Promise!

Chapter 178, Give and take

Two days later, at the execution ground in Linji County.

After consulting Zhuang Jin, Teng Yuansong brought a group of criminals from the Fei family here to serve as examples for others.

The onlookers were outraged and cheered.

"Good riddance! My daughter was..."

“My family’s land was also seized by the Fei family… This time, the government investigated and not only returned it, but also provided compensation…”

"In this world, it's truly a wonder to get money from the government... But now that I think about it, our county magistrate, though he may have been muddle-headed, never seemed to favor the wealthy... He also did a lot of practical work, such as digging reservoirs and dredging waterways."

The man exclaimed, "If you ask me, the government and the wealthy are no good, but our Magistrate Teng is a good official, a truly upright and just magistrate!"

……

In a world where people are cold-hearted and their hearts are scattered, officials who don't cause trouble or do anything of substance are considered upright and just.

'Besides, this Magistrate Teng's personnel dealings are far more than just a few!'

Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly and looked at Teng Yuansong. After these two days of in-depth understanding and investigation of the cause and effect, he felt that he had come to know this person in a new light.

"Long before I arrived, this so-called muddle-headed magistrate had already planted spies among the wealthy Fei and Yao families, monitoring their every move and gathering evidence of their illegal activities… Such close monitoring clearly indicated he was just waiting for an opportunity to strike, and my arrival was that opportunity!"

'This man wasn't insatiably greedy or obsessed with money. He returned the share of silver and property he received, as well as the money the Fei family had plundered from the people, including those who still have grievances… He also used some of the money to compensate victims in various cases… From this, it's clear he was an official with principles and ambition.'

Thinking this to himself, Zhuang Jin exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, "Magistrate Teng is a good official!"

"Hey, don't flatter me. I know myself perfectly well. I'm muddle-headed, greedy and lustful... But even if I am greedy, how much can ordinary people get? Only the wealthy can! Look at this harvest, it's equivalent to how many people I've plundered!"

Seeing Zhuang Jin's disbelieving look, Teng Yuansong spoke frankly: "In this day and age, which official in the Great Qian Dynasty isn't corrupt? I've never thought of being a paragon of virtue. It's inevitable that I'll take a little, embezzle a little, and accept a little. However, there are ways to be corrupt. There's no need to fixate on the few copper coins in the pockets of ordinary people. You should do something practical to be worthy of this official robe!"

"This is already quite rare; he is a good official."

"A good official? Being a good official isn't easy. I'd rather stay a muddle-headed magistrate..."

Teng Yuansong muttered to himself, shaking his head slightly: "It's good to be a little confused in life!"

As they were talking, a debate suddenly broke out among the onlookers.

"This is not the work of that muddle-headed magistrate. You don't know, but a few days ago, a retainer surnamed Zhuang came down from the Shen family... Otherwise, why wasn't the Fei family investigated before? Now that Lord Zhuang has arrived, the Fei family has been investigated?"

"That makes sense. So, we've thanked the wrong person. We shouldn't be thanking Magistrate Teng, but rather that Lord Zhuang?"

"You're the one who's foolish to believe that. That Zhuang family's retainer was an outsider. If it weren't for Magistrate Teng's cooperation, could the Fei family have been dealt with so quickly? It's all thanks to Magistrate Teng!"

"No, it's that Lord Zhuang! It's said that Lord Zhuang personally killed the old master of the Fei family. Only after the old master of the Fei family died did the investigation of the Fei family begin these past two days..."

"No! No! It should be attributed to Magistrate Teng! If Magistrate Teng hadn't taken charge, would you have been able to return your land and receive any compensation? You'd be dreaming!"

……

Zhuang Jin and Teng Yuansong exchanged a glance after hearing these voices, both seemingly realizing something. Shocked and enlightened, they also looked embarrassed.

"I am truly grateful to Magistrate Teng for stirring up trouble and pushing me to the forefront, allowing me to stand in the spotlight and receive all the glory, praise, resentment, and hatred!"

"I also thank Elder Zhuang for helping me clear my name... How can I put it? These past two days, rumors about the upright and just official have been rampant. I am truly grateful to Elder Zhuang's ancestors for eight generations!"

"Magistrate Teng is really good at playing dumb to fool others!"

"Likewise, elder brother, don't laugh at your second brother. The caution of Master Zhuang has truly opened my eyes."

Clearly, these past two days they've been directing public opinion to attribute credit and animosity to the other side... Their actions are identical, showing a remarkable tacit understanding.

After checking their accounts, the two tacitly moved on from the matter and changed the subject.

"The Yao family sent me gifts, hoping I could mediate. What do you think, Master Zhuang?"

"As previously stated, keep the Yao family in check, and once we have the time, we'll deal with them one by one."

The Yao family now has a martial artist who has reached the Qi Refining stage, and they also privately maintain elite soldiers and armored warriors, as well as powerful bows and crossbows, making them a formidable force. If they are determined to collude with the Medicine King Gang, they should not be underestimated.

In this situation, it is necessary to employ strategies and methods to defeat them one by one.

"Appease and confuse them, return the evidence that the Yao family intentionally cooperated with the Medicine King Gang in the looting... Get the Yao family to speak up for me in the Fei family matter, to write a letter of cooperation, give the Yao family the illusion that: I've already caused them a lot of trouble by cleaning up the Fei family, and I dare not continue to take action against them, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself..."

“I can also lend a hand. Brother Zhuang, you might as well use me as a raft, implying that you have come to Linji County as an outsider and need the Yao family as your wings to check and balance me, the county magistrate, and the county government…”

In just a few words, the two of them clearly saw through the Yao family's scheme.

"We also need to expose the Medicine King Gang's influence in Linji County, otherwise, it will be like a thorn in our side, making it impossible for us to eat or sleep properly!"

"That makes sense. If we play along for now and give the Yao family hope, they won't join forces with the Medicine King Gang for the time being and will be determined to go down this path... Once the Medicine King Gang's influence is exposed, they can be either destroyed or driven out, and the Yao family will be easier to deal with."

“A snake can’t function without a head. The key is that Master Sikong… The Medicine King Gang is new to Linji County, and their influence is not as deep-rooted as the Yao family’s, which has been established for many years and has elite soldiers, strong bows and crossbows… If we can find his location… behead him… or severely injure and drive him away… the rest will be much easier.”

"I do have an idea that we can try."

"Oh?" Zhuang Jin looked over.

"To carry out this method, we must mention a good place... the pleasure boat in the east of the city!"

……

In Linji County, the waterway to the north connects to the prefectural city, while the waterway to the east links several counties and is also a gathering place for pleasure boats.

Upon arriving here, Zhuang Jin felt she had gained a great deal of knowledge: outside the dock, the pleasure boats were divided into groups and sections... Each group of boats consisted of about twenty or so, all tied together with crossbeams, and wooden stakes were nailed between each other, with rattan rings attached to prevent them from bobbing... The boats were lined up bow to bow, with waterways in between, allowing passengers to travel back and forth in small boats...

"The pleasure boats of my Linji County are truly exceptional, featuring women from the prefectural city, women from other counties, and even women from outlying prefectures... divided into the Wan, Chao, and Huai groups..."

Teng Yuansong was an old hand at this, familiar with the place, and he took Zhuang Jin to the Wan Gang first.

The madam of the Wan Gang was a woman in her thirties or forties. Her hair was styled with silver strands that were coiled on the outside. She wore a light blue short jacket and long trousers that dragged all the way down to her insteps. She was barefoot and did not wear socks. She wore a kind of slipper that resembled a slipper.

The women here were dressed in various styles: some had their hair tied up in a bun, some had their hair braided, some had thick layers of powder on their faces, and some had rouge as bright as pomegranate blossoms. They wore either red tops and green pants or green tops and red pants. Some wore short socks and embroidered butterfly shoes, some were barefoot with silver rings on their feet, some were squatting on the kang (a heated brick bed), and some were leaning against the door, their eyes sparkling, without saying a word.

Teng Yuansong was a regular customer. When he brought Zhuang Jin over, the madam immediately came to greet him and offered not the women from outside, but the best girls from the upper class.

Teng Yuansong looked at Zhuang Jin, and seeing that Zhuang Jin was not very interested, he led her to the Chao Gang.

The madam of the Chao Gang was named Su Niang. She seemed to be quite famous among madams, and she still looked charming. Teng Yuansong seemed to be very familiar with her, and they were very affectionate and flirtatious. They still brought out the best girls to entertain her.

The girl here is dressed in a long-collared dress with a necklace around her neck. Her hair is level with her eyebrows in the front and falls to her shoulders at the back, tied in a bun in the middle. Her dress is a light blue, plain white, pink, pale yellow, or light orange gauze skirt.

Seeing that Zhuang Jin didn't seem very interested, Teng Yuansong took him to the Huai Gang.

The madam of the Huai Gang was called Widow Shao. Her courtesans had bushy, cloud-like hair, lightly applied makeup, and wore wide sleeves and long skirts. When they saw the two men, they greeted them warmly.

This attire suited Zhuang Jin's aesthetic, so she found it acceptable and stayed there with Teng Yuansong. Widow Shao said that these were all newly trained daughters who hadn't had their faces opened yet. Teng Yuansong chose a tall and plump girl named Hong Gu, while Zhuang Jin chose a girl named Zhi'er. The girl was young and had gentle features, and she looked three parts like Chen Yun.

After choosing a girl, we went to the top of the boat, where there were short railings on three sides. The setting sun was overhead, and the water and sky were vast all around. Wine boats, like scattered leaves, shuttled back and forth on the water.

In such an environment, chatting idly about romance, with two young ladies accompanying you, offering compliments and flattery, makes one feel relaxed and extremely happy.

The two women also had different styles. Hong Gu was a great beauty in a green dress, and her flattery was quite direct, with a voice like pearls falling on a jade plate. Zhi'er, on the other hand, was tender and innocent, and her beautiful eyes, which seemed to speak, looked at him with admiration, which was very satisfying for a man's masculine psychology.

A short while later, a commotion suddenly arose from below.

Widow Shao came over and said, "It's the second young master of the Yao family... because of this batch of new brides... I heard someone beat him to it, and he's making a huge fuss..."

Zhuang Jin and Teng Yuansong exchanged a glance, both knowing that this was most likely not a coincidence, but a deliberately created accident.

"Didn't they say Magistrate Teng was here?"

"Young Master Yao was drunk, and we couldn't stop him..."

As they were talking, a young man with greasy hair and a powdered face rushed in, staggering and calling out "beauty!" as he lunged at Zhi'er.

Swish!
Zhuang Jin threw a cup away.

"what!"

With a scream, Yao Shaozhao, the second young master of the Yao family, collapsed to the ground clutching his leg. Soon, two servants followed and helped Yao Shaozhao up. When they saw Teng Yuansong and then Zhuang Jin, they turned pale. They had seen Zhuang Jin's portrait and their master had instructed them to behave themselves and not offend him under any circumstances.

Zhuang Jin waved his hand: "Tell Patriarch Yao to discipline his son properly."

After the two servants led Yao Shaozhao away, the two were not affected at all; he was just a spoiled brat.

"Brother Zhuang, do you believe it or not, if you break this young master Yao's legs, the Yao family will have to come and apologize?"

"I believe!"

Teng Wensong: ...

How was he supposed to accept this? He had originally planned to take a gamble and have Zhuang Jin pay the bill today!

Having just rescued the damsel in distress, Zhi'er looked at Zhuang Jin with eyes that seemed to overflow with tears: "Thank you so much, Young Master Zhuang!"

……

As night fell and it was about time, Teng Yuansong and Zhuang Jin got up.

"Magistrate Teng, shall we stick to the old rules: buy him back and take him away?"

"That's natural!"

Teng Yuansong was notorious in Linji County for his greed and lust, and for his fickle nature. He would often select women from these pleasure boats, and after a few months, once the novelty wore off, he would "release" them. He would often give them a house and some money... This could probably be considered taking from the people and using it for the people?

Women who are "released" in this way are quite popular, and many families are willing to marry them, after all, they are "carefully selected" by the county magistrate!
"Brother Zhuang, you might as well take it with you; it will be very useful!" Teng Yuansong said with a meaningful smile.

Zhuang Jin understood what the other party meant; it was indeed very useful. In addition to its normal use, it might also be able to follow the clues and find the Master Sikong of the Medicine King Gang.

Human trafficking constitutes a significant portion of the Medicine King Gang's business. According to Teng Yuansong, the Medicine King Gang established an intelligence network in Linji County by starting with the pleasure boats, which is a suspected hideout.

Once the two arrive, they will most likely be targeted. If the two women pass on messages, we can follow the clues to find out more.

The previous incident involving the Second Young Master Yao was probably intended to create friction and create obstacles between Zhuang Jin, Teng Yuansong, and the Yao family, forcing the Yao family to side with the Medicine King Gang.
It might be the idea of ​​the people under the Medicine King Gang... but they're overthinking it. Let alone breaking one of that spoiled brat's legs, even if they broke both of his legs or even killed him, as long as the Yao family is spared this time, the Yao family head would have to smile and clap his hands, saying "Well done."

“That suits me perfectly. I didn’t bring any money with me today, so Magistrate Teng will lend me some.” Zhuang Jin said, then took Zhi’er’s arm and went out first.

He wasn't a fussy person, nor did he have any moral fastidiousness or self-restraint. He was mostly concerned about Chen Yun... He didn't get involved with this kind of woman with ulterior motives, and he didn't care about anything. His attitude was basically, 'Bad girl, don't waste her.'

The madam, Widow Shao, looked at Teng Yuansong: "Magistrate Teng, this money... we're all old acquaintances, so the discount... is two thousand taels..."

'Brother Zhuang, that's not fair!'

Teng Yuansong was cursing inwardly and was about to take out his money with a pained expression when Yao Gongyan, the head of the Yao family, arrived with his second son, whose other leg had also been broken. They were humble, apologized, and paid the bill, which need not be described in detail.

……

That night, after a night of passion, Teng Yuansong embraced Hong Gu.

Hong Gu's face was flushed as she leaned against Teng Yuansong, her hair brushing against his chest. "Lord Teng, these past two days there's been a lot of talk outside that you're a righteous and just official! What's going on? Tell me about it!"

"You're talking about this!"

Teng Yuansong narrowed his long, narrow eyes, a confused and absurd smile spreading across his chubby face. He reached out and put his arm around Hong Gu, groping around as he said, "This matter involves that Brother Zhuang you met today... We have some distant family ties... How could I ignore him when he came looking for us? That night..."

"In short, it's all thanks to Brother Zhuang. I benefited a lot from him this time... What, how much benefit? Probably enough to replace hundreds of women!"

……

"Do you believe me when I say it's all my doing?"

Zhuang Jin looked at this very useful woman and analyzed for her, "Think about it, I've only been here a few days, and I've already planted spies in the Fei and Yao families to gather evidence of their illegal activities. This time, in my investigation of the medicinal herb robbery case, the clues that these two wealthy families were connected to the Medicine King Gang all came from Magistrate Teng..."

"The entire Linji County has underestimated our magistrate; he's a man of great vision and wisdom..."

"So that's it!"

Zhi'er lowered her head, blinked her big eyes, and revealed an expression like a little fox who had stolen a chicken on her pure and innocent face.

……

The Medicine King Gang's core stronghold in Linji County.

"So, this whole thing was just a coincidence?"

Based on the information he had gathered, Sikong Rui analyzed the 'truth': "Teng Yuansong had long been eyeing the Fei and Yao families, wanting to make a fortune... Zhuang Jin and Teng Yuansong have a roundabout family relationship. They chose to investigate the case in Linji County, colluding with each other and coming here secretly... They unwittingly escaped my inescapable net?"

He was arrogant, conceited, and somewhat morbidly arrogant. He gathered information and believed that this was the truth.

"Zhuang Jin, you're lucky this time. You had Teng Yuansong, but next time, let's see who can help you escape this calamity?"

Sikong Rui took the problematic Meridian Opening Pill. The bad news was that he didn't break through to the second meridian realm; instead, his meridians were damaged, and his combat power decreased. The good news was that his bottleneck was being challenged, and he was confident that he could break through to the second meridian realm after his injuries healed.

"Once I recuperate for ten to fifteen days, recover from my injuries, and break through to the second meridian realm... even then, Zhuang Jin will still die!"

"Once this person dies, the Fei family will have done all the work for me, and the Yao family will be mine to keep..."

Sikong Rui muttered to himself, a sinister look appearing on his face. But before he could finish speaking, he suddenly looked outside, his expression changing drastically.

……

(End of this chapter)