On this day, Wang Er went to the prefecture to stock up. Wang Da sat at the counter and stared blankly at the pedestrians on the street. The shop was deserted. Last year, at this time, some Yangko, stiletto troupes, temples, and opera troupes would come to buy cheap musical instruments for the occasion. This year, none of them had been sold. They couldn't go out to the streets to recruit people, right?
Wang Da was at his wit's end. He thought carefully about how his father always said that he had chest tightness. Last year's serious illness was due to sudden fainting. Now that there were no wounds on his body after an autopsy, could it be that he really died of shame and anger? Now that the reputation of the Wang family's musical instrument store had been tarnished, what should they do when they saw that the entire family was about to suffer from the northwest wind?
Just as he was thinking about something, someone suddenly patted the counter and said with a smile,"Wang Da, why are you in a daze? Thinking about what to buy for the New Year?”
Wang Da raised his head and saw an old man in a green robe standing outside the counter with a smile on his face. He quickly stood up and greeted him with a smile on his face."Boss Wu, why are you so free? Please come in. In the room, quickly make a pot of good tea."
This old man with a clear face was called Wu Jie. He was in his early fifties and was a merchant from Sichuan and Shaanxi who had come to the capital to do medicinal herbs business. His wealth was far from what the Wang family could compare to. Jiming Posthouse was the distribution center for his turnover of medicinal herbs, so he spent half a year here. Most of the people doing business here recognized this generous Boss Wu.
Wu Jie sat down on the chair with a smile and said,"What are you busy with? It's almost the new year. After I finish this business, I'll go back for the new year. I passed by your place and came to take a look. Why are you sitting at the counter today?”
Wang Da's face darkened and he forced a smile." Sigh, Boss Wu, I won't hide it from you. My father just passed away a few days ago."
"How could that be?" Wu Jie was shocked and cried out involuntarily. When I left here to buy medicinal herbs in Shaanxi, Boss Wang was still in good health. Why did the old problem of chest tightness and short of breath from last year come back?”
Wang Da's wife poured a pot of tea and came out with a worried expression. When she saw Boss Wu, she forced a smile and bowed. After pouring a cup of tea, she retreated to the back room.
Wu Jie took out his jade-lipped pipe from his sleeve and a bag of tobacco mixed with medicinal herbs from the pouch tied to his belt. He lit it with a piece of coal and took a long puff. He narrowed his eyes and said," Boss Wang, you're already a seventh-year-old man. As the saying goes, a person who's seventy years old is rarely seen. Boss Wang can be considered to have passed away from old age, so it can be considered a happy funeral. I know that you two brothers are very filial. Come, come, sit down. Don't be sad and tell me about it."
General Wang explained the whole thing, naturally hiding the fact that he had found the bead on his father. In the end, he said hatefully,"Father's hatred is irreconcilable. Boss Wu, you've traveled all over the world and seen a lot. Tell me, if I don't take revenge, won't I be scolded to death by the neighbors? It's just that now, cough, the Ma family is so powerful that they spread rumors everywhere. That's why, as you can see, even the guests don't come. The county lord isn't in the fu. I think that even though he said it nicely, it seems like the officials are protecting each other and intentionally favoring the Ma family."
Wu Jie sneered and puffed his cigarette."What do you mean? Isn't it obvious that he's helping the Wang family?"
Wang Da was shocked and angry when he heard this. He slapped his thigh hatefully and said," I knew it. He wanted us to look for a doctor and the owner of the medicine shop. We went to look for the county sun, but he was always not around. This, this, heh, he's forcing me to bring the Great Ming Law to the capital to report to the emperor."
Boss Wu took a puff of his cigarette and rolled his eyes."Do you still think this is the Hongwu period? Go to the capital to report the emperor's situation? To think that you could think of it. The emperor lives in the Forbidden City and is heavily guarded. Can you see him? So what if he saw it? The county magistrate didn't say that he wouldn't handle this case. Human lives are more important than the sky, and there's nothing wrong with handling the case prudently. At that time, the emperor might even praise Lord Min for being cautious in handling the case and not treating human lives with contempt. At that time, he'll sentence you to slander an official of the imperial court and deceive the emperor. That's a great crime that will wipe out your entire family."
When Wang Da heard such a terrifying outcome, he could not help but feel his hair stand on end. After a long while, he inhaled a cold breath and said,"Oh my god, Boss Wu, you reminded me. I don't have much knowledge and haven't seen much of the world. If I didn't listen to your words, I would have brought great disaster to myself.”
Boss Wu smiled and slowly exhaled the smoke. Looking at the smoke rising, he slowly said,"Brother Wang, I can't say that I have much knowledge, but I've traveled far and wide, so I've heard and seen a lot of such things. As the saying goes, the people do not fight with the government. There is also a saying that the people's hearts are as strong as iron, and the government's laws are as strong as a furnace. You don't have sufficient evidence on this matter. Even if the lawsuit goes to the Golden Twin Palace, you may not be able to do anything to them. Now, you have made it difficult for your family to live. I have a few good words to advise you. I wonder if you are willing to listen?”
Hearing this, Wang Da quickly picked up the pot and refilled some hot tea for Boss Wu. He said respectfully," Boss Wu, please tell me. To be honest, I've been feeling down for the past two days. It's really like riding on a tiger's back. If you have any good ideas, please give them some pointers on account of my deceased father."
Boss Wu chuckled and gently knocked the pipe on the leg of the chair. He gently placed it on the table and calmly picked up the tea to take a sip. Then, he slowly said,"Speaking of which, this matter is not clear to begin with. Although you have witnesses to prove that Boss Wang died at the side when Ma Ang argued with you, no one can prove that Ma Ang hit him. That Scholar Yang is a person with a great reputation, and he was present from the beginning to the end. If I were the county magistrate, I wouldn't be able to convict him so easily, so you really can't blame County Magistrate Min.
Now that things have come to this, Brother Wang, please don't take offense if I say something fair. Boss Wang is already a member of Wangqi, and his passing is also a matter of his own. I know that you are a filial son and don't sincerely want to drag a young man to die with you, but if you really wronged him, wouldn't you add to your father's sins?
Besides, you're living here with your family. If you really offend Ma Yi Cheng, he has just taken office and still has a few years to go. Can you fight him? Besides, this case dragged on for a long time. Not only did it ruin your family, but it also exhausted your old father's body so much that it couldn't even be buried. He was piled up in the room in the middle of winter. Who knows, he might even be dismembering and deboning you. He raised you two brothers, and in the end, you won't even have a complete corpse. How could you bear to do that?”
Hearing this, Wang Da's nose and tears flowed. He sobbed and said,"Boss Wu, if you have an idea, what should I do now?”
Wu Jie smiled slightly and said," If you really have filial piety, then Old Man Wang will enjoy his old age and die without jealousy. I believe that regardless of whether the matter of stealing others 'money is true or false, the Ma family will not be tactful and insist on pursuing it."
However, although your father was not beaten to death, there were some disputes in the business. The Ma family could not get rid of the inducement of his death due to old age and weakness. If they did not punish him severely, it would be difficult to vent your anger, and it would be even more unreasonable in front of the neighbors. In my opinion, why don't you ask the Ma family to compensate you with dozens of taels of silver? You should also ask him to pay for all the funeral expenses. How about this lawsuit be handled like this?”
Hearing this, Wang Da lowered his head and said nothing. After pondering for a while, he said,"If this is handled like this, won't people laugh at my brother for seeking money and ignoring my father's hatred? How can I say these words?”
Boss Wu's eyes flashed. Just as he was about to say something, a man rode a donkey to the door. He jumped off the donkey and tied the reins. He stomped his feet and rushed into the room with a dark face. Wang Da looked up and saw his brother Wang Er. He quickly stood up and said,"Second brother, you're back. What's wrong?”
He looked outside and said in surprise,""Didn't I ask you to bring in a batch of bamboo whistles, flutes, gongs, and cymbals? Why did you come back empty-handed?”
"Hello, Boss Wang." Wang Er cupped his hands at Boss Wu.”Then, she walked over and sat on her brother's chair. She said angrily,"What goods did you buy? Boss Liu wants us to trade in cash and not on credit."
"How could that be?" Wang Da asked curiously. We did business with him for the first time last year, and he was willing to give us goods on credit. Now that we've been dealing with him for more than a year, we've never owed him money.”
Wang Er said," It's all because of the Ma family. I don't know who's the one who's gossiping." When he said this, he suddenly remembered that Boss Wu was still sitting in the room and quickly shut his mouth.
Wu Jie took a sip of tea and slowly stood up." Business has been busy these few days, so I won't stay any longer. I'll be going back now. See you two after the New Year." He smiled and cupped his hands at Wang Da and Wang Er before walking out.
Hearing his brother's words, Wang Da was stunned for a long time. When he saw that Boss Wu had already turned his gaze away, he could not help but stomp his feet hatefully and quickly chased after him. He shouted from behind," Boss Wu, please wait a moment. There's a better idea than yours. However, I'd like to ask you to mediate this matter. Please help."
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