“Clang!” came a loud crash that startled all the clerks behind the counter. Shopkeeper Ding’s heart clenched as he hurriedly came around the counter to look, his heart crying out in anguish at what he saw—one of the eight precious azure glazed windows that decorated the shop, Zhu Sheng’s most beloved ornaments of considerable value, had been shattered to pieces.

Before he could recover his wits, two more crisp crashes followed in succession as two more glazed windows shattered. Shopkeeper Ding was so anxious he stamped his feet and cursed at the street outside: “You poor wretches, having nothing better to do after filling your bellies! We’ve ignored you these past few days and that should have been enough, but you actually come knocking at our door. Do you really think we don’t dare report you to the authorities?”

“Go ahead and report us if you want! For a black-hearted shop like yours that shows no humanity or righteousness, anyone who smashes it is eliminating violence and maintaining peace!” There were quite a few people on the street, and as soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of agreement arose.

“Put up the boards! Put up the boards!” Shopkeeper Ding shouted frantically as he turned back and waved his hands repeatedly. Several apprentices, risking being struck by stones, hurriedly put up the wooden shutters in panic. The sun hadn’t even risen to mid-morning, yet Wanyuan Pawnshop was forced to close for business.

“Sigh, this business is impossible to conduct!” Shopkeeper Ding collapsed into a chair, saying in exasperation.

Third Shopkeeper frowned deeply: “If not, let’s really go report to the authorities!”

“Those two ringleaders are veteran lawsuit pests, and the rest are all scholars and literati. In the court hall, they’ll be standing while we kneel—how can we possibly win such a lawsuit?”

“But—but at least this time Fourth Shopkeeper got into this trouble because he helped resolve the county magistrate’s predicament. Surely he must favor us somewhat? What do you say, Fourth Shopkeeper?” Third Shopkeeper turned to ask.

Gu Pingyuan, who had been wearing the same grim expression, was called upon by name and shook his head slightly: “I’ve already been to see Secretary Xu. He said this group has put out word that if the authorities intervene in this matter, they’ll boycott the imperial examinations. A boycott is no small matter—the county can’t shoulder such responsibility and likely won’t stand up for us.”

The pawnshop immediately fell into silence. Everyone stopped talking, but the looks they gave Gu Pingyuan were strange, seeming to blame him yet finding it improper to speak openly.

The matter began several days ago. Gu Pingyuan had successfully conducted a “grand canonical wife” transaction. Though he gained no actual profit, he obtained a county proclamation that finally resolved the crisis of Xiangyun Pawnshop across the street maliciously buying up their pawn tickets. When he returned and explained this, everyone from Shopkeeper Ding down was delighted. Especially in the eyes of Jin Hu and several young clerks, Gu Pingyuan immediately became as towering as the eighteen-foot golden guardian deity Weituo in the mountain gate of Wubian Temple.

But everyone’s joy lasted only two days. Starting from the third day, two lawsuit pests led a group of county school scholars to make a commotion at their door, claiming repeatedly that Gu Pingyuan had led women into the military camp, corrupting the virtue of local chaste women and damaging the reputation of the county’s literati. They said this would bring shame if word spread, so they wanted to beat gongs and gather crowds to parade Gu Pingyuan through the streets and force Wanyuan Pawnshop to close permanently.

Gu Pingyuan patiently explained to them, but this group was impervious to oil and impenetrable to needles, insisting stubbornly that “starvation is a minor matter, but loss of virtue is major.” If not for Gu Pingyuan’s cunning schemes initially, these women wouldn’t have been deceived by his honeyed words. Now that the deed was done, the local scholars who studied Neo-Confucianism would never forgive him as the chief culprit. They wanted to write “utterly shameless” on his forehead and make him kneel before the Wenchang Pavilion to confess his crimes.

At first, Gu Pingyuan patiently tried to reason with them, but he soon realized that those two lawsuit pests were deliberately provoking the scholars’ anger with every word and sentence, clearly intending to incite the crowd to forcibly parade him through the streets. Fortunately, Jin Hu and the other clerks were clever and quickly protected Gu Pingyuan into the pawnshop. As a result, these people clamored all day on the street outside the pawnshop without leaving, and today they even started throwing stones. By this point, everyone couldn’t help but somewhat blame Gu Pingyuan for meddling in other people’s business and bringing such great trouble to the pawnshop. But Gu Pingyuan had indeed rendered a service, so no one could voice their reproach aloud. They could only sit trapped in their predicament, staring at each other helplessly.

“Tap, tap!” While everyone was frowning with worry, suddenly the sound of knocking came from outside the pawnshop. Everyone’s hearts jumped upon hearing it, not knowing what other calamity was coming to their door.

“Open the door, it’s me!” A slightly aged voice sounded outside the door.

“Master Zhu?” Shopkeeper Ding and Gu Pingyuan exchanged glances, and both quickly walked over to remove the door bar and open the door.

Indeed, it was Zhu Sheng standing outside. His recent illness had come fiercely, and with his home turned into chaos by those two unfilial sons, it wasn’t a place for quiet recuperation. Even now, his complexion still looked poor.

“Master Zhu, you’re still ill—why did you come?” Shopkeeper Ding quickly moved to support him.

“No need! I’m not so frail as to collapse at the slightest breeze.” Zhu Sheng held a walking stick for support and straightened his back with some effort: “If I don’t come now, should I wait until the day the pawnshop closes and the signboard is removed?”

Upon hearing these words, Gu Pingyuan knew that Zhu Sheng must be aware of recent events. He couldn’t help but step forward apologetically, about to speak, when Zhu Sheng waved his hand and pointed his walking stick at Xiangyun Pawnshop across the street: “Hmph! I, Zhu Sheng, am not yet addled with age. The additional collection fees, secretly buying pawn tickets, and now inciting scholars to cause trouble—all of this is the work of that new owner across the street. They’re not targeting you, but our Wanyuan Pawnshop! They want us to close and get lost so they can dominate alone. Dream on!”

As Zhu Sheng spoke, he walked outside. Once there, he coldly swept his gaze across the crowd opposite, then suddenly turned around and raised his walking stick high, striking “crack, crack, crack” several times in succession, shattering the remaining five glazed windows as well. He turned to face Xiangyun Pawnshop across the street and said menacingly: “If you want to tear down my signboard and destroy my pawnshop, you’re not heavy enough for the task! I, Zhu Sheng, have been in the pawnshop business for so many years and have never feared anyone. If you’re not convinced, come at me with everything you’ve got—I’ll be waiting here to receive your teachings!”

After speaking, he walked into the pawnshop and took a firm stance at the main counter, announcing: “From today forward, I’ll stand at the counter here together with the clerks. I refuse to believe that a golden signboard erected over decades will be smashed by some wet-behind-the-ears brat!”

With him standing so imposingly in the pawnshop, the clerks immediately felt they had found their backbone. Those whose hearts had been anxious now steadied their spirits and began working in an orderly fashion.

The scholars outside were also left at a loss by Zhu Sheng’s fierce demeanor. Their momentum gradually weakened, and they no longer dared throw stones at the shop. However, they continued quoting classics and citing precedents, cursing nothing more than Gu Pingyuan’s departure from orthodox teachings and his pursuit of fame and reputation. Gu Pingyuan, having weathered many storms, treated it all as wind past his ears. But as his eyes swept around, he discovered that Qiao Henian was also standing among the scholars. Though he wasn’t speaking or cursing, he hadn’t left either. Gu Pingyuan was puzzled in his heart—could even he be dissatisfied with me? But initially it was clearly Qiao Henian who helped me bring this matter to fruition!

In the small courtyard behind Xiangyun Pawnshop across the street, two people sat facing each other at a stone table and chairs, sipping tea. Master Zhu’s angry roar faintly drifted through the windows into the courtyard. Su Zixuan took a small sip of Junshan Silver Needle tea, set down his teacup, and said with a light laugh: “The tiger has shown its might. Should you also put away this charade of gathering crowds to cause trouble?”

Master Zhu had guessed correctly. The one who had bribed the two lawsuit pests and invited a group of scholars to cause trouble was indeed Li Qin, but he wasn’t targeting Wanyuan Pawnshop—he was trying to humiliate Gu Pingyuan. After Gu Pingyuan had ruined his clever plan of “collecting pawn tickets,” Li Qin had devised this scheme in his anger. However, this wasn’t really business after all. Though it had fortuitously almost cut off Wanyuan Pawnshop’s business entirely, if he were to defeat Gu Pingyuan this way, even Li Qin would find it uninteresting.

“The silver I gave those two lawsuit pests is only enough for them to cause trouble until tomorrow. Without them stirring things up, that group of scholars will naturally quiet down after a few more days of commotion. I’m just venting my anger! Hmph! That fellow surnamed Gu actually conspired with the authorities to pressure me!” Li Qin’s anger flared up again at the mention of this matter.

“Even without his intervention, you couldn’t have continued this for long. ‘Harming others with capital’ may be a sharp weapon, but unfortunately you lack a whetstone. Trying to crush that decades-old reputable pawnshop across the street with a mere fifty thousand taels—you’re thinking too simply.” Su Zixuan had provided the silver, so these words came naturally.

“How could I not know this!” Li Qin most wanted to show off his power and display his capabilities before Su Zixuan. His eyes brightened as he spoke earnestly: “‘Harming others with capital’ is to break open the situation. As for crushing this Wanyuan Pawnshop, I have a better idea. However…”

“What?” Su Zixuan gently blew on the tea leaves in her cup, asking unhurriedly.

“To conduct the business I’m planning requires dealing with the garrison commander in the city. I simply dislike meeting with officials. When it comes to cultivating relationships with the authorities, that’s my father’s specialty—I’m different from him!” Li Qin’s expression carried a trace of stubbornness.

“Oh?” Su Zixuan looked at him, then suddenly burst into a “puchi” laugh. Li Qin knew Su Zixuan’s feminine nature, and this glance immediately transfixed him. He felt that among all the women’s smiles he had seen in his life, none could compare to this “Brother Su’s” smile while dressed as a man. He couldn’t help but ask hesitantly: “What are you laughing at?”

“I’m laughing at how you appear modern but are actually hidebound by old ideas.” Su Zixuan’s smile appeared and vanished instantly as she pointed at Li Qin with her fan: “I’d like to ask you—what is business?”

“Business…” Li Qin was suddenly stumped by Su Zixuan’s question.

Su Zixuan answered her own question: “Business is generating ideas to make money from others. Since it’s about making money through ideas, how can a rigid mind conduct great business? You must know that circumstances in the marketplace change in an instant, and opponents are clever and resourceful. Even seventy-two transformations aren’t enough to cope with them. Yet here you are, binding yourself with ropes on the left and hoops on the right. Before others even come to deal with you, you’ve already trapped yourself to death.”

“Then—then according to you, should I also learn to do business like my father?” If it were anyone else, even Li Wantang’s lecturing, Li Qin would have stopped listening long ago. But Su Zixuan held an extraordinarily different place in his heart.

“I’m telling you to learn flexibility! Any matter, even good things, if they become stumbling blocks on your path, should be moved aside without hesitation.” Following the principle of “tea no more than half,” Su Zixuan drained the last sip of tea, which happened to leave exactly half a cup remaining. She casually poured it at the base of the osmanthus tree in the courtyard and stood up. She only intended to say this much—if Li Qin still couldn’t understand, she wouldn’t say another word.

For the first time, Li Qin’s gaze didn’t follow Su Zixuan’s movement. He stared into space, lost in thought for a long time, before nodding with apparent understanding.

“Secretary, please look at this.” A runner hurried into the signing room and handed a white paper covered with large characters to Secretary Xu.

“What is this?” Secretary Xu was puzzled—urgent official business in the yamen never came to him.

“The patrol brothers found these posted all over the busy streets of the county town starting from Drum Tower Street early this morning. At first everyone was startled, thinking spies from the Nian rebels had infiltrated the city to post seditious proclamations inciting rebellion. But it turned out not to be that kind of thing. Please take a look.”

Secretary Xu had been feeling uneasy these past few days. It was clearly he who had involved pawnshop manager Gu Pingyuan in the Youlu Ditch Village affair, but now that Gu Pingyuan was being slandered and attacked, he himself was intimidated by the scholars’ threats and couldn’t defend him. He felt truly ashamed in his heart.

Because of this state of mind, when he opened the proclamation and read it carefully, his eyes immediately lit up. At the top, written in the standard court calligraphy style used for imperial examinations, were four large black characters: “Proclamation Against Bookworms.” The text below was written in standard regular script, and the “bookworms” it referred to were precisely those scholar-literati who had been noisily denouncing Gu Pingyuan these past few days. The text directly accused this group of people of being full of righteousness and morality in their speech, but when common people faced danger, they kept their heads down and said nothing. Once someone stepped forward to help, they brought out their “moral learning” as a measuring stick, preferring to let people starve rather than allow actions they disapproved of. They were truly cold and heartless, unworthy of being scholars who had read the sages’ books—they could only be called bookworms who had chewed up books and swallowed them.

The article opened with a striking sentence: “Full of poetry and books in mouth, devoid of heavenly principle in heart, with empty belly yet claiming to be learned; though eyes can read, they see no human relations, yet shameless enough to disturb scholarly culture!”

“Magnificently cursed!” Secretary Xu slapped the table in approval, couldn’t help but praise it, and continued reading with growing amazement. The author of this proclamation criticized those scholars using entirely Four Books allusions. For example, when someone cursed Gu Pingyuan for promising to preserve women’s reputations while actually sending them to military camps to associate with men, calling him a duplicitous scoundrel who said one thing to faces and did another behind backs, the proclamation’s author quoted from the Analects: “Heaven gave birth to virtue in me; what can Huan Tui do to me?” to refute this criticism.

When Confucius traveled among the states, he saw Song’s minister Huan Tui spend four years making a jade coffin and criticized his extravagance to his face. Huan Tui harbored resentment and, seeing Confucius teaching under a sandalwood tree, ordered the tree cut down, intending harm to Confucius. Confucian disciples urged Confucius to flee quickly, but Confucius spoke the above words, meaning “I am Heaven’s blessed one; Huan Tui cannot harm me.” When everyone thought Confucius was calm and composed, he actually changed clothes in the middle of the night and fled to another state. The proclamation used this to defend Gu Pingyuan, saying that truly intelligent people know how to adapt to circumstances. If you say Gu Pingyuan was inconsistent in word and deed, then what about Confucius’s words and actions clearly recorded in the Analects?

Secretary Xu imagined those scholars gathered together seeing the proclamation with faces alternating between blue and white, and couldn’t help laughing heartily: “The Book of Han can accompany wine, and this ‘Proclamation Against Bookworms’ is truly worth raising a large cup to! Using the Four Books throughout to criticize scholars—truly ‘using their spear to attack their shield.’ This is the grand writing of someone who has thoroughly read books yet isn’t pedantic.” He asked the waiting runner: “Do you know who posted these proclamations?”

“Reporting to Secretary, the person has been caught. The brothers pursued him all the way, and he was still posting the last one at the East Gate when caught. Only he claims to be a scholar, so we didn’t dare do anything to him and brought him back to the county yamen.”

“A scholar?” Secretary Xu paused. Speaking of the county’s scholars, he knew each one in his heart, and absolutely none could write such an article. Who could it be? “Bring him in for me to see.”

When the person was brought into the signing room, Secretary Xu looked carefully and found he didn’t recognize him.

“What’s your name? Are you really a scholar from this county?”

“Sir, this student is named Qiao Henian and is indeed a scholar, but from Qi County.” Qiao Henian bowed deeply as if greeting an honored guest.

“Oh, so you’re a student scholar from a neighboring county. You’re not impersonating, are you?”

“Scholars are all registered in their counties. Qi County is not far from here—how would this student dare make false claims?”

Secretary Xu nodded, then suddenly put on a stern expression: “Since you’re a scholar, you should know court law and regulations. The county seat is the fundamental place where the court governs the people. You’re merely a scholar, yet you dare to rely on your talents and act arrogantly, posting proclamations throughout the city without authorization and deceiving people’s hearts. Do you know what crime this constitutes?”

“Sir!” Qiao Henian was startled to hear this rebuke, initially stunned, but showed no fear. He looked directly at Secretary Xu: “What is the purpose of studying? Isn’t it to understand principles? Should these principles only be kept in one’s own heart and that’s the end of it? That Gu Pingyuan clearly acted wholeheartedly for the people, working tirelessly to accomplish a great good deed, yet must suffer such abuse. If this principle isn’t clarified, how can common people distinguish right from wrong, understand what’s correct, know shame from honor? Over time, wouldn’t it become a chaotic world!”

“Do you know Gu Pingyuan?” Secretary Xu admired Qiao Henian’s words in his heart but didn’t show it on his face.

“I once went with him to Mongolia to trade medicine. We called each other brothers—it was friendship’s duty. However, my reason for writing this proclamation isn’t because I have ties with him, nor because he once gave me gold out of gratitude. Those are private virtues. What I’m debating today is public justice and principle. My elder brother and sister-in-law also live in Youlu Ditch Village. This time, if not for Gu Pingyuan, who knows how many people in the village would have faced separation of wives and children, broken families and deaths. His merit is truly immeasurable. I beseech your honor’s discernment!”

“I won’t discuss how Gu Pingyuan’s actions were now—I’m only addressing your unauthorized posting of proclamations. The court has long had regulations that no one may post banners or hang writings without permission, or gather crowds to incite disorder! Since you’re a scholar, even though your registration isn’t in this county, this official has authority to deal with you. Here’s what we’ll do: you go tear down all the proclamations and write a confession to post on the eight-character wall in front of the county yamen, and this matter will be settled.”

“Sir, I’m afraid I cannot comply with this. Every word and sentence I wrote reflects the actual situation—why should I tear it down? And how could I write a confession?”

“Qiao Henian, don’t be ignorant of the gravity of the situation. This official’s disposition is already the most lenient. If this case goes before the main court and our county magistrate says ‘apply punishment,’ I must first strip you of your scholar’s status. Ten years of cold window study, ruined by one article—it’s not worth it.” Secretary Xu spoke with earnest concern.

Qiao Henian’s heart tightened upon hearing this. He had been poor since childhood, with his elder brother scrimp and saving to support his studies, studying by snow light and borrowed illumination through walls, finally managing to pass the scholar examination. This status was truly hard-won and currently his only support. If this status were revoked, his entire future would be finished.

“What do you say? Status cannot be lightly abandoned—you should go write that confession.” Seeing Qiao Henian’s long silence, Secretary Xu knew he was conflicted inside. He calmly prepared brush and ink, then pointed to the desk.

Qiao Henian stiffly walked forward a few steps, picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. His hand trembled slightly as he hesitated for a long time before writing a few characters on paper. Secretary Xu watched quietly from the side. Suddenly Qiao Henian threw down the brush, raised his head abruptly—his eyes already glistening with tears—and spoke in a stubborn, unyielding voice: “Sir, I’ve finished writing!”

“Oh?” Only a few sparse characters were written on the paper. Secretary Xu pulled it over to look and saw that Qiao Henian had written five large characters: “Cui Zhu murdered his lord.”

Secretary Xu’s expression changed immediately. He felt a sour, swelling sensation surge up from his chest, his eyes involuntarily moistening as he murmured to himself: “I never imagined that in today’s world, there would still be the backbone of the Grand Historian.”

The Grand Historian he spoke of referred to a family of historians from the Spring and Autumn period in Qi State. At that time, the treacherous minister Cui Zhu killed Duke Zhuang of Qi and, fearing he would leave a bad name in later generations, summoned Grand Historian Bo, who was responsible for recording historical events, and drew his sword commanding him to write “The duke died of illness.” But Grand Historian Bo spread open the historical records and wrote with upright brush exactly the five characters that Qiao Henian had just written: “Cui Zhu murdered his lord.” Cui Zhu was naturally furious and killed Grand Historian Bo. According to tradition at that time, when a historian died, his brother would succeed him. So Cui Zhu summoned Grand Historian Bo’s second brother, but unexpectedly this second brother wrote exactly the same five characters as his elder brother, and was also killed. Cui Zhu successively killed three men from the historian family. When it came to the youngest brother, he wrote the same “Cui Zhu murdered his lord” beside his three brothers’ corpses without changing expression! By this time Cui Zhu was also shaken by all the killing, and seeing Deputy Grand Historian Nanshi rushing over with bamboo slips to continue writing these five characters in place of the historian family, he realized these scholars had hearts as firm as gold and stone that could not be broken. He could only sigh deeply and abandon his plan to alter the historical records.

This incident was clearly recorded in the Zuo Commentary and was a well-known allusion, also a principle of conduct that scholars revered as their standard. However, knowing is easy while doing is difficult. Secretary Xu truly never expected that this seemingly unremarkable scholar before him would have such backbone, willing to sacrifice his scholarly status rather than abandon the ancient sages’ example. Secretary Xu slowly sat in the chair by the window desk, staring intently at Qiao Henian, his mind turning over unknown thoughts, momentarily stunned.

“Secretary Xu, please revoke my scholarly status. If a scholar cannot speak the truth, what use is this empty title of scholar!” Qiao Henian turned his head to look out the window, his chest rising and falling continuously, clearly extremely agitated.

“Very well, then I must handle this officially.” Secretary Xu stared at him for a while, seeing he had no intention of admitting error, so he took walnut-colored paper and wrote several lines with his brush, then took out the secretary’s seal to stamp it: “Do you really have no regrets?”

Qiao Henian shook his head.

“The seal has been used—regret would be too late now. Take a look—how is this written?” Secretary Xu smiled slightly, shook the paper, blew on it gently, then handed it to Qiao Henian.

Qiao Henian was stunned, thinking to himself, why would I need to review the official document revoking my scholarly status? He hesitantly took it and looked, immediately widening his eyes and staring at Secretary Xu: “You… this is…”

“This is an official document to Secretary Cao of your esteemed county, requesting him to transfer your scholar registration to this county.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Only when you become a student scholar of this county do I have the authority to recommend you for the Bagong examination,” Secretary Xu said slowly.

“Ah?” Qiao Henian never dreamed that Secretary Xu would say such words.

Bagong! That was the supreme honor that scholars throughout the realm dreamed of. As the saying goes, “There may be incompetent members of the Hanlin Academy, but there are absolutely no incompetent Bagong scholars.” In the eyes of those who knew, the precious value of Bagong lay precisely in how extraordinarily difficult it was to achieve. The metropolitan examination was held once every three years, meaning a new top scholar emerged every three years. But the Bagong examination, prepared for talented scholars who had not yet found their opportunity, was held only once every twelve years, by precedent in years ending in you. Last year should have been the xinyou year, but Emperor Xianfeng had passed away, followed immediately by a palace coup in the capital, so the examination was canceled and postponed to this year.

The Bagong examination was a regular imperial grace examination specifically prepared for those with genuine talent and learning. Each county recommended one person to participate in the provincial examination, and each province then selected two candidates to participate in the capital examination. Those who achieved excellent grades in the capital examination and earned the title of superior Bagong could immediately become officials—either minor court officials or be sent out to serve as county magistrates. In other words, if a poor scholar had good learning and good fortune, he could instantly become the father-mother official of a county, a great master sitting in the yamen, entering officialdom and ascending to heaven in one step.

Precisely because of this, the quota for recommendation to the Bagong examination was something that all the county’s scholars would break their heads fighting over. Seeking connections and sending gifts were commonplace, and some even burst into the county yamen with knives at their own throats to threaten the educational officials.

“Sir, there’s only one quota per county—why would you give it to me? Besides, weren’t you going to revoke my scholarly status?”

Secretary Xu laughed and patted Qiao Henian’s shoulder: “You simple scholar! You write such sharp articles, yet can’t see that I was testing you? Though this county has many scholars, it has few talents. This ‘grand canonical wife’ affair has served as a touchstone, revealing everything clearly. As you said: ‘Full of poetry and books in mouth, devoid of heavenly principle in heart; though eyes can read, they see no human relations.’ If I were to recommend them and they achieved Bagong status, they would merely become confused officials in the future. You have thoroughly studied the Four Books and Five Classics and understand both heavenly principles and human sentiment—this is already rare. Moreover, you possess unwavering moral backbone, which makes you even more precious. I, as the educational administrator, am confident I haven’t chosen the wrong person. Don’t disappoint my expectations—if you truly have the opportunity to govern the people of one region, you must always keep the sufferings of the common people in your heart.”

“Sir.” Qiao Henian never anticipated such circumstances. Having neither money for gifts nor influence to rely upon, Secretary Xu actually valued him so highly and bestowed this tremendous good fortune upon him. Tears immediately burst from his eyes as he bowed deeply: “Please rest assured, sir. This student will certainly not fail your teachings.”

After leaving the county yamen, Qiao Henian’s heart was still beating wildly. He bit his tongue to convince himself that what had just occurred was real. He initially wanted to immediately tell his elder brother and sister-in-law the good news, but worried about his poor luck—though he had this excellent opportunity, after all “one cannot predict success in the examination hall.” If he failed, wouldn’t he just give them false joy? So when he went to the Chang family compound to see his brother and sister-in-law, he told a lie, saying only that someone had invited him to teach in the provincial capital and he might accompany the family to the capital for a trip, returning to Taigu after half a year.

Qiao Songnian remained muddled and unaware of joy or sorrow as always, but Qiao Wenshi’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. She was happy that her brother-in-law had a teaching position—at least it was respectable work—but worried it might delay his studies. She earnestly instructed him for quite a while, reminding him that though working at a private school to earn household expenses was good, besides not misleading students, he must still study diligently and prepare for the imperial examinations.

“Your elder brother most hopes you can succeed academically and bring glory to the ancestors—you must always remember this aspiration. Your brother and I are doing well. We just received some entrance money—though not much, only two taels of silver—but you should take it too. A poor family needs money for travel, and being away from home is certainly different from being at home.” Qiao Wenshi took out a silver ingot and pressed it into Qiao Henian’s hands.

Knowing his sister-in-law was virtuous and worked hard managing the household, Qiao Henian was reluctant to accept it. After refusing for a long time, Qiao Wenshi insisted on giving it to him. Qiao Henian could only accept it with choked emotions and bid farewell to his brother and sister-in-law with tears.

He then went to Wanyuan Pawnshop to find Gu Pingyuan and relayed Secretary Xu’s words to comfort him. Having seen Qiao Henian among the crowd of scholars yesterday and having seen the proclamation that the clerk had torn down today, Gu Pingyuan had already understood the situation. He just hadn’t expected that Qiao Henian would have this extraordinary fortune because of it—he was truly happy for him.

“Bagong is also a legitimate path to office. Though it’s not equivalent to the two main examinations, it’s not the position of a common clerk either. There’s still opportunity to enter the Golden Horse and Jade Hall and become a high court official. Brother Qiao, you must seize this opportunity. I’ll naturally look after your brother and sister-in-law—you can take the examination with peace of mind.”

“Yes, that’s why I came to find you—to entrust this matter to you. I’ll give my all, and whether I pass or not, I’ll hurry back after the examination. I sincerely entrust everything to you during this time, worthy brother.”

“After reading Brother Qiao’s article today, I dare assert that you will certainly achieve high honors this time.” Gu Pingyuan spoke with certainty. “Wait a moment.” He walked into the pawnshop and soon came out again, holding several banknotes. “These are all small amounts—one tael, two taels, and also five and ten tael notes, totaling twenty-five taels of silver. My funds aren’t abundant—this is advance pay I borrowed from the shop counter. Take it as travel expenses.”

“I—I can’t accept this, I really can’t!” Qiao Henian waved his hands repeatedly. This person had already given him gold outside Taiyuan city initially, but unfortunately he had married an unworthy wife who searched and took everything as soon as he returned home, claiming it was to pay debts. In reality, that woman was lazy and gluttonous and must have squandered it all. At that time, his sister-in-law had someone send word that his elder brother had gone missing again, so he couldn’t argue with her and hurriedly left home. Later, when Gu Pingyuan resolved the crisis at Youlu Ditch Village, it was equivalent to helping his own family greatly. These two great kindnesses combined—how could he now accept this money? Moreover, Gu Pingyuan had possessed vast wealth then, but now he was borrowing meal money from the shop counter to give as gifts. This gesture was immeasurably heavier than generous donations, and Qiao Henian felt his heart burning.

“Brother Qiao, you’re being too formal.” Gu Pingyuan spoke seriously. “In your proclamation, was there even half a point of worldly bias? Money is merely an external possession. You and I have become friends, and what’s precious is understanding each other’s hearts. You defended me against slander—I won’t say thank you. I give you travel expenses—why must you be polite?”

“This…” Qiao Henian was still hesitating when Gu Pingyuan pressed the banknotes into his hand.

“I await news of Brother Qiao’s success.”

Qiao Henian’s proclamation dispersed many scholars who had come to join the excitement. Combined with the two lawsuit pests no longer instigating since there was no profit to be gained, the scholars quietly dispersed as well. After several days, Xiangyun Pawnshop suddenly removed the “Wanyuan Plus One” sign. The people at Wanyuan Pawnshop thought that the new Owner Li, after setting a few wild fires, had run out of capital and abandoned the “harming others with capital” approach. Seeing that he produced no new tricks, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Only Gu Pingyuan knew that since Li Qin had acquired the pawnshop across the street, he was determined to engage in competition and wouldn’t easily give up without achieving his goal. He was certainly brewing some scheme, which made Gu Pingyuan even more worried.

The storm over “grand canonical wife” gradually subsided, but consequences remained. Customers coming to Wanyuan Pawnshop in the city became increasingly sparse. Fortunately, with Zhu Sheng personally presiding, old customers from nearby townships and villages who came to the city to pawn items still trusted him, so business could barely be sustained.

This day, Zhu Sheng returned from the trade guild with an uncertain expression. Shopkeeper Ding walked over and asked: “Master, what’s wrong? Has the government imposed more levies?”

“No.” Zhu Sheng shook his head. “Call all the senior clerks over.”

More than ten people quickly gathered, looking at each other, not knowing what had happened.

“Let me ask you—has anyone tried to poach you these past few days?” As soon as Zhu Sheng spoke, several people’s expressions immediately changed, though they didn’t respond.

Zhu Sheng observed this and said in a calm tone: “It’s fine. I’m not going to punish anyone—I just want to understand the situation clearly.”

“Master.” Third Shopkeeper hesitated before saying, “Xiangyun Pawnshop across the street had someone approach me about going over there.”

“Presumably to serve as Second Shopkeeper.” Zhu Sheng pressed further.

“They didn’t specify that, only said compensation could be negotiated. I had no such intention and refused outright, so I didn’t inquire further.”

“Hmm.” Zhu Sheng pondered, then looked at others. Two senior clerks who had worked at the pawnshop for over ten years and had always performed excellently also hesitantly spoke up, but they all said Xiangyun Pawnshop wanted to poach them as Third Shopkeepers, with compensation naturally rising accordingly.

“Master, you’ve always treated us well. I can guarantee none of the clerks have such intentions. You can rest assured.” Personnel matters were always managed by Shopkeeper Ding. He cursed himself for being confused and failing to notice, quickly assuring Zhu Sheng. All the clerks also unanimously declared they had no such intentions.

“I naturally trust you all. However, from what I just heard, several pawnshops have already had skilled workers poached by Xiangyun Pawnshop. Strangely, they only poach people capable of serving as Third Shopkeeper. If they were opening branch stores, they should most value the Master Shopkeeper position. This kind of recruitment—I wonder what it’s for?” Zhu Sheng frowned with confusion.

Shopkeeper Ding thought for a long time but still couldn’t understand. Third Shopkeeper and the other clerks were even more puzzled. Not to mention them—even Gu Pingyuan, upon hearing this, didn’t know what medicine Li Qin was selling in his gourd. But one thing he was clear about.

“Extraordinary measures certainly have shocking schemes!” Gu Pingyuan’s words immediately tensed the hearts of everyone at Wanyuan Pawnshop, which had been relaxed for several days.

Zhu Sheng remained especially vigilant, but after waiting several days, he saw no movement from Xiangyun Pawnshop across the street. The newly poached clerks didn’t appear either. Instead, Li Qin would occasionally move a bamboo chair outside the pawnshop, enjoying the warm spring sun while using a small stove to brew English coffee he’d brought from the capital. He would even politely wave to Zhu Sheng and the shopkeepers, inviting them to come taste it. The strange aroma carried by the wind and Li Qin’s leisurely demeanor left everyone at Wanyuan looking at each other in bewilderment.

After Zhu Sheng’s return, Gu Pingyuan was again relegated to Fourth Counter status and wasn’t as busy as before. Observing coldly, he noticed that though Li Qin appeared leisurely on the surface, his eyes contained barely concealed excitement. He was certain that whatever this “Young Master Qin” was plotting would be revealed within days.

Gu Pingyuan’s guess proved correct. Early the next morning, a clerk who lived outside the city stumbled in, knocking Jin Hu, who was removing the shutters, flat on his rear. This clerk had no time for apologies and scrambled up, looking around: “Has the Master arrived? Where is the Master?”

“Have you gone stupid from sleep? Since when does the Master arrive when shutters are being removed? He won’t be here for at least another quarter hour.” Jin Hu rubbed his buttocks and stood up grimacing.

“Then—then what about the other shopkeepers?”

“None have arrived yet. Only Fourth Shopkeeper, who lives in the shop, is here.”

Gu Pingyuan had already heard and came out with a slightly darkened expression: “Early morning and you’re in such a panic? Doing business requires learning from officials—having a composed demeanor earns customers’ trust. Hopping around like a jumping shrimp—who would dare do business with you?”

“Did you hear? Fourth Shopkeeper speaks a whole philosophy at once—learn from this.” Jin Hu grinned widely.

“Oh my, I’m in no mood to learn philosophy—disaster has struck, disaster has struck!” The clerk slapped his thigh.

“Don’t rush. Sit down and speak slowly.” Gu Pingyuan also noticed his poor color and pointed to a chair. “Jin Hu, pour him some water.”

His composure unconsciously influenced the clerk, who finally caught his breath and spoke coherently: “Fourth Shopkeeper, I just entered the city through the East Gate and discovered that a pawnshop has actually opened by the gate tower. I personally witnessed two old farmers who were originally coming to the city to pawn items inquire about prices and directly hand their goods over to them.”

“Opening a pawnshop at the gate tower? You must be mistaken—don’t the guarding soldiers intervene?” Jin Hu interjected.

“No one intervenes. Those soldiers act as if they don’t see anything.”

Gu Pingyuan raised an eyebrow and asked: “What signboard do they display?”

The clerk swallowed and gave an answer Gu Pingyuan expected: “Xiangyun Pawnshop!”

“Jin Hu, find two more clerks to check the South, West, and North gates respectively.” Gu Pingyuan knew Li Qin’s strategy had been deployed. Understanding the situation clearly was most important now, so he gave orders to Jin Hu and the others.

Soon, Zhu Sheng, Shopkeeper Ding, and Third Shopkeeper all arrived. Upon hearing about this matter, they were all greatly shocked. Zhu Sheng’s experience was extensive, and in a flash of thought he had guessed Li Qin’s purpose. Just then, Jin Hu and two clerks returned almost simultaneously.

“Master, this is very bad. Those three gates also have Xiangyun Pawnshop stalls set up. The senior clerks they poached serve as Third Counter staff there, collecting various miscellaneous goods and items. They also accept gold and silver vessels and leather goods—things not easily misjudged. We personally saw many customers being drawn to them.”

Zhu Sheng listened with a wooden expression, his heart already half cold. He felt his legs couldn’t support him and sat down supporting himself on the table, murmuring: “I never expected that after hunting geese for years, today I’d be pecked in the eye by a sparrow. This Owner Li has such vicious thoughts—he wants to capture all of Taigu County’s pawnshops in one net!”

Shopkeeper Ding was also stunned for a long while before recovering to comfort: “Everyone in Taigu knows the Master has the best eye. If there are truly good items, they still must come to your establishment to pawn them.”

Zhu Sheng’s face was taut, unable to smile at all: “You’re referring to those rare treasures where one doesn’t open for three years but eats for three years after opening? Such business depends on luck—how can one count on it for regular trade? Now that the steady income stream has been intercepted halfway by Xiangyun Pawnshop, this time we’re truly in trouble!”

Gu Pingyuan had remained silent since earlier, constantly frowning in thought. Now he had seen through Li Qin’s business strategy. He walked a few steps and looked out from the pawnshop’s main door toward Li Qin’s leisurely figure sitting in a rocking chair across the street. For the first time, he felt a trace of admiration for this “Young Master Qin’s” business abilities. Li Qin’s approach this time was entirely based on considering customers’ perspectives—purely benefiting both others and himself, representing upright commercial warfare rather than behind-the-scenes scheming.

“This Owner Li has thoroughly understood common people’s thinking. Their lives are difficult, and labor equals money—they treasure time like gold. Now with pawnshops opening at all four city gates, they can avoid much unnecessary travel, pawn their goods for money, then return to work their fields. How could they not be willing?”

The clerks originally hadn’t realized the situation was so serious. Upon hearing Gu Pingyuan’s analysis, their hearts all “thudded,” and a feeling of impending disaster surged up. They looked at each other speechlessly.

Zhu Sheng drank several cups of cold tea, thinking left and right, feeling he couldn’t just wait for death. Seeing the pawnshop clerks all looking at him expectantly, he forced himself to steady his mind. Seeing no business coming to the shop anyway, he simply brought Shopkeeper Ding and several senior clerks to tour each gate, wanting to personally observe Li Qin’s “gate pawnshops.” Gu Pingyuan silently followed along.

They saw that at each city gate, less than an arrow’s distance from the gate towers, yellow cloth screens enclosed an open space. Characters were written on the screens: “Xiangyun Pawnshop Business, Customers First, No Deception of Young or Old, Heaven Bears Witness”—sixteen large characters. Two openings were left in the screens—one for entry, one for exit. Inside was placed a large table serving as a counter, with the senior clerks poached by Xiangyun Pawnshop standing at the counter. Behind them, ticket writers and junior clerks helping with pawning were all present.

Over ten country folk lined up at one end of the screen, all holding items to pawn, including regular customers of Wanyuan Pawnshop. As the long call of “Write…” was voiced, a pawn ticket was handed out along with copper coins or scattered silver, completing a transaction. Behind this temporary pawnshop was a temporary storage yard enclosed by rough wood. In just one morning, it was already piled with various miscellaneous odds and ends. Several junior clerks were registering, cataloging, and boxing items one by one, preparing to transport them to the main store in the city for storage.

Zhu Sheng and others watched with faces turning green. Shopkeeper Ding couldn’t help murmuring: “What does this Xiangyun Pawnshop want to do? Could they want to swallow all of Taigu’s pawnshop business in one gulp? Do they have such an appetite?”

Gu Pingyuan responded: “I believe this action is still directed at our Wanyuan Pawnshop. Other pawnshops are just catching rabbits while gathering grass—suffering collateral damage.”

“How so?” Zhu Sheng asked without turning around.

Gu Pingyuan understood Li Qin’s intentions clearly but couldn’t reveal the personal grudge between them in front of everyone, so he said: “Consider this: now other pawnshops can still rely on city customers to get by temporarily. Only we currently have no clientele in the city and depend entirely on business from surrounding towns and villages. Xiangyun Pawnshop deliberately blocks this route—isn’t this clearly targeting us?”

“You’re absolutely right. I can see it too. Since that Owner Li took over Xiangyun Pawnshop, every move has been directed at our Wanyuan Pawnshop. But why is this? Could it really be because of my few words of argument with Manager Hu initially?” Zhu Sheng felt the situation was beyond normal reasoning, puzzling him and causing him to shake his head in confusion.

As Zhu Sheng was speaking, Shopkeeper Ding pointed ahead: “Look, the master shopkeepers from the city’s major pawnshops have all come.”

Everyone looked up and indeed saw the master shopkeepers from several notable pawnshops on Drum Tower Street approaching together, all with poor expressions. Zhu Sheng quickly went to meet them, and they exchanged respectful greetings.

Among them, Manager Du was impatient and spoke first: “Manager Zhu, you’re a senior in the pawnshop business. Tell us—has anyone operated like Xiangyun Pawnshop? This is strangling people to death!”

Manager Xu from “Tiancheng Pawnshop” also said: “Previously when they called out ‘Wanyuan Plus One,’ they already stole considerable business. Later they even secretly bought expensive pawn tickets—this was even more intolerable. Now they pull this stunt, clearly not considering us pawnshop masters worth anything. Pawnshops are businesses where one sits and eats. When they pounce so viciously to snatch food, they’ve broken our rules!”

“Exactly, exactly.” The other master shopkeepers also shook their heads in angry condemnation.

Gu Pingyuan listened from the side and couldn’t help but shake his head secretly, but he was lamenting these shopkeepers’ clinging to outdated practices and conservative thinking. Rules are made by people—no one said pawnshops definitely couldn’t be set up at city gates. Li Qin thought of it—that’s his capability. Business methods are inherently ever-changing. Now if you don’t change while others do, clinging to old rules leads only to death. Even if you curse Li Qin’s ancestors eighteen generations over, it’s useless. When bankruptcy and sign removal day arrives, others will laugh watching you cry—what use is cursing loudly then?

“Look, isn’t that Xiangyun Pawnshop’s new owner?” Someone pointed.

Speak of the devil, and he appears! Gu Pingyuan also saw—indeed it was Li Qin, accompanied by Manager Hu, swaggering out to inspect the pawnshop business at various locations. Li Qin’s attire today wasn’t as ostentatious as usual. Except for his pocket watch still showing half a chain hanging outside, his other clothing was purely in the style of an ordinary wealthy young master. He had listened to Manager Hu’s advice. Manager Hu told him that the customers at various city gates were country folk who hadn’t seen much of the world—at most local wealthy farmers. If they saw Li Qin’s neither-traditional-nor-foreign appearance, they might not dare come to Xiangyun Pawnshop to conduct business. Li Qin placed great hopes on his “gate pawnshop” strategy, so heeding Manager Hu’s words, he restrained himself considerably.

He had already inspected two gate pawnshops and found business flourishing far beyond his imagination. Overjoyed, he now appeared triumphant as he arrived at the South Gate. Here too was a scene of bustling activity. The senior clerk and ticket writer immediately rose to greet him upon seeing his approach. Li Qin affected humility, raising his hands slightly and saying with feigned magnanimity: “Business is so good—everyone has worked hard. Manager Hu!” He turned to give instructions.

“Yes, Master.” Manager Hu quickly bowed.

“For all clerks at the gate pawnshops, hot tea must be provided, and all three daily meals should be better than those at the main store. On the first and fifteenth of each month, order boxed meals from Manyi Restaurant. This place is already exposed to sun and wind—we cannot shortchange everyone on food and drink. Also,” he looked up at the sky, “find the tent maker and get the tarpaulin laid out early. With wind and rain, damaging pawned goods would be no small matter, and we must also be concerned about our own clerks’ health.”

These few words warmed everyone’s hearts, though they didn’t know Li Qin was simply copying shop rules set by Li Wantang among Beijing merchants. But the effect of winning people’s hearts was no less effective. Li Qin looked with satisfaction at the grateful expressions of the clerks, and sweeping his gaze around, suddenly spotted the Wanyuan Pawnshop group. His eyes brightened as he walked a few steps to stand before Gu Pingyuan and cupped his hands: “Manager Gu, it’s been a long time!”

Gu Pingyuan most feared Li Qin approaching him directly, but what he feared came to pass. He could only return the greeting with cupped hands while remaining silent. Li Qin wouldn’t let him off, pointing to the nearby gate pawnshop: “Manager Gu truly has fine leisure—neglecting your own business to patronize my pawnshop. I wonder what you wish to pawn? Just say so, and both the loan amount and interest will certainly be favorable.”

Even the dullest person could see that Li Qin was deliberately targeting Gu Pingyuan. Zhu Sheng, already narrow-eyed, now compressed his pupils to slits as he stared intently at the two men. Gu Pingyuan originally didn’t want to engage with Li Qin, but circumstances forced him to respond: “Master Li has conducted excellent business this time! Taigu County is like a pouch, and now that you’ve tightened the opening, do you want all the county’s pawnshops to drink the northwest wind?”

Li Qin’s mind was sharp. Seeing that the master pawnshop managers he’d met at the trade guild were all glaring at him with burning anger, he knew Gu Pingyuan was trying to add fuel to the fire and make him a target for all. He wouldn’t fall for this trap, but instead used Gu Pingyuan’s words to speak loudly: “I have no interest in other pawnshops’ business—it’s just that one mountain cannot contain two tigers, and one street needs only one Xiangyun Pawnshop. As for Wanyuan Pawnshop, I truly find it an eyesore. If it would close down, I wouldn’t mind shuttering these gate pawnshops.”

Upon these words, Zhu Sheng felt gazes from all directions converging on his face. With an iron-dark expression, he pushed through the crowd, cupped his hands skyward, and asked Li Qin with a cold laugh: “So your honor’s purpose is merely to force my Wanyuan Pawnshop to close down. I wonder where I have offended you? Even if it means hanging oneself with a rope around the neck, at least let one die understanding the reason!”

Under Zhu Sheng’s pressing stare, Li Qin showed no tension at all, instead saying with a grin: “I don’t know you, much less speak of any offense. But who told you to hire such a fine clerk? What do you say, Manager Gu!”

Only then did everyone suddenly understand—Li Qin’s roundabout targeting was aimed at Gu Pingyuan alone!

Gu Pingyuan steeled his heart and stepped forward, speaking in a voice not loud but clear: “Master Li, have you forgotten what I said that day?” He was reminding Li Qin not to forget that he still held leverage over the Beijing merchant.

Li Qin had been prepared for this, waiting for exactly these words: “I haven’t forgotten, but one matter is one matter. You said it well then: ‘You shut up, I let go.’ That matter was settled. But now that I’ve made my move, if you still want to use that method against me, I truly look down on you! What, is this the extent of your ability?”

Gu Pingyuan’s body shook. Li Qin’s casual words made him feel extraordinarily humiliated. Though his opponent was the eldest son of the Li family from the capital, Gu Pingyuan had never shown weakness before him, much less been looked down upon by this wastrel.

Seeing Gu Pingyuan momentarily speechless, Li Qin felt an unprecedented sense of triumph. Grinning, he faced the crowd and said: “This way—we’re all colleagues eating from the same pot. I won’t go too far and will take a step back. I don’t need Wanyuan Pawnshop to close down—as long as this Manager Gu brings the six gifts and kneels publicly in my pawnshop, begging me to show mercy, I’ll immediately close these four gate pawnshops!”

The various managers immediately whispered among themselves in heated discussion. A fire rose in Gu Pingyuan’s heart as he stepped forward, looking at Li Qin’s smug face and speaking in a voice not loud but firm as iron: “Don’t dream—I, Gu, will never bow my head to you under any circumstances!”

“I’m afraid it won’t be up to you when the time comes!” Face to face, Li Qin’s inner arrogance was written all over his features as he likewise stared at Gu Pingyuan: “I’m not afraid of your stubborn words. In any case, there are just these two choices—either let Wanyuan Pawnshop close down, or humble yourself a bit and hurry up and kowtow to me to settle this matter. You needn’t rush—after all, these gate pawnshops are money-making businesses, and I really don’t want to pack up so quickly. Think it over clearly, then come find me. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Having said this, he turned back to address the common people queuing at the gate pawnshop loudly: “Starting today, if anyone has valuable items to pawn in the city, just bring them to my main Xiangyun Pawnshop store. Then when leaving the city, you can collect the city gate head tax at the gate pawnshop with your pawn ticket. I’ll save everyone this money!”

“Master Li is truly generous and accumulates virtue through good deeds!” The frugal country folk saved wherever possible. Hearing that this pawnshop would even pay the head tax—though only two copper coins per person, money was still money—immediately brought continuous cheers and applause. Amid this chorus of approval, Li Qin surveyed the iron-dark faces of the various pawnshop managers with an air of supreme dominance before departing.

Zhu Sheng returned to Wanyuan Pawnshop in a fury and called Gu Pingyuan to the back courtyard room, immediately demanding: “What’s that Master Li’s background? Where did you form this grudge with him? Why must he target you?”

This rapid-fire questioning left Gu Pingyuan tongue-tied, unable to answer a single question. Actually, it wasn’t that he couldn’t answer—if Gu Pingyuan really wanted to fabricate some lie, he could muddle through. But he knew lying was one link connected to another, and in haste he might let Zhu Sheng detect some flaw somewhere. “If there’s cross-examination, lives hang in the balance”—it would only create more trouble. Better to emulate the Jin people and keep one’s mouth sealed shut.

Zhu Sheng had been holding back a belly full of anger, and seeing him tight-lipped and silent made him even more furious. Pointing at Gu Pingyuan, he said: “The situation is crystal clear now—either you go kowtow to that person, or the pawnshop gets forced into bankruptcy and closure. Let me ask you—what are your intentions?”

“I…” Gu Pingyuan hadn’t expected Li Qin to challenge him publicly with such conditions, and his heart was in chaos. Li Qin’s move was truly brilliant, striking the snake at its vital seven-inch point. Now that others had cut off his pawnshop’s customer source, it was like a field without water—the green shoots would surely wither in no time.

“Master, I have no good ideas at the moment either. Please allow me to think it over. After all, his gate pawnshops have only been open one day, and our business has deep foundations—there’s no immediate worry.”

“Sigh! Gu Pingyuan, oh Gu Pingyuan, I can give you a few days’ grace, but I’m afraid the other pawnshop managers won’t wait!”

Zhu Sheng was right. Starting the next day, the master managers from various pawnshops in the trade guild came calling like a revolving lantern, indirectly inquiring about the same thing: when would Gu Pingyuan go to Xiangyun Pawnshop to beg Master Li for mercy? Initially Zhu Sheng remained calm and composed, but later as their words became increasingly sharp, he found himself struggling to respond, nearly falling out with several managers and parting on bad terms. Gu Pingyuan ignored whatever chaos ensued in the front hall, keeping his door closed and remaining in the back clerks’ dormitory, thinking intensely until deep night.

As for Li Qin, he continued drinking coffee on the street when he had nothing else to do. When large boxes from the gate pawnshops arrived, he would stand and direct clerks in warehousing the goods, frequently urging Manager Hu loudly to quickly find additional storage space—preferably acquiring the Wanyuan Pawnshop across the street. These words were naturally meant for Zhu Sheng to hear, and though Manager Zhu fumed with anger from all seven orifices, he could do nothing about Li Qin.

One side bustled with heavy traffic like a raging fire, while the other sat cold and deserted where sparrows could be caught at the door. Everyone at Wanyuan Pawnshop from Shopkeeper Ding downward felt as if they were trapped in an unending nightmare. Thinking of the two shops’ situations a month ago, it truly seemed like another lifetime, unbearable to recall.

Su Zixuan and Sixi knew Li Qin had established gate pawnshops, so they toured Drum Tower Street and indeed found all the pawnshops had fewer customers than usual. Coming to the street where Xiangyun Pawnshop was located, they saw from afar a large cart loaded with pawned goods from the East Gate unloading at Xiangyun Pawnshop.

“Miss, I never expected this Li Qin would actually have some skill.” Though Sixi was reluctant to admit it, she had to acknowledge that Li Qin had indeed done brilliantly this time.

“Li Qin is worthy of being a great merchant’s son—he truly hasn’t disappointed me.” Su Zixuan also rarely gave praise: “If the previous ‘harming others with capital’ was armed robbery, then the current ‘gate pawnshops’ is removing the firewood from under the cauldron. What I wanted him to do was precisely to drive Gu Pingyuan into a desperate situation. Now let’s see how this madman manager responds. If he can turn danger into safety even under these circumstances, then he’d truly be a remarkable figure!”

“If it were you, Miss, what would you do?” Sixi asked another superfluous question.

Su Zixuan smiled: “I would never let myself be driven to such a state in the first place.”

“Then—then think for that fellow surnamed Gu—what should he do?”

“Where do you get so many questions?” Su Zixuan said with mild reproach, but still considered before saying: “The one who tied the bell must untie it. Now the only option is to work through the garrison commander. Li Qin’s ability to set up pawnshops at the gates results from bribing the soldiers. At this point, it’s a matter of who has more money. But this is also very difficult—bribery and corruption also have rules. That commander can’t take silver and immediately turn his back on people, so it can’t provide quick relief no matter what. Moreover, if I’m not mistaken, Gu Pingyuan won’t use this method.”

“Why not? If silver is needed, naturally Wanyuan Pawnshop would provide it—it’s not his concern.” Sixi asked in confusion.

Su Zixuan gazed distantly at Wanyuan Pawnshop, as if her sight penetrated layers of buildings to see Gu Pingyuan inside: “His exterior appears modest and respectful, but actually he’s a person of high pride and lofty spirit. I dare not say whether he would bribe officials, but since Li Qin has already used this method, he would never pick up others’ discarded ideas. I truly want to see if he can devise some master stroke to turn the tables on Li Qin!”

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed. Taigu County’s pawnshops had all suffered extremely serious impact due to the gate pawnshop affair—sparse customers, severed clientele, business plummeting dramatically. The pawnshop managers really couldn’t wait any longer and agreed to come together to Wanyuan Pawnshop. These master managers who usually looked down their noses at everyone actually gave Zhu Sheng a unified deep bow upon seeing him. At this sight, Zhu Sheng’s anger flared as he asked with a dark expression: “What’s the meaning of this? If you’re going to beg, you should go beg that Master Li across the street. What, are you trying to force my Wanyuan Pawnshop to close?”

Manager Xu from Tiancheng Pawnshop said with a mournful face: “Manager Zhu, if begging the other side were useful, wouldn’t we have begged long ago? That Master Li is impervious to oil and salt—we’ve said basketfuls of nice words without the slightest effect. Come to think of it, this money-making path is something we’re demanding he cut off, which truly makes things difficult for him.”

“Can’t you all put your heads together and think of ways to deal with him? Usually you all appear deeply scheming, so how do you become soft-shell crabs when trouble arrives!” Zhu Sheng mocked impatiently.

Manager Du, still impatient as always, immediately said: “Manager Zhu, if you speak this way, I can’t agree. This Xiangyun Pawnshop created this situation to deal with you all—we other city pawnshops clearly suffered collateral damage.”

“So what?” Zhu Sheng was also agitated and simply became unreasonable: “Do you want me to compensate your losses?”

“We wouldn’t dare!” Manager Du glared angrily: “It’s just that phrase Manager Zhu said earlier that I can’t stomach—what do you mean ‘soft-shell crabs’? You, Manager Zhu, are usually known as having ‘the best eye judgment in the province’ and are a famous senior, yet now aren’t you equally helpless? Here’s what—everyone listen well. If Manager Zhu has a plan right now that can break these gate pawnshops, I, Old Du, will willingly pay tuition fees and take Manager Zhu as my master to learn pawning from the beginning!”

“Right, we’re willing too!” More than ten managers who came together also chimed in. They really were driven to desperation—if losses continued this way, when the financial backers tallied accounts at year’s end, they’d all be dismissed from their positions. Pawnshop managers were called “chamber pot tin”—once out of pawnshops, they couldn’t work in other trades. Wouldn’t that mean waiting to starve?

Zhu Sheng was stunned by Manager Du’s retort. He hadn’t been idle these past days either, constantly discussing with Shopkeeper Ding and others how to resolve this crisis. Unfortunately, after much thought, no good strategy emerged. Zhu Sheng had even considered sending capable clerks to the countryside to collect pawns, but this was treating symptoms, not the root cause. Even this last resort had many unsolvable problems—not to mention the immediate difficulty of finding so many clerks capable of independent operation, just the cart and horse fees for transporting pawned goods back to the city would be a considerable expense. Add the mountain roads and difficult terrain—if pawned goods suffered damage, the compensation would be even harder to bear.

Now, being challenged by Manager Du, Zhu Sheng felt his temples throbbing. He slapped the table: “Everyone does their own business. When you made money in the past, did you ever say you’d share even a penny with Wanyuan Pawnshop? Now that you’re losing money, you come knocking at our door.”

Manager Xu was a good-natured person. Seeing the situation turn tense, he quickly mediated: “We really don’t want to make things difficult for Manager Zhu. It’s just that the two conditions that Master Li proposed are actually aimed at your new Manager Gu. He is your clerk after all—if you just say the word and have him go across to submit, wouldn’t this matter be settled?”

Zhu Sheng had considered this idea, but he could see there must be some irreconcilable grudge between Gu Pingyuan and that Master Li. Gu Pingyuan was definitely not someone who would bow his head in defeat, so knowing he’d definitely hit a wall if he brought it up, he’d delayed mentioning it.

“It’s just a fourth counter clerk—is face really that important? Unwilling to sacrifice this face, are you going to watch us all close down and put up shutters?” Manager Du, seeing Zhu Sheng’s silence, really couldn’t bear it anymore: “Since that’s the case, Manager Zhu, don’t blame us for being heartless!”

Hearing the unkind tone, Zhu Sheng darkened his expression and asked: “What do you intend to do?”

Manager Du felt somewhat intimidated under Zhu Sheng’s pressing stare, but looking back at the dozen or so managers behind him, he steeled himself and swept his arm backward: “Earlier at the trade guild, we all discussed together and reached a decision.”

Zhu Sheng leaned back in his chair and said coldly: “Is that so? Then I’d like to hear it.”

“We know Wanyuan Pawnshop has deep foundations and could survive on the goods in your back warehouse for some time. You can afford to hold out, but we can’t afford to keep you company. If Manager Zhu insists on going his own way without considering fellow traders’ survival, then we’ll have to offend you. In one word—we’ll help Xiangyun Pawnshop crush your pawnshop!”

As they say, “three cobblers equal one Zhuge Liang”—this was indeed true. After deliberation at the trade guild, though they hadn’t devised good methods to break the gate pawnshops, they had conceived a vicious plan to deal with Wanyuan Pawnshop. According to the managers’ thinking, since that Master Li only wanted to deal with Wanyuan Pawnshop, if Zhu Sheng’s establishment closed quickly, the gate pawnshops would naturally cease operation.

“So we’ve decided to give you five more days. After this deadline, our dozen-plus pawnshops will unite to collect all your pawn tickets!”

With Manager Du’s words, Zhu Sheng’s expression immediately changed. This move truly hit the vital spot—ruthless and accurate! If so many pawnshops collected his pawn tickets together, Wanyuan Pawnshop would probably be cleaned out within a month. With neither pawns nor redemptions, what else could they do but close?

Shopkeeper Ding quickly stepped forward: “Gentlemen, this pawn ticket collection scheme has been expressly forbidden by the county magistrate. You cannot knowingly violate the law!”

“So what! Haven’t you heard that law doesn’t punish the masses? The magistrate probably wouldn’t close down our dozen-plus pawnshops for the sake of your one establishment.” Manager Du spoke with confidence.

“You…” Shopkeeper Ding was too angry to speak.

“Five days—not one day more. Remember that!” After speaking, Manager Du led the group, taking the other managers away together.

“Master, don’t worry—your illness isn’t fully recovered yet. You absolutely mustn’t…” Shopkeeper Ding only hated his own clumsy tongue, unable to comfort and ease the master’s worries.

“If a person is useless, never mind illness—what does it matter even if one dies of sickness? What do you say, Master Zhu!”

Truly, one wave hadn’t settled before another arose. With this sarcastic question, Wang Tiangui entered from outside, accompanied by Accountant Qu. From their appearance, the previous scene had fallen within their view.

Though all the pawnshop clerks sided with Manager Zhu, Wang Tiangui was the financial backer, so everyone could only bow and greet: “Master!”

Accountant Qu brushed off a chair for him to sit. Wang Tiangui ignored the others and spoke deliberately to Zhu Sheng: “Earlier I had business outside the city, but when I reached the city gate, I saw someone had set up gate pawnshops, conducting booming business with silver by the cartload. I was immediately delighted. What did I say?” He deliberately turned to ask Accountant Qu.

Accountant Qu played along: “The master said such a brilliant idea could only come from Manager Zhu in this county—no one else could think of it.”

“Yes, that’s what I said.” Wang Tiangui smiled without warmth: “But who would have thought that upon closer inspection, it was some Xiangyun Pawnshop! I heard the master who devised this is just some wet-behind-the-ears brat. I don’t understand this—has Manager Zhu’s decades of experience gone to the dogs?”

From the moment he entered, Zhu Sheng had been looking darkly toward the side window. Wang Tiangui continued his vicious, poisonous words, but Zhu Sheng maintained a detached expression as if he hadn’t heard. Instead, others in the pawnshop secretly gritted their teeth listening.

In this painfully awkward silence, Shopkeeper Ding finally couldn’t bear it and spoke up.

“Master! In business, there are gains and losses, losses and gains. It’s like warfare—who dares claim there are generals who never lose! Speaking of profitable pawnshops in Taigu, our Wanyuan Pawnshop has always held the top position. Though we’re currently having bad luck, as long as the master is here, we’ll certainly weather this crisis.”

Wang Tiangui had never paid much attention to this fellow surnamed Ding, but now seeing him suddenly straighten his back, he was startled and looked him up and down with cold light shooting from his eyes.

Shopkeeper Ding was essentially the business leader of the pawnshop—second only to Zhu Sheng. Once he spoke up, the other clerks became bolder too. Though they remained silent, their faces all showed indignant expressions.

Wang Tiangui swept his gaze around, taking in everyone’s expressions. Understanding the situation, he knew that though the grudge between himself and Zhu Sheng was common knowledge, this was still his own business. If all the pawnshop clerks quarreled with the owner, it would be called “internal rebellion”—not good to spread around and would greatly damage his prestige in Taigu’s commercial circles. So he smiled imperceptibly, but his tone carried intimidation: “I see. So the year-end accounts of ten thousand gold will definitely look acceptable? Good, then I’ll wait and see. But if someone has spoken big words, come the fifth day of the new year when we worship the God of Wealth, don’t wait for me, Wang Tiangui, to speak—have some sense yourself!”

After speaking, he heavily set down the hot tea the clerks had just served, stood up and stared at Shopkeeper Ding once more, then left with a sleeve flourish.

Shopkeeper Ding knew that by speaking up for Zhu Sheng, he had offended Wang Tiangui. The fifth day for worshipping the God of Wealth was traditionally when shops dismissed people. Having spoken such words, if the pawnshop’s performance didn’t match previous years, his fate next year would certainly be dire—he probably couldn’t continue at Wanyuan Pawnshop. Shopkeeper Ding had always been cautious and fearful, but just now he’d stood up for Zhu Sheng because the master had always taken special care of him, and he felt he had no way to repay this kindness. But after calming down and thinking of his child about to be born, his heart couldn’t help but panic. Looking up, he discovered Zhu Sheng had left his seat at some point and was walking toward the back hall.

As soon as Wang Tiangui left, Jin Hu ran to the back to tell Gu Pingyuan about this unexpected upheaval. After hearing the account, Gu Pingyuan’s thick eyebrows furrowed deeply as he sipped cup after cup of bitter strong tea. He had been sleeping less than an hour each night for several consecutive days. Daily racking his brains until his head ached, yet he remained at his wit’s end. Hearing that other pawnshops and Wang Tiangui had successively created such scenes, Gu Pingyuan’s heart felt like oil poured on fire, becoming even more agitated.

“Jin Hu, go out first.” Master Zhu usually never set foot in the clerks’ rest quarters, but today he unexpectedly came. Entering the room, he sat across from Gu Pingyuan, looking at his bloodshot eyes, and suddenly asked: “This can’t be delayed any longer. What do you plan to do?”

He was answered by another stretch of speechless silence.

“The Xiangyun Pawnshop across the street gave you two paths—now I also give you two choices.” Zhu Sheng spoke word by word, his tone not high but clearly showing his resolve was set.

“I cannot force you to go to Xiangyun Pawnshop to submit and admit defeat to that Master Li, but this matter absolutely cannot end with Wanyuan Pawnshop’s bankruptcy. So if you won’t go, that’s fine, but you must leave the shop.”

“Leave the shop?” Gu Pingyuan looked up in shock.

“Yes, leave the shop! That Master Li is targeting you. If you leave, he’ll have no reason to continue targeting Wanyuan Pawnshop. Taking a step back, at least we won’t become the target of all pawnshops, and we’ll have time to slowly devise countermeasures.”

Gu Pingyuan’s mind was in chaos. Though leaving the shop was simple, departing in such utter defeat would certainly not be forgiven by Wang Tiangui. Currently, both Chang Si’s father and himself could preserve their lives only because Wang Tiangui found him useful. Once usefulness became uselessness, Gu Pingyuan was certain that given Wang Tiangui’s vicious nature, he probably wouldn’t let him live another day. Moreover, with Chang Si’s father in prison, he was even more at others’ mercy.

“No, I absolutely cannot leave the shop!” Gu Pingyuan pressed his hand on the table and stood up, looking at Zhu Sheng.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to leave whether you want to or not, unless you’re willing to go across the street and bow your head to beg.” Zhu Sheng was also good at reading people—he’d long seen that though Gu Pingyuan wasn’t the type to stubbornly stick to one path, that Master Li across the street was definitely someone he could never bow his head to.

Just thinking about submitting to Li Qin, admitting fault, even opening his mouth to beg for mercy, made Gu Pingyuan feel indignant beyond measure, as if an invisible large hand was repeatedly clenching his heart. Feeling the room was truly stifling, he walked out and slowly came to the front counter.

“Fourth Shopkeeper.” The clerks originally had nothing to do, standing around listlessly in twos and threes. Seeing Gu Pingyuan emerge, they all straightened up and looked at him with earnest gazes.

Gu Pingyuan slowly looked left and right, feeling that those gazes directed at him were unbearably heavy. Zhu Sheng was right—if he remained at Wanyuan Pawnshop, Li Qin would never let up, and these clerks would only end up going home to drink the northwest wind. Zhu Sheng, burdened by family responsibilities and having opium-addicted descendants, would face an even more uncertain end. But if he left the pawnshop, Chang Si’s father’s life couldn’t be preserved, and moreover, no one could say whether that Li Qin would truly stop there and spare Wanyuan Pawnshop.

Unconsciously, Gu Pingyuan walked to the doorway and looked toward Xiangyun Pawnshop across the street. The opposite side still bustled with business, and today’s trade was exceptionally good—large and small bundles were being carried into the pawnshop in an almost unbroken stream, in stark contrast to the cold, deserted storefront on this side.

Li Qin stood under the long eaves extending from the pawnshop, playing with a carved spring-water jade piece just collected. Raising his eyes to see Gu Pingyuan across the street, he met his gaze, then smiled with arrogant composure, extending one hand and beckoning him like calling a dog, then raised an index finger pointing to the ground before him.

“This boy is going too far!” All of Wanyuan Pawnshop’s clerks saw this scene and felt indignant. Jin Hu, who had always been close to Gu Pingyuan, was so angry he trembled, rolling up his sleeves to rush out, when suddenly a hand pressed on his shoulder. Jin Hu turned back to see Zhu Sheng standing silently behind him, his eyes looking toward Gu Pingyuan by the door.

Gu Pingyuan remained motionless, as if he hadn’t seen Li Qin’s expression and gestures. He knew he was once again caught in a dilemma—advance and die physically, retreat and die spiritually. He couldn’t help but recall Abbot Hongjing’s words at Wubian Temple: “Benefactor, this life is full of karmic entanglements, hardships difficult to understand. Those before and behind you all suffer because of you, difficult to meet good ends.” Could he truly be fated as a lone star bringing misfortune, so that anyone who approached him would meet ill fortune?

Perhaps he should go to Li Qin and make a request, asking him to close the gate pawnshops—enduring this momentary humiliation could bring lasting peace. As soon as this thought arose in Gu Pingyuan’s mind, he violently rejected it. No! Li Qin must be backed by Zhang Guangfa—this pair of treacherous villains were the cause of his ill-fated destiny. If he had to bow his head even to these two and endure their humiliation, then he truly didn’t know what purpose there was in living.

Gu Pingyuan’s heart underwent several rounds of internal struggle, his resolve hardening one moment, then softening the next out of consideration for others. At this time, everyone from both pawnshops was watching him either openly or covertly. After much thought, Gu Pingyuan stood with clenched fists for quite some time, his nails unconsciously digging deep into his flesh. Finally, he stamped his foot hard, gritted his teeth, and for the sake of Chang Si’s father and the clerks behind him, resolved to bear the greatest humiliation of his life.

His foot moved slightly—he was about to step out. Jin Hu, watching clearly from behind, immediately had tears streaming down as he turned away, unable to bear watching anymore. Shopkeeper Ding and the other clerks also unanimously looked away, all with extremely ugly expressions. Only Zhu Sheng continued watching Gu Pingyuan expressionlessly, but in terms of the pain in his eyes, no one could match him.

Seeing Gu Pingyuan lift his foot, Li Qin felt wild joy in his heart. What he’d schemed for was precisely to make Gu Pingyuan bow his head before him. What he’d always resented was that a convict actually didn’t regard a young master like himself with respect, even having an arrogant look in his eyes that seemed to rise above his own.

“How dare a poor boy like you have such an expression?” Every time Li Qin saw Gu Pingyuan, he wanted to say this harshly. Especially remembering the serious, weighty manner Su Zixuan had when speaking of Gu Pingyuan, Li Qin became even more furious, so he had to vindicate himself by forcing Gu Pingyuan to submit to him in business, kowtowing and bowing, willingly saying: “I’m not as good as you!”

Seeing his beautiful dream about to come true—as soon as Gu Pingyuan walked over, it would be the most triumphant moment of his life—Li Qin leaned back, smugly waiting to watch a good show.

“Brother Gu!” Just at this moment, as Gu Pingyuan was about to take that step, a gentle, sweet voice sounded nearby.

Gu Pingyuan had already resolved to sacrifice himself for others when he suddenly heard this call. Looking sideways, he saw it was indeed Chang Yu’er.

“Miss Chang…” Gu Pingyuan smiled bitterly in his heart—the last time he’d been humiliated, Chang Yu’er had witnessed it, and now by pure coincidence she’d come again. Heaven truly knew how to toy with people.

Chang Yu’er didn’t yet know what had happened, only feeling that the people on both sides of the street had strange expressions, weren’t conducting business, and were all looking at her and Gu Pingyuan. Feeling quite uncomfortable, she curtsied slightly and said to Gu Pingyuan: “Brother Gu, I’d like to pawn some things at your pawnshop.”

“Oh, what would you like to pawn?” Gu Pingyuan’s mind was elsewhere as he asked casually.

Chang Yu’er extended her hand, revealing two small golden pearls in her red and white palm, round and adorable.

“These are my mother’s relics. Originally I planned to keep them to make earrings, but this year marks the tenth anniversary of her passing. I want to go to Wubian Temple to have monks chant sutras for my mother, so I must pawn these golden pearls first.” Chang Yu’er spoke the truth, but there was another sentence she didn’t say. She’d also heard at the Wang residence that business at Gu Pingyuan’s Wanyuan Pawnshop was poor, with hardly any customers. Her heart went out to Gu Pingyuan, and though she knew her strength was limited, she wanted to do her part to help him.

Gu Pingyuan could see that Chang Yu’er was actually reluctant to part with the pearl pair. After thinking, he said: “If it’s not urgent, wait a few days for me to gather some money, and you won’t need to pawn these pearls.”

Chang Yu’er shook her head: “Today is the fourth day of the fourth month, Manjusri Bodhisattva’s birthday. The ritual must be performed on this day to be most efficacious. Look, everywhere today there are common people going to pawnshops to pawn things—they’re all going to Wubian Temple to offer incense.”

“Oh, so that’s it.” Gu Pingyuan nodded with sudden understanding. He’d noticed earlier that the opposite pawnshop’s business was unusually good today—now there was this additional reason.

Seeing Gu Pingyuan, Chang Yu’er felt an indescribable sense of security and peace. Though under everyone’s gaze, she was reluctant to leave immediately. Seeing Gu Pingyuan staring blankly and absent-minded, she had to find more to say: “Brother Gu, you’re from another province and probably don’t know—our Shanxi is Buddha-land of Wutai, a place of monks and people. Even Emperor Shunzhi became a monk here. Moreover, our province has countless families engaged in commerce. Whether traveling merchants or shop operators, they naturally pray for heaven’s protection for safety and prosperity, so every household worships Bodhisattvas.”

“Mm, mm.” Hearing these words, Gu Pingyuan felt as if something in his mind had been lightly touched—he couldn’t grasp or feel it clearly, but it was like a life-saving straw he absolutely had to get hold of. His heart grew anxious, his back tingled with numbness, breaking out in cold sweat as he stared at Chang Yu’er, hoping she would say more.

Though he didn’t speak, Chang Yu’er could see he was interested in what she was saying, so she continued: “Wubian Temple outside the city is a thousand-year-old monastery, one of the most spiritually efficacious places of protection in the entire province—second only to Wutai Mountain. So whenever there are grand Buddhist ceremonies like consecrations and blessings, prayers for rain or clear weather, celestial offerings and universal Buddha rituals, releasing hungry ghost offerings, or water and land dharma assemblies, believers from throughout the province gather here. They can go without food, without clothes, but hearts cannot lack sincerity and Buddha cannot go without offerings—some even pawn their houses for disaster relief and blessings. Today is Manjusri Bodhisattva’s birthday, though the excitement is still moderate. Four days from now, on the eighth day of the fourth month, is the Buddha Bathing Festival, the birth of Tathagata Buddha. When that day comes, you’ll see—people going to pawnshops to pawn things to buy incense, candles, and offerings will probably break down the doors!”

Before Chang Yu’er finished speaking, Gu Pingyuan suddenly turned and strode into the pawnshop, startling her. Li Qin across the street had been sitting confidently, but seeing Gu Pingyuan speak a few words with a woman then return, he was greatly disappointed and frowned.

Manager Hu naturally had to flatter him, quickly saying: “Master, don’t worry. This fellow has to submit whether he wants to or not—it’s just a matter of time. I’ve worked in pawnshops for so many years and have never seen anyone understand customers’ thinking so thoroughly or conduct business so smoothly. As they say, ‘When an expert extends his hand, you know if he has skill.’ Now in all of Taigu’s pawnshops, who doesn’t know that though our master is new to pawning, he’s a natural great expert.”

Li Qin was tickled by these words, smiled with self-possession, and waved his hand with feigned modesty: “The pawnshop business depends on eye judgment—I’m just playing around.”

“Your playing around shows real skill—that’s what makes us decades-old managers feel ashamed! Once this matter is finished, we’ll strike while the iron is hot and crush all of Taigu’s pawnshops, then you’ll be the undisputed leader of the trade guild. Becoming guild president at such a young age—not just in Taigu, but in all of Shanxi, this has never been heard of!” Manager Hu feared Li Qin would really keep his promise and withdraw the gate pawnshops after Gu Pingyuan’s submission, abandoning such good business. So he used honeyed words to indirectly stoke Li Qin’s ambition.

Li Qin had originally intended to withdraw the gate pawnshops once Gu Pingyuan came to beg for mercy. As the eldest son of the capital’s wealthiest merchant, he didn’t care how much silver one pawnshop earned—it was just casual amusement. But hearing Manager Hu speak this way, his heart stirred. If he could easily become guild president of this Shanxi merchant stronghold’s pawnshop association through his own ability, this glory could be displayed before his father, sparing him from seeing fire in his eyes every time they met and constantly scolding about “Zhao Kuo and Ma Su.” Thinking this way, he changed his mind and nodded slightly.

Gu Pingyuan rushed into the shop like a whirlwind, grabbed the keys to the main warehouse, and ran inside without stopping. This Fourth Shopkeeper was sometimes refined and elegant like a scholar, sometimes frantic like a madman, leaving the pawnshop clerks stunned.

Zhu Sheng followed with Shopkeeper Ding and saw Gu Pingyuan open the warehouse door, throwing pawned goods down from above, creating a chaotic mess all over the floor. Shopkeeper Ding anxiously tried to stop him, but Zhu Sheng blocked him with his arm: “Wait! See what he’s doing.”

Gu Pingyuan rummaged around until his eyes suddenly brightened. He unwrapped a cloth bundle and took out five books, sat cross-legged on the ground, and opened one to read greedily. Shopkeeper Ding’s eyesight was good—he could see it was a Kangxi-era stone-carved edition of “Records of the Southern Dynasties.” He was even more confused: with such urgent matters at hand, why was this person rushing here to read books?

Gu Pingyuan carefully examined several pages, then looked up thoughtfully for a moment. Closing the book with a long sigh, his previously ashen face had regained its vitality.

“Do you have some idea?” Zhu Sheng, having observed most of it, walked over to ask.

Gu Pingyuan stood up and nodded: “Master, may I ask one favor of you?”

“Speak!”

“Could you entrust the pawnshop to me for a few days? That is, let me have full authority over business dealings, and no matter what, please don’t interfere.” Gu Pingyuan looked directly at Zhu Sheng.

Shopkeeper Ding was startled—this was a major business taboo, equivalent to Gu Pingyuan usurping Zhu Sheng’s authority. Moreover, being so vague about it, who could feel at ease? He stole a glance at Zhu Sheng, who showed no anger, his expression remaining normal, only lowering his brows in contemplation.

“I could entrust it to you, but you should at least say what business you plan to conduct.” Zhu Sheng’s request was perfectly reasonable—handing over such a large establishment without some concrete explanation wouldn’t make sense.

Unexpectedly, Gu Pingyuan hesitated, then spoke with difficulty: “‘If ministers are not discreet, they lose their positions; if rulers are not discreet, they lose their states.’ The situation is critical now, and I have only this one method to reverse the situation. If it leaks out, all will be lost. So please understand, Master!”

“You’re saying you have a way to reverse the situation and make Wanyuan Pawnshop’s business prosper again?” Zhu Sheng asked word by word.

“I don’t have complete certainty, but…” Gu Pingyuan hesitated, “To be honest, if I were to go bow and beg that Master Li, I’d only lose face. But what I’m about to do now stakes my very life—if I fail, I won’t be able to preserve this life.”

Both Zhu Sheng and Shopkeeper Ding were moved by these words. Though they didn’t understand the details, both could see from Gu Pingyuan’s expression that he spoke the truth.

“There’s one more thing—if this succeeds, not only will Wanyuan Pawnshop resume business, but I dare guarantee this business will surpass the gate pawnshops. This year’s ten-thousand-gold accounts will equal ten years’ worth of previous income!”

This claim was enormous! Not only did the clerks who had followed listen with gaping mouths, even Shopkeeper Ding looked incredulous. Just as Shopkeeper Ding was about to speak, Zhu Sheng suddenly stepped forward and removed a small seal from his waist—the seal symbolizing the Master’s authority. He took Gu Pingyuan’s hand and placed the seal in his palm.

“Gu Pingyuan! I agree to your request. I only hope you’ll do as you say.”

Gu Pingyuan gripped the seal tightly, nodded, and said: “Master, just watch—this time I’ll take the pawnshop business province-wide!” After speaking, he turned to leave.

“Fourth Shopkeeper, take me along! At least you’ll have someone to run errands!” Jin Hu loved excitement and was already boiling with enthusiasm, eager to stay by Gu Pingyuan’s side to personally witness how he would turn the tide.

Gu Pingyuan looked at Zhu Sheng, who waved his hand: “No need to ask me—from this moment, everything in the pawnshop is up to you.”

Gu Pingyuan smiled at Jin Hu, delighting him so much he jumped three feet high and followed Gu Pingyuan out enthusiastically.

“Master, you’ve also eaten pawnshop rice your whole life. Pawnshop business has always been limited to one prefecture or county. No matter how good the reputation, who has ever seen customers traveling from afar to pawn things? Much less this talk of covering the entire province, or claiming one year equals ten years. What Gu Pingyuan said sounds like child’s play to me!” Shopkeeper Ding felt lost in clouds and fog, shaking his head repeatedly.

Zhu Sheng stood with hands behind his back, silent for a long time before finally saying: “Child’s play or serious drama—now we can only treat a dead horse as if it were alive. Since all of Taigu’s respectable business managers are helpless, let’s see if this madman manager can devise some unexpected strategy.”

Chang Yu’er had been waiting outside, occasionally peering into the pawnshop until Gu Pingyuan finally came out. Gu Pingyuan said apologetically: “Miss Chang, if you want to pawn something, please go into the shop to find a manager. I have urgent business and must go out—I can’t accompany you.”

Chang Yu’er looked at him and suddenly smiled for no apparent reason.

“Miss Chang, what are you smiling about?” Gu Pingyuan asked puzzledly.

“In just this short moment, you look like a completely different person. Earlier you looked so worrying, but now you’re radiant with spirit.”

“Is that so?” Hearing Chang Yu’er’s words, Gu Pingyuan couldn’t help but recall those two lines from “Liaofan’s Four Lessons”: “All of yesterday is like yesterday’s death; all of today is like today’s birth.” He couldn’t help but smile along with her.

“Brother Gu.” While Gu Pingyuan had been searching through pawned goods earlier, he’d gotten sweaty and disheveled. Chang Yu’er felt pity seeing this and mustered courage to offer her embroidered handkerchief: “Though spring has returned, the wind is still cool. After sweating, don’t stand in the open—be careful not to catch cold.”

Since leaving his hometown, Gu Pingyuan had received help from many people, but such gentle care and concern was rare to encounter. Holding the handkerchief still warm from a young woman’s body, his heart warmed, and smelling the fragrance from it—exactly the rose powder scent he’d bought that day—he was about to speak grateful words when he saw Jin Hu nearby suppressing laughter, making him somewhat embarrassed.

Chang Yu’er also felt quite embarrassed: “I’ll go pawn my things now. Brother Gu, take care.”

After Chang Yu’er entered the pawnshop, Gu Pingyuan crossed the street to stand before Li Qin. Li Qin remained half-reclining in his chair without moving. Manager Hu spoke for him: “Come to kowtow? Call out all your pawnshop people to kowtow publicly—that would show sincerity!”

Gu Pingyuan’s face showed neither anger nor the dejection of before, but carried a confident certainty: “Master Li, your fair-weather flag has flown long enough—it’s time for it to end. I’m putting my words here: no matter how completely your gate pawnshops block the road, I, Gu Pingyuan, will definitely break through for you to see. When that time comes, the one kneeling and kowtowing will probably be you!”

“What?” Li Qin hadn’t expected Gu Pingyuan to come over and say such things. Extremely angry, he laughed instead, looking back at Manager Hu: “Tell me, isn’t this ridiculous? This fellow must be either blind or heartless—can’t you see the current situation clearly? This Wanyuan Pawnshop’s lifeline is in my hands. Have you gone crazy with desperation?”

“Isn’t he the famous madman manager!” Manager Hu flattered his master mockingly.

The two laughed heartily while Gu Pingyuan’s eyes flashed with ruthless intensity as he spoke word by word: “You think you’ve strangled others’ lifeline? Let me tell you—I’ll soon make you have nowhere to turn!”

Gu Pingyuan’s voice was like a sharp blade forged from ice. Both Li Qin and Manager Hu felt their hearts chill involuntarily and unconsciously restrained their laughter.