“So that’s how it is,” Master Dong murmured.
“So it ended up in General Liu’s hands…”
“General Liu told the Ministry of War that he had diligently remembered an old military document from the Northwest he’d once seen,” the clerk said, “and though he couldn’t shed blood on the battlefield for the country, he never forgot his duty to root out bad elements and strengthen our army…”
Then he curled his lips. “Of course, that was Liu talking himself up—who knows who really told him to do all this.”
“But someone must’ve reported it for things to go this far, right?” Madam Dong interrupted anxiously.
The clerk glanced at her and gave a slight smile.
“My dear cousin, a so-called ‘report’ is just a matter of words. Do you really think that just because someone files a complaint, officials would actually care about a few low-ranking deserters?” he said, with a hint of inscrutability.
Father and daughter exchanged a glance.
“This time,” the clerk said, pointing a finger upward, “someone up there got involved. Even the Court Officer couldn’t stop it if he wanted to.”
It’s really that serious?
Master Dong and his daughter looked shocked.
Standing behind them, although Xiang Qi also appeared stunned, flashes of wild joy flickered in his eyes. His cheeks twitched, and the hand hanging by his side clenched tightly into a fist—he was clearly struggling to suppress the excitement surging within him.
No one would ever believe he was the one behind it!
Who would have thought that a single anonymous report could truly send those seven men to their doom—and without leaving a single trace!
The Ministry of War had gotten involved, and the patrol commander had taken full responsibility. Who would ever suspect a lowly gate clerk like him?
Who would believe that he—just a minor clerk—had struck the match? That this tiny spark had caught the wind and roared into a blazing fire!
What incredible luck! Heaven truly had eyes!
Serves you right for insisting on coming to the capital—rushing to your own deaths!
Die, then! You wanted to replace me, take everything I had? Then go to hell!
“Even if they’re deserters, surely it’s not that serious?” Master Dong still seemed confused and asked, “What if we spend some money to help smooth things over?”
“Money? Oh, this isn’t something money can solve,” the clerk said with a laugh. “Master Dong, do you really think they don’t have money?”
“They don’t have any money,” Madam Dong immediately cut in.
The clerk burst out laughing.
“Oh, they have money everywhere,” he said. “As co-owners of Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode, the dividends alone are pouring in like a river.”
Tai Ping Residence? Immortal’s Abode?
What did that have to do with anything?
The three members of the Dong family exchanged confused glances, completely at a loss.
“Owners?” Master Dong couldn’t help but ask, “Weren’t they just hired hands?”
“What hired hands?” the clerks laughed. “Master Dong, they’re the actual owners.”
Of course, there were bigger owners behind the scenes, but anyone whose name was written in black and white as a legal, registered proprietor was no small figure—at the very least, someone trusted and valued by the true powers behind it all.
At that, not only were Master Dong and Lady Dong stunned—even Xiang Qi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Fan Jianglin and Xu Maoxiu are the owners of Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode?
How is that possible?! What kind of joke is this?!
When Master Dong returned with the news, Lady Dong and Xiang Qi eagerly rushed to meet him.
“So? What exactly happened to Brother Xu and the others?” Lady Dong asked anxiously.
Master Dong sat down, his expression complicated, and remained silent.
“Come on, Father, tell us! We’ve been waiting all day!” Lady Dong urged impatiently.
Xiang Qi brought over a bowl of tea.
“Father’s been out running around all day,” he said softly.
Lady Dong shot him an annoyed glance, snatched the tea, and handed it to Master Dong.
Master Dong took the tea, sipped it, and exhaled.
“I never expected that Jianglin and the others were involved in so much trouble here in the capital,” he said.
“So it really was the owners of Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode?” Lady Dong hurriedly asked.
Master Dong nodded.
“It’s all in black and white—the government has the official records,” he said.
Lady Dong was somewhat dazed, recalling their first meeting that day.
“You found work here?”
“Yes, yes,” came the reply.
“When I finish my business, I’ll definitely come…”
She also remembered the old man’s smiling words when she took out money to ask him to dismiss Xu Maoxiu:
“This little money probably won’t be enough.”
Now, looking back, those words carried a different meaning.
Spending a bit of money to try to buy off the owners of someone else’s place—that’s simply not possible.
Though her family had some money, it was all hard-earned from business. They had never even been to places like Immortal’s Abode or Tai Ping Residence, but they knew of them.
Just one prosperous shop was enough; having two meant the dividends must be very substantial.
No wonder they said they didn’t need the money her father gave them that day—saying they weren’t short of money. At the time, she thought they were just being polite. Now it seemed they simply didn’t care at all.
“It’s not just about money,” Master Dong said, stroking his beard as he exhaled. “Their business dealings aren’t simple.”
He looked up at his daughter and son-in-law.
“Do you remember the incident on the street where someone from Tai Ping Residence killed a troublemaker?” he asked.
Lady Dong, who rarely left the house, was unaware, but Xiang Qi nodded.
“That was their doing,” Master Dong said.
Lady Dong, curious, pressed for details. Master Dong carefully recounted the stories—about the cook losing a hand, the destruction at Immortal’s Abode, the change of ownership at Immortal’s Abode, and so on. The couple listened, their expressions shifting in shock and surprise.
“In just over half a year, so many things have happened…” Master Dong sighed. “And they were all so dramatic…”
“If we had known Brother Xu was capable, no wonder…” Lady Dong murmured, “With a man like him, it’s no surprise he looked down on marrying into our family…”
Xiang Qi had been lost in thought but couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh at these words.
“So capable, huh? Found a good patron,” he said flatly.
“If he weren’t capable, even his patron would fall!” Lady Dong immediately shouted back. “If it were you, you wouldn’t be able to handle any of those things—not even find a patron!”
“Sure is a good patron and capable too—been to jail twice already,” Xiang Qi sneered.
“Look at you, so full of schadenfreude! Even if Brother Xu’s troubles weren’t caused by you this time, you’ve long wanted to bring him down!” Lady Dong yelled, pointing her finger at him. “If anything happens to Brother Xu, I’ll divorce you!”
“If that’s the case, then I might as well leave now! Why curse Brother Xu and the others?” Xiang Qi shouted back.
Now that he no longer feared being exposed and felt no guilt, he naturally dared to speak boldly.
“That’s enough!” Master Dong shouted, standing up.
The hall fell silent.
“What’s all this noise for? At a time like this, still arguing?” he scolded, pointing at Lady Dong. “Bickering and quarrels bring ruin and bad luck. Maybe it’s your mouth that’s brought this disaster upon Jianglin and the others!”
These words startled Xiang Qi.
“Father, this has nothing to do with Si-niang. They brought this trouble on themselves. You can’t say that,” he hurriedly said.
Master Dong looked at him, his expression softening, then shot Lady Dong another glare.
“Look at you! Xiang Qi is lucky just to have peace with you! And yet you’re never satisfied, day after day!” he shouted again.
Lady Dong glanced at them, stamped her foot, then turned and ran off crying, covering her face.
“You should go too,” Master Dong sighed, waving his hand.
Xiang Qi didn’t move.
“Father, is there really nothing that can be done for Brother Xu and the others this time?” he asked, worry in his voice.
Master Dong sighed.
“Wealth is won at risk. Judging by past times, if they’ve been caught now, they must’ve angered some enemies again. If nothing comes of it, then nothing’s wrong; if something happens, then it’s serious,” he said.
That was basically saying nothing…
Xiang Qi remained silent, but inside he was overjoyed. No matter the outcome, he was satisfied.
If nothing happens, they’ve learned their lesson. If something does—hahaha…
Either way, he was going to make a huge profit.
He really hadn’t expected this! Not only had no one else, even he himself hadn’t anticipated that his small anonymous tip would lead to such a result!
Truly, even Heaven could no longer stand by.
“Tai Ping Residence, Tai Ping Residence—the name really isn’t fitting,” Master Dong murmured, shaking his head. “There’s not a trace of peace there… even the immortals can’t find any ease…”
Ban Qin got off the carriage, and Jin Ge’er lifted down the bundles and food boxes.
“…This is a heavily guarded prison area. The people you’re asking about fall under the patrol commander’s responsibility, so we dare not make decisions,” said several clerks guarding the prison gate. Upon hearing who they wanted to visit, they hurriedly waved their hands.
“Yes, we understand,” Ban Qin replied, her face calm, not showing any disappointment. Together with Jin Ge’er, she handed over a bundle and two food boxes.
“These are food and clothes. Please give them to the brothers,” she said.
The clerks exchanged glances.
“These are for the brothers,” Ban Qin added. “Please don’t mind.”
As she spoke, she pushed one of the food boxes forward.
The clerks’ eyes lit up.
“Are these from Tai Ping Residence? Or from Immortal’s Abode?” they couldn’t help but ask.
Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode were now famous taverns and eateries in the capital. Although these clerks were locals too, as low-ranking officials without any real rank, life in the capital was hard. Living on meager salaries, even if they squeezed some extra benefits from the common folk, supporting their families, maintaining friendships, and visiting relatives was still a financial strain. Visiting taverns and teahouses was a luxury rarely afforded; at best, they might indulge in a feast at an inn for travelers.
“Now that the weather has turned colder, the prison is damp and chilly. So the manager specially ordered some food from Immortal’s Abode for them,” Ban Qin said as she opened the food box.
The men leaned in to look, even more surprised. Inside, not only were there fresh meats and vegetables, but also matching pots, plates, and bowls. There was even a small covered porcelain jar of condiments.
“These are tea snacks paired from Tai Ping Residence. Brothers, please don’t mind,” Ban Qin said, opening another layer of the food box to reveal no less than ten kinds of pastries.
The clerks looked up at the young girl before them, their expressions somewhat puzzled.
But it wasn’t over yet—the servant then reached out and handed over a small money pouch.
“We came in such a hurry that we forgot to bring good tea,” he said. “Brothers, take this and buy yourselves some fine tea.”
When visiting prisoners, it was customary first to give some hardship money, and then have the items sent through the “Three Possessions and One Return” clerks—that was the established protocol.
This was normal when done by others, but no one expected Tai Ping Residence to follow the same practice…
Last time, they hadn’t observed this rule: after the men were thrown into the jail, no one came to visit, nor brought food, drink, or money. What was different this time?
It seemed, as everyone said, that Tai Ping Residence was really in trouble this time. So unlike before, when they had been defiant, now they followed protocol by bringing food, drink, and money.
Translator’s Words:
I am translating a new book called Du Xiu, and it’s stand-up comedy themed. Go check out if interested!
As graduation loomed, Chu Duxiu flooded the job market with resumes—only to get ruthlessly schooled by reality.
Aside from spinning wild metaphors about “being the one outstanding flower,” she had little else to show.
Until one day, stand-up comedy swung its doors wide open for her.
One spotlight. One mic. Everything changed—her future now glittered.
On the night of her championship victory, Chu Duxiu headed home with her trophy cradled in her arms. “Honestly,” she mused humbly, “being good at stand-up isn’t that impressive. It won’t make you rich overnight, and you definitely can’t use it to marry some tall, rich, handsome prince.”
The driver—previously silent—paused. He shot her a sidelong glance and deadpanned, “I see. Just won a championship, and already I’m not handsome enough for you.”
“…?”
