Chapter 337: Manipulation

Zhang Er had a smile on his lips as he lowered his voice: "Isn't the key with your dad—"

A Wu was so scared he waved his hands repeatedly:

"No, no! If we get caught, we're finished!"

Seeing that A Wu didn't say anything else but that he was afraid of being discovered, Zhang Er felt even more confident:

"We'll just steal a few valuable items and go sell them. There are so many things in the house, who would notice if a few are missing? Even if the Wang family comes to take over, they won't know how many items there were in total! We'll just take a few; you don't say anything, I don't say anything, and no one will be the wiser."

A Wu was conflicted and scared, his voice trembling:

"But... but..."

Zhang Er's voice was like honey as he continued to entice him:

"Don't say no one will notice; even if they do, they won't make a fuss. The city is so chaotic now, and the house has no master. If a few things are missing, there's no evidence; who can tell if they were lost or what happened? The government won't care about such small matters! A smart girl like you, A Wu, don't you know that in this world, money is life! We servants follow the master when he's prosperous, but when the master is gone, who cares if we live or die? If we don't take the chance to get some money to support ourselves now, what will we eat when the house is dispersed? Anyway, the young master is already gone; what difference does it make if there are a few more or a few less items? Are we supposed to leave them all to the Wang family? Are they short of these few things? What leaks through their fingers is enough for us to live for generations! The young master was so good to you; he won't mind if you take a few small trinkets..."

A Wu hung his head, his fingers clutching his clothes, his small shoulders slightly slumped, looking somewhat ashamed yet tempted. After hesitating for a while, he whispered:

"Then... then... I'll discuss it with my dad—"

"Oh, my little ancestor! You can't tell Steward Hei! Steward Hei is a sensible man, but he's too stubborn. He's all for the Wang family, but never thinks about planning for himself. When his temper flares, his face turns dark, and his eyes glare, who doesn't tremble? If you tell him about this, who knows how he'll deal with you! By then, if we want the key, we won't have a chance!"

A Wu's small face turned pale, and he shivered:

"But to hide such a big thing from Dad... I'm afraid..."

"Silly girl, not telling your dad is for his own good, to save him from worry. Besides, if something happens and someone investigates, it's better if your dad knows nothing so he can clear himself! It would be harder if he knew. The fewer people who know about this, the better. Just the two of us, secretly take the key, go in and pick two things, sell them, split the money, hide it, and then go on living our lives. No one will ever find out."

A Wu seemed to be pushed by his words. His fingers clutching his clothes gradually loosened, and he looked up, a trembling determination in his eyes:

"Alright..."

Zhang Er smiled inwardly: Little A Wu, manipulated.

Xiao A Wu said: "... We'll only take one; that way it won't be easily discovered."

"One is too few! We have to take at least three or four..."

"No, no, I don't dare take more."

"Oh, we've come this far, what's the difference between one or two..."

But this time, no matter what Zhang Er said, A Wu just wouldn't budge.

Zhang Er didn't want to create complications, thinking that once he took one, the kid would be at his mercy anyway, so he said:

"Fine, we'll take one, but pick the expensive one."

"There's a gold-inlaid incense burner on the young master's desk, a gift from the Vice Governor's mansion. It's said to be a very, very valuable antique..."

Zhang Er was beaming with joy:

"You little devil, you're really smart. Let's take that! Go steal the key now, and we'll do it right away."

"Now?"

"Oh, in this kind of thing, the sooner the better! You go quickly, I'll wait for you here."

"Alright!"

Xiao A Wu was just about to turn around when his footsteps suddenly paused. He tilted his head, his voice hesitant:

"Uncle, after the incense burner is taken out, can you sell it?"

Zhang Er said confidently:

"Of course, I have connections! You just focus on getting the key and taking the incense burner out. You don't need to worry about the rest. We'll split the money fifty-fifty, and you just wait to count your money..."

A Wu was hesitant:

"But... what if you sell the incense burner and don't give me the money?"

"Hey! You don't even trust your Uncle?"

"Uncle, I'm afraid..." A Wu whispered.

"Second Uncle, I'm scared..." Ah Wu whispered.

"Don't you worry, Second Uncle won't cheat you!"

Ah Wu looked uneasy, biting her little lip and saying nothing.

Zhang Er made promise after promise and swore oaths, but little Ah Wu just kept her head down, silent. Zhang Er grew impatient:

"What on earth will it take for you to believe me?"

Little Ah Wu thought for a moment and asked:

"Second Uncle, how much money do you have on you?"

"On me—why do you care how much money I have on me?"

"Second Uncle, you deposit the money with me. Once you've sold the incense burner and get the money back, I'll return your money to you."

"..."

"After all that talk, are you trying to scheme against your Second Uncle?"

"Second Uncle, I'm not scheming against you. I'm afraid that once you take the incense burner, you'll run off, and I'll end up with nothing."

"Why would I run off! I've signed a contract!"

"That's not a deed of sale..."

"An employment contract is still a contract! The government is involved! Where would I run to?"

"Second Uncle, you said it yourself earlier: the city is chaotic right now, the manor has no master, and the government won't bother with such trivial matters..."

Zhang Er was choked by his own words. His mind turned, and his tone softened:

"Ah Wu, think about it. This matter hasn't even succeeded yet; you can't make Second Uncle put up his own money first! Where is the logic in depositing money before we've even started? If something really goes wrong, wouldn't I end up empty-handed on both sides?"

Little Ah Wu nodded and said:

"Second Uncle, you're right. This matter hasn't succeeded yet, but Second Uncle, you can't make me take the risk alone either. I'm the one who has to act first to get the key; where is the logic in acting for nothing without seeing the money? If something really goes wrong, I'd also end up empty-handed on both sides..."

Zhang Er's face darkened:

"Ah Wu, you're so cunning at such a young age; who would dare marry you when you grow up?"

Ah Wu looked vigilant:

"Second Uncle, did you never intend to share the money with me at all?"

"Fine, fine." Worried that things might change, Zhang Er stopped bickering with Ah Wu, fished twelve copper coins from his sleeve, handed them to her, and urged:

"The money is yours, hurry up and get the key!"

Ah Wu put the money into her small sleeve pocket and then said:

"I want the money bag, the little gray one that you always hide, Second Uncle."

Zhang Er was so angry he laughed: "Why don't you ask for the house deed while you're at it!!"

"Second Uncle, what are you thinking? You don't even have a house..."

Zhang Er felt as if a knife had been stabbed into his heart. He thought it over, struggled for a moment, steeled his heart, fished that gray cloth money bag from his bosom, and shoved it into Ah Wu's hand with ill grace:

"Fine, fine! Take it, take it! You believe me now, right!"

Ah Wu opened the money bag, grabbed two handfuls, took out a few more to look at under the moonlight, and said happily:

"Second Uncle, you really didn't lie to me! Don't worry, I won't touch a single coin of this money. Once the incense burner is sold, I'll return it to you."

Zhang Er smiled: "Good, Second Uncle trusts you. Now hurry and go get the key!"

Zhang Er watched that small back disappear into the darkness and sneered in his heart:

Even if you're craftier than a fox, you can't escape the hunter's snare!

That incense burner might sell for a few thousand coins; I've only got two hundred and some in my bag, so it doesn't matter if I give it all to her! When the time comes, I'll just say the black-market goods didn't fetch a good price and only sold for a few hundred; what can she do? A kid is just a kid, so easy to fool...

So, when Zhang Er was gagged and trussed up like a pig and thrown into the woodshed, his wide-open eyes were still reflecting Ah Wu's sweet, innocent little face.

The Blackie sheathed his blade and said coldly:

"Just stay here properly. Everything awaits the master's return to deal with you. If you dare play any tricks, I'll break both your legs!"

The Blackie meant waiting for Wang Yang to return to deal with him, but he refused to let the secret slip in front of Zhang Er, even though Zhang Er was already tied up.

Little Ah Wu leaned against the doorframe, took out the gray money bag, weighed it, and said:

"Since this guy is a thief, we can't use the young master's money for his food and drink anymore. From tomorrow on, he'll pay for it himself. Twelve coins a day is the standard; that's enough to last him a while."

The Blackie looked at the money bag in his daughter's hand and asked curiously: "How did it end up in your hands?"

Little Ah Wu weighed the money bag in her hand, the corners of her mouth curling into a small arc, and said with a smile:

"He's easy to fool..."

Zhang Er wept.

"Lighter."

"Too light, heavier."

"Too heavy, lighter."

Baoyue's dark hair draped over her neck, her jade cheeks languid, her brows relaxed and her body trembling slightly, her bones softened and muscles relaxed, a flush rising on her face.

Wang Yang pounded her back while coldly eyeing the nape of Baoyue's neck:

"You're putting on a bit too much of an act, aren't you..."

Baoyue frowned and let out a very affected "Hmm":

"Hmm? Since that's the case, then the matter of the household registration—"

Wang Yang immediately turned to a smile:

"I'm just joking, look at you, why are you taking it so seriously..."

Because Wang Yang refused to respond to questions regarding his identity and revenge, Baoyue entered her "little theater" mode, believing her sincere heart had been wasted, and angrily went on strike. However, Baoyue went on strike with great principles; the matters regarding the archives of the Ministry of Personnel had already been settled, and she would still go handle them. As for the rest, she didn't care if Wang Yang "lived or died." (These three words were her exact phrasing.) Finally, relying on his silver tongue and the spirit of friendly consultation and mutual accommodation, Wang Yang went through several rounds of negotiations and finally reached the "Bilateral Mutual Assistance Treaty for Household Registration Assistance and Shoulder-Pounding Services."

The treaty explicitly stipulated that Wang Yang (including the real name, fake names, former names, and various temporary titles used by the person himself) must pound Lady Baoyue's back two hundred times. The technique should be like a spring breeze brushing against willows, and the force should be like rain falling on a calm lake. He was not allowed to be perfunctory or negligent, nor was he allowed to use heavy, violent blows. During the back-pounding, Baoyue reserved the right to be angry and to pursue accountability.

"That's one hundred, speak."

"Was that one hundred?"

"That's one hundred and two."

"What a huge favor this is; if it were anyone else, who would dare discuss this with you? Even if they dared to discuss it, who would dare help? And you're still quibbling over one or two strokes, how stingy..."

"One hundred and six."

It had been agreed that she would start speaking when the pounding reached one hundred. Baoyue kept her promise and said slowly:

"I really can't intervene in the affairs of Southern Xuzhou—"

Wang Yang stopped.

"However, I can point you toward a bright path—"

Wang Yang continued pounding.

Baoyue was secretly delighted, hummed comfortably twice, and continued:

"The current Inspector of Southern Xuzhou is the Prince of Ancheng. By seniority, I have to call him my cousin-uncle. If it were a general matter, I could step forward to ask for a favor, and he wouldn't reject my face. But this is the household registration of the Langya Wang clan; never mind me, even if my father stepped forward, he wouldn't dare take that responsibility. However, there is one person who can. That is Wang Tai.

Wang Tai's father, Wang Ci, served as Registrar (Office Director) and Secretary (Chief Aide, the pen-pusher) for the Prince of Ancheng. Later, when the Prince of Ancheng became General of the Champions, Wang Ci served as his Chief Clerk (Chief of the Military Prefecture), and the two had a deep friendship. Furthermore, a very important point is that Wang Tai is a direct descendant of the Wang clan; helping a Wang family member who hasn't registered to do so is within reason. Added to his father's connection, the Prince of Ancheng will likely do this favor. But the problem now is—"

Baoyue tilted her head, the rosy color on her cheeks not yet faded, her apricot eyes half-closed, looking as if she were slightly tipsy:

"Will Wang Tai help you?"

———————

Note: "Book of Southern Qi, Biography of Wang Ci": Wang Ci, courtesy name Bobao, of Linyi, Langya, was the son of the Minister of Works, Sengqian... Registrar to the Prince of Ancheng, transferred to Secretary... concurrently served as Captain of the Archers, and Chief Clerk to the Prince of Ancheng as General of the Champions and the Prince of Yuzhang as Minister of Works.

Taken from "Book of Southern Qi, Biography of the Twelve Princes of Emperor Gao": "In the sixth year, he went out to be Inspector of Southern Xuzhou." The sixth year refers to the sixth year of Yongming, marking the initial emergence of Wang Tai's powerful network of connections.