When the news of Zhen Sanlang angrily breaking into Bai Ji and overturning the stall reached Prefect Xiong's ears, the old man was eating wontons.
Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month. I just finished the court session and have not had any meals since being busy the whole day.
My wife at home chopped up some pork belly and dried shrimp as the stuffing, and also slaughtered some diced lotus root and wild rice stem, and stewed fan bones, dried mushrooms and river shrimp heads in a big pot. She used the wonton skins to pinch the wonton fillings, and each pinch made a gold ingot. The wontons with their chubby bellies facing up floated comfortably in the big pot filled with clouds and mist. After floating to the surface, they were scooped into a large bowl covered with chopped green onions, dried seaweed and coriander with a long wooden spoon, and ended with a large spoonful of fan bone and mushroom soup poured into the bowl.
Magistrate Xiong picked up the spoon and was about to eat, but he saw the lawyer coming in with his back hunched like an old shrimp from the East China Sea.
"...The Bai family has arrived, right in front of our house. The one who came is Mr. Bai and Mr. Bai... Mr. Bai is holding a hemp rope and is about to hang himself, crying that the Zhen family is too bullying..."
The master sniffed and felt a little hungry and wanted to eat.
Magistrate Xiong lowered his head and took a large white spoon to slowly scoop out a wonton. "Ask the concierge to persuade him."
The master nodded quickly and said, "The concierge tried to persuade me, but it was useless."
The wontons were a little hot, so Governor Xiong blew on them and didn’t rush to eat them. “How did you persuade me?”
The master frowned, "Advise him to hang himself somewhere else."
Prefect Xiong smiled, his beard curled up, "Alright, tell the Bai family to pack up and come in. Don't cry, if you cry, get out immediately. If you ask your sister-in-law to cook a bowl of wontons, your saliva is almost flowing into my bowl."
The lawyer ran out happily.
The Bai family came in very quickly, just in time for Governor Xiong to take his last bite of wontons.
As soon as he entered the door, Mr. Bai knelt on the ground with a plop, "Master Xiong! You have to make the decision for me!"
Not a very original opening.
Prefect Xiong lowered his head and finished the last wonton. He blew on the spoon to cool the soup and drank it. "You want me to make the decision, but you also threaten me with hanging myself at the door of my mansion?" The old man smiled and said, "What kind of logic is this?"
Mr. Bai was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears, "If I hadn't encountered a great injustice, how would I dare to act rashly in front of your house! In fact, it was that Third Master Zhen who was bullying me too much!"
Bai Dalang cried along with his father, and as he cried he added to the story, "Just after noon today, Zhen Sanlang rushed into our shop, overturned all the silk-clip painting rice paper in the shop, and slashed it all with a dagger. Then he slapped two silver bills on the counter and threatened me fiercely, 'If you buy silk-clip painting rice paper again in the future, I'll cut one off for every time you sell it!'"
Bai Dalang cried like a resentful woman who married the wrong man and was forced to give birth to eight children. "I don't know how I offended this tyrant. Our Bai family works diligently in making paper, earns a living, pays taxes honestly, and has always been obedient and sensible, never causing trouble for the government office or the adults—"
Bai Dalang paused and continued crying, "Just last month, our daughter Zhaoer gave birth to a son for the Shuntian Prefecture's governor. We were doing business honestly, how could we have suffered such an unexpected disaster!"
Prefect Xiong didn't raise his eyebrows. After his hand stopped moving for a moment, he shook his head and blew the soup in the spoon. He chatted with the old man beside him, "...A lot of pepper has been shipped from Fujian recently. It was originally a precious tribute. Now I heard that many officials in the government have some at home. They like to put it in barbecue and stew. Next time, ask your wife to buy some, so that we can taste whether this barbaric thing is delicious."
The old man lowered his eyebrows and said yes repeatedly.
Bai Dalang stopped crying and glanced at his father.
Mr. Bai covered his chest with his hands, "Ouch, ouch! I'm so angry that my chest feels stuffy and painful! I can't... I can't breathe... Ouch, ouch!"
Magistrate Xiong lowered his head and drank the soup. It was fresh, fragrant and delicious, very good.
If it weren’t for the Bai family father and son, today’s meal would be like a divine meal.
So annoying.
Prefect Xiong put down the bowl, picked up the silk handkerchief to wipe his mouth, and finally looked up at the man. "If you really feel unwell, please ask the doctor to come and see you. Take medicine if necessary, and give you acupuncture if necessary. It is very inappropriate for you to cry and wail in my living room."
Bai Dalang’s face turned pale.
Mr. Bai kowtowed three times, "Yes, yes, yes! It's our fault! We disturbed your peace! But the Zhen family is really abominable! Zhen Sanlang is really domineering! If I didn't care about my face, I would go to the yamen and beat the drum to complain today! They simply disregard the laws and rules in your territory..."
"Be careful what you say and do, Mr. Bai."
Prefect Xiong's eyes were calm as he interrupted Mr. Bai and said, "From what you said, our Xuancheng Prefecture is like a lawless place, where all laws and rules are ignored, the people are arrogant, and the people suffer. I, as a parent official, am unkind, disloyal, and impolite, so I should be removed immediately."
Mr. Bai and Dalang Bai looked at each other: I don't know why, today's prefect Xiong is so... hostile to them... He is merciless in every word he says...
What did they do?
They didn't do anything!
They are the victims!
What's more, the married concubine of the Bai family had just given birth to a little son for Magistrate Xiong's immediate superior!
The Prime Minister was very happy because he was 58 years old and had a son. He even rewarded the Bai family with several baskets of seasonal peaches a few days ago!
Just based on this relationship, Magistrate Xiong should show them some mercy!
Mr. Bai poked Bai Dalang.
Bai Dalang immediately twisted his neck and cried, "So, Your Excellency wants to protect and condone the Zhen family! My father's crime was in vain! Yes, the transportation of grain and salt is a big thing, it is the foundation of the people! Our Bai family is just a papermaker!"
"Pa--" Master Bai slapped Dalang Bai's head hard, "Kowtow! Apologize to Master Xiong! What kind of place is this! How can we allow you to run wild! Your Excellency is in charge of the Xuancheng Prefecture, where people live and work in peace and contentment, and all industries are thriving. How can we listen to your nonsense! I think my Bai family has been too indulgent to you! Go back and punish me according to the family rules!"
After saying this, Mr. Bai kowtowed three times to Prefect Xiong, crying and saying, "The Zhen family's words and deeds are outrageous. If they are not severely punished, the merchants in Xuancheng Prefecture will be disheartened!"
Magistrate Xiong lowered his eyes and looked down at the people in the hall.
Mr. Bai had gray hair and tears streaming down his face, looking very pitiful.
The eldest son next to him was blushing and standing up for the injustice suffered by the Bai family. He looked very annoying.
The father and son, with red and white faces, coordinated well and put on a good show.
"How do you want me to punish the Zhen family?"
Prefect Xiong asked a rhetorical question, and did not require the Bai family father and son to answer. Instead, he asked the next question in a calm tone, "Did he hurt anyone?"
Bai Dalang shook his head.
Magistrate Xiong asked again, "Did you insult the shopkeeper or the staff of Baiji?"
Bai Dalang shook his head again.
Mr. Bai tried to say something, but Magistrate Xiong raised his hand to stop him.
Prefect Xiong continued to ask, "Did you damage Baiji's furnishings?"
Mr. Bai cried, "He chopped up the rice paper we made..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
