Chapter 31: Cai Xian Hong Gives Gold for an Old Friend's Sake — Su Peizhi Champions an Extraordinary Injustice

Now, Juexing pressed Peizhi urgently for news of Tianlai's whereabouts. Peizhi said, "I have been here nearly a month. About a fortnight ago, there was indeed someone matching that description who stayed here two or three days and then left." Juexing said, "Where did he go?" Peizhi said, "I heard he was going to the capital." Juexing deliberately fell into a show of pensive silence and said, "He truly went to the capital? What business has he there?" Peizhi said, "That is not really for one to ask — but I could see by the look of the man that his complexion was very poor. I doubt he has long to live." Juexing said, "Brother Peizhi, are you skilled in physiognomy?" Peizhi said, "I will not deceive you, Brother Qu — from childhood I have studied astrology, fate-reckoning, and geomancy, and the reading of faces is almost a pastime to me. I have long heard that your province is a prosperous place, so I have come to ply my trade here." Juexing said, "Excellent! If you are heading there, I can write you a letter of introduction." Peizhi was delighted. "To whom, may I ask?" Juexing said, "My kinsman Ling Qibo is most enthusiastic about these arts. He is also generous and hospitable. When you reach him with my introduction, I can promise you the journey will not be wasted." Peizhi was still more pleased, and the two of them drank freely. When Juexing had some wine in him, he asked, "Brother Peizhi, if you are truly proficient in astrology and fate-reading, I imagine the Six Ren and Grand Unity methods are also familiar to you." Peizhi said, "I have only touched on those — I could hardly claim true mastery." Juexing said, "In that case, might I trouble you to read a divination for me?" Peizhi said, "There is no need to cast a divination. Brother Qu, I have a rough sense of what is on your mind — but this is not the place to discuss it in detail. Wait until after the banquet; then we can speak more carefully." Juexing was delighted.

After the banquet ended that night, the guests scattered to take the air and admire the moon. Some played the xiao flute, some the horizontal flute; some sang, some plucked stringed instruments. Only Juexing, having taken Peizhi's words to heart, was too preoccupied for moon-gazing. The moment the table broke up, he invited Peizhi to his room for a talk. Peizhi said, "Just now you were asking after both Liang Tianlai and Xilai — are they both connected to your affairs?" By this point Juexing had enough wine in him to speak frankly. "I will not hide anything from Brother Su. Liang Tianlai is an enemy of my kinsman — they have been at law for years, always without result in our favor. Lately I heard he was making for the capital; fearing a direct petition to the throne, I sent Xilai ahead with a sum of money to arrange matters here and block his path. Unexpectedly that scoundrel ran off with the funds and has vanished. I have come here expressly on account of this." Peizhi said, "And if you manage to find both of them — what then?" Juexing said, "Once I find them, I will decide further measures. If I cannot find them within a day or two, I shall press on to the capital myself." Peizhi said, "Is that also on account of this litigation?" Juexing said, "Yes. My kinsman used to know a Hanlin academician; the plan was to entrust matters to him there." Peizhi said, "What sort of litigation is this that requires such a flurry of activity? And does it concern you directly, Brother Qu?" Juexing said, "I am somewhat entangled in it myself — that is why I have been so busy arranging things." Peizhi said, "Whether your kinsman's case will go in his favor is still uncertain. But I have something I should say to you, except that it is awkward to say outright." Juexing said quickly, "Please instruct me freely — I am eager to hear." Peizhi said, "Judging by the look of your face, Brother Qu, I fear that within a hundred days you are liable to end up in prison. This journey to the capital is, I fear, exactly where that misfortune awaits. I have studied physiognomy, and unlike the street charlatans I do not simply flatter my listeners and tell them what they wish to hear — I always prefer to warn people so they can take precautions." Juexing said, "I need not go to the capital; but my kinsman has entrusted me with a matter of some gravity, and I have no choice but to make the journey." Peizhi said, "That speaks well of your loyalty, Brother Qu. But precisely because you and I have shared a cup of wine together, I cannot stand by in silence and do nothing — I must at least give you fair warning. Should you go to the capital and my words unfortunately prove true, it will be too late to regret it!" Juexing said pensively, "Brother Su, in your superior wisdom — when you visit my humble province, would you be able to advise my kinsman on how to take precautions?" Peizhi said, "That would depend on the circumstances. I have always enjoyed being of assistance — wherever I can be of help, I will spare no effort." Juexing was greatly delighted. "In that case I will write you a letter to carry to the provincial capital and present to my kinsman — you will be well received." Peizhi expressed his warm thanks. Juexing then asked, "Following your advice, I shall not go to the capital — but where is the best place for me to shelter in the meantime?" Peizhi said, "If you are not averse to the journey, you really should leave Guangdong entirely. In my humble opinion, Hunan would be the best place to lie low for a time. If you are willing to go, I have a close friend in Changsha who I can write to on your behalf — you will be well looked after there." Juexing expressed great pleasure and bowed his thanks. That night they each returned to their rooms.

The next day, Juexing sent over a letter first; Peizhi gave Juexing a letter in return. They exchanged a few more words, and then Juexing went to the Huang Yuanhe warehouse to find Li Atian and his party, and told them, "Liang Tianlai has already passed through. But I have met a physiognomist who saw Tianlai and is certain he will die before long. There is no use in your waiting here any longer. You may as well return and convey my respects to Master Ling. As for me, the physiognomist has said that within a hundred days I face prison, so I am advised not to go to the capital, and I am going to Hunan to lie low for that time. Once the hundred days are past, I shall naturally return." Li Atian and the others had no choice but to agree.

After leaving the Huang Yuanhe warehouse, Juexing thought of calling on Thousand-Captain Liu. But he recalled Su Peizhi's words about prison — "The thousand-captain is a minor official, but an official still. Moreover, even if I call him a sworn brother, in truth it's been many years since we've met. What if I run straight into trouble? That would be very bad indeed." He decided not to seek out Liu at all, and first went to the bank to inquire about the thirty-thousand-tael draft. As he had feared, Xilai had drawn the entire sum and left. He strolled back to the inn and discussed matters again with Peizhi, asking whether his two companions might come along. Peizhi asked for Ayou Amei's and Xiong Aqi's names, then said, "They may certainly come. Both have excellent complexions, and traveling with them may actually help you avert misfortune through their good fortune." Juexing was overjoyed. He settled his bill at the inn, took Peizhi's letter, and that very day set out with his companions for Changsha in Hunan.

When Peizhi saw the three men depart, he burst out laughing and clapped his hands, then pulled Zhu Yifu along and climbed the stairs of a back building to the upper floor to find someone. Who was it, dear readers, that he sought? None other than the very man who had suffered the nine lives' extraordinary injustice and was on his way to the capital to appeal to the throne — Liang Tianlai himself.

The story is as follows. Liang Tianlai, after the newly appointed Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi arrived and he had filed a complaint that went unheard, had firmly made up his mind to go directly to the capital and petition the Emperor. But years of litigation, though they had not completely ruined him, had left him without a penny of savings. He happened to think of a family friend — someone his late father Zhaoda had once partnered with in the porcelain trade. This man's surname was Cai, his given name Xian Hong, and he was a native of Fujian, known for his bold and generous character. He had recently arrived in Guangdong from Fujian; perhaps Tianlai could go to him for help, perhaps even selling off some paddy fields or transferring his sugar business to raise funds. He decided to visit Cai Xian Hong and explain the situation. Xian Hong said, "Your grievance is so deep that petitioning the throne is entirely right and proper. However — though your funds are depleted, you must manage things discreetly and not sell off your properties. You must understand that Ling Guixing has many eyes and ears. If your property changes hands, he will surely hear of it. As close kin, he is well aware of your household's circumstances; even after years of litigation you have not been reduced to selling property, and any such move would arouse his suspicion. If he concludes that you are bound for the capital, will he not try to make trouble for you on the road? Now, your late father and I were partners in the porcelain trade; when we wound up the business, there were still some uncollected debts. At the time I was called back to Fujian and was away for years without managing to collect them. This time I came by sea, and passing through Macao I went and found the foreign merchant we had dealt with in those days, and collected those old debts — four thousand taels in all. Both our shares combined come to two thousand taels each. You need the money now — please take all four thousand." Tianlai said, "I believe those accounts were settled long ago. Even if Your Elder has now recovered that sum, I could hardly accept more than my own share. How could I take all four thousand?" Xian Hong said, "You are in need right now — just take it all, and pay me back someday when your grievance has been redressed and your business is prospering again." With that he drew out a bank draft and held it out with both hands. Tianlai dared not accept it, and declined repeatedly; but Xian Hong insisted just as many times, and at last Tianlai accepted. He bade farewell and was about to leave, when Xian Hong pressed him over and over to travel with the utmost caution. After many parting exhortations, they took their leave.

Tianlai, the draft tucked safely on his person, went to call on Cheng Wanli and told him of Xian Hong's gift. Wanli too was glad. The two of them worked out a plan for traveling in secrecy. Wanli said, "That's easy enough. For the next few days you need only stay indoors and pretend to be ill. I'll come to visit your establishment once a day. Guixing is sure to have someone watching you, and once they hear you are ill they will naturally let their guard down. Then, when the time is right, you quietly slip away — won't that be like a ghost in the night?" Tianlai was delighted and agreed to the plan. He also called on a couple of relatives to gather further travel funds. After a few days he set off quietly with Qifu, taking the water route north.

One day he arrived at Nanxiong and put up at Zhu Yihe's inn. Mindful of Cai Xian Hong's advice to travel discreetly, he intentionally asked for a room in the back of the inn, intending to stay just one night and move on the next morning. But that evening Qifu went out on some errand and happened to pass through the front part of the inn — where he ran straight into Xilai, who had also come to stay there. Fortunately, he himself was in the shadows and Xilai had not seen him; Qifu quickly withdrew and slipped back to tell Tianlai. Tianlai turned pale with fright. He quickly bolted the door, and master and servant sat facing each other in silence, at a complete loss for what to do. Tianlai, by this point, was both furious and resentful, and without realizing it tears began to roll down his cheeks.

At this moment a certain meddlesome character was drawn by the commotion. Although Nanxiong in the eighth month still had quite warm weather, this Su Peizhi was pacing in and out of the inn by himself to enjoy the cool air. Passing the door of Tianlai's room he faintly heard what sounded like stifled weeping inside. He peered through the crack in the door and saw a silver-haired old man sitting there in tears. He thought to himself: what a spineless thing — at his age, still weeping like a child! He reached out and gave the door two light knocks. From inside a voice answered, "Is that the teaboy? We don't need anything, thank you." Peizhi said, "No, I'm a fellow guest — I had nothing to do and thought I'd call." Hearing an out-of-province accent, Tianlai opened the door and admitted Peizhi, then had Qifu shut the door behind them, before asking Peizhi his name. Peizhi was still puzzling things out. They exchanged names, and Peizhi asked Tianlai his. Tianlai answered on an impulse: "Surname Zhang." Peizhi said, "I take it Brother Zhang is traveling for the first time, and finds the solitude of a roadside inn hard to bear?" Tianlai only heaved a sigh and made no reply. Peizhi said, "Where has Brother Zhang come from, and where are you headed?" Tianlai said, "I had intended to go to the capital, but now I am afraid the journey cannot continue." Peizhi said, "Are you short of travel funds?" Tianlai said, "No, that is not the problem. The problem is that a great disaster is about to fall on my head this very night, and I fear I may never walk out the door of this Zhu Yihe inn again!" Peizhi was greatly astonished. "If you know a great disaster is coming, why don't you take steps to avoid it? How does sitting here weeping help? Can tears ward off disaster?" Tianlai said, "Who doesn't know enough to try to avoid trouble? But this catastrophe only became known to me after I was already inside the inn — there is no time to do anything now!" Peizhi listened and puzzled over the matter. This man's words are evasive — what on earth is going on? Can it be that someone inside this inn means to kill him? Then he heard Tianlai sigh deeply: "My own death would not matter — but to have an aging mother in her seventies to whom I have never been able to fulfill my filial duty, and a nine-life injustice still unredressed — I could not die with my eyes closed!" At those words Peizhi stood up suddenly and said, "I understand now!"

And what had he understood? Read on to the next chapter.