Chapter 51: Money Isn't Important; What Matters Is Face!

"Yet, what can the Dong family possibly offer you?"

"Hmm?"

Liu Qi's gaze flickered.

He stared intently at Cheng An.

Cheng An, however, replied calmly, "Nowadays, the business of Fragrant Delights Pavilion is steadily thriving, generating at least thirty guan in taxes each year. But what about the Dong family?"

Has the Dong family ever paid taxes?

"Aside from all that..."

He looked up at Liu Qi and continued, "My lord, you have served for many years; your political achievements and reputation are already more than sufficient. Would you really ruin your future for the sake of the Dong family?"

Wealth was undeniably desirable.

Yet compared to one's future, money was utterly worthless!

Without the 'tribute' from the Dong family, Liu Qi would merely have a few less illicit coins in his pockets. But what Cheng An was offering him was genuine, tangible political achievement!

Moreover.

The Dong family had wealth, but did the Gu family lack it?

And more importantly—

Human favors!

Cheng An might be young, but his presence was undeniable.

Given the high regard Wang Shan held for him, he practically treated Cheng An as his own protégé. Even if Cheng An never entered officialdom in the future, this bond would not easily be severed.

Which choice was closer, and which was further? Was there even a need to deliberate?

Liu Qi drew a deep breath.

Re-evaluating the 'child prodigy' before him, he sighed, "If you truly enter officialdom in the future, I truly wonder whether it will be the fortune or the curse of our Great Zhou Dynasty!"

***

In the front hall.

Dong Dakang arrived with a bewildered expression.

When he saw Wu Ji and Guo Jing kneeling in the hall, he was startled at first, a trace of malicious resentment flashing through his eyes, though he quickly regained his composure.

It was merely a petty dispute!

Even if these two idiots confessed to dragging him into it, who would believe them?

"Patriarch Dong."

Matters having reached this point, Liu Qi dispensed with pleasantries. Raising his eyes, he said, "An hour ago, these two attempted to poison Fragrant Delights Pavilion. According to their confessions..."

"P-Poison?"

Dong Dakang's smile froze, the flesh on his face twitching violently. He abruptly turned his head and glared at Wu Ji and Guo Jing kneeling on the floor.

The two men kept their heads lowered, not daring to draw a full breath.

Liu Qi coughed awkwardly, pointed at Cheng An nearby, and said, "This is Cheng An, a registered scholar. He is also the one who filed the complaint."

Only then did Dong Dakang notice...

Standing beside Liu Qi was a child of eight or nine years old.

He was a registered scholar?

Was he the celebrated 'child prodigy' of Qingshui Town who had caused such a stir recently?

"Slander!"

"This old man has never..."

Dong Dakang was about to fly into a rage.

Liu Qi waved a hand and said bitterly, "Patriarch Dong, wait a moment. There is another matter! Three months ago, Cheng An was ambushed and pursued on his way to the examinations. According to rumors..."

"Hired assassins?"

***

"Damn it..."

Dong Dakang nearly spat out a curse.

His eyes blazing with ferocity, he said, "Kid, this old man has no grudge against you. Why level false accusations? Do you think that just because you are a scholar, you can flout the laws of the nation?"

Sashing a shop was only a minor friction.

Even with evidence, it would amount to nothing more than paying some compensation.

However, hiring assassins and attempted poisoning...

The brat was not old at all.

Yet his methods were truly ruthless!

If even one of these two charges stuck, the Dong family going bankrupt would be getting off lightly!

"Lord Liu."

Dong Dakang's tone grew colder. "You surely don't believe such clumsy slander, do you? Where is the evidence? Where did this 'poison' come from? And who can prove that Dong here attempted murder?"

"This is the evidence."

Cheng An drew a small paper packet from his robe.

It was some rat poison he had casually picked up from a corner on his way out.

"This is sheer fabrication!"

"Yet who can disprove it?"

Liu Qi's tone was flat. "Cheng An is a scholar. Since he has come to file a complaint, this official cannot simply ignore it. Since Patriarch Dong claims it is a fabrication, you should produce proof."

"Where on earth am I supposed to..."

Before he could finish his sentence,

Dong Dakang suddenly looked up and stared hard at Liu Qi.

Four words abruptly surfaced in his mind—officials shield one another!

Cheng An was not an official, but the weight carried by an eight-year-old scholar was exceptionally high, especially since he had personally stepped forward to back the Gu family. Combine the two...

Naturally, Liu Qi knew whose side to take!

This was a blatant setup!

Yet he was the one in the wrong!

Just look at the two fools kneeling in the hall...

If no satisfactory resolution was provided today, neither Liu Qi nor Cheng An would let the matter rest.

Dong Dakang took a deep breath, lowered his head, and cupped his hands.

"I have been wronged, and I hope my lord will discern the truth!"

The unspoken meaning was...

'I concede!'

"Cheng An..."

Liu Qi looked at Cheng An, his facial expression richly complex.

Putting on a stern and solemn expression, he asked, "You accuse Dong Dakang of attempted murder, but do you have proof? Furthermore, can you prove whether this 'poison' actually belongs to Dong Dakang?"

"This student..."

Cheng An's innocent and naive face revealed a hint of dejection.

He shook his head helplessly and said, "This student cannot prove it."

"Since the evidence is insufficient..."

Liu Qi immediately pronounced judgment, "Then this matter cannot be established as 'attempted poisoning'. However, Dong Dakang's instigation of others to cause a disturbance is a proven fact. He is sentenced to a fine of two hundred coins! Do any of you have objections?"

"My lord is wise!"

***

Dong Dakang glared fiercely at Cheng An in silence.

Two hundred coins was nothing.

Given the financial resources of the Dong family, even tearing down Fragrant Delights Pavilion was something he could afford to compensate!

Yet what about his pride?

Once word of this spread, not to mention the humiliation, people would say the Dong family was afraid of the Gu family. How could he ever show his face in Qingshui Town again?

"As for the two of you..."

Liu Qi glanced at the two simpletons kneeling on the floor.

He said indifferently, "Wu Ji and Guo Jing intentionally caused a disturbance, which ought to be severely punished! However, given your cooperative attitude in confessing... the corporal punishment is remitted, but you are fined two hundred coins each!"

"Many thanks for my lord's boundless grace!"

The two men instantly beamed with joy.

They turned in unison to look at Cheng An, their eyes filled with deep admiration.

***

In the backyard of Fragrant Delights Pavilion.

The two simpletons stood submissively in a corner.

Cheng An took a sip from the teacup handed to him by Manager Niu, and said indifferently, "I've already paid the fines for the both of you. Why are you still following me?"

"But Dong Dakang will definitely seek revenge."

Guo Jing hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and said respectfully, "If the young master doesn't mind, my brother and I would like to follow you from now on."

"I do mind!"

The two men were struck speechless.

Manager Niu turned his head away, suppressing a chuckle.

Cheng An laughed with exasperation. "With the intelligence the two of you share, even if you combined your brains you wouldn't equal a fool. What could you possibly do following me? Continue being local ruffians?"

The two sighed in disappointment.

Just as they were about to leave, they heard Cheng An add, "However, I do indeed have a task here, though it carries a certain amount of risk. If you are willing..."

"We are willing!"

Guo Jing, clearly sharper-witted than Wu Ji, nodded immediately!

Since the two of them had now offended the Dong family, it was equivalent to offending half of Qingshui Town. If they wanted to continue making a living here, Cheng An was their only option.

"The two of you go straight out onto the street..."

After listening to Cheng An's arrangements,

Wu Ji involuntarily shivered, hesitating as he said, "Young Master Cheng, is this really wise? You've already won the lawsuit, why must you push things to the bitter end?"

"Just tell me whether you can do it or not."

"I..."

Wu Ji was torn with indecision.

Seeing his hesitation, Cheng An suddenly smiled.

"Then let me ask you both: given Dong Dakang's personality, do you think he will simply let this rest?"

Both men shook their heads simultaneously.

Cheng An smiled benignly and said, "There you have it. Since you know the other party will seek revenge, why not strike first and gain the upper hand?"