Chapter 5, Human Sentiment
However, he always had a wife and raised a son. After scolding, he still explained: "In terms of official rank, the county magistrate is one level above me, but he does not hold real power. In terms of actual authority, I am greater than him. However, the Zhang family has some connections with the Wei Marquis, which cannot be overlooked. It would be acceptable to offend the Zhang family for the sake of important matters, but to ruin relations over that little brat from the Dayan Temple is not worth it. That is why I refused Xie Xiang's request"
Xie Xiang's mind was buzzing, but he came to his senses and said to Yang Sun: "Uncle Xie has rewarded me with silver."
Hey, this old thief is still as cunning as ever. One hundred taels is nothing; having money without connections is of no use... However, you all need to keep a close watch and make sure they don't roll up the mat and run away.
After a moment, someone came in: "Third Young Master, there is news. The chief clerk did not grant permission, but he gave one hundred taels of silver. What do you think..."
The shopkeeper approached cautiously and said, "Welcome, esteemed guest, please take a seat—Liuzi, slice a pound of beef!"
Yang Sun listened, laughed heartily, and waved his hand saying: "No matter how capable the master is, reaching this position as a clerk is the pinnacle. I can only hope that our two sons can be ambitious and continue to support the Yang family."
The captain, around forty years old, was drinking tea at that moment. He glanced over and saw a young girl before him, possessing a delicate frame, yet every gesture exuded an indescribable charm. He thought to himself, "No wonder she caught the attention of Young Master Zhang"
Yang Sun Dao watched the two leave, his expression somewhat dim. Upon hearing this, he scolded, saying: "You are simply lacking in insight!"
Xie Xiang said: "Without troubling my uncle's concern, my livelihood in the academy is still manageable"
Moments later, Zhang entered and saw several burly men staring at him. He quickly stepped forward, his knees buckled, and with a thud, he knelt down, saying: "Third Young Master, this humble servant pays his respects to you."
Xie Xiang silently walked down the steps, glanced back at the tightly closed door. Under the sun, her shadow stretched long as she tightly clenched her hand.
At this moment, there were voices below, and shortly someone came up: "Young Master, the clerk from the Zhang family pharmacy says he knows the whereabouts of that fellow. Would you like to meet him?"
The woman listened and fully understood, then stood up to bow: "Sir, you are right; I am indeed shallow-minded. No wonder our family business is thriving; this is all thanks to your efforts."
Xie Xiang waved his hand and said in a trembling voice: "It's nothing, there are two other families who have old acquaintances with my father, and they can speak on this matter. Let's go take a look; it can't all be like this."
In reality, one of the factors that has allowed Zhang Longtao to dominate for so many years is his system of rewards and punishments for his subordinates. He is not harsh in his dealings, which makes it easy for them to benefit.
After talking for a while, Yang Sun Dao's attitude remained very warm, but he spoke only of trivial matters. Xie Xiang endured for a moment, but eventually could no longer hold back. She stood up, bowed, and said: "Uncle, I have come this time to ask for your assistance."
Upon seeing this person, his eyes immediately lit up; he no longer ate, but stared intently. He then saw Mr. Lu knock on the door. After a moment, the door opened, and a servant led him inside.
The County Magistrate's Office of the Yang Family
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent. Yang Sun's expression revealed difficulty as he stood up and turned to Xie Xiang, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect. He said, "Niece, you are referring to the matter summoned by the Marquis of Wei, right? If it were anything else, your uncle could certainly comply, but regarding this matter, your uncle truly finds himself powerless..."
He is greedy for wealth, but he must have the means to spend it. A person of his low character cannot withstand the wrath of Zhang and the Three Young Masters of the Tu family. Moreover, with his modest official position, he can earn a hundred taels of silver a year. Therefore, this two hundred taels of silver is not worth the risk
Moreover, one hundred taels is not a significant amount for us. In case there is a turning point, it would provide us with some leeway. Furthermore, even aside from the relationship with Pingdao, this Xie Xiang is not simple. It is said that she has received the true teachings of an old master, but her frail health prevents her from practicing the arts. If she were to enter the Zhang family, with her abilities, she would likely have a say in matters. At that point, it would become troublesome. Why should we completely offend her over such a small sum of money?
"Yes, Third Young Master, we are all aware. There are our people at the nearby docks, they cannot escape—" several followers quickly responded.
Upon hearing this, the woman was immediately taken aback, but after a moment of reflection, she understood.
Before the words had even finished, a violent fit of coughing erupted
As the carriage sped away, Zhang Longtao on the second floor of the hotel across the street chuckled softly and closed the window.
As a former small landowner, Yang Sundao has climbed to his current position through a remarkable combination of luck and cunning. Further ascent is no longer within the realm of human capability
Xie Xiang felt a chill in her heart as she entered. This was a large courtyard, with the ground paved with water-ground blue bricks. Upon passing through the second gate, there were corridors and pavilions.
Mr. Lu silently followed behind, and at this moment, he could no longer hold back and said: "This person has lost his conscience, how the old master helped him back then, and he even called the old master his brother back in those days..."
In a moment, two figures approached from not far away. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed Xie Xiang and Lu Bo.
Xie Xiang listened, his face turned pale, and his body trembled. Lu Ren saw this and quickly stepped forward to support him. After Xie Xiang steadied himself, he said, "Then let's go!"
Upon entering the small hall, the host and guests took their seats. Yang Sundao said: "It has been a long time since we last communicated after your grandfather's passing, and I truly feel ashamed. It is a great joy to see you today."
Upon hearing these words, Xie Xiang's face suddenly turned pale, a slight dizziness overcame him, and his vision darkened, forcing him to brace himself against the table.
However, if the next generation can maintain it, they can become a prominent family in the county
As he spoke, he performed a bow, exited, and in the blink of an eye, vanished from the porch
Xie Xiang and Lu Bo, upon arriving, saw the main gate from a distance, where a horizontal plaque read "Yang Residence"
The person scratched his head and continued eating, albeit at a slower pace. However, it wasn't long before the door opened again, and the two individuals emerged. With a loud "bang," the door closed tightly.
Yang Sun Dao's gaze flickered, and he said: "Xie Cheng has shown me great kindness; it is largely due to his efforts that I have been able to attain this position as a secretary. Over the past few years, I have not been able to offer him any substantial reward, and I cannot possibly repay him with nothing at all"
There is a small shop nearby, with two storefronts, kept clean. Inside, there are eight tables, two attendants, and an elderly man in his fifties who appears to be the owner
Oh, then I will meet him," said Zhang Longtao
At this moment, in the carriage, Lu Bo sat beside Xie Xiang. Xie Xiang's eyes were filled with disappointment. After a moment, she withdrew her forlorn gaze and softly said to Lu Ren: "Lu Bo, let's go back..."
The Lu family is located in the southwest of the city, and in terms of status, it is two ranks lower than the Li residence. However, the current head of the family is the chief of the local constabulary, overseeing over a hundred personnel, which can be described as a low position with significant power
"Boss, bring some white flour pancakes with scallions and sauce, and a pound of cooked beef." One person entered, who was indeed a follower of the young master. Despite his obsequious demeanor when accompanying the young master, he spoke in a domineering manner once inside the shop
From the inner room came a sound of "Hey". After a moment, a young attendant lifted the curtain and emerged, carrying a pound of beef. The boss also brought out some white flatbreads, crisp and fragrant, along with a plate of sauce, and had mixed in some fragrant sesame oil. The person then took the pancakes, rolled them with green onions, and began to eat heartily, devouring the meat while occasionally glancing at the doorway.
He said to Lord Lu again: "Once the silver is taken, the carriage will no longer be a bother"
"Uncle Lu, back in the day, my grandfather helped you become the captain of the guards. You should do me a favor in return. If you find the money insufficient, I can gather some more." In the living room, Xie Xiang stepped forward, performed a bow, and said.
The Li residence is located in the eastern part of the city, situated within the city itself, neither particularly remote nor excessively bustling
The Marquis of Wei has only one residence and six counties, each position is highly valuable, and it is unknown how many people are desperately competing for these positions
Yang Sun Dao, upon seeing Xie Xiang in this state, displayed an expression of compassion, hesitating to speak. However, he instructed his servant, saying: "Bring up one hundred taels of silver and rent a horse-drawn carriage to send them out of the residence."
Raised his voice: "Cut another pound of chicken!"
At this moment, a woman emerged from behind the screen, frowning as she asked: "The county magistrate may not be as great as you, so why do you not agree? If you do not agree, then why offer a hundred taels of silver?"
To the left of the door, there was a small gate. After speaking with the attendant, a moment later, a voice came from within: "Please enter"
What my husband said makes sense, so why did he still give a hundred taels of silver
One hundred and twenty taels, the Dayan Temple truly has a formidable presence!" Zhang Longtao pondered for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh: "Let’s go, we should check on this kid!
Saying this, he no longer cast a glance at the constable and turned to leave
Zhang Longtao wore a half-smile and glanced over, saying: "I heard you have news about that kid?"
Upon hearing this, a troubled expression appeared on his resolute face as he said, "No, no, no, it's not a matter of money; this is something I truly cannot accomplish"
The county secretary is an official in charge of documents, often involved in important matters, and is essentially the third-in-command in the county. Naturally, his status is quite high, and the specifications of his residence are comparable to those of the Li family, with two stone lions standing at the entrance.
"Yes, he came to my shop and sold tiger bones, selling one hundred and twenty taels!" Zhang, the assistant, recounted in detail.
After making excuses, I couldn't help but glance at the silver-white snowflakes, recalling the threatening warning from Zhang San Shao, and suddenly felt a shiver: "You may leave now, my lady, please see them out."
Seeing the two leave in disappointment, one person in the shop revealed a smile: "Hehe, they are indeed perceptive. The Li family has declined, and I suppose the other two families have as well. However, that is no longer my concern."
It is said that the Li residence has around 100 tenant households and 2,000 acres of land. Many individuals from this place have held official positions and are greatly respected by the local community, to the extent that passersby do not dare to make noise in front of the gate
As she spoke, the maidservant brought in the tea. Yang Sun Dao then inquired, "I wonder how the situation is in the temple?"
The shopkeeper responded with a sound, and shortly after, half a chicken was served. The man held a rolled pancake in one hand and grabbed the chicken with the other, taking a big bite and devouring it ravenously. In no time, he cleared away all the leftover dishes from the table, and only then did he rise, smiling as he left.
Only then did they see a man who was eight feet tall, dressed in a blue robe, wearing black boots, with a deep black complexion, exuding a certain official authority. He was none other than the county magistrate Yang Sundao. As Xie Xiang was about to step forward to pay her respects, the man hurriedly gestured to her, saying, "Niece Xie, there is no need for excessive formalities, please come in"
Several maids were seen coming and going, all dressed quite well. They led her into a small hall, whereupon she heard someone inside laughing: "So it is my niece Xie, please come in"
Seeing that the woman was unconvinced, he lowered his voice further and said: "Xie Cheng is after all a disciple of Cheng Pingdao. Although he is now estranged, there may still be some connection, so do not leave no room for maneuver."