“Whose blood is this?” Chief Zhu asked as he approached the two men. Liu Qing, though reluctant, still respected Chief Zhu’s authority and stepped back two paces, standing aside.
“His wife’s,” Ji Wei shrugged, glancing at Liu Qing.
“Where is your wife?”
“She left.”
Chief Zhu looked at Liu Qing’s indifferent demeanor and, as a man who held his wife in the highest regard, couldn’t tolerate it. His face darkened like the bottom of a burnt pot, grim and furious.
“A man who can’t even protect his wife, letting her get hurt right under his nose, doesn’t deserve to be called a man!” Chief Zhu’s voice rose with emotion.
Ji Wei nodded enthusiastically, “Yeah, he’s not worthy.”
“Shut up! You’re no better!” Chief Zhu glared at him.
“Why is it that every time you two cause trouble, it’s on my day off? Can’t you choose another day?” Chief Zhu, already in a foul mood, vented all his frustration on the two. And with Liu Qing being uncooperative, he grew rough in his handling of him.
One moment he gave Liu Qing a punch to the head, and the next, a kick from behind. Ji Wei, on the other hand, followed obediently behind Chief Zhu, so much so that he didn’t even need to be prodded and wasn’t subjected to any beatings. Occasionally, he even managed to chat with Chief Zhu calmly, making for a much lighter atmosphere.
For two people who both had committed offenses, the contrast was glaring.
The three of them arrived at the county office, where Chief Zhu sent someone to fetch the magistrate.
After about half an hour, Magistrate Lu Zhanhong arrived to preside over the trial concerning their brawl.
In truth, the moment Lu Zhanhong saw Ji Wei and Liu Qing, his brows furrowed tightly. On the one hand, he utterly despised the troublemakers from the Qinglong Gang, but on the other hand, he remembered the mooncakes Ji Wei had gifted him, which left him feeling indebted.
Nonetheless, Lu Zhanhong was known for his impartiality. Putting aside personal feelings, he slammed the wooden gavel and opened the court session.
Impressions between people matter a great deal.
For instance, between Ji Wei and Liu Qing, Ji Wei made a much better impression on Lu Zhanhong. So when it came time to question the defendants, he chose to speak to Ji Wei first.
Ji Wei explained the entire background of the bet and even handed over the contract he had been carrying as evidence.
Liu Qing, standing beside him with reddened eyes, glared at the paper, watching helplessly as it was placed on Lu Zhanhong’s desk.
If he had held onto any sliver of hope before, now that it had reached the magistrate, it was practically a done deal. There was no escaping it.
Liu Qing gritted his teeth in anger, his whole body trembling with fury.
“This contract has both a signature and a fingerprint. Liu Qing, do you acknowledge this document?” Lu Zhanhong’s square face was stern as he asked in a deep voice.
“My lord, the contract is real, but Ji Wei tricked me into signing it—it can’t be taken seriously!” Liu Qing, having lost Lin Qing, felt like a wolf without fangs. In such a critical moment, his mind went blank, and he couldn’t think of a good way to refute Ji Wei’s words.
After all, Ji Wei was telling the truth.
“Oh? How did he deceive you? Speak honestly.”
Although Lu Zhanhong said this, finding loopholes in the truth to weave a false story is much harder than simply lying. For someone like Liu Qing, this was truly a challenge.
He scratched his head and stammered for a long time before finally coming up with an excuse, saying that Ji Wei had threatened him by sabotaging his business, forcing him to sign the contract.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wei snickered with disdain.
“Your Honor, I am the one who makes these pancakes, and I was the first to sell them on the street. Bun Seller Xi Shi took advantage of my recovery period at home to steal my recipe, selling at a loss just to undercut my business. Liu Qing’s claim is full of holes. I hope Your Honor can see through it.” Ji Wei lowered his hands to the ground and bowed slightly.
Lu Zhanhong had already looked into this during a previous case and knew Ji Wei wasn’t lying.
If Ji Wei wasn’t lying, then Liu Qing must be.
Slamming the gavel, Lu Zhanhong shouted, “Reversing right and wrong, showing contempt for the court—I sentence you to twenty strokes of the cane, to be carried out shortly!” He threw down a red bamboo token, and Liu Qing let out a wail, shouting in protest.
“My lord, this is all part of Ji Wei’s scheme! My assets don’t even add up to twenty taels—why would I make such a bet with him? His words can’t be trusted, my lord!”
“My lord, Liu Qing, Lin Qing, and Li Erhei conspired together after being imprisoned for assault last time. They agreed to pool their money to sell low-cost pancakes to drive me out of business. But when their plan failed, Liu Qing ended up suffering the consequences, and that’s why we’re here now.”
“Please, Your Honor, see the truth!”
Ji Wei’s words finally made Lu Zhanhong realize what had been off about the situation.
For instance, the two were rivals, always at odds, and yet this time they had chosen to compete by selling food. The root cause was a grudge, a plot to ruin Ji Wei’s business and force him out of Changliu Town.
Such a sinister scheme was beyond Liu Qing, who had muscle but no brains. Someone had been advising him. Given that they hadn’t gotten involved this time, it showed there were no cracks in their relationship.
Lu Zhanhong was a sharp man. With just a few of Ji Wei’s words, he had deduced most of the truth. No matter how Liu Qing tried to argue, the contract was ironclad proof. Debt repayment was a fundamental principle, and even a magistrate couldn’t reverse that.
And since Lu Zhanhong had long been displeased with Liu Qing, now that he had a chance to punish him, he certainly wouldn’t let it slip by.
Chief Zhu immediately ordered Liu Qing to repay the twenty taels of silver within half a month and forbade him from collecting protection money on the streets. If even one person reported him, he would receive twenty strokes of the cane. If two people reported him, it would be forty strokes, with the punishment increasing progressively.
Under such severe consequences, Liu Qing didn’t dare to hold on to any hopes of escaping punishment.
After the court session, Liu Qing was dragged to the back courtyard by Chief Zhu and his men for his punishment. Twenty strokes wasn’t too many, but it wasn’t few either. Liu Qing’s screams of pain echoed through the air, but to Ji Wei, they sounded like sweet music, leaving him feeling utterly satisfied.
“Ji Wei, come here, Master Lu wants to see you.” The clerk ran over, waving at Ji Wei, who hadn’t yet left.
“Master Chen, do you know why he’s looking for me?” Ji Wei asked.
“How would I know? Just go when you’re called.” Master Chen waved him away with a look of impatience.
After dismissing the court, Lu Zhanhong removed his official hat, which was cumbersome, and sat down to sip tea and soothe his throat. When he saw Ji Wei enter, he had someone serve him tea as well.
“Sit here. Since you’re already here, it saves me from sending someone to run all the way to Changliu Town.”
“Master, if there’s anything you need, I’d gladly go through fire and water to serve you!” Ji Wei sat down, cupped his hands in respect, and spoke with such flair that Lu Zhanhong couldn’t help but smile.
“No need to be so serious. I’m not calling you for anything important, just wanted to talk about the mooncakes you sent me a few days ago.”
At the mention of the mooncakes, Ji Wei relaxed and let out a soft “Oh.”
When it came to business, Lu Zhanhong was no longer the county magistrate but a customer, and Ji Wei, as the seller, had the upper hand.
“How did you find the mooncakes, sir? Were they to your liking?” Ji Wei asked respectfully, his eyes never leaving Lu Zhanhong’s face, carefully watching for any subtle reactions.
“My son and wife couldn’t stop praising them! They want to place another order—four boxes of each flavor, to give as gifts around the Mid-Autumn Festival.” Lu Zhanhong, recalling the mooncakes’ elegant packaging, couldn’t help but compliment them and inquired about the designs on the boxes. After hearing Ji Wei explain they were printed, his initial relief turned to surprise.
“My son Yu Shu had guessed they were printed, but I didn’t expect it to be true. Isn’t printing much more complex than hand-painting?”
“Indeed, the process is more complicated, but once skilled craftsmen create the templates and mix the colors, the later stages become much simpler, and the cost is significantly lower than hand-painting.”
“Young Master Yu Shu is truly sharp, seeing through my little trick at a glance.”
“Yu Shu wasn’t entirely sure and had planned to ask the steward to inquire. But since you’re here, I’ve asked on his behalf,” Lu Zhanhong said with a smile, stroking his short mustache as he asked Ji Wei about the price.
“Well, since it’s for you, sir, naturally it wouldn’t be the same as others.”
“No need for special treatment. Whatever price you charge others, I’ll pay the same. There’s no need for preferential rates,” Lu Zhanhong frowned slightly, displeased with the suggestion, as he disliked using his status as magistrate to pressure people, nor did he favor unequal treatment.
“With all due respect, sir, as the county magistrate, many people look up to you as a model. If you like my mooncakes, those who follow you will naturally want to imitate you. In this way, it’s me who benefits from your influence. Of course, I should offer you a discount—how about 20% off?” Ji Wei explained his reasoning smoothly, quickly dissolving Lu Zhanhong’s misgivings.
“Very well, in that case, I’ll accept with a clear conscience,” Lu Zhanhong laughed heartily.
“That’s four boxes of each flavor, sixteen boxes in total. At the regular price of one tael for two boxes, with the 20% discount, you’ll only need to pay me six taels and four qian.”
“What!”
Lu Zhanhong cried out in surprise. He hadn’t expected Ji Wei to dare ask for such a high price—half a tael for a single box! Considering each box only held six mooncakes, that meant nearly a hundred coins for just one cake! What kind of pastries could justify such a price? Or was Ji Wei treating him like a fool?
“I know you’re surprised, sir. Let me explain.” Without exaggeration, Ji Wei carefully listed the various costs involved, and soon, Lu Zhanhong understood that the price was reasonable.
After all, these weren’t being sold to ordinary villagers. Otherwise, Ji Wei would have surely suffered heavy losses.
“No wonder you gave me such a generous gift,” Lu Zhanhong shook his head, secretly impressed by Ji Wei’s cunning.
In the surrounding towns, both the wealthy and the powerful sought to maintain good relations with Lu Zhanhong. During holidays, they sent gifts to his door. Whether he accepted them was another matter, of course.
If they saw the mooncakes at the Lu residence, how could they not be curious about them?
At first, hearing Ji Wei break down the costs, Lu Zhanhong felt a bit uncomfortable about receiving a gift worth two taels of silver for free. But now that he understood Ji Wei’s intentions, his furrowed brows relaxed, and he felt much more at ease.
Lu Zhanhong had his steward fetch the full payment and give it to Ji Wei without holding back half. He instructed that the mooncakes be delivered ten days before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
When Ji Wei asked why, Lu Zhanhong explained that his mother would be celebrating her fifty-fifth birthday before the holiday, and he planned to use the mooncakes for the occasion.
“Besides the mooncakes, do you have any other plans for the celebration?”
Mooncakes are meant for Mid-Autumn Festival, not for birthday celebrations. If that’s all Lord Lu plans to give, he’s missing a great opportunity to make an impression. This is his chance to show some extra care—how could he let it slip?
“My mother loves opera. I was just about to invite a famous troupe from the city to perform for her birthday. Why, do you have a better idea?” Lord Lu asked with some curiosity, knowing full well that Ji Wei often had unconventional ideas.
“When it comes to celebrating an elderly woman’s birthday, the more lively, the better. Have you considered opening up the performance to others? The more people there are to celebrate, the happier your mother will be.”
In Ji Wei’s childhood, when an elder in the family had a birthday, they’d hire a troupe for an open performance, inviting friends and neighbors to watch. It spread good cheer, and the more people there, the merrier it felt. Elderly people especially appreciate a lively crowd.
Lu Zhanhong thought this was a good idea. His mother always insisted on inviting a troupe from Qingcheng for her birthday, and she’d often mentioned how much she liked having a lively atmosphere, though they usually only invited close friends and family behind closed doors.
“But wouldn’t it get too noisy if there were too many people? Mother’s getting on in years, and too much commotion might overwhelm her,” Lord Lu said, though he was considering the idea.
“That’s nothing a few constables can’t handle. You can have the head constable and his men keep order, and anyone causing a disturbance can be escorted out. With your authority, it’s a simple matter.”
“True enough,” Lu Zhanhong nodded, seeing the wisdom in Ji Wei’s suggestion.
“But to make it truly festive, you’ll need a larger venue,” Ji Wei added. “The average person can’t afford to hire an opera troupe for their enjoyment, so if you allow the public to join, you’ll easily draw a large crowd. A hundred people might be on the low side, and your home’s courtyard won’t be big enough to hold them all.”
“That’s no problem,” Lord Lu replied. “The troupe can perform anywhere. All I need to do is pick a spacious location—the performance itself is what matters.”
Ji Wei grinned, happy his idea was being well received. “This plan will ensure a grand celebration, but it’s best if I prepare a special gift as well. When exactly is the birthday?”
“The eighth day of the ninth month,” Lu Zhanhong replied.
“Mooncakes alone won’t be enough. Leave it to me—I’ll make sure your mother receives something truly delightful.”
Curious but trusting, Lord Lu accepted Ji Wei’s offer, though Ji Wei refused to reveal more, saying he wanted to keep it a surprise.
Before parting, Ji Wei made sure to ask, “Does your mother have any dietary preferences? Can she handle dairy? Anything she dislikes? I must get it just right.”
“Dairy’s no issue for her, and both my parents love sweets. Cakes and pastries are a daily staple in our household. If anything, she avoids sour foods—her teeth can’t take it.”
Ji Wei made a mental note to prepare a custom birthday cake, adorned with sweet fruits instead of anything sour, to suit the old lady’s tastes.
With that, he took his leave, pocketing the silver Lord Lu had sent.
At the Sun family’s residence in Daxi Town:
“I’m here to see Brother Sun. Could you please let him know?” The visitor, an older woman, was clearly past middle age, though she still wore the hairstyle of an unmarried maiden.
Her expression was stern, and when she saw Liu Qing, she asked dryly, “You’re here to see Hong? What’s your business with him?”
“I just have something I need to discuss with him. Please, Second Sister, would you do me the favor?” Liu Qing bowed deeply to her, a gesture of utmost respect that contrasted sharply with his usual arrogant demeanor in Changliu Town.
His change in attitude wasn’t without reason. This woman was Sun E, the elder sister of Sun Hong, a key figure in the Qinglong Gang. When Sun E was younger, she’d been jilted by her fiancé and had since sworn off marriage, dedicating herself to caring for their ailing mother. Sun Hong, loyal to family above all, had a soft spot for both his mother and sister, making it imperative for those in his circle to show them respect.
“Come in,” Sun E said, indifferent to the business her brother conducted. Though she could tell by the rough-looking visitors that he wasn’t involved in anything noble, she kept quiet as long as it didn’t cross any legal lines or bring trouble home.
Liu Qing followed her inside, waiting nervously for her to fetch Sun Hong. Though he was one of Sun Hong’s trusted lieutenants in the Qinglong Gang, he knew their relationship wasn’t particularly strong.
The Qinglong Gang had originally been formed to protect the local townspeople, but over time it had grown into a larger, more complex organization with roots in several towns and even Qingcheng itself. Now, it wielded considerable influence.
Monthly Qinglong meetings were held in Qingcheng, but they no longer focused on helping the people. Instead, the three factions within the gang were locked in a power struggle for leadership. Sun Hong, being a straightforward man, had earned the loyalty of those with less ambition, like Liu Qing, who had worked hard to stay in his good graces.
Having just received a beating, Liu Qing limped as he made his way into the Sun residence. After Sun E left to call for her brother, he couldn’t help but wince in pain as he paced the small, humble home.
“Such a small place…”
“What’s too small?”
Startled by Sun Hong’s sudden appearance, Liu Qing broke into a cold sweat. He quickly fell silent, stammering that it was nothing at all.
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1