Before Zhang Fei’s shout had even finished, Gao Wenyin turned and rushed toward the stone platform with a missing corner.
“Sister-in-law!”
Everyone was shocked.
Just as it seed she would et her tragic end, a dark figure suddenly appeared in front of Gao Wenyin, and she collided with him.
Gao Wenyin nearly knocked herself unconscious, swaying slightly. When she looked up, she instinctively called out, “Fifth Brother?”
It was the coachman.
With an impassive face, the coachman said, “Please take care of yourself, Sister-in-law.”
“Sister-in-law!”
The young man reacted quickly, rushing forward, “Why would you do this, Sister-in-law?”
Tears that had been welling in Gao Wenyin’s eyes finally fell, “Your big brother is already gone. Now that I’ve seen all of you safe, I have no more attachnts.”
The scholar said, “But if sothing happens to you, how can we face our big brother?”
Gao Wenyin stubbornly shook her head, “My mind is made up. Even if you stop today, I will find a way to join your brother. Please understand and let go.”
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
“Wait a minute!”
A voice called out.
Everyone turned their heads to see Zhang Fei, still lying on the ground, addressing Gao Wenyin, “Lady! A person should keep their word. I bought you for fifteen hundred strings. You are my woman now. Shouldn’t you at least say goodbye to before you die?”
“You bastard, what are you talking about?”
The black-faced man was infuriated and stord forward, grabbing Zhang Fei, “How dare you insult my sister-in-law! Do you think I won’t skin you alive today?”
“Da Niu, stop!”
Gao Wenyin quickly rushed over to shield Zhang Fei and spoke to the black-faced man, “Da Niu, you have been wrongfully accused, and there may still be a chance to clear your na. But if you kill soone, you will never be able to turn back.”
She then looked at the others, indicating that her words were also ant for them.
The black-faced man released Zhang Fei reluctantly, muttering, “Sister-in-law, I… I was just trying to scare him. I didn’t an to kill him.”
Zhang Fei suddenly burst into laughter, “Co on! You look like a black whirlwind, but you’re as weak as a lamb. And the rest of you…!”
He glanced around, “You’re all just a bunch of cowards.”
“What did you say?” The black-faced man bristled with anger.
“Stop!”
The scholar, fearing for Gao Wenyin’s safety, quickly stepped in and pulled the black-faced man aside. He then turned to Zhang Fei, “I, Feng Nanxi, have been insulted many tis in my life, but this is the first ti soone called a coward. I’d like to hear your reasoning.”
Zhang Fei smiled, “You all have healthy limbs, but a minor official destroyed your families, and instead of seeking revenge, you’re planning to run away. You even talk about becoming bandits. But bandits don’t kill corrupt officials; they kill those trying to make a living, people just like you. If that’s not cowardice, what is?”
“Ah…”
The black-faced man was furious, ready to charge at Zhang Fei again, but Feng Nanxi and Gao Wenyin stood in the way.
Zhang Fei, feeling confident, looked down on him, “Look at you! A pri example of a coward, shouting and threatening good commoners like . If you have guts, go shout at the Kaifeng Prefectural Office! Instead of acting like a fool here.”
The black-faced man, pointing at Zhang Fei, challenged, “Do you have the guts to go to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office?”
Zhang Fei sneered, “The Kaifeng Prefectural Office is like my bathroom. I can go there whenever I want.”
The black-faced man scoffed, “Anyone can brag. I could say I’m the emperor’s sworn brother.”
“Such ignorance.”
Zhang Fei shook his head, “Go to the city and ask around about Zhang San. ntion my na to the guards at Kaifeng Prefectural Office, and they’ll be so scared they’ll wet their pants.”
“Pen-in-cap Zhang San?”
The scholar was astonished.
Zhang Fei grinned, “So you’ve heard of my na. Great, tell this black-faced guy about my stories. Any case I take on gets resolved. Ever heard of the case with the Director of the Agricultural Affairs Bureau?”
Gao Wenyin’s face lit up, turning to Zhang Fei excitedly, “Can you help clear the nas of my brothers?”
Zhang Fei replied, “Rephrase the sentence from a question to an affirmative statent.”
Still sowhat dizzy from the earlier collision, Gao Wenyin repeated, “You will clear my brothers’ na.”
“Excellent!”
Zhang Fei nodded, smiling, “You poor souls, stop pretending to be tough. Free , and I’ll help you.”
The black-faced man quickly grabbed the scholar’s arm and whispered, “Nanxi, don’t trust this guy. Look at his sharp face; he’s definitely not a good person.”
“Hey, hey, hey! You illiterate fool, don’t try reading faces. This is a handso man’s standard jawline. Look at yourself in the mirror; you look like a rapist.”
“How dare you call a rapist! I’ll…”
“Da Niu!”
Gao Wenyin scolded, “Calm down. This Zhang San seems very talented and might really help clear your nas.”
“I… I need to pee.”
With that, the black-faced man stord out.
The scholar nodded to the coachman, who ca behind Zhang Fei and raised his knife.
Zhang Fei almost wet himself but only felt his limbs free up. He stretched his arms and turned to the coachman, “You have great knife skills, but next ti, don’t use them.”
Gao Wenyin asked, “Can you really clear my brothers’ nas?”
Zhang Fei walked over to Li Si, feeling a sticky sensation in his groin. He stopped, his handso face turning red. Not like this; this is embarrassing.
“Brother Zhang San?”
Gao Wenyin saw Zhang Fei’s knees slightly bent, his hips sticking out, and his face as red as blood, feeling curious.
Zhang Fei turned his head, giving Gao Wenyin a complicated look. Damn woman, I was ready, and now you pull this stunt, making ss myself!
He crouched down to untie the ropes binding the frightened Li Si and then complained to Gao Wenyin, “Can you ask another question?”
Gao Wenyin blushed, remaining silent.
“I am Feng Nanxi. Nice to et you, Brother Zhang San.” The scholar stepped forward and saluted.
“Zhang Fei.”
Zhang Fei responded curtly.
Feng Nanxi pointed to the coachman, “This is my brother, Long Shan.”
Long Wu? I might as well be called Gao Jin. Zhang Fei looked at Long Shan, “Have we t before?”
Long Shan also studied Zhang Fei.
Li Si suddenly pointed at Long Shan, “Isn’t he the one who saved from the river?”
Zhang Fei realized, “No wonder you looked familiar.”
Long Shan just nodded slightly.
Feng Nanxi then introduced the young man, “Shi Tingxiu.”
“I am Shi Tingxiu,” the young man said, cupping his fists.
“The one who just left…”
“I don’t want to know.”
Zhang Fei raised his hand, “Tell , what’s going on?”
Feng Nanxi imdiately explained everything to Zhang Fei.
It turned out that Shi Tingxiu had an elder brother nad Shi Tingjun.
The Shi brothers were from a wealthy family in Xiahe Village, Kaifeng County.
In the Northern Song Dynasty, ordinary farrs were divided into five classes. A first-class household like the Shi family was already considered landed gentry, though not part of the privileged class.
They were equivalent to the middle class of the Northern Song Dynasty.
This class was always the most miserable, making a fortune with their own hands, only to beco the pri target of exploitation. The governnt couldn’t exploit the poor or the elite, so they targeted the middle class.
After their parents passed away, the brothers refused to be resigned to a life of farming and ventured into the silk trade.
They traveled widely and bravely, growing their business significantly.
During this ti, they befriended Feng Nanxi, a second-class household mber in Kaifeng County. They also helped Long Shan and the black-faced Niu Beiqing, also known as Da Niu.
The group beca sworn brothers.
At the beginning of this year, Shi Tingjun and Feng Nanxi were conscripted for corvee labor, and Long Shan and Niu Beiqing volunteered to accompany them. They were tasked with escorting five thousand taels of governnt silver to Xiangyang.
The Northern Song governnt cleverly assigned such tasks to first and second-class households. This not only saved money but also ensured that in case of an accident, the governnt wouldn’t lose out. They would just confiscate the property of the households involved as compensation.
This was all calculated.
Unfortunately, they encountered a shipwreck. Shi Tingjun first saved Niu Beiqing and, knowing the silver couldn’t be lost, threw the chest ashore before being washed away by the flood.
But the chest contained rocks instead of silver.
Charged with losing five thousand taels, the governnt confiscated all the escort’s property, including the Shi and Feng families. Long Shan and Niu Beiqing, who were not officially conscripted, had nothing to lose.
But even their property wasn’t enough to cover the loss.
The governnt could never suffer a loss!
So the money had to be replaced.
Shi Tingjun would be forced into labor, and Gao Wenyin would be “confiscated” as a slave belonging to the governnt.
Feng Nanxi, who had worked as a clerk at the county office, knew the governnt’s tactics. He quickly sent Long Shan back to warn Gao Wenyin and Shi Tingxiu.
anwhile, he and Niu Beiqing searched for Shi Tingjun’s body and investigated the incident.
There were too many suspicious points. According to the plan, they were supposed to switch to the river route midway, as it would they would save much ti traveling downstream.
Shi Tingjun, familiar with the river, knew it was dangerous after days of heavy rain and suggested taking the land route. But the transport official insisted on the river route to save ti.
Ironically, the official, feeling unwell, didn’t board the boat but agreed to et at the next dock.
As expected, they encountered a flood, and the bottom of the boat suddenly split apart. Plus, the chest contained rocks.
Clearly a conspiracy!
They found Shi Tingjun’s body downstream, mourned deeply, and planned to report the transport official and seek revenge.
On the way, they heard that the governnt was hunting them, accusing them of ignoring the official’s advice, insisting on the river, and causing the shipwreck.
They even suspected the brothers of staging the accident to steal the silver.
Desperate, they hid and returned to Bianjing.
Long Shan arrived first but was too late. Learning Gao Wenyin would be sold at White Crystal Inn, he infiltrated the inn as a coachman, even “saving” Li Si while he was in Bianjing.
Shortly after, Feng Nanxi and Niu Beiqing arrived.
Rescuing Shi Tingxiu was easy, but Gao Wenyin was crucial as the governnt aid to sell her for money.
She was watched closely by officials, so they planned to rescue her after the auction.
After hearing this, Zhang Fei frowned and asked, “Do you trust ?”
They exchanged glances.
Talking about trust at a first eting seed far-fetched…
Feng Nanxi glanced at Gao Wenyin, thinking her suicidal thoughts might be postponed by this. Looking at Zhang Fei, he thought, this man, unafraid of the powerful and righteous, might really be of help. When he represented Cao Dongdong, he had actually spoken up for Instructor Lin in court.
Zhang Fei was undoubtedly the most talked-about figure this year. His news was closely followed by Feng Nanxi, who also sought justice.
After careful consideration, Feng Nanxi suddenly bowed, “Please save us. We will never forget your great kindness.”
Shi Tingxiu, surprised, quickly followed suit.
“Since you trust , I promise to help clear your nas,” Zhang Fei solemnly assured. Looking outside the temple, he added, “Co to my house. The Kaifeng Prefectural Office is closed for the new year holidays. We’ll have to wait until next year to file a complaint.”
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