Chapter Seven: Repaying Resentment with Honesty (Part One)
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Hu Sheng felt somewhat troubled. Since there was an IOU, repaying the debt was only right and proper. But Li Daqi had gone to the county seat—how was the money to be recovered?
“Steward Liu, Daqi has gone to the county seat. Please come back another day,” Hu Sheng said.
Liu Chenghong gave a sinister smile. “I know he’s dodging debts. I could come back another day too, but today my dog died, and that complicates things. Here’s the deal: Hu, be my guarantor. This dog is worth thirty guan; add the fifty guan IOU, that’s eighty guan. If Li Daqi doesn’t pay, you’ll pay for him.”
Hearing such blatant bullying, Li Yanqing’s anger flared. He stepped forward and said, “Uncle Hu, don’t listen to his nonsense. That IOU was forced out of my father by violence. It’s supposedly for medical expenses because the big black dog bit his son, but the dog never bit anyone. This is a clear extortion of my father. I absolutely refuse to acknowledge it. As for the dog, it trespassed on private property—its death is deserved!”
Liu Chenghong’s beady eyes widened. “You little bastard, how dare you slander me? I’ll teach you a lesson!”
Hu Sheng put an arm around Li Yanqing’s shoulder, straightening his burly frame to face Liu sternly. “I won’t act as your guarantor, but Daqi entrusted his son to me. Today, I forbid you to lay a finger on him.”
Liu Chenghong found himself in a difficult spot, unable to leave or stay gracefully. Just then, a breathless servant arrived, clasping his fists respectfully. “Chief steward, the offerings have arrived. The master says you must return immediately.”
Seizing the opportunity to back down, Liu bared his teeth and glared viciously at Li Yanqing. “Once the ceremonies are done, I’ll find your father at the county seat. You brat, keep your defiance. I’ll drag your father back to settle this debt. It’s all black on white; even if he sues, it’s useless. Prepare for mourning your dog in straw robes!”
“We’re leaving!”
Liu turned and left, four servants hurried to clean up the dog’s corpse, trailing behind their master with tails between their legs.
Hu Sheng’s brow furrowed with worry. He understood the world well: with such a weapon as the IOU in Liu Chenghong’s hands, Daqi was truly in serious trouble this time.
…
Nightfall found Li Yanqing sitting cross-legged by a dirt pit, clutching Big Black tightly. His eyes shone brightly in the darkness. Time was short, and there was no turning back. Only by striking back could he survive.
An idea that had arisen in the ancestral hall during the day was gradually taking shape into a plan. He needed to strategize carefully, refine every detail, leave no room for error.
Li Yanqing closed his eyes slowly. Liu Chenghong’s attempt to reason with Uncle Hu today had enlightened him: in this world of survival of the fittest, if you want the wicked to listen to reason, your fists must be harder and fiercer than theirs.
Reading alone wouldn’t suffice. After this was over, he would find time to train his fists as well.
…
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The next noon, Li Yanqing returned to the ancestral hall but did not enter. Instead, he climbed a large cypress tree to observe inside. The hall, quiet and desolate yesterday, was unusually lively today.
The courtyard was piled with all kinds of boxes and cages. Over a dozen clan members bustled about inside the courtyard and main hall. Some swept and sprinkled water, others arranged offering tables and placed sacrifices, and a few spread out carpets.
Li Daguang stood at the doorway feigning to help, but his gaze was fixed on two jars of fine wine in the yard. It was Gao’s Shaojiu, the most famous liquor in Xiangzhou! The aroma seeped through the clay lids, piercing his nostrils and stirring his heart, almost making him forget tomorrow’s clan ritual.
A young clansman teased Li Daguang with a smile, “Fourth Uncle, no mice will steal the wine tonight, right?”
“Heh, of course not!”
Li Daguang struck a serene, immortal-like pose, waving a hand. “Over all these years, nothing’s ever gone wrong. Tonight, I’ll sleep in the main hall myself. Let’s see who dares steal.”
The young men laughed heartily. “There’s always trouble, just that the clan chief never makes a fuss.”
Heat rose to Li Daguang’s face, forcing a few awkward chuckles.
Just then, a stern-faced middle-aged man emerged from the main hall. Everyone lowered their heads, no longer joking. This was Li Wengui, the third younger brother of clan chief Li Wenyou, who had full charge of this ceremony.
He asked Li Daguang, “Fourth Brother, was there any disturbance in the main hall last night?”
Li Daguang hurriedly smiled, “Nothing unusual, Third Brother, rest assured!”
Li Wengui glanced back at the rosewood memorial tablet on the altar and reminded him, “Daguang, you know how important that tablet is to our family. If it weren’t for the precise timing required to invite it out, we wouldn’t have taken it out this early. Watch carefully. If you think you can’t handle it alone, I’ll send two young men to keep watch with you tonight. Nothing must go wrong.”
“No need at all!”
Li Daguang patted his chest. “If the clan chief entrusted it to me, he trusts me. Besides, I’ve watched it before. Third Brother, you can rest easy.”
Li Wengui had intended to send two youths but, seeing Li Daguang invoke the chief’s authority, had no grounds to object and nodded. “If that’s the case, it’s yours. No drinking, understand?”
“I promise not a drop tonight!”
Li Wengui then told the clan members in the yard, “I’m heading to the county seat to buy some things. I might not be back until the ceremony starts. Work hard and finish early. I’ll tell the clan chief to reward each of you two guan.”
The promise of reward spurred everyone to greater effort.
…
Li Yanqing did not leave immediately but patiently waited in the tree. He trusted his instincts: those three little rascals would come.
After a while, he saw the three scoundrels sneak along a narrow path toward the ancestral hall. They took the same route as yesterday. Near the creek was a thicket of shrubs from which they could spy on the courtyard.
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The three hid in the bushes, peering into the courtyard. Liu Fuer suddenly pointed excitedly, “I see it—the red food cage with all the snacks inside.”
“Shh! Quiet, Third Uncle’s in the yard. Don’t let him see us.”
“Who cares!” Liu Fuer gritted his teeth. “As long as we’re not caught, what can he do to us?”
“I’m just worried he’ll take all the snacks and ruin our plan.”
“That’s true. So what do you suggest?”
“We’ll come tonight. My father says that drunkard will be asleep after drinking, so we’ll move once he’s out cold.”
They whispered a few more words before retracing their steps, unaware that a cold-smiling boy was watching from a tree above.
…
At dusk, Li Yanqing reappeared on the cypress tree, waiting for the right moment to enter the hall. Soon, Li Daguang came out, locked the main gate, and cheerfully headed toward town carrying a food box.
Though the ancestral hall’s door was locked, it meant nothing to the children. Li Yanqing climbed a tree beside the wall and scaled over.
The main hall door was locked and the windows barred from inside. Li Yanqing ran to the backyard, recalling that a window there didn’t seem to be fastened. It was cluttered with dozens of tables, usually unnoticed.
The backyard was small, with only two rooms. This was Li Daguang’s living quarters. In a corner lay over a dozen empty wine jars. Three plum trees grew sparsely among them. The foundation stones were covered in slippery moss, showing signs of long neglect.
The back door of the main hall faced the yard but was permanently locked. The door, windows, and pillars were weathered and cracked, appearing shabby and worn.
Li Yanqing went to the innermost window. It was high, and his height wasn’t enough. Looking around, he saw only the pile of wine jars. He fetched a large jar, turned it upside down, and used it as a stepping stool.
Standing on the jar, he fumbled with the window, silently praying. With a creak, the old window opened—it wasn’t locked. Overjoyed, Li Yanqing leapt inside through the window.