Chapter 32: Liang Tianlai Crosses the Ridge and Takes the Long Road — Lin Dayou in the Study Presents a Secret Plan

Now, when Su Peizhi heard Tianlai say "nine lives' extraordinary injustice," he stood bolt upright and said, "I understand now. From what you have said, your surname is not Zhang." Tianlai was so alarmed he was struck dumb, and immediately regretted his slip. Peizhi said, "Do not be anxious. I heard people speak of this affair when I was in Beijing — they said there was such an injustice in Guangdong. Since you are the injured party, what has brought you to this place, and what great disaster is about to befall you tonight? Tell me without reserve — perhaps I can lend you some assistance. Championing the wronged is the greatest pleasure of my life." Seeing in Peizhi such warm-spirited energy, and hearing his out-of-province accent that marked him as having no connection to Guixing's circle, Tianlai reckoned he could not keep the truth from a man who had already seen through him. So he gave a brief account of his plan to go to the capital and petition the throne, and told him how Qifu had spotted Xilai. Peizhi said, "What purpose has this man come here for?" Tianlai said, "This man and I are irreconcilable enemies. He has sent someone to intercept me because he knows I am going to appeal to the throne, and that person can mean no good." Peizhi thought silently for a while and said, "How is Xilai connected to Ling Guixing?" Tianlai said, "He is a personal attendant — and one Guixing has come to treat as a trusted man." Peizhi said, "Leave it to me — I'll think of something." He rose and went out, and returned shortly with the innkeeper Zhu Yifu. Pointing to Tianlai, he said, "This is a friend who has fallen on hard times while traveling. Please find him a more secluded room to stay in — this is a matter of doing good for someone, and I trust we can arrange it." Yifu said, "Of course, of course! There is a small upper room in the back, where there is a shrine to the God of Wealth — we have never put guests there. He could move up to that room." Tianlai thanked him again and again. Yifu immediately called the tea-boys, and in a bustle of activity they moved Tianlai's luggage and bedding up to the upper floor. Peizhi and Yifu said good-night and left.

It was still before the second watch (around 9 p.m.), and the evening heat lingered; the other guests were all sitting scattered about the common room. Xilai was among them. Peizhi, who had by now been in residence for many days and was on familiar terms with most of the guests, looked for unfamiliar faces. When his eyes fell on Xilai, he had him more or less figured out. He settled down beside him and, in a relaxed and easy way, struck up a conversation with the other guests about feng shui, astrology, fortune-telling, and physiognomy.

Dear readers! These are the subjects most dear to Chinese credulity, and Cantonese are the most superstitious of all — which is precisely why Su Peizhi made a point of flaunting his expertise in them, the better to play his game on others. I doubt Peizhi was himself much of a believer; he only used these things to get in with people. In any case, he spoke with flowery eloquence, and two of the guests who had already consulted him were heaping praise on his accuracy. Xilai, unable to resist, also asked to have his face read. Peizhi asked his surname first; Xilai gave it as Ling. Peizhi studied him for a moment, then shook his head and said nothing. Xilai asked him repeatedly to speak. Peizhi said, "There is something distinctive about your features, and it is not easy to say outright." Xilai said, "Just tell me — why be reluctant?" Peizhi hesitated again, then took his palm and examined it closely by lamplight — still only shaking his head, still unwilling to speak. Xilai pleaded with him several more times. Peizhi said, "Don't be offended if I speak plainly! Your features show servitude entering the official seal point — indicating humble origins. Is that not so?" Xilai said, "Yes, yes! Absolutely true! Please go on." Peizhi said, "Your future fortune is quite substantial, and in fact prosperity is right around the corner. However, there is one complication: your complexion is a mix of good and bad; your prosperity energy is at its peak — and yet there is a shadow of ill omen hanging over it. This shadow is not sickness — it is criminal punishment. You must be most carefully on guard. Below your eyes, the line of moral consequence is nearly about to appear. As long as it has not yet appeared, you are still safe; but if it does appear, all hope for this lifetime's livelihood is gone." Xilai said, "What is the 'line of moral consequence'? How can I prevent it from appearing?" Peizhi said, "This is what is known as 'cultivating the heart to change one's features.' This line does not appear on every person's face — it only forms in those who have done evil deeds. Whether you have done evil, I cannot say — but the line is already lurking beneath the skin, close to surfacing." With this speech Peizhi left Xilai staring wide-eyed and gaping. The man is no ordinary mortal — how else could he know all this?

After a few more exchanges, Xilai excused himself and retreated to his room, where he took out a small mirror and peered at his face — but could make nothing out. He turned the matter over all night. "That man spoke without a single mistake. He said prosperity is right around the corner — and sure enough, three thousand taels of silver are sitting right in my hands. He said ill fortune awaits, either sickness or criminal punishment — that makes sense, given the master's years of lawsuits and everything he has done; if a clean magistrate ever gets hold of the case, it will be ruinous. And if that happens, as his head houseboy, I too will be caught up in it. And then he spoke of this 'line of moral consequence' about to appear. My errand here in Nanxiong was to put an end to Liang Tianlai's life. If I carry that out, Tianlai's death will be on my hands, and that line would surely appear. But if I don't carry it out — how do I report back?" He went around and around and could not reach a decision. By around the fifth watch, he made a sudden and absolute resolve: "I may as well take that man's advice about prosperity at face value — draw the thirty thousand taels and go somewhere else. By sparing Liang Tianlai, I'll have done one good deed." His mind made up, he lay awake unable to sleep, working out where to go with thirty thousand taels, what to do with it, and what sort of business to set up — thinking it through until dawn broke. After washing and dressing, he waited until all the other guests were up, then went to find Su Peizhi and, concealing his true intentions with a story about traveling as a merchant, asked Peizhi to advise him on which route to take. Peizhi said, "Nanchang, the provincial capital of Jiangxi — that is a prosperous place; going there would be ideal." To Xilai by this point, Peizhi was little short of a divine being, and hearing him say Nanchang was the right destination, Xilai set his heart on going there. He took his leave of Peizhi, went to the bank, drew the entire thirty thousand taels, and transferred the funds through a different bank to Nanchang. He was occupied for half the morning and grew very tired. He returned to the inn and rested, and soon fell asleep. When he woke it was already afternoon. He asked the inn staff to arrange horses and a vehicle, preparing to leave for Nanchang the next morning. He also settled the cost of his lodging, and then — taking out the letter Juexing had written to Thousand-Captain Liu — he burned it over a flame.

The next day, as planned, he set off. Before leaving he even came to say goodbye to Peizhi, who showed him the usual courtesies. After he had gone, Peizhi immediately summoned one of his own traveling companions and instructed him to follow Xilai from a discreet distance. Once Xilai settled in Nanchang he was to note what address he took and what business he set up, and write with regular reports; Peizhi also gave him travel money. The companion accepted the orders and left.

Peizhi then went up to tell Tianlai, who was extremely grateful and wanted to set out at once. Peizhi said, "Not yet. Xilai is gone, but he surely left associates and sentinels here. Brother Liang, stay a few more days and let his people disperse — then you can leave at your leisure and the whole road will be clear. Besides, this is not a matter of such urgency that a few days more or less will make a difference." Tianlai agreed, and so he remained at Zhu Yihe's inn a while longer.

In due course, Qu Juexing arrived as well, and Peizhi managed him the same way and sent him off. Then he brought Zhu Yifu upstairs to the little room, where they saw Tianlai, and Peizhi laughed heartily and explained everything. Tianlai was deeply grateful and proposed setting off the next day. Peizhi said, "That Xilai went by land through Jiangxi. Once you have crossed the ridge, Brother Liang, go by the water route — that way you will avoid meeting him on the road." Tianlai agreed to all of this.

The next day, Tianlai packed his luggage and went to seek out Peizhi to say goodbye — but Peizhi had already departed before dawn without a word. Tianlai was quietly astounded. Could this man have come expressly to help me? He was so very attentive throughout — and yet when the moment of parting came, he slipped away without a sound. He could only go to the front desk and take his leave of Zhu Yifu, mentioning that Peizhi had already gone without being seen off, which was rather a shame. Yifu said, "That man's actions are not those of an ordinary person. He stayed here for more than a month, keeping his ear to the ground about local lawsuits — had it not been for that, he would have left much sooner. Then he lingered longer on account of meeting you, Brother Liang. But last night at the third watch he suddenly came to settle his bill and said he was leaving. This morning, before I was even up, he was already gone. Isn't that remarkable?" Tianlai marveled, said his farewells to Yifu, boarded a sedan chair and set off northward to Beijing — but this need not concern us further.

Now, as for Su Peizhi: leaving Zhu Yihe's inn that day, he traveled by day and rested by night, and one day arrived at the provincial capital. He took a room at an inn, settled his luggage, and then went straight to Sande Inn to call on Guixing. But Guixing had already returned to Tan Village. Peizhi hired a boat to Tan Village to pay him a visit. Guixing happened to be at home, having gathered all the assembled ruffians together to drink and discuss business. For the parties who had been sent to Nanxiong — Li Atian, Gan Ading, and so on, six men; to the Ganzhou customs post, Ling Mei Xian and so on, six more men; to Heping Ridge, Lin Dayou and six more; and to Shaozhou, Jian Lexian and others — all had returned one by one. Guixing, on learning that Juexing had gone to Hunan, was most vexed, fearing that if anything came up he would have no one to consult. Zongkong then said, "Why do you need him alone to make decisions? We have a whole crowd of men right here — each man puts forward one idea, and together won't we match him? Nephew, I advise you to trust him a little less. When he saw that things here were getting serious and Tianlai had gone to the capital, he quietly slipped away to Hunan to stay safe. Is that a man you can rely on?"

Guixing was about to reply when it was announced that a visitor had arrived carrying a letter from Master Qu, asking to be received. Guixing quickly called out, "Show him in!" Before long a man stepped into the room. Guixing looked up and saw a man of distinguished and imposing appearance. The visitor saluted Guixing with cupped fists. Guixing returned the greeting and offered him a seat. After names were exchanged, Peizhi produced Juexing's letter and handed it over. Guixing read it and said, "So it was the gentleman who pointed my kinsman toward Hunan. With such intelligence, I shall need your guidance in all matters going forward." Peizhi offered modest disclaimers. Guixing ordered the cups rinsed and the wine resumed, and then asked Peizhi to look at the assembled ruffians' faces and say something about each of them. Peizhi offered flattering remarks for each in turn. Only when he came to Lin Dayou did he pronounce him a true man of the hour, praising him extravagantly and inquiring after his name with particular respect. Lin Dayou was gratified enough to hold his head high. After the banquet, Guixing invited Peizhi into his study for a private talk. Guixing said, "You encountered my kinsman in Nanxiong, so I imagine you know all about our dispute with the Liang family. But this time Liang Tianlai has gone to the capital to appeal to the throne — might there be serious consequences? Please enlighten me." Peizhi said, "Brother Ling is worrying needlessly. The path to the Emperor's gate is long and difficult — how easy is it to petition the throne? Besides, I saw Liang Tianlai myself: the man is utterly worn down, his face full of ill omen — he has not long to live. Never mind reaching the throne — I doubt his life will even hold out until he reaches Beijing!" Guixing was overjoyed, and was about to respond, when Lin Dayou suddenly barged in, saying, "I have a plan that will set the master's mind entirely at ease! Never mind that Liang Tianlai may not succeed with his petition — even if he does and an imperial commissioner is dispatched, there is still room to bribe the commissioner. And even if bribery should fail, I have one more plan that will leave the commissioner completely powerless." Guixing was delighted. "What plan? Why haven't you said so before now?"

What plan would Lin Dayou propose? Read on to the next chapter.