Mo Sang – CH 172

Chapter 172. Entrustment

The next morning, regardless of whether the streets were crowded or empty, every shop and market opened its doors wide.

Since Master Wen had given the order, no one dared not open shop immediately.

Wen Cheng’s handwritten proclamations to reassure the people had already been posted everywhere. Purchasing officers from the Qi Army, carrying silver and copper coins, pulled carts to various markets and shops to buy goods, ensuring fair trade.

By afternoon, the streets gradually filled with people.

The Northern Qi Army had been stationed outside the city, peacefully and quietly, for a month or two. Just as the people of Ezhou were getting used to the large army outside, the sudden attack on the city began. After a night of terrifying fighting, the banners on the city walls changed from Liang to Qi.

The families inside the city were unprepared, remaining indoors for two or three days, but most could no longer hold out.

With the markets and shops open, those who needed to buy goods or earn a living had no choice but to bravely step out of their homes.

The streets and alleys, apart from the different banners atop the city walls, seemed unchanged.

The village head was still the village head, the shops in front of their doors were still the same, the streets were still the same, the shops were still the same, and the people were still the same.

Only occasionally would you encounter two or three Northern Qi soldiers on the road, all of them polite and willing to give way!

The next day, early in the morning, the north and east gates were pushed open by the soldiers guarding the city. Vegetable vendors carrying loads and butchers herding pigs entered from outside the city. By the afternoon, merchants from Northern Qi, with their caravans, arrived in Ezhou City, weary from their journey.

Behind the armies that conquered and seized territory were many daring merchants, seeking fortune in danger.

Li Sangrou did not stay in the military camp. Instead, she found an empty courtyard next to it. Unable to find a landlord, she rented it from a brokerage firm.

The next day, Li Sangrou, dressed as an ordinary woman from Ezhou, along with Hei Ma and Xiao Lu, strolled leisurely through the streets and alleys of Ezhou, starting from the military camp in the east and moving west and north.

After a day of wandering, they returned to their lodgings not far from the military camp. As soon as Li Sangrou entered the courtyard, Da Chang greeted her.

“There’s a hairdresser who’s come by two or three times, asking if Boss Li lives here. She says she can style all the latest hairstyles from both north and south of the Yangtze River.

I told her you do not style your hair, but she acted like she did not hear me.”

Li Sangrou raised an eyebrow slightly. “How does she know Boss Li? And how does she know we live here? Is she a local?”

“She looks like one and speaks fluent local dialect, but that local dialect thing…” Da Chang pointed to Hei Ma.

Using the local dialect to determine if someone was a local was too unreliable.

“There are not many like Hei Ma who can mimic speech. If she comes again, let her in,” Li Sangrou instructed, heading towards the main courtyard.

The residence was spacious yet simple. The so-called main courtyard consisted of three south-facing rooms inside the second gate.

The group, having spent the day sightseeing, had just sat down to stretch their legs and had not even had a sip of tea when an old woman’s voice rang out from outside the courtyard gate, “We have some fresh hairstyle samples. Would your family like to take a look?”

“She’s here again.” Da Chang turned and went outside, returning a moment later with an old woman in her forties.

The old woman had a pockmarked face and a rather unattractive appearance and was of medium height, thin and wiry. She wore an indigo jacket and trousers and a pale white skirt, giving her a very clean and efficient appearance.

“Who sent you to see me?” Li Sangrou asked directly, looking at the old woman who stood before her, curtsying.

“You must be Boss Li. I am here to comb your hair; I’ve got some new styles.” The old woman seemed flustered by Li Sangrou’s question.

“Who sent you to see me?” Li Sangrou looked at the old woman coldly and asked again.

“It was Concubine Su.” The old woman trembled under Li Sangrou’s cold gaze.

“Which Concubine Su?” Li Sangrou’s tone softened considerably.

“The Concubine Su who used to live across the street,” the old woman pointed behind her, her words mumbled.

The one who used to live across the street was Commander Wu, but now Ezhou City was under the control of the Northern Qi, and Commander Wu had been driven away.

“Datou, get her a stool to sit on, and pour her a cup of tea.” Li Sangrou looked at the old woman for a moment, then gave the order.

Datou brought over a stool, quickly poured a cup of tea, and handed it to the old woman.

The old woman sat down hesitantly, took the cup, and held it carefully in her hands.

“What brings you here? Speak,” Li Sangrou said gently.

“Yes,” the old woman hesitated, “my hairdressing skills are quite famous in Ezhou City. Boss, is it not…”

“I do not do hairdressing. If you have something to say, just say it. If not, do not come again,” Li Sangrou interrupted.

“Yes, yes, yes.” The old woman immediately became nervous, “Young lady…”

“Don’t call me ‘young lady’ or ‘lady’; you and I are good,” Li Sangrou interrupted the old woman again.

“Yes, young… I… I have something to say.” The old woman took a deep breath. “I’ll just say it directly; please don’t be offended, Boss. I… I’ve come to beg you, Boss. I really have no other choice; it’s a matter of life and death.

It’s…” The old woman took another deep breath.

“Do not rush; speak slowly. Let’s start with your surname and where you are from,” Li Sangrou said, leaning back in her chair.

“Yes, my surname is Liu, and I live in Dashitiao Lane. I make a living by combing hair.

This is about my niece, so let me tell you the story from the beginning.

This niece of mine, surnamed Zhou, is beautiful. Two years ago, she delivered a tassel to the Wang family, and Old Master Wang took a liking to her and brought her into the household as a concubine.

Only three months after Zhou entered the household, Old Master Wang returned home drunk, tripped on the steps at the gate, and fell unconscious for four or five days before dying.

When Old Master Wang died, Zhou was already pregnant. After ten months of pregnancy, she gave birth to a boy.

The Wang family said that their old master was over eighty years old and could not possibly have sex with anyone, and that Zhou’s child was illegitimate. So they kicked Zhou and the child out of their home.

Then, the Wang family divided the property, with the two brothers each taking half.”

Sister Zhou, furious, filed a lawsuit at the yamen.

At that time, Concubine Su had just moved into the house across the street. The young woman, while combing Concubine Su’s hair, was still seething with anger and told her about the matter. Concubine Su then asked the young woman to go to Commander Su, saying she wanted him to take a look at the yamen.

Commander Su said that if the Wang brothers wanted to claim the child was illegitimate, they needed evidence. Without evidence, it was simply slander, not only defaming Sister Zhou but also smearing their father’s reputation.

The Wang brothers could not produce any proof. Later, Sister Zhou won the lawsuit, and the two Wang brothers received a house, some land, and money in return.

Just a month or so of peace and quiet, and then…” Old Nanny Liu swallowed the rest of her words.

The city of Ezhou had changed hands; even the prefect had fled.

“Seven or eight days ago, Concubine Su sent someone to call me over to comb my hair.

She told me that a fight was bound to break out between the city and the outside world sooner or later. If the outside world attacked and anything happened to Sister Zhou, she told me to go to the military camp and find Boss Li, saying that everyone there knew her.

On the first day the market opened, the Wang brothers led their men and drove Sister Zhou and her child out. Now, the mother and child are staying with me.

I had no choice but to go find Boss Li, and sure enough, everyone knew her.

I first asked at the opposite camp gate, and they said Boss Li lived there, so I came here. I came yesterday but did not dare go closer. Today, I really had no other choice,” Old Nanny Liu sighed repeatedly.

“Where are Sister Zhou’s family members?” Li Sangrou asked, listening intently.

“Her,” Old Nanny Liu paused and then smiled bitterly. “Zhou’s mother was bought by her father for five hundred coins. After he bought her, he could not keep her at home; she kept running away. Later, her father broke one of her mother’s legs, so she could not run anymore.

After giving birth to her, her mother never had a successful birth. She would always miscarry after one or two months, two or three months.”

Old Nanny Liu paused again, then continued, “She was a pitiful woman, speaking a foreign dialect her whole life.

At the beginning of the year before last, Zhou’s father caught a cold and died.

A few months later, Old Master Wang took a liking to Zhou and wanted to bring her into his household. Zhou’s mother demanded two hundred taels of silver and let the Wang family take her away.

The day after Zhou was taken away, her mother sold the house for a pittance and left, presumably returning home.

Sister Zhou’s mother never cared about her or fed her after she was born. Sister Zhou’s father held her in his arms and grew up on many families’ milk.

Alas, they are all poor people. “

“Are you related to the Zhou family?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Old Nanny Liu.

“Neighbor, on the same street, Sister Zhou was born well since she was a child. She was very thin when she was a child and had big eyes. People on the street loved her. Alas, she grew up eating many families’ foods and wearing many families’ clothes,” Old Nanny Liu sighed softly.

“Is this child really Master Wang’s?” Li Sangrou was silent for a moment, looking at Old Nanny Liu, and asked.

“Do you even need to ask? I have not asked before.” Old Nanny Liu did not look at Li Sangrou.

“Is Sister Zhou still planning to get married? Is there a suitable person?” Li Sangrou asked next.

“I have not asked, and I cannot think of this now.” Old Nanny Liu avoided Li Sangrou’s question smoothly.

“Then her plan is to take it one step at a time?” Li Sangrou asked again.

“Right now, we can only take it one step at a time. Look at Ezhou City; things can change so easily,” Old Nanny Liu said, looking at Li Sangrou.

“Yes,” Li Sangrou smiled slightly. “Commander Su is quite right. If the Wang brothers want to accuse their little brother of being a bastard, they need evidence. Without evidence, it’s just slander.

This principle applies under Southern Liang, and it still applies under Qi.

Go back and have Sister Zhou continue to file a complaint with the yamen.”

Old Nanny Liu hesitated. “The yamen…”

She did not finish her sentence. The former prefect had run away, and now the yamen was deserted, not even having a yamen runner.

“Go to the yamen gate and beat the drum. When the drum sounds, someone will come,” Li Sangrou said, smiling at Old Nanny Liu.

“Alright then.” Old Nanny Liu hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded. “Thank you, Boss.”

“Can you read?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile, looking at Old Nanny Liu, who had stood up.

“I know a few characters, not many,” Old Nanny Liu replied hastily, bowing slightly.

“Well, go ahead. Write the petition and then go beat the drum.

Do not worry, whether it’s Southern Liang or Northern Qi, the laws are the same, and the principles are the same.” Li Sangrou smiled and waved to Old Nanny Liu.

Watching Old Nanny Liu leave the courtyard, Li Sangrou looked at Xiao Lu and instructed, “You both heard what she said. You and Datou, go and inquire around Dashitiao Lane tomorrow.”

“Alright,” Xiao Lu readily agreed.

Inquiring about such gossip was quite interesting.

“You want her to be the manager?” Da Chang asked in a low voice.

“Hmm, she’s bold, resourceful, and has been going from street to street for decades. She’s well-versed in human relationships, literate, and willing to go to such lengths to help others. At least she’s responsible. I will inquire further,” Li Sangrou smiled, in a very good mood.

She had already chosen a shop and found a manager. Then, the Shunfeng Delivery Shop in Ezhou City could open for business.

Killing was depressing and unpleasant; making money through business was what brought joy!

The next morning, at the empty gate of the yamen, a young woman holding a child timidly stepped forward, mustered her courage, and struck the large drum for filing a complaint.

When Wen Cheng arrived at the yamen, a crowd of onlookers had already gathered, craning their necks and watching intently.

This made Wen Cheng deeply moved.

When he read the notes of his predecessors, he recalled those who dared to crowd around and watch the battles between armies. At the time, he thought it was mere speculation, but now, it seemed not entirely unfounded.

Wen Cheng stood before the wall, turning to look at the circle of timid onlookers, heads bowed, fearful yet unwilling to miss the spectacle. He simply stood before the wall and accepted the petition Sister Zhou handed him.

The petition was written entirely in vernacular Chinese, yet was perfectly clear. Wen Cheng skimmed through it, then looked at Sister Zhou, who was kneeling before him, holding her child, and asked, “Your petition says that you already filed a lawsuit a month and a half ago?”

“Yes,” Sister Zhou replied, her voice trembling.

“Then why are you filing another petition? Is the division of the family property unfair?” Wen Cheng raised his voice so the onlookers could hear him clearly.

“No, it’s the Eldest and Second Masters who said that the judgment from the former Liang dynasty does not count,” Sister Zhou said, her voice still trembling.

“After the Commander-in-Chief entered the city, he received an imperial edict and proclaimed throughout the city: the Qi law is similar to the Liang law; any differences will be announced separately.

According to the imperial edict, this petition has already been judged, so there’s no need to file another petition. If anyone disregards the judgment, you only need to report it to the yamen. Take this petition back.

Bai-Cheng, take her to write the petition, and then take people to investigate whether her petition is true. If anyone disobeys the law or the imperial decree, punish them severely according to the law.”

Wen Cheng handed the petition back to Sister Zhou and then instructed Bai-Cheng.

Bai-Cheng nodded and gestured to Sister Zhou. “Sister, please come this way.”

Wen Cheng turned and went back to the camp.

The onlookers outside became noisy, jostling and whispering, standing in groups outside the yamen, craning their necks to wait for Bai-Cheng and Sister Zhou to come out and join the fun. The case of the 80-year-old man in the Wang family having a child was one of the most talked-about things in the city.