Chapter 58 of 100

Chapter 58

16 min read4,096 words

Ding Buling listened as the truth was revealed. A few months ago, Old Servant Zhu Si from the Zhu family had delivered goods to Wang Family Village. On his way back, he accidentally bumped into someone and apologized, mentioning that he was tired from the trip to Wang Family Village and had been careless, thus bumping into the great master. He then repeatedly apologized.

When Ding Buling heard about Wang Family Village, he first became furious, but then had a sudden idea and tried to get more information from Zhu Si. Zhu Si mentioned that he knew the method of forging swords but suddenly became cautious and stopped talking. Ding Buling was excited and repeatedly tried to contact him. Eventually, Zhu Si was moved and asked for ten thousand strings of cash. Ding Buling did not agree, and they started to haggle.

As the fine salt was produced, the Zhu family gave it a beautiful name: Jade Salt.

This snow-white fine salt melted in the mouth and caused a sensation when it was first introduced. Ding Buling was once again tempted. Since Zhu Si was an old servant of the Zhu family, others could not obtain the technology, but Zhu Si could. However, Zhu Si confidently said, "I know this. I was involved in the development process, but... money is the issue."

He immediately asked for twenty thousand strings of cash, offering both the salt and sword-making techniques. Ding Buling was furious and did not agree. He was trying to find a way to get Zhu Si to reveal the technology. Then news came that the Zhu family, along with the Zhao and Li families, planned to pool over twenty thousand strings of cash to buy five thousand salt certificates from the capital's salt office. Not only these three families, but nearly ten other related families joined in, though they held smaller shares. This was what Wang Ju meant by "giving up to gain." Monopoly wealth was good, but it could also strangle oneself.

By sharing some of the profit, they could bind more people to their cause, making their strength greater. Moreover, once the technology was promoted to other states, the Zhu family's resources would be stretched thin, and they would need more manpower and resources.

Ding Buling could not sit still. While Yanzhou was manageable, other states were different. Whoever opened the market first would establish connections, making it difficult for latecomers to capture market share. That evening, he met Zhu Si and invited him to a teahouse for a secret discussion. They finally agreed on a price: twelve thousand strings of cash for both technologies. In reality, his family did not have much money left. How much cash could any family have on hand?

So, they pooled their resources, and even his future in-laws, the Niu family, contributed a significant amount to gather the twelve thousand strings of cash.

The transaction was made.

However, when Ding Buling followed Zhu Si's methods, he could not produce either the salt or the sword. At this point, he realized he had been cheated and came to Yanzhou to file a lawsuit.

Of course, he did not tell the whole story, glossing over his own mistakes and insisting that the Zhu family had intentionally cheated him out of twelve thousand strings of cash.

Cheng Kan almost laughed when he heard this.

They were definitely cheated, but the money was not in the Zhu family's pocket; it was in the Yanzhou state treasury. He planned to use it for good deeds to build a more glorious political record, so he could be transferred back to the capital.

However, according to procedure, he had to summon the Zhu family for a confrontation.

The bailiff brought Zhu Huan.

Zhu Huan was shocked and asked when Ding Buling had met Zhu Si.

Ding Buling said it was on a certain day.

Zhu Huan's face turned pale. "Impossible."

Cheng Kan found Zhu Huan's act amusing and watched him perform.

If he were a simpleton, he would have demanded the truth. But Cheng Kan was not a simpleton. In fact, he secretly hoped that the corrupt rich merchants in Yanzhou would fight among themselves. If they did so a few times a year, it might help alleviate the tax burden on the poor. Yes, these merchants were all profiteers who had made their fortunes from illegal salt.

Moreover, the twelve thousand strings of cash he had obtained, Wang Ju had built a shrine for him. Which side would Cheng Kan's heart lean towards?

Zhu Huan continued, "Zhu Si went hunting in the mountains and accidentally fell to his death nearly twenty days ago. Did you bump into a ghost? No, in broad daylight, how could you bump into a ghost? Sir Cheng, this old man brought his own downfall. He first colluded with the Western Xia to invade our Song, and now, with his family's situation worsening, he is falsely accusing us, trying to cheat us out of twelve thousand strings of cash. Please, Sir Cheng, do something about this."

Ding Buling had brought two sharp-tongued lawyers, but they were at a loss. If Zhu Si was dead, how could Ding Buling have given him money?

It was not difficult to investigate. The bailiffs were sent to check.

When they reached Zhu Si's village, the villagers confirmed that Zhu Si had indeed fallen to his death, and his wife and children were devastated. This time, even Ding Buling was stunned and demanded an exhumation to examine the body.

Cheng Kan looked at Zhu Huan, who remained silent.

So, let's exhume the body.

But Cheng Kan immediately laughed.

Zhu Si's surname was Zhu, but he had taken it from his master. In fact, he was a Qiang person.

Qiang burial customs were peculiar. They practiced earth burial, but also sky burial, water burial, and cremation. Sky burial and water burial were rare, as the body was eaten by eagles or fish. With the mixing of Han and Qiang people, these practices were seen as inauspicious, so earth burial and cremation became more common, with cremation being more prevalent. Zhu Si's wife had cremated him, so there was no body to examine!

However, the villagers in Zhu Si's village were unhappy. Zhu Si was a good person, treated well by the Zhu family, and often helped the village. Now that he had died tragically, he was being falsely accused by the Ding family. Almost the entire village came to Yanzhou to protest at the Ding family's door, loudly cursing them. Fortunately, Cheng Kan and the bailiffs managed to persuade them to leave, or things would have gotten worse.

Respect for the dead is paramount.

All public opinion now favored the Zhu family.

Even the Niu family, angry at the situation, broke off the engagement. "You fool, we are breaking the engagement."

In fact, the Zhu family had been targeting the Ding family. If this "opportunity" had been given to the Niu family, would they have been tempted?

The problem was that everyone knew the Ding family was now completely ruined. Those who owed the Ding family money refused to pay, and those the Ding family owed came to demand payment daily. While the situation was not as complex as a web of debts, business transactions often involved credit, leading to a similar situation.

The Ding family was now completely bankrupt.

Zhu Qing finished recounting the entire story.

Wang Ju let out a long sigh.

He looked at the vast wilderness. The Black Bee Bandits were gone, and the Ding family had fallen.

He did not know if he had done the right thing. Without him, some civilians might have died on the mountain path, but many also died in the battle at Wang Family Village.

Without the battle, the Zhu family would not have met him, and the village would have improved, but not as dramatically as it had. However, this dramatic change might not be entirely good.

"When are you going to Yunyan County?"

"After the New Year Festival."

"But it's only six days until the New Year. Why not wait until after the New Year?"

"Scholar Zhang is a great Confucian, but he is also the magistrate of Yunyan County. During the New Year, officials take a few days off. If I leave the day after the New Year Festival, it will take a few days to travel, and then I will need to settle in Yunyan County. By the time everything is arranged, the New Year will have arrived. It will be a good time for Scholar Zhang to be available..."

"I'll have the great master take care of it for you."

The main task was to rent a house and buy some household items, which seemed trivial but was actually quite complicated.

But it would not cost much. Wang Ju thought about it and nodded in agreement.

This would be the most important step in Wang Ju's life. If he took it, his future would gradually become brighter. If he did not, he would continue to struggle in this small village...

---