Chapter 76: The Bewildered Philanthropist Xue

“Master, I want that string of jade beads from Chen’s shop. Even that little fox spirit has one; she was showing it off to me just yesterday…”

The next morning, though the sun was already high, the charitable patriarch of the Xue family in Iron Ox Town had yet to rise. He was contentedly puffing on his pipe, thoroughly at ease.

However, his thirteenth and most recently acquired concubine had no intention of letting him enjoy such leisure. She was employing every wile at her disposal to cajole and wheedle him.

“Those jade beads from Chen’s shop must cost at least thirty taels of silver, don’t they?” Though Master Xue doted on this newlywed, tender as a young oriole, he was no fool when it came to money. At her request, he couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath.

“Oh, Master, it’s only thirty taels! Even that brazen fox in the twelfth house—hers cost twenty-five!” As she spoke, the thirteenth concubine began to play her trump card…

Master Xue, feeling anything but comfortable, could only pinch his nose and relent. “Fine, fine, it’s just a string of beads. We’ll buy it. I’ll buy it for you.”

“Ah! Master, I adore you!”

“Master, the deputy steward of Liu’s Trading House from Wind City is here. He says he has urgent business with you…”

Just as Master Xue and his thirteenth concubine were about to stoke the flames, the steward’s urgent report sounded from outside.

“Hmm?” Master Xue’s brow furrowed in annoyance. Why had Liu’s deputy steward come at this hour? Was he here as a messenger for that old official again?

A sneer twitched at Master Xue’s lips. That old man had been an official for years—how was he still so naïve, thinking Xue only had Liu’s Trading House as an outlet?

Still, though he was exasperated by Zhao Bingchun’s maneuvering, Master Xue called for his thirteenth concubine to help him dress. Appearance was everything; even Master Xue dared not neglect propriety, lest he become everyone’s enemy.

Though the thirteenth concubine was displeased, she dared not act up now and hurried to attend to him.

“Heh, little vixen, just wait. I’ll deal with you when I return!” Once dressed, Master Xue gave her waist a playful pinch and strode out with a swagger.

“Who’s afraid of whom, Master? I’ll be waiting…” The thirteenth concubine shot back with a coquettish challenge, nearly causing Master Xue to stumble as he quickened his pace, eager to finish his business and return to her.

…

“Second Master, what brings you here today? Please, sit! Someone, bring tea—the best we have!”

Soon after, Master Xue greeted the Liu family’s deputy steward in the main hall with a fawning smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, the deputy steward said with a sly grin, “Master Xue, aside from those minor matters, my master gave me a special instruction before I left. I hear you’ve had some unpleasantness with Li Yuanjing, the scholar from Spring Village?”

Despite having anticipated the steward’s purpose, Master Xue felt a wave of irritation as the words were spoken. Nevertheless, he forced a smile. “Second Master, what are you saying? You know me—I, Xue Mang, am an ambitious man. Why would I stoop to petty squabbles with a penniless scholar? You think too little of me.”

The steward only smiled blandly. “I trust in your character, Master Xue. In any case, I’ve delivered my message and will take my leave.”

With that, he bowed deeply and left without a backward glance.

“Ah, Second Master…” Master Xue was taken aback. The very man who had often benefitted from his generosity was now so brazen?

Yet seeing the deputy steward nearly at the gate, he could not be bothered to chase after him. He spat out a curse. “Bah! What a worthless dog! Does he even know what he is? Does he think I’ll be begging Liu’s Trading House to buy my grain this year? Hmph! With the way things are, we’ll see who comes begging whom!”

After venting his anger, Master Xue turned to return to his chambers. But just then, the steward rushed in again.

“Master, the personal attendant of the county magistrate has arrived…”

“Hmm?” Master Xue felt a jolt and hurriedly asked, “Which magistrate?”

The steward whispered, “The one from the deputy magistrate’s household…”

“Damn! You idiot, why didn’t you say so sooner? Quick, show him in—no, I’ll go myself!”

No time for second thoughts, Master Xue rushed out at once.

…

“Ah? Lord Zhou, are you saying that I can’t touch Li Yuanjing anymore?”

Moments later, Master Xue, now somewhat humbled, looked nervously at the new arrival.

The visitor sipped his tea and replied coolly, “That’s more or less the case. That scholar Li’s connections are more formidable than you imagine. Enough, Master Xue—I’ve said what I came to say. I have matters to attend to in the county; I’ll be taking my leave.”

“Ah…” Poor Master Xue wanted to say more, but the visitor didn’t even spare him a glance before striding off.

…

“That damned bald pretender!” Master Xue ground his teeth so hard they nearly cracked, but before he could curse further, the steward appeared yet again.

“Master, envoys from both the county constable and the registrar have arrived…”

“What?” Master Xue, though accustomed to high drama and unafraid of trouble, could hardly have predicted this.

No sooner had the deputy magistrate’s man left than the constable and registrar arrived together.

Wonderful. Now the entire county yamen’s triad had gathered. Had he, Master Xue, kicked a hornet’s nest?

There was no time for hesitation. “Quick, come with me and greet our distinguished guests!”

…

Fifteen minutes later, after seeing off the constable and registrar’s men, Master Xue collapsed into a chair, drenched in cold sweat, utterly drained.

There was no thought left of dallying with his tender thirteenth concubine.

He had thought that with Murong Mubai gone, Li Yuanjing would be forgotten, and that Zhao Bingchun, soon to be promoted, would hardly care about such a trivial matter.

Who could have imagined that, in an instant, not only would the powerful Liu family stand up for Li Yuanjing, but the entire triad of the county yamen would rally behind him as well?

Stubborn as he was, Master Xue was no fool. To offend one of these powers might be nothing; a few days and a shared drink would see it smoothed over.

But if he was reckless enough to offend all three branches of the county government and a titan like the Liu family at once—

Even a fool could see what would happen. They would crush him without mercy.

Who would have thought a penniless scholar like Li Yuanjing, after a single trip to the county, could wield such terrifying influence?

After a moment’s thought, Master Xue could sit still no longer. Swallowing hard, he barked out, “Quick! Send word to Third Boss Lengshan—cancel all our plans for now!”

“And prepare a generous gift—no less than ten taels of silver! Bring plenty of meat, and half a deer. I’m going to Spring Village to pay my respects to Scholar Li!”

“Ah? Yes, sir!”