Chapter Eighteen: Thoroughly Betrayed

Xiao Ding noticed that Magistrate Hu kept circling around the subject without mentioning the reward, so he took the initiative to bring it up himself.

Magistrate Hu, however, remained unhurried, smiling as he said, "Oh, the reward? No need to rush, no need to rush."

Xiao Ding thought to himself, "You may not be in a hurry, but I most certainly am!"

Magistrate Hu continued, "Hero Tian, since it is now midday, why don’t I host you today? I’ll have the kitchen prepare a few good dishes, and the three of us can enjoy a drink together. What do you say?"

What a blatant lie! It was clearly already past noon. Xiao Ding had already eaten four bowls of wontons; he had no appetite left for another meal.

"Sir, I only wish to collect my reward and return home…" Xiao Ding said.

"Haha, there’s no rush, really," Magistrate Hu replied. "And you don’t need to keep calling me 'sir.' Meeting you today feels like meeting an old friend. I’m a few years your senior—if you don’t mind, why don’t we address each other as brothers from now on?"

"That’s out of the question," Xiao Ding refused. "Your status is far above mine; I’m just a country bumpkin. How dare I presume to stand as your equal? I only wish to collect my reward and go home…"

"Come now, what’s all this about status?" Magistrate Hu said, feigning indignation. "I’ve never looked down on you! It’s settled then. If you keep refusing, that means you look down on me!"

With no way out, Xiao Ding could only nod and agree, "Very well, sir…"

"Why are you still calling me 'sir'?" Magistrate Hu frowned.

"Ah, right—Brother Hu, your younger brother greets you!" Xiao Ding cupped his hands and bowed again.

"That’s more like it, Brother Tian! There’s no need for such formality. From now on, we’re family. If you ever have any difficulties, don’t hesitate to come to me…" Magistrate Hu was gearing up for more empty boasting when Xiao Ding interjected,

"Brother Hu, about my reward…" He looked at Magistrate Hu with pleading eyes.

"Brother," Magistrate Hu said shamelessly, "now that we’re brothers, let’s just forget about the reward, shall we?"

Forget about it? Damn it! After circling me for half the day, this is what you were after all along! This old fox! He may look the part of a harmless scholar, but inside he’s slyer than any fox—truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing! Xiao Ding was so furious he nearly exploded.

But he dared not let it show, so he pressed on,

"Brother Hu, as an official, you must keep your word to the people! I can’t have hunted that wolf for nothing—look at all these wounds…"

"Mm, you’re right, Brother Tian! I can’t let you suffer a loss. How about this: I’ll take you both to Fragrant Pavilion for a drink to calm your nerves? That’s the finest restaurant in all of Luoxia County!"

"Brother Hu, I don’t drink. I just want my reward…" Xiao Ding replied with a pained expression.

"Or perhaps," Magistrate Hu leered, "I could take you to the Blossom House for the company of a couple of lovely girls? You look strong and vigorous, I’m sure you—"

"Brother Hu, I just want my reward…" Xiao Ding cut him off.

"Brother, I have an ancestral inkstone, an exquisite She stone, passed down from my forebear Hu Yan—"

"Brother Hu, I want my reward…" Xiao Ding insisted.

"You truly are stubborn, brother! Tell me, are you married? I have a sister-in-law, gentle and beautiful, just come of age this year. If you’re interested—"

"Brother Hu, I already have a family. I just want my reward…"

"Sigh… Brother, you may not know, but I’m not exactly flush with cash. How about this: Head Constable Sun is at home recovering from his injuries, so there’s an opening. You’re strong and skilled—why not take the post? It would be far better than farming in the countryside…"

So that was what he was really after all along: talent recruitment, a classic trick for any official. Without this, one could never hope for advancement.

"Brother Hu, I’m just a rustic, unfit for such a stage. I only want my reward…" Two hundred taels of silver—how could I possibly pass that up?

"Well…" Magistrate Hu was at a loss. He hadn’t expected Xiao Ding to be so obstinate, unmoved by all his temptations. By rights, a poor bumpkin should leap at the chance for a government post—surely that’s worth more than two hundred taels! After all, silver gets spent, but a post brings steady wages. Is this lad a fool?

But Xiao Ding had other thoughts: working under you would only mean endless toil and the risk of being made a scapegoat. Why not enjoy freedom at home? If there’s no money, I can always earn more later—why tie myself up?

Magistrate Hu pondered for a moment, seeing Xiao Ding would not budge. His eyes darted as he continued, "Brother Tian, tell me, if I don’t eat the wolf meat but sell the carcass instead, how much could I fetch for it?"

Xiao Ding wasn’t sure. He’d heard from Zhao Laixi that it would go for five taels at best in the town, maybe ten in the county if a wealthy buyer came along. If the magistrate himself sold it, people would surely pay a premium.

So he replied, "If you sell it yourself, Brother Hu, I’d say fifty taels is quite possible."

"Fifty taels? Not bad, not bad!" Magistrate Hu sipped his tea, then turned to an attendant. "Go to the accounts room and fetch fifty taels to reward my worthy brother!"

"Yes, sir," the attendant replied and left.

Xiao Ding stared, wide-eyed—Wasn’t the reward two hundred taels? Why only fifty?

"Brother Hu, the notice said two hundred taels…" Xiao Ding reminded.

"That’s right," Magistrate Hu replied smoothly. "The notice did say two hundred taels, but that was for killing or capturing two wolves. Today you brought only one. The fate of the other is still unknown, so I can only pay you for one."

It kind of made sense! All because of his own greed in eating the second wolf. Even if Head Constable Sun were here, there’d be no proof of the second.

"But shouldn’t one wolf be worth a hundred taels?" Xiao Ding pressed.

"Yes, one should be worth a hundred—but I’ve decided not to keep this dead wolf. You can take it and sell it yourself, at the price you just named: fifty taels. One wolf plus fifty taels, that makes up your reward. Fair and square!" Magistrate Hu said, his face the picture of reason.

Xiao Ding wished he could slap himself for blurting out that fifty tael figure—he’d been tricked by this old fox!

Damn it! Damn you, you rascal! Curse your ancestors! Xiao Ding silently let loose a torrent of curses in his mind, hating Magistrate Hu to the core. The man shouldn’t be called "Hu Tu" ("Confused"), but rather "Hu Li" ("Fox")!

This time, he’d truly been swindled.