Chapter 4: Cheng’s Trading Company (2/2) Please add to your favorites and recommend!

Tomorrow they were to go to Zhongyang Temple to request talisman water, a matter that would determine the course of Cao Peng’s entire life. Zhang, naturally, attached great importance to it.

Since they were going to request talisman water, it was unthinkable to go empty-handed. There were no free lunches in this world; the talisman water of Zhongyang Temple was renowned. Without an offering, it was impossible to obtain one. But what to offer? Certainly not the traditional sacrificial meats. Zhongyang Temple had no shortage of those. What they sought in return for their talisman water was money; without gold or silk as offerings, how could one expect to receive a potent talisman? This was something everyone understood.

Ever since the Yellow Turban Rebellion led by the Taiping Daoists, the imperial court had tightened their surveillance of magicians and mystics.

In the first year of Zhongping, Zhang Jiao and his brothers attracted a vast number of followers by distributing talisman water, causing inestimable harm to the Han dynasty. Therefore, any magician found distributing talisman water would be immediately arrested and interrogated.

As a result, magicians began to brazenly seize the opportunity to amass wealth. Distributing talisman water was permissible, but only if one brought forth money as an offering—an exchange, plain and simple. The authorities were unconcerned with the magicians profiting from this; what worried them was the risk of attracting followers and inciting unrest.

Thus, the trade in talisman water became open and aboveboard. The amount you offered determined the quality of the talisman water you received; magician and official could coexist in peace.

The Cao family was by no means wealthy. Cao Ji was a third-rate blacksmith, barely scraping by repairing iron tools. Zhang, after much deliberation, feared that if she did not demonstrate enough sincerity, she would not be able to obtain the best talisman water. So, she secretly took out her ancestral jade pendant, intending to exchange it for more money to secure talisman water for Cao Peng and ensure his lifelong safety.

Zhang’s grandfather’s grandfather had once lived in some glory. Later, the family fell into decline, and by Zhang’s generation, they were commoners. When she married Cao Ji, she brought no valuable dowry—only the ancestral jade pendant remained.

At dawn, Zhang took the pendant to the market.

In her heart, she knew that in a small place like Zhongyang Town, the ancestral jade pendant would hardly fetch a high price. Yet, despite understanding this, she still harbored hope of selling it for as much as possible. The ordinary small shops would not pay much, and if she left the pendant with them, they might not even recognize its true worth. Not knowing its value, they could never offer a price that would satisfy her. After much thought, Zhang finally chose Cheng’s Trading House.

Just as in the big cities, even small towns had their disparities between rich and poor. Cheng’s Trading House was the largest business in Zhongyang Town, specializing in purchasing mountain goods. Nearly all the mountain products in Zhongyang were bought by them. At the same time, Cheng’s also ran a pawn business. The manager was named Cheng Ji, rumored to have connections in the local government.

Zhang thought, with such a large business, perhaps they would know a treasure when they saw one.

“Excellent jade!” exclaimed the pawnbroker at Cheng’s, who had a discerning eye and instantly recognized the value of the pendant. “Sister-in-law, where did you get such a jade piece?”

Living in the same town, the pawnbroker knew Zhang.

She replied, “It is a family heirloom. If not for my child’s poor health, and my desire to request talisman water for him at Zhongyang Temple, I would never have parted with it.”

The pawnbroker had heard something about Cao Peng’s plight. He nodded sympathetically and then said, “This pendant is quite old, and the carving is exquisite—not something from an ordinary family. If you are looking for an outright sale, our house is willing to offer you twenty strings of cash. What do you think?”

Top-grade talisman water required about ten strings as an offering! The remaining ten could buy medicines to nourish Cao Peng’s body.

Zhang was overjoyed and was about to accept.

But at that moment, a voice rang out from behind the counter: “What sort of thing could be worth twenty strings?”

A short, stout, swarthy man in fine brocade robes emerged from the back room, picked up the pendant, and examined it in his hand.

“Manager, this is the Cao family’s daughter-in-law, pawning a fine jade pendant,” the pawnbroker said.

This was Cheng Ji, the owner of Cheng’s Trading House. He glanced at Zhang, then suddenly sneered, “Fine jade? It’s nothing but a battered, broken piece. One string.”

He pointed at the pawnbroker, cursing, “You blockhead—do you think this is a charity house? Next time, look more carefully…”

With that, he pocketed the jade pendant and walked away.

Seeing the price drop from twenty strings to one in an instant, how could Zhang agree?

“That jade… I won’t sell it! Give it back to me!”

Did Cheng Ji not know its value? Of course he did. He saw the worth of the pendant at a glance, but paying twenty strings was out of the question. As the rumors went, Cheng Ji was a well-connected businessman—brother to the county magistrate of Wuyin, and his daughter was a concubine to Zhang Xiu’s nephew, Zhang Xin!

Nanyang Commandery belonged to Jingzhou. After the Han Emperor Guangwu rose to power from Nanyang, he established Wan as the secondary capital, also called the Southern Capital. The commandery governed thirty-seven counties on behalf of Liu Biao. But in truth, since Zhang Ji and his nephew Zhang Xiu invaded Nanyang, the commandery had been split. North of Jiyang was Zhang Xiu’s territory, while to the south, including Jiyang and sixteen other counties, Liu Biao held sway.

In Wan city, Cheng Ji was nothing special. But here, in Wuyin, with his status and his elder brother as his backing, he was undeniably the local tycoon of Zhongyang.

“You troublesome woman! One moment you sell, the next you don’t—what do you think this place is?” Cheng Ji’s intentions were clear to Zhang—he meant to cheat her of the pendant. She grew anxious and quickly waved her hands, “I won’t sell! I won’t!”

Seeing this, Cheng Ji’s expression darkened. He, the great Master Cheng, was used to having his way in Wuyin County. If he wanted something, he would never let go easily. Zhang’s firm refusal, tinged with panic and perhaps a hint of disrespect, only made him more displeased.

His eyes rolled, and he quickly hatched a plan. His plump face broke into a smile. “Sister-in-law Cao, if you don’t wish to sell, then so be it!” he said, handing the pendant back to her and turning away.

Zhang, not thinking much of it, took the pendant and headed for the door. Cheng Ji’s domineering manner unsettled her, and she wanted to leave quickly. But as she reached the door, Cheng Ji suddenly shouted, “Where’s my qilin jade pendant?”

Zhang froze, instinctively quickening her pace.

In that instant, Cheng Ji bellowed, “Stop that peasant woman! She’s stolen my jade pendant!”

Two burly servants at the door rushed over, pinned Zhang to the ground, and the pendant slipped from her grasp. Terrified, she cried out, “I didn’t take your pendant! Don’t falsely accuse an honest woman!”

“You thief! Caught red-handed and still you argue?” Cheng Ji sneered, picking up the fallen pendant, brushing off the dust, and slipping it into his robe.

“This woman stole my pendant—you all saw it, didn’t you?” He glared at his shop assistants with his sharp little eyes. Even if they knew the truth, faced with his menacing look, they dared not contradict him and all replied in unison, “We saw it!”

Zhang burst into tears.

“Call the Three Elders!” Cheng Ji barked. “If this thief woman isn’t taught a lesson today, she’ll never learn her place!”

The Three Elders were the local officials. Zhongyang Town was small but had nearly a thousand residents, and Wuyin County was some distance away, so someone had to be in charge. The Three Elders were supposed to be men over fifty, virtuous and able to lead others in good conduct. But in these troubled times, where could such men be found? In truth, the title was privately bestowed. They handled disputes and local security.

—

Cao Peng had not witnessed what happened, but he believed his mother would never stoop to theft.

Seeing her pinned under the fat man’s boot, Cao Peng was filled with rage. In the ten days since his rebirth, Zhang’s care had moved him deeply. Awkward as he still felt, he already regarded Zhang as his true mother. His eyes reddened and, without another word, he made to rush forward.

A large hand grabbed his arm. He looked up—it was Wang Meng.

“Afu, don’t be rash!”

“Uncle, let me go! I’ll kill that fat scoundrel!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Wang Meng held him fast, lowering his voice. “If you rush in, things will only get worse. Cheng Ji is a local tyrant with the county magistrate as his backer—you can’t stand against him. Stay here—let me handle this.”

Just then, the Three Elders arrived in haste.

“Master Cheng, what’s happened?”

“This thief woman stole my jade pendant. All my shopmen can testify. Lock her up at once and report to Wuyin County. I want these lowly folk to know who rules here!”

“Uncle Zhang, I didn’t steal anything—that pendant is my family heirloom!”

“A lowly woman dares claim an heirloom? Old Zhang, this stubborn thief needs a good lesson, I say.”

The townsfolk whispered among themselves.

The Elder smiled obsequiously. “Master Cheng is right—a harsh lesson is in order!” He gestured to his followers, “Give her a good beating—teach her to behave.”

“Stop!” A thunderous shout erupted from the crowd, making ears ring. Wang Meng strode forth, dressed in a black, cross-collared short robe, a broad belt at his waist, a gleaming hunting knife tucked in, and an iron fork slung over his shoulder.

He looked every inch a black iron Buddha, his thick brows knit in a straight line, round eyes glaring, steel whiskers bristling fiercely—a figure to inspire awe.

“Master Cheng, even in killing, there’s a limit—why torment my sister-in-law like this?”

He turned his fierce eyes on the Elder and thundered, “You, Old Zhang, shame on you—are you not one of the Three Elders of Zhongyang? Don’t you know what kind of woman my sister-in-law is? We’re all neighbors—leave room for each other, so we can still meet in future, isn’t that right?”

The force of his presence was overwhelming.

Cheng Ji’s heart lurched, his face changing color.

The Elder plastered on a sheepish grin. “Tiger, you don’t understand what happened…”

“Nonsense! I may not know everything, but I know exactly what kind of woman my sister-in-law is!” Wang Meng strode forward, seized the follower by the collar, and snarled, “If you want to live, get out of my way!”

Terrified, the follower backed off.

Wang Meng helped Zhang to her feet. “Are you all right, sister?”

“Uncle, I swear I didn’t steal…” Zhang cried, but Wang Meng stopped her, supporting her with one hand, striking his iron fork on the ground. “Master Cheng, what do you say now?”

The sight of Wang Meng’s fury made Cheng Ji retreat several steps, almost landing on his backside. The energy he exuded was simply too intimidating. Cheng Ji, though no killer, could sense Wang Meng’s murderous aura.

“Heh, since you’ve spoken, Tiger, I’ll let you have your way. I’ll drop the matter. Take her and go.”

Wang Meng’s gaze was icy as he looked at the Elder.

“Since Master Cheng won’t pursue it, let’s leave it here,” the Elder said.

Wang Meng snorted, “Sister, let’s go home and discuss this with Old Cao.”

“But…” Zhang hesitated, for the pendant was still with Cheng Ji.

Wang Meng whispered, “Better to lose money than suffer disaster. We’ll talk it over at home and decide what to do.”

He called out, “Afu, aren’t you coming to help your mother home?”

Cao Peng, on the edge of the crowd, answered quickly and rushed over with Wang Mai; one on each side, they supported Zhang.

“Peng’er, your mother didn’t steal.”

Cao Peng glanced at Cheng Ji, gritting his teeth. “Mother, I believe you. That fat scoundrel played a trick.”

A mother always wants to keep a perfect image in her child’s eyes. Hearing these words, Zhang felt comforted. Clinging to her son and Wang Mai, she fought back her sobs and walked home.

Wang Meng saluted Cheng Ji and the Elder, then followed.

“Disperse, all of you! Disperse!” the Elder shouted, sending the crowd away.

“Master Cheng, about this matter…”

“That Wang Tiger, relying on his brute strength, dares to spoil my plans!” Cheng Ji glared after Wang Meng and his companions, gnashing his teeth. “If I don’t get rid of that Tiger, how can I hold my head up in Zhongyang?”

The Elder hesitated, “To be honest, I’ve had enough of him too. But he’s no ordinary man—few can match him. I think we’ll need the Old Master to intervene.”

The Old Master was Cheng Ji’s brother, the county magistrate of Wuyin.

Cheng Ji said, “Convincing my brother to act is possible, but we’ll need a pretext.”

The Elder grinned slyly. “That’s not hard. This Wang Tiger isn’t originally from Zhongyang. I hear he once served with the Yellow Turbans. We could use that as a reason—claim he’s in league with the mountain bandits.”

In Zhongyang’s mountains, besides the temple, there were bandits. Though they never harmed the town, bandits were still enemies of the authorities.

Hearing this, Cheng Ji’s plump face split into a broad smile.

“That’s it! I’ll send word to Wuyin at once. Let that Wang Tiger be bold for another few days. Soon enough, I’ll see if a headless tiger can still strut around…”

—End—