it was just overthinking on his part, and Tan Gongdao couldn't help but mock himself a few times. Indeed, the older one gets in the world, the more timid one becomes; this is probably just the ignorance and fearlessness of a youth who has not experienced the world, and yet has read books seriously only to become foolish.

The ticket is something that all officials yearn for; it serves as their legal proof for extortion and coercion. Although these officials may flaunt their power in front of powerless commoners, they still have to humble themselves and seek favors in order to obtain the service ticket.

Pity the people of this world, for their troubles are indeed many. Thus, I should sigh and step forward to stop Mr. Tan, who was about to head into the village. "Sir, please hold on for a moment! I have a letter written by my father to the esteemed parents. Once I go to the county town and deliver the letter to the esteemed one, we can discuss the matter further. For today, I kindly ask you and your companions to return first."