Chapter 19: In His Indignation at the Great Injustice, Tian Lai Files His First Complaint — With a Heavy Bribe, Jian Lexian Seeks out the Magistrate's Kinsman

Now, when Tian Lai presented the one-hundred-tael writing fee, Zhi Bo refused to accept it. Tian Lai pressed him again and again. Jie Chen caught Zhi Bo's eye with a meaningful glance, and Zhi Bo accepted it. They sat talking a while longer before the two men took their leave. When they had gone about an arrow's distance, Zhi Bo took out the one hundred taels and handed them to Jie Chen. Jie Chen said, "This was Tian Lai's writing fee for you, sir — why are you giving it to me?" Zhi Bo was baffled: "Since you don't want it either, why did you catch my eye just now?" Jie Chen said, "You do not know Tian Lai, sir — he is a stubborn and old-fashioned man. If you refused to accept it, he would suspect that you were not going to put your full effort into it. That is why I urged you to take it." Hearing this, Zhi Bo ignored Jie Chen entirely, turned on his heel, walked back to Tian Lai's shop, and returned the silver to him in person. Tian Lai was astonished: "Sir, what is the meaning of this? Can it be that you feel the amount too paltry?" Zhi Bo repeated Jie Chen's words, then added: "I have always written petitions without taking money — it is simply a matter of standing up against injustice." When Tian Lai still tried to press the money on him, Zhi Bo showed displeasure: "Brother Liang, now you are in the wrong. Do you truly think so little of me that I rank below a Zhang Feng?" This remark so shocked Tian Lai that he fell silent, and he bowed in apology again and again.

Zhi Bo took his leave. The very next morning, he brought a written complaint in person. Tian Lai thanked him repeatedly and offered him tea and refreshments. He then read through the petition, which was worded as follows:

"Petitioner Liang Tian Lai respectfully submits: this petition concerns the repeated ravaging by a powerful local tyrant, with the slaughter of seven dead and eight lives destroyed. Your petitioner is of slender family, living under the shadow of the Ling Gui Xing uncle and nephew. Misled by a geomancer, they demanded that your petitioner demolish his home and yield the land to benefit their feng shui. Your petitioner, mindful of property his father built and his son should not abandon, refused and gave offense, thereby becoming their enemy. Over time, under pressure of their might: graves were dug up, trees felled, a white-tiger formation constructed to overshadow the bright hall, the rear wall demolished, the fishpond filled in, the ferry crossing seized, the hill yams uprooted, the field grain raided, jade and stone flower pots and huali wood tables and chairs taken by force — in all these oppressions and depredations, every incident without legitimate cause. Your petitioner sought on several occasions to write a petition to the higher court, but was dissuaded by his mother's counsel. Moreover, being greatly outmatched in wealth and power, like an egg against a stone, he could only endure and desist. Yet such evil does not rest; further harm followed. In the wushen year, sixth month, eighteenth night, knowing your petitioner's mother's birthday was at hand, knowing your petitioner would return home to offer birthday felicitations, they assembled a band of ruffians, raided and set fire to the dwelling, and murdered seven persons — eight lives in all — whose examination is already on record before Your Honor. One Zhang Feng was personally present and overheard them, and is willing to serve as firm witness. With this great injustice pressing upon me, I am compelled with blood and tears to cry out. I beg Your Honor's merciful scrutiny and boundless compassion."

When Tian Lai finished reading, he thanked Zhi Bo again and again. Zhi Bo said, "Brother Liang should read this over carefully several times and commit it to memory. Before the court, answer each question as it comes — do not lose your footing." With that admonition, he took his leave. Tian Lai carefully read the petition through until he had it by heart. Since all of it was his own lived experience, he had no great need to memorize it — after two readings he knew it perfectly. He then waited for the day Magistrate Huang was holding court and presented the petition at the bench. Magistrate Huang looked it over and asked Tian Lai, "Why have you waited until today to submit this?" Tian Lai said, "My household had lost seven people successively, and there were many affairs to put in order — that is why I was delayed." Magistrate Huang said, "Can your witness Zhang Feng be relied upon?" Tian Lai said, "Zhang Feng saw and heard everything with his own eyes and ears, and is firm in his willingness to testify — he can appear in court for questioning at any time." Magistrate Huang said, "You may withdraw and wait." Tian Lai bowed and withdrew. Magistrate Huang at once signed a writ in court for the duty constable Chen De to go to Tancun and bring in Ling Gui Xing.

Chen De received the writ and ticket, and the following morning early brought a number of assistants to Tancun. When they arrived at Gui Xing's home, it happened that Qu Jue Xing was also there. Chen De directed his assistants to seize the two men. Jue Xing gave a start: "May I ask what official business brings you here?" Chen De gave a cold laugh: "You know full well what you have done — why ask me?" Jue Xing said, "Even so, you ought first to show me the official writ, rather than simply using force without asking who is who." Chen De pulled out the writ from his robe and slapped it on the table: "Look, look!" Qu Jue Xing picked it up and read it, then said, "Since this is the official writ, I will go with you to the courthouse. But I shall first file a complaint there against you for insulting a man of learning!" Chen De sneered: "A fine man of learning — one who kills people and burns things!" Jue Xing gave a cold smile back: "Which pair of eyes saw me killing or burning? Your kind of trick is only good for frightening illiterate country folk. I, Qu Jue Xing, am a man well seasoned in the courts — when we get there, I will simply ask your superior to deal with you." Now it was that when Chen De had first entered the house, the official writ had read "the Ling uncle and nephew," and he had taken these two to be that uncle and nephew. Hearing Jue Xing speak like this, he realized his mistake. Men of the yamen are nothing if not slippery — and hearing Jue Xing's sharp tongue, he quickly changed his manner: "So it is Mr. Qu — the runners are only acting in the course of their duty and have no choice. I beg Mr. Qu's forgiveness!" He turned and shouted at his assistants: "Both these gentlemen are educated scholars — you show some respect!" The assistants released the two men at once. Jue Xing then said, "When a lawsuit is brought, what is false will remain false and what is true will remain true — the truth will always come out. Since you understand that this gentleman here is a man of learning, Liang Tian Lai for some unknown reason has filed this complaint. Our side will inevitably submit a rebuttal — there is no need to rush and bring people in. Moreover the writ itself specifies no date for the hearing. You might as well bide your time; when the date is set and you need to appear, come and let us know. Mr. Ling can appear in court voluntarily and submit the rebuttal at the same time — this case can be resolved in a single session." With that, he turned to Gui Xing: "Worthy cousin-nephew! Please bring some tea money for this constable gentleman here, for his trouble."

Gui Xing had never been through a lawsuit before; the moment Chen De had arrived he had been so frightened his hands and feet were useless. Thanks to Jue Xing's few words, which had gotten Chen De to back off, he managed to recover somewhat. Now hearing Jue Xing ask him for tea money, he hurried inside to get silver — but had no idea how much was appropriate. He could not consult with Jue Xing in front of Chen De; never having been through such a thing, he was at a loss, and in the end simply grabbed two hundred taels of silver and brought it out, handing it to Chen De. Chen De accepted it with both hands and thanked him warmly. In his heart he thought: what a greenhorn — and what a promising client. If this case goes through more than one session, there will be more tricks to play and more silver to earn. The longer this drags on, the better for me. So for now, let me be generous and make a good impression. He smiled and said, "The runners were only following orders — we had no wish to cause trouble. Since Mr. Ling is so gracious, there is no reason a few days' delay would matter. When you come to court, we will naturally look after you — rest easy!" With that, he led his assistants away, all smiles. Gui Xing clapped his hands and laughed: "A lawsuit settled so easily — what was there to fear!" Jue Xing said, "That is not how to see it. We need to make a quick trip to the provincial capital and work through some connections — what was alleged in the complaint is serious, and we cannot fail to prepare. This will not be settled so easily." Gui Xing at once went with Jue Xing, taking Xi Lai along, and boarded a boat for the provincial capital, settling in at Three Virtues Hall.

Jue Xing went out hurriedly and did not return until the second watch (around 9-11 pm), dripping with sweat: "Quite formidable! It turns out the petition was submitted in open court, and before it had even been stamped it was acted upon right there at the bench. In order to write our rebuttal, we need a copy of the original text. I spent the better part of today getting hold of one — I have not even eaten yet!" Gui Xing quickly called for food to be brought. He then took the draft of the petition and read it over: "Who is this witness Zhang Feng?" Jue Xing said, "Worthy nephew, you are truly forgetful — how have you forgotten that beggar?" Gui Xing said, "Ah yes — him! What standing does he have that he dares to oppose me?" Jue Xing said, "That is not how to think of it. He must have gathered some evidence against us from somewhere to make this case. We need to act quickly. I recall that Jian Lexian has his name on the Panyu county rolls — I wonder what connections he has inside. Tomorrow morning first thing, have Xi Lai go and find him and bring him here. You, meanwhile, arrange for someone from the shop to go to Tancun and bring those two village elders you have already bought over; they need to be coached on what to say in their depositions — this is urgent, urgent! I'll go right now and draft the rebuttal. This will take some careful thought. Worthy nephew, you should also get to sleep early — don't come and disturb me."

When dinner was done, Jue Xing went off to draft his document.

The next morning, Gui Xing rose early. He first dispatched a shop hand to Tancun, then had Xi Lai go to find Jian Lexian. By the si hour (approximately 9-11 am), Jue Xing at last arose, and they breakfasted together. After breakfast, before long the shop hand came back from Tancun with two old men: one named Qian Yuguo, and one named Wen Changming. Jue Xing coached them at length — how not to be afraid when facing the official, how to firmly attest that Gui Xing stayed at home buried in his studies and had no involvement in outside affairs. He drilled them until the lesson was learned. Xi Lai also brought Jian Lexian. Jue Xing told him that Tian Lai had already filed his complaint, and then asked whether he had any connections inside the yamen. Jian Lexian said, "No connections are needed — I personally know the magistrate's brother-in-law. I imagine a generous gift could reach him. The only question is whether this magistrate, who is said to be completely incorruptible, can be moved." Jue Xing said, "We will promise one thousand taels of gold to the inner channel and one thousand taels of silver to the brother-in-law. There is no one who does not open his eyes at the sight of money. You must press the case as hard as you can — and afterward you yourself will naturally be rewarded handsomely as well." Jian Lexian said, "We are all on the same side — there is no question of reward between us. Time is short — I should go at once!" Gui Xing produced fifty taels of silver for him: "Take this for your tea and wine expenses." Jian Lexian refused. Jue Xing said, "This is not a reward to you — when you go and speak with that brother-in-law, tea and wine will cost money, and we cannot have you paying out of your own pocket." Jian Lexian then accepted it, and at once went off to find this brother-in-law.

Now, Magistrate Huang was from a poor scholarly background. Back in his home in Jiangxi, he had been so impoverished he had no way to make ends meet; he had even been reduced to selling calligraphy on street corners. He had married the daughter of a humble family. The family was named Yin, and not long after the wedding, the old Yin couple passed away one after another. On their deathbeds, they both entrusted their son-in-law with the care of their young son, Yin Cheng. This Yin Cheng had been good for nothing from childhood — gambling on the street all day, with no other siblings to share the burden. After the Yin elders died, Magistrate Huang found himself burdened with this relative. Fortunately, that same year he passed the provincial examinations, and the following year passed the metropolitan examinations as well, earned the jinshi degree, was immediately appointed as a county magistrate, and assigned to Guangdong. On his way through his native Jiangxi, he promised his wife Lady Yin that once he was settled in his post, he would send for her. Within a few years, he was transferred into the Panyu county post. Lady Yin received the news and, without even waiting for her husband to send for her, brought her brother Yin Cheng and set out for Guangdong. From that point on, Yin Cheng became an official's in-law connection. Magistrate Huang, knowing his young brother-in-law was worthless, was constantly worried he would go out and exploit his connection to swindle people; he frequently admonished and kept watch over him. But Yin Cheng was from a humble background — truly an uncultured rustic not fit for decent company. He was terrified of the yamen's senior staff; when people treated him with courtesy, he would go red in the face and not know how to respond. All day long he was out making friends with the runners — gambling or drinking. Magistrate Huang had argued with him about it several times; and of course Lady Yin would always take her brother's side, so Magistrate Huang could only swallow his frustration in silence.

On this particular day, Yin Cheng had just come out of the yamen when he ran straight into Jian Lexian, and called out at once: "Old Jian, what good timing! There is not a single person to talk to inside today — what a bore! Come quickly — I'll show you a game of herding old sheep."

What would Jian Lexian say in reply? Read on to the next chapter.