Vast Source Pawnshop

The constables' hearts jolted. Cowed by Wang Yang's imposing air, they hesitated to advance.

Wang Yang struck while the iron was hot, snapping, "Tell the magistrate of Jiangling County to come here at once! I want him to see just how stupid his subordinates are!"

Poor Patrol Chief Tong and his two men usually swaggered about with authority. Today, however, they had first been berated by Third Master Du, then scolded by Wang Yang. For a moment, they had no idea what to do.

Third Master Du stood up and said to Patrol Chief Tong, "Have you all gone witless? I already checked! Apart from Wang Tai, there isn't a second member of the Langya Wang in all of Jingzhou!"

Wang Yang sneered. "Is that so? Did you check the Commandery Academy too? Did you ask Liu Zhao, its Libationer?"

"The Commandery Academy?" Third Master Du and Patrol Chief Tong both froze.

"The academy's carriage is right at the village entrance. Oh, yes, my friend is in it too. He's from the Xinye Yu Clan."

Patrol Chief Tong immediately ordered a constable to check the village entrance, and Third Master Du sent one of his own men along.

The village entrance was not far away. The two soon returned, with Yu Yuling accompanying them.

"Brother Wang, what happened here?" Yu Yuling looked at the roomful of people, somewhat surprised.

Wang Yang said airily, "Nothing. Some people have a death wish, and I'm about to grant it."

At that moment, Patrol Chief Tong's subordinate was whispering something to him. Patrol Chief Tong exclaimed, "Did you get a clear look?"

"As clear as can be! That carriage bears the Niyang Liu Clan's crest!"

Little A-Wu cried, "If you don't admit your mistake now, you won't get another chance!"

The Niyang Liu Clan was one of Jingzhou's four great aristocratic clans. Patrol Chief Tong went white with fright. Without stopping to think further, he hurriedly dropped to his knees before Wang Yang. "I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai! I offended you, young master. Please forgive me!"

His two subordinates hastily knelt as well.

Third Master Du still refused to believe it. He had clearly had someone investigate and confirm that Wang Tai was the only member of the Langya Wang in Jingzhou. Only then had he dared make his move. He cupped his hands toward Yu Yuling. "May I ask whether you belong to the Xinye Yu Clan, young master?"

Yu Yuling glanced at Third Master Du. "Who are you?"

Before Third Master Du could speak, Wang Yang said half-jokingly, "A moneylender who's lost his mind. He suspected us of posing as aristocrats and even called the patrol chief over to arrest us."

Third Master Du was just about to protest that he had only suspected Wang Yang, but another thought suddenly struck him. Perhaps this newcomer is a fake too, and the two are working together!

No, that couldn't be!

The Niyang Liu Clan had sent the two of them here in a carriage. If they weren't aristocrats, why would the Commandery Academy send a carriage?

The Xinye Yu Clan's identities could all be checked against the household registers at the Provincial Government. No one would dare openly falsify them. Judging by his clothes, perhaps this man was a Yu family student enrolled at the Commandery Academy?

Yu Yuling said to Wang Yang, "You're a guest, Brother Wang. Let your younger brother handle this little matter."

Wang Yang nodded his permission.

Without even looking at Third Master Du, Yu Yuling walked up to the patrol chief. "Are you the local patrol chief?"

His words carried immediate authority, utterly unlike the scholarly manner he had shown while discussing learning with Wang Yang earlier.

"Yes, I'm the patrol chief of Ying Village!" Patrol Chief Tong answered at once.

"Under Jiangling County's jurisdiction?"

"Yes, yes." Patrol Chief Tong began to sweat.

"I now suspect these men of colluding with mountain bandits. Take them back and interrogate them. I'll send Wu Lu my calling card."

Well now, this was turning a man's own methods against him!

He suspected me of not being an aristocrat, so I suspect him of being a bandit. Aristocrats don't have to prove themselves. Not a bad move, Wang Yang silently concluded.

Wu Lu was the name of Jiangling County's magistrate. Hearing this Young Master Yu speak his superior's name so casually, Patrol Chief Tong grew even more frightened. But the problem was that Third Master Du had powerful backing. How could he dare arrest him?!

He could not afford to offend either side!

While he was caught in this dilemma, Third Master Du smiled. "Don't be hasty, Young Master Yu. Before having me arrested, shouldn't you ask who I am?"

Yu Yuling answered matter-of-factly, "I did. You didn't say."

"I'm the owner of the Vast Source Pawnshop. My surname is Du."

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, warehouses that stored money and goods were called "di." Major usurers generally had their own warehouses for lending and receiving collateral, also known as "Trading Houses." And the name "Vast Source Trading House" was very well known indeed in Jingzhou.

Yet Yu Yuling merely raised an eyebrow. "So what?"

"This family owes a debt they haven't repaid. I came to collect." Third Master Du took out the contract and held it before Yu Yuling, making no further mention of his suspicions about their identities.

As though by tacit agreement, Yu Yuling likewise said nothing more about arresting anyone. Instead, he glanced over the contract and said, "We brought the money."

An impetuous youngster might have brought up ordering Patrol Chief Tong to make the arrests again. But Wang Yang sensed something unusual about the situation and did not press further. He merely tossed a bag of money onto the floor and said:

"Du San'er, I brought the money. Count it. Exactly thirteen thousand two hundred coins. But you don't keep your word, do you? We agreed on three days later. What are you doing here so early?"

Being called Du San by a member of the Langya Wang was something Third Master Du could only grit his teeth and endure. Looking at the money bag on the floor, he said, "Would you two young masters step outside for a word?"

Wang Yang said, "Whatever you have to say, say it here."

"There are a few things I'd like to tell you two privately." Third Master Du cupped his hands toward them, then walked outside.

Wang Yang and Yu Yuling exchanged a glance and decided to follow him out.

Unexpectedly, once they were outside, Third Master Du adopted a very humble posture. First, he bowed to Wang Yang and apologized with the utmost sincerity, then offered to treat him to a meal to make amends. Wang Yang laughed despite himself. "What act are you putting on now?"

"May I ask what relationship you have with Black Han's family, Young Master Wang?"

"Why?"

"You're a man of noble standing, young master, with neither kinship nor any other ties to these lowborn people. Why repay their debt for them?"

Wang Yang grew wary. "You're a moneylender. You should be pleased that someone is repaying you. Why concern yourself with who provides the money? Could it be that you don't actually want the money?"

Third Master Du's expression changed. He had not expected Wang Yang to be so perceptive that a single remark would arouse his suspicions. He immediately denied it. "I run a business. Of course I want to make money. I simply don't want to offend you over it, young master."

Wang Yang said coldly, "Then take the money and get lost."

He knew that when dealing with a villain like this, he must never show weakness. Only by treating himself as a genuine member of the Langya Wang could he dispel the man's urge to turn the tables and settle scores.

A vicious gleam flashed through Third Master Du's eyes and vanished. He said nothing more, merely lowering his head and bowing to Wang Yang and Yu Yuling before returning inside to collect the money and leave with his men.

"Wait!" Wang Yang stretched out a hand to block his path. "Leave the contract."

Third Master Du placed the paper contract in Wang Yang's hand, gave him a look, then hurried away.

Watching Third Master Du and his men recede into the distance, Yu Yuling cautioned Wang Yang, "Though this man is of low status, you mustn't underestimate him. His daughter was originally a songstress in the household of the emperor's third son, the Prince of Luling. Later, the prince took her as a concubine. The Vast Source Pawnshop was established in the first year of Yongming, when the Prince of Luling served as governor of Jingzhou. They say its true owner behind the scenes is the Prince of Luling himself."

He had a prince backing him?

No wonder that Patrol Chief Tong was so afraid of him.