Xu Li had once been the envy of the entire village. Unmarried, he was doted on by his parents. He married the most impressive man in the village, bore three sons, and never had to lift a finger at home—even sending two of his sons to private school.
But the He family had suffered repeated blows. Now, with no money left and his mother-in-law dead, as the eldest, he naturally had to shoulder the burden of life.
They hired an ox cart to transport over three hundred catties of fermented soybean paste to sell.
Xu Li was extremely uncomfortable. Though he had mentally prepared himself beforehand, facing reality was different from what he had imagined. He was afraid to speak to people, mustering the courage only to ask if they wanted to buy the paste. When a customer ignored him, he slumped in frustration.
Wan Hai used to love this pitiable demeanor, pulling him into his arms to comfort him. But now, with the weight of life pressing down, he had no patience for such romantic gestures. “If we don’t sell all of this today, there’ll be no food when we get back.”
Xu Li wasn’t worried. He still had his parents in the village—he wouldn’t starve!
Wan Hai seemed to read his mind. “A married man shouldn’t keep running back to his parents. People will laugh. You never did this before—can you only enjoy the good times, not the bad?”
Xu Li paled at these words. “That’s not true.” He wasn’t eloquent. He had mustered his courage, only to be mocked. Tears streamed down his face, his heart full of grievance and sorrow.
Wan Hai didn’t comfort him as usual, only giving him a cold glance.
Wan Hai, however, had no trouble swallowing his pride. He began hawking loudly: “Homemade soybean paste, five coins per catty!” Normally, it would sell for at least seven coins, but with so much stock, he couldn’t afford to take it back. Money was now his top priority—he’d sell at any price.
Hearing the low price, a county resident called out, “Let me see?”
Upon inspection, the paste’s color and quality were indeed good—properly fermented and cheap. Those who came across it were happy to buy.
“Ten catties—make it cheaper, throw in an extra catty!”
Wan Hai, eager for his first sale, agreed. Once the first transaction was done, the rest followed smoothly.
Xu Li was still nervous at first, but as time passed, he realized Wan Hai handled the customers while he only needed to scoop the paste.
Gradually, he relaxed.
The cheap paste attracted many buyers, who spread the word.
Soybean paste was messy, easily staining clothes. While Xu Li was scooping for one customer, a voice exclaimed, “Ah, I thought I was mistaken—it really is you!”
Xu Li looked up to see another man, carrying his three-year-old son. This man had once pursued Wan Hai but was rejected. Later, he married a merchant’s family and moved to the county town. His fine clothing made it clear he was doing well.
As former rivals, their meeting was awkward, especially under these circumstances.
“Little Dad, it stinks,” the child in his arms complained, covering his nose. The smell of the paste was too strong for the boy.
The man chided, “Don’t be rude. I’ll make soy-braised eggs for you tonight. If it stinks, don’t eat it.” Then he bought ten catties of paste, ostensibly to support Xu Li’s business.
But in that moment, Xu Li felt a pang of bitterness.
Coming to the county, Xu Li noticed most people gathered at Qiu Yu’s stall. Qiu Yu sold braised meats—expensive but delicious, attracting well-dressed regulars, even servants sent specifically to buy.
In contrast, their customers were bargain hunters, haggling over every coin, some even shortchanging them. They could only swallow the losses.
Though busy selling, their eyes kept drifting to Qiu Yu. Soon, they watched as Qiu Yu packed up, hitched his horse cart, and left.
Xu Li’s eyes flashed with envy. A horse cart was much faster than an ox cart. He briefly considered asking Qiu Yu for a ride but quickly dismissed the idea—given their past conflicts, it would be too awkward.
Soon, their paste sold out, the dregs practically given away.
Their clothes reeked of soybeans. While customers hadn’t minded during the sale, now passersby wrinkled their noses in disgust.
Xu Li’s eyes welled up again.
Tearfully, he followed Wan Hai to find a ride home. But the ox cart drivers, fearing their stench would drive away future customers, refused unless they paid fifty coins for a private trip.
After several rejections, Wan Hai, furious, decided they would walk.
Xu Li’s heart ached even more, his envy of Qiu Yu’s tall, handsome horse deepening.
…
He Zifeng saw that Wan Hai and the others had opened the business, so he stopped paying attention and turned to go to the government office to report for roll call.
After roll call, it was time for patrol.
Originally, patrol duty fell to Brother Xiong and Bingzi. But with He Zifeng joining, Brother Xiong dropped out to drink with other Constables. These drinking sessions weren’t just social—they often led to lucrative opportunities, shared among those present.
Joining these gatherings (drinking parties) meant entering their circle.
Bingzi, envious, wanted to go but couldn’t bring himself to ask. The yamen required at least two patrollers—it was the rule!
Just then, Constable Xie Rui stepped forward. “Bingzi, if you want to go, go ahead. I’m going to patrol the streets today..”
Bingzi thanked him profusely and followed Brother Xiong. Full of joy.
Within the yamen, one had to align with one of the three factions or remain independent like Brother Xiong. Bingzi, new and dull-witted, had no connections. Without Brother Xiong, he’d never be included in such gatherings.
Yesterday, Brother Xiong had briefly explained the factions. Speaking of Xie Rui, he said the man came from a powerful family but was timid as a mouse. The chief constable had arranged his position, making him the chief’s man.
Brother Xiong still had a look of envy when he talked about it. To him, it was better to be born into a good family.
He Zifeng knew the Xie family held significant influence in the county, rivaling the Gong family. Half the county’s streets belonged to them.
Though people said Xie Rui was a collateral relative, He Zifeng had heard the Xies had a sickly third son, unseen in public, also timid and around Xie Rui’s age. Likely, the family had paid to get him into the yamen for training.
Though aware of Xie Rui’s background, He Zifeng didn’t dwell on it, proceeding with patrol as usual.
Xie Rui said, “Brother He, let’s go together. It’s safer with backup.”
“Sure.” He Zifeng agreed.
They walked carefully street by street. The official uniform was indeed impressive. Along the way, everyone either respected or feared them and behaved well.
Patrol wasn’t difficult, but many Constables avoided it, considering it tedious. He Zifeng, however, took it seriously. He was from another village and was not very familiar with the county so he used the patrols to familiarize himself with the county—where people lived, where the schools were, where the taverns stood.
Xie Rui, having been here for about the same time as Bingzi. He has seen many people who just walk around pretending to be here, and then find a place to relax. He thought He Zifeng would be the same, but he didn’t expect him to be so diligent.
If Xie Rui lagged, He Zifeng would leave him behind. Unwilling to be alone, Xie Rui hurried to keep up.
After a while, Xie Rui panted and asked, “Why are you taking this so seriously? It’s just a job to earn some food.”
He Zifeng replied, “Alright, what’s your real reason for sticking with me?”
Xie Rui was momentarily stunned, then chuckled, “Nothing gets past you, huh?”
He Zifeng remained silent, which Xie Rui took as acknowledgement. By now, He Zifeng had patrolled the major streets and finished the day’s work.
Xie Rui said, “I’ve taken on a little job.” His tone became animated as he spoke.
The constables managed various mundane tasks around town, and occasionally, people would seek their help with personal matters. The unspoken rule was to split any payment among those involved. However, if someone handled it alone, they could keep the entire sum. This was an unspoken custom within the yamen.
The higher-ups knew about this but turned a blind eye. None of the county officials wanted to cut off this little source of income for their subordinates, knowing the official salary wasn’t enough to live on, let alone afford a daily drinking habit.
Xie Rui said, “Let’s do it together, and I’ll split the payment with you.”
Xie Rui, being timid, didn’t dare patrol alone. The older constables in town mocked him for being a baby and only tolerated him out of respect for the constable captain.
Xie Rui had felt this disdain and gradually distanced himself from them. Unsure of whom to trust, he observed He Zifeng and thought they might get along. He even skipped the drinking circle the previous night to have this conversation with He Zifeng.
He Zifeng asked, “Go on.”
Despite being senior, Xie Rui subconsciously followed He Zifeng’s lead, finding it oddly comfortable. He then shared the details.
As He Zifeng listened, he found the situation rather ridiculous.
The request came from a man reportedly good-looking, who had caught the eye of Li Xiao’e, the only daughter of the wealthy fabric merchant Li. The families had already exchanged betrothal tokens and were planning to marry in a year. Who would have thought that this man would hook up with a better woman, the other girl was a lady from a scholarly family.
Her status was much better than that of a merchant girl, so he wanted to cancel the engagement. The engagement was cancelled for no reason. Both the father and daughter of the cloth shop were furious, and Li Xiao’e was even more hot-tempered than usual. She couldn’t bear the humiliation and even attempted suicide, but she was rescued. Now the two families are in a stalemate. The woman refused to cancel the engagement, and the man refused to marry her.
The man asked Xie Rui for help, gave them three taels of silver, and promised that anything would be done as long as he canceled the engagement.
Veteran constables would’ve simply arrested the girl’s father, pressuring her into submission—maybe even extorting extra silver. Easy money.
Xie Rui is thin and frail. In his father’s words, he doesn’t look like a prince even when he wears the dragon robe. There was no other choice but to ask someone else to come over so that the two of them could look more imposing.
He Zifeng said, “Let’s go and see what’s happening.” To him, the man was clearly a scoundrel. Not only did he want to marry into a wealthier family, but he also showed no regard for the woman’s reputation. When things didn’t go his way, he even resorted to the idea of imprisoning someone. This kind of behavior revealed his ruthless nature.
He Zifeng accompanied Xie Rui to the fabric shop. Earlier, the street had been quiet during their patrol, but now a crowd had gathered. From a distance, they could hear loud arguments inside.
As they approached, a voice said, “No one wants your Li family daughter! You’re forcing her to marry my nephew. What’s the rush to get her married off? Is there something wrong with her?”
The shopkeeper, Old Li, trembled with rage and shouted, “Shut your filthy mouth!” Grabbing a wooden staff, he charged forward.
Before the staff even landed, the other party screamed as if being murdered, shouting, “Help! I’m being killed!”
He Zifeng barked, “Silence!” as he pushed his way through the crowd.
On the man’s side were two women—his aunt and mother. The mother remained composed, saying little, while the aunt was loud and aggressive, chattering incessantly.
A large group of onlookers had gathered to watch the drama unfold.
It was He Zifeng’s first time seeing Li Xiao’e. She had a round face and a decent appearance, dressed in clothes made from the shop’s fabrics. Xie Rui, having prepared for the task, had learned that the shop was their family’s business, and Li Xiao’e was an only daughter. Though the business wasn’t big, it provided enough for them to live comfortably. They sold affordable, durable local cloth, popular among villagers for making clothes.
Although the shop wouldn’t bring great wealth, it was sufficient for a stable life.
The man’s mother and aunt, emboldened by the bribe they’d given, stood firm. When they saw the constables arrive, they didn’t cower but instead began shouting, “Officers, did you see? He tried to beat me to death just now! It’s terrifying!”
“You’re lying!” Li Xiao’e retorted. She had grown up helping her father in the business and was no stranger to dealing with people, but it was her first time encountering such outrageous slander.
He Zifeng saw the crowd and commanded, “Disperse! No gawking!” His authoritative tone quickly scattered the onlookers.
He Zifeng turned to the man’s side and said, “Speak.”
The man’s mother, mindful of preserving face, avoided being too harsh.It would not be good to delay her son’s marriage proposal, so she just said, “It’s all just a misunderstanding. As long as they agree to break off the engagement, everything will be fine.”
The aunt, however, shrieked, “Misunderstanding? He nearly killed me just now!”
He Zifeng retorted, “I have eyes. Don’t try to mislead me with nonsense.”
The man’s aunt, while bold enough to argue with others, didn’t dare challenge the constables. After being shut down by He Zifeng, she fell silent.
He Zifeng then asked Li Xiao’e to step inside the shop for a private conversation. Breaking off an engagement wasn’t something to be discussed openly in front of everyone.
Even so, the man’s aunt craned her neck, trying to eavesdrop. She felt uneasy, worried that even though they had paid the bribe, the constables might side with the other party and refuse to help.
When she tried to interject, He Zifeng shot her a sharp glance, silencing her immediately.
Inside, He Zifeng said to Li Xiao’e, “Tell me everything.”
Though known for her straightforwardness, Li Xiao’e was deeply humiliated by the situation and began sobbing uncontrollably. Her father explained the events in detail, which largely aligned with what He Zifeng already knew.
However, there was an additional detail: the man had borrowed ten taels of silver from them under the pretense of needing it for business. Trusting him because of their engagement, they hadn’t even asked for an IOU. Although there was a witness, this memory now filled Li Xiao’e with regret and anger.
Li Xiao’e said bitterly, “I don’t care if he breaks off the engagement, but he must return the money. We sell cloth for just one hundred coins per bolt. It would take three years to earn back that silver, and now he dares to turn around and slander me.”
Knowing the man wanted to marry into a wealthier family only fueled her resentment. Why should her reputation and money serve as his stepping stone to a better life?
Their constant harassment had already disrupted their business, scaring away several potential customers. Fed up, Li Xiao’e declared, “If this doesn’t end, I’ll hang myself at their doorstep. Let’s see how they welcome their new bride then!”
Her father cried, “If you do that, how will your parents live?” The family’s wailing filled the room.
Even Xie Rui felt uneasy. He had taken the three taels not out of financial need but for some amusement. Yet Li Xiao’e’s fiery personality made him realize that imprisoning her father could escalate the situation in unforeseen ways.
He Zifeng asked, “Do you still want to marry him?”
Li Xiao’e snapped, “That coward? I wouldn’t even let him wash my feet! But I refuse to let him enjoy a comfortable life with someone else after trampling on me.”
He Zifeng calmly said, “Marriage is meant to forge bonds, not grievances. If you know he’s unreliable, it’s better to end things now than to suffer a worse fate after marriage. There are countless men in the world—don’t waste your youth on someone so undeserving.”
Li Xiao’e froze, contemplating his words.
Shopkeeper Li quickly said, “My daughter, just break off the engagement. Your father will find you a better match.” Then he turned and bowed to He Zifeng and Xie Rui. “I’ve said all these things before, but she was too stubborn to listen. Now that you’ve spoken, she immediately understands.”
Li Xiao’e’s eyes reddened, and she said to her father, “Father, bring me the betrothal agreement. I won’t marry him.”
Hearing this, Shopkeeper Li replied, “Good, good.” He retrieved the betrothal documents and handed them to He Zifeng. Then, He Zifeng and Xie Rui stepped outside. As soon as they emerged, the two women from the groom’s side eagerly approached, smiling ingratiatingly, “Officer, how did it go?”
He Zifeng said, “The Li family is reasonable, but you shouldn’t block their business or damage the girl’s reputation. Go inside and apologize right now.”
The man’s aunt looked dissatisfied, but the man’s mother, more sensible, quickly went inside to apologize.
Though Xie Rui had dispersed the onlookers earlier, a crowd had gathered again, curious to see how the commotion would end.
He Zifeng then called for the man to come forward.
The man had been blending in with the crowd, but when summoned, he stepped forward quickly.
He Zifeng asked, “Did you borrow ten taels of silver from the bride’s family?”
The man loudly denied it, “Officer, that’s nonsense! She’s trying to blackmail me!” His tone was deliberately loud to sway public opinion.
Hearing this, Li Xiao’e couldn’t stand it anymore and rushed out. “You borrowed the money in front of the jeweler’s assistant, Zhu’er! Don’t think you can deny it! Ten taels is a fortune for us—we’d need years to earn it. Now that you’ve found someone else, why won’t you repay the debt?”
He Zifeng couldn’t help but admire her courage—she was truly sharp-witted.
The man looked visibly annoyed. At first, the onlookers seemed sympathetic toward him, but after hearing Li Xiao’e, they began murmuring among themselves. Even the most indifferent observers could guess what kind of person would break off an engagement the moment they found a more advantageous match.
Seeing that He Zifeng was about to call witnesses, the man’s mother intervened. She removed a gold hairpin from her head and handed it over. Though not large, it was made of solid gold. “Take this as repayment for the ten taels. Once you hand over the betrothal document, we’ll consider everything settled.”
Li Xiao’e immediately accepted the hairpin and went to the pawnshop across the street. She pawned it for twelve taels of silver, returned two taels to the man’s mother, and in doing so, publicly humiliated their family. Afterward, He Zifeng handed over the betrothal document, officially breaking off the engagement.
Though the man got what he wanted, he and his family left in disgrace.
As the crowd dispersed, He Zifeng walked away. Xie Rui caught up, his eyes filled with admiration. “Brother He, you’re amazing! You resolved such a messy situation with just a few words!” He then pulled out the silver and tried to give He Zifeng half.
He Zifeng said, “Keep it.”
Xie Rui, who wasn’t short on money to begin with, insisted on sharing. He was so impressed by He Zifeng that he expressed a desire to follow him in everything. It seemed he was ready to hand over all his silver.
He Zifeng only took his rightful share of one and a half taels. As for Xie Rui’s offer to become his subordinate, he declined repeatedly. “I’m just a newcomer; there’s no need for that,” He Zifeng explained.
Understanding his reasoning, Xie Rui dropped the subject but remained thrilled from the outing. He even joked about introducing He Zifeng to a suitable match, claiming he was a good man. He Zifeng replied, “I’m already married.”
“Ah?” Xie Rui sounded disappointed.
He Zifeng didn’t elaborate further. When they returned to the yamen, they found that the others had already come back from their drinking session, several of them slumped drunkenly in their chairs. Even Brother Xiong had drunk too much. Meanwhile, Bingzi, who had attended his first gathering, was visibly excited and tried to convince He Zifeng of the joys of participating in such circles.
But before Bingzi could finish his spiel, he noticed Xie Rui pouring tea for He Zifeng.
Bingzi, already tipsy, blinked in confusion and slurred, “When did you two get so close?” Before he could get an answer, he passed out in a drunken stupor.
Thank you so much for support ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡ :Ko-fi – Patreon
