Chapter 3, Family Heritage (Part 1)
"Very good, very good," Yuan Wuba nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the young lady and asked, "Miss, has this Young Master Wu made any improper advances towards you? Or has he said anything about wanting to forcibly take you?"
Wu Chaoyue felt distressed. He had intended to proactively go to the county office to face trial, believing that a true hero does not shy away from immediate difficulties. However, just as he was about to take a step, the foreign priest who had previously received help from Wu Chaoyue squeezed into the crowd and, with a puzzled expression, asked in English, "Dear Chinese friend, what is happening? Why are these Chinese soldiers trying to arrest you? Is it because I have implicated you?"
After casting a glance at the exceptionally beautiful young girl, Yuan Wuba's chubby face broke into an even broader smile. He realized that today he could not only continue to deal with Wu Chaoyue but also take the opportunity to win the favor of the beautiful maiden. Yuan Wuba first called to the fishermen and the servants of the Wu family who were fighting, then he directly approached the young girl to inquire about the situation. The girl recounted the events truthfully, and upon hearing this, Yuan Wuba was even more delighted. He hurriedly asked the onlooking townsfolk, "Dear fellow villagers, did you hear this young master Wu just now making lewd remarks to this young lady?"
With a swift decision made, Wu Chaoyue felt a sense of certainty in her heart and immediately spoke to the foreign priest in English: "Respected Father, it is with great regret that I must inform you that it is because of your matter that these Chinese officials are attempting to apprehend me"
In addition, Yuan Zude has a special identity as a disciple of Yang Wending, the current Governor of Jiangsu and the direct superior of Wu Jianzhang. They refer to each other as teacher and student and share a very close relationship. With such a strong backing, Yuan Zude naturally feels fearless in front of Wu Jianzhang, and it is not that he dares to oppose Wu Jianzhang in every matter. At the very least, he has never ceased his covert actions of feigned compliance, even emulating Wu Jianzhang by supporting a faction primarily composed of people from Fujian, competing with Wu Jianzhang for grassroots interests in Shanghai. Moreover, leveraging his authority over Shanghai's civil affairs, he often imposes harsh restrictions on the Shuangdao Society, which Wu Jianzhang has nurtured. Wu Jianzhang frequently feels frustrated by this situation, yet he is powerless to intervene in local governance and lacks the formidable backing that Yuan Zude possesses, leaving him unable to take any effective action against Yuan Zude.
"Useless stinking woman!" Yuan Wuba cursed inwardly, yet he did not dare to openly blame Wu Chaoyue in broad daylight. He could only turn to Wu Chaoyue again and said with a smile, "Young Master Wu, I apologize, with so many witnesses, I truly want to help you but I am unable to. What do you think we should do next?"
"It is you who has dragged me down." Wu Chaoyue thought bitterly, but with a shift in his mind, he immediately came up with a good idea and secretly cursed, "The sun! A ready-made support is right here, how could I not take advantage of it?"
It is precisely because of this that the previous Wu Chaoyue suffered greatly from the grievances of the county magistrate's office in Shanghai, and had long-standing enmities with Yuan Wubai. Unfortunately, being preoccupied with frivolous pursuits and lacking integrity, it was always the previous Wu Chaoyue who ended up suffering losses. Several times, he was punished with a ruler by Wu Jianzhang, all because of the trouble caused by Yuan Wubai. Now, having just playfully teased a common girl, Wu Chaoyue coincidentally encountered such a nemesis. Fully inheriting the memories of his predecessor, Wu Chaoyue could only lament in his heart, knowing that there would be no good outcome today.
Damn it, it seems that another round of the ruler is unavoidable
The young girl was unwilling to listen, and the boat pole was swung with great force, causing Wu Dasa, who was forced to act as a human shield for Wu Chaoyue, to scream in agony, his cries echoing. Fortunately, Wu Chaoyue had brought enough servants this time; several lackeys rushed forward to protect her. One of the lackeys even pressed down on the young girl's boat pole. Although her fellow fishermen came to assist, Wu Chaoyue's lackeys were better equipped, brandishing their waist knives and shouting threats, which deterred the fishermen from acting too impulsively. Fortunately, Wu Chaoyue had brought enough servants this time; several lackeys rushed forward to protect her. One of the lackeys even pressed down on the young girl's boat pole. Although her fellow fishermen came to assist, Wu Chaoyue's lackeys were better equipped, brandishing their waist knives and shouting threats, which deterred the fishermen from acting too impulsively.
"I was just casually making a light remark, but does such trivial matter warrant such a commotion?" Wu Chaoyue said with a frown, "Moreover, that young lady just injured my family member, so we should be even, right?"
Of course not. Yuan Wubai smiled with his lips but not with his eyes, and said: "Teasing common women is no trivial matter; according to the laws of the Great Qing, it warrants punishment. Therefore, there is no other way; I can only take Young Master Wu to the yamen for a visit."
"Misunderstanding?" The girl who was competing with Wu Dasa and others for the boat pole became anxious upon hearing this and hurriedly shouted at Yuan Wuba: "Sir, you must stand up for me. This scoundrel, relying on his status as an official's descendant, has been harassing and insulting me. Everyone here is a witness; Sir, you must uphold justice!"
As soon as the words were spoken, Yuan Wuba's lackeys immediately blocked the way of Wu Chaoyue's lackeys, preventing the servants of the Wu family from seeking help from Wu Jianzhang. Then, Yuan Wuba took out a rope and said to Wu Chaoyue with a smile: "Young Master Wu, please, for the sake of Wu Daotai, if you cooperate and come with me willingly, I will not bind you. Otherwise... I will have no choice but to handle this according to official procedures."
While asking with his mouth, Yuan Wuba was also signaling the young girl with his eyes, suggesting that she slander Wu Chaoyue for being inappropriate with her or even for forcibly taking her away. However, unfortunately, the young girl had a straightforward temperament and immediately shook her head, saying: "Not at all, he just has a dirty mouth and didn't dare to act recklessly towards me"
"Am I still afraid of you?" The girl's eyes were slightly red as she struggled to wrest the oar from Wu Chaoyue's lackey. Unfortunately, Wu Dasai, who had already been beaten to a pulp, also helped to hold onto the oar. No matter how strong the girl was, she could not overpower two big men, and both sides fell into a stalemate.
Wu Chaoyue is not a fool; he can certainly see that Yuan Wuba is deliberately trying to set him up. However, the evidence is irrefutable, and even if Wu Chaoyue wants to refute Yuan Wuba, he cannot find any grounds to do so. Meanwhile, Wu Dasai notices that the situation is not looking good and quickly whispers a few words to a servant of the Wu family, instructing him to hurry back and inform Wu Jianzhang. Unfortunately, Yuan Wuba has been keeping an eye on Wu Chaoyue's few lackeys. Just as the Wu family servant begins to move, Yuan Wuba immediately shouts, "Arrest all those who are fighting! Take them all to the county office, and do not let a single one escape!"
As soon as the joke about habits becoming second nature was uttered, Wu Chaoyue immediately regretted it—such words cannot be carelessly spoken in this era, and the facts have proven that this statement is absolutely not to be taken lightly. Before the words had even faded, the onlookers nearby erupted in laughter, while the young girl’s face turned from red to pale. Without a moment's thought, she hurled a boat pole at Wu Chaoyue. Startled, Wu Chaoyue quickly dodged, pulling Wu Dasaai in front of him as a human shield, and hurriedly said: "Miss, please calm down, it was a slip of the tongue on my part, please calm down, let’s discuss this rationally." Before the words had even faded, the onlookers nearby erupted in laughter, while the young girl’s face turned from red to pale. Without a moment's thought, she hurled a boat pole at Wu Chaoyue. Startled, Wu Chaoyue quickly dodged, pulling Wu Dasaai in front of him as a human shield, and hurriedly said: "Miss, please calm down, it was a slip of the tongue on my part, please calm down, let’s discuss this rationally."
"I heard it, I heard it." It is a fact that Wu Chaoyue spoke frivolously, so the onlooking citizens all said: "Master Cha, we all heard it. Just now, this young master Wu openly stated that he wants to take this young lady as a concubine, and we can testify to that."
"It's nothing, just a bit of a misunderstanding with them," Wu Chaoyue replied casually
As Wu Chaoyue spoke, he quietly observed Yuan Wuba's facial expressions and reactions. As expected, upon hearing Wu Chaoyue's fluent English, Yuan Wuba's chubby face was filled with confusion and bewilderment, clearly unable to understand what Wu Chaoyue and the foreign priest were discussing. However, the foreign priest immediately became agitated upon hearing this and exclaimed to Yuan Wuba, "Officer, why are you detaining this kind-hearted Chinese gentleman? He was acting out of goodwill just now; you cannot arbitrarily arrest a good person!"
Logically speaking, Yuan Zude, who is merely a seventh-rank county magistrate, should not have any conflicts with Wu Jianzhang, a fourth-rank circuit intendant, even if he does not seek to please him. However, due to circumstances, as the grandson of the renowned poet and famous gourmet Yuan Mei from the Qing Dynasty, Yuan Zude is not only from a prestigious official family but also has a legitimate scholarly background. In contrast, Wu Jianzhang comes from a humble background as a chicken vendor in Macau, having amassed wealth through dubious means and relying on bribery to ascend the official ranks. He even managed to secure the position of circuit intendant by currying favor with foreigners and seeking personal gain at the expense of his country. Naturally, the self-righteous Yuan Zude looks down upon Wu Jianzhang with disdain and is utterly unwilling to bow down and obey him.
At this moment, the individuals tasked with quelling the disturbance finally arrived. A group of yamen runners from Shanghai County shouted to disperse the onlookers and strode into the scene of the incident. Wu Chaoyue, who had been at a loss on how to defuse the situation, initially felt a sense of relief. However, upon closer inspection of the leading yamen runner, Wu Chaoyue's brow furrowed slightly. This was because the memories of his predecessor had already informed him of the identity and name of this yamen runner, who was none other than Yuan Wubai, a trusted confidant and clan nephew of the Shanghai County magistrate, Yuan Zude. Moreover, Wu Chaoyue was acutely aware that not only was his predecessor at odds with Yuan Wubai, but even his current patron, the compradore grandfather, was also a political rival and adversary of Yuan Zude, the behind-the-scenes boss of Yuan Wubai.
"Come with me, I will support you for a lifetime and take you as my concubine"
Seizing the opportunity, Wu Chaoyue quickly shouted, "Alright, everyone stop fighting. Young lady, let's speak properly. I am not afraid of you; I am doing this for your own good. Do not forget where this place is. If a fight breaks out, the one who will suffer will only be you"
It must be mentioned that Wu Jianzhang, who comes from a background of donations, is able to fill the vacancy of the Daotai, but he is not entirely without support. However, that support does not hold Wu Jianzhang in high regard and prides itself on its integrity, refusing to accept Wu Jianzhang's respectful gifts and often warning him against corruption and illegal activities, repeatedly threatening that if such situations arise, he will not spare Wu Jianzhang. Although it is said that Wu Jianzhang has a supporter, this support is fundamentally unreliable, as the supporter suddenly fell ill and passed away in the first year. Therefore, Wu Jianzhang has never dared to compete with Yuan Zude regarding background support, and now he naturally does not dare to compare in this regard.
As expected, upon seeing Wu Chaoyue appear at the scene of the disturbance, and noticing that those who were fighting with the fishermen were all servants of the Wu residence, Yuan Wuba, with his plump face glistening with fat, indeed revealed a joyful smile. He warmly greeted Wu Chaoyue, saying, "Young Master Wu, what brings you here again? What has happened this time? Are you fighting over a woman again?"