Chapter Thirteen: Surely Not Hanging from the Beam, Right?

Wang Youcheng stared at the swollen lump on his ankle, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted to Wang Fugui, “Father, why haven’t you arrested him and sent him to the authorities? He was wielding an axe with intent to kill!”

Wang Fugui glared fiercely at Wang Youcheng; his son was truly disgraceful.

According to the Ming Code, anyone who plots murder—the principal offender—shall be beheaded.

But the problem is, son, you’re still alive...

What happened between Gu Zhengchen and you doesn’t count as murder, at most it’s a “brawl.”

By law, anyone involved in a fight, or who injures another with an object, faces forty lashes if the injury is serious.

His ankle is bruised and swollen—clearly an injury.

Even if he were taken to the county office, it would only mean forty lashes. Watching Gu Zhengchen rubbing his fingers, damn, that hand looks red and swollen too. If he’s taken to the magistrate, son, you won’t escape those forty lashes either...

Gu Zhengchen calmly looked at the axe in his hand and explained, “I intended to go up the mountain to chop firewood and took the axe with me. Seems quite reasonable, right?”

Reasonable, my foot!

Wang Fugui cursed Gu Zhengchen silently in his heart. Everyone knows August is the season for gathering firewood, but now it’s late April, when the forest is lush and thick—what firewood are you chopping? Besides, your household still has plenty of firewood; there’s no need for you to cut more.

You’re deliberately provoking this!

Wang Fugui suddenly grew alarmed; for the first time, a look of apprehension appeared in his eyes.

All of this was part of Gu Zhengchen’s plan. He knew there would be a quarrel over the debt today, so he carried the axe with him. He may have even studied the laws carefully, knowing exactly how to inflict injury that would bring the lightest punishment!

Such terrifying cunning!

Is this the same Gu Zhengchen who once allowed the Wang family to bully him and, out of desperation, tried to drown himself?

His previous rigidity, weakness, and fear had suddenly vanished without a trace, as if he had become a different person—more flexible, tougher, and with no hint of fear in his eyes!

He seemed to be mocking them.

On what grounds?!

Wang Fugui looked steadily at the composed Gu Zhengchen, steadied his nerves, and said sternly, “Gu Juren, we have an agreement for seven days. If you can’t repay the debt today, then as agreed, you will work as a tenant laborer in my household to pay it off.”

Gu Zhengchen dropped the axe and pointed to the scattered copper coins on the ground. “Allow me to gather these coins and count them properly.”

Wang Youcheng shouted angrily, “Gu Zhengchen, are you trying to stall for time?”

“Silence!” Wang Fugui barked.

If it weren’t for your reckless actions, none of this would have happened!

***

Gu Zhengchen bent down and continued picking up the copper coins, each one a token of care and support from the neighbors of Dayan Village.

“Bold and exposed!” the secretary Yan Bin murmured in admiration.

County magistrate Li Yizhong nodded thoughtfully, watching Gu Zhengchen calmly gather the coins. He spoke softly, “This man is well-versed in the imperial laws. Though ruthless in his methods, he knows his limits, acts steadily and calmly. He is fit material for an official.”

Yan Bin nodded in agreement.

Had Gu Zhengchen been reckless and desperate, his injury wouldn’t have been a bruise but a cut. If the matter had escalated to the government offices, his punishment would not be forty lashes but eighty with a rod.

Eighty lashes—one might not die or be maimed, but would be bedridden for three months.

Gu Zhengchen was wisely avoiding the worst punishment.

Outside the fence, Zhang Shiping looked displeased and turned to Zhao Yaowen. “Gu Juren is naturally timid, weak, and incompetent. Zhao, you told me this, right? Why does he seem like a completely different person today?”

Zhao Yaowen felt awkward. As Zhao Ya’er’s elder brother, he often spoke ill of Gu Zhengchen, summarizing him in one phrase:

Gu Zhengchen is hopeless and unworthy of my sister.

His Adam’s apple moved as he said, “He was indeed timid in the past; otherwise, he wouldn’t have tried to drown himself. Even if he has changed, he can never repay this debt. Once he becomes a tenant in the Wang household, it will be impossible for him to do anything further.”

Zhang Shiping nodded slightly.

That was true. The Hongwu Emperor had little faith in the scholars who passed the imperial exams and no longer selected officials from the exam graduates of the fifth year of the Hongwu reign.

Scholars could only enter officialdom through recommendations by tutors or county magistrates.

But recommendations were no trivial matter. According to court regulations, if the selection was improper, if sycophants were not removed, if powerful clans interfered, if corrupt clerks were negligent, and if the people were left resentful and helpless, the authorities would investigate the charges and correct the recommendations.

This was the principle that “if the recommended person is unfit, the recommender bears the responsibility,” a rule established since the Han dynasty.

Some foolish and greedy officials disregarded this responsibility, since the benefits outweighed the risks. But County Magistrate Li Yi of Teng County and Tutor Xu Wenfeng were upright and honest, cautious in their duties, and would never vouch for someone incompetent and reckless.

Gu Zhengchen gathered all the copper coins and counted them, then looked at Wang Fugui. “This amounts to one guan, one qian, and fifteen wen.”

Wang Fugui’s face darkened. “Just this? That’s surely not enough.”

Wang Youcheng rested his hands on the shoulders of two servants, lifting his injured left foot off the ground, and shouted resentfully, “What, is that all?”

Gu Zhengchen lowered his head and remained silent.

Wang Youcheng urged the servants forward, jumped in front of Gu Zhengchen, and spoke in a low voice, “Gu Zhengchen, once you become a tenant in my household, just wait and see how I deal with you!”

Gu Zhengchen looked up at the triumphant Wang Youcheng, clasped his hands behind his back as if reaching for something.

***

Wang Youcheng saw this and recoiled in horror, shouting, “Stop him! Stop him!”

Gu Zhengchen shook his head at the frightened Wang Youcheng and said to Wang Fugui, “Let me go to my room to get the money.”

Wang Fugui’s gaze sharpened.

Get money?

Where would he have any money?

With a broken house like this, even tearing it down wouldn’t fetch that much!

“Father, he’s just stalling! Gu Zhengchen, if you keep delaying, you won’t be able to produce any money. Admit defeat early and become a tenant in my household!”

Wang Youcheng babbled incessantly.

Gu Zhengchen and Wang Fugui exchanged glances.

Wang Fugui sneered coldly, “Then I’ll wait right here and see how Gu Juren produces the money.”

Gu Zhengchen smiled faintly and turned to enter the room.

Bang.

The door closed, and all fell silent inside.

The crowd murmured among themselves.

Yan Sanjing was deeply worried, and the men, women, and children of Dayan Village looked on gloomily.

Aunt Zhang, seeing Zhao Ya’er fuming, whispered, “He definitely can’t come up with the money and is just stalling. Perhaps he’s resigned to his fate and is preparing to hang himself. Miss, listen—that sounds like a stool being kicked over... huh?!”

Wang Fugui heard the noise and hurriedly called for help to break down the door. Two servants ran up and were about to crash into the door, but it suddenly swung open. The two servants couldn’t stop in time and stumbled inside, falling heavily to the floor, groaning.

Gu Zhengchen stepped out from behind the door carefully avoiding the two on the ground, holding a bundle in his hands as he approached Wang Fugui. “Here are four guan, eight qian, and eighty-five wen. Adding the one guan, one qian, and fifteen wen here, the total is six guan.”

Wang Youcheng stared mockingly at the bundle in Gu Zhengchen’s hands. “Are you sure that’s copper coins and not stones?”

At this, the Wang family burst into laughter.

Gu Zhengchen didn’t even glance at Wang Youcheng. He stopped in front of Wang Fugui, raised his hand, and handed over the bundle. “From now on, the debt between the Gu family and the Wang family is fully settled!”