“Wanjin County, adjacent to the Provincial City, has a much more prosperous economy and agriculture pared to Ping County, hence its Yamen being significantly more grand and imposing, with four guards more at the entrance alone, and much larger stone lions.
Nan Feng paused across the street, but did not utter a word.
“Nan Feng, surely you’re not planning to cause trouble at the Yamen? The jewelry store’s shopkeeper has already said that County Magistrate Zhang and Lin Shouye have colluded. You would only be chased out,” Xue Ling said dispassionately.
Nan Feng obstinately stood by the roadside and said to Xue Ling, “I don’t know why I’m here either. Let’s just wait here for a while, where else can we go at this time? We can’t do business if we go back to the shop, seeing that batch of goods will only be more bothersome.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Ling opted to stand as well, but after a while she could not help but remark in scorn, “How is it that I’ve begun to listen to a young girl like you? How pathetic.”
Nan Feng gave a slight chuckle.
The two stood by the road like two fools. The weather was cold and gloomy, thereby adding an odd sense of desolation.
About half an hour later, Xue Ling pointed to a carriage not far off and asked, “Nan Feng, do you think that could be County Magistrate Zhang’s carriage?”
A carriage was slowly ing in from a distance. It was an extravagant carriage, pulled by three horses. The carriage body was much larger than a moner’s, covered in dark green oilcloth on the outside, while the insides were made waterproof with golden phoebe wood.
“That carriage probably doesn’t belong to Magistrate Zhang, I presume it’s Lin Shouye’s,” said Nan Feng.
“Oh? How can you tell?” asked Xue Ling.
“Given the current dire state of warfare in the north, Chaoting is keeping strict control over the expenditure of officials. A county magistrate’s carriage should not be drawn by more than two horses. Also, the shopkeeper at the jewelry store said that Magistrate Zhang and Lin Shouye are in cahoots. So, I suppose right now Zhang Shouye is ferrying Magistrate Zhang home.”
When the carriage arrived at the Yamen’s entrance, two of the guards quickly steadied the steps handed down by the coachman. A man dressed in fine silk cotton arrived, aged around forty, with a noticeably large belly.
The two guards merely performed a simple salute. It wasn’t until a middle-aged man stepped out from the carriage that the guards bowed more deeply in respect.
The latter was undoubtedly County Magistrate Zhang.
County Magistrate Zhang was extremely portly, with a ruddy plexion, towering stature, a protruding belly—on the surface, he seemed to exude an aura of authority. But Nan Feng felt that the kindly looking Song, County Magistrate of Ping County, had a more pleasant countenance pared to this fierce and imposing Magistrate Zhang.
Just as Xue Ling was about to ask Nan Feng to step forward and voice their grievances, she turned around and noticed a passing shadow. By the time she had a clear look, Nan Feng was already standing in front of Zhang Shouye and Lin Shouye.
“Esteemed gentlemen, please hold on!” Nan Feng started by bowing to them.
“What grievances are there?” Magistrate Zhang asked, for there were often many people who stopped him here to air their grievances, hence, he assumed Nan Feng was here to do the same.
A surge of anger welled up inside Nan Feng, but she managed to suppress it.
“Esteemed officials, I am Nan Feng, the shopkeeper of Xiangkou in town. Half a month ago, I opened Xiangkou. Yet today, the Yamen’s men came to close my shop, stating that I did not register with the merce Department. However, I remember having registered then. Even if I didn’t, it should still be possible to register now. The punishment should not be shop closure. I implore you to show justice.”
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