As the year-end approached, the Leopard Gang was busier than ever. At all their major docks, ships came and went in endless streams, loading and unloading cargo, embarking and disembarking passengers—the activity was extraordinarily frequent.
After Xu Jiu’s marriage, he bought a grand mansion in the eastern district and relocated the main headquarters from the suburban county. He established the new headquarters near the capital’s largest dock where the Leopard Gang operated, making it convenient to travel between his home and the gang. Of course, this also included considerations for dividing and recording opposing factions… On the surface, he now commanded universal respect and could rally everyone with a single call. But secretly, Vice Gang Leader Chen Er was growing distant from him, the brothers in the branch headquarters controlled by Huo Ba harbored considerable resentment, the former old gang leader’s death due to his beloved daughter’s demise caused the old leader’s former subordinates to blame him, and at the same time, the gang’s elders were outwardly compliant but inwardly resistant.
On this day, Xu Jiu, Leng Liu, and Mei Shan were discussing in the main hall how to organize internal affairs when someone delivered a card, saying that Chief Steward Mo from Hongyu Cove had come to visit.
Xu Jiu took the card and looked at it, then quickly—
Leng Liu wore a mischievous grin. “Old Jiu, no matter how anxious you are, you don’t have a chance. Besides, you were able to marry Fu Tian’s daughter—isn’t your heart still restless? I see your wife treats you like heaven itself, whatever you say at home goes, you’re waited on like an official. Your wife isn’t like those rough women in my household who don’t like managing domestic affairs and are always running outside, always having to say something about gang matters before they’ll let me be. She doesn’t step outside the main gate or the inner gate, never asks about outside matters, and keeps your home organized perfectly comfortably—marrying a young lady from a prestigious family wouldn’t be better than this.”
Xu Jiu was dismissive of Leng Liu’s praise. “My mother-in-law also doesn’t interfere with my father-in-law’s gang business. I proposed marriage precisely because I heard she raised her daughter like a precious young lady. Women—they should either have real ability like Brother Mo, able to handle things independently, or obediently stay home bearing children and managing household affairs. What’s most feared is pretending to understand when they don’t, ruining a man’s important business. That woman last time at Administrator Yuan’s residence presumed to arrange Shiyi as someone’s concubine out of her own cleverness—that was shallow and ignorant thinking. If Administrator Yuan had intentions toward Shiyi, we wouldn’t need to offer her up ourselves. She thought all men are lustful and will take any pretty woman. Truly stupid. For my father-in-law’s sake, I let it go. As for Brother Mo, I, Xu Jiu, don’t have that fortune. You all shouldn’t make such jokes in front of Brother Mo anymore, lest we can’t even be brothers.”
Mei Shan stroked his beard. “What a pity. If Brother Mo were the gang leader’s wife, the gang leader would have wings added to a tiger—how could our Boat Gang’s great enterprise fail to succeed?”
Leng Liu also felt regretful. “Old Jiu, you coward, just snatch her directly, why pretend to be some sour gentleman.”
“Damn it, you say it’s easy. Not to mention her formidable abilities—she’s also the sworn third brother of Administrator Yuan and Young Master Jin. If I snatch her, our Leopard Gang would be completely wiped out.” Xu Jiu had actually considered it, but Mo Zi’s two sworn elder brothers were thorns, very difficult to provoke. “Forget it, you can’t have both fish and bear’s paw.”
At this moment, the person leading the way came to report that Chief Steward Mo was waiting in the outer hall. Only then did the three men stop talking and stand up with serious expressions.
“Brother Mo!” When Xu Jiu saw Mo Zi still wearing that same half-worn cotton robe, he teased, “Brother Mo, you’ve been promoted to Chief Steward—at Hongyu you’re now the one whose word counts—how is it you don’t even have proper clothes?”
“Whether steward or chief steward, it’s still the same at Hongyu. Why change appearance? It’s not like performing opera.” Mo Zi cupped her hands in greeting to the three men and sat down.
“How is it the same? Everyone knows the Chief Steward has full authority to make decisions, equivalent to speaking for the proprietor.” Xu Jiu still felt this was worth celebrating. “Today I’ll host—how about we celebrate for Brother Mo?”
The steward position was merely a spokesperson—handling small matters independently but necessarily reporting major matters to the proprietor. Qiu Sanniang had given her the title of steward but the authority of chief steward, but outsiders only saw the title. To Xu Jiu and the others, Mo Zi’s change from steward to chief steward meant she truly held power now.
Mo Zi declined. “Master Jiu’s kind intention—I appreciate it. If anyone should host, it should be me. However, I’ve come today with a matter to request Master Jiu’s help with. Another day, perhaps?”
“Oh? That’s fine—proper business comes first. Brother Mo, please speak freely.” Hearing that Mo Zi wanted to ask him for help, Xu Jiu’s spirits suddenly lifted. “I, Xu Jiu, owe Brother Mo quite a few favors—I’ve been worried about when I could repay them.”
“Last time, if it weren’t for Master Liu providing ships and people to help me, I wouldn’t have known what to do. Master Jiu always speaks of brotherhood—all this talk of owing favors and needing to repay them is too formal.” Mo Zi spoke skillfully. “I’m treating Master Jiu as a brother, which is why I’ve come boldly to your door.”
Xu Jiu laughed and apologized. “No offense, no offense—Xu Jiu apologizes to Brother Mo.”
Leng Liu waved his hands repeatedly. “How was that any help? Brother Mo spent quite a bit of silver, and the brothers in the gang received generous red envelopes. When they returned, they told me that Steward Mo from Hongyu was very generous—every single one of them wants to work for you.”
“Hongyu and the Leopard Gang will have plenty of opportunities to cooperate.” Mo Zi smiled, then suddenly exhaled deeply. “This matter is rather an imposition. If Master Jiu and Master Liu find it difficult, you need not agree.”
Xu Jiu and Leng Liu exchanged glances, then Xu Jiu spoke: “Brother Mo, the way you’re talking, we have no choice but to agree.”
“From what I know, the Leopard Gang previously had only one vice gang leader. Now besides Master Liu, there’s also Master Chen Er—two vice gang leaders?” Mo Zi had inquired thoroughly before coming.
“That’s correct. I won’t hide it from you, Brother Mo—Chen Er has been vice gang leader for a long time, but he fundamentally doesn’t accept me. Back then, he only bowed to me reluctantly due to the general situation. Since I became gang leader, the two branch halls he leads have been outwardly compliant but inwardly resistant to my orders, secretly engaging in suspicious activities and maintaining close contact with Huo Ba’s former followers. If it weren’t for the fact that I’ve only recently become gang leader, and with Huo Ba, Hu Tao, and the old gang leader dying one after another—it wouldn’t be appropriate to stir up more gang strife—I would have kicked him off the vice gang leader position long ago.” When Xu Jiu reached this point, he frowned heavily. “Why does Brother Mo suddenly bring up Chen Er?”
“Does Master Jiu know that my former proprietor is the Third Young Mistress of Prince Jing’s mansion?” What needed to be said had to be said—otherwise, why would anyone help?
“…Prince Jing’s mansion?” And a female proprietor! Xu Jiu was quite moved. “No wonder she could employ Brother Mo. I was also foolish—I should have thought of it earlier. To use a woman as steward, the proprietor would most likely be a woman. However, Prince Jing’s Third Young Master divorced two wives in succession—your proprietor really dared to marry him. Like you, quite unconventional.”
Mo Zi smiled, ignoring Xu Jiu’s indirect compliment, and continued: “Before she married in, Third Master Xiao already had a concubine. This concubine was originally Third Master’s maid, later taken as a concubine and bore him a son and daughter, naturally elevated to concubine status and greatly favored. My former proprietor never thought to compete for favor—she merely borrowed the Prince Jing mansion’s large temple for shelter so she could continue her business. Unexpectedly, this concubine’s appetite was too large, and she made several attempts to harm her, the legitimate wife. Last month, the concubine secretly informed the matriarch of the household about my female disguise and her outside business dealings, forcing her to dismiss me from the mansion and sell Hongyu.”
“How could a mere concubine know these things? Could it be that Brother Mo and your proprietor were careless and she discovered it?” Leng Liu interjected.
“She didn’t discover it herself. Rather, the jianghu faction behind her found out about me, which is why—” Mo Zi’s eyes narrowed.
“Jianghu faction?” Mei Shan, worthy of being resourceful, immediately guessed: “Brother Mo, are you saying this concubine and Chen Er are—?”
“She hides her backing very carefully. At first, we only knew she could direct some people outside, but after that, we couldn’t find the slightest trace of evidence. This time, to bring down my proprietor, she brought in outside people as witnesses, which happened to give me a lead to pursue. The person I sent told me that man entered the Leopard Hall.” That was also where Chen Er lived in the capital.
“So you suspect Chen Er is that concubine’s backing?” Xu Jiu’s eyes narrowed coldly.
“Chen Er, or someone under his command. However, I think Chen Er’s possibility is greater. Only he has the power to plant informants around you, or by virtue of his vice gang leader position, could easily know about my female disguise, Wangqiu Tower, and Hongyu.” Mo Zi’s female identity—since she didn’t deliberately hide it, had become an open secret. Moreover, the boat gang didn’t care about such things. The matter of Xu Jiu proposing marriage to her was known to almost everyone.
“What would Brother Mo have me do?” Xu Jiu’s gaze became somewhat fierce.
“First, is it Chen Er? Second, if it is Chen Er, what is his purpose in helping this woman? Could it be he wants to elevate her position in Prince Jing’s mansion so she’ll be useful to him in the future? If so, this matter isn’t simply about bringing down my former proprietor—it would also be dangerous for you, Master Jiu. I’m asking for Master Jiu’s help because this involves Leopard Gang affairs, so naturally I cannot act on my own. What I most hope for is that this is all a misunderstanding, that I’m overthinking.” Mo Zi’s tone was extremely soft. “Just as Master Jiu said, the gang leader position is newly held—it’s not appropriate to engage in further conflict. As long as it’s not a matter threatening lives, one should take the long view.”
“But what if it does threaten lives?” Xu Jiu stared at the ground as if asking himself.
Mo Zi, however, responded to this as if it were nonsense, with a cold smile: “If others don’t offend me, I won’t offend them. If others offend me, and moreover threaten my life, then it’s time for a major conflict to eliminate future troubles. Master Jiu, the legitimate and justifiable way to eliminate dissidents is mostly designed. I never provoked Jin Si, yet Jin Si dragged me out to utterly destroy me—such wrongful misfortune means I must bring trouble upon them in return.”
Mei Shan clapped his hands. “Master Jiu, did you hear? Those who are kind are bullied by others, those who are docile are ridden by others. When tolerance reaches a certain point, you must thoroughly resolve everything.”
Leng Liu asked: “Does Brother Mo have a good plan?”
Mo Zi stood up, preparing to leave. “Master Liu, wait until the matter is investigated clearly before asking me that—we can’t wrongly accuse innocent people.” They had retreated a step, but Jin Si advanced further, because some people don’t understand the principle that when each side takes a step back, the sea and sky become boundless.
Xu Jiu valued his reputation extremely highly. When Huo Ba wanted to put him to death, he still hadn’t thought of taking Huo Ba’s life, and now in handling Chen Er, he again had many concerns. Little did he know that if he didn’t deal with Chen Er now, Chen Er might have already laid a killing move.
“Master Jiu?” She saw Xu Jiu was still lost in thought.
Xu Jiu made a sound and came to his senses. “Brother Mo, rest assured—I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly.” This was no longer just Mo Zi’s concern.
Mo Zi thanked him.
Xu Jiu personally escorted her out, seeing that besides Zan Jin in the hall below, there was also an unfamiliar face. “Brother Mo has gained another assistant.”
Mo Zi smiled. “Master Jiu should say I’ve offended more and more people.”
The unfamiliar face was called Ding Gou, the same age as Zan Jin—a “professional enforcer.”
“Brother Mo has left Prince Jing’s mansion—who is your proprietor now?” The small talk they couldn’t have earlier, they had now.
“…” Yuan Cheng didn’t acknowledge being her proprietor, so she couldn’t say. “Master Jiu, if you receive news, please notify me as soon as possible.”
Xu Jiu agreed readily, not at all bothered by Mo Zi’s evasion.
Two days later, news arrived.