On this day, Wang Er went to the prefectural city to deliver goods. Da Wang sat at the counter and stared at the pedestrians on the street in a daze. The shop was deserted. Last year, at this time, some Yangge, stilt teams, temples, and opera troupes would come to buy cheap musical instruments. This year, not a single one had been sold. He couldn't possibly go out to the streets to attract people.
Wang Da was so worried that he was at his wit's end. Thinking about it carefully, his father always said that he had a problem with chest tightness. Last year, he fell ill because he suddenly fainted. Now that he has examined the body, there are no wounds on his body. Could it be that he really died of shame and anger, suffocation and shortness of breath? Now that the Wang family's musical instrument shop had a bad reputation, his whole family was going to have nothing to eat. What should he do?
Just as he was thinking, someone suddenly patted the counter and said with a smile, "Da Wang, what are you daydreaming about? Thinking about what to buy for the New Year? "
Da Wang looked up and saw a thin old man in a green robe standing outside the counter with a smile. He quickly got up and greeted him with a face full of smiles, "Boss Wu, how come you have the time to come here? Come in quickly. Inside, quickly make a pot of good tea. "
This thin old man was called Wu Jie, in his early fifties. He was a businessman from Sichuan and Shaanxi who came to the capital to do medicine business. His wealth was far greater than the Wang family's. The Chicken Cry Inn was the distribution center for his medicinal materials. Therefore, he spent half a year here. Most of the people doing business here recognized this generous Boss Wu.
Wu Jie smiled and sat on the chair, "What are you busy with? It's almost the New Year. After finishing this business, I'll go back for the New Year. I passed by your place and came to visit. Why are you sitting at the counter today? Look, you still don't know how to take care of business. It's so cold in front of the door. Where's your father?"
Da Wang's face darkened. He forced a smile and said, "Hey, Boss Wu, I won't hide it from you … my father just passed away a few days ago."
Wu Jie was shocked and said, "How can that be? When I left for Shaanxi and Sichuan to buy medicinal materials, Boss Wang was still in good health. Why … did the chest tightness and shortness of breath from last year come back again? "
Wang Da's wife came out with a pot of tea. She also had a worried look on her face. When she saw Boss Wu, she forced a smile and saluted him. After pouring a cup of tea, she retreated to the back room.
Wu Jie took out his emerald pipe from his sleeve and took out a bag of tobacco mixed with medicinal herbs from the pouch tied to his belt. He lit it with a match and took a long drag. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "Boss Wang was seventy years old. As the saying goes, seventy years old is a rare occurrence. Boss Wang has died of old age, so it can be considered a happy funeral. I know you two brothers are very filial. Come, come, sit down. Don't be sad, tell me about it."
General Wang told the whole story. Of course, he didn't mention the bead that was found on his father's body. In the end, he said bitterly, "My father's vengeance is absolutely irreconcilable. Mr. Wu, you've traveled far and wide and have seen many things. Tell me, if I don't take revenge, won't I be scolded by my neighbors? But now … cough, the Ma Family is powerful, spreading rumors and sowing discord everywhere, that's why … as you can see, even the guests don't come to visit. The county magistrate is not in the mansion. In my opinion, although he said it nicely, it seems that the officials are protecting each other and deliberately favoring the Ma family. "
Wu Jie sneered and took a puff of the cigarette. "What do you mean? Isn't it obvious that they're helping the Ma Family? "
Hearing this, Wang Da was both shocked and angry. He angrily slapped his thigh and said, "That's what I said, he wants us to find a doctor, to find a drugstore owner, we go to find the county sun, but he is always not there, this … this … hey, he is forcing me to bring the Great Ming law to the capital to complain to the Emperor."
Boss Wu took a puff of the cigarette and rolled his eyes. "Do you think this is the Hongwu period? Go to the capital to complain to the Emperor? Only you can think of it. The Emperor lives in the Forbidden City. The gates are heavily guarded. Can you even see them? Even if you see it, so what? The county magistrate didn't say that he won't handle this case. Human life is more important than the sky. It's not wrong to handle the case cautiously. Maybe the emperor will praise Lord Min for being cautious in handling the case and not disregarding human life. At that time, you will be charged with slandering an official of the imperial court and deceiving the emperor. That is a big crime that will cause your whole family to be executed. "
When Wang Da heard such a frightening outcome, he couldn't help but feel his hair stand on end. After a long while, he sucked in a cold breath and said, "My god, luckily Boss Wu spoke up to warn me. I have little experience and have never seen much of the world. If I didn't listen to your words, I would have brought upon myself a gargantuan disaster. This … what should I do?"
Boss Wu smiled and slowly exhaled the smoke. He looked at the rising smoke and slowly said: "Brother Wang, this old brother doesn't have much experience, but I have traveled far and wide. I have heard a lot of these things and seen a lot of things, that's all. There is a saying that people don't fight with officials. There is also a saying that the people's heart is like iron and the law is like a furnace. You don't have enough evidence on this matter. Even if you take the case to the Golden Twin Palace, you may not be able to do anything to them. Now you are making your own family unable to live. I have a few words of advice. I don't know if you are willing to listen? "
Hearing this, Wang Da quickly picked up the pot and poured some more hot tea for Boss Wu. He respectfully said, "Boss Wu, please say it. I won't hide it from you. These two days, my heart has been at a loss. It's like riding a tiger's back. I can't get up or down. If you have any good ideas, please don't be stingy with them for the sake of my dead father."
Boss Wu chuckled. He lightly knocked the tobacco pipe on the leg of the chair and gently placed it on the table. He calmly picked up the tea and took a sip. Then he slowly said, "Speaking of this matter, it's unclear. Although you have witnesses to prove that when Ma Ang was arguing with you, Boss Wang died on the side, but no one can prove that Ma Ang hit him. That Yang Xiucai is a person with scholarly honors, and he was present from the beginning to the end. If I were the county magistrate, I wouldn't be able to convict him just like that, so you really can't blame County Magistrate Min.
Now things have become like this … Brother Wang, I'll say something fair. Please don't be offended. Boss Wang is Wangqi's man. His death is also his own matter. I know you are a filial son. You don't really want to drag a younger generation to die with you. But if you really wronged him, aren't you adding more sins to your father's body?
Besides, you have to live here with your family. If you really offend Deputy Ma, he has just taken office. He still has a few years to go. Can you fight against him? What's more, this case has dragged on for a long time. Not only has it ruined your family, but also your old father's body can't be buried. In this cold winter, his body is piled up in the room. He might even be cut open and examined. He brought you and your brother up. In the end, even when he died, his body couldn't be intact. How can you bear to do this? "
Wang Da listened with snot and tears. He sobbed and said, "Boss Wu, please give me an idea. What should I do now?"
Wu Jie smiled and said, "If you really have a filial heart, then Old Man Wang can enjoy the rest of his life and die without jealousy. I'm sure the Ma family won't be so insensible as to pursue the matter of stealing someone's money, whether it's true or not.
However, although your father wasn't beaten to death, there were some disputes while doing business. The Ma family can't get away with it. If you don't punish them heavily, it'll be hard to vent your anger. It'll be even more unjustifiable in front of your neighbors. In my opinion, why don't you ask the Ma family to compensate you with a few dozen taels of silver. They'll also pay for the funeral expenses. How about this case be handled like this? "
Wang Da listened and lowered his head in silence. He pondered for a long time before he said, "This … If we handle it like this, won't people laugh at us for seeking money and ignoring our father's death? These words, how can I … how can I say it? "
Boss Wu's eyes flashed. He was about to say something when a man riding a donkey came to the door. The man jumped off the donkey, tied the reins, stamped his feet and stormed into the room. Wang Da looked up and saw his brother Wang Er. He quickly stood up and said, "Er Di, you're back. Why …?"
He looked outside and said in surprise, "Didn't I ask you to bring in a batch of bamboo whistles, bamboo flutes, gongs and cymbals? Why did you come back empty-handed?"
Wang Er cupped his hands to Boss Wu and said, "Hello, Boss Wang." Then he walked over and sat on his brother's chair. He said angrily, "What goods did you bring in? Boss Liu wants us to do a cash transaction. He doesn't want to buy goods on credit. "
Wang Da was surprised, "How can that be? Last year we did business with him for the first time and he was willing to buy goods on credit. We've been doing business for more than a year now and we've never owed him money. Why does he want to do a cash transaction? "
Wang Er said, "It's all because of the Ma family's killer. I don't know who started it …" He suddenly remembered that Boss Wu was still sitting in the room and quickly shut his mouth.
Wu Jie took a sip of tea and slowly stood up and said, "I've been busy with business these few days. I won't stay any longer. I'll go back now. We'll meet again after the new year." He smiled and cupped his hands to Wang Da and Er before walking out.
Wang Da listened to his brother's words and stared blankly for a long time. When he saw that Boss Wu had already left his sight, he couldn't help but angrily stomp his feet and quickly chased after him. He shouted, "Boss Wu, please wait a moment. There's really no better idea than your idea. It's just that I'll have to ask you to mediate on my behalf. Please help me."
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