Chapter 15: Constable, you must be tired. Won’t you have a cup of tea before you go?

Su Wu first brought the cook, who knew nothing of culinary arts, back to his new home. He left her a few copper coins, telling her to go to the market herself to buy necessities and to get something to eat.

Then, the three of them headed back toward the yamen.

Halfway there, they saw a crowd gathered in front of a fairly large residence. There was a clamor of noise—clearly another civil dispute. As the scourge of evil in Yanggu County, Su Wu could hardly turn a blind eye, so he waded into the crowd. He figured it was likely a domestic squabble, and he needed to grasp the basics before intervening.

In the center of the crowd, an old man was stamping his feet and beating his chest at the gate, cursing loudly: "Meng Yulou, you husband-killing wretch! You hide inside, hoping to hoard my brother-in-law's vast fortune for yourself. Don't even think about it! I will stand guard here every single day; if even one valuable item leaves this house, I will never let you hear the end of it!"

Su Wu caught the first detail: an inheritance dispute. Suddenly, the name "Meng Yulou" struck a chord—it sounded strangely familiar.

The old man continued his tirade: "Don't think that just because my short-lived brother-in-law passed away, and his younger brother is only ten, that you can take the Yang family's estate. It belongs to the Yangs, and you, a woman who brings doom to her husbands, won't take a single cent!"

Su Wu pieced the relationships together. Putting the clues into context, he surmised that Meng Yulou was the wife of Yang Zongxi, a well-known local cloth merchant. Yang Zongxi had died? He must have, at a relatively young age, leaving no children behind. But he had left a ten-year-old brother, and this old man, the accuser, was the brother-in-law—likely the brother of Yang Zongxi’s first wife. The web of relationships was indeed complex.

The main issue was that Yang Zongxi had been wealthy; one look at the residence confirmed that this was no ordinary family. Logically, the old man had no right to inherit, but his desperate vitriol suggested he was merely trying to snatch a piece of the pie. Poor Yang Zongxi; with such a massive estate, no children, a ten-year-old brother, and a widow like Meng Yulou, he had essentially left a piece of prime meat for a pack of wolves.

The old man was still hurling insults: "If you dare to harbor a lover on the side, see if I don't beat you to death, you cheap slut..."

A flash of insight struck Su Wu. Why did this sound so familiar? A cloth merchant leaves a widow, a young and wealthy woman swimming in money, and all this happening in a place where Ximen Qing lived. Su Wu suddenly realized: wasn't this the very path to Ximen Qing’s rise to power? Wasn't Meng Yulou eventually swindled by Ximen Qing? Wasn't that exactly how Ximen Qing fed on the blood of others to become a local magnate?

The "scourge of evil," Su Wu, spoke up: "That man there, stop your brawling in the street! What kind of conduct is this?"

As the crowd turned to look, they realized it was Chief Constable Su of Yanggu County. They scrambled to clear a path. The old man immediately shut his mouth and bowed to Su Wu. "Greetings, Chief Constable Su."

"What is your name? Why are you creating such a scene here?" the Chief Constable asked.

"I am Zhang Si. I am only here to protect the inheritance of my late sister's family," Zhang Si replied smoothly.

"Is this the home of Master Yang?" Su Wu asked, though he already knew.

"Yes, indeed. It’s a tragedy—my brother-in-law passed away suddenly, leaving no children, only a young brother. If I don't guard this property, I fear it will fall into the hands of outsiders."

Zhang Si sounded so righteous. Su Wu glanced at the grand residence. No one had come out to respond; it seemed the people inside were simply overwhelmed by the old man's relentless abuse.

Su Wu looked at Zhang Si and said, "Your cursing is foul. A grown man acting like a shrew—it looks more like you are the one bullying others."

Zhang Si bowed hurriedly. "I wouldn't dare, sir. I wouldn't dare."

Suddenly, a child's voice piped up from the doorway: "Chief Constable, he *is* bullying us! He's bullying my sister-in-law because he wants money. She won't give it to him, so he keeps coming here to curse..."

Su Wu looked over to see a small head peeking out from the gate—a little boy, undoubtedly the ten-year-old brother of Yang Zongxi and Meng Yulou's brother-in-law.

Zhang Si immediately interjected: "Chief Constable, the boy is ignorant. He’s been completely hoodwinked by that husband-killer; he doesn't know who the good people are."

"Chief Constable, Uncle Zhang Si is the bad one. Sister-in-law is good," the boy insisted.

Su Wu looked around at the onlookers and said, "Everyone disperse. Since this matter has become so unsightly, I shall intervene. Zhang Si, come inside with me. We will settle this face-to-face."

"Ah?" Zhang Si was stunned.

"What? You are so kind-hearted and righteous—surely you don't mind settling this clearly so that there are no misunderstandings? Is there a problem?" Su Wu asked.

"No, no, no—very well, let's go inside and confront Meng Yulou directly," Zhang Si agreed.

With that, Su Wu, in his official robes, led Wu Song and Dong Jian into the residence. The little boy peeked out from behind the door, looking at Su Wu with curiosity.

Su Wu gestured with his hand. "Go on, invite your sister-in-law out. Tell her Chief Constable Su from the yamen is here."

"Oh, I know you! You’re the one who killed the tiger on Jingyang Ridge. Everyone says you're a hero. Sister-in-law won't be afraid now. You go sit in the hall, I'll go call her." The boy was indeed sharp and clever; his words made Su Wu feel quite accomplished.

They took their seats in the hall, while Zhang Si stood to one side. After a moment, a woman walked in with graceful, rhythmic steps. As the stories describe:

*She had a slender frame, as if carved from jade; she was neither too plump nor too thin, neither too tall nor too short. Her face was lightly dusted with a few faint freckles, yet she was naturally beautiful. Beneath her skirt, a pair of golden lotus feet peeked out, dainty and pitiable. Two golden rings hung from her ears, and a double-headed phoenix hairpin was tucked into her hair. As she walked, her jade ornaments chimed; as she sat, a scent of musk and orchid filled the air. She was like Chang'e descending from the Moon Palace, or a goddess stepping down from the jade terrace.*

Su Wu looked at her and felt that Meng Yulou possessed a dignified and majestic air.

"Greetings, Chief Constable Su. Greetings, Uncle Zhang Si," Meng Yulou said with a curtsy.

Zhang Si immediately spoke up: "Chief Constable, you’ve seen it for yourself. Such a vast estate, and inside, besides a few servants, there is only this child and her. There are cloth shops and dye houses outside. How could I not be concerned? If one is not careful, who knows whose hands this wealth will fall into?"

Su Wu looked at Meng Yulou, who merely bowed her head. "Why must Uncle Zhang Si be so cruel?"

The matter was simple. Su Wu looked around and suddenly shouted, "Zhang Si!"

"I am here, sir," Zhang Si trembled.

"How much money will it take for you to stop coming here to act like a shrew and curse?" Su Wu asked directly.

"Ah? I... I..."

"Speak plainly. We are not on the street, and there are no outsiders here. You go to a lot of trouble to come and curse every day; wouldn't it be easier if I just helped you get the money?"

Su Wu turned to Meng Yulou and asked, "How much did he ask for last time?"

Meng Yulou replied, "In response to the Chief Constable, four hundred strings of cash."

Su Wu stood up from his seat. "You old man, you have quite an appetite! Do you need that much money to buy a coffin? No matter what the Yang family is, what does it have to do with you, the brother-in-law of a former wife? If you were the brother of her late husband, that would be one thing, but you aren't—and the Yang family still has its own heirs. For you to ask for such an exorbitant amount is nothing but bullying!"

"This... this... I was only trying to frighten them, sir. I didn't want this woman to trick her brother-in-law and ruin the family business," Zhang Si stammered.

Su Wu glanced at the clever boy standing behind Meng Yulou and said, "How about this? You want money to be content, and your sister did marry into the Yang family. I will set a number; see if it works for you."

"Let's hear it, Chief Constable..." Zhang Si’s face brightened; he was finally going to get some money.

"Fifty strings of cash. That is enough for you to save for several years. From now on, do not come here to bully the widow and the child." Su Wu wanted to resolve this matter through reasonable, legal, and fair means.

Su Wu asked Meng Yulou, "What do you think?"

Meng Yulou didn't dare look at Su Wu for too long, but she nodded. "As long as Uncle Zhang Si leaves my brother-in-law and me alone, fifty strings of cash it is..."

Zhang Si’s joy faded slightly. Fifty strings was a lot, but it was nowhere near the amount he had dreamed of. The Yang family fortune was hardly a pittance.

"What? Are you unwilling?" The Chief Constable’s face darkened.

"Chief Constable, could you add a little more? I would be eternally grateful. If you add a bit more, I will surely show my appreciation," Zhang Si said, cupping his hands.

"Zhang Si! You are bold! Truly, your greed knows no bounds. Who do you think I, Su Wu, am? Does anyone in the county not know that I am a man of justice? You dare to try and bribe me? I think even fifty strings is too much. Today, you either take the money and leave, or I will have you thrown into the dungeon. Choose."

For a scoundrel like this, one had to be firm. Zhang Si looked at Su Wu’s angry expression, and his face turned pale. This Chief Constable was a man of great reputation lately—not only had he killed the tiger on Jingyang Ridge, but the word on the street today was that even the younger brother of the Military Advisor Yun had been beaten until his backside was a bloody mess...

Zhang Si nodded repeatedly, terrified. "Fifty strings is enough, quite enough. Thank you, Chief Constable."

Chief Constable Su looked around. "Bring the money. We will witness the exchange, and you will sign a document with your thumbprint. If this happens again, there will be no leniency."

Zhang Si wore a bitter expression but didn't dare say another word, nor did he dare look at Su Wu. Meng Yulou stood up, patted her brother-in-law on the shoulder, and curtsied. "Thank you, Chief Constable."

The boy came forward and bowed as well. "I knew Chief Constable Su was a good man. Sister-in-law won't be afraid anymore."

Su Wu smiled. "Go get the money, and bring paper and ink."

The two parties exchanged the money and signed the document. Zhang Si took the cash, and his bitterness faded into joy again—it was still a large sum of money, and once it was in his hands, it was his. He hurried away.

Su Wu stood up. "Mistress Meng, we shall take our leave. If anything like this happens again, just send someone to report it to the yamen."

Meng Yulou curtsied and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Chief Constable. Would you like to stay for a cup of tea?"

"Yes, have some tea," the little boy added happily.