Chapter 35: Master Huang the Sixth

Deep within the county seat, behind the Fuding Pavilion, the night was dark and windless. It was well past midnight, and the entire town lay in absolute silence, save for the rhythmic, rustling whisper of bamboo swaying in the breeze.

A furtive figure, shielded by the sound of the bamboo, slipped in through the back gate without making a ripple. The intruder skillfully bypassed the watchdog and the patrolling servants, showing no interest in the fine porcelain, painted screens, or jeweled incense burners they passed. Instead, walking on tiptoe, the person went straight to the room occupied by Master Huang, the proprietor of the Fuding Pavilion, and tapped lightly on the window.

"Knock-knock... knock-knock-knock... knock-knock..."

Following this two-three-two rhythm, the door creaked open after a few repetitions. A thin sliver of moonlight bled through the gap in the latticework, diluting the stagnant darkness and providing the only cold illumination in the room, barely revealing the faces of the two men.

Master Huang, a stout man with a gentle smile on his face, dressed in simple loungewear, showed no hint of displeasure at being disturbed in the middle of the night. On the contrary, with a look of fawning deference, he welcomed the visitor inside and gently pulled the door shut.

Anyone entering the Fuding Pavilion's backyard at this hour without prior notice was certainly no stranger. Once inside the study, a small candle was lit, casting flickering shadows. Master Huang spoke warmly, "I wonder what urgent matter has brought Brother Luer out so late. The road cannot have been easy."

"When you leave later, come with me to the wine cellar for a few cups of this year’s new brew to warm yourself up, and take a jar back with you."

Such heartwarming words made the exhaustion on the face of Huang Luer, who had traveled through the dust and night, fade by more than half. He couldn't help but think to himself, *Master Huang is truly Master Huang. Among all the gentlemen of the Huang family, this one is the most adept at handling people. No wonder he, a child of a concubine’s line, managed to build the Fuding Pavilion into such an enterprise without any family backing!*

As a trusted servant of County Magistrate Huang, Huang Luer knew his place and understood the boundaries of propriety. He bowed respectfully and replied urgently, "I appreciate your kindness, Master. But tonight is a matter of urgency; Third Master is waiting for my report, so I truly dare not delay."

Upon hearing Huang Luer—a man known for his love of drink—refuse the offer with such a serious tone, Master Huang’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart skipped a beat. County Magistrate Huang was his cousin, once removed, and ranked third among the direct descendants of the Huang clan, hence the title "Third Master." Master Huang himself was not actually the sixth in line; because there were only five direct descendants in that generation, he had simply adopted the title "Old Six" after he rose to prominence and paid a heavy price to be accepted into the family’s inner circle.

Master Huang understood well that their relationship was, at best, a partnership. Merchants, no matter how wealthy, held low social status; he only attached himself to the clan’s name to make things easier in the public eye. Over the years, he had gained many business advantages through this connection, but as for genuine affection, it simply did not exist.

Tonight, the most powerful man in the Huang clan had sent his trusted servant to deliver a message in the dead of night. It was clearly a difficult task—one that could not be handled through official channels, necessitating the use of a merchant's influence. Over the past few years, Master Huang’s business had flourished, relying not just on his acumen but also on his connections in the shadows. Without the Magistrate's protection, his business would never have run so smoothly. Even though the Fuding Pavilion was the largest tavern in Yongshun County, to maintain its prosperity, he had to align himself with the authorities. Therefore, no matter how difficult the task, he had to accept it, execute it with all his might, and do it with flair.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, and his smile deepened. Though he did not know the task, if he could complete it successfully, it would be a significant debt of gratitude owed to him. "Thanks to Third Brother’s long-standing protection, I will do my utmost, whether for public or private matters," he declared firmly.

It was a perfectly calculated response. By mentioning that he was repaying a favor, and adding "whether for public or private," he made it clear he would even handle illicit affairs. Though he did not guarantee success, he projected an attitude of total commitment. In twenty characters, he had pulled the relationship closer, lowered his own status, offered a verbal favor, and hinted at a trade of interests.

Hearing this, Huang Luer finally relaxed and smiled. "With your word, Master, I can report back. Actually, it is not a difficult matter. You simply need to lead the shopkeepers and owners of the various firms in town to the county office to voice their grievances."

Master Huang’s hands, hidden in his sleeves, trembled slightly, and the smile on his lips froze. Not only did he have to go to the office to cause trouble, but he had to lead the charge. This was a trap that would ruin him!

Huang Luer, having long practiced the art of reading faces, saw the change and quickly explained, "Today at the office, Third Master heard rumors that the damned Magistrate has gone mad. He wants to force all the county's merchants to donate money and grain for road repairs."

"You know how these 'donations' work, don't you, Master? If Magistrate Wang succeeds, who do you think will suffer the most? Shouldn't they voice their complaints?"

Master Huang, usually composed, felt his mind reel at the Magistrate's foolish move. He cursed aloud, "How shameless! How utterly devoid of conscience!"

"That dog of a magistrate always uses the pretext of public welfare to obsess over repairing official roads. I thought he was a good official, but it turns out it was just an excuse to scrape the fat and blood from the people. He is nothing but a corrupt and lawless scoundrel!"

"How many riots have these 'donations' caused in the past? Does the man not understand that?" In neighboring counties, such levies had caused massive public backlash. After several physical confrontations between the officials and the people, the government had finally backed down and hadn't mentioned such levies for years.

What Master Huang feared most was not the money he would have to pay, but that if the Magistrate were truly pushed to desperation by his greed, he would send his underlings to harass every business. The merchants of the entire county would be thoroughly fleeced. The official quota for the levy was fixed, but the greed of the underlings was bottomless. By the time it was over, Yongshun County would be in ruins, and it would take years to recover. If the entire county’s economy suffered, the Fuding Pavilion would be no exception.

That was the most terrifying consequence of all.

Suppressing his resentment toward the Magistrate’s schemes, he turned to Huang Luer. "Go back and tell my Third Brother that we are family; his business is my business. Forget just voicing grievances—if that dog of a magistrate insists on having his way, we can stir up the rabble to cause a real scene. I don't believe that with the Magistrate's protection above and the unity of the merchants below, we cannot defeat one foolish official!"

With Master Huang's assurance, Huang Luer left with a smile. Back in the study, Master Huang had regained his composure. A servant brought him a cup of hot tea, and he inhaled deeply, losing himself in the fragrant steam as he began to meticulously plan the details. After a long period of reflection, he summoned a trusted aide and gave him low, whispered instructions.

...

At the Huating Academy, neither He Qingxuan nor Ye Chongwen had been having a pleasant time lately.

Whenever they thought of Master Ye and Chen Ping laboring over the massive task of repairing the official roads, while they—as Chen Ping’s classmates and Master Ye’s juniors—were stuck in this corner of the academy, unable to help in the slightest, they felt profoundly frustrated. Ye Chongwen, in particular, was slumped over, looking completely dejected. He Qingxuan held a book, but his thoughts had drifted elsewhere.

Just as the two sat back-to-back, lost in their separate anxieties, the academy porter ran over, holding two letters.

"He Qingxuan, Ye Chongwen! Letters for you!"