Chapter One, the scribe Han Si

In my childhood, every time I returned from the city with my second uncle, I would play under the tree with my two cousins who had already married. To this day, I still remember the nursery rhyme my cousins sang while running around the yellow cassia tree: Yellow cassia tree, yellow cassia branches, ... Under the yellow cassia tree is my home, on the yellow cassia tree is a toothless one...

However, for Han Xiufeng, this yellow jujube tree holds many childhood memories beyond just its roots and leaves, which can be used for medicinal purposes

The road will straighten itself when we reach the bridge; there will always be a way.

Indeed, two thousand taels, just thinking about it is frightening. I have never seen so much silver in my life. Zhuzi deeply agreed, and even the tall youth's gaze was filled with boundless sympathy.

"I can recite it and understand its meaning, but I cannot speak it." Ding Zhu suddenly pulled at the roots of the yellow jujube tree, grimacing as he said, "Fourth Brother, you know that when I see the master, my legs go weak, and I can't say a word, let alone go meet the governor."

Every market day, the area inside and outside the mountain gate, as well as the three-mile-long street, becomes crowded with people

That is two thousand taels, do you have that much silver

The magistrate sat in the hall, flipping through a book like this, casually picking a passage to ask you what it means. You could recite the verses by heart at the age of six, and you are well-versed in this book of the "Writings and Illustrations of Grievances"; whatever is written in the book, you can recite it verbatim. It is not as if you are required to compose an essay to take the scholar's examination, so what is so difficult about it?" Han Xiufeng patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly: "If you only work as a learner for a year, you will earn only a few taels. If you can pass the magistrate's examination this time, you will be able to fill this vacancy. In the future, you will receive twelve taels of food silver every year. This bowl of rice is not only something you can eat for a lifetime, but it can also be passed down to your descendants."

"Debts do not disappear with death; the debts my uncle incurred can only be repaid by me." The tall youth picked up the book and lay back down on the rattan chair.

They are not very old, yet their fame is considerable

This is it, the debt collector will come knocking this afternoon, how do you plan to get through this hurdle

Although this bowl of rice prepared by the mortician is not particularly delicious, it is unlikely that anyone will compete with you for it once it is served. Anyone with a bit of sense would avoid eating this bowl of death rice

"Did you not bring that little bastard?" the pillar asked instinctively

A small two-courtyard behind the Taihe Silk Store is particularly desolate; one can tell from the white couplets on the door that this family has just held a funeral

As soon as Han Xiufeng finished speaking, a familiar loud voice came from outside: "Si Wazi, Zhuzi, are you there?"

I do not have any, let alone two thousand taels; I do not even have two hundred taels.

On the 2nd day of the 9th month in the 1st year of the Xianfeng era, it is auspicious for marriage, engagement, and travel, while it is inauspicious for moving earth and burial. It is also the market day at Zhaoma Ridge.

"Handling a funeral is a different matter from meeting the governor." Zhuzi threw down the roots of the yellow jujube tree and muttered to himself, "If we are talking about reciting the 'Innocence Record', Fourth Brother, you can do that too. Not only can you recite it, but you can also write it. Why don't you just go ahead? You can take on the role of the coroner and earn that twelve taels of labor silver."

In the courtyard of the first entrance stands a tall and vigorous Huangjue tree, the year of its planting unknown. Its exposed roots twist and turn, with dense branches and leaves that are a glossy, vibrant green. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the two young people beneath the tree.

Ding Zhu raised his head and asked, "How do we take the exam?"

Uncle Guan is here! The pillar immediately revealed a smile and hurriedly ran over to open the door: "I’m here!"

Villagers from ten miles and eight townships either carry their homegrown fruits and vegetables or bring a basket of eggs laid by their old hens to exchange for a few coins, or they come to buy medicine, or to purchase a few feet of cloth, or to pawn some items at the local pawnshop to alleviate their urgent needs... Some villagers and peddlers who arrive late cannot squeeze in and can only squat outside the mountain gate, guarding their baskets while calling out to sell their goods

The door creaked open, and a burly man in his thirties limped in, leaning on a staff. As he walked, he glanced at the yellow cassia tree and muttered, "Si Wazi, I already told your uncle that this is a feng shui tree, it can only be planted in a temple, not in our small town. Your uncle didn't believe me, and after saving up some money, he insisted on buying this house. Even after buying it, he wouldn't move the tree. Now, it's come true, hasn't it?"

The villagers on the post almost all recognized the young man dressed in a long gown, who appeared to be an educated person; he was Han Xiufeng, a clerk idling in the county office's household department. The short and plump young man was Ding Zhu, the county's apprentice coroner.

The tall boy found himself in a situation that was both amusing and frustrating. He did not want his childhood friend, who had grown up with him, to feel looked down upon. He stood up and walked to the entrance of the main room, pointing to a spirit tablet in front of the ancestral altar: "What’s wrong with being a coroner? Others might starve, but coroners won’t go hungry. You know the situation with my uncle. Relying on the meager wages from being a coroner, it will take me ages to help my uncle pay off his debts. Even if I wanted to repay them slowly, they wouldn’t agree to it."

Han Xiufeng picked up the "Records of Judicial Reexamination" that he had set down and casually flipped through it, gently encouraging, "Zhuzi, I have inquired, the examination is not difficult, and you may not even need to write."

The profession of a coroner is the lowest among lowly trades

"Fourth Brother, don't bother, I really can't do it." Ding Zhu placed the book on the stone bench and squatted under the tree, frowning as he pulled at a root.

"If I could get my hands on that person, would your uncle be able to endure this beating?" The head of the guard inadvertently aggravated his wound, causing him to grimace in pain

The buttocks of Officer Guan are burning with pain, and he dares not sit but can only lie on the rattan chair. He takes a big gulp of the tea brought by Han Xiufeng, and without even wiping his mouth, he grits his teeth and says: "I don't know which bastard has the guts of a bear and the courage of a leopard to dare steal the money tickets of the young master of the Dao Tai family. I am also unfortunate; that day I happened to be on duty, and the master has given me seven days to get to the bottom of this matter."

The streets were bustling with people, the shouts of vendors, the clanging sounds from the blacksmith's shop, the calls of the staff from Liu Huzi Dumplings and Sanmenkou Soup Pot, as well as the laughter and play of children, all intertwined, creating an extraordinary atmosphere of liveliness

Han Xiufeng, feeling anxious, pointed at him and said with frustration, "How can you be a coroner and be afraid of living people when you are not even afraid of the dead? Besides, you have seen the world; if it weren't for your help in organizing things, I don't know how my uncle's funeral would have turned out. Even if it could be handled properly, I can't imagine how much unnecessary money would have been spent."

But now is not the time to be sentimental. Seeing Officer Guan limping, he hurriedly stepped forward to assist him. Zhuzi also sensed that something was wrong and anxiously asked, "Uncle Guan, what happened to you?"

Zouma Gang is a necessary passage from Baxian to Chengdu Prefecture, serving as an important post along the Chengyu postal route. It is part of the Cili Jiujia under the jurisdiction of Baxian. Named for its mountainous terrain resembling a galloping horse, it is also known for its geographical significance, as it borders Bishan to the west and Jiangjin to the south, earning the reputation of "one foot stepping into three counties"

In the countryside, there is a saying that it is not advisable to plant yellow jujube trees at home. However, in Han Xiufeng's impression, the newcomer had never mentioned to his second uncle that having this tree in the yard was a bad idea. On the contrary, he encouraged Han Xiufeng, who often returned from the county town to bring things to his aunt, to take more roots and leaves back with him. This is because drinking a few sips of tea made from the roots of the yellow jujube tree in summer can help clear heat and detoxify. If one gets injured, washing a few leaves of the yellow jujube tree, pounding them into a paste, and applying them to the wound can reduce swelling and relieve pain. It is said that boiling the bark of the yellow jujube tree in water for bathing can also relieve itching and treat skin diseases