Li Qin hurried through the streets and alleys, his steps swift as the wind, rushing urgently to a money shop called “Daping Hao” on Drum Tower Street. Upon entering, he headed straight for the rear courtyard. Though the storefront of this money shop wasn’t particularly large, the interior was deep and tranquil, with as many as four courtyards. Li Qin went all the way to the innermost courtyard, said nothing, and directly pushed open the door of the main hall, lifting the curtain and entering.

Zhang Guangfa sat in a grand armchair, wearing a dark gray padded jacket. One hand rested on his knee while the other held a short tobacco pipe with an old bamboo stem and ivory mouthpiece, smoking dry tobacco. Two men sat before him, both appearing to be his business subordinates, engaged in confidential discussion. One was saying: “This sum of silver is too difficult to gather. We’ve already found ways to transfer funds from over a dozen business operations, sold goods at reduced prices, but it’s still not enough. Should we send someone to the capital to ask Master Li to think of another solution?”

Zhang Guangfa exhaled a puff of smoke and shook his head: “The master entrusted us with just this one matter – should we trouble him further? This sum must be gathered in full. Who knows when word might come from the master’s side – we mustn’t delay such an important matter.”

Just as they were speaking, Li Qin suddenly burst in, startling all three men. Seeing Li Qin’s panicked expression and breathless state, Zhang Guangfa waved his hand and instructed the two men: “You go out and attend to business first. In any case, work urgently. Sift through everything from beginning to end several more times – the silver must be gathered.”

Seeing no one else remained in the room, Li Qin was about to speak when Zhang Guangfa’s face darkened: “Young Master Qin, what did the master say when you left the capital? You’ve been running to those kinds of places again these past days, haven’t you? If you continue this reckless behavior, don’t blame me for following the master’s instructions and sending you back to the capital.”

Li Wantang’s original words had been ten times harsher. He had told Zhang Guangfa that if Li Qin didn’t properly learn business, Zhang Guangfa had the authority to enforce family discipline on his behalf. Li Qin naturally understood this, so he didn’t dare argue back. Fortunately, he had something to say and wasn’t worried about changing the subject.

“I just encountered Gu Pingyuan!” Li Qin had no mood for playing coy at this moment, getting straight to the point. “Who?” Zhang Guangfa heard clearly but couldn’t believe it, widening his eyes as he asked.

“How about that! Uncle Zhang, you can’t believe it either, right? I was also shocked when I first saw him. It’s that exile who wanted to cause you trouble outside the Pass, whom you later drugged.”

“That’s impossible. He’s an exile – he couldn’t possibly leave the Pass.” Zhang Guangfa asked again, “Are you certain of what you saw?”

“Oh my, Uncle Zhang, not only am I certain, I even spoke with him for a few moments. This fellow is quite ruthless – he said he’s colluded with horse bandits and brought strong bows and crossbows to seek revenge on you. So I immediately ran here to report.”

Zhang Guangfa’s face showed complete disbelief. He inquired about the situation in detail, pondered for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: “Young Master Qin, you’re such a clever person – how did you fall for such an obvious trick? That Gu Pingyuan clearly escaped from outside the Pass. He’d be lucky to preserve his life – what’s this about colluding with horse bandits? If he had such capability, he would have acted back at Shanhai Pass. Why would he have come begging at your door, offering schemes to smuggle salt?”

Li Qin was suddenly enlightened by this reminder, clapping his hands together and exclaiming: “That’s right!”

“I think that Su Zixuan is the clever one. She probably saw through his scheme long ago. Think about her final words – she clearly didn’t believe him at all.”

Li Qin froze for a moment, gritted his teeth, and his face flushed red. Being deceived by Gu Pingyuan was one thing, but being made a fool of in front of Su Zixuan was unbearable. As he ground his teeth in anger, Zhang Guangfa sighed: “This man is quite scheming. I’d bet he deliberately made you agitated, knowing you’d immediately come find me, and he must have followed close behind. Now this ‘Daping Hao’ has fallen under his observation.”

“How did he end up here?” Li Qin asked in confusion.

“Naturally, he followed us both here. Such persistence is indeed something to guard against.” Actually, Zhang Guangfa was only half right. Gu Pingyuan had indeed risked his life to enter the Pass to find Zhang Guangfa, but his prolonged stay in Shanxi wasn’t intentional. However, no matter how capable Zhang Guangfa was, he couldn’t guess the series of encounters Gu Pingyuan had faced after entering the Pass.

“You said he’s now working as an appraiser at Wanyuan Pawnshop?” Zhang Guangfa said thoughtfully.

“Yes, that’s what I heard. It should be true.”

“This won’t do. We’re at a critical juncture now – the matter the master entrusted cannot fail. I absolutely cannot let this Gu Pingyuan remain here, lest complications arise.”

“What do you plan to do, Uncle?”

“Hmph!” Zhang Guangfa smiled coldly. “Don’t blame me for being heartless – naturally, I’ll report him to the authorities and have him escorted back to Fengtian Camp!”

Li Qin hesitated: “If an exile is caught after escaping the Pass, I’m afraid his life will be in danger…”

“That’s his fate – who told him not to stay put outside the Pass.” Zhang Guangfa’s face was as hard as stone.

Zhang Guangfa’s guess was completely accurate. Gu Pingyuan had indeed followed Li Qin closely, watching him intently until he arrived at “Daping Hao.” Seeing Li Qin enter directly, Gu Pingyuan knew that Zhang Guangfa, the chief steward of the capital merchant who had framed him into exile outside the Pass, must be inside this money shop. His heart surged with emotion, unconsciously pressing his chest tightly, feeling a stabbing pain with each breath.

Yes, he had found this person, but in his current situation, could he go in and confront him? Back outside the Pass, he had held a good hand, yet Zhang Guangfa had preferred to break faith rather than reveal the truth of that year. Now, being controlled by Wang Tiangui, if he rashly sought out Zhang Guangfa, being thrown out would be the lighter consequence. If he were delivered to the authorities, that would truly be a worthless death. Moreover, he was now implicated with Fourth Uncle Chang’s life. After much consideration, Gu Pingyuan knew he currently couldn’t deal with Zhang Guangfa and could only plan for the long term. He exhaled deeply, glared fiercely at the golden signboard of “Daping Hao,” then suddenly had an idea and entered a nearby general goods store.

Gu Pingyuan wandered around the store, pretending to buy dried goods for visiting friends and relatives. On the surface, he asked about the merchandise, but actually, he roundaboutly inquired about the business of “Daping Hao” across the street. The store clerk, accustomed to welcoming customers daily, had developed excellent conversational skills. He could make even the most taciturn person open up, let alone Gu Pingyuan who was deliberately making inquiries. As a result, one question led to another, and he learned a great deal. He stayed in the store for half an hour, carrying half a cured ham and two boxes of preserved fruits, having learned everything he wanted to know. Finally, Gu Pingyuan asked: “Earlier you mentioned that Daping Hao has been closed since the end of last year – exactly which day was that?”

The clerk looked up thoughtfully and gave a date. Gu Pingyuan calculated in his mind and realized it was shortly after he had encountered Zhang Guangfa and Li Qin outside Taiyuan City. He nodded to himself, settled his account at the counter, and returned to Wanyuan Pawnshop with his purchases, handing the ham and preserved fruits to Jin Hu: “Add an extra dish for everyone tonight, and distribute the preserved fruits for everyone to enjoy.”

Jin Hu had been worried: “That young master didn’t cause trouble?”

“No trouble. I escorted him back to his inn.” Gu Pingyuan said calmly. “Is the chief appraiser in back? I’ll go report and then return to the warehouse.”

“Fourth Appraiser, you’re… you’re going back there?” Jin Hu couldn’t bear it.

Gu Pingyuan smiled and patted Jin Hu’s shoulder: “Since they haven’t said to release me, naturally I must return.”

“All the appraisers and clerks with over ten years’ service are meeting in the rear courtyard.”

“A meeting? What kind of meeting?” Gu Pingyuan truly couldn’t recall the pawnshop ever convening such a gathering.

Jin Hu shook his head: “Shortly after you left, someone came with a letter sealed with fire wax. After the chief appraiser read it, he called them all to the back hall. He also told us to guard the front and not let outsiders go to the back.”

“Oh. I’ll go see.” Though Gu Pingyuan was confined, his status as Fourth Appraiser remained unchanged. Going to the back hall now wouldn’t count as trespassing, but Jin Hu could only stay in front.

“Let me ask one more time – who will go?” Gu Pingyuan had just arrived at the small courtyard of the back hall when he heard Zhu Sheng’s voice from the main room. The doors and windows were tightly closed, but Zhu Sheng’s voice was loud enough to be clearly heard, though tinged with some impatience.

After asking for a long time, the room remained silent – no one responded. If Gu Pingyuan hadn’t known there were at least seven or eight people inside, he might have thought Zhu Sheng was talking to himself. Gu Pingyuan grew curious and stood in the courtyard listening without entering.

“Do I have to go alone!” Zhu Sheng waited a long time for an answer, his voice now carrying anger.

“Chief Appraiser, don’t be angry. Everyone’s just frightened by what happened last year,” Second Appraiser Ding said hesitantly.

“I know, but that incident had specific causes – it wasn’t directed at our Wanyuan Pawnshop,” Zhu Sheng’s voice also carried some helplessness.

“Chief Appraiser, may I speak?” The speaker was the Third Appraiser, normally the most taciturn person. For him to speak up in this situation, Gu Pingyuan knew the matter was extraordinary.

The Third Appraiser continued: “Those people are all desperados. You say it wasn’t directed at our Wanyuan Pawnshop – I believe that. But what if they turn hostile? ‘Extend five fingers for orders, clench fist for life’ – Little Seventh died so miserably last year. Several clerks who went with him resigned after returning, weren’t they afraid they’d have to go again this year?”

“That’s right,” Second Appraiser Ding chimed in. “We run a pawnshop. This business means risking our necks. Chief Appraiser, is it worth it?”

“Sigh!” Zhu Sheng listened silently for a long time, then suddenly sighed. “Actually, since returning last year, I hadn’t planned to do this business again. But unexpectedly, this year has brought one problem after another. First, the exile business fell through – you needn’t persuade me on this matter, my mind is made up and won’t change. Second, after the incident with that sabre, the pawnshop’s business has visibly declined. Combined, if we don’t pursue this highly profitable venture now, the year-end accounts will truly be impossible to manage. You all know that in previous years, I could go to Taiyufeng and give them a good scolding, hehe, all because our accounts were flawless. But if things continue this way, I’m afraid this year it will be reversed – Wang Tiangui will come to Wanyuan Pawnshop to scold me, and I absolutely cannot tolerate that! Even if it means risking my life, I must go!”

Zhu Sheng paused, then continued: “But I can’t do it alone – I need at least one more person to drive the cart. I’ll say this upfront: whoever goes with me this year will receive an additional half share of the year-end bonus!”

Half the bonus was indeed tempting, but the room remained silent, the atmosphere suffocatingly awkward. Just as everyone held their breath, the door was pushed open!

“Gu respectfully offers to accompany the Chief Appraiser on this journey.”

The speaker was naturally Gu Pingyuan. As he appeared, everyone’s gaze fell on him in astonishment. Zhu Sheng was also greatly surprised, pausing before asking: “You’re willing to go?”

“Yes!” Gu Pingyuan stood calmly in the room, facing everyone’s questioning looks.

“You probably listened outside for a while,” Zhu Sheng’s lips suddenly showed a mocking smile. “Do you know where I’m going for this business?”

Gu Pingyuan shook his head. He had only detected danger but didn’t know the details.

“Hehe!” Zhu Sheng laughed. “Listen to this – he knows nothing yet eagerly volunteers for this half bonus. Isn’t that laughable!”

Gu Pingyuan quietly listened to Zhu Sheng’s mockery. When he finished, he immediately responded: “If it’s truly a life-risking business, half the bonus is appropriate. Surely the Chief Appraiser won’t go back on his word?”

Zhu Sheng’s eyes flashed with anger: “I naturally won’t go back on my word. Since you’re eager to go, then you shall go! Second Appraiser, all the preparations – you handle briefing him.”

“Brother Gu, you’ve really saved us all. I thank you first!” Second Appraiser Ding raised his cup. Following Zhu Sheng’s instructions, he briefed Gu Pingyuan about this business, but not at the pawnshop. Instead, he chose a small restaurant, requesting their only private room and ordering rabbit meat, duck feet, fried peanuts, and bean sprouts with Chinese toon – a modest spread.

“I don’t deserve such thanks!” Gu Pingyuan drained his cup. Though he didn’t know the details of this business, he wasn’t in a hurry to ask. Since Second Appraiser Ding had chosen this place and unusually invited him to drink, he must have something to say.

“Sigh!” Second Appraiser Ding sighed before speaking, hesitating for a long while before asking: “Brother Gu, do you know what ‘lighting sky lanterns’ means?”

Gu Pingyuan’s heart jumped, but he maintained composure: “I know!”

“Lighting sky lanterns” sounded innocuous, but those who truly knew or had witnessed it would feel their hair stand on end. It was an extremely cruel private punishment – burning a person like a candle. The victim would be hung upside down with iron chains, doused with oil from feet to head, then set ablaze, flames shooting skyward until burned to charcoal. There was also “burning inch-stick incense” – even more brutal, burning from the heels bit by bit, splashing cold water to revive the victim when they fainted from pain, until they died in agony.

Outside the Pass, bandits commonly called “whiskers” were numerous. When they raided wealthy households, they relied on private punishments to extract information about hidden wealth. The lightest was using “Cat Lady” – stuffing a large tabby cat into someone’s pants, tying the waist and legs tight, then beating the cat from outside with bamboo strips. The cat would desperately claw at the person’s body, quickly drawing blood. The most brutal was lighting sky lanterns, though generally, unless there was personal enmity, such cruel punishment wasn’t used.

Gu Pingyuan had spent five years in military camps outside the Pass, participating in bandit suppression. He had personally witnessed wealthy families’ descendants seeking revenge, bribing military officers with large sums to use the bandits’ own methods against them – tying up captured bandits and lighting them as sky lanterns. The scene was hellishly cruel, still chilling to recall.

“Then I won’t waste time explaining,” Second Appraiser Ding closed his eyes slightly. “Why I say this journey is a life-or-death gamble – last year at this time, one of our pawnshop clerks was lit as a sky lantern.”

Gu Pingyuan’s expression changed involuntarily. “Was there a business dispute?” Even so, it wouldn’t warrant such cruelty. Pawnshop appraisers were indeed hated, occasionally facing someone throwing chamber pots at the shop, but those were just ordinary disturbances. Lighting sky lanterns meant taking a life!

“Business? It had little to do with business. They were actually old customers – we’d always conducted business amicably. Honestly, we didn’t dare offend them.”

“Who exactly were these people?” Gu Pingyuan finally couldn’t help asking.

“Sixty li from here, in the Taihang Mountain foothills, is a place called Evil Tiger Ravine – the most treacherous terrain, yet also a vital route to eastern Shanxi. Traveling merchants seeking speed often had no choice but to pass through here. This place has long harbored a band of fierce bandits. Their chief, nicknamed ‘Purple-Faced Tiger,’ surnamed Lü, given name Zheng, is said to have inherited this mountain stronghold for three generations.”

Such customers – Gu Pingyuan understood immediately after brief consideration. “The business you mentioned involves stolen goods?”

Second Appraiser Ding nodded: “You’re clever – you understand immediately. What would bandits know about appraising goods? Yet the valuable items they accumulated annually were truly considerable. Easily obtained, though we couldn’t say ‘give money and pawn anything,’ the profits represented a major portion of our year-end accounts.” He lowered his voice slightly: “Nearly twenty percent of our pawnshop’s annual profit!”

Gu Pingyuan asked puzzledly: “If bandits want to dispose of items, why not find buyers instead of pawnshops?”

“Think about it – bandits’ goods are too diverse. Furs, gold and silver, jade and porcelain, antiques and calligraphy, even precious medicinal materials. To sell all this, how many buyers would they need? How many would dare? Only pawnshops can take everything in one go. Besides, permanent pawning is essentially selling.”

“Oh.” Gu Pingyuan understood. “If so, they’re grasshoppers tied to the same rope, with mutual benefits. They should maintain good relations. How did it escalate to lighting sky lanterns?” Though Gu Pingyuan disapproved of “receiving stolen goods,” he knew the pawnshop currently depended on this business to turn around, so he said nothing.

“This matter was truly fated,” Second Appraiser Ding slowly chewed rabbit meat, his expression grave. “Trading with bandits first involves risk, requiring experienced clerks; second, we worry about word leaking, as official discovery would bring trouble. So only appraisers and clerks with over ten years’ service qualify for this business, having equity stakes and shared interests with the pawnshop. We had a young man called Little Seventh who’d been apprenticed since age twelve – last year marked exactly ten years. For the Evil Tiger Ravine trade, participation was normally voluntary, but he eagerly volunteered. We thought nothing of it – more risk, more silver. We assumed he just wanted to earn money, so Chief Appraiser Zhu took him and two other clerks.”

But no one expected that Little Seventh’s purpose in entering the heavily guarded stronghold was entirely different. That night, he actually abducted a woman trying to escape down the mountain. Not knowing the password and unfamiliar with the route, he was caught before reaching the second checkpoint and brought back tied up like a dumpling to the assembly hall.

This stirred up a hornet’s nest. Zhu Sheng desperately stamped his feet, having no choice but to rely on over ten years of friendship to plead with Chief Lü Zheng. Lü Zheng, considering their old relationship, agreed that if Little Seventh wasn’t a spy, he could spare his life – just chop off one hand and let him go down the mountain. Zhu Sheng expressed gratitude, thinking the matter was settled. But when brought to the assembly hall for questioning, Little Seventh not only showed no gratitude for Lü Zheng’s mercy, but stubbornly shouted, insisting on taking that woman with him. This infuriated the Third Chief, as the woman Little Seventh tried to escape with was the Third Chief’s newly married fortress wife.

“Presumably Little Seventh knew this woman from before?” Gu Pingyuan understood most of the situation.

Second Appraiser Ding silently nodded. “She was his cousin. They had long been privately engaged, waiting for her contract with a landlord family to expire next year before marrying. Who could have expected Evil Tiger Ravine to raid this landlord and kidnap several people, including Little Seventh’s cousin. The Third Chief took a fancy to her beauty and kept her in his quarters. Sigh!” He drained another cup. “Little Seventh was deeply in love. For a year, he’d wanted to rescue her but lacked means. When the pawnshop offered this route, how could he pass it up?”

Gu Pingyuan’s expression also darkened. Second Appraiser Ding continued angrily: “That Third Chief was truly despicable. Hearing Little Seventh insist on taking the woman, he actually… actually violated Little Seventh’s cousin right there in the assembly hall before all those people, all while shouting at Little Seventh, ‘Look closely! Isn’t she your woman? She’s my woman – I’ll sleep with her however I want!'”

Gu Pingyuan felt rage rising, slapping the table and cursing: “That deserves divine punishment! Even thieves have principles – what kind of creature is this!” He rarely used profanity – he was truly enraged.

“Exactly! Anyone hearing this would grind their teeth in fury. Little Seventh was even more distraught – his eyes nearly split open, but tied up on the ground, unable to move, he could only curse wildly. The more he cursed, the more excited the Third Chief became. Finally, Chief Appraiser Zhu, fearing Little Seventh would die for nothing, tearfully blocked his view and desperately covered his mouth.”

“Wasn’t there anyone with backbone in the stronghold to handle this?”

“Sigh, Chief Lü Zheng was most protective of his own. Though he felt the matter had gone too far and the stronghold was at fault, he wouldn’t allow his brother to lose face. He decided to just expel Little Seventh from the mountain – forget about the promised hand-chopping.”

The matter should have ended there, but no one expected Little Seventh to be truly mad with rage. When his bonds were loosened, he jumped up, pointed at the bandits, and blurted out something that cost him his life.

“What did he say?” Gu Pingyuan asked puzzledly.

“Last spring, Evil Tiger Ravine’s Second Chief went down the mountain on business and was captured by government troops. Little Seventh said this was the result of his tip-off to the authorities.”

“Ah!” Gu Pingyuan stamped his foot.

“The Third Chief already wanted to kill him – this was perfect. He immediately lit Little Seventh as a sky lantern, claiming revenge for the Second Chief. Actually, the Second Chief wasn’t dead – still imprisoned. But Little Seventh died horribly at Evil Tiger Ravine, cursing until death. Even after dying, they didn’t spare him – his charred corpse was thrown in the wilderness without even a grave mound.” At this point, Second Appraiser Ding looked dejected, continuously shaking his head. “Fortunately, they wanted to keep this fencing connection. Otherwise, Chief Appraiser Zhu and those two clerks might not have returned – they’d have been killed together.”

After hearing such a tragic tale, though the table was set with aromatic dishes, Gu Pingyuan had no appetite.

“Brother Gu, actually this business itself isn’t problematic. Chief Appraiser Zhu repeatedly instructed me to explain everything to you precisely because you don’t understand the depths involved. Now you know – if you’re unwilling to go, no one will force you at knifepoint. If you’re willing, I have a few words of advice.”

“I will naturally go – how can I not keep my word? Please speak.”

Seeing his sincere expression without pretense, Second Appraiser Ding admired his courage and integrity: “Very well. First, bandits live by the sword – they have many taboos, and the stronghold’s layout is top secret. Once you’re up the mountain, control your actions. One wrong step means death – remember this well.”

Gu Pingyuan knew these were crucial words, listening intently and nodding frequently.

“Second, our pawnshop’s business with bandits has rules. Gold and silver objects can only be pawned as gold ingots and silver bars. Antiques and calligraphy of notable provenance we absolutely refuse. Bandits’ items are all blood-stained – everything prioritizes avoiding future troubles. These matters will be handled by Chief Appraiser Zhu according to past practices. You must never speak out of turn, or you’ll anger those desperados – Little Seventh is your cautionary tale.”

“I understand this too. Rest assured.”

“Then I’ll mention the third point.” Second Appraiser Ding exhaled deeply. “Brother, don’t take offense at my inauspicious words. Given last year’s incident, no one can predict whether those bandits might hold grudges and turn hostile. This mountain trip is more dangerous than any before. If you have relatives or friends, you should visit them and leave final words.”

Gu Pingyuan smiled bitterly. He had no friends or relatives locally – his only concern was Fourth Uncle Chang’s family. He’d been inquiring about Liu Heita’s whereabouts for two months, but the man had vanished like water mixed with strong liquor. Chang Yu’er remained at the Wang household, but how could he visit Wang Tiangui’s door? After much consideration, he decided to visit Fourth Uncle Chang at the county jail.

Last time, Clerk Li hadn’t kept that large sum for himself – every jailer received a share, knowing the benefits came from Fourth Uncle Chang. Seeing someone visit, they made no difficulties and let Gu Pingyuan enter directly.

Gu Pingyuan ordered two food boxes from the restaurant. Though his funds were limited, he chose the best dishes available. He offered one box to the jailers and split the other in half – one portion for Fourth Uncle Chang’s cellmates, the other, along with good wine, to share with Fourth Uncle Chang. They sat across from each other through the wooden bars, eating and drinking together.

Seeing Gu Pingyuan, Fourth Uncle Chang shook his head repeatedly: “Why do you still come to see me! This is a place of trouble. You know your own situation – it’s best to stay away from government offices.”

Gu Pingyuan didn’t answer, instead using his chopsticks to serve Fourth Uncle Chang some braised mutton: “Old Uncle, try this first. It’s this restaurant’s specialty dish – tender and falls apart easily.”

Just as the old man put the mutton in his mouth, Gu Pingyuan handed him a cup of wine: “I’m not much of a drinker – Old Uncle, please drink more.”

“Good, good.” Though Fourth Uncle Chang was in prison, he didn’t look more haggard than when they first met, and his appetite was quite good.

“It’s all thanks to you spending silver outside. Clerk Li gave orders to take care of me, so the jailers naturally comply. Even without special care, they don’t make things difficult for me. As for these cellmates, when their relatives visit and hear that the Chang family sends rice, flour, and silver, they’re all grateful to me. They treat me with respect daily.” Fourth Uncle Chang spoke with emotion.

“That’s good. Silver doesn’t matter – if a house collapses, it can be rebuilt; if silver is spent, it can naturally be earned again. Old Uncle needn’t worry about it.” Gu Pingyuan deliberately mentioned the house, fearing Fourth Uncle Chang would brood over the Chang family estate changing hands and make himself sick with worry.

“You needn’t worry about this – I’ve long since come to terms with it. The house means nothing. I was originally worried about my pair of children, but now Yu’er helps Sister Li with needlework, and Heita has gone outside the Pass as a escort guard. Since they can support themselves, what do I have to worry about? I could die with my eyes closed.” When Fourth Uncle Chang mentioned his son and daughter, his lips curved into a smile.

Gu Pingyuan was startled. After thinking it over, he understood – Chang Yu’er or Sister Li must have visited and, fearing the old man would worry and get agitated upon learning the truth, had fabricated this story to comfort him.

“Exactly. Material things are dead, but people are alive. As long as there are people, nothing else matters.” Gu Pingyuan feared exposing the deception and could only respond vaguely.

The food and wine were soon finished, and a prison cell wasn’t a place to linger. Fourth Uncle Chang urged Gu Pingyuan to leave early. Seeing the old man’s health was fine, Gu Pingyuan felt somewhat relieved. Just as he was about to leave, the old man rose to see him off. When they reached the sunlight, Gu Pingyuan caught sight of a large bruise on his face.

Earlier in the darkness, Gu Pingyuan hadn’t noticed, but now seeing it clearly, he asked in alarm: “Old Uncle, what happened to your face?”

“Ah? Nothing, nothing.” Fourth Uncle Chang instinctively covered his face and turned his head away.

Such obvious concealment – how could Gu Pingyuan not see through it? He immediately pressed: “Did someone torture you? Or are people in the prison still bullying Old Uncle?”

He asked several times, but Fourth Uncle Chang only shook his hands without answering. This made Gu Pingyuan frantic – he wanted to burst in and question each prisoner individually. Just then, in the dark prison’s only patch of sunlight streaming through a skylight, a man who had been lazily sunbathing stood up, walked over without a word, and punched Fourth Uncle Chang in the face. Fourth Uncle Chang didn’t dare dodge, staggered from the blow, swayed unsteadily, and nearly fell to the ground.

“What are you doing! Why are you hitting people for no reason!” Gu Pingyuan was both shocked and furious from outside.

The man was of medium build, with a broad nose and wide mouth. A terrifying scar ran from his forehead to his ear. When he grinned, it looked no different from crying. He pointed to his own nose and said brazenly: “Weren’t you asking who hit the injury on his face? I’m telling you right now – look clearly, it was me.”

“Why did you hit him? How did Fourth Uncle Chang offend you?” Gu Pingyuan asked, restraining his anger.

“Offend? No.” The man laughed again, his expression completely indifferent. “Last month I heard I was sentenced to immediate execution, just waiting for the Ministry of Justice’s approval document to arrive before going to the execution ground. So with nothing to do, I beat up a few people for entertainment. Might as well kill a few more in the coming days – since I’m going to die anyway, what’s the difference between beheading and death by a thousand cuts? Eighteen years later, I’ll be a good man again!”

Hearing this made Gu Pingyuan’s blood run cold. This was clearly a desperado who, as he said, would find a few to accompany him in death – not strange at all. As he was thinking, the man spoke again: “I know others have all benefited from this old man’s generosity. But not me, so naturally I can beat and scold him as I please.”

“What’s your name?” With his good memory, Gu Pingyuan immediately recalled the list Clerk Li had given him – the names and addresses of prisoners sharing Fourth Uncle Chang’s cell. He had visited them all – how could this man not be among them? Perhaps he had been overlooked.

“A true man doesn’t change his name when walking or his surname when sitting – I’m called Zhong Lei!” The man jutted out his chin and declared proudly.

Gu Pingyuan let out a long “Oh,” clapped his hands lightly – he remembered now. Seeing Zhong Lei’s utterly lawless attitude, Gu Pingyuan suddenly smiled coldly: “What did you say? A true man doesn’t change his name when walking or surname when sitting? You should change your surname – you’re hardly a true man anyway.”

“Bullshit! Believe it or not, I’ll strangle this old thing tonight!” Zhong Lei glared.

Gu Pingyuan blinked: “Have you ever heard that a true man repays kindness with gratitude? You shout about beating and killing your benefactor – can that be called a true man?”

“Benefactor? Who’s my benefactor?” Zhong Lei was stunned.

“Ordinary interactions, even with gifts, don’t merit the word ‘kindness.’ But let me ask you – does saving your mother’s life count as being a benefactor?”

“My mother?” Hearing this, Zhong Lei’s eyes widened, shooting out a frightening light. His hands gripped the wooden bars tightly, shaking them: “What happened to my mother? Tell me quickly.”

“Do you know that because of you, your mother doesn’t even have a home anymore?” Gu Pingyuan said slowly. “You weren’t just sentenced to death, but judged guilty of ‘immorality’ among the ten unpardonable crimes, implicating your relatives. Fortunately, your mother is over sixty this year, so she’s exempt from physical punishment, but she couldn’t escape having her property confiscated. In the dead of winter, she was driven from her home, not allowed to take anything except the clothes on her back. Neighbors feared being implicated as a criminal household and didn’t dare help. A pitiful, lonely old woman, starved to skin and bones, wearing a tattered cotton jacket full of holes, eating snow on the road to fill her stomach, nearly frozen and starved to death.”

These few sentences painted such a miserable scene that Zhong Lei was immediately stunned. He was a bandit who had committed the serious crime of murder and robbery. Since imprisonment, no one had visited him, so he knew nothing about his family’s situation. Only now, hearing Gu Pingyuan’s words, did he learn that what he thought was “one person’s deeds, one person’s responsibility” had actually harmed his widowed mother living alone in a mountain village so terribly. His body went limp as he knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his cheeks. The earlier reckless disregard for life and death had vanished without a trace.

He was known as the “Death-Bringing Star” – everyone knew when he glared, he meant to kill. Moreover, he had endured severe torture multiple times without crying out in pain, yet now he closed his eyes and wept bitterly. The prisoners in the cell were so frightened they all shrank back, fearing he might take out his anger on someone – a twisted neck meant instant death, no joke.

“I’ve seen your mother.” Seeing he was a filial son, Gu Pingyuan felt relieved and immediately continued, watching as Zhong Lei quickly looked up at him.

“I paid to build her a shelter, constructed a stove, bought rice, grain, and clothing, and left some silver. In any case, she’ll get through this winter, and spring will be fine too. When summer comes, I’ll make another trip to Yannan Village where your mother lives, bringing food, clothing, and daily necessities, so the old woman won’t suffer from cold or hunger.”

Zhong Lei never expected this. With trembling lips and tear-blurred eyes, he looked at Gu Pingyuan, who remained calm and showed no intention of seeking gratitude for his kindness, speaking as casually as if discussing family matters.

“You said everyone in this prison has benefited from Fourth Uncle Chang’s kindness except you, but actually you’ve got it backwards. No one else has benefited as much as you – if not for Fourth Uncle Chang, your mother would probably be gone by now.”

Zhong Lei gripped the wooden bars and stood up, took a deep breath, then suddenly turned around and knelt before Fourth Uncle Chang, kowtowing three times with loud thuds. Fourth Uncle Chang was flustered and quickly reached out to help him up. But Zhong Lei didn’t rise, instead twisting his body on the ground to face Gu Pingyuan and kowtowing three more times. Then he raised his right hand, extended his index finger, gripped it with his left hand, and with a sharp “crack,” forcefully bent it. Amid everyone’s shocked cries, the finger was already broken.

Zhong Lei’s face showed only momentary pain, then returned to normal. He said solemnly: “Brother, I, Zhong Lei, have always prided myself on being clear about gratitude and resentment. Now I’ve beaten my benefactor – I’m worse than a pig or dog. I break this finger to atone. One more thing – from today forward, I’ll serve this old uncle like my own father. Anyone who dares glare at him, I’ll gouge out their eyeballs and make soup for the old uncle to drink.”

Listening from the side, Fourth Uncle Chang felt nauseous, thinking: “Spare me! I can’t bear this kind of repayment.”

Gu Pingyuan knew that in the martial world, life and death hung on one’s word, especially with a finger broken as oath. It seemed Fourth Uncle Chang would no longer need to worry about suffering at the hands of prisoners in the jail. After exchanging a few polite words, he wanted to leave, but Zhong Lei suddenly called him back, his face showing hesitation, clearly having something to say but holding back.

If it were someone else, Gu Pingyuan would have asked. But this man was a bandit – if he asked and the man had some troublesome matter to involve him in, wouldn’t that just add chaos to his current situation? After hesitating, but remembering the tears he had shed for his mother, Gu Pingyuan realized this man wasn’t truly bad, just having accidentally taken the wrong path. So he said: “Brother Zhong, if you have something you want me to handle, speak freely. If it’s within my power, I’ll definitely help you accomplish it.”

Zhong Lei’s eyes lit up: “Brother, though we’ve just met, I can tell you’re a man who keeps his promises. Wait a moment.” With that, Zhong Lei turned and walked to a corner, rummaging through his straw mat, then walked back to the wooden bars with something clenched in his fist. He didn’t speak immediately but first turned to coldly scan everyone in the cell except Fourth Uncle Chang. Several prisoners were already so frightened they hugged their heads, crouching against the wall with faces inward and backs outward.

Only then did Zhong Lei open his palm, revealing a token the size of a poplar leaf, neither gold nor iron, gleaming darkly, carved with two orchids separated left and right, topped not with flowers but each bearing a peach.

“This is the command token of my mountain stronghold’s second chief. Cast from mixed metals, indestructible by sword or blade – where the token exists, the person exists; where the token is lost, the person perishes. Now that I’m sentenced to immediate execution with no hope of survival, I want to ask you to help me bring this token back to the stronghold and explain clearly to the chief: These dog officials captured me over a year ago, used every torture trying to extract information about the stronghold’s defensive layout from me. I endured all five punishments without uttering a word. Unable to break me, they sentenced me to immediate execution. I’ve at least lived up to brotherhood loyalty.”

Hearing the words “second chief,” Gu Pingyuan’s heart stirred. But Zhong Lei didn’t let him speak, saying directly: “This token is very dangerous to carry – if the authorities discover it, it’s at least a charge of colluding with bandits. You can refuse.”

“I already have a pile of troubles, so I don’t mind one more.” Gu Pingyuan’s nature was steady, but sometimes quite free-spirited. At this moment, moved by Zhong Lei’s loyalty, he unhesitatingly reached out to take the token. Indeed, such a small token was surprisingly heavy. He asked: “Since you’re entrusting me to deliver something, where should I take it?”

“Turn the token over and you’ll know.”

On the reverse side was carved a fierce tiger head with a steel knife in its mouth, blood still dripping from the blade’s tip.

Gu Pingyuan had already had a premonition, and seeing this tiger head confirmed his suspicion. He looked up at Zhong Lei.

“Evil Tiger Ravine?”

“Correct!”

Having heard Second Appraiser Ding’s words, Gu Pingyuan originally had no good feelings toward Evil Tiger Ravine. But discovering that this Second Chief Zhong, though walking between righteousness and evil, was still a good man, he hesitated briefly before placing the token close to his body.

“I happen to have a trip to Evil Tiger Ravine coming up. Rest assured, I’ll definitely deliver it.”

Zhong Lei was naturally curious about this. After Gu Pingyuan’s brief explanation, he said “Oh”: “So you’re from Wanyuan Pawnshop. I never saw you before – I only remember that fat Appraiser Zhu.” He looked at Gu Pingyuan with interest: “Among merchants, to find someone as generous and righteous as you is truly rare, truly rare!”

Gu Pingyuan also smiled. Even without Zhong Lei saying so, he knew he was indeed different from the typical appraiser with a mercenary face.

“How about I ask them to look after your mother when I reach the stronghold?” Gu Pingyuan said casually, but Zhong Lei’s expression changed and he waved his hands repeatedly.

“No! Since I entered this profession, I never expected a good ending. In the martial world, one inevitably makes enemies, and even within one’s own stronghold, there are bound to be rivals. My greatest fear is that they’ll seek revenge on my old mother, so I’ve told everyone I have no family. If people hadn’t recognized me during the court trial, the authorities wouldn’t have traced my family. Brother Gu, you must never reveal this – not even before the chief. This is probably the last bit of filial piety I can show in this life.” Zhong Lei’s eyes reddened again.

Zhong Lei’s final words were almost identical to what Gu Pingyuan had once said to the Chang siblings outside Taiyuan City. Hearing this, Gu Pingyuan felt his heart ache and nodded in agreement.

Gu Pingyuan bid farewell to Fourth Uncle Chang and left the prison. Seeing the day was still early – such a rare half-day of leisure – he decided to stroll around Drum Tower Street, where crowds were dense and information plentiful. Perhaps he could learn of Liu Heita’s whereabouts. With this thought, he headed wherever it was liveliest.

Drum Tower branched into three directions, with the liveliest being the southern road – Hui Street where the Muslim community lived. Taigu’s famous three shops – “Dashunzhai Mutton Shop,” “Wantong Halal Sauce Shop,” and “Qingfuzhai Pastry Shop” were all on this street, known as the famous “Year-Round Market” with all sorts of delicious food and entertainment. Coincidentally, the weather was clear and sunny that day, warming people pleasantly. The entire street bustled with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, even livelier than New Year.

Having been confined in the warehouse for so long, Gu Pingyuan suddenly seeing such a prosperous street scene felt bright and happy. He visited several shops, buying some layered crispy flatbreads from Qingfuzhai, wrapped in oil paper to take back for the evening. He watched street performers demonstrating martial arts and vendors selling strength pills, thinking these people who traveled from village to village might have some information. But after asking at several venues, everyone said they’d never seen anyone called Liu Heita.

Walking and watching like this, he unknowingly wandered to the northern end’s trading market. This had originally been a mule and horse market, but later, due to the spacious area, it was converted to a general goods market where anything could be traded. Of course, this was different from ordinary people’s small purchases – here all deals were wholesale, with various camel caravans and merchant trains gathering here. Several roadside teahouses served as meeting places for various trade guilds to “discuss business.”

Looking around, Gu Pingyuan saw the people here differed from those on the shopping street – mostly sharp-eyed merchants and dust-covered drivers, plus several powerful-looking escort guards leaning against walls with weapons, eyes half-closed while waiting for employers.

Gu Pingyuan wondered if Chang Yu’er had accidentally guessed right – with Liu Heita’s martial arts skills, might he have become an escort guard? Thinking this, he approached the escort guards, about to strike up conversation, when suddenly he heard commotion nearby as crowds gathered.

People formed a circle with arguing and cursing voices from within. Approaching, Gu Pingyuan saw a yellow-faced man in long-distance merchant attire, leading a camel with one hand while gripping a young man dressed as a clerk with the other, cursing relentlessly and unforgivingly.

The clerk kept bowing: “Manager Ma, please show mercy! It’s my fault, entirely my fault! Please be lenient and allow us this once. I guarantee the payment will be retrieved within a day – absolutely won’t delay your return journey.”

Manager Ma shook his head like a rattle drum, not considering it at all: “Your Qiao family is wealthy and powerful – we’ve only heard of others owing you money, never of you owing others.” He craned his neck: “Everyone, listen – Qixian’s Qiao Family Fort owes silver and won’t pay. A black-and-white contract treated like toilet paper – isn’t this treating us wind-and-sand-swallowing merchant caravans like children?” He pulled out a sheepskin document from his chest and waved it around. Someone in the crowd immediately nodded: “That’s right, that bears the Qiao family seal – can’t be fake.”

Manager Ma raised his eyebrows with slight smugness: “Right? I’m not lying. Doing business with the Qiao family was based on their solid capital and good reputation. Who would have thought that nowadays even the Qiao family defaults on debts, making up ridiculous excuses about ‘forgetting’! Isn’t this a joke? Either they don’t consider two thousand taels of silver important, or they don’t consider our merchant caravan important. You tell me!” He forcefully shoved the clerk several steps back, pointing at him accusingly.

The clerk, not yet thirty, apparently handling business independently for the first time, had encountered such trouble. Anxiously, his face alternated between pale and flushed as he bowed in all directions: “Esteemed customers, we truly forgot. It’s my fault for being inexperienced – first time leading a purchase expedition, I forgot the bank draft at Qiao Family Fort. I’ll ride fast back to fetch it – half a day, just half a day, alright? Before dawn tomorrow, I’ll definitely bring back the bank draft.”

Actually, this explanation was reasonable. If Manager Ma weren’t pressed for money, he wouldn’t care about a day or two – a wave of the hand would settle the matter. But hearing the clerk’s words, he sneered coldly, pointing to the contract: “Trying to fool me into thinking I’m illiterate? What does ‘verbal promises are unreliable, written contracts are proof’ mean? What does this contract say? It clearly states payment and delivery at the wei hour today, right? I arrived at noon, you inspected the goods – no problems, right? But you came empty-handed, thinking a few words can change this contract bearing your Qiao family’s golden flower seal? Isn’t this Qiao family seal rather worthless?”

Listening from the side, Gu Pingyuan felt Manager Ma, though having reason, was being overly aggressive. He asked someone nearby: “This Qiao family sounds like a major household?”

“Oh, you don’t know?” A nearby cart driver glanced at him: “Ah, from your appearance you’re from out of town – no wonder. This Qixian Qiao Family Fort isn’t just a major household – have you heard of ‘Three Hao One Fort’?”

“No,” Gu Pingyuan truly hadn’t heard of it. “Please explain what ‘Three Hao One Fort’ means?”

“Three Hao refers to Shanxi’s three famous money shops. Shanxi money merchants dominate the world, and these three shops handle at least half the business – our Taigu’s Taiyufeng, Qixian’s ‘Wei Character Five Allied Shops,’ and Pingyao’s ‘Rishengchang.'”

“Ah!” Gu Pingyuan nodded repeatedly. He’d heard of all three – indeed famous money shops of great renown. “Then ‘One Fort’ must be Qiao Family Fort?”

“Exactly! There’s also a saying: ‘One Fort Equals Three Hao’! The Qiao family does diverse business – money shops, distilleries, tea sales, salt trading, cloth stores – they profit from everything. They have mountains of gold and seas of silver – never heard of the Qiao family lacking money. But looking at today’s situation, this young man might ruin the Qiao family’s reputation.”

Gu Pingyuan felt the name “Qiao Family Fort” sounded familiar but couldn’t place it despite long consideration. Just then, the crowd stirred again. Seeing pleading was useless, the clerk desperately knelt before Manager Ma: “Uncle, I beg you – I’ve been learning business for ten years. According to Qiao family rules, this is my first time taking full responsibility for a purchase. If this goes wrong, I’ll lose my job. Please be kind and forgive this once.”

The surrounding people all pitied the clerk and wanted to speak for him, but Manager Ma kept pointing to the contract, emphasizing it was about money – no small matter, especially two thousand taels. If they tried to help and the man asked, “Will you pay for him?” – that would be too big a problem. So while everyone whispered privately, no one would come forward.

Manager Ma showed no softness, not even glancing at the clerk, instead declaring loudly: “There’s still half an hour before the wei hour passes – you can go raise the money, but I won’t wait even a quarter-hour longer. See this cargo? Premium Gan-north fennel, ordered to your Qiao family’s specifications – not hard to sell. I’ll also put up a sign reading ‘Fennel the Qiao Family Can’t Afford’ – tell me, will it sell or not?”

Of course it would! Goods the Qiao family couldn’t afford – how novel! Just for this sign it would sell. Hearing this, Gu Pingyuan knew Manager Ma was ruthless – using this opportunity to damage the Qiao family’s reputation.

For merchants, reputation is the most valuable thing! Years ago, Huizhou merchant Huang Anliu did timber business in Jiangxi. Starting at fifteen, he founded “Huang Sen Record” lumber yard. For decades, he was truly honest with all customers. When people heard “Huang Sen Record” timber, they didn’t need to inspect – they paid directly. At sixty-five, Huang Anliu’s lung disease worsened and he had to close the business. His only son had died young with no one to inherit. Learning of his closure, dozens of major timber merchants rushed overnight from Liangjiang and Huguang, competing to buy his sign, eventually offering up to one hundred thousand taels. Huang Anlius publicly removed the sign, used a plane to scrape off the three characters “Huang Sen Record,” then asked: “Who wants to buy this?” Everyone looked at each other speechlessly. Huang Anlius smiled slightly, took the blank board home to his hometown, and used it as his bed board. When asked why he wouldn’t sell the sign even after closing business, he said purchased signs would only ruin Huang Anlius’s reputation. Though no longer in business, he remained a merchant his whole life – a merchant’s reputation is worth more than life!

Gu Pingyuan understood this principle – he too was someone who valued reputation over life. Seeing Manager Ma’s deliberate malice, he couldn’t help feeling indignant. Just then, Manager Ma added: “Kneeling and begging me is useless – let Qiao Zhiyong come. If he comes, there might be room for negotiation.”

“Our Master Qiao is at Qiao Family Fort. If I could bring him here, wouldn’t I have brought the bank draft too?” The clerk spread his hands helplessly, nearly in tears.

“Hmph, that’s not my concern.” Manager Ma looked skyward with pursed lips, completely inflexible.

“Qiao Zhiyong!” Hearing this name, Gu Pingyuan immediately remembered. Back in Mongolia, Minister Chong’en of the Court of Colonial Affairs had high expectations for him, once saying: “I’ve met many merchants over the years – countless money-makers, but only two merchants with backbone: one is Qiao Zhiyong of Shanxi’s Qiao Family Fort, the other is you!”

Gu Pingyuan never forgot Minister Chong’en’s praise, and consequently remembered Qiao Zhiyong’s name. “So it’s him?” He thought briefly, then turned and pushed out of the crowd.

The sun was setting, time flying – the wei hour was almost over. The clerk’s repeated pleas were useless. Frustrated, he stood up ready to curse – since his job was ruined anyway, he might as well vent his anger. Just as he opened his mouth before making a sound, a hand from behind patted his shoulder.

The clerk turned to see an unfamiliar young man looking at him with smiling eyes.

“Do you… do you need something?”

“Oh, nothing really.” The one who patted him was Gu Pingyuan. He extended two bank drafts: “Here’s two thousand taels. I’ll lend it to you – go pay for the goods.”

“What?” The clerk was stunned. Manager Ma, who had been crossing his arms and looking skyward, couldn’t help but be shocked at these words. Unconsciously lowering his hands, he stared wide-eyed at Gu Pingyuan. Everyone present focused their attention on Gu Pingyuan.

Gu Pingyuan said nothing more, just pushed the bank drafts forward, signaling the clerk to take them.

“This… this I must ask clearly – we don’t know each other, I have no collateral, yet you’re willing to lend me money?” The clerk never dreamed a benefactor would drop from heaven to help him, thinking he must be dreaming.

“We are indeed strangers to each other, but I have long admired Master Qiao Zhiyong of Qiao Family Fort. Based on nothing else but these two words ‘Qiao Family,’ let alone two thousand taels, I would lend even two hundred thousand, and I wouldn’t even want a promissory note. To be able to lend money to the Qiao family in this lifetime is an honor for us merchants. Gentlemen, don’t you agree?”

When Gu Pingyuan said this, the surrounding porters, peddlers, and common traders all nodded in agreement and began discussing among themselves.

“Listen to what this gentleman says – it has to be the Qiao family. Which other family could have such business credibility?”

“Exactly, two thousand taels of silver! Lending to the Qiao family without even wanting a promissory note – this Qiao Zhiyong is truly remarkable.”

With everyone chattering away like this, Manager Ma’s face alternated between red and white. He had originally wanted to trample the Qiao family underfoot, but unexpectedly, Gu Pingyuan’s casual words had instead elevated the Qiao family to the heavens, making him the one who looked foolish. He took the bank drafts, examined them thoroughly, found no flaws whatsoever, and had no choice but to hand over the goods and walk away in frustration.

With the situation settled, the clerk finally believed he had encountered a benefactor. Tears of gratitude in his eyes, he grasped Gu Pingyuan’s hand and knelt to kowtow. Gu Pingyuan quickly stopped him and handed him another piece of paper: “Earlier was about lending money, now we must discuss repayment.”

The clerk was startled, then realized: “Please tell me – what’s the interest rate? I’ll sell everything I have to repay you.”

Seeing his misunderstanding, Gu Pingyuan shook his head with a smile: “The interest isn’t much – pawnshop rates. You can settle directly with the pawnshop and redeem that Dong Qichang painting to return it to me. If it were my own item, I wouldn’t mind, but unfortunately it belongs to someone else, so I must ask you to redeem it.” He then gave his name and address.

The clerk took the paper and looked carefully, finally understanding it was indeed a pawn ticket. His hands trembled with excitement: “Master Gu, you pawned something to help me – why?”

“Well,” Gu Pingyuan thought for a moment, “earning money is easy, earning reputation is difficult. Your Qiao family’s business has been built over generations – accumulating grain by grain is precious. I couldn’t bear to watch such a golden reputation be destroyed in the hands of petty people.”

Leaving Drum Tower Street, Gu Pingyuan felt pleased with having done a good deed. Early tomorrow morning he would set out with Zhu Sheng for Evil Tiger Ravine. Judging by the name alone, he knew the mountain roads would be treacherous. Gu Pingyuan’s main responsibility was driving the cart, so he wanted to ask the grooms about the temperament of the harness mules and horses. Without further delay, he cheerfully returned to the pawnshop.

“Gu Pingyuan!” Just as he was about to enter the shop, he suddenly heard someone call from behind. Turning back, his face immediately darkened.

It was Li Qin, still in that “Western for Chinese use” attire, standing under the eaves beside the pawnshop.

“Oh, it’s you. How did you find your way here?”

Li Qin took a long breath, seemingly somewhat reluctant, but still spoke: “Surname Gu, speak more politely – I’m here to save you.”

“Save me?” A mocking smile crossed Gu Pingyuan’s face. “How exactly? Are you planning to drug me with another jug of medicinal wine? Last time it was knockout drops – what is it this time, crane’s crest red or five-step poison?”

“You!” Li Qin, with his young master’s temperament, couldn’t stand this, especially since last time he had indeed been unaware – he himself had been drugged unconscious by Zhang Guangfa’s medicinal wine. But he wasn’t stupid; he knew this matter couldn’t be clarified here and now. Speaking would only invite more insults, so he swallowed his anger, didn’t take the bait, and continued with his own words: “Don’t be like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, not recognizing good intentions. Let me ask you – were you talking nonsense at the inn earlier? Horse bandits, sharp arrows, all lies, right?”

Gu Pingyuan stood proudly, his lips always carrying a cold smile, neither answering nor denying.

Li Qin considered himself a romantic young gentleman, but every time he met Gu Pingyuan, he felt inferior. He knew that in terms of money and power, Gu Pingyuan couldn’t compare to him, yet this person somehow possessed an indescribable presence that could overshadow his own. Li Qin extremely hated this feeling and wished he could immediately do something to make Gu Pingyuan grateful to him. Perhaps it was precisely for this reason that he had come to warn him.

“You might fool me, but Uncle Zhang saw through you immediately. He’s about to write a document to the authorities, accusing you of ‘exile escape and illegal entry.’ You know what that means – I’ve heard that when exiles are caught and sent back, they receive a hundred intimidation rods, and eight or nine out of ten die from this. Aren’t you afraid of death?”

Li Qin was wrong – it wasn’t eight or nine out of ten, but no one had ever survived those hundred intimidation rods. The rods were made of jujube wood with copper bands and iron heads, thick as duck eggs. Don’t underestimate them being wooden – they could shatter stones. One blow split skin and flesh, two blows left blood flowing everywhere, three blows silenced all sound. By the time a hundred blows were completed, the person was practically ground meat. Gu Pingyuan had personally witnessed this severe punishment outside the Pass – it was actually execution, meant to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.

Now hearing that Zhang Guangfa intended to report him to the authorities, Gu Pingyuan gritted his teeth, thinking: this man framed me before and now seeks to harm me again, not satisfied until I’m dead. What grudge does he have against me? Why can’t I figure it out despite thinking day and night?

“Stop spacing out – hurry and run! Since you could escape from outside the Pass to Shanxi, surely you can run to even more distant places. Places like Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai – find somewhere with no human habitation for thousands of li, hunt and herd, and you could live a lifetime, at least die of old age.” Li Qin, seeing his expression changing, said impatiently: “I’m only doing this because you once saved me outside the Pass – otherwise I wouldn’t bother. If you lack travel money, here, I have twenty taels of silver. Take it and consider my debt to you repaid. From now on, we’re even.” As he spoke, he extended his hand, indeed holding four silver ingots.

Gu Pingyuan kept a stern face, his eyes shooting cold light like chilled stars. He looked at Li Qin’s face, then at the twenty taels of silver, suddenly slapped the silver away, and pointed at Li Qin’s nose: “You and Zhang Guangfa sing in harmony, using both soft and hard tactics, truly taking me for a three-year-old child to manipulate at will? Hmph, ‘die of old age’? That sounds nice, but you just want to exile me to some desolate place for life.” He stepped forward aggressively, Li Qin involuntarily stepped back. Gu Pingyuan leaned forward slightly, staring directly into his eyes: “Young Master Qin, do you really think those who’ve lost all conscience can live peacefully their whole lives? Even if Heaven forgives you, I, surname Gu, will not!”

Li Qin unconsciously retreated a step, feeling humiliated, and flew into a rage. Pointing at Gu Pingyuan, he said frantically: “Surname Gu, you really won’t cry until you see the coffin! Fine, I’ve said what I came to say. If you’re not afraid of death, wait here – you’ll get what’s coming to you.”

Their argument attracted customers leaving the pawnshop and passersby who gathered in small groups to watch. Seeing more and more people, Gu Pingyuan suddenly had an inspiration. He started walking while saying: “Zhang Guangfa sent you as his advance guard, but I disdain to speak with you. I’m going to settle accounts with him now!”

Seeing Gu Pingyuan actually heading toward “Daping Hao,” Li Qin panicked. He had come to find Gu Pingyuan with genuine good intentions, feeling Zhang Guangfa’s treatment was too harsh and wanting to give Gu Pingyuan a way out. Unexpectedly, Gu Pingyuan didn’t appreciate it and wanted to confront Zhang Guangfa directly – that would expose everything, leaving him like Zhu Bajie looking in a mirror – not human inside or out. Growing more anxious, he tried to grab Gu Pingyuan, but Gu Pingyuan forcefully shook his sleeve. Li Qin, being young and not as strong as Gu Pingyuan, stumbled forward unsteadily and fell face-first to the ground. Gu Pingyuan paid no attention and walked straight ahead. Amid everyone’s loud laughter, Li Qin endured the pain and stood up, feeling intense pain in his mouth. Touching it with his hand, he discovered he’d knocked out a tooth and his mouth was full of blood. Li Qin usually prided himself on being elegant – missing a tooth would certainly affect his appearance. This made him furious, and any trace of sympathy vanished into thin air. He said hatefully: “Fine, surname Gu, you dare even hit me! Good, let’s see how Uncle Zhang delivers you to the authorities for punishment. Then we’ll see how you cry for your parents!”

After speaking, he also ran toward “Daping Hao.” When he arrived, Gu Pingyuan was being blocked outside by two people, with the gatekeepers insisting that “Daping Hao” had ceased business and no outsiders were allowed entry. Li Qin caught up from behind and shouted: “Let him in!”

The gatekeepers didn’t know this young man’s background, only that even the chief steward treated him politely. Seeing him covering his mouth with blood seeping through his fingers and angrily giving orders, not knowing what major incident had occurred, they didn’t dare obstruct anymore. Only then did Gu Pingyuan notice Li Qin was injured, but couldn’t care about that now. He strode in confidently, entering the main gate and shouting: “Zhang Guangfa! Come out and see me!”

“Don’t shout, I’ll take you there!” Li Qin wore an angry expression, leading the way with Gu Pingyuan following closely. Zhang Guangfa had already finished writing the document to report to the authorities, clearly stating what crimes Gu Pingyuan had committed, which laws applied, and where he had escaped from. Though Gu Pingyuan wasn’t a wanted criminal with a bounty, capturing an exile typically carried a reward. Zhang Guangfa didn’t plan to appear personally – he had written the accusation letter intending to find some clerk wanting to make quick money to deliver it to the county office. Just as he was sealing it, he heard commotion in the inner courtyard. Puzzled, he put down the envelope and stepped out to look, immediately startled.

“Young Master Qin, what happened to you? Why is your mouth bleeding?”

After asking, he immediately spotted Gu Pingyuan and angrily said: “So it’s you! You’re truly audacious – I wasn’t looking for you, yet you come to my door. Did you hit Young Master Qin? You’ve got the heart of a bear and gall of a leopard! Men, seize him!”

Several clerks who had rushed over at the news roared and surrounded him to make the arrest.

“Wait!” Gu Pingyuan showed no fear. Along the way, he had already planned what to say. Though not completely confident, facing Zhang Guangfa he had twelve parts courage.

“Chief Steward Zhang, long time no see!” Gu Pingyuan’s gaze at Zhang Guangfa was sharper than knives. His half-life of misfortunes – from examination candidate to exile, even suffering Wang Tiangui’s great humiliation – all ultimately thanks to this man.

Zhang Guangfa looked up and laughed heartily: “Well said, well said. Surname Gu, I truly admire you for valuing your life so cheaply. You could have stayed outside the Pass a few more years for scheduled release, then peacefully found some livelihood – wouldn’t that be good? Instead you ran inside the Pass seeking death. This is called an ant trying to shake a tree – overestimating your abilities. You can’t blame me!”

“Hahaha!” Gu Pingyuan burst into loud laughter, laughing heartily and somewhat wildly. If he had cursed or even attacked, Zhang Guangfa wouldn’t really care – at worst they’d tie him up on the spot and send him to the county office. But now Gu Pingyuan’s laughter seemed so fearless that Zhang Guangfa, despite his deep schemes, felt uneasy.

After laughing, Gu Pingyuan cupped his hands toward Zhang Guangfa: “Chief Steward Zhang, I don’t dare believe your words anymore. But just now you said something worth hearing – you mentioned an ant shaking a tree. I understand your meaning. I, Gu Pingyuan, am naturally an ant in Chief Steward Zhang’s eyes, but what is this tree you speak of? I’d like to ask for instruction.”

“Need you ask!” Li Qin had been holding back for a long time and finally found a chance to interject: “Have you heard of the Li family of the capital? Our Li family leads the capital merchants. I’m the Li family’s eldest young master, he’s the chief steward of capital merchants. What gives you, a mere exile, the right to be so persistent? What is this but a mantis trying to stop a chariot, an ant trying to shake a tree?”

“Li family of the capital, leaders of capital merchants, Li family’s eldest young master, chief steward of capital merchants! How imposing, how impressive, how formidable!” Gu Pingyuan repeated Li Qin’s words word by word, as if chewing and crushing them before spitting them out, making everyone present feel their pores chill.

“Stop playing mysterious – do you think this will prevent me from sending you, this exile, to the county office?” Zhang Guangfa vaguely felt something was wrong but couldn’t grasp it, so he hardened his expression, preparing to get tough.

“In court, will there be severe torture waiting? But I have nothing to confess. The case is simple – I’m an exile who illegally entered the Pass. I neither robbed households nor started rebellions. How should this confession be written?” Gu Pingyuan paced with hands behind his back in the courtyard, walked to beneath a pomegranate tree, suddenly turned around, and said rapidly: “I think it should say this: I have long-standing enmity with capital merchant chief steward Zhang Guangfa. Discovering that since the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, this person came to Taigu County and merged with a money shop, thereafter plotting deliberately, planning to take Shanxi money shops as opponents and occupy the vital business of Shanxi merchants…”

“Silence! You, how do you…” Zhang Guangfa’s face turned green with shock. He looked at several clerks: “All of you get out!”

Only after the courtyard held just three people did Zhang Guangfa ask: “Hmph! You’re just an exile with no evidence – who would believe your words?”

“Chief Steward Zhang probably doesn’t know yet – I, Gu Pingyuan, now have some reputation in Taigu County. Some say I’m an immortal, others say I’m a madman. If they also learned I’m an exile, countless people would flock to the county court to see the spectacle. If I were to say this publicly, and someone happened to verify your identity as a capital merchant chief steward, then with so many mouths making gold and accumulated slander destroying bones, whatever the capital merchants want to do on Shanxi merchants’ territory would be completely hampered and impossible. Do you believe it or not?”

Zhang Guangfa kept a dark expression without speaking. Li Qin couldn’t stand it and shouted waving his arms: “Bah! Gu Pingyuan, you think you can threaten us capital merchants with this?”

“Whether I can or not, look at Chief Steward Zhang’s expression.” Gu Pingyuan raised his chin. His additional questions at that general goods store hadn’t expected to be useful so quickly. Though mostly guesswork, mixing truth with fiction, he had guessed seven or eight parts correctly and actually intimidated Zhang Guangfa.

“Gu Pingyuan, over these dozen years, anyone who dared interfere with Li family business never came to a good end.” Zhang Guangfa’s eyes flashed with sinister light, his tone like a sharp sword.

“Being sent outside the Pass to be beaten to death with a hundred rods – is that a good end?” Gu Pingyuan immediately countered.

“What do you want?” Zhang Guangfa was a businessman – negotiation had become his instinct. Naturally he now wanted to hear the other party’s price.

“Very simple – I keep quiet, you back off, we mind our own business.” Gu Pingyuan had no desire for prolonged conflict. With such a great enemy as Wang Tiangui before him, he truly couldn’t spare attention for his grudge with Zhang Guangfa. As the saying goes, “With three matters at home, handle the most urgent first” – making enemies on all sides was most unwise. Now he and Zhang Guangfa had mutual leverage, creating balanced deterrence, which was actually favorable to himself. After all, he was alone and weak – how easy would it be to overturn a capital merchant chief steward? Moreover, being wary of injuring the innocent, he had to consider Fourth Uncle Chang.

Zhang Guangfa knew he couldn’t agree too quickly. He pretended to lower his head in thought for a while, then sneered twice: “Lucky for you, this exile.”

“Farewell!”

“I won’t see you out!”

After Gu Pingyuan left, Li Qin said indignantly: “Uncle Zhang, where’s your usual authority? Just letting him go like this – you’ve lost all face for our Li family.”

“Young Master Qin, don’t you understand yet? Whether this surname Gu was guessing blindly or has solid evidence, he hit precisely our weakest spot right now. If our capital merchants’ preparations for establishing money shops in Shanxi were really exposed by him, the Shanxi merchants might well unite against us, and with our foothold still unstable, that would be disastrous. The master’s entire plan would immediately turn to water, so we can only let Gu Pingyuan go for now. We can’t ruin the entire situation for such a small pawn.”

“So my tooth was lost for nothing? Look.” Li Qin grimaced, showing his teeth.

Zhang Guangfa also felt sorry for this young master he’d raised since childhood and comforted him: “Young Master, isn’t he also working under Shanxi merchants? I’ve investigated – Wang Tiangui, whom we’re targeting first, is his employer. Once the master’s arrangements are ready and orders are given, a small fry like Gu Pingyuan can be crushed to powder with my bare hands.”

Li Qin was delighted to hear this, but his mouth hurt again so he covered his cheek: “What’s father doing? It’s been so long without even a message.”