Debt Collection

As he thought this, his gaze suddenly fell on a man entering under the escort of several others, wrapped in a cloak and wearing a fur cap. There was not the slightest expression on his ruddy face. After entering, the man looked around, met Su Ziji's eyes, and the muscles in his cheek twitched. With a cold smile, he sat down in Cao Jincai's former seat.

"It's Boss Zhang. Sure enough, even the debt collectors had to wait for the results."

Seeing him arrive without saying a word, merely sitting there drinking tea and occasionally casting cold, sinister looks his way, Su Ziji immediately understood. A chill crawled down his spine.

"They're here, they're here!" Just then, the crowd gathered outside stirred, and the people in the restaurant grew excited as well.

The announcement of examination results was called "posting the list." Firecrackers were set off and horn players performed; the top five names were posted above, the next fifteen below, while someone read the list aloud—usually the county yamen's registrar.

Sure enough, when Su Ziji looked through the open window, he saw a middle-aged man in the official robes of a Principal Ninth Rank, carrying a wooden tray as he emerged under the protection of yamen runners.

At once, everyone looked over.

This County Examination in Linhua County had admitted only twenty candidates.

The names on the list were announced from highest to lowest. The registrar cleared his throat and read, "Seventeenth year of Chengshou, Linhua County County Examination. First place... Yu Lü of Pingmao Township!"

When Yu Lü's name left the registrar's mouth, Su Ziji could feel him let out a breath. No matter how confident a person was, they would still be nervous before the result was known.

"Ah, Brother Yu, you passed! You're the County Examination Laureate!" Zhang Sheng immediately shouted.

"Heavens, so this is Yu Lü. As expected, it was him! Having taken the County Examination Laureate, he's certain to become a Cultivated Talent." At that moment, cries of astonishment and envy rose through the restaurant.

Though Su Ziji had expected it long ago, he still sighed inwardly and congratulated Yu Lü. "Congratulations, Brother Yu. Your becoming County Examination Laureate is entirely deserved!"

"Actually, your ability is above mine..." Yu Lü shook his head. Having studied for ten years, he had enough discernment to see it, but the next announcement below cut off his words.

"Second place, Yi Jinfu of Xunniu Township."

As that name was announced, a corner of the restaurant immediately erupted in commotion. Someone muttered excitedly, "I passed, I passed!"

Congratulations immediately rang out as everyone cast envious looks over, then quieted down to await the next name.

"Third place, Ma Wendong of Anhu Township."

Su Ziji sat and listened as well. When the registrar had read through the top ten and his own name had yet to appear, he felt malicious gazes turning toward him. He did not need to look to know that most came from the creditors awaiting the results, as well as Boss Zhang and his group.

Seeing the registrar cough and take a drink of water, Cao Jincai beamed and said to Boss Zhang, "Just as expected, this Su Ziji is mud that can't be plastered onto a wall! He wasn't in the top ten, so he must have failed!"

Upon hearing this, Boss Zhang's formerly expressionless face took on a vicious grin. He had entered the underworld at thirteen and had now spent a full twenty years there. Anyone not cunning would have long since sunk God knew where.

He saw through Su Ziji's little scheme at a glance. Rather than becoming furious, however, he grew wary and suspicious.

"Is he trying to take advantage of all the scholars gathering for the County Examination, so that I can't make a move?"

"Could Yan Er's death have something to do with him?"

"Even if it doesn't, such a clever man is an enemy. He absolutely cannot be left alive." At this point, Boss Zhang had not yet considered murder. Great Zheng had only recently been founded; this was not a chaotic age, and the government was clean. If something happened, he would not escape responsibility either.

"But I can break his legs. The Imperial Examinations value bearing and deportment—they don't want cripples." With a single turn of thought, a venomous scheme sprang into Boss Zhang's mind.

"For now, I'll press him for payment in public and let everyone know he's a pauper in debt!"

With that thought, Boss Zhang gave Cao Jincai a meaningful look.

Cao Jincai understood at once. He suddenly rose, strode straight to Su Ziji's table, and said while standing before it, "Su Ziji, never mind that you didn't pass—even if you had, repaying debts is as natural as heaven's law and earth's principle. Your debt is due!"

Before Su Ziji could speak, Zhang Sheng slapped the table and leaped up. "Who are you, to speak so rudely? Get out, get out! A petty man like you should not pollute this place!"

As he spoke, he moved to drive him away.

Unconvinced, Cao Jincai shouted, "Repaying debts is as natural as heaven's law and earth's principle! Do scholars get to avoid repayment?"

His voice carried loudly. Quite a few people recognized Cao Jincai from the gambling den and began whispering among themselves. "Could it be that Su Ziji owes gambling debts?"

Several people's eyes lit up. Great Zheng had explicitly declared that scholars were forbidden from gambling, with punishment for violators.

Watching the scene, Su Ziji said, "Don't worry. Although I borrowed your usurious loan to bury my father, I keep my word. I'll repay you."

"You want to set your sights on my ancestral grave? That is nothing but wishful thinking."

As he spoke, he took out some loose silver from his robes, roughly seven taels.

Cao Jincai was startled at first, but seeing there were only seven taels, he secretly breathed easier and shouted, "That little money isn't even enough for a month's interest! Pay up, now!"

At this point, not only the scholars watching inside the restaurant, but even the people who had gathered to watch the excitement were asking those around them what was happening.

Even at a table in the corner, a plain-looking middle-aged man in a dark brown cotton robe and a young man turned to look. They immediately questioned the waiter bringing dishes.

"How would a lowly fellow like me dare say too much?" The waiter smiled ingratiatingly, but then the young man frowned and tossed him a piece of silver. "Bring some more dishes and wine. The rest is your reward!"

It was a one-tael piece of loose silver. The waiter's eyes instantly narrowed into slits, and he bowed deeply. "Thank you for the reward!"

He lowered his voice and said, "That is Boss Zhang of this county's Black Scarf Society, famous alongside the Raft Gang and the Wealth-Boosting Society. For some reason, he set his eyes on Su Ziji's ancestral grave and arranged for him to borrow a usurious loan. In three months, the interest upon interest has nearly doubled it more than twice over. How can he possibly repay it?"

"Alas, Su Ziji did not borrow the money for anything else. He wanted to give his late father a proper burial. He's a filial son!"

In just a few sentences, the matter was made clear. The middle-aged man gave no sign of emotion, while the young man looked coldly at Boss Zhang, his eyes carrying a forest-deep chill. "The Black Scarf Society?"

"Young master, please remain calm. We did not come here this time to investigate such local thugs. That is the constable patrol's responsibility," the middle-aged man said.

The young man nodded and said nothing more. The matter was not complicated, and by now everyone understood it.

Borrowing money to bury his father and refusing to sell the grave—this was filial piety. Yu Lü flew into a rage. "Truly hateful! Brother Su, I'll lend you five taels."

Zhang Sheng also pulled out six taels of silver.

"Eighteen taels. You still owe fifteen taels," Cao Jincai shouted after being startled that friends were truly willing to offer money. He counted it before speaking.

"Fifteen taels of silver. I'll give it to you tomorrow," Yu Lü said with a dark expression.

"That won't do, Young Master Yu. Look at this promissory note—the debt comes due today. By tomorrow, the interest will roll upon interest. It won't be fifteen taels, but forty-three taels. Deducting the eighteen taels, you'll still have to pay twenty-five taels!" Cao Jincai said. He swept his gaze around, saw that although the remaining scholars sympathized, no one else was lending money, and immediately began shouting.