The families of Siyang were green with envy. From this moment on, the Zhang family was no longer mere merchants, they had an official in their family, backed by the imperial court.
Only then did Zhang Fangyuan host a grand three-day banquet, inviting all the merchants, scholars, and officials of Siyang to celebrate. The revelry was endless, the festivities nearly round-the-clock.
After the banquet, Zhang Fangyuan finally found time to gather close friends and family for a proper dinner.
Yu Mingda, who hadn't yet left Siyang, finally got to attend this feast.
"Zangzhu Prefecture is prosperous. Though it’s not as prestigious as the top three scholars who remain in the capital and enter the Hanlin Academy, your ranking is high. Being assigned to a wealthy prefecture for experience is excellent, your future prospects won’t be worse than those from the Hanlin."
Luo Yan, also in high spirits and having drunk plenty, lavished praise on Zhang Ruijin during the meal.
Yu Mingda, looking at the handsome new scholar, beamed. "You have a good eye, Luo Yan. If you hadn’t acted early, I’d have betrothed my daughter to him."
"You’re still young. The capital might not suit you yet. Once you’ve built a foundation, you can return."
Yu Mingda patted Zhang Ruijin’s hand. "Come, drink another cup with us old men."
Ruijin raised his cup respectfully.
Seeing the genuine fondness the two elders had for Ruijin, Zhang Fangyuan toasted them as well.
Yu Mingda, now thoroughly drunk, grabbed Zhang Fangyuan’s hand. "You’ve raised your children well. Very well."
"That scoundrel Huang Guan dared to embezzle under my nose using the salt monopoly. I’ve already reported this, it won’t be long before he’s reassigned. He’ll cough up every tael he extorted."
Zhang Fangyuan was surprised. He hadn’t expected Yu Mingda to take action. Had the Salt Commissioner been investigating all along, or had someone tipped him off?
Regardless, it was good news. Zhang Fangyuan raised another toast. "Your Excellency is truly just!"
Yu Mingda laughed heartily.
The banquet didn’t end until late.
While the Zhang family entertained an endless stream of guests, the Qin family wore themselves out trying to free Qin Zhong - to no avail.
"Your Honor, for the sake of our years of friendship, you can’t let Zhong be exiled! Xiangshui (Qin Xiangshui, the magistrate's concubine) only has this one brother."
"You still have the nerve to beg me?"
Huang Guan, faced with Qin Qi’s desperate pleas, was utterly disgusted. If not for warning the Qin family to prepare early, he wouldn’t have been caught by the Salt Commissioner.
It was fine if they’d all been corrupt together, but a subordinate taking more than his superior? No one would tolerate that.
Huang Guan spat, "Useless! A complete failure! I pinned my hopes on you two, and this is what happens? How do you expect me to intervene now? I don’t even know who to turn to myself!"
"What are you saying?"
Suppressing his rage, Huang Guan noted Qin Qi’s clueless expression, as if the man didn’t realize he, too, was a clay idol crossing a river, hardly able to save himself.
[泥菩萨过河自身难保 (ní púsà guò hé zìshēn nán bǎo): lit. a clay idol crossing a river can hardly save itself; fig. unable to save oneself, let alone others.]
Narrowing his eyes, Huang Guan suddenly softened his tone. "I know he’s your only son. I’ve watched him grow all these years. But with the Zhang family’s rise, no one can suppress them now."
Qin Qi quickly replied, "We’ve no energy left to fight the Zhang family. If only Zhong could be spared, I’d thank the heavens. Please, Your Honor, show mercy."
"Very well. For Xiangshui’s sake, I’ll try pulling strings. But greasing palms requires—"
Qin Qi understood immediately and presented a brocade box he’d brought. "Your Honor’s trouble is much appreciated!"
Huang Guan, pleased with the silver notes and gold nuggets inside, nodded. "Rest assured, I’ll handle this carefully."
Believing Huang Guan’s promise would turn the tide, Qin Qi waited anxiously. But even after Yu Mingda left the county, no news came from the magistrate. He hurried to inquire, only to find the office under new management, with no trace of Huang Guan or his family. They had vanished overnight.
An old servant who hadn’t left with them, after receiving a tip, revealed, "Master Qin, didn’t you know? Magistrate Huang was demoted by the court. He’s no longer Siyang’s magistrate."
Qin Qi was stunned. "Where did he go?"
"To some backwater in Lingnan as a deputy magistrate. Left in shame, sneaking out at night."
The old servant shook his head. "Probably fled quietly to avoid the merchants he’d crossed. Now that he’s lost power, how could he stay?"
Hearing this, Qin Qi realized the truth - Huang Guan had abandoned him. The shock was too much, and he fainted on the spot.
"Word is Huang Guan returned all the embezzled salt monopoly bribes to the merchants, except the Qin family’s share, which was confiscated. Huang Guan then swindled half of Qin Qi’s wealth before fleeing. Qin Qi lost both his son and his money, and now he’s bedridden from rage."
When the new magistrate took office, his first act was to clear out the prison. On the day Qin Zhong was exiled, Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He went to watch the spectacle, discussing the sordid affair.
"The Qin family and Huang Guan were in cahoots for years. This is their just deserts. But one thing puzzles me, how did Yu Mingda uncover Huang Guan’s corruption?"
Zhang Fangyuan said, "I only learned later. After the Salt Commissioner met with the merchants, he’d already made his decision. That same day, Huang Guan summoned Qin Zhong for a secret discussion."
"Merchants keeping tabs assumed Huang Guan had granted the monopoly to the Qins. Those who’d bribed Huang Guan to lobby the Salt Commissioner were furious, believing he’d deceived them. So they reported his extortion to Yu Mingda."
Zhang Fangyuan chuckled. "A twist of fate."
Xu He watched the Qin family wail as they bid farewell to the exiled. It was some justice for the people they’d oppressed over the years. As the procession faded into the distance, the clamor of the crowd quieted. The two didn’t follow.
Zhang Fangyuan gently pulled Xu He closer, taking his hands. "This matter is settled. After the autumn harvest, we’ll head to the salt fields to stock the shops. It’ll be busy again, so while we still have time, let’s return to the village."
Xu He squeezed his hand. "Alright."
Thank you for the chapter!!!
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