Chapter 48: Liu Gang, the Man of Wang Cuihua

Li Yuanjing stepped outside and saw a man leaning weakly and tiredly against the wall. His cotton coat was much cleaner and tidier than those worn by ordinary villagers. As soon as he saw Li Yuanjing, the man became desperate, his eyes red as he rushed forward and fell to his knees with a thud, knocking his head on the ground over and over.

“Scholar Li, killing someone is just a matter of striking their head to the ground. I’ve kowtowed to you, please, spare Cuihua. She can’t hold on any longer, she won’t survive, I beg you…”

It was Liu Gang, the husband of Wang Cuihua.

Zhang Kun thought Liu Gang might harm Li Yuanjing and blocked him with a newly purchased sharp hatchet.

This scene unfolded right where the women workers and housewives eating nearby could see. They all turned to watch, their eyes full of curiosity.

When they realized Liu Gang was pleading with Li Yuanjing, the women exchanged looks of schadenfreude. Even Zhang Lan, wife of Liu Ben—who was from the same clan as Liu Gang—sneered coldly, “That fool used to look down on our master, but now he’s here begging. Too late!”

Clearly, even Liu Gang’s own kin didn’t hold him and Wang Cuihua in high regard.

Li Yuanjing heard Zhang Lan’s mocking words but remained indifferent. He said, “Brother Liu Gang, you must know all about your wife Wang Cuihua’s troubles. She committed her offense with Hou Wu—I can’t help you even if I wanted to.”

Liu Gang’s despair deepened, and he knocked his head even more desperately. “Scholar Li, I know, I know it’s all that foolish woman’s fault. But she’s still my wife, the mother of my child, and we’re all from the same village…”

“Please, show mercy, spare her just this once. The children can’t be without their mother…”

Li Yuanjing looked at Liu Gang’s humiliating and painful posture with a hint of sympathy, but his resolve was unmoved.

That wretch Wang Cuihua dared to have designs on Yu Niang—Li Yuanjing was already merciful for not having her killed outright.

Now, Liu Gang thinks a few words will convince him to let Wang Cuihua go? He’s dreaming.

In truth, Li Yuanjing had always kept an eye on Wang Cuihua. She was currently detained in Pi Family Village, where Ma Huan and Master Ma were collecting autumn taxes. They wouldn’t release her until they had wrung every last asset out of Liu Gang.

Seeing Li Yuanjing remain unmoved, Liu Gang was crushed, but he had no other options and continued to kowtow desperately.

Beside him, Zhang Kun felt a pang of pity, but with Li Yuanjing’s cold demeanor, he could only sigh deeply and keep silent.

Who would dare plead for someone like Wang Cuihua, who had the audacity to covet Yu Niang?

Just as Li Yuanjing was about to leave and return to his meal, a thought struck him.

Liu Gang worked as a steward in Reed Village at the border between Yicheng County and Iron Ox Town, returning to Spring Village only every few days. He must have a good understanding of the terrain around Yellow Mud Hollow.

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This was the core reason Wang Cuihua could act so boldly in Spring Village! She was a matchmaker, her husband a small steward—not dependent on farming, so naturally, they looked down on the other villagers.

That was why even Zhang Lan, Liu Ben’s wife from the same clan, couldn’t stand their arrogance.

No doubt, Wang Cuihua and her husband often boasted in front of Zhang Lan and the others.

By now, Wang Cuihua was likely already dealt with, and given their personalities, even if they returned to Spring Village, what trouble could they stir up?

As the great leader once said: “Make many friends, have few enemies.”

After thinking for a moment, Li Yuanjing said, “Brother Liu Gang, you’re right—we are all villagers here. But can you guarantee that if I help your wife this time, she won’t cause me trouble again?”

“Eh?”

For a moment, not only did Liu Gang, nearly lost in despair, freeze, but Zhang Kun was stunned as well.

No one expected Li Yuanjing might show leniency to Liu Gang and Wang Cuihua…

Liu Gang was overjoyed and knocked his head even harder. “Scholar Li—no, Master Li—you have my solemn vow, I’ll never let that foolish woman trouble you again. If she dares, I’ll be the first to break her legs myself…”

“Alright, Brother Liu Gang, since you’ve said that, I’ll go with you to Pi Family Village. You haven’t eaten yet, right? Brother Zhang, go bring Liu Gang a bowl of food. Use a big bowl and give him plenty of dishes.”

Li Yuanjing called out to Zhang Kun and Zhang Hu, then turned and went back into the courtyard without another word.

“Waa…”

“Master Li, Master Li, your humble servant Liu Gang thanks you…”

Liu Gang never expected Li Yuanjing to be so magnanimous; he couldn’t hold back anymore and collapsed on the ground, sobbing like a child.

Yet the female workers and housewives watching nearby still felt no sympathy for him. Instead, they admired Li Yuanjing, praising his generosity.

At that moment, as Zhuzi’s sister recounted Li Yuanjing’s miraculous rescue in Iron Ox Town, the crowd of women erupted in excitement.

They looked toward Li Yuanjing in the courtyard, eating with Yu Niang, as if witnessing a miracle.

Who could have imagined Li Yuanjing possessed such extraordinary abilities?

Zhuzi’s sister, seeing their awe, grew even more proud and declared, “I told you, our master is the reincarnation of the God of Literature—a divine person beyond comprehension for ordinary folk like you.”

Amidst the women’s exclamations, Chen Chuxue bit her delicate red lips fiercely, as though making up her mind about something…

…

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After lunch with Yu Niang, Li Yuanjing summoned Zhang Kun, Zhuzi, Kui Zi, and a dozen sturdy young men. Armed with sticks, they set out for Pi Family Village, accompanied by Liu Gang’s tearful gratitude.

Earlier, Li Yuanjing had handed Zhao Zengjin a list to procure timber.

If all went well, tonight they could begin assembling a team to try their hand at boat-building.

Pi Family Village lay only twelve or thirteen li from Spring Village. Half the way was mountainous, but not too difficult.

Soon, Li Yuanjing and his group arrived.

Yet Pi Family Village was in even worse shape than Spring Village had been during autumn tax collection.

Spring Village was poor, but as a village of craftsmen, the people had some skills and could take odd jobs.

Pi Family Village, however, was a traditional farming settlement. Aside from planting crops, few had any trade—if they hired out, it was only for the dirtiest, hardest work.

This made the situation dire: more children and daughters sold off, even wives being sold. It was a sight too bleak to bear.

By now, Li Yuanjing was no longer the man he once was.

He had barely arrived and looked around when the sharp-eyed Ma Huan, Master Ma, spotted him and hurried over with a smiling, ingratiating manner.

“Scholar Li, what brings you here today, visiting us?”

Behind Li Yuanjing, seeing Master Ma’s attitude, Liu Gang’s hope soared, but he also felt a surge of fear.

How could that foolish woman be so reckless? Li Yuanjing was clearly a dragon among men, and she, a common sparrow, dared to challenge him?

If she didn’t suffer, who would?

Liu Gang resolved fiercely in his heart: when that woman returned, he would teach her a harsh lesson, so she’d know just how grave her mistake was.

“Heh.”

“It just so happens I had a matter to attend to, so I thought I’d pay Master Ma a visit. How are things here—going smoothly?”

Li Yuanjing smiled and cupped his hands. Then, without a trace of emotion, he discreetly passed Master Ma over two hundred coins.

Master Ma quickly tucked the money into his sleeve and laughed heartily. “Smooth or not, that’s just how it is. Come, Scholar Li, let’s sit in my house and warm up with some tea.”

Li Yuanjing nodded with a smile and was about to follow Master Ma into his makeshift official residence.

Suddenly, from not far away, came the heart-wrenching scream of a woman:

“Husband, husband, even if you sell me as a slave, you can’t sell Yu’er! If you sell Yu’er, I’ll kill myself right here—I won’t go on living…”

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